Sheehan Elementary

Dear Sheehan Families,

Another exciting and busy week at Sheehan! On Friday, we welcomed so many families into our classrooms for fall crafts, activities, and a little seasonal fun! We always love having parents and caregivers in our building, sharing in the experiences that make up their children's school days and getting a glimpse into the learning and community we're building together. Thank you for continuing to be such an important part of life at Sheehan!

In this week's Between the Bells, we're taking a closer look at some of the experiences and practices that help our students grow as learners and members of our school community. From developing important social-emotional skills to finding their voices and taking greater ownership of their learning, there's a common thread running through this week's highlights. Take a peek below to see some of the ways this work is coming to life across Sheehan!

Thank you for your continued partnership and for taking a few moments each week to stay connected to what's happening at Sheehan.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead!

Stacy Mahoney and the Sheehan Team

Our school adjustment counselor, Mrs. O'Connell, plays an important role in supporting students across Sheehan through whole-class lessons, small group opportunities, and short-term individualized interventions as needed.

This week's 3rd grade classroom lessons focused on The Zones of Regulation, a framework that helps students recognize and understand their emotions, identify how they're feeling, and develop strategies to manage their energy and responses. Using four color-coded zones (blue, green, yellow, and red), students learn that all feelings are okay and that different situations may call for different strategies to help them feel ready to learn, connect with others, and navigate challenges.

Keep the Conversation Going at Home! Ask your 3rd grader what they've learned about the Zones of Regulation. What feelings might go with each zone? What are some strategies that help when they're feeling frustrated, excited, worried, or tired?

Mrs. O'Connell shares her time between Sheehan and Martha Jones School, providing the equivalent of two full days of support each week at each school. We're so fortunate to have her expertise and support woven into our students' school experiences, and we appreciate the many ways she helps our children learn, grow, and thrive!

There's been a little extra excitement in our dining room lately! Mrs. Saulnier introduced our Caught Meeting Expectations cards earlier this year and has been popping into lunch periods a couple of times each week to recognize students who are consistently demonstrating our Core Four values. Students who receive a card get to head outside for recess a few minutes early, along with some friends who are also demonstrating those positive choices!

Of course, there are countless examples of students demonstrating our Core Four throughout the school day, and these cards are just one of the many ways we're working to notice and celebrate them. Not every positive choice comes with a card, but every positive choice matters! It's all part of our continued effort to recognize what students are doing well and reinforce the behaviors that make Sheehan such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

We loved seeing student leadership in action this week when one of the student council reps visited Mrs. Carpenter's 1st grade class to share updates from Student Council! Opportunities like this give students a chance to practice communication and leadership skills while helping our younger students feel connected to the larger Sheehan community. It's a small moment with a big impact, and a wonderful example of students taking an active role in the life of their school.

This week, I joined my colleagues from our district "Admin. Council" for classroom learning walks at Sheehan, continuing our collective focus this year on student voice and agency. As I shared during Curriculum Night, one of the things we're especially interested in is how we create opportunities for students to take greater ownership of their learning. Even our youngest learners are capable of doing some pretty remarkable things when we give them the tools, structures, and opportunities to do so!

That might look like students monitoring their own progress, tackling challenging tasks, asking thoughtful questions, explaining their thinking, or supporting classmates in moving their learning forward. Rather than adults always directing the next step, we're looking at how students can increasingly take an active role in the learning process themselves.

Our learning walks give us an opportunity to visit classrooms together, notice these practices in action, and reflect on the leadership moves we can make to support and continue moving this great work forward.

Wednesday, November 4: Early Release (12:00 p.m. Dismissal) Afternoon Conferences

Wednesday, November 11: NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, November 25: Early Release (12:10 p.m. Dismissal)

Thursday, November 26: NO SCHOOL

Friday, November 27: NO SCHOOL

Monday, November 30: Full PD Day for Staff- NO SCHOOL for students

Wednesday, December 9: Early Release (12:00 p.m. Dismissal)

Thursday, December 10: Sheehan Fall Play Performance (4:00- 6:00 pm)

Wednesday, December 23: Early Release

Thursday, December 24-January 1: December Break

Monday, January 4: Return from Break

Extended Day will open at dismissal and will close at 3:00pm for the Thanksgiving break. Also a reminder that Monday November 30th is an all day in-service for WPS staff. There is no Extended Day on this day. Extended Day staff will be participating in the district professional development.