Mindess School Weekly Update

Dear Mindess Families,

We had another successful Mindess Marathon today—fun was had by all! It was wonderful to see our students showing such enthusiasm, perseverance, and school spirit. Be sure to check out the Highlights section to enjoy photos from this great event.

We also loved seeing learning extend outdoors this week. Ms. Valentin, our band teacher, embraced the beautiful weather by holding some of her music lessons in the courtyard. It was such a joy to walk by and hear students playing beautiful music in the fresh air. You can find a photo of this special moment in the Highlights section as well.

There is also important new information from our two wonderful nurses included below. Please take a few moments to review these updates carefully.

As a reminder, there is no school next week due to April Vacation. We hope everyone enjoys a relaxing and enjoyable break. We will return to school on Monday, April 27th.

The week we return will be a busy and exciting one at Mindess! Grade 4 families are invited to attend our annual Idiom Parade (weather permitting), and our final Kids Night Out (KNO) will take place that Friday afternoon. Additionally, the Square 1 Art deadline is quickly approaching. If you are interested in purchasing your child’s artwork, please refer to the flyer below for more information.

On the Tuesday following April Vacation, some of our students will be heading to Medway to participate in the Special Olympics. We are incredibly proud of them and look forward to cheering them on as they compete!

Math MCAS is also right around the corner. Please mark your calendars and help your child be prepared by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep and come to school ready to do their best.

Lastly, please note that we will have an early release day on May 8th, with dismissal taking place after lunch. There was an error on some previously shared calendars, so we appreciate you making note of this corrected date.

Have a wonderful April Vacation!

Warmly,
Kate Altman
Principal

April

Monday, April 20 thru Friday, April 24 - NO SCHOOL - April Break

Tuesday, April 28

• 5 Town Special Olympics Event

• 4th grade idiom parade (4th grade parents invited only if it doesn't rain.)

Ms. Valentin took advantage of the beautiful weather this week by bringing her clarinet group outside to the courtyard—filling the air with music and making learning even more joyful!

A note from our school nurses:

Massachusetts had historically required school nurses to conduct postural (scoliosis) screenings in public schools in grades 5-9. However, proposed legislation is in progress that may eliminate this requirement, as these screenings are routinely completed during students’ annual physical exams with their healthcare providers.

In light of this pending legislation and to avoid duplication of care, postural screenings will not be conducted routinely for 5th graders in school this year.

If you would like your 5th grade child to receive a postural screening by the school nurse, we are happy to provide this screening upon request.

If you would like to request your child be screened for scoliosis, please fill out the form located here.

This month, our SEL focus is perseverance. To introduce this theme, we read She Persisted and The Fantastic Elastic Brain, two stories that highlight the power of determination and how our brains grow when we challenge ourselves. Throughout the month, we will be exploring the concepts of fixed mindset and growth mindset, helping students understand that mistakes are part of learning and that effort helps us grow.

We kicked off the month with a restorative circle where students discussed times when they felt like giving up and the strategies they used to persevere during difficult moments. Students shared thoughtful ideas about staying positive, asking for help, taking breaks, and continuing to try even when something feels challenging. These conversations helped set the stage for a month focused on building resilience, confidence, and a growth mindset.

Don’t forget to visit ashland.k12.ma.us/Flyers where we feature announcements and events offered by organizations, clubs and teams throughout our community that serve to enrich the lives of our students, families, faculty and staff.

Get ready to soar toward the second star to the right as our talented young Drama Club actors bring Neverland to life! Come fly with us for a magical, kid-friendly adventure filled with Pixie Dust, pirates, and the boy who never grew up. This show is great for students in grades K-12.