Doyon News

Dear Doyon Families,

Another wonderful week has come and gone at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School! Our students and staff have been busy learning, exploring, creating, and growing together in so many meaningful ways. Learners across the school participated in a variety of engaging academic activities and important learning experiences this week. Our upper elementary students also continue their work on MCAS assessments. We are proud of the perseverance and effort students are demonstrating each day.

This week, students had the opportunity to participate in CultureFest in our library. CultureFest was thoughtfully designed to introduce students to the many ways people live, communicate, create, and share traditions around the world through engaging, hands-on, age-appropriate experiences.

Our Preschool through Grade 2 students explored interactive centers including:

• 🎨 Flag Coloring
• 👋 Hello Around the World
• 💃 Dances Around the World
• 🏠 Homes Around the World

These experiences encouraged students to engage with symbols, language, movement, and everyday life in different cultural contexts in accessible and developmentally appropriate ways. Throughout the activities, students were reminded that cultures are diverse and cannot be represented by a single experience or example.

Our Grades 3–5 students participated in more in-depth learning centers, including:

• 🌎 Everyday Life Around the World: Objects in Context
• 🍲 Food Around the World: Ingredients and Ideas
• ❓ What Would You Want to Learn About?
• 🤝 Culture Connections: Questions About the World

These stations encouraged thoughtful discussion, curiosity, and critical thinking as students explored the many ways people around the world live, connect, and share traditions.

Across all grade levels, the focus of CultureFest was on curiosity, respect, and open-minded exploration. We are incredibly proud of our students for engaging so thoughtfully throughout this experience! 💙

Our fourth grade students demonstrated their musical talents during their spring concert this week. Families and staff were treated to a wonderful performance that showcased students’ hard work and dedication. Excellent work, Grade 4! 🎵👏

Our fourth grade students also traveled to Lexington for another exciting field trip experience. Opportunities like these help bring classroom learning to life and create lasting memories for our students!

On Tuesday, students participated in bus evacuation drills and did an excellent job practicing how to safely and quickly exit the bus during an unexpected situation. Safety remains a top priority, and we are proud of how responsibly students handled the drills.

Ipswich Public Schools hosted its 9th Annual STEAM Showcase, where students across the district explored all things STEAM! 🔬🎨💻 Our wonderful Ipswich learners proudly shared their creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills with our community. It was inspiring to see so many incredible student projects and ideas on display.

As always, please take a moment to review upcoming events and important dates. The school year is quickly winding down, and our calendar will continue to get busier in the weeks ahead! Please never hesitate to reach out with any questions, wonderings, or support needs. We are always here to help and support our students and families.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! 🌷

Warmly,

Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen, Principal

Mrs. Benincasa, Asst. Principal

Our 18 Early Act Team students received compliments from guests at the Ipswich Dinner Bell this week! Guests were full of praise for our students who prepared the room for the meal, served the meal, and cleaned up.

Our final Student Leadership Team Meeting (SLT) is Wednesday, May 20. Please send your child with an appropriate dismissal note or use "School Dismissal Manager". Students without proper arrangements will not be able to stay for the meeting or call home. Pick up will be promptly at 4:00 and be similar to the regular end-of-day dismissal. If you are picking up your child, please have their last name on a card, visible on your car's dashboard, and drive up to the front of the school. We will have someone outside reading off names so children are safely dismissed. We look forward to seeing your child there!

Yippee! Field Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9 (rain date June 10th). Our Kindergarten through grade 2 student's activities take place in the morning and grades 3-5 are in the afternoon.

In the past, we have had tremendous support from our parent and friend volunteers to help run all of our activities and we hope the same is true this year! All volunteers must have a current CORI form filled out at least two work days prior to the event. If we get enough help, it will enable the teachers to accompany their classes to each activity.

If you are able to help please fill out the form below and return it to your child’s classroom teacher by Wednesday, May 27th. All CORI’d volunteers are accepted and will NOT receive notification of acceptance. If you have any questions, please call or send an email to either of us.

Thank you,

Whitney Cardew (wcardew@ipsk12.net)

Mark Southam (msoutham@ipsk12.net)

978-356-5506 (X 119)

This year, our elementary and middle school students will trade their classrooms for the sand and surf at Crane's Beach on Wednesday, June 17th (Rain Date: Monday, June 22nd).

Beach Day is a cherished Ipswich tradition that dates back to 1911. It began when the Crane family invited all the town's children to a massive beach picnic to celebrate their son Cornelius’s 6th birthday. Over a century later, we are proud to continue this wonderful legacy.

Members of our amazing Student Leadership Team (SLT) are continuing to do a wonderful job starting each day with C.A.R.E.S. reminders! Way to lead by example, SLT!

Come to Relay for Life on May 30th from 5pm-9pm at the Ipswich High School track! The Interact Club at IHS is running a town wide event to raise money towards cancer research. Use this link to sign up to make a team and/or donate to the cause! Thank you!

🟠Grade 5 STE: Monday, May 18th & Tuesday, May 19th

Make ups: Wednesday, May 20th

🏃🏻‍♀️DOYON A-THON IS BACK! 🏃🏻‍♀️
Run, have fun, and support our school!

⸻

📆 Event Date: June 3

☔Rain Date: June 8

⸻

💥What is the Doyon A-Thon?
An exciting annual event where students run laps around the back of the school to help raise money.

⸻

🎉 What to Expect:

Students run as many laps as they can

Volunteers stamp bibs for each lap completed

Lots of cheering, music, and school spirit

Friendly competition to see who can complete the most laps

⸻

🧡It’s All About FUN!

No pressure—just movement, laughter, and community spirit!

⸻

🙌 How You Can Help:

Encourage your student to participate

Volunteer to help stamp laps or cheer runners

Support fundraising efforts

⸻

Let’s make this year’s Doyon A-Thon the best one yet!

🏃🏻‍♀️ Run. Cheer. Celebrate. 🏃🏻‍♂️

Upcoming Important Dates

💠Wednesday, 6/3 Doyon-a-thon 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️

6/8 ☔ Rain date

💠Tuesday, 6/9 Field day

6/10 ☔ Rain date

The last day for the Friday Morning Library Club will be Friday, May 22nd.

Hello Doyon Families!

Spring is here! This week we saw plenty of seasonal allergy symptoms and bug bites! If necessary, please apply sunscreen and bug spray before school! Also, please remember to check for ticks at the end of the day!

We are seeing scattered cases of strep - mostly in the lower grades. Remember that strep can present with headache and GI symptoms.

Mary Sforza RN, MSN, NCSN

Hi Doyon 5th Grade Families,

We’re excited to share a comprehensive update on all the upcoming end-of-year activities and important dates for our 5th graders. There’s a lot to look forward to as we celebrate this special milestone year!

Upcoming Dates to Note

• Tuesday, May 26 – Boston Field Trip + Duck Tour (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
• Thursday, May 28 – 5th Grade Doyon/Winthrop Mixer (2:30–4:00 PM at Ipswich YMCA)
• Tuesday, June 2 – Spring Concert (7:00 PM)
• Wednesday, June 3 – Doyon-a-thon
• Thursday, June 4 – IMS Visit (Student Q&A at 9:00 AM) + Early Act Luncheon
• Tuesday, June 9 – Field Day
• Friday, June 12 – IMS Visit (9:00–10:30 AM)
• Monday, June 15 – Tentative: 5th Grade Picnic + Kona Ice + Class Gifts/T-Shirts
• Tuesday, June 16 – 5th Grade Show (7:00 PM)
• Tuesday, June 23 – Last Day + 5th Grade Moving On Ceremony (9:00 AM)

May 26 Field Trip – Boston + Duck Tour

We’re thrilled for this full-day trip for a traditional Boston duck tour experience.

• Time: 9:00 AM–2:30 PM
• Location: Museum of Science for Duck Tour Excursion

Action required:

• Submit Field Trip Permission Slip when sent home is student folders

5th Grade Mixer – Ipswich YMCA (May 28)

This event brings together Doyon and Winthrop students before middle school.

• Time: 2:30–4:00 PM
• Location: Ipswich YMCA
• Doyon students will be dismissed early to attend.
• Students should come in comfortable clothes and sneakers with socks and ready to have lots of fun!
• We encourage Carpooling at pickup to get children to and from the YMCA.

What to do:

• Parent Volunteer sign up via the Google Sheet:
• Tab 1: Volunteer
• Tab 2: Donate items
• Complete Student RSVP Form by May 21
• Complete Student YMCA Waiver by May 21

Waiver Instructions:

• Click "Register" at the top of the page.
  You will be prompted to enter an email address.
  If you already have a YMCA account, you will click on your child's name to complete the Waiver.
  If you are not a YMCA member scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Non-Member". (unless you want to sign up for a YMCA Membership)
  Once you sign up your child as a non-member be sure to go back to the original YMCA Waiver link above and click on your child's name to sign the waiver.

End-of-Year Slideshow – Photo Submission

We need your help to make this a meaningful keepsake!

Required photos:

1. Baby photo
2. Kindergarten photo
3. 5th grade photo

3 Optional photos:

• School-related memories (field days, events, performances, etc.)
• Please no non-school social events

Deadline: April 27

How to upload:

• Open your child’s folder in the shared Google Drive
• Find your folder with your child's name and click on it.
• In the upper left corner of the screen you will see a button that says (+ NEW), click on it.
• Click on "File Upload", then click on the photos from your device (computer/phone/etc) to upload the images into your folder.

Note: Submission implies consent to share within the 5th grade community (not for social media distribution per school policy).

T-Shirt Size, Class Gift Customization, Theme Selection

We will be organizing 5th grade shirts and end-of-year gifts

TO DO:

Click on this form and enter the T-shirt size, preferred name, and vote on our theme!

Quick Checklist

Please take a moment to complete the following:

• Duck Tour Field Trip Permission Slip (coming home in student folders soon)
• YMCA Waiver (by May 21)
• Mixer RSVP Form (by May 21)
• Volunteer/Donation Sign-Up (optional)
• Photo Upload (by April 27)
• T-Shirt Size Submission (by May 1)

There’s so much ahead, and we’re grateful for your support in making this a memorable and meaningful final chapter at Doyon for our students.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out anytime.

Warmly,
The Doyon 5th Grade Planning Committee

Monday, May 18: Grade 5 STE MCAS

Monday, May 18: Kindergarten Downtown Ipswich Field Trip

Monday, May 18: DEEP - Week 4 Final Monday Classes

Tuesday, May 19: Grade 5 STE MCAS

Wednesday, May 20: Grade 3 - Downtown Ipswich Field Trip

Wednesday, May 20: Grade 5 STE Make ups

Wednesday, May 20: DEEP - Week 4 Final Wednesday Classes

Wednesday, May 20: SLT Meeting 3:05 - 4:00 PM

Thursday, May 21: Paul F Doyon’s Birthday!

Monday, May 25: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 26: Grade 5 field trip to Duck Boats

Wednesday May 27: Grade 3 to Strawbery Banke

June 2026

Tuesday, June 2: 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Performance 7:00 PM

Tuesday, June 2: Kick Off to Kindergarten PM

Wednesday, June 3: Early Act Meeting 7:45 AM Room 301

Wednesday, June 3: Doyon-A-Thon!!!

Thursday, June 4: Early Act/Rotary Luncheon

Friday, June 5: Kindergarten to the Splash Pad!

Tuesday, June 9: Field Day!

Wednesday, June 10: Field Day rain date

Friday, June 12: 5th Grade to IMS, Moving Up Day!

Monday, June 15: Grade 5 Picnic/Kona Ice

Tuesday, June 16: Grade 5 Evening Show 7:00 PM

Tuesday, June 16: Kindergarten Screening

Tuesday, June 16: Report Cards go home

Wednesday, June 17: Beach Day!

Wednesday, June 17: Last day of Pre K & Kindergarten

Thursday, June 18: Kindergarten Screening

Friday June 19: NO School - Juneteenth Holiday

Monday, June 22: Beach Day (Rain Date)

Tuesday, June 23: Last day of School - Grades 1 thru 5

Curious about school safety procedures? Take a peek at the documents displayed below. These documents are shared with students at the start of the school year by Detective Joe Perna, our School Resource Officer. The documents may serve as a guide to support families in discussing school safety. As always, please be in touch with questions around school safety at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School.