The Wellfleet Elementary News

Its been another exciting week at Wellfleet Elementary School! We were thrilled to welcome families and community members to Day 1 of our production of The Lorax, and what a success it was! Our students shined on stage, bringing both joy and important messages to life. As Daniel in grade 4 shared, “The donkey can talk!”, a moment that captured the magic, humor, and creativity of the performance. More importantly, our students helped us all reflect on one of the story’s most powerful lines: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

This message continues to resonate deeply within our school community, reminding us of the role each of us plays in caring for our environment and one another. Don’t miss our final performance of The Lorax tonight at 5:30 PM! We are proud of our students and grateful for the support from our families, Castle Hill, Harwich Junior Theater, and the WHAT Theater. We hope to see you there for one more celebration of their hard work and talent.

Looking ahead, we have more incredible learning experiences on the horizon:

• White Cedar Swamp Field Trip (Grades K & 1 – Tomorrow!) Our Kindergarten and 1st grade students will be heading out on an exciting adventure to the White Cedar Swamp. They will explore this unique ecosystem and learn about birds in their natural habitat. This hands-on experience is a wonderful example of how we bring learning to life beyond the classroom walls.

• Grade 5 NEED Academy Next week, our 5th graders will participate in the NEED Academy—an immersive experience that connects students to the natural world through exploration, teamwork, and environmental learning. This is always a highlight of the year, and we are excited for our students to deepen their understanding of ecology and build lasting memories together.

With appreciation,

Principal O'Shea

Adjustments to the CURRENT 25-26 School Year Calendar:

We received notification yesterday from the Commissioner’s Office at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that our waiver request (related to what would have otherwise been our final school day) has been approved.

The last day of school for students this year will be Friday, June 26, 2026.

Additional Impacts on the Current School Year:

Approval of this waiver was contingent upon the district meeting the required number of instructional hours. To ensure we meet this requirement, the following adjustments to this year’s school calendar are necessary:

• The Early Release Day for professional development previously scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026 has been canceled. This day will now be a full day of school for students.

• The last day of school (Friday, June 26, 2026) will remain to be a full day of school for students.

We want you! (and your friends)! As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we hope to that we will have a few more students that will call WES home. AS of right now, there are openings for students in grades kindergarten through 4th grade. You are encouraged to reach out to Mr. O'Shea to set up a school visit. If interested, simply text Mr. O'Shea (607) 423-1049. It's that easy!

From Monday, April 13th through Thursday, April 16th, Wellfleet Elementary School’s 5th grade students will participate in the Seashore Program, an immersive overnight environmental education experience at the National Environmental Education Development (N.E.E.D.) Academy within the Cape Cod National Seashore. Staying in a former Coast Guard Station overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Pamet River valley, students will explore beaches, dunes, marshes, swamps, and forests while learning about the natural and cultural history of Cape Cod. Guided by lessons aligned with Massachusetts Science and Social Studies Curriculum Frameworks, they will investigate topics ranging from native ecosystems and coastal geology to the lives of Native Americans, early colonists, and the U.S. Life Saving Service. Field trips to sites like Great Island, the White Cedar Swamp, and Race Point will deepen their connection to the unique and fragile environment they call home. Evening activities such as night hikes, stargazing, and group games will foster camaraderie, while the shared the experience of living and learning together will strengthen classroom community, teamwork, and personal responsibility. For more information visit the NEED Website.

Here are the current upcoming field trips planned for this year. Check back each week for any updates!

Thursday, April 9th - Grade 3 trip to Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Friday, April 10th - Kindergarten & Grade 1 trip to NPS & White Cedar Swamp 9:00am

Monday, April 13th-Thursday, April 16th - Grade 5 Trip to NEED Academy *more info to come

Monday, April 27th - Grade 2 trip to NPS and White Cedar Swamp Trail

Tuesday, May 5th - Science MCAS - Grade 5

Wednesday, May 6th - Science MCAS - Grade 5

Tuesday, May 12th - Grades K & 2 trip to Atlantic White Shark Conservancy 9:00am

Friday, May 15th - Grade 1 trip to Audubon & Mayo beach 9:30am

Tuesday, May 19th - Grade 1 walking to Wellfleet Historical Society 9:00am

Tuesday, May 19th - Math MCAS - Grades 3-5

Wednesday, May 20th - Math MCAS - Grades 3-5

Thursday, May 21st - Spring Concert & Arts Night

Wednesday, May 27th - Grades K-2 trip to TCS for Author visit

Friday, May 29th - Grade 5 Step-Up Day at NRMS

Tuesday, June 2nd - Grade 2 walking to Wellfleet Historical Society 9:00am

Thursday, June 4th - Kindergarten walking to Wellfleet Historical Society 9:30am

Friday, June 5th - All-School Amazing Race

Tuesday, June 9th - Grade 5 walking to Wellfleet Historical Society 9:45am

Thursday, June 11th - Grade 3 walking to Wellfleet Historical Society 9:30am

Friday, June 12th - Field Day (rain date 6/17)

Tuesday, June 16th - Grade 2 trip to Audubon Habitat Hike

Thursday, June 18th - Grade 5 Celebration 5:30pm

Friday, June 26th - Last Day of School - FULL DAY

At WES we are using the Committee for Children’s Second Step program in your child’s classroom. The Second Step program teaches children important skills for getting along with others and doing well in school. It also helps our school be a safe and supportive place where everyone can learn.

During the winter and early spring months, we will be teaching skills in the Second Step unit of instruction entitled: Child Protection (in grades K-5). In these lessons, students will learn three types of skills:

• Personal Safety. Students will learn important safety rules, such as safety with guns, sharp tools, and fire, and when riding on wheels or in cars. They will also learn ways to help them decide if something is safe or not.

• Touching Safety. Students will learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and rules about touching private body parts. They’ll also learn to say no to unsafe or unwanted touches, and to tell an adult if someone breaks rules about touching private body parts.

• Assertiveness. These lessons will also give students a chance to practice asking an adult for help, telling an adult about an unsafe situation, and being assertive to get out of unsafe situations.

If you have questions about the program, please contact Mrs. Francis, our School Psychologist (francisk@nausetschools.org; 508-349-3101 x231).

Thank you for helping us to make our school a safe and supportive place where everyone can learn.

FleetFund Info

Rental Assistance

Lower Cape Lacrosse

Truro Community Ed Registration

Truro Community Ed Classes

Lower Cape Children's Garden

Art Reach Earth Week

Free Clinic With NRHS Girls Varsity Basketball Team

Wellfleet Rec Create Club

Wellfleet Rec Summer Camp

Wellfleet Rec Hiking & Foraging

Wellfleet Rec T-Ball

Wellfleet Rec Co-Ed Softball

WHAT Theatre Camp - April Vacation

The Neverending Story at Harwich Jr Theatre

April Breakfast Menu

April Lunch Menu

Banana Bash at WHS

Homework Help is available to students in grades 2-5 after school from 2:00pm to 2:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. There is specific support available each of these days. On Mondays it will be Ms. Shuemaker and Mrs. Demeusy, Tuesdays Mr. Pursel and Mrs. Connolly, and on Thursday Ms. Lyman and Mrs. Botting. If you would like to sign up your child for Homework Help, please email Mrs. Belair in the front office at belairl@nausetschools.org.

Additionally, Mrs. Wallace will be inviting selected students mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursdays from 7:00am-7:45am.

As you may know, the Nauset District has discontinued its use of ParentSquare and has transitioned to a new platform. If you download the Nauset App, you will receive all alerts, newsletters, and any other info from your child's school and the Nauset district. It’s the easiest way to stay updated with school news, alerts, and important announcements.

Similar to last year, I will continue using Smore to send out our weekly newsletters during the school year. These will begin the week before our return and will continue consistently throughout the year.

📱 Download the Nauset App:

• Apple App Store

• Google Play Store

Along with the information below, you will receive a great deal of first day paperwork. Please review it and where applicable, complete and return as soon as possible this will ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information.

• Breakfast and lunch: are free again for all students! If your child eats breakfast at home and you DO NOT want them to access the breakfast offered, please let the teacher know.
• Snack: Please send your student with a healthy snack and reusable water bottle daily. We are seeking to provide a healthy snack grant on Tuesdays and Thursday, and are awaiting if we received the grant. Plan to provide a healthy snack daily until you hear otherwise.
• School Arrival: Students may arrive at school at 7:25am. Breakfast is available, and students may otherwise sit in the cafeteria until the first bell rings at 7:45am.
• Supply Lists: All school supplies are provided to our students. Thank you Wellfleet taxpayers!

• Electronics: Upon arrival, student electronics (phone/watch) should be turned off and stowed away in their backpack. If parents/caregivers need to contact your student, please call the school at 508-349-3101, and the front office can get a message to your student.

Greetings from the WES Health Office!

I hope your children are as excited to return to school as I am! I can’t wait to see their shining faces soon. Before the year gets underway, here are a few important reminders for families:

Health Requirements & Screenings

• The state of Massachusetts requires that all students be up to date with immunizations to attend school. Exemptions include:

  • Medical: must be documented by a medical provider

  • Religious: requires an annual written statement on file

• Vision and hearing screenings take place annually. If follow-up is needed, I will send a referral letter home.

• BMI screenings are conducted in grades 1 and 4.

• Postural screenings are done in grade 5.

• Puberty education using the Our Changing Bodies curriculum is provided to grades 4 and 5. Families will receive advance notice and the opportunity to preview materials.

Medication Guidelines

• All medications require both a medical provider’s order and a parent/guardian’s written permission.

• Medications must be in the original prescription bottle with prescribing information and delivered to school by an adult. No baggies of pills in backpacks, please!

• If you’re having trouble obtaining a second inhaler for school due to insurance issues, let me know so we can problem-solve together.

• Standing orders for over-the-counter acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Tums are included in the back-to-school forms.

Please remember—if your child’s medical situation changes during the year, reach out so we can develop an appropriate plan for their school day.

Exciting News from the Garden & Cafeteria!
Thanks to a Community Preservation Funds grant, WES will be installing new raised beds in our school gardens. This will allow us to grow, sample, and even serve more school-grown foods in the cafeteria! We’ll also be welcoming guest chefs for taste tests to inspire students to try nutrient-dense foods.

Our Fresh Fruits & Veggies Program will return this year with offerings on Tuesdays and Thursdays right outside the classrooms. We’re also excited to welcome back Farmer in the School, Stephanie Rein, for hands-on garden learning. And—our very first apple harvest from the school orchard is coming this fall!

All of this programming is designed to support the long-term health and well-being of our students, helping them build the skills to make healthy decisions for life.

Looking forward to a wonderful year ahead,
Nurse Crosen

At Wellfleet Elementary School, we pride ourselves on providing supports that will help all students be successful. WES follows a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) a framework designed to provide early intervention and support for students facing academic or behavioral challenges.

It typically begins with universal screening to identify students in need of assistance, followed by tiered interventions that increase in intensity based on the student’s response.

• Tier 1 includes classroom instruction and universal supports for all students
• Tier 2 offers additional, small-group interventions for those who need extra help, and
• Tier 3 provides intensive, individualized support for students with significant challenges.

If a student continues to struggle despite these targeted supports, the MTSS team will convene to evaluate the student’s progress and needs. If it is determined that the interventions have been insufficient and the student demonstrates significant difficulties, a referral for a special education evaluation will be made by the school.

• This evaluation assesses whether the student has a qualifying disability and requires specialized services to succeed in the educational environment, ultimately leading to the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) if eligibility is established.

Here is the most recent WES Waves: A Student Run Online Publication presented by our very own Mr. Staker. This is the second edition and includes reports from all students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. It is well worth the watch!

WES School Health Services-Resource page: Contact Mrs. Cope-Crosen for more information at copec@nausetschools.org

The Lawrence Fund was established in March of 2023 by Ariana Bradford (Staff Member at WES) and Joan Zukas (School Committee member and grandmother to two students at WES). The Fund was established to honor Lawrence Zukas, father to Ariana and husband to Joan. Its’ purpose is to financially support students and their families who may be in need of funds for camps, sports equipment, shoes, coats, boots, musical instruments, school supplies including technology support, etc. Request can be made to Mrs. Ariana Bradford, Mr. Adam O’Shea, Mrs. Claudia Cope or your child’s teacher. No proof of need is asked, The Lawrence Fund is just happy to help. Any additional questions can be answered by Claudia Cope at copec@nausetschools.org or by phone at (508) 349-3101.

Throughout the school year you may want to reach out to your child's teacher, or reach out to me.

All Nauset staff follow the email formatting below:

• the staff person's last name
• then the initial of their first name
• ending with @nausetschools.org

Now there is an exception to the rule: Ms. Claudia Cope-Crosen, our school nurse, is simply copec@nausetschools.org