Thanksgiving Message to Families

An article on how gratitude changes your brain

Expressing and feeling gratitude can be difficult at times, especially when we are struggling in certain areas of our lives. However, several research studies have shown that practicing gratitude and counting one’s blessings leads to more happiness and less depression. See below for ways to incorporate more gratitude into your life.

First Friends 2
This week, we’ve begun our Thanksgiving celebrations with engaging books and creative projects centered around turkeys and gratitude. The children have also finished their very own I Went Walking books, written by Sue Williams and illustrated by each student. These special books will be shared with families during the upcoming holiday vacation as a keepsake of their hard work and creativity.

First Friends 1
Our First Friends 1 class is having a blast with turkey-themed songs and activities while reflecting on the things we are thankful for. We’ve been reading stories and creating a Thankful Tree in our room to display all of the things we appreciate. Our full-day friends also had a wonderful time making a special turkey project with Kristen and Natalya from ConVal High School.

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Wishing everyone a warm and joyful Thanksgiving!

What an Exciting Week in Kindergarten!

Our Kindergarten students have had a fantastic week of learning and exploration! We’ve been focusing on counting and creating collections, which has been both fun and engaging. Students worked in pairs to create math posters, using objects they found in the classroom to represent different numbers, then adding drawings to complete their representations. Our counting skills are growing stronger every day!

In writing, we’ve reached an exciting milestone as students begin writing sight words—and some are even forming full sentences! We’re so proud of their progress and enthusiasm for learning.

Mrs. Phaneuf's Class:
In addition to classroom activities, we’ve been extending our learning to other areas of the school. One highlight has been spending time in the forest, where students have enjoyed building, playing, and exploring nature. It’s been a wonderful way to combine creativity and hands-on learning!

We’re looking forward to even more exciting moments in the weeks ahead. Wishing all of our Kindergarten families a joyful Thanksgiving break! 🍁

Turkey Talk in First Grade!

Did you know that turkeys have a body part called a snood? It’s a piece of skin that hangs over their beak! Mrs. Sullivan’s class has been diving into turkey facts this week, working together to write them as a class, creating flip books, and completing fun turkey-themed projects.

In phonics, we’re celebrating a milestone—our class has successfully finished the digraph unit! Up next, we’ll tackle long vowels with silent e. Our budding readers are making great progress!

Reading Buddies and Holiday Fun:
Our Reading Buddies time with Mrs. Beaumont’s class continues to be a highlight of the week. Together, we read Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan, a heartwarming story perfect for the season. To get into the holiday spirit, we created ornaments for the Festival of Trees, which will be displayed at the Tuttle Library throughout December. Next month, we’re looking forward to walking to the library to see all the beautifully decorated trees in person!

We’re so proud of the hard work and holiday cheer coming from our first graders. Wishing all of our families a warm and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

WHOO loves owls? Second Graders Do!

This week, our second graders dove into the fascinating world of owls as part of our science and writing lessons. Students began by asking curious questions, sharing what they already knew about owls, and then selecting subtopics to research. Through nonfiction books, magazines, videos, and class discussions, they gathered important information to enhance their understanding.

After collecting their facts, each student wrote an informative report on owls. To wrap up our unit, our budding ornithologists participated in a virtual owl pellet dissection using the KidWings website. This activity allowed our students to explore the food chain by uncovering bones and other prey items from the owl pellet.

It’s been an owl-standing week of learning in second grade! 🦉

This week, third graders kicked off a new math unit focusing on place value concepts and metric measurement. Students had hands-on experiences weighing items with grams and kilograms and measuring liquids with liters and milliliters. After practicing these skills, we worked on word problems involving all four units of measurement, strengthening our problem-solving abilities.

In addition to math, we’ve been learning to read informational texts, take notes, and turn those notes into informative paragraphs to share. To wrap up a week of learning, our class baked delicious pumpkin bread and banana bread to share with our reading buddies! It was a sweet way to celebrate all we’ve accomplished.

Last week, our fourth graders had an exciting trip to Concord to visit the New Hampshire State House and the Supreme Court. During the visit, students gained valuable insight into our local government while touring both important buildings. To make the experience even more memorable, students were surprised with a special visit from Governor Sununu!

As we wrap up our Government unit, students are getting hands-on experience by working as members of the House of Representatives or the Senate. They’ve been brainstorming, researching, and amending bills in committees. Soon, they will vote on which bills to pass on to the executive branch! It’s been an engaging and educational way to learn about how our government functions.

🍁 Counselor's Corner – Teaching Gratitude & Emotional Awareness 🍁

Classroom Lessons (K-4):

Mrs. Phaneuf’s Class:
This week, your child learned how to use body language and context clues to recognize when someone feels happy. They practiced noticing facial expressions, body language, and the context of a situation. Encourage your child to observe when people around them feel happy, whether it's family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV.

Ms. Lawler’s Class:
In this lesson, your child focused on recognizing when someone feels sad by using body language and context clues. They practiced looking at faces, body language, and understanding the situation to make these observations. Ask your child to notice when others may feel sad and practice recognizing it through body language.

Mrs. Sullivan’s Class:
This week, your child explored when someone feels calm by paying attention to their body language and the situation. Have a conversation with your child about how they can identify calmness in others, whether at home, with friends, or in stories.

Ms. Voorhees’s Class:
Your child learned to recognize when someone feels worried by using body language and context clues. Discuss with your child how they can identify signs of worry in family, friends, or characters in media.

2nd Grade:
In this lesson, your child learned that disappointment is a normal feeling that occurs when something expected doesn’t happen. Encourage your child to share what helps them feel better when they’re disappointed, and remind them that everyone feels this way sometimes.

3rd Grade:
Your child learned about the different degrees of anger—annoyed, angry, and furious—and the differences between them. Ask your child to explain these emotions and how they can manage them.

4th Grade:
In this week’s lesson, your child set a new goal for themselves and wrote three pieces of advice to help them achieve it. We also spent time planning kindness posters to present at the upcoming community meeting!

Teaching Kids About Gratitude – Fun Ways to Show Appreciation

Gratitude can shift our focus, making the good clearer and helping us handle challenges with a more positive mindset. Here are some fun and easy ways to teach kids about gratitude:

• Say “Thank You” – A simple thank you can make someone’s day! Encourage your child to express appreciation to others.
• Keep a Gratitude Journal – Have your child write down three things they’re grateful for each day. It’s a great way to reflect on the positives.
• Show Appreciation – Compliment friends or thank family for small acts of kindness. It helps everyone feel noticed.
• Do Something Kind – Encourage your child to show their gratitude through actions like helping a friend or sharing.
• Reflect on the Positives – Before bed, ask your child to recall the best part of their day to help them focus on the good.
• Gratitude Jar – Write down thankful thoughts and place them in a jar to revisit when they need a boost.
• Thank You Notes – Teach your child to write thank-you notes to express their appreciation.
• Gratitude Selfie – Take a selfie with something or someone they’re thankful for and share why it’s special.
• Gratitude Walk – During a walk, encourage your child to notice the beauty and little things around them.
• Share Your Gratitude – At dinner or with family, share something you’re grateful for. This can inspire others to do the same.

Let’s cultivate gratitude together to make every day a little brighter!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Counselor’s Corner! 🍂

Article How to Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude can be a game-changer: it has far reaching effects, from improving our mental health to boosting our relationships with others. Living your life with gratitude helps you notice the little wins—like the bus showing up right on time, a stranger holding the door for you, or the sun shining through your window when you wake up in the morning. Each of these small moments strings together to create a web of well-being that, over time, strengthens your ability to notice the good.

In Muzart this week students have all officially started working on music for our winter sing along/concert! This event will take place at 2pm on December 20th, the last day before winter break! Each grade has something special to share with any families that would like to come!

The last two Wednesdays, Jeannie Connelly visited on behalf of Children and the Arts. With her, each student was able to make a lantern to be taken home the first week of December so they can participate in the Lantern Parade in Peterborough on December 7th at 6pm. Every elementary student in the district was given the opportunity to create a lantern and everyone is welcome to come. When your student’s lantern comes home there will be a sheet attached with more information about the event.

THIS IS NOT A SCHOOL EVENT. This means it is not mandatory but also means if you and your student choose to come to the parade they must stay with a trusted adult at all times as teachers who choose to participate in the parade are not responsible for any students.

If there is inclimate weather, the parade will happen on Sunday, December 8th. Hope to see you all there!

~Mrs. Harvey

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Children and the Arts Committee is very excited about the lantern parade that we will be hosting on Saturday, December 7th (rain/snow date will be Sunday, Dec. 8th – check Children and the Arts website for any updates) in Peterborough. Your child may be making a lantern at school or at one of our community workshops. We’d like to invite you to be part of the magical festivities. Perhaps you’d like to march in the parade or find a place on the sidelines to watch as the lovely lanterns make their way down Grove street.

Here is some important information. Please read it carefully:

Date and Time

The event will take place on Saturday, December 7th (rain/snow date – Dec. 8th). The parade will begin behind the M&T Bank (35 Main St. in Peterborough) and end at Putnam Park. Poles and lights will be distributed from distribution points set up in front of the bank beginning at 5:15 and the parade will leave promptly at 6:00 (not before). Please follow the directions of our parade monitors. Please follow the parade leaders and continue to walk ALL the way around Putnam Park at the end of the parade.

What to Wear

Please dress warmly as you will be outdoors for an extended period of time. Hats, gloves, warm coats, walking shoes/boots, etc. Glove/mittens are especially important for carrying the bamboo poles.

What to Bring

Remember to bring the lantern(s)! As mentioned above, poles and lights will be distributed that evening. We will have approximately 1000 pole/light set-ups and they will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.

SUPERVISION

STUDENTS MUST HAVE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT ACCOMPANY THEM ON THE PARADE ROUTE. (Two children per adult is an acceptable ratio.) STUDENTS MAY NOT BE DROPPED OFF AT THE PARADE SITE TO BE MET AT THE END. This event is sponsored by the Children and the Arts Festival Committee (NOT the ConVal School District). Teachers will NOT be there to accompany students.

Parking

No parking will be available behind the bank. Please find alternative parking throughout town. Please do not park on the parade route which goes down Grove Street.

Weekend

If you are unable to make it to the parade, you might want to see our Lantern Installation which will be set up in Putnam Park from Friday, Dec. 6th until Sunday, Dec. 8th (weather permitting).

Lantern Etiquette:

To make this a safe and fun event for everyone in the parade, please go over the following lantern etiquette with your child before the parade:

- The waiting period before we begin the parade can be somewhat chaotic. PLEASE supervise your children.

- No running with lanterns
- No swinging the lantern about

- No overtaking the designated front of the parade.

- Hold the bamboo pole firmly with two hands – with the lantern above you in front and not back over your shoulder. Please be aware of the people around you and hold your lanterns as high as possible, where it can be seen and enjoyed by all.

- Please return your pole at Putnam Park in the receptacles provided at each exit. We will reuse them.

Have Fun!!!!

(Sponsored by the Children and the Arts Committee -NOT a Conval School District sponsored event)

Questions? Please email Jeannie Connolly at jayconn@comcast.net