Cole Miners' Dig

These four day weeks are always so jam packed with lots of learning! Be sure to read the class newsletters that are sent out each week to learn more about what is happening in each classroom, to see upcoming dates and events, and for conversation starters to use with your child.

The Cole School staff came together this morning to shower Mrs. Sherburne with some love as she prepares to welcome her first baby into the world. We can't wait to meet Baby Sherburne soon!

As much as we'd love to keep allowing the trading of the small resin animals/ducks/figures, they have become too much of a distraction from learning as we work to deal with "bad trades" and missing figures. Please have your child keep the animals/ducks/figures at home.

We have a TON of items in the Lost and Found. Please stop by the table to in the hallway outside the main office to check for missing items. These items will be on display for two weeks and will be bagged up and donated on Friday, October 31st.

School pictures have been sent home. Picture retake day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4th. Class pictures will be sent home when we receive picture retake packages. Every student will receive a class picture. If there are any questions or concerns about school pictures, please contact Coffee Pond directly at:

By phone: 1-508-907-6633
By email: Lifeguards@ coffeepond.com

The Preschool Lottery is now open. The preschool is an integrated, tuition-based program for 3 and 4 year olds both with and without special needs. Community preschoolers serve as peer models for students with special needs; these students should be toilet trained and display developmentally appropriate speech and language skills, social skills, and play skills.

3-Year-Old Preschool
The program for 3 (three) year old students runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:55 a.m to 11:25 a.m. The cost is $2,700 for the 2025-2026 school year.

4-Year-Old Preschool
The program for 4 (four) year old students runs Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:40 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. The cost is $3,510 for the 2025-2026 school year.

A student who enters the program as a community student is entitled to remain until he/she reaches school age.

Space in this program is limited. All submissions must be in by Friday, January 16, 2026. The lottery will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Families will have until February 13th to secure their preschool spot if chosen. Lottery forms received after the January 16th deadline will be saved for future openings.

You must be a resident of Norwell to be eligible for the lottery. More information is available here.

Students will meet with their Connections group on Monday to learn more about the Habit of Mind - Managing Impulsivity. See the additional information below about how parents can help their children develop this Habit of Mind.

This week the Magnificent Meerkats were recognized for being resilient, inclusive, helpful, and hardworking! These are just a few of the awesome adjectives used to describe these students that are showing expected behaviors and helping Cole School to dream big, dare greatly, and shine brightly. Way to go, Magnificent Meerkats!!!

October:

October 20 - Connections Meeting - Habit of Mind Managing Impulsivity

October 20 - Gr. 4 Field Trip - 2 classes (Thank you, PTO!)

October 21 - Congress of Councils for School Council

October 23 - Early Release Day - Conferences (all students dismissed at 12:20pm)

October 24 - Wear Norwell gear to celebrate Homecoming Weekend

October 24 - PTO Monster Mash 5:30-7:30pm

October 27 - Gr. 4 Field Trip - 2 classes (Thank you, PTO!)

October 27 - Gr. 1 Eyes on Owls enrichment (Thank you, PTO!)

October 27. - Occupational Therapist Appreciation Day

October 31 - Early Release Day (all students dismissed at 12:20pm)

October 31 - Wacky Day - no masks or weapons please

Looking ahead:

November 2 - Daylight Savings Time

November 3 - Gr. 3 Field Trip (Thank you, PTO!)

November 3 - Kindergarten Field Trip (Thank you, PTO!)

November 3 - School Psychology Week and School Psychologist Appreciation Day

November 4 - Picture Retake Day

November 5 - PTO Meeting 7pm

Bullying prevention lessons are starting around the building, and we also had great data meetings this week at each grade level. At conferences, your child's teacher will share with you if we feel that they could benefit from a lunch group, social-emotional skill building group, or individual check-ins with a counselor. I will be starting my maternity leave on Monday and out through mid-March, but my long-term substitute, Anna Mullen, will be here to run groups, host lunch bunch, coordinate 504's, teach lessons, and to be available for any social-emotional needs. She can be reached at anna.mullen@norwellschools.org.

Hearing, vision, and BMI screenings are starting this week and will likely continue into November and December. Please notify me in writing if you would like to opt your student out or if you have updated information about their hearing and vision. If screening results indicate the need for follow-up care by a physician, parents/guardians will be notified via back back mail, email and or/phone call.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends that, in addition to the routine vision screening, a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor experienced in treating children should be sought in the following cases:

• Children unable to complete, or who refuse to complete a vision screening

• Children whose disability or behavior prevents them from performing a standard screening

• Parent or teacher concerns about the student meeting academic benchmarks

• Children who receive additional educational support such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

• Parent/guardian, teacher, nurse, or screener concerns about the potential existence of a vision problem, even if the child has passed a recent vision screening

Please ensure hearing and vision screenings are being done at EACH well visit as well. We appreciate your partnership in this.

Ask for the medical report to be sent to your child’s pediatrician and get a copy for the school too. Follow all recommended vision treatments as instructed by your eye doctor. Ask your eye doctor about any additional help or tools the child might need for school and how to get them.

K-1 continued to practice throwing underhand and overhand with a partner and at a target on the wall. They also had fun playing a throwing game called Cone Hole! Grade 2 played a throwing and catching tag game called Fire & Ice. They also worked in groups of 4 throwing lead passes while moving around the gym. Grades 3-5 passed, moved to open space, defended, scored, encouraged their team while playing a fun game of Team Handball.

Tired of digging through old emails for links? Us too! That’s why we refreshed coleptonews.com — your one-stop hub for PTO news, sign-ups, events, and helpful resources. Check it out to make school life simpler!

Want updates delivered right to your inbox? Keep an eye out for our weekly emails from coleptonews@gmail.com. Not seeing them? Peek in your spam folder or drop us a note — we’ll happily add you to the list!

Monster Mash:

Friday, 10/24! Get ready for a spooktacular night of music, dancing, crafts, and Halloween fun! We can’t pull off this new event without your help — sign up to volunteer and be part of the magic (link on coleptonews.com). Details on tickets and timing coming soon!

All sign up links can all be found on the PTO website.