BLACKHAWKS BULLETIN

Good afternoon,

I hope the weekend weather falls in the category of "much needed rain" and NOT foreshadowing for the summer. Despite the rain, I managed to sneak off to Providence to see my son and his wife. All three of us have May birthdays and enjoyed a delicious dinner out. For those who may not be familiar, the Rhode Island food scene is pretty special, and I always take advantage of the opportunity to order some sort of fresh catch. Speaking of "fresh catch", be sure to note the Rec Department's annual Fishing Derby announcement towards the end of the newsletter.

As we return to school tomorrow morning, we will begin with our annual Memorial Day Ceremony around the flagpole. It's a very special ceremony where we take time to give thanks for those who have sacrificed for our country and remember loved ones we've lost (including pets.) We will end with School Sing. Families are welcome to join.

Tomorrow is also the rescheduled May School Board meeting. It is a packed meeting with reports from Facilities, the Cooperative Study Committee, and Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Director. We will also have the usual Superintendent and Principal reports. I've attached my report below for those who like to follow along from home. It is focused on next year's staffing decisions.

Speaking of next year's staffing, some of you may have heard that, as a result of the reduction in force in next year's budget, Melinda Russo will be leaving PES. She is moving on to a new position teaching 7th grade ELA at Woodstock Union Middle and High School and wishes to share how grateful she is for the time she spent teaching at PES. We are so happy she will continue to be connected to our school as a parent and community member! Please join us in wishing her well in her new position. She has made a significant mark on our school in a short time and will be deeply missed. Melinda is actually the brains and heart behind the Storytelling Artist in Residence we've enjoyed here at PES over the past couple of years! Her talents as an educator and drama coach run deep and I have no doubt she will be very successful in her new role.

One of the most important meetings you can attend all year is being held tomorrow night at 7 pm at the library. It is the last PTA meeting of the year and their "organizational meeting" in preparation for next school year. Among other important business, the PTA will be nominating new PTA Board Members. While all parents are members of the PTA and contribute in so many ways to our community throughout the year, without the leadership of the Board to keep initiatives on track and the rest of us organized, we would not have such a successful school-home partnership. Even if you do not intend to run for a position, your participation at the organizational meetings is important and appreciated. The meeting begins at 7 pm and they are awesome about finishing in exactly one hour. There's a Zoom link available if you cannot attend in person (see PTA section below).

As you read through the rest of the newsletter, please be sure to note the details for the June 2nd evacuation drill (exactly one week from tomorrow!) and the Lost & Found updates in the Office Notes section. Please encourage your students to swing by for missing items. And it's never too soon to start the locker cleanout :).

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Audra

Audra Bucklin, Principal

abucklin@sau32.nh.gov

603-469-3250, x223

May

"COLD" Options: (offered daily)

Assorted Pre-made Deli Sandwiches, ham and turkey. Sunbutter/Jelly sandwiches

Yogurt Parfait with Fruit and Granola

Fresh Fruit and Veggie Bar with Dinner Roll

REMINDER: CORY TABER HAT AND KITE DAY-5/22

BAGGED LUNCH ONLY- NO YOGURT OR HOT LUNCH.

CHOOSE ANY TYPE OF SANDWICH

LINK TO ONLINE MENU

Every three years, schools are required to conduct an offsite evacuation drill to practice and evaluate our plans for getting our students and staff safely offsite and reunited with families in the event our building sustained some kind of damage (e.g. weather or fire) or was otherwise deemed unsafe by our local emergency first responders. Here are a few things to know as we prepare for our drill on June 2nd.

1. All plans are made by our PES Safety Committee in collaboration with emergency first responders, town officials, and our partners at Kimball Union Academy.

2. Our offsite evacuation plan includes Kimball Union Academy as we convene our students in the Flickinger Auditorium and set up attendance and first aid locations in the building as well.

3. Students WILL be aware throughout the event that it is a drill and only for practice.

4. In the event of a real emergency, the decision to evacuate would typically be made by our first responders.

5. Our plans flex with any number of emergencies and prioritize the following:

• Attendance taking protocols at several different points throughout the drill

• Protocols for safety and supervision (along our walking route, in the event of weather events, upon arrival at Kimball Union, and during dismissal from an offsite location)

Speaking of the latter, next week's drill is timed to allow us to practice dismissing from an offsite location. The drill will begin at approximately 1:30 pm giving us plenty of time to arrive on campus, take attendance, load busses and then do parent pick up, all from Kimball Union Academy within our normal dismissal time frame (2:50 to 3 pm)

Here's what we need from you:

• Follow all instructions you receive that afternoon via our alert system. We will issue notifications as part of our practice.
• Make sure your child has comfortable shoes for walking. Unless it is thundering and lightening, we WILL be walking. In the event of forecasted thunder and lightning, we will transport via buses.
• Please update Pick-up Patrol NO LATER THAN 12PM on June 2nd
• If your child is leaving early for an appointment, please plan to get them before 1:15 pm
• If your child is returning from an appointment, please be sure they are able to get back to school before 1:15 pm OR plan to keep them home for the rest of the day. (NOTE: In the event of a real emergency, an all-school alert would be sent advising parents and visitors that the school is closed and to await further instructions for reunification with students.)
• If it is something your child does on a regular basis, and if it makes sense for your family, please have your child take the bus home that day. This will help limit the amount of car traffic at pick-up at KUA
• If you plan to pick up via car at KUA, please see traffic pattern above and note the following:
• You are NOT PERMITTED TO GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLES.
• We will bring students directly from Flickinger Auditorium to their vehicle.
• All vehicle MUST enter Campus Center Drive from Main Street. Busses will be lined up to go out the access road from Chellis so please do not come in that way.)
• Students who typically get off of P7 on Main Street in Meriden, will be dismissed as walkers from Flickinger. Adults may meet their children on the patio facing the green. There is no need to arrive before 3 pm as they will be dismissed last after all buses and car traffic has been cleared. You will not be allowed into Flickinger.
• Students who typically walk or bike home from PES will take P7 back to the school where they may walk or bike home as usual. They may be a little earlier or later than usual depending on how things go with our drill/dismissal.

NO STUDY HALL IN JUNE. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

Yearbooks are now on sale through June 1st 2026. Please print this form out (or grab a form in the foyer in the office) and give it to the office with your check.

Checks should be made out to Plainfield School.

Memo: Yearbook (students name(s)

Do you know a grandparent or other family member who wants to spend more time with your child? Would you like to help out in your kids' classroom and learn who their classmates are?We are looking for volunteers for grades K-4. The Four Winds program at PES teaches about science through observing and playing in nature. Volunteers attend five training workshops and then go into the classroom to teach the kids what they learned. Examples of subjects we have learned include clouds, water, flowers, wind, insects, birds, and much more. Kids love seeing their family members in the classroom and always look forward to the fun lessons the Four Winds Institute plans.

If you are interested or know of a family member interested, please contact Kathleen Maslan.

Several of our college students who typically help out as subs during the last month or so of school are unavailable this year. In addition, we have hired a couple of our current substitutes to fill long-term sub positions following the April break. Therefore, we are urgently in need of some additional subs through the end of the year. If you have any availability AND interest to help cover substitute needs in late April through early June, please contact Amanda Jewell or Audra Bucklin via office@plainfieldschool.org

2026-27 Needs

The Plainfield School is seeking individuals who would be comfortable working with K-8th grade students in our building during the 2026-2027 school year. Applicants must be able to follow teacher substitute plans, be dependable, and enjoy working with children. If you are interested in applying, please contact Amanda Jewell or Audra Bucklin in the office at (603) 469-3250.

2025-2026 Lost and Found…please bookmark the link below for access to our lost and found site. We amass quite the collection over the course of the year! Items are kept in a nicely organized "display" of sorts in the lobby just past the lunch area on the right.

7th grade ELA students recently completed a study of how World War Two impacted individuals in the United States. We read the novel Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac and the memoir Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. Students also read nonfiction articles about World War Two and explored artifacts from this time period from the Plainfield Historical Society's collection. After reading Farewell to Manzanar and learning about the historical background and personal experiences of Japanese Americans relocated to internment camps in the 1940’s, students designed memorials as a culminating project. The purpose of the memorials was to commemorate Japanese American people who lived in the internment camps. Groups of 7th graders worked together to design memorials with the following questions in mind:

• What will the memorial look like, and why?

• What design choices will you make, and what do they mean?

• What materials will the memorial be made of, and why?

• Will there be any interactive pieces in your memorial?

• What is the message or feeling you want people to leave with after they experience the memorial?

Students drew labeled plans of their memorials and then wrote artist statements explaining their design choices and what these choices symbolized.

The impressive completed designs included the following elements and student explanations:

• A sandfall “to represent the hardship people went through” and a waterfall to represent “leaving Manzanar, starting over, and beginning with a new understanding…Beginning with a new understanding is also being able to accept the past to move on.”

• A maze which “represents how the USA kind of got lost and made some bad decisions.”

• “We made a plot where you can plant different plants and flowers in honor of the people who had to endure the camps.” These gardens also represent resilience in the midst of a challenging situation.

• An arch “with one side symbolizing Japan and the other side symbolizing America and at the top of the arch there is a big globe being held up by a pole symbolizing how they were torn between Japan and America…The big vertical cylinder holding up the sphere represents how both countries had to climb up the ladder of re-building their relationship.”

• A pond surrounded by wildlife which celebrates diversity “represented by all of the different kinds of fish in the pond.”

• A challenging hike to a beautiful viewing spot to “represent that things will get better but maybe you have to struggle first.”

The artist statements and design sketches are evidence of how thoughtful middle school students are about literature and the world!

The EA Team was thrilled to host another successful EA Showcase this spring! Thank you to the Plainfield PTO for once again providing refreshments, which are always a big hit with students and families. I am so grateful to be part of a community that is so supportive of the arts and our students.

We are also excited to share that the PTO funded a beginner’s pottery wheel for the art room. I look forward to incorporating it into the art program and giving students even more opportunities to explore clay and ceramics.

As part of the EA Showcase, families also enjoyed our Spring Concert along with viewing student artwork, seeing PE photos and videos, browsing book selections, and connecting with members of our school community. We also want to recognize the important support and guidance our school counselor provides to students each day. Their work may not always be visible during events like these, but they are an integral part of supporting the growth, well-being, and success of our students and school community.

Events like these offer a small glimpse into what the EA Team is all about—celebrating Plainfield students, their creativity, growth, and accomplishments across the essential arts and beyond.

Thank you again for your continued support!

— Josie Wolfinger
Art Teacher

CURRENT 5th to 7th Grade Students - Please join us on Sunday, May 31st to hear about some exciting new developments with the PES LEGO League, including:

• The Club will be held primarily during the school year and co-led by Mr. Jack Maling along with past coaches Joe Bretton, Brandi George and Mrs. Thompson. We are excited to expand the club's focus on team building and coding skills instruction.
• We are hoping to schedule some exploratory sessions to see what the club is all about and get the robots built over the summer.
• As we get closer to competition in the fall, there will be some longer, out-of-school, sessions to prepare for the competition. Coach Joe Bretton will bring his years of experience to these sessions!

Hope to see you on the 31st!

Saturday, June 6th, 2026

Noble Hoops, based in Grantham, NH, is offering a low to no cost girls basketball program for:

• 3rd & 4th Grade Girls

• 5th & 6th Grade Girls

Our goal is to provide an accessible, positive environment where girls can grow both on and off the court—especially for families who may not have access to more expensive AAU or travel programs.

Program Details:

• Workouts: Saturday mornings & Wednesday nights

• Location: Grantham Village School

• Games/Tournaments: To be determined

• Cost: Low to no cost (sponsorship-supported)

We would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with students and families in your school community. I’ve attached a flyer that can be distributed via email, newsletters, or printed for posting.

If families are interested or have questions, they can:

Email: jacob@noblehoops.com

Visit: www.noblehoops.com

Thank you for supporting opportunities that help young athletes stay engaged, active, and confident.

Coach Jacob Noble

603-667-8485

jacob@noblehoops.com

www.noblehoops.com

Due to the federal government shutdown and the suspension of the SNAP food benefits the town of Plainfield’s Community Resource Room & Food Pantry is ready and available to assist Plainfield, Meriden & Cornish residents during this unsettling time.

If you are without transportation or can’t physically attend these special pick-up times, please reach out and we will try our best to arrange for a drop-off at your home.

The Community Food Pantry is located at the Christ Community Church, 1259 Route 12A in Plainfield. Across the street from the Plainfield Fire Station.

The Community Food Pantry's regular hours are the 1st Thursday, 3rd Friday & 3rd Saturday of each month from 9-10:30 a.m. During these times any residents needing to stretch their grocery budget from Plainfield, Meriden & Cornish can access food.

We are here to help during these challenging times. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Plainfield’s Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell at cr.director@plainfieldnh.org or 1-603-469-3201.

If people would like to make monetary donations to

Our local community food pantry they may do so by sending a check to:

The Town of Plainfield

P.O. Box 380

Meriden, NH 03770

In the check memo write: Food Pantry

See below for a full list of upcoming events and ongoing resources in our community.

Fuel Assistance

Any Plainfield or Meriden resident requiring assistance for housing, heating fuel assistance, electricity assistance, medication assistance and or nutritional support from the Town should contact the Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell. Contact information: 603-469-3201 or email sschell@plainfieldschool.org. All information is confidential.

Food Pantry

Residents of the Town of Plainfield can access the following local services.
Note: The food pantry and clothing swap rooms are located in the Christ Community Church on Route 12A (across from the Plainfield Fire Department). The Food Pantry is open the 1st Thursday and the 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and warmly welcomes all Town residents.

Free Clothing Rooms

The Christ Community Church has (2) very well organized rooms that contain FREE clothing for adults and children. All clothing is donated and in great condition. In addition to clothing there are also Free household items, toys & books as well. These rooms are open to the Public each Tuesday morning from 9-11 a.m.

Free Fresh Veggies & Fruit

Free fresh produce provided by Willing Hands: please check the Town calendar for dates and times.

Fight 68 Hours of Hunger Care Package Program: A box of nutritious food is delivered to your home each Wednesday afternoon to help fight hunger. The box contains a variety of foods for the entire family to help stretch your grocery budget.

Willing Hands – FREE Fresh veggies, fruit, milk, eggs, bread & proteins Every Wednesday from 11:45-12:15 p.m. Cornish Town Hall is located on the fairgrounds. Everyone is welcome!

Southwestern Community Services: Claremont NH

Providing Heating Fuel & Electrical Assistance. They also have Rental or Mortgage Assistance programs. Completed applications for eligibility are needed. These programs are open to all Sullivan County Residents please call 542-9528 for more information.

Listen Community Services:

Providing Plainfield Residents with Heating & Electrical Assistance, Food Pantry resources, Holiday Gift Baskets, School Supplies Drive, Community Dinners, Housing Helper Grants, Summer Camp Scholarships and Thrift Store Vouchers for clothing & furniture.

Located at 60 Hanover Street, Lebanon

Call for an appointment to discuss individual needs: 1-603-448-4553