PHIPPSBURG EXPLORER'S LOG
ISSUE 9 OCTOBER 22, 2026
October
23 - PES Bus Driver Appreciation Day; Say Thank You to Your Busdriver Today đđđ
26 - RSU1 Bd Meeting 6PM at MHS
27 - Gr. 3-5 Garden Club 3-4PM
30 - Picture Retake Day 9AM
PTA Smoothies
November
3 - Professional Development Day/NO SCHOOL/ Election Day
5 - PTA Glow Run Fundraiser 5-6PM on Cushman Field/Minott Walking Path Next to School. Be on the lookout for Pledge forms in today's Thursday folders.
10 - Family Math Night 5-6PM PES Gym
11 - Veterans Day/NO SCHOOL
19 - PES Thanksgiving Lunch; Students may invite ONE special guest. Guest order forms go home today.
23 - Half Day/Noon Dismissal/PK-12 Parent Teacher Conferences
24 - Half Day/Noon Dismissal for Students and Staff
25-27 - NO SCHOOL/Happy Thanksgiving Break! đŚ
Dear PES families,
Another week of October quickly rolls by. As the daylight shortens and mornings grow colder, we are soaking up all the warm sunny afternoons at PES, and wondering how October is flying by so fast. It is amazing to see all that our students have learned already this year.
Celebrations from the classroom! â¤ď¸
Kindergarten students have settled into routines and are working on learning all their letter sounds. In a choral manner, they practice the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make. Kindergarten students are also learning the skills they need to regulate their bodies and center their brains, by learning breathing exercises, or yoga throughout the day.
Yellow Card System! đ¨
On Wednesday, at a whole school assembly, we introduced students to a new behavior tracking system we are using to hold kids accountable for behavior that does not follow our school rules. When students do not meet the expectations during the day, they may receive a yellow card from a staff member. This could be on the playground or in the lunchroom, for example. The yellow card is a reminder for students to make a different choice. Yellow cards will be given to classroom teachers with a note about the behavior that was unexpected or didnât follow a school rule. This gives our classroom teachers a chance to check in with kids, while also allowing us to see if there are places kids are struggling, so we can make changes if needed. We want school to be a place where everyone does their best each day.
Star Student Award â
At PES, we are always looking for new ways to recognize our students. This year, we have a new recognition reward for students called, âYouâre a Star.â Students can receive a special (sea) star note from any staff member during the week. This could be related to behavior or academics. The âYouâre a Starâ note is displayed on a bulletin board and announced over the intercom during morning announcements.
Spirit Week! â
Next week is Spirit Week at PES. We hope students can join us in some fun throughout the week. Check out the Spirit Week flyer in the newsletter to find out more.
Thank you for taking the time to read through these important updates. OhâŚand donât forget to sign up to attend our Family Math Night in November.
Enjoy the weekend!
Mrs.Willette
This week, we met Petra the Pufferfish, who taught us about the importance of being able to organize and plan. Petra helps students understand what planning is and why it is important. Students learned that by breaking tasks into steps before beginning, and creating and following a simple plan, they can have more success completing an activity. This is especially helpful during writing, as students have to plan and follow steps to complete writing tasks.
In the classroom, planning might look like setting a goal, gathering your materials, determining your steps, and determining how much time it will take to complete.
At home, you can help students learn this important skill by creating a schedule for the day, organizing their backpack or room, cooking or baking together, following a morning or bedtime routine, building something with instructions, sorting and organizing toys, planning a family activity, breaking homework into steps, or completing a household project.
Hello Phippsburg Families!
We wanted to send out a notice that absentee/retake photo day was canceled due to the rain, and rescheduled to October 30th. Should you wish to order school photos with free delivery to school, the deadline for ordering is extended to Tuesday, November 10th. You can place orders after that deadline, but you will not receive free delivery. If you have any questions about school photos, or wish to order using cash or check, please reach out to photographer Tiffany Dumas. Email: thetiffanystudio@yahoo.com or (207) 721-8433.
THANK YOU BUSDRIVERS AND FIRST STUDENT!
First Student and all the busdrivers work hard to get all our students to and from school safely every day. We chose October 23rd to be our Busdriver Appreciation Day. Please be sure to say thank you to your Busdriver, and to show your appreciation, be sure to be quiet on the bus, staying in your seat, and following all the bus rules every day. Students may write a note or draw a picture to show they care, and we will pass it to their Busdriver that afternoon.
Protect your family from the Flu!!
On Friday, November 6th, PES will be hosting an in-school Flu Shot Clinic!
This will be conducted by licensed healthcare professionals from MaineHealth from 10:30-1pm in the school nurseâs office. Participation in the clinic is completely voluntary, and flu shots will be given only with parent and guardian consent. Medical information will be handled in accordance with privacy laws, and will be shared only with authorized healthcare providers and parents/guardians. If you have any questions about the flu shot, please reach out to Nurse Melissa.
To participate, please complete the following consent and insurance information forms and return them to the school nurse by November 4th. Paper forms were sent home previously.
If you wish to volunteer this year, supervise Great Starts, or chaperone a field trip, please register now at: https://www.rsu1.org/family-resources/volunteer-information. You only complete one form, selecting all the schools you are interested in (be sure to scroll down and choose PES, or you won't appear on our list), and remember to register each school year. Allow 2 weeks processing before a field trip.
PHIPPSBURG REC NEWS
October 31 - Trick or Trunk
Saturday, Oct 31, 5:30 - 7pm in the Town Hall parking lot. Vehicles will be decorated in their Halloween spookiest! Participating vehicles must be in place by 5pm and provide their own candy or treats. Wear your Halloween costumes while collecting goodies and admiring the decorations. Please also bring non-perishable food pantry items to drop off at the Rec Commissionâs table. Rain or shine. For safety reasons, be sure to reserve your vehicleâs space by contacting (call or text) Amy Burden by October 26th at 751-6742 or Cathy Thomas at 522-3105.
Fiesta Fitness!
Thursdays Nov 5 to Dec 17 (except Nov 26), from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the Phippsburg Elementary School gym. We are excited to have licensed local Fiesta Fitness Instructor, Diane Cohen, guide us through this exciting class! Fiesta Fitness is similar to Zumba, but less choreographed. Classes will also include Dance Kick boxing, Dance Fitness, and mat work. Chairs are available for stability for those with knee and/or balance issues. Bring a water bottle, hand towel, and properly fitting footwear. Fee for the 6 weeks is $50 BUT the Rec Commission will pay half of that for Phippsburg residents!! Please bring $25/resident/$50/non-resident on the first night of class, or you can do a drop in fee of $4 per class. Make it family time; ages 13-17 are welcome to join a paying adult for only $2 a class. You can even stop in on the first night to see what it's like before you decide to join.
For more information on class details, contact Diane Cohen by email at cohendiane0@gmail.com. FMI on payment and/or to sign up, contact Tammy Doran at 607-2483. We have our minimum of 6 participants, and room for more for this fun class!
November 18 - Holiday Paint Night
5:30-7PM at the Sportsmen's Association. A fun night to create a gift for yourself or a loved one. Follow along with a video and instructor as you each create the same acrylic canvas painting that you take home. All materials provided and no talent necessary! FREE snacks and mocktails available. Cost: $15 to be paid at the door. FMI and to sign up, contact Joyce Anderson: madamejanderson@gmail.com
ALBERT F. TOTMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Candidate Forum this Saturday, 10/24 from 11am-12pm
Join us for a special non-partisan Meet the Candidates Forum with Suzanne Andresen (R) and Trent Vellella (D), both of West Bath, candidates for Maine House District 49 (Arrowsic, West Bath, Georgetown, Phippsburg, and Woolwich), as well as Denise Tepler (D), Topsham, who is running unopposed for her second term as Senator for Maine Senate District 24 (all of Sagadahoc County and Dresden in Lincoln County). Bob Keyes will moderate the discussion.
Craft Supply Swap Saturday, November 7, 10am-12pm
Do you have craft supplies that you no longer need (yarn, fabric, felt, beads, scrapbooking materials, etc.)? Would you like to âshopâ for new-to-you craft supplies? Bring your unused craft items during library hours from Nov. 3-5, and/or stop by on Nov. 7 to pick up craft supplies. Swapping is not required.
Phippsburg Elementary School Contact Info
Email: tdoran@rsu1.org
Website: phippsburg.rsu1.org
Location: 1047 Main Rd, Phippsburg, ME, USA
Phone: 389-1514