The Pulse of the Pride

Lyme School Friends,

We have had an excellent start to October.

With Open House, Artist in Residence, and Blisters for Books in the rear view mirror, we refocus on the fall ahead. There continues to be lots happening at school. Students are active in their classrooms and engaged in their learning.

One of the fall events that is a highlight every year is the Lion's Cup. A day where middle school advisories compete in chariot building and racing their chariots to crown this year's champion. The Happy Camper advisory has been champion for two years running.

We also look ahead to our first spirit week of the year as well as the Pumpkin Book Character Show that has become a tradition at our school.

The weather has been beautiful, but it finally looks like the colder weather is here. This means layers and being prepared for cold mornings and warmer afternoons. Please ensure students come to school with what they need for whatever weather we have. It is also important to label all items, so that we can get things back to their owners. Every year, the lost and found can get filled up quickly. Thank you for your help and getting everyone's belongings back to their owners.

Please remember that school is closed on October 13th. We will see students back at school on Tuesday. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you for your partnership and please reach out if you have questions.

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Dates:

• School Closed - October 13, 2025

• Band Field Trip - October 16, 2025

• Lion's Cup - October 17, 2025

• MS Activity Night - October 24, 2025

• Spirit Week - October 27th - 31st, 2025

• Pumpkin Book Character Show - October 27th - 31st, 2025

• School Picture Retakes - October 28, 2025

Design a pumpkin or gourd to look like your favorite book character. You may use paint, glue, markers, fabric, etc. but you may not carve!

Be creative!

This has been a lot of fun to participate in the last couple of year! See the attached document to complete and bring in with your pumpkin!

Our students and staff had a wonderful time with Rob Crites from Circus Smirkus. Mohawk Rob, Rob Circus, Mohawk Man...he brought great energy to our school for two weeks. What resulted was a small show by each grade level in front of a packed house in the gym. Thanks to those who came and saw our show. And thanks to students and staff for making it great. We did video record the show and will share that when it is ready. Check out some great pics of the show!

We are always thinking about bringing Artists to our school and we are planning for next year already and beyond. If you have an idea or know of someone that might be a great fit for our students, please reach out to Dr. D'Entremont or any of the specialist teachers. Thanks so much!

Great job, students! We had excellent participation in the annual Blisters for Books. Although a little chilly this morning, it was a great day for a run!

From Ms. Wetterhahn...A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported our students and the children’s book fund for the town/school library collection through the Blisters for Books event today! Thank you to volunteers and those who came out to cheer on students. Many laps were completed and pledge sheets will be sent home next week with the lap tally on the form. Please return pledge sheets and funds by Friday, October 31st. Thank you for your support of this Lyme tradition.

Check out lap totals HERE. Lyme students ran a total of 283.3 miles! Way to go!!

At this time Mrs. Wilcox has completed the reading assessment required by the state as a dyslexia screener (Dibels) for all students K-3. We will be mailing home the results next week with our recommended next steps (no need for intervention, recommended intervention with the Reading Specialist and/or Referral for Special Education).

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Have a terrific long weekend!

Geoff Tomlinson

Director of Student Services

Noticing When to Reach Out:

As the seasons change and students get back into the rhythm of school, I want to take a moment to acknowledge how hard being a caregiver can be, and how we’re all doing our best to support kids. And - it takes a village!

As adults, we’re able to use higher-level thinking to process complex situations, consider what’s in our control, and make thoughtful decisions. But for children and teens—whose brains are still developing into their mid-20s—this kind of reasoning doesn’t always come naturally. That’s why we work on these skills during our weekly “Stanton Time” and adolescent health sessions.

Sometimes, when kids experience big or uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, sadness, or anger for extended periods, it may signal a need for additional emotional support.

If your child is showing any of the following signs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at school or to your child’s pediatrician. We can both offer support, resources, and referrals for counseling if needed.

Signs to Watch for in Young Children:

• Frequent tantrums or intense irritability

• Constant talk about fears or worries

• Ongoing physical complaints (headaches, stomachaches) without a medical cause

• Difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, or being unusually tired during the day

• Lack of interest in playing or trouble making friends

• Academic struggles or sudden drop in performance

• Repeating actions or obsessive behaviors due to fear something bad might happen

Signs to Watch for in Older Children & Teens:

• Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed

• Low energy or persistent fatigue

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or social activities

• Extreme concern with weight, dieting, or excessive exercise

• Self-harming behaviors (cutting, burning, etc.)

• Use of substances like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs

• Engaging in risky or destructive behavior

• Talking about or showing signs of suicidal thoughts

• Periods of unusually high energy or activity with little need for sleep
  
  

You know your children best. If something feels “off,” trust your instincts. Whether it’s just to talk something through or to explore additional support, we’re here to help!

Being a caregiver is one of the hardest (and most important) jobs in the world—and you don’t have to do it alone. Hope you all have a wonderful long weekend!

Warmly,
Mrs. Stanton
rstanton@lymeschool.org

Reference: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

High School Choice Events

• October 19th - Sunday - 2pm-3pm - Thetford Academy Open House - join us at one of our Admissions Open House events and explore the academic, athletic, arts, and outdoor offerings at Thetford Academy. Hear from TA’s award-winning faculty about our programs and curriculum and learn from current students about the TA community and experience. We can’t wait to meet you! Questions? Contact Enrollment Coordinator, Contact Enrollment Coordinator, Sayer Wickham - sayer.wickham@thet.net | Registration link
  
  

• November 6th - Thursday - 5:30pm - St. Johnsbury Academy Open House - Meet our Faculty, Staff, and the Administrative Team -Learn about Academic Programs, talk to coaches and club advisors, and enjoy refreshments made by culinary students. Please reach out to Melissa Murphy at melissa.murphy@stjacademy.org for further information or to schedule a tour at another time | Registration Link
  
  

• November 10 - Monday - 8am-12pm -Taste of Thetford Academy - TA VISIT DAY - FOR STUDENTS ONLY This is an opportunity for 8th graders to tour the campus and get more information about TA schedule, classes, clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. Students can order a complimentary lunch from the TA Cafe or bring a lunch from home. Transportation will be provided. Permission Forms will be distributed. Here is an electronic version
  
  

• December 10th - Wednesday, 5:00pm-6:30pm -Hanover High School - PARENT INFORMATION SESSION
  This evening session for parents and guardians of students from sending schools will be hosted by HHS ninth-grade counselors. The evening will include a tour, a student panel, and a discussion about what makes the Hanover High School experience unique.
  Please use this LINK to sign up. This event is geared towards parents and guardians.

• December 17th - Wednesday 8:00-1pm - LYME SCHOOL VISIT @ HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL
  Students from sending schools are invited to spend a half-day at Hanover High School to learn about the school and what it's like to be a student here. Visits include an information session, a tour, a visit to two classes and Council, and a Q&A with a student panel. Snacks will be provided. Students should bring a packed lunch or cash for the Caf. Lyme School will provide a bus to and from HHS. Students will return to Lyme School to finish their day unless otherwise noted by families. Please use this LINK to sign your student up for an HHS Visit Day - this is required to attend. There is also a field trip permission form you need to complete and return to Mrs. Stanton by Thursday December 11th - (Mrs. Stanton will provide paper copies to students)

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an essential aspect of how children develop and succeed—in school and beyond. Through SEL, kids learn important life skills like understanding and managing their emotions, setting and reaching goals, showing empathy for others, building healthy relationships, and making thoughtful, caring decisions.

SEL encourages fairness, respect, and kindness, helping all children feel seen, valued, and ready to thrive—in the classroom and beyond.

When classrooms feel safe, welcoming, and supportive, students are more likely to feel confident, connected, and ready to learn. In this kind of environment, they’re not afraid to ask questions, try new things, or make mistakes—all of which are important parts of learning.

CASEL’s 5 competencies of Social Emotional Learning:

Self-Awareness:

-Recognizing and understanding your own emotions
-Being honest and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard
-Understanding how your feelings, values, and thoughts are connected

Self-Management:

-Handling emotions in a healthy way
-Knowing how to manage stress and using helpful coping strategies
-Staying focused, motivated, and in control of actions
-Setting and working toward goals—for yourself and with others

Social Awareness:

-Seeing things from someone else’s point of view
-Noticing and appreciating what others are good at -Being kind, caring, and understanding toward others
-Paying attention to how others feel and showing you care

Relationship Skills:

-Speaking and listening in respectful, clear ways
-Building healthy, supportive friendships and connections
-Working well with others to solve problems together -Asking for help or offering support when someone needs it

Responsible Decision-Making:

-Finding ways to solve problems in everyday life and with others
-Thinking ahead about how your choices might affect yourself and others
-Using smart thinking and problem-solving in school and in real life
-Understanding how your actions can help your family, school, and community

Teachers embed Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into everyday lessons. This might look like group work that builds teamwork and communication, morning meetings, or class discussions that help students understand different perspectives and develop a positive mindset. These opportunities help children grow academically and emotionally, preparing them for success in school and in life.

Mrs. Stanton teaches SEL during "Stanton Time" in the K-5 classrooms and and during adolescent health with Mrs. Damren our PE/Health educator. She also supports students through small group sessions and individual meetings. She and Dr. D co-coordinate the middle school advisory program which incorporates SEL each day. Mrs. Stanton also serves as an advisor for the Student Advisory Leadership Team (SALT) - a leadership program that students apply to join. SALT members are selected through an application process and work to strengthen their leadership skills while enhancing the school’s overall climate and culture. Ms. Connie supports students’ social and emotional growth through small group instruction, “Lunch Bunch” and “Snack Bunch” sessions, and individualized support.

Together, classroom teachers, specialists, special educators, administrators, our nurses, Mrs. Stanton and Ms. Connie, create a safe, supportive environment where every child can feel connected, heard, and ready to learn.

You can find out more about Social Emotional Learning from Casel. https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel (Adapted from CASEL)

We had an exciting two weeks partnering with Converse Free Library. All K-5 classes visited the library last week for book checkouts and this week all students in grades K-8 participated in Blisters for Books. A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported our students and the children’s book fund for the town/school library collection through the Blisters for Books event today! Thank you to volunteers and those who came out to cheer on students. Many laps were completed and pledge sheets will be sent home next week with the lap tally on the form. Please return pledge sheets and funds by Friday, October 31st. Thank you for your support of this Lyme tradition.

In library classes this week, grades K-3 continued with another picture book nominated for the Ladybug Picture Book Award, which they will vote on in December. This week we read “The Bakery Dragon.” Students thought about and drew what would be a part of their “hoard” if they were dragons!

Upcoming CFL Events:

Tuesday, October 21, 3-5 p.m. After School Movie: Elio

It was really lovely to have families in the Art room last week for Open House. Thank you for stopping by! The students did a wonderful job sharing their art and our space with families. Here is a short slideshow of some recent work.

In middle school, the Sketchbook Elective wrapped up this week and sketchbooks are heading home. The sketchbooks are wildly different, have both big ideas and little doodles, and are all a story of each student trying to push themselves as artists. I am so proud of how each student engaged with the creative process!

Next week, we begin Session 2 elective: Cardboard Construction. Woot!

Have a lovely weekend!

1st graders rocked their centers this week in music class reviewing rhythm and exploring composing!

Next week Band heads to UMASS Amherst to attend the 51st Annual Multibands performance!

Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Spanish classes celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by researching and presenting about famous Hispanic figures. This was a multi-step, tech-integrated project that our Library Media Specialist, Ms. Wetterhan, and I took on together.

Throughout the process, students practiced:

• Group collaboration skills
• Spanish communication skills
• How to create an informational poster
• How to clearly present information in Capstone Create for a specific audience and purpose
• How to research using Gale, our vetted database with age-appropriate, curriculum-aligned content
• How to create citations in Gale and understand the importance of citing sources
• Tech skills such as taking screenshots, using copy-and-paste shortcuts, making voice recordings, and navigating multiple tabs

All classes encountered challenges at one point or another, but students worked through them with resilience and perseverance. I am incredibly proud of both their effort and their final products.

Posters are displayed around the Lyme School with QR codes linking to the students’ virtual projects. Viewers can read the Spanish students wrote, see their research citations, and hear them ask and answer questions in the first person—as if they are the famous Hispanic they researched.

Students worked very hard and are excited to share the virtual portion of their projects with you below. Enjoy!

3rd grade projects

4S projects

4M projects

5th grade projects

Design Lab Update: The Cardboard Carnival is Coming Together

Our Design Lab has been abuzz with creativity as 4th and 5th-grade students put the finishing touches on their Cardboard Carnival games. Using design thinking, teamwork, and plenty of recycled materials, they’ve transformed simple cardboard into interactive games that test skill, creativity, and imagination.

From whack-a-mole to mini-skee ball and pinball games, every group is iterating, testing, and improving their designs. Students are applying engineering concepts while focusing on empathy—how to make their games fun and engaging for younger players.

We can’t wait to share all their hard work in the weeks ahead as we invite the younger students into the Design Lab, where the K-3rd students will get to test the games and have some fun.

Ah, adolescence, the time between childhood and adulthood and as it turns out, a massive growth and development period in the brain.

The 8th graders have begun a research project where they are studying different portions of the brain. In small groups, students are investigating the importance of this stage of development and how important the “pruning” process is, making way for new learning.

This week brought our first session of our electives to a closed. Team tournament play ended with a fast and furious series of floor hockey. After several exciting rounds of play, the two yellow teams, ended up playing one another in the final game. Their game ended in a sudden death tie and both teams were crowned co-champions.

Students demonstrated excellent skills and play hard to earn their shared championship! Congratulations!

After a whirlwind of learning and fun with Rob Crites, from Circus Smirkus, students have made a smooth transition back to our regular schedule and learning experiences in PE.

Students in the primary grades have been learning about and practicing dynamic balance. Dynamic balance is moving balance, an important skill that our cerebellum develops throughout the growing years.

A huge thank you to Rob Crites, our fearless and fun artist for a fabulous two weeks and thank you to the Horrell family for being such kind and gracious hosts.

Check out this week's article:

How to Support Your Middle Schooler's Mental Health

FROM AMLE - A quick disclaimer: This site explores topics involving typical behaviors of young adolescents. Remember that the ideas shared here are suggestions. Every child is unique and you know them best. If you pick up signals that your child is acting outside the typical range, seek help from your school counselor, family doctor, or other specialists.

Older Shared Articles from Previous Newsletters:

Reaching and Raising Generation Alpha in Middle School

The Lyme School Apparel Store has a variety of apparel and accessories all customizable with a variety of school logos. The Lyme School PTO earns 12% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school and go Lions! #LYMESCHOOLROCKS

OUR VALUES

● Fairness ● Acceptance of Others ● Integrity ● Responsibility

● Perseverance ● Individuality ● Compassion ● Courage

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Elise Foxall, Academic Director

Geoff Tomlinson, Student Services Director