Waddle's Weekly!

On the last day of school NGES has a tradition of waving off the students as they head out to summer! In order to streamline this, we only have 1 parent pick up line! Instead of kindy parents pulling up where you typically do, please following the long line of cars to the big circle in front of the school! All students will be dismissed in the main circle to families and /or buses and the teachers will be there to wave them all off!!! We wish you all a fun filled summer and looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!

**Friendly reminder that the last day is a half day. Dismissal will begin promptly at 11:45AM!

If you have medication/inhaler/epipen here at school with the nurse for your child, please plan to pick it up before the last day of school. As a friendly reminder, we cannot send medication in a backpack, so all items will need to be picked up!

This coming Monday, June 3rd is Field Day at NGES! If you have signed up to volunteer, you should have heard from Mrs. Largesse at this point to confirm your support! We are looking forward to a fun filled day and ask that you remember the following:

- Please dress your child accordingly for the weather and games (sneakers are a MUST!)

- Please send a water bottle in

- If you can, please stop by during your child's "Popsicle and Pictures" time (listed below). During this time, all students will be offered a freeze pop and Waddle's will be here to take pictures!

**Freeze Pops will be offered as part of the Popsicle and Picture station. If you would prefer your child to not have one, or if your child has a specific allergy and you would like to provide a different option, please connect with Mrs. Sudbey at sudbeyj@grafton.k12.ma.us

If you happen to be moving, PLEASE call the office to let Mrs. Taurus know where you are heading. She is compiling a list to be able to share student files with the school your child is moving to. We would like to address any moves prior to the end of the school year!

We are excited to announce an upcoming parent training session regarding the rollout of the new Individualized Education Program (IEP) in Massachusetts. As you know, the IEP is a vital tool for ensuring that each student with special education needs receives the support and resources necessary to thrive academically and socially.

Date: Thursday June 6th

Time: 7:00-8:00 pm

Location: North Grafton Elementary School-46 Waterville Street

This training session aims to provide you with comprehensive information about the changes to the IEP document. We understand that navigating the educational landscape for students with special needs can sometimes be challenging, which is why we believe that equipping parents with the necessary knowledge and resources is crucial.

We encourage all parents, guardians, and caregivers of students with special needs to attend this session. Your active participation and engagement will not only benefit your child but also contribute to a collaborative and supportive educational environment for all students.

Please RSVP by clicking the link HERE by May 31st to confirm your attendance. If you have any specific questions or topics you would like us to address during the training, feel free to include them in your RSVP.

The end of the year brings upon us some fun activities for the students as well as families! Please mark your calendars for the dates below!

June 3: K/1 Field Day: Please put sunscreen on your child at home before sending them to school!

Prek Graduations:

Mrs. Busch AM: June 5th at 11:00AM

Miss Buckley AM: June 5th at 10:30AM

Mrs. Busch PM: June 5th at 2:30PM

Miss Buckley PM: June 5th at 2:00PM

Mrs. Dumas: June 6th at 1:30PM

Last Day of Pre-k: June 6

Grade 1 Step up Day visit to NSS: June 6

Kindergarten Move Up Concert: June 11 at 10AM

Grade 1 Move Up Concert: June 11 at 1:30PM

Last Day of K/1: June 13

We are so excited for FUN FAIR this coming Saturday! Ms. Flynn will be in the Dunk Tank at 11, if you would like to give it a try make sure to be there between 11-12 to take a toss at me! There will so many different activities and fun games for students and families to enjoy!!! Hope to see you all there!

The Spring book fair is coming to NGES May 14-18! Our penguins will be visiting with their class to preview and then to shop. For more information, including about eWallet where families can add money online instead of sending cash, visit our book fair website. The fair will also be open during the Fun Fair! We are looking for volunteers to help students choose books or run the registers. No experience is required! Sign up here.

This month is Mental Health Awareness Month and Miss T thought what better way to celebrate than having the kids do a kindness challenge! We will be talking to students at school, but please feel free to share this weekend about the the challenge above and how they can participate! Looking for a good tune to listen to with your child about kindness? Check out I AM KIND, by Mrs. Parone's daughter Lindsay and Raffi!

Students and staff are encouraged to wear GREEN on May 14th to recognize Mental Health Awareness. On May 21st, students and staff are encouraged to wear a shirt that celebrates KINDNESS!

Friendly reminder that this Wednesday is a 1/2 day of school. If your child needs a bagel lunch please email Notestonges@grafton.k12.ma.us by the end of the day on Monday.

Fun Fair is just around the corner and is one of the highlights of the NGES community! In order for it to be a success for our students, we need your help! Please consider volunteering the day of, or to help bake a cake or 5 to make the day as fun as possible!

Volunteer Sign up click HERE

Bake Sale Sign Up click HERE

The Grafton SEPAC is once again hosting the Everyday Hero Award! If there is a teacher you would like to recognize, please see the flyer above on how to go about submitting a nomination! EDH is always a special way to recognize all that our teachers do to support our the inclusion of all students here at NGES!

As we waiver between cold mornings and warm days, at this time of the year we often see in increase in ticks. This is a friendly parental PSA to check your child at the end of the day:)

Dear Parents of Current NGES Grade 1 Students,

North Street Elementary School is hosting a Parent/Guardian Orientation event on Wednesday, May 8th at 6:00pm - 7:00pm to share information with you about the transition from Grade 1 at NGES to Grade 2 at North Street Elementary School. Join us for this event to meet the North Street Elementary School Administror's Mr. Wiltshire and Mrs. Kurposka!

If your child (or you know of someone who has a child turning 5) is going to Kindergarten this Fall, please click HERE to register your child! A reminder that we were asked to have current pre-k students who are going to kindergarten complete the registration process this year, as there are updated fomrs (medical) that are required. Screening dates have been set for May 14, 21 and 28! You can sign up your child for a time by clicking HERE. If you have any questions about registering for Kindergarten please reach out to the office at 508-839-5428!

Last call! If you have input you would like to share regarding your child's placement next year (this does not include teacher specific requests, as we do not accept those), please click HERE to complete this no later than Tuesday, April 23rd.

Over 15 years ago, Mrs. Sudar's (formally known as Miss Hendrix:) artwork was included in the NGES yearbook! Students love to take past yearbooks out from the library and find family members and teachers in there! The link for ordering this years NGES yearbook is now live- click HERE to place your order!

This past week we had a spirit week to highlight KINDNESS at NGES! Your children are truly amazing, bringing smiles each day and always trying to find a way to cheer up a friend, help a teacher, be a responsible student. As young as they are, they are learning the impact of their words and actions each day. We hope that you will continue the conversations at home about the many ways we can be kind to one another and make each other smile!

This coming Wednesday, our 1st graders will head to the Hanover Theatre to see a live production of the Magic School Bus! If you haven't already, please send in your child's permission slip and pop onto Chedder Up to pay the bus fee!

Keep those "Shelfie" pics coming! Once your child completes a Tower of Books Challenge, take a "shelfie" pic of them and email it to Notestonges@grafton.k12.ma.us. Students loves seeing their pics on the board!

Youth Art Month at the Worcester Art Museum is next Sunday, March 24 from 1-3 pm. Two students from NGES- Moneesh and Vivian's artwork will be on display representing NGES this year! Artwork is on display all month long in the Higgins Education Wing

Friendly reminder that this Wednesday, March 20th is a 1/2 day for students! If you would like to order a brown bag (bagel) lunch, please email your child's teacher by Monday at 3pm to order.

Thank you to all who were able to make it to Specialists Night this past week- what a turnout! It was wonderful to see your children so proud to show you around the school and all that they are learning about in their specials classes! And a huge thank you to Mrs. Casperaites, Miss Runne, Mrs. Largesse, Mrs. DuFault and Mrs. Murray for bringing to life the many different ways our youngest students learn!

Next week (March 18-22), we will have a spirit week to reinforce one of our top school rules; BE KIND. We hope you will support your child in participating in some or all of the days! In addition to spirit days, classrooms will also have a kindness celebration and we are super excited to bring back the one and only OOCH for an all school enrichment with a focus on being KIND! Thank you to our amazing PTG for supporting our all school enrichment events!

Kindergarten Registration Information has been posted, click HERE. If you know of families in town who have a child who will be 5 year's old on or before to September 1st, let them know the online registration will begin on March 1st and will be available through our website, facebook and local Grafton sites!

**Prek Families- you will need to register online. Updated information such as medical will be required.

The SHELFIE Challenge is in full swing! It's oh so simple! Once your child completes a challenge, take a "shelfie" and we will add their picture to our tower of books board! Students love to see their "selfies" posted, so complete a challenge and email a pic to Notestonges@grafton.k12.ma.us!

The Tower of Books Challenge is an on-going challenge throughout the remainder of the school year! Each time your child completes a challenge, we will encourage them to take a new one to bring home. There are 5 challenges in all and they can be completed in any order! Or, if your child likes a particular challenge they can keep doing that one over and over again! There is power in choice and our hope is to support your child's choice in what they read/listen to so that they build their love of reading!

Our Wellness Advisory Committee’s purpose is to recommend and/or review district-wide policies to promote overall student wellness. We are looking for representatives from staff, secondary level students, and parent-guardians of K-12 students interested in helping us with this mission. We are meeting this year at 3:30pm - 4:30pm on March 18th, April 22nd and June 3rd at Grafton High School. Please email Roseanne Kurposka at kurposkar@grafton.k12.ma.us if you are interested in joining our district-level committee.

Many of our classrooms are so close to meeting the goal of having nearly 80% of the class having completed the 1st Challenge prior to the break! If you are in need of a challenge, please click on the attachment below. We will tally up the numbers on Wednesday and the classrooms that meet the goal will have a Flashlight Reading in the Gym with the others who meet the goal on Friday! Keep on reading and being read to NGES!

On Wednesday February 14th, students will have the opportunity to exchange Valentine's with the students in their class. A friendly reminder- we have a no food policy, due to allergies. If you would like to send in Valentine's with a special attachment- please consider stickers, pencils, etc!

**Please note, teachers will oversee activities for this day. Our next classroom celebration will be in March (run by room parents) to celebrate KINDNESS!

Mrs. Largesse is hoping to take all classes on a snowshoe hike sometime this winter during their PE class, if snow conditions and temperatures allow! She would appreciate several parent volunteers from each class to assist with helping the kids put on their snowshoes and to come along on the walk. If you have some time to volunteer, have a CORI check on file with the school, and would like to help, please email her at largesser@grafton.k12.ma.us. If you want to help but do not yet have a CORI on file, please see Mrs. Tauras in the main office as soon as possible to process the form.

Mrs. Largesse will be in touch when it looks like conditions are right. Thanks in advance for your support of this wonderful opportunity for the students!

February 15th is Angelman Syndrome Awareness day and we would like to extend the invite to join our staff in celebrating all that our students with AS have accomplished as well as our teachers have learned from students with AS. So- wear BLUE on February 15th to show your support and if you know NGES Alum Logan- know that your support means so much to him and his sister Gracie (current 1st grader).

This past week, we saw a spike in illness here at NGES, primarily the stomach bug:(. As a working parent, I understand the challenges of balancing when to keep a child home with the demands of work. That said, I would like to ask that you please adhere to our district policies around illness. If your child has a temperature of 100 or higher, or has vomited or had diarrhea, you must keep them home until they have been 24 hours free. The importance of this cannot be overstated, as it impacts other students and teachers alike. Thank you in advance for helping to keep illnesses like the stomach bug from spreading- after it going through the Flynn home for the past two weeks, believe me, it is anything but fun!

February 4, 2015, was the first annual Global School Play Day for students in schools around the world. In year one, over 65,000 students participated! Since 2015, over a million students from 75 Nations were given the gift of unstructured play time.

NGES and SGES will be taking part in Global School Play Day for the second time on Wednesday, January 31st. Each grade level will enjoy the day in different ways, but ultimately looking to offer more opportunities for free play throughout the morning! We hope you will engage in a playful manner with students, question and encourage their curiosity and enjoy the day!

Friendly reminder that this Wednesday, January 31st is a 1/2 day. Dismissal will be as follows;

AM and full day Prek: 11:30am

Kindy/1st grade: 11:50am.

**If you would like to order a bagel lunch to be sent home on the 1/2 day, please email Notestonges@grafton.k12.ma.us or your child's teacher.

Friendly reminder about snow delays. If a 2 hour delay is announced, the school day for our Kindergarten and 1st graders will begin at 10:45am. If your child rides the bus, please add 2 hours to the time at which the bus typically arrives, but also consider the road conditions and know that the buses may be a bit later. For our preschool students, if a 2 hour delay is called, then there is no AM preschool on that day. The PM class will attend at their regularly scheduled time. The Full Day students will arrive at 12:30, with community peers leaving at their regularly scheduled 2:00 time.

Next Tuesday, February 6th, we will celebrate the 100th day of school in Kindy and 1st grade (prek has it's own timeline:). It is hard to believe that we are already marking the 100th day of school! Your children have been having fun while learning each and every day and we could not be more proud of them! Make sure to ask your child(ren) how they celebrated the 100th day when they get home on Wednesday!

Today was certainly a challenging day at NGES. It is incomprehensible to consider the loss of a child, however we came together as staff to remember and talk about Anthony, to support one another and to discuss how to support all students. In recognizing that this may be the first time you as a parent have had to consider a conversation like this, we have set up a virtual meeting with members of the Riverside Trauma Center (they were also here to support our school today). Please see below for information. All are welcome to join.

Riverside Trauma Center presents "How to Talk with Your Children About Traumatic Events."

Join us tomorrow evening, January 17th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm ET for a conversation on how to talk to children about sudden death in a safe and supportive manner, spot signs of trouble, and seek support when needed. We’ll answer your questions, offer advice, and share helpful resources available to you.

Click HERE for the link to the meeting.

Services for Anthony:

Additionally, Anthony's obituary has been shared by the family, click HERE. As a school. to honor and remember Anthony, this Friday, we will be wearing NGES shirts and/or shirts with trucks/cars on it as Anthony was a Monster Truck fan. We encourage your child to join us in showing our support for them on this incredibly difficult day.

We're fast approaching the 100th day of school, scheduled for February 6th if there are no snow days! This milestone, initially seeming so far out in September, is now within reach as we hit our stride midway through January. We're so very proud of your children's progress since the start of the year. Walking through classrooms, hearing students tapping and blending sounds, sharing story ideas, recognizing beginning sounds of words, engaging in numerical discussions, and problem-solving fills us with pride. Their enthusiasm for learning is just awesome, and they are so eager to share their experiences. Don't forget to ask them about the highlights of their day and encourage them to persevere through challenges, where they will find the most success!

Next week, students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 will undergo the second benchmark assessment of the year using DIBELS (Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Learning Skills). This standardized assessment evaluates specific skills related to early literacy. Additionally, Grade 1 students recently participated in the STAR assessment in Math and will undertake the Reading assessment during the week of January 22nd. These assessments, along with in-class demonstrations of skills, provide valuable insights for teachers to tailor their instruction.

In the week of January 22nd, some students will receive progress reports, highlighting significant progress or decline in skills or those receiving Remedial Reading support. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

For those who haven't logged into powerschool, a letter with instructions will be in your child's backpack on Tuesday. We hope you will take the time to review your child's report card for December and the progress report for January, if applicable.

Lastly, with the potential of snow in the forecast, please remember that students go outside for recess daily if the temperature is above 20 degrees. For playing in the snow, students need all 5 items (hat, mittens, jacket, pants, boots).

~Julie Flynn

Last week we had over 35 students complete their first Tower of Books Challenge! Each time a challenge is created, the students form is graphed on the board for them to track and see! There are now 5 different challenges to choose from as well! We are looking forward to hopefully seeing all classes reach 80% of students having completed their first challenge prior to February break!

Hopefully every enjoyed the snow yesterday! I am sure students are excited to play in it and we look forward to getting outside today (and maybe tomorrow) before the rain melts it away! Please make sure to send your child in today with a bag of snowgear (hat, mittens, snowpants, boots) in addition to their jacket.

A friendly reminder for our prek students what the day looks like when there is a delay. If there is a 2 hour delay in Grafton, there will be no AM preschool. The PM class will attend at the regular scheduled time. The Full Day students will arrive at 12:30pm, with community peers leaving at their regularly scheduled 2:00pm time.

For our K/1 students, school will begin at 10:45am. Arrival procedures will be the same. If your child takes the bus, please plan to be outside waiting 2 hours form the typical time!

This past week, your child brought home their first Tower of Books Challenge! We hope you will make time to listen to and read with your child to complete the first challenge!

The United States Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts will be holding an online webinar for adults that will bring awareness to the dangers children face online and to educate adults on how to keep children safe. There is an attached flyer as well as the registration link below which you can copy and paste into an email to distribute. Please feel free to share this information with your communities. Space is limited and registration is required in advance.

Date and time:

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 6:30 PM | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) Log in begins at 6:00 pm

Register link: (Copy and paste into Chrome browser for best compatibility)

https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r89884ccf204c605b8e466eb4be8aa854

Please direct questions to USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

As we return from the break, I am wishfully going to believe that we will get snow this month! Just a friendly reminder that ALL students go outside for recess each day. While students may be returning from a cold or you feel that the weather is a bit chilly, we do not have the ability to have students stay indoors on an individual basis. If the real feel is above 20 degrees, we will all go outside for recess. Fresh air and moving around outside is necessary for our students and truly enjoyed by all! And while this past week we had what felt more like spring temps, the forecast ahead (see picture!) shows the possibility of snow and so the second part of this reminder is about what is needed for snow play!

In order to play on the structure/snowy fields: Students must have ALL 5 items: hat, gloves, jacket, snowpants and boots.

If a student does not have ALL 5 things: they will be able to play on the hardtop.

If a student is in need of any winter items, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. T at talambekosk@grafton.k12.ma.us or Mrs. Sudbey at sudbeyj@grafton.k12.ma.us.

This coming week, your child will bring home a flyer explaining our Tower of Books Challenge. This home to school reading challenge is one that all students, prek-1 can participate in by reading or being read to! Our first challenge will be throughout the month of January and leading right up to February break. The goal will be for 80% of students in each class to complete Challenge #1! The classrooms that meet the challenge will earn the opportunity to join a huge flashlight reading party just before the break. Last year, this was a HUGE hit! The Tower of Books Challenge is a great way to engage with your child at home and connect with them around a love of reading, we hope you will join your child in participating!

The yearbook contest has been extended until January 10th. You can submit your response online or by sending in the original to school!

Good afternoon,

As we head into the final week of school for the 2023 school year, we wish all who celebrate Christmas next week safe travels and a day filled with laughter and joy. And to all of our students, as we head into a new year, we look forward to watching them continue to grow and learn!

I read somewhere this morning that there is only a 19% chance of us seeing any of the white fluffy stuff in the next week or two. Not sure about you, but I do enjoy seeing snow out there once we hit the 30 degree mark! That said, we continue to have a number of students come to school wearing only a shirt or light sweat. The temperature combined with the wind, makes it quite chilly outside. Please send students in with a jacket!

A friendly reminder that we are on break from December 22- January 1st. We will return to school on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024!

~Julie Flynn

Are you a holiday type of card family? Or, like me, a New Years type of card family (because I miss the window for the holiday:)? Either way- if you have an extra, please send one in to the office! We love to display them from here on out! The students love looking at them while in the office. Instead of "Where's Waldo?" they love to play "Where's ________?" choosing from all the students and staff they know!

Our school swag has been a HUGE hit! We had several requests to re-open the store. This is the last chance for NGES gear, the link will close on 12/19. Items will ship after the holiday! Click HERE to see!

Good afternoon and wishing those who celebrate Hanukkuh a year ahead of peace and joy. My apologies to those who eagerly await Waddle's Weekly update, only to be disappointed that this past weekend I did not share one! Sunday was a busy day, with the NGES Frosty Stop serving over 500 people at the pancake breakfast! The event was amazing, thank you to all who volunteered- both young and old, those who attended and those who brought the event together! It was the epitome of a community event- bringing us all together to enjoy the rainy day with crafts, pictures and of course, pancakes!

As we continue on in December, all families should have access to reviewing your child's Report Card and/or progress report (for special education only) through the PowerSchool Portal. Everything was released on Friday afternoon. We hope that you will take the time to review your child's progress, as they have all been very hard at work, learning the many foundational skills that will support their learning from now til forever! Teachers have taken great care, time and thought to assess your children and provide you with as much valuable information as possible in order to create a strong connection between school and home. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!

A weirdly warm weekend it was! That said, we did go outside Friday with a temperature of 22 degrees. A friendly reminder, that we go out to play if the real feel is over 20 degrees. The fresh air, particularly during the winter months when colds are making their way through, is good for all! Please ensure your child comes to school with what they need to enjoy this time! A jacket, hat and mittens are a must! Once the snow falls, we will also ask that you send them with snow pants and boots. If you are in need of any winter items, please let me or Jean Sudbey know.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Julie

We will be performing state required Health Screenings during the next few months. If you would like to opt-out of any of them please contact her via email, sudbeyj@grafton.k12.ma.us. or phone 508.839.5483. The 1st Grade is screened for Hearing, Vision, Height, Weight. Prek and Kindergarten is vision.

Friendly Reminder: PLEASE be sure to send your child with sneakers in their backpack to change into whenever they wear boots to school. Especially on their PE day, sneakers are VERY important for safe movement in the Gym. Thank you!

NGES swag arrived yesterday and should have come home in your child's backpack! If you ordered something and it did not arrive, please let us know! We have two big boxes to deliver to NSS and there is always the possibility it is in one of those boxes!

NGES is once again teaming up by classrooms, to create dinner baskets for the Grafton Food bank and those locally who are in need of support this holiday season. You should have received a flyer like the one above with a specific item for your child to bring in, as well as $1. We hope that as many families as can will join in to not only support local families in need but also to support teaching our youngest students the power of service and support in our own community!

Good morning,

I hope that all of our families were able to take time this month to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for these past few days. On behalf of our entire staff, we are so very thankful to each of you for sharing your children with us each and every day. Their energy, smiles, perseverance and curiosity are unmatched and they, along with our staff create an atmosphere at NGES that is simply the best! This past month, we began Student of the Month at NGES. Every student in k/1 will be chosen at some point in the year to be the SotW! As part of the activities, they share special items from home, create a poster and my favorite part is that I get to eat lunch with them (typically on Thursdays)! During our luncheon, students and I share about ourselves outside of school. They are so proud to share about their families and the things they like to do as a family. So, while we consider the ways we are thankful during the month of November, know that your students keep it going all year long!

As we finish the month of November, our students are fully integrated in the learning process. While our preschool students continue to be exposed to the novelty of learning, our Kindergarten and 1st graders are starting to make connections from foundations skills to that of those they will apply as life long readers, mathematicians and writers! Teaching and learning go hand in hand, so you have likely heard that we are shifting our instructional practices in reading to more closely align to the Science of Reading. Teachers across the district, including four here at NGES, are piloting different reading curriculum and meeting regularly to discuss the programming. Together we are identifying exciting components to each program as well as challenges and collectively working to determine how we will proceed moving forward. We look forward to sharing with you throughout the year, however please reach out if you have any questions!

Heading into December means we have surpassed the 50 days of school mark which means report cards are coming soon! On December 8th, report cards will be shared via the portal with all k/1 families. Preschool families will receive progress reports in January. If you have a student in k/1 and need support in accessing the portal, please click HERE.

Lastly, with December comes much colder temps and a windchill that makes recess chilly for sure! Please send your child(ren) to school with a jacket and if needed a hat and mittens! ALL students go outside daily as long as the temperature is above 20 degrees. Please note that we do not have the staffing capacity to keep students inside that 1.do not like the cold or 2. are recovering from a cold. If students are in school, it is expected that they are healthy and can attend all components of school. The only exceptions are for students with a physical injury that limits their access to the playground (broken arm, leg, etc.).

Looking forward to a wintry wonderland next Sunday as part of Grafton Celebrates the Holidays! Waddles will be out and about enjoying pancakes- will you be here?

~Julie Flynn

Our book fair will be this week, Tuesday through Friday! Students will have one day to preview with their classes and another to shop. For more info, see our book fair webpage.

We're looking for volunteers! Please sign up here.

To all of our families who began the celebration of Diwali today, we wish you a year of happiness and joy ahead. We look forward to sharing in the excitement of a new year with your child as we return to school tomorrow, which subsequently is World Kindness day!

Thank you to all who were able to connect with teachers at parent teacher conferences this past week. It is our hope and our goal to keep an open line of communication with our families throughout the year but conferences offers a special time to really focus in on your child and all they are learning here at NGES! If you were unable to schedule a time this past week, please reach out to your child's teacher as they are more than happy to arrange a call or meeting to connect!

This Waddle's Weekly will take us through next week as well, as it is a short week with the Thanksgiving break having us off from school Wednesday-Friday. We hope that during this time, families are able to spend time together, simply enjoying the time that brings your together. For my family, Thanksgiving is a time to just be. We are sure to have some sort of movie marathon, go for our version of a turkey trot, rake the leaves that don't seem to be blowing away and make one last apple crisp this fall! As our oldest entered high school this past fall, we have truly entered the stage where time appears to move faster than we would like. The idea of having a day or two extra to enjoy time as a family, which of course will include us pleading for help with raking and outdoor clean up, will certainly be welcomed! I hope your family too enjoys the downtime together. If your family travels at this time of year, we wish you safe travels and minimal traffic:)

~Julie Flynn

Should you want your child to have their picture retaken- the retake date is November 13th at 9:30. If your child is a PM prek student, you can bring them by at 9:30 just to have their retake!

The colder weather is upon us! Please make sure your child comes to school each day with the appropriate clothing to go outside for recess! As long as the real feel is over 20 degrees, we will be outside! We do have a collection of "extras" (coats, pants, mittens, hats) when needed. If your child is in need of any warm winter clothing, please reach out to Miss Pilski, our school psychologist and she can assist in getting what your child needs.

Good afternoon families,

We hope that you and your family enjoyed this past weekend! The weather was simply perfect, reminding us of all that New England has to offer! Crisp fall air with a hint of sun to keep us outside a little longer- the Flynn's even managed a break from soccer games to rake up the front of the house leaves!

As we head into the week ahead, I want to remind you of a few things as this week's schedule is a bit different. Wednesday evening, we will hold parent teacher conferences. Then on Thursday, there is no school for students, as teachers will again use this time to meet with families to discuss student progress. Parent teacher conferences are a nice opportunity to hear of your child's progress as we head into the third month of school. Your child’s teacher(s) are prepared to share information with you, and we hope that you will add to the conversation about your goals for your child as well. If you have not scheduled a conference yet, please make sure to reach out to your classroom teacher.

Monday 11/6: Normal Day of School

Tuesday 11/7: Normal Day of School

Wednesday 11/8: Normal Day of School, conferences from 5-7pm

Thursday 11/9: No School- Parent- Teacher conferences

Friday 11/10: No School Veteran’s Day observed

We look forward to another great week here at NGES! Let's enjoy the warm temp's while they last, looks like later in the week will be a bit colder!

~Julie Flynn

Parent-Teacher conferences are coming up on November 8th (evening) and 9th (daytime). We hope you will take time to meet and learn all about your child's transition to school this year and all that they are working on each and every day! As proud as you are as parents, our teachers are also incredibly proud of your children and love to share all of that with you! Classroom Teachers have shared via email a link to sign up- if you need help signing up, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Should you want to schedule a meeting with one of the following specialists, please click on their link below. Please note that our special education and reading specialist will join in with classroom teacher meetings!

Kate Runne (Art): Click HERE

Jodi Casperaites (Music): Click HERE

Robin Largesse (PE): Click HERE

Kym DuFault (Technology): Click HERE

Sarah Keith (Speech/Language: Click HERE

Samantha Hendrix (Speech/Language): Click HERE

Tracey McCable (Speech/Language): Click HERE

Kristina Talambekos (Adjustment Counselor): Click HERE

Jenna Pilski (School Psychologist): Click HERE

A copy of our District’s Asbestos Management Plan is available in each school and at the main administrative office during regular school hours. Inquiries regarding the management of asbestos-containing materials in our schools should be directed to our District’s AHERA Designated Person, Dr. Frank Rothwell, who can be reached at:

Grafton Public Schools

30 Providence Road

Grafton, MA 01519

rothwellf@grafton.k12.ma.us

508-839-542, ext 1014.

Please click HERE to learn more about our annual Book Parade, including examples!

Friendly reminder that Wednesday is a half day for all students. If you would like to order a lunch (bagel lunch) please let your child's teacher know by Monday afternoon. See below for dismissal:

Prek: 11:30am dismissal

K/1: 11:50am dismissal

Thank you so very much to the PTG and to everyone of our students and their families for making the Fun Run such an incredible success! While we are waiting on the final numbers, we do know that we crushed our goal of raising $50k! The funds raised from this event go directly to NGES and NSS to support our enrichment programs, field trips, mini grants and so much more! We could not reach that goal without all of your support- THANK YOU! Stay tuned, as meeting this goal means a pie eating contest will take place here at NGES! Still working out the details but I am sure it will be a blast!

Next month we will hold our parent-teacher conferences. These meetings are a great opportunity for parents to connect with teachers and hear about how your child is adjusting to school and to hear about all they are learning about at school. Please see below for the time frames in which conferences will be offered. By the end of this week, your child's teachers will have emailed out a link to sign up for a time that works for you. Additionally, I will send out an email for specialists conference links. We strongly encourage all families to make the time for these important meetings, as they set the stage for a strong connection between home and school.

Wednesday, November 8th: 5:00-7:00pm

Thursday, November 9th: 9:00-3:00pm

Picture Day will be this Monday, October 16th. All students in AM/Full day prek, Kindergerten and Grade 1 will have their picture take first thing in the morning between 9-10:30am. PM prek students will have their picture taken right after arrival around 12:45pm. Should your child be absent on picture day, we will share a make up day next week!

October 18th - Grafton Public Schools -

Influenza (Flu) and COVID Vaccine Clinic for Students

2:00 P.M. to 5:00 p.m.

Grafton Middle School Auditorium

Offered by MA Dept. of Public Health and Osco Drug

If you have any questions, please email Jackie Davis, Nurse Coordinator, at davisj@grafton.k12.ma.us.

The Fun Run is this Thursday! Weather permitting, families are welcomed to come cheer your child along! Please see the schedule above. Reminder that visitors should stop at the table outside the front of the building to get a visitor sticker before heading to the run. We look forward to a great event, our biggest fundraiser this year to support our schools!

What is the SAC? A School Council is a representative committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, and community members of a particular school. A council is required under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C. Together we support the school towards achieving it's goals for each school year! We are currently in need of both a community representative and one parent representative.

Still interested? Email flynnjy@grafton.k12.ma.us

On Wednesday, our NGES fundraiser will kick off! Our goal is to raise $50,000 for enrichment and field trips.

We are so excited about this fundraiser because it will be fun for all our students as they take part in Booster’s legendary character-building program, enjoy the North Grafton/Fun Run and get a great boost of school spirit too!

Registration is NOW OPEN for our main fundraiser of the year.

Head to www.mybooster.com today to get your student(s) registered. Thank you for your support!

If you would like to come cheer your child on for the Fun Run, check out the times listed below!

The DPH and Osco Drug are scheduled to offer a Student Flu Vaccine Clinic on 10/18. It will be in the Grafton Middle School Auditorium from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm for all students. A sign up link will be shared, stay tuned!

Over the past week, our entire school began recognizing all the ways in which our students adhere to our school expectations: Be Kind, Be Safe and Be Responsible. Students are recognized for demonstrating specific behaviors that we want to maintain or increase throughout the school year. The students have been so proud of themselves and their classmates! If your child shares that they received a penguin print card or stamp, ask them why!

A few friendly reminders;

1. Please consider taking family vacations during scheduled vacation weeks. If not, understand that your child will miss key instruction when they are out for a week or more, and it is not expected that teachers provide work ahead of time. Particularly at this age, nothing can replace their time in the classroom!

2. Please do your best to have your child at school before 9:00am. We begin accepting students at 8:45am. Teachers begin morning meeting at 9:00am and so if your child is late they will likely feel rushed trying to settle into the day as their classmates are already in the midst of an activity.

3. Please try to limit early dismissals. Our students are engaged right up until dismissal at 3:20pm. Often the last block of the day is for Writing or Science- both important and we do not want students to miss them!

That said- we understand illness will still happen and we thank you in advance for being mindful of keeping your child(ren) home when they are ill.

Thank you so much to everyone who reached out to be a room parent! On Friday, I reached out to all of the Kindy and 1st grade room parents. I will be connecting early this week with the Prek room parents. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to all of the celebrations this year!

…Stay at Home!

Unless a classroom has asked for toys and items to be brought in from home (example: class has earned a "stuffy" or "share" day), we are asking for parent help in having children not bring them to school, or to before and after school care. These items are important to your children and we certainly do not want anything to accidentally happen to it here at school, or on the bus. These items although at times comforting, can also be a distraction to learning. We appreciate your help with this!

With the addition of a school adjustment counselor, we are hopeful to offer more lunch bunch groups throughout the year. Please see above for the groups Miss T will be starting up in October. If you are interested, please click HERE to print, sign permission and send back to school. Please note that groups will run based on numbers. If there are high numbers for a group, Miss T will connect to let you know when your child's group will run (some will start in October, others will start after the December break).

We are still in need of room parents for the following classes only:

Ms. Busch AM and PM

Ms. Buckley AM and PM

Mrs. Dumas- full day prek

Mrs. Minardi- kindergarten

If interested, please email flynnjy@grafton.k12.ma.us

If your child is in need of a lunch on the 1/2 day, please email notestonges@grafton.k12.ma.us by Monday at 3pm. The brown bagged lunch will be bagel lunch.

Throughout the year, our first graders will participate in the STAR assessment to help teachers understand what students know, need to know and/or need support with. Parents can receive an update on how your child did, however you will first need to register in order to gain access to their results. Please click HERE for how to do that!

This past Wednesday, all students transitioned from their cars, Kidsborough or their bus to what we call "Bus Community Meetings". During this time, students met with two teachers and the students for whom they ride a bus with, or as a group of students who ride in cars to discuss the ways in which they can "Be Kind. Be Safe. and Be Responsible" when arriving and dismissing from school. Together, teachers modeled and students practiced, they created and signed off on a set of expectations and we will present these to each bus this coming week. Consider asking your child- How can you be safe, kind and responsible during arrival and dismissal?

All families have been asked to update their demographic data through powerschool (either through the registration process or by logging in - see last weeks update for directions below:). That said, we are seeing a glitch in the response to the questions about use of photographs for our students. For that reason, I am looking to cross check our list. If you opted to not have your child photographed for the purposes of sharing on Facebook/Twitter, please send me an email at flynnjy@grafton.k12.ma.us. I realize this is redundant and for that I apologize, however as we have begun to post more frequently I want to ensure I am respecting all requests:)

Would you be interested in being a Room Parent for your child's classroom? If yes, please review the Room Parent FAQ! If after reading through the fabulous hopes and dreams of how you can support your child's class, if you are all in, please email me at flynnjy@grafton.k12.ma.us. I will accept names through Friday, September 22nd. We typically take 2 parents per class and ask that you can plan for and support the dates shared in the FAQ above. If more than 2 submit, I will put them in a hat and choose 2! We are incredibly appreciative of the support of our families provide- thank you in advance!

Throughout the year, you might visit your child's classroom as a Mystery Reader, as a room parent or maybe to support our Book Fair. Please note that when visiting the building, you will need to provide your license as part of our signing in system. When you enter the office, please give your id to Mrs. Tauras and she will help you to scan it, and retrieve your personalized sticker!

Arrival: Parents should WAIT to enter the prek circle until 9am and/or 12:30pm. Please note the buses need to pull in prior to any cars pulling in. A staff will wave you over. This ensures our Kindy students do not get stuck behind prek. Once you are pulled up to the curb, all parents are asked to wait in their car. Parents are asked to have their Prek K student seated on the right (curb) side). A staff member will come to the car to help them unbuckle and get out of the car. All prek students were given a name tag for their passenger side window. Please keep this in your passenger side windshield. This allows the staff on duty (who may or may not work directly in your child's class) to identify them and their teacher to ensure they walk them to the correct class. Once your child is safely out of the car you MUST wait for the car in front of you to pull forward and leave. Please do NOT pull to the left and pass parked cars or buses (it is illegal in MA to pass a bus with it's "stop" sign out).

**For dismissal at 3PM: Parents should pull up along the entrance and stop/park along that side prior to turning into the Prek circle. At 3pm, Mr. King or a teacher will come out and wave you over ensuring that the buses have pulled up first. Cars will then pull up behind the buses on the sidewalk. Once on the sidewalk, please remain IN your vehicle. A staff member will then come out and radio which families are there and a staff will then walk your child to your car and help them in and buckle them. Once your child is safely buckled in the car you MUST wait for the car in front of you to pull forward and leave. Please do NOT pull to the left and pass parked cars or buses (again, it is illegal in MA to pass a bus with it's "stop" sign out).

Throughout the year as a school we learn a new vocabulary word each week. The focus of the words, is on the work we do around social emotional learning. We begin our Word of the Week by learning about the acronym C.A.R.E.S. which is part of Responsive Classroom which our teachers use to frame the community building of their classrooms and our school. Each week, we will follow a predictable schedule for the introduction of new words and you can engage and encourage your child as well. The WoW will be shared in Waddle's Weekly down below!

Monday: Introduce the word and it's meaning

Tuesday: Review the word and use it in a sentence

Wednesday: Wear the word Wednesday! All staff will wear the word and engage students around it.

Thursday/Friday: Find the word throughout the school! The scrabble board in the as well as all throughout the school the word can be found!

The first few days flew by! Students were engaged learning the basic routines which help our school function each and every day. Our school mantra combines our work with Responsive Classroom and a school wide positive behavior support framework. In all of the routines and expectations we are teaching we are framing it all around how to be safe, kind and responsible in our school. A great way to help your child and to learn about their first weeks at school is to ask. Here are a few questions!

Q. What does it look like to be safe in the cafeteria A. Bottom on the bench, feet under the table. Only eat/touch your own food. Walk slowly when lining up.

Q. What does it mean to be responsible in the classroom? A. Take care of materials, use them as you have learned. Raise your hand to gain an adults attention. Follow the group plan.

Q. What does it mean to be kind on the playground? A. Invite others to play. Use kind words with all students.

Those are just a few ideas for questions! Each of the lessons teachers use to explicitly teach your child how to engage in routines and procedures in the school will focus around the goals of being safe, kind and responsible. As we begin our Word of the Week later this month, several of the words from our NGES C.A.R.E.S acronym (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control) will align to our 3 goals! As you can see, we firmly believe that the social learning is as important as the academic learning. Teachers and students will be spending a significant amount of time in the next few weeks as well as throughout the year learning all about how to be a productive member of the NGES rookery!

We hope that your initial days of being back to school have gone smoothly as well! Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Teachers will be compiling a class email list as a resource to you throughout the year. This is a great way to make connections for playdates, birthday parties, etc. If you do not want your email included in the class email distribution list, please let your child’s teacher know by Friday, September 8th.

In addition- please take time to review the NGES student Handbook HERE and please take time to update your demographic info, directions how are HERE! (This includes important info for if we need to reach you as well as your sharing permissions for photographs to be taken!)

Drop off and Pick up has gone very well in the first week! Please note that as we head into next week, we will have fewer staff outside to assist. Last week was "All hands on deck" however we will now move into our typical schedule for staffing. Parents- please remain in your vehicles. Also- please do not pull your car out to leave until the car in front of you does, or a staff directs you to do so. Lastly- it is incredibly helpful to the safety of our students if you please have your child position to sit/get in on the curb side (behind the passenger seat). If you have not yet received a name card and you are a frequent pick/drop off- we plan to get you one this week! The best place to see it (as the person on duty) is attached to your visor- flipped down so it can be seen from outside.

For those families that are driving your 1st grade child to/from school, you must adhere to the following in order to make arrival/dismissal a safe and smooth process.

• When you arrive, please pull alongside the road as you travel in and stop prior to turning into the circle. Whether it is arrival time or dismissal, please stop and wait for us to wave you over.

• If there is a bus stopped along the road already, you may pull next to it, but do not pass it. We ask everyone (cars and buses) to stop on the opposite side, so that we can assess who to bring to the curb next. We typically try to bring the buses first, as they have a route schedule to keep. Look at the staff and they will let you know when to come forward.

• This also applies once you have dropped/picked up. It is against the law to drive by a school bus when their lights are on and the stop sign is sticking off of the bus. You must wait and then can follow the bus out as it leaves.

• Please place your name placard either 1. On your visor facing out, or 2. Front Right corner window.

When your child arrives at school, their lunch box goes into a bin, which is brought directly to the cafeteria. For this reason, your child needs one drink packed in their lunch box as well as a water bottle for the classroom. 2 drinks please! Many students are coming with one or none!

Please note that Picture Day for NGES has changed to Monday, October 16th! Keep your eye out for a flyer in early October!

Students at NGES love to get outside and play on the structure and playground. We ask that you please have your child wear closed toe shoes to school, so that your child(ren) can run, play and not have to worry about mulch in their shoes, and scrapes that can occur when wearing sandals. If you are wondering what the playground is all about, please review the "Playground Rules" that came home in your folder with your child. Recess staff and classroom teachers have been working to teach the students how to safely use the playground.

Students also love riding the bus to school. We talk at school about how riding the bus is a privilege. Students are learning the expectations for safety on the bus and you can help by reviewing our “Bus Rules” at home before they get on each day!

If your child completed their Summer Bingo sheet, please send it in to school this week!

If your child is not attending school for the day or you have a change to their dismissal routine, call the school office at 508-839-5483 or send an email to Notestonges@grafton.k12.ma.us. Learning and adhering to school routines is an essential skill for our youngest students. Arriving late or leaving early can result in your child missing important community building and academic instruction.

Please refer to the Grafton School Committee Attendance Policies Below:

JE Attendance K-12 JE-R1 Student Attendance K-12

Top 3 Items often forgotten the first weeks of school!

(there is still time- please make sure to send these items in!)

1. Two separate bags for SNACK and LUNCH! This includes two drinks- a water bottle to drink throughout the day and a drink in their lunchbox.

2. Spare set of clothes: it doesn't matter what grade your child is in, please send in a labelled bag with a spare set of clothes. It could be a milk spill, water on a slide or an accident. While we have clothes in the nurses office, students often prefer their own:)

3. Kindergarten: Name tags! Please have your child wear their penguin name tag on the entire first week (including Practice Day) and then tie it to their backpack after that!

Please click HERE to see a video of what our drop off and pick up looks like for Kindergarten! 1st grade looks the same- except you will drive into the larger circle! Please pull up and wait along the side until a staff waves you over! Our buses share the same space and we will typically try to pull the buses up prior to cars! A few helpful hints for dropping off and picking up;

• Please have your child sitting behind the passenger’s seat, with their backpack ready. They will exit out the back passenger side right onto the curb.

• Adults should remain inside the car. Your child will get in/out on their own, with support from our staff. Please follow this rule so that we can keep the line moving.

• Teach your children to buckle and unbuckle themselves. Start practicing now!

• We will provide you with a sign to post in your passenger side mirror for pick up. This will keep the line moving quickly!

• Please remain on the curb until the cars in front of you pull away and then pull away in a single line. This will help to avoid accidents!

• Picking up is exactly the same! Drive up and park along the curb. We will call your child via walkie talkie and they will walk out to your car. If they are able to buckle independently great, if not, we will help!

If you were unable to make it to the Popsicles on the Playground event (or if we were missing your tag that night:) we sent them in the mail yesterday, so be on the look out!

If you have had any difficulty logging into your child's powerschool portal to learn about their teacher placement, please give us a call in the office at 508-839-5483 and we would be happy to help you!

On the first day of school, all students will come home with a green folder in their back! Inside the backpack you will notice two sides: Keep at Home and Return to School. Please take time to review the items shared with you and sign and return anything else to school. We work very hard to limit the paper we send home (most everything is online) however this first day does have important info coming home to you, so we ask that you please read through it all!

Welcome to August! Depending on your perspective, we are either gradually or rapidly nearing the beginning of the 2023 school year! This newsletter marks the first of many that will find its way into your inbox throughout the academic year. I encourage you to spare a few minutes each week to explore all the exciting events and activities happening at NGES. By doing so, you and your child(ren) can stay informed and never miss a beat!

As we return to the topic of summer, I want to share my excitement in welcoming back many of you and your children to school! For those of you I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet, I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit about who I am. Apart from being the proud principal of NGES, my most significant role is being a mom to our four wonderful children: Caelin (14), Finn (12), Brogan (9), and Paddy (6). They truly made my summer exhausting and unforgettable!

As a family with two parents in education, summer is a time for us to unwind, connect, and simply relax. We spent most of our days in West Dennis, enjoying activities like biking, taking walks with our dog Tobin, swimming at the Dennis beaches, reading, watching the World Cup, and honing our culinary skills with the fresh catches of the day. Additionally, my wife and I had the pleasure of participating in soccer camp with half of our kids this summer. Teaching and learning, whether in the classroom or on the field, are both passions of mine, and coaching my own children and some kids from Grafton during that week was truly rewarding.

As the new school year approaches, I am well aware of the challenges and anxieties that come with the transition back to school. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I am here to support you and your child during this transition and throughout the upcoming year. Let's work together to make this a successful and fulfilling academic journey for all!

Time indeed has a way of flying by, especially when it comes to certain parts of the year! I want to encourage you to be present for all the moments, both big and small, that come with your child's preK-1 school journey. It's truly incredible to witness how they learn, absorb information, and apply it in their daily lives, all while taking immense pride in their accomplishments!

So, as we gear up for the start of the school year (almost there!), we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your children on day one. We're excited about the incredible year that lies ahead and can't wait to create many wonderful memories together! Let's embark on this journey together and make it an awesome year for everyone!

~Julie Flynn

I am sure you are eagerly awaiting your child's teacher assignment. We expect that teacher assignments will be released k-6 on August 7th. Teacher assignments will be shared through your Powerschool Portal. For those new to GPS, directions for accessing your portal will be EMAILED to you today, August 2nd! It is critical that you begin to learn how to use the portal, as this will be how you access your child's progress reports, report cards and teacher placements in upcoming years!

Teacher Assignments for 2023

Prek: Mrs. Dumas, Ms. Busch, Ms. Buckley, Mrs. Chartrand

Kindy: Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Bond & Mrs. Bergstrom, Mrs. Minardi, Mrs. Martel, Mrs. White

Grade 1: Mrs. Carr, Mrs. Guyette, Mrs. Denomme & Mrs. Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. Gieser, Ms. Malone

We hope you will join us in welcoming new staff to NGES this coming school year!

- Renee Bond: Mrs. Bond will be "team teaching" with Mrs. Bergstrom this year! Mrs. Bond is no stranger to NGES! She started off as a Kindergarten teacher then returned to us in the past few years as an interventionist. We could not be happier to have her back in the classroom! For those of you new to team teaching- it is an arrangement in which two teachers share the responsibilities and duties of one full-time teaching position.

- Tracey Padula: Mrs. Padula comes to us from North Street Elementary School where she served as the Team Chair for Special Education. Mrs. Padula will be joining us at NGES as a Speech and Language Pathologist!

- Maeve Buckley: Ms. Buckley is coming to NGES having worked as an integrated Prek teacher at SGES! We are excited to welcome her to our growing Prek team at NGES!

- Jessie Busch: Ms. Busch will also be joining our integrated Prek team! We look forward to learning with and from her experience as a teacher previously in Holliston.

- Kristina Talambekos: Ms. Talambekos is coming to us having supported students in Somerville this past school year. We are beyond excited to welcome her in the new role of Adjustment Counselor here at NGES!

If your child requires medication to be kept at school, Mrs. Sudbey our school nurse asks that you please drop it off on Monday, August 28th! Medication should always be dropped off by a parent and never sent in a backpack with your child. Thank you for considering the safety of all students.

If you have not already, please click HERE to complete a a quick form to share out your anticipated transportation needs for your child.

*Please note that typically the bus schedules are released the week prior to the start of school. Once released, I will send an email, post on our Facebook account and the district will also post online!