BLACKHAWKS BULLETIN

Hello & Happy Summer,

I hope you all enjoyed your first week of break. Staff were here throughout the week to wrap up the 23/24 school year and begin planning for AY 25. Christine Downing, CIA Director, worked with teachers on mapping their grade level curriculum in a software called Atlas. You will hear more about this in the coming year. Once we get our curriculum maps fully uploaded to the software, we will make the site public so parents and community members can view the details of what we teach and expect students in each grade to know.

Here are some other important updates as we look forward to AY 25:

• We are fully staffed for teachers (See the staffing update section below) and have the following Employment Opportunities. Please help us spread the word. We are looking for folks who are encouraging, knowledgeable, team players who can bring their interests and talents to our school community. Paraprofessionals and substitutes are true partners in the classroom and are instrumental in making sure each and every student achieves their full learning potential.
• One paraprofessional (upper grades)
• One long term substitute paraprofessional (start of the year through February break.)
• We are also (and ALWAYS) looking for more substitutes.
• We are still in need of volunteers to help with the garden this summer (please see responsibilities and sign-up form below)
• The newly re-energized PTA is putting together some really exciting opportunities for the start of the year. Included in this will be the opportunity to serve as "Classroom Parent" for your child's class. Please be sure to read their full update below and be sure to mark your calendars for the following:
• PTA Community Yard Sale - Saturday August 24 - 9 am to 12 pm
• PTA Boohoo/Yahoo Breakfast for all parents (to welcome Kinder parents) right after drop off - exact location TBD and will be on school grounds.)
• SAS results for students in grades 3 to 8 are now available on your child's NHDOE portal. You all should have received a letter with logon instructions with your child's report cards. Students in grades K to 2 took the NWEA in May and results were sent home with report cards. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

I am so grateful to all of the students, staff, parents, and community members for an excellent school year. I am particularly thankful to be wrapping the AY24 school year with minimal staff turnover, a thriving school community, and strong commitment to academic growth and achievement.

While I am looking forward to the change of pace over the next several weeks, I am mostly excited to have the time to plan for AY 25. I can assure you by early August, I will be missing you all like crazy! Speaking of early August, please watch your emails for information regarding annual registration forms and class assignments. We continue to work on a streamlined ONLINE registration process and hope this year will be even more straightforward to complete. We are piloting a new communication system for transportation changes as well. Parents will be able to notify the school of transportation changes via an app! We will share all of the details when registration opens in early August.

Lots to look forward to...In the meantime, have a healthy and safe summer!

Audra

Audra Bucklin, Principal

603.469.3250, ext 223

abucklin@plainfieldschool.org

• Summer Skills Camp - The Amazing Race! - Monday, July 8 through Thursday, August 1st
• Early August - Check for email with class assignments and important registration materials/procedures
• Mid to Late August - All registration forms due; Bus routes published
• Saturday August 24 - 9 am to 12 pm - PTA Community "Garage" Sale - Plainfield School Parking Lot
• Sunday, August 25
• 3 pm - Kindergarten Orientation - Students and Parents - students and parents will meet with Ms. McKittrick, engage in a classroom "scavenger hunt" and ride the bus!
• 3:45 pm - Middle School Info Session (Gr 6 to 8 parents & students) - meet your advisors and hear about the AY 25 schedule, class expectations, etc.
• 5 pm to Dark - Plainfield Spirit Day - Community Picnic and fireworks
• Wednesday, August 28 - First Day of School!!
• Monday, September 2 - No School - Labor Day

• Superintendent: Sydney Leggett
• Business Manager: Beth Bierwirth
• Special Education Director: Amy Dressler
• Technology Director: Corey Canfield
• (NEW) Facilities Director: Brian Nolan
• Curriculum Instruction & Assessment Director: Christine Downing
• Executive Assistant: Cody Schoolcraft

ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT STAFF:

• Principal: Audra Bucklin
• Executive Assistant to the Principal: Katie Lowery
• Administrative Assistant: Amanda Jewell
• Athletic Director: Katie Lowery
• Lead Custodian: Janna Downs
• Custodian: Leah Stone (shared with Cornish)

TEACHING STAFF

• Kindergarten - Lindsay McKittrick
• 1st - Michelle Doody
• 2nd - April Ellis
• 3/4 - Jen Culligan, Jess Kondratowicz and Mindy Taber
• (NEW) 5th - ELA & SS - Melinda Russo - Plainfield resident and experienced middle school ELA and drama teacher who will bring her passion for reading, vocabulary and perspective to the 5th grade curriculum. Ms. Russo is a familiar face at PES as she has been serving as a substitute teacher for the last two years. Melinda recently wrote a grant to bring a storytelling program to Plainfield School and the wider community next fall. Stay tuned for more details.
• 5th - Math & Science - Annemarie Stout - Plainfield resident and long-time 1st through 5th educator at Hanover Street School in Lebanon, Ms. Stout brings a passion for hands-on experiential and interdisciplinary approach to learning. She was new to Plainfield School this past year and served as Interventionist for grades K to 4. In her short time here she introduced our school community to the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum traveling animal exhibit and our first ever Paper Plane Contest this spring. Ms. Stout is especially excited to continue our longstanding tradition of taking advantage of our beautiful campus to bring learning to life for students.
• 6 to 8 ELA - Amanda Parker
• 6 to 8 Math - Erin Mellow
• 6 to 8 Science - Larry Bilodeau
• 6 to 8 Social Studies - Phoebe Buckman
• Grades 3 to 8 Spanish - Joshua Hunnewell (Grades 3/4 will have Spanish 1x per week; Grades 5 and 6 will have it 2x per week and grades 7 and 8 will have it 4+ times per week)
• K to 8 Art - Josie Wolfinger (.6)
• K to 8 School Counselor - Felecia Foley (John Lacrosse will be covering her maternity leave through December)
• K to 8 Media Library Specialist - Angela Smith
• K to 8 Music, Band & Chorus - Brenda Chien
• K to 8 PE & Health - Jenny Smith
• Special Educator (grades K to 2+) - Patricia Peters
• Special Educator (grades 3 to 5) - Melissa Kelly
• Special Educator (grades 6 to 8 (.5)) and Reading Specialist (.5) - Jen Lizotte
• Math Specialist - Abby Harrington
• School Nurse - Beth Clifton, RN
• Interventionist - Hannah Cook has agreed to serve as interventionist during the AY 25 year. Ms. Bridge will cover until she returns from her maternity leave in February. Ms. Bridge is a certified reading specialist and Ms. Cook brings a strong commitment to understanding each child's needs and goals. Together they will make a strong team! We are also very thankful for Ms. Cook's work with Ms. Stout and Ms. Russo. The three are collaboratively planning the 5th grade curriculum and instruction.

PARAPROFESSIONALS:

• Linda Beloin
• Viki Bridge (covered by long-term substitute through February break)
• Ruth Cassedy
• Shelley Goerke
• Fawn Goodrow
• Taylor LaPlaca
• Andrea McMahon - Reading Intervention
• Heidi McPherson
• Kristina Smith
• Natalie Strout
• Rory Weinstein - Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
• Evy Wolke

CONTRACTED SERVICES & OTHER (Scheduled based on student needs)

• (NEW) ELL Teacher - Viki Bridge
• (NEW) Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) - Audrey Whitford (.4)

• Speech Therapy - Alessandra LaFiandra (maternity leave in fall; covered via agency)
  
• Occupational Therapy - Faith Drescher
• Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA): Anna Harper
• Physical Therapy - Jeannie Hines
• School Psychologist - Anna Hutton
• Mental Health Clinician - Josie Lydick

This year, we will introduce the role of "Classroom Parent" in grades K to 5. The classroom parent for each homeroom will work closely with their child's teacher to help with communication and planning for field trips, field day and other special events throughout the year. In grades 6 to 8, the class advisors take the place of the role of "class parent."

If you have a child in grades k to 5 and are interested to be considered for this role, please complete the survey below. We will share your responses with the classroom teacher (once assigned.) If you are selected as a class parent, you will meet with your child's teacher in the early fall to hear more about that individual teacher's needs in their classroom.

FAST will be a four week offering next year as follows:

• January 17
• January 24
• January 31
• February 7

Students will commit to four weeks of winter fun during the last block of the day. Choose between the following:

• Downhill Skiing - Whaleback
• Arrive at the mountain by 2:15 pm; Pickup by 5:15 pm.
• 90 minute lessons for those who want/need it - 3 to 4:30 pm

• Snowshoeing/Winter Hiking
• Cross Country Skiing
• Snow Sculptures
• Ice Skating* (dependent on availability of ice) - Location TBD

If Whaleback is closed, there is no FAST. Otherwise, we are committed to cultivating healthy winter fun on four Fridays next winter. If you would like to join us as a volunteer, please plan accordingly. Anyone who is new to volunteering or who did not volunteer at all during the current school year will need to submit a new background check, including fingerprints. Please see Katie or Amanda in the office for the forms. The prints take at least a month to come back.

The PES Track & Field team had a GREAT finish to the season this past week with the NH State Meet of Champions on Tuesday and the 5th/6th Grade Meet on Wednesday.

At the NH State Meet, Gardell Wetherington came in 3rd place in the 100m Hurdles... a great finish to his first year of running track! Our Girls 4x100m Relay team of Audrey Underhill, Lyla Weinstein, Ellis Harrington, and Grayson Davies set a HUGE PR of 54.90 seconds to come in 5th place in the state. And Ellis Harrington also ran a great race to come in 7th place in the 400m. Great job, runners!

Wednesday, some of our younger team members participated in the 5th/6th Grade Meet at Lebanon, which gave them a great chance to compete against kids their own age. The future of Plainfield track is VERY bright! Here are the top performers:

Girls:

100m: Maisie Boynton 4th, Lyla Darak 6th

200m: Maisie Boynton 2nd, Lyla Darak 6th

Long Jump: Maisie Boynton 4th

Triple Jump: Lyla Darak 2nd

Shot Put: Alice Crouse 4th

Discus: Maisie Boynton 3rd, Alice Crouse 6th

Boys:

100m: James Underhill 3rd

200m: James Underhill 2nd

400m: Asher Alden 1st

800m: Asher Alden 1st

Long Jump: James Underhill 3rd, Asher Alden 6th

Triple Jump: James Underhill 1st

Shot Put: Michael Counter 5th

Discus: Zain Kelly 1st, Daniel Ramsey 10th, Brayden Webster 11th

See flier below for more info.

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

Food Pantry

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

Free Clothing Rooms

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

Free Fresh Veggies & Fruit

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