The Penguin Post
Each year, Phelps participates in Rock 102’s Mayflower Marathon Food Drive. Bax and Nagle of Rock 102 will be broadcasting live from the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield From November 24th-26th. Their goal is to fill FOUR, 48-foot trailers with non-perishable food donations for the Open Pantry of Springfield.
Over the past two years, Phelps has been one of the most contributing schools out of all the schools that participated - donating over 10,000 items!
We know it's a stretch - but this year we are aiming to reach 5,500 items!!! The winning class at Phelps will win a pizza party! If we beat last year's collection, we will also have a school-wide pajama day! Let's do it!!!
This year, our teachers are participating in learning walks—short visits to classrooms to see teaching and learning in action. These visits allow teachers to share ideas and reflect on how to best support all students. Our focus this year is on three key areas:
• The Task Builds Student Independence – students take ownership of their learning.
• Student Collaboration and Discussion Drive Learning – students learn from one another through meaningful conversations.
• Feedback Deepens Thinking and Reflects Belief in Students’ Potential – teachers provide guidance that helps students grow.
Learning walks help ensure consistency and high-quality instruction across all classrooms at Phelps.
In future newsletters, we will share school-wide data from our look-fors so families can see the great learning happening across Phelps.
We are at just over 96% average daily attendance as a school. ✅
Every Day Counts at Phelps!
Being in school each day helps children grow, learn, and feel part of their classroom community. When students come to school on time and ready to learn, they build confidence, friendships, and strong habits that last a lifetime. Thank you for helping your child show up and shine every day!
Did You Know?
⭐ Missing just two days each month can add up to over three weeks of missed learning in a year.
📚 Students who attend regularly are more likely to read on grade level by third grade.
🌟 Strong attendance habits begin early and set the stage for future success.
😊 Arriving on time helps children start the day feeling confident, calm, and ready to learn.
Kindergarten
2nd grade
3rd grade
It's never too late to join!!!
Ready, Set, Grow is a program set up to encourage children to start saving at an early age. If you wish to have your child participate in this program, simply complete and sign the application form and return it to the school or visit a branch.
Westfield Bank will be at Phelps every Thursday morning for students to make deposits.
During the month of September, teachers and students focused on reviewing and reinforcing our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) expectations of being Safe, Responsible, and Respectful in all school environments. Through classroom lessons, discussions, and daily reminders, students practiced what these expectations look like in various settings—hallways, classrooms, the cafeteria, and beyond. Students have been working hard to demonstrate positive behaviors and earn Cool Coupons as recognition for their efforts!
In October, our focus shifted to exploring the Zones of Regulation, a framework that helps students identify and understand their emotions. Students learned about the four zones of regulation, what it means to be regulated, and how to recognize and name their own feelings. We emphasized that all feelings are normal and okay, and discussed strategies for moving between zones when needed. We encourage families to ask their students about our PBIS expectations, Cool Coupons, and what they’ve learned about the Zones of Regulation. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in helping our students grow socially and emotionally!
As we move into November, it’s a wonderful time to focus on gratitude—not just what we’re thankful for, but how we can show our thankfulness to others. Families can start great conversations by asking questions like, “How can you show that you are thankful?”, “What have you been thankful for today?”, or “Why is it important to think about what you’re thankful for?” Practicing gratitude helps students build kindness, empathy, and a positive outlook. We encourage you to take time as a family to share thankful moments together this month!
The first couple of months of school have flown by, and we are starting to see cooler temperatures. Please remember to dress your child in layers and send a jacket, as students go outside for fresh air during recess whenever possible. With the change in weather, chapped lips are also becoming more common. Students are welcome to bring chapstick or Vaseline to use during the day so they stay comfortable and can focus on learning.
As we head into cold and flu season, I wanted to remind everyone of the illness policy. Please keep children home when they have a fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. They may return to school 24 hours after fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medications). Symptoms in general should also be improving prior to returning to school after any illness. Please don’t hesitate to call my office with any questions regarding when to send your kiddo to school or when to keep them home.
Vision/Hearing Screenings will occur throughout the school year. No news is good news! You may choose to opt your child out of this screening if you wish. A copy of a current screening completed by a specialist is required for this opt out. Please contact Nurse Taunya by email at tjasperson@agawamed.org or by phone at 413-821-9368 if you wish to opt out of this screening. If a current screening by a specialist isn't provided, your student will be screened per state guidelines.
As always feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns.
We’re excited to announce new grade-level and content-specific websites designed to enhance the connection between school and home! These online resources will provide students and families with helpful tools, activities, and important updates to support learning both in and outside of the classroom. Be sure to check out your child’s grade-level page to explore all the great resources we’ve made available to help foster a fun and engaging learning experience at home. Stay tuned for more updates!
To find your website - head over to https://www.agawamed.org/o/bjp and click on MENU. All of our new sites are published here!
Our new sites are a work in progress and will continue to be updated throughout the year.
Benjamin Phelps Elementary School
Email: avillamaino@agawamed.org
Website: https://www.agawamed.org/o/bjp
Location: 689 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001 USA
Phone: (413) 821-0586