September Tiger News

September 3, 2024

Dear IRS Families,

I hope you all have had a chance to get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. It is hard to believe that it is now September. I want to welcome you all back to school for the 2024 - 2025 school year. We are excited to begin another chapter in all our lives.

Events coming our way in the month of September:

• Sept. 4 School Pictures

• Sep 9 Ellis Music demonstration day

• Sept. 12 Open House 6 pm - 7:00 pm

• Sept. 25 Early Dismissal Day

• Sept. 27 Student of the Month Recognition

Welcome to the promise of a new school year and all the possibilities that it brings.

Warmest Regards,

Kevin Towle
Principal

** The picture on the right is Principal Towle meeting his namesake of a Tortoise, Kevin**.

We had a small write up in the last Smore letter about our new staff; but we'd like to introduce the newest members to the IRS families!

Hi, my name is Carrie Healey and I am the new 5th grade case manager at Indian River School. I am so excited to be here and to be a part of the Mascoma Valley Regional School District and an Indian River Tiger! I look forward to an exciting year with all of you.

I live with my husband, our three dogs, and one cat in Hillsboro, New Hampshire. I am also a mother of three and a grandmother of six wonderful children. In my free time I love to cook, travel, read and listen to audio books, to work on art projects, and to spend quality time with my family.

I look forward to this year and can't wait for us all to work together to make this year the best it can be.

Jonni joins our 5th grade team!

I have been working in school for over 20 years as a teacher and a para. I received my teaching degree from Plymouth State College

in 1999. I have worked in many different settings from K-11 with some very challenging students.

I am looking forward to working at Indian River School and excited to meet you to learn more about science.

Taylor joins our team from CES.

Christy has been teaching choral and general music for 23 years. She graduated from SUNY Fredonia and has taught in schools in Florida and Vermont. Singing is her passion and she is thrilled to start making music with students at Indian River School!

I have been a librarian for thirteen years and before that was a social studies teacher at Mascoma Valley. I am a member of the Canaan Fire Department. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking, fly fishing and biking. I am looking forward to working with students and staff at Indian River.

I was born and raised in the upper valley and am a Mascoma graduate myself. This is my first year being a para but it has been a career goal most of my life. I am very excited to see what this year brings.

Clint joins us after being part of the district as a custiodian

Sara joins us in our NECC program. We are so excited to have her!

Morgan joins us in our NECC program, we are so excited to have her!

The 7th grade science classroom just got a whole lot more exciting! Kevin, the tortoise, has followed the 7th grade students as they have moved up. Ms. Palmer had brought Kevin to IRS last year for her homeroom class, as she has moved on Mrs. Rysewyk has taken over the care for him.

In collaboration with the Ink Factory Clothing Co. we are proudly offering some amazing IRS Tiger gear. We will have a few pieces on display during our open house on September 12. Most pieces are available in multiple colors. If it does not specify "youth" or "women's" it is a unisex fit.

Follow the link below after September 9th to order your gear! It will be open through September 23rd and we expect orders to arrive around October 7. If you are ordering for a student please put the student's name for pick up purposes. If you wish to pick it up instead please let us know through email.

https://inkfactoryclothing.chipply.com/IRS

Join us for the fall book fair from Scholastic! Starting September 11 through September 18 the students will have time to shop for their favorite books, series, posters and more at the book fair. The book fair will also be open during our open house on September 12.

Join us for our annual open house on September 12 from 6pm to 7pm. This is a chance to meet your student's teachers, shop the book fair or learn more about the Dartmouth Outdoor Learning Experience program.

Outdoor Leadership Experience (OLE) is a group mentoring program in which Dartmouth students work on leadership and outdoor skills after school with grade 5-8 students in Canaan, NH. Each year culminates in an overnight camping trip that allows mentees to put their skills to use.

The fall session will start the week of September 30. You have the choice of a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. It is directly after school and runs until 6pm.

Football, Cross Country, Volleyball and Field Hockey has all started their seasons. Below you will find their schedules and when you can cheer them on!

All of us here at Indian River School would like to thank the people who have stepped up and offered to coach soccer. After board approval we will be able to announce the coach(es).

As many of you are aware, Friends of Mascoma (FoM) plays an integral role in supporting our school district and the wider community. One of the ways they do this is by maintaining a food pantry at Mascoma Regional High School. This pantry is a valuable resource for any student or family in need of food assistance, whether that need is occasional or ongoing throughout the school year.

The generosity of FoM has also provided our school with snacks for students to enjoy throughout the day. While we are grateful for these direct donations, we are reaching out to our parent community to see if you can also support this important effort. If you are able to donate "grab and go" type snack items, please drop them off at the office. Your contribution will help ensure that no student goes hungry.

If your family is in need of food assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your student's guidance counselor. They can discreetly provide a backpack with food for you to take home, and we just ask that the backpack be returned when you are able. Below, you will find the contact information for our guidance counselors and social workers in the district. They are here to support you.

Remember, it is only by working together that we can build a community where everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive.

• TKilton@MVRSD.ORG - 5th & 6th Grade Guidance Counselor - Ted Kilton
• LDonica@MVRSD.ORG - 7th & 8th Grade Guidance Counselor - Laura Donica
• SMonmaney@MVRSD.ORG - Social Worker - Sam Monmaney

• LPorreca@MVRSD.ORG - Social Work - Lyndsey Porreca

If you would like to contribute to the food pantry for Friends of Mascoma please visit the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1LH8WT75N1V0M?ref_=abls_nvfly_swo

Understanding the Benefits of the Free/Reduced Lunch Program

Did you know that filling out the Free/Reduced Lunch form can have a significant impact on your family's budget and your student's lunch experience? Even if you're unsure about eligibility, taking a few minutes to complete this form can lead to valuable savings and peace of mind.

How Does the Program Work?

The Free/Reduced Lunch program is designed to support families with lower incomes by reducing or eliminating the cost of school lunches. The confidential application process is handled through the SAU. By submitting the form, you may qualify for substantial discounts on meal prices.

Important to Consider:

• Second Lunches: Please note that a second lunch will always incur a $3.00 charge, even for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch.
• Eligibility: You may be surprised by the income levels at which families qualify for discounts. It's worth applying even if you're not certain.

Don't miss this opportunity to support your family and student. Fill out the Free/Reduced Lunch form today and discover the potential savings. This simple step now can make a big difference throughout the school year.

Pricing is as follows:

• Breakfast - $1.45 (Reduced is no cost)
• Lunch - $3 (Reduced is .40cents)
• A La Carte Beverages - Range from .50cents - $3.50
• A La Carte Snacks/Chips - Range from .50cents through $1.50

What's for lunch?! The most common question we hear throughout the school.

Students can find the weekly menu on our information board just outside the office. Please be aware that it is subject to change! You can also find the menu by visiting the website at

https://www.fdmealplanner.com

For location please use Mascoma Indian River Middle School.

You can also download the app FD MEALPLANNER on the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android).