Doyon News
Friday, November 14, 2025
Dear Doyon Families,
It’s amazing how quickly this four-day week has flown by at Paul F. Doyon Memorial School! DEEP classes are in full swing, students arrive each morning bundled in hats and mittens as a sneak peek of winter settles in, and there was no shortage of excitement as the first snowflakes of the season began to fall earlier this week. Amid the busyness, we continue to cherish the small, joyful moments that make each day in our school community so special.
As a friendly reminder, please take a moment to review our Student Handbook, which is updated each August. While it was shared earlier in the year, we encourage families to revisit it to stay familiar with our routines, expectations, and processes here at school.
Looking ahead to next week, we invite you to join us on Wednesday in the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School Library for our upcoming School Council and FRIES meetings. The School Council will meet at 5:30 PM, followed by FRIES at 7:00 PM. Attending these gatherings is a great way to stay connected and share your voice as we continue to strengthen and grow our school community.
As always, please take a few moments to read through the rest of this newsletter for additional updates and celebrations. Thank you for your continued partnership and support—we’re here for you whenever you need us.
Warmly,
Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen & Mrs. Benincasa
R is for Responsibility!
What does "accountable for your actions" mean at home? At school, we talk about logical consequences as a way to be accountable for our actions.
- What happens when your child makes a mistake at home?
- What about when an adult makes a mistake?
- How are people in your family accountable for their actions?
- Do your children understand the connection between "doing what's expected and making good choices" and "being accountable for their actions"?
Our first Student Leadership Team (SLT) meeting is Wednesday, November 19, from 3:05 - 4:00. Please send your child with an appropriate dismissal note or use “School Dismissal Manager”. Students without proper arrangements will not be able to stay for the meeting or call home. Pick up will be promptly at 4:00pm. Dismissal will be similar to regular school dismissal, please stay in your car, have your child's last name on a card visible from your front windshield and we will get your child to your car. We look forward to seeing them there!
The library will be open to students on Friday mornings from 8:00-8:40! Students can come to the library before school to read, draw, play with Legos, code, or work on a STEAM project. If your child would like to attend, please sign up below. Space is limited to 12 students per week.
Reach out to Teresa Hohenstein at thohenstein@ipsk12.net with any questions.
Sponsored by the Ipswich Public Library, this program will be held at Ipswich Town Hall, 25 Green Street, on Saturday, November 22 at 11 a.m.
Join Jim Parks from Wingmasters for this amazing presentation, Native American Artifacts and Birds of Prey, which includes live birds. This program is recommended for children ages 6 and up. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Teens and adults will enjoy this program also. Registration is required at www.ipswichlibrary.org/events
Native Americans revered birds of prey for their majestic appearance as well as for their hunting prowess. To invoke the spirit of these powerful predators, Native peoples followed the ancient tradition of wearing or carrying bird of prey feathers. They also admired the subtle beauty of raptor feathers, from the black-and-white tail feathers of juvenile golden eagles to the wing feathers of hawks and falcons, patterned with arrowhead-shaped markings. The strong connection between raptors and Native Americans suggested this program. It combines four live birds of prey with authentic artifacts, many of museum quality, and both explains and shows how different Native American cultures transformed natural materials into objects of beauty and drama. Crafts displayed at this program range from shields and headdresses to clothing and jewelry. Beadwork, quillwork and basketry are showcased as well.
Ipswich Public School third graders study native American Indians, so it is a great fit for them!
Curious about school safety procedures? Take a peek at the documents displayed below. These documents are shared with students at the start of the school year by Detective Joe Perna, our School Resource Officer. The documents may serve as a guide to support families in discussing school safety. As always, please be in touch with questions around school safety at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School.
Snack Donations Needed
We’re collecting snacks for students who come to school without one.
Suggested Items Include:
• Pirate’s Booty
• Goldfish
• Pretzels
Thank you for helping keep our students fueled and ready to learn!
Donation Drive for Local Families in Need
A donation box will be out front of Doyon this weekend to collect items for local families. This week we are asking for non perishable breakfast items!
Your generosity truly makes a difference.
Giving Thanks for the Doyon Staff
FRIES will be facilitating a simple project to show gratitude for the wonderful teachers, administrators, and nurses who support our community every day!
Be on the lookout for a gratitude template in students’ folders early next week. Simply fill out the portions you and your family wish to complete and send it back in their folders. FRIES will display all submissions during the week of Thanksgiving for our staff to enjoy!
Thank you for your help and support in celebrating our amazing Doyon team!
Dear Doyon Families,
Many things to report this week:
We had had a few cases of flu. If you have not already received your flu vaccine, now is a good time to schedule before the holidays with family.
Also, with the changing of the weather and cold air, I am seeing many junky coughs, especially in those with asthma and prone to reactive airway disease. Please remember to obtain a med order from your child's doctor if your child should require an inhaler at school.
Please remember to dress your child in layers! While it hopefully is warming up throughout the day, it is cold in the mornings so please send your child with jackets, hats, mittens/gloves.
Finally, we are seeing some cases of lice. While we no longer check whole classes or send individual class letters home due to confidentiality, I am happy to check those exposed or close contacts to relieve some anxiety which I'm sure this topic creates-just call or email. In the meantime, it is a good idea to keep hair tied back and use spray such as fairy tales or tea tree oil shampoo as preventative measures. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Mary Sforza RN, MSN, NCSN
Doyon School Nurse
