Important Dates
November 8
Veteran's Day Assembly at 8:30 AM (Families Invited! Invite a veteran!)
November 11
No School
November 15
No Brain is the Same Assembly
November 18
Hayley LaPointe (meteorologist) for Grades K and 3
November 22
Shawn Tobey (Civil Engineer) for Grade 4
November 25
Grade 4 to the State House
November 27, 28, 29
No School
Community Assemblies for the Year:
November 8: Veteran's Day (Invite a veteran as a guest!)
January 24: Concert for Grades 3 and 4
February 14
April 18: Earth Day
May 16: World Language Concert
June 6: Concert for Grades K-2
Important Links
A Note from Mrs. Pitts
Dear RES Families,
We want to thank you for engaging in conferences with our RES staff. This is such an important opportunity to connect and learn more about your child's progress and to builds goals for the remainder of the year. We know how fortunate we are to have such involved families and we want to say, we appreciate you!
Warmly,
Michelle Pitts
Seeking and Offering Holiday Support
We hope every Rye School District community member feels safe, secure, and free from financial stress, but we know this just isn't the case for some of our families. With the holiday season upon us, we encourage you to seek support if you need it. Please email Lori Arsenault, RES School Counselor (larsenault@sau50.org) or Michelle Pitts, RES Principal (mpitts@sau50.org) and trust that we will respect your privacy and support you in any way we can.
Please consider the following ways that you can access support during the holiday season, or at any time.
Holiday Support
The Seacoast community is so fortunate to have an amazing resource - GATHER. This local food pantry has a mission to build food security in welcoming and dignified ways. As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, GATHER is offering meals for families that include a turkey. If you would like to access this resource, you can contact GATHER at (603) 436-0641 and ask to be added to the list for Thanksgiving meal support. Turkeys and fixings will be available for pickup on Thursday November 21st from 12:00-3:00pm at the Portsmouth location on West Road.
The Rye Fire Department runs an amazingly efficient and extremely generous toy drive for families across the Seacoast. Please contact the Fire Department or Lori Arsenault (RES School Counselor) to get a form and for more information and support.
GATHER Mobile Markets and Pantry
GATHER's Mobile Markets are outdoor, farmer market style shopping experiences. Everyone is welcome to shop and everything is 100% free of charge. GATHER’s Pantry is located in Portsmouth on West Road. You can register onsite to access the variety of staples, fresh produce, proteins and more at no cost to you. Learn more about this amazing organization and the support they provide by visiting HERE.
End 68 Hours of Hunger
If your family is experiencing food insecurity, END 68 Hours can help. This program provides children with food for the approximately 68 hours between when that student has lunch on Fridays at school and returns again on Monday for a school meal. If this support could be helpful to you, please contact Lori Arsenault (larsenault@sau50.org), RES School Counselor.
Outdoor Education
Hello Families,
I hope this note finds you well. I just wanted to give you a little information about Outdoor Education so that you can better understand what we do. In O.E….
We cover science standards, as well as integrate across the curriculum.
We explore aspects of the natural world and how it relates to our lives.
We explore how humans impact the environment and what we can do to slow down and/or reverse our impact.
We study animals, plants, changes to our Earth’s surface, weather, clouds, seasons, and natural substances that humans use in their daily lives (as well as a whole lot more).
We will NOT always go outside (although students are expected to be prepared to go outside on every O.E. day). There are times when the curriculum lends itself to starting indoors and then heading out, and there are times when we will spend our entire hour inside doing research, experimenting, or otherwise learning about our topic. (For example: Fourth Graders are currently continuing their work in the Alphabet Garden by researching a particular plant, writing a paragraph about it, and drawing a picture which will then be incorporated into QR codes on wooden stakes that will define the plants in the garden. This is just one example…)
Please ask your child about what they learned in OE, and please reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you for a great start to our school year and for helping your child be prepared for Outdoor Education each week.
Best,
Eileen :)
Hello from the RES library!
We have had a great first two months of school, and I am enjoying getting to know your children. I wanted to share with you the thinking behind book selection from the library. This class is once a week for each class so this is their opportunity to self-select. I do my best to evaluate library materials according to professional standards and recommendations, and to encourage student voice and choice in choosing books that peak their interest. At the same time, I am aware that every family has unique standards and preferences in regard to reading material. I would encourage you to ask your children about the books they check out each week, and why they choose them. If you feel that a book is not right for your child, you are welcome to send it back to school with them; send me an email to let me know, and I will have them pick a new book! You can contact me anytime at esomers@sau50.org.
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff explores the cultural shifts that have contributed to a rise in anxiety and mental health issues among today’s youth. The authors argue that changes in parenting styles, social media dynamics, and societal attitudes towards safety and emotional well-being have created a generation that is more anxious and less resilient. They offer insights into the implications of these changes and suggest ways to foster greater emotional strength and resilience in young people.
Complete the book over the holidays and join us for two virtual sessions of meaningful conversations and connection as we navigate these crucial issues together!
Wednesday, 1/22/25 from 7-8 PM
Wednesday, 1/29/25 from 7-8 PM
Recess
Students have been playing outside in shorts! They are enjoying this warm weather and are so excited to have sunshine and lots of outdoor play time.
Solar Panels
Buddy Bench
At RES we have benches that serve a variety of purposes.
1. Students can chat with each other and take a recess break
2. Staff can chat with students for a quick teaching moment
3. Students can sit if they are struggling to find a playmate and need someone to help them engage during this time.
RJH, SAU 50 Connection and the Principal Report for School Board
In an effort to create a ONE STOP SHOP for families, we are now publishing the RES and RJH newsletter on Thursdays and sharing the link in one place:)
Please find the latest edition of the SAU 50 Sensation here.
From Michelle: October SCHOOL BOARD REPORT
Please Note: The PTA meeting is rescheduled to Tuesday November 12, 6:30-7:30 (because of the election)
Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/mup-fkdo-djd
Membership Drive Update:
- For the 2024/25 school year, we have welcomed 22 Basic, 43 Family, and 3 Teacher Memberships! Thanks to all for your support!
- The winners of the Membership Drive are:
- At RES: 2nd Grade!
- At RJH: 5th Grade!
- We will be reaching out to their teachers soon to make plans for their parties.
Fundraising:
- Holiday Plant and Wreath Sale: Please save some room in your decorating budget for Wreaths, Kissing Balls, and Poinsettias sold by the Rye PTA. Order form to be released soon. Pick up date after Thanksgiving break.
Upcoming events:
- Ice Skating at Puddle Dock: we're in the planning stages of this extremely popular event, likely to take place in January.
After School Enrichment (ASE)
- The new session begins this week and runs until 12/20. Reach out to ryeptaase@gmail.com with questions.
- Our ASE Chairs, Sophie and Dawn, are looking for someone to take on ASE. Please consider this crucial role! Check out this flyer: ASE Opportunity.pdf
Community:
- Stocking Elves: I know the Daniels Family is working hard to prepare for the 6th Annual community stocking event! Details coming soon!
- Our PTA/PTO neighbors at the three Portsmouth Elementary schools have a fun event planned and we're invited! Buy tickets here: Harlem Wizards vs Portsmouth Teachers November 15th at 7pm
Contact Information
Email: mpitts@sau50.org
Website: https://res.sau50.org
Location: 461 Sagamore Road, Rye, NH, USA
Phone: (603) 436-4731