MHS/WES NEWSLETTER
January 15, 2026
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
- January 15: Thursday ~ MHS/WES PTO Meeting, MHS Cafeteria 6:00 PM
- January 19: Monday ~ No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 20: Tuesday ~ No School, Professional Development
- January 27: Tuesday ~ WES Spelling Bee, Finalists for Grades 4 & 5 at 1:45 PM
New Year greetings from your School Counselors! Did you know that January is National Mental Wellness month? We often look at January as a time to start new habits. Here are some ways you can incorporate some Mental Wellness into your family routines recommended by BC Mental Health. These will benefit both you AND your student!
Make in-person social connection a priority
Phone calls and social networks have their place, but few things can beat the stress-busting, mood-boosting power of quality face-to-face time with other people, especially those you love and people who energize you.
Stay active
Staying active is as good for the brain as it is for the body. Regular exercise or activity can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health, relieve stress, improve memory, and help you sleep better.
Talk to someone
Talk to a friendly face. If you have concerns, stresses or worries, sharing these with someone who cares is one of the most effective ways to calm your nervous system and relieve stress. And vice versa: Sometimes listening to others in a safe and supportive way can help you develop wider perspectives. If the worries are beyond this, consider speaking to a professional (see programs and resources at the end).
Appeal to your senses
Does listening to an uplifting song make you feel calm? Does squeezing a stress ball help you feel centered? What about taking a walk in nature and enjoying the sights and sounds of the trees? Everyone responds to sensory input a little differently, so experiment with healthy sensory inputs to find what works best for you.
Take up a relaxation practice
Yoga, mindfulness, meditation and deep breathing can help reduce overall levels of stress.
Make leisure and reflection a priority
We can all be guilty of being "too busy" to make room for downtime. It is important to remember, however, leisure time is a necessity for emotional and mental health. Take some time to relax and pay attention to the positive things as you go about your day. Don’t let even those small things go unnoticed! Write them down if you can, because they can be easy to forget. Then reflect on them later if your mood is in need of a boost.
Eat foods that keep your brain and mental health strong
Foods that may support your mood include beans, legumes (e.g., lentils), fatty fish rich in omega-3s, nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews and peanuts), avocados, dark leafy greens (e.g., spinach, kale and Brussels sprouts), and fruit (e.g., blueberries). Dark chocolate has also been found to be potentially beneficial for mental health. For the best dietary and nutritional advice, talk to a registered dietician.
Don't skimp on sleep
It matters more than many people think. Sleep is our body and mind's best way to recharge and rejuvenate. One way to get sleep better is to take a break from the stimulation of screens — TV, phones, tablets or computers — in the hours before bedtime. Consider reading or listening to relaxing music instead.
Find purpose and meaning
This is different for everyone, but finding purpose in your day is a big factor to good mental health. You might try one of the following:
● Engage in work and play that makes you feel useful
● Invest in relationships and spend quality time with people who matter to you
● Volunteer, which can help enrich your life and make you happier
● Find ways to care for others which can be both challenging and rewarding
● Think of one good deed or gesture to do each day
● Explore your faith and spirituality
Get help if you need it
If you or a loved one needs support, there are many programs and resources available to you: https://sites.google.com/awrsd.org/awrsdfamilymentalhealth/home. Please also feel free to reach out to us directly for additional resources.
Best,
Lindsay Milne and Brittany Thomas
Happy New Year!
We have been very busy in kindergarten!
In our CKLA program we have covered the consonant sounds /m/,/t/,/d/,/c/,/g/,/f/,/s/,/v/,/n/,/h/, /p/,/b/,/z/,/l/,/w/,/r/,/j/,/y/,/x/, and /k/ as well as short vowel sounds /a/,/e/,/i/,/o/,/u/. Students are putting the sounds together to read and write words. We are writing words, phrases and some sentences! Our tricky words are one, two, three, the, a, blue, yellow, look, and I. We are beginning CKLA Skills 6, where students will go from cvc words to words with consonant clusters, or blends. (Two consonants together where you say/hear both sounds)
In our Wit and Wisdom reading program, we are exploring On The Farm through a variety of texts, activities, and learning experiences. Students have practiced looking closely at illustrations and text to find evidence and deeper meaning in the books. Our Essential (big) question in this module is “What makes a good story”. Students have been learning about setting, (the where and when in a story) and we will learn about characters soon!
In Math, we are introducing the concepts of addition and subtraction. We have talked about adding one more and have stressed the importance of knowing doubles (1+1, 2+2, 3+3,etc). The terms “greater than” and “less than” have also been taught in reference to numbers up to 10. Kindergarteners will receive fluency flashcards (addition and subtraction up to 5). Please practice at home! :)
When there is snow on the ground, students are allowed to play in the snow during afternoon recess. They need hats, boots, mittens/gloves, jackets, and snow pants. Please make sure to label your child’s gear!
If you have not donated to your child’s classroom we are looking for tissues and cleaning wipes! We appreciate your help!
It’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through the school year. Time really does fly when you’re having fun! Please continue referencing our Grade Level Newsletter for the latest curriculum updates. Now that students are settled into our classroom routines, we are encouraging them to use the strategies and routines they’ve learned more independently. There are a few skills we could use your help with practicing at home.
As the weather changes, students are putting on and taking off boots more often, which also means changing shoes. Many children are still working on tying their shoes, and unfortunately we do not have enough time to tie everyone’s shoes after recess. At this point in the year, students should be able to tie and double-knot their shoes independently.
If your child is still learning this skill, please spend some time practicing at home. A fun idea is to have your child hold a shoe in their lap while watching TV and practice tying. There are also many helpful videos online. Here is one we find especially useful: How to Tie Shoes Video.
Thank you so much for your support as we work together to build independence! 😊
In Physical Education we will be starting a basketball unit. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 in Springfield!! It has grown to be a very popular sport with over 450 million people playing it across the globe. In class, students will learn basic skills in lead up games of basketball, such as dribbling, passing, shooting and positioning/defense. Grades K-1 will focus more on skill development while the older grades will get more into game play/small sided games.
The game of basketball has many great physical benefits as it improves balance and coordination, endurance, concentration, improves cardio, and builds muscles. As well as a great way to stay fit, basketball offers many more benefits. Basketball is a game that can be enjoyed by all ages, it can be played year round with minimal equipment, and it is a great way to socialize and instill teamwork. Students will work cooperatively to achieve a common goal because in basketball you can’t do it all by yourself, you need your teammates!
Looking forward to after Basketball is done, some units we have coming up will be Volleyball, Pickleball, Rock Climbing, Bowling and Cooperative games.
As always, I encourage you to be active at home. Go sledding, build a snowman or go for a walk!
ILLNESS/ABSENCES: As with every Winter, we have seen an increase in illness in our schools. Please be sure to review the district’s illness guidance, and reach out to your school nurse with any questions. Please contact the main office in the morning if your child is to be absent and inform them why your child will not be attending.
As a reminder, if your child has a fever they must be fever free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication before returning to school. The same 24 hour rule applies to those who have vomited or have diarrhea, they must be free of those symptoms for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school.
Physical Exams: Please continue to send in your student’s physical exam documentation from their medical provider. AWRSD requires that all kindergarten and third grade students have a current physical exam on file in the nursing office.
Health Screenings: The state of Massachusetts requires health screenings to be completed by the end of the school year. Vision screenings are done on all students in grades K-5; stereopsis is an additional vision screening done with students in grades K-3. Hearing screenings are done on students in grades K-3. Notices of any failures are sent to the parent by the school nurse for follow-up. Results of the follow up will be returned to the school nurse. Height and weight screenings are completed in 1st grade and 4th grade. All 5th grade students are checked for scoliosis, unless notification from the parent/guardian has been received by the school nurse to opt out. Parents/guardians are notified if additional evaluation is needed by the student’s primary care physician. If you prefer for your student to not participate in screenings, and have not already notified the school nurse, please do so by sending an email, or written note with your request to opt out.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at ashea@awrsd.org or 978-874-2043 x 3.
Car Riders - Thank You for Keeping Drop-Off Safe!
We appreciate all our families who drive their children to school each day! With so many cars coming and going, working together makes mornings safer and smoother for everyone.
Here are a few helpful reminders to keep our car line moving safely:
- Pull forward as far as you can so more cars can fit in the line
- Stay in the lane and avoid passing other vehicles
- Have your child ready to hop out quickly on the sidewalk side (not on the traffic side)
- Wait until your car is completely stopped before opening doors
- Please stay in your vehicle while in the drop-off zone
- Put phones away so you can stay alert and follow our staff's directions
We know mornings can be hectic, and we're so grateful for your patience! When we all follow these simple steps, drop-off goes quickly and safely for everyone. Our staff is here to help keep things moving smoothly.
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community and for helping us keep all our students safe!
Grades K-5
ARRIVAL
8:20 - 8:30 AM
DISMISSAL
2:55 PM
HALF DAYS - DISMISSAL
12:00 PM
