Doyon News
Friday, October 9, 2026
What a treat it was for so many families to reconnect at the Spooky Walk! Getting together for events like this reminds us what a special community we share. The enthusiasm and care people bring to our school are easy to see whenever we gather. We’re especially grateful to the FRIES team for bringing the evening to life and making it a welcoming, safe celebration for our students, staff, and families.
There’s been plenty happening at Doyon this week. Our fifth graders spent time at the Topsfield Fair, a cherished yearly outing and an important part of their experience at our school. We also had a wonderful turnout for Bike, Walk, and Roll to School. Seeing students, family members, and teachers make the trip using active ways to travel was a great start to the day. Thank you to everyone who continues to support this growing tradition.
In the coming weeks, we’ll share details about the school’s harvest celebration. Teachers are putting together activities for students, and we’re excited to mark the season with them. A reminder about the schedule ahead: school will be closed Monday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Tuesday for teacher professional development.
Please read on for the newsletter’s other updates and reminders. If there’s anything you need, please feel free to get in touch.
Warmly,
Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen & Mrs. Benincasa
Gathering together for special school and community events gives us a wonderful chance to celebrate, connect, and build lasting memories with friends and families. Last weekend's Spooky Walk event was a fantastic reminder of how welcoming and strong our school community is! At Doyon, we practice bringing our CARES values with us whenever we come together to celebrate:
Cooperation: We participate in activities together, work as a team, and help out to make events enjoyable for everyone.
Assertion: We introduce ourselves to new friends, share our enthusiasm, and proudly represent our school.
Responsibility: We clean up after ourselves, respect our shared spaces, and set a positive example for others.
Empathy: We welcome all families with warm smiles, cheer each other on, and make sure everyone feels included.
Self-Control: We manage our excitement in large crowds, wait patiently in lines, and make safe choices while having fun.
When we bring our best selves to events both in and out of the classroom, we create moments filled with joy and connection. Using CARES everywhere we go helps make Doyon a vibrant, supportive, and welcoming community for all of us.
Dear Doyon Families,
We are already seeing cases of the flu! If you have not had your flu vaccine as of yet, please see below to schedule.
We are so excited to partner with Conley's Drug Store and offer flu clinics to students, staff, and families. Remember you can sign up for any clinic which fits your families' schedule. This is for staff, students, and families/caregivers so it can be a great day for the whole family
The first flu clinic date will be Tuesday, October 13, 2026 from 2-4pm at the Ipswich Middle/High School. Here is the link to register for that date:
https://form.jotform.com/262385444100147
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 4-6 pm, flu clinics will be offered at the Doyon School. Here is the link to register for that date:
https://form.jotform.com/262385305209153
On Thursday, October 15, 2026 from 4-6pm, flu clinics will be offered at the Winthrop School. Here is the link to register for that date:
https://form.jotform.com/262385923678169
In addition to the flu vaccine, other vaccines are offered including the Covid vaccine. Online registration is encouraged, but forms can be printed at conleysdrugstore.com.
Thank you again, Conley's, for helping to keep our schools and community healthy!
Mary Sforza, RN, MSN, NCSN
Doyon School Nurse(ph) 978-356-5506 ext 111
Friends of Ipswich Elementary Schools, aka FRIES, is a parent group of volunteers who support our school community in a variety of ways. Donating their time, ideas and fundraising efforts, this group is inclusive of all families attending the Doyon and Winthrop Schools.
Please check out and join the Doyon FRIES Facebook page for up to date information: facebook.com/groups/doyonFRIES
Have you considered Mabel's Labels? Personalized school labels that stay stuck all year! Perfect for clothing, lunch boxes, water bottles, pencil cases, backpacks, and more. Waterproof, laundry and dishwasher-safe, and teacher-approved - and appreciated! You'll have fewer lost items all while supporting Doyon FRIES with each online purchase.
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.
October 2026
Monday October 12: Indigenous People’s Day; NO School
Tuesday October 13: Teacher Professional Dev. Day; No School
Monday October 19: DEEP Week 1 Monday Classes
Wednesday, October 21: DEEP Week 1 Wednesday Classes
Wednesday, October 21: FRIES Meeting via zoom
Wednesday October 21: Kindergarten to Firehouse Theater
Wednesday October 21: DEEP Week 1 Wednesday Classes
Wednesday October 21: School Council Meeting via Zoom
Wednesday October 21: FRIES meeting via Zoom
Monday October 26: DEEP Week 2 Monday Classes
Wednesday October 28: DEEP week 2 Wednesday Classes
Saturday October 31: HALLOWEEN!
Dear Doyon Families,
We continue to maintain a safe and supportive school environment at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School. Each school year, staff receive training in our emergency procedures in collaboration with our School Resource Officer, Detective Joe Perna. Our procedures now incorporate the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation, which provides shared language and clear actions for responding to a variety of situations.
Student safety presentations are conducted annually and are tailored to our students’ developmental ages. Detective Perna will visit classrooms next week to review these procedures with students. The student presentation for the Standard Response Protocol is linked at the bottom of this memo for your review and to support any conversations about school safety that may arise at home. This is produced by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. Some slides may be omitted during presentations depending upon the age of learners. A parent handout has also been linked for your review.
The Standard Response Protocol includes five actions:
Hold — In Your Room or Area. Clear the Halls.
Students and staff remain in their classrooms or designated areas while hallways are kept clear. Classroom activities may continue. A Hold may be used during a medical emergency so responders can move through the building and the person receiving care has privacy.Secure — Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors.
Students and staff come inside, and exterior doors are locked because of a concern or hazard outside the school. Activities inside may continue as usual. For example, a Secure action may be used during police activity in the surrounding neighborhood.Lockdown — Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.
When there is a threat inside the school, classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, and students and staff remain quiet and out of sight. Students follow the directions of the adults supervising them.Evacuate — To the Announced Location.
Students and staff move to a designated location, inside or outside the building, under staff direction. An evacuation may be needed during a fire or another situation requiring people to leave an area.Shelter — State the Hazard and Safety Strategy.
Students and staff follow directions appropriate to a specific hazard, such as severe weather. The announcement identifies the hazard and the protective action to take, which may include moving to a designated shelter area.
Regular practice helps students and staff become familiar with these procedures. Students have already completed two fire drills, and in October we will conduct an emergency drill using student-friendly language and age-appropriate procedures. Our goal is to help students feel prepared, supported, and confident in following directions from trusted adults.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Mrs. Benincasa and I, alongside our school community, are here to offer help and support. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Doyon a safe and caring place to learn.