Doyon News
Friday, October 23, 2026
It has been another exciting and productive week in our school community! Throughout the building, students have been engaged in meaningful learning experiences, developing new skills, strengthening connections, and demonstrating curiosity and enthusiasm. We are grateful for the continued partnership of our families, staff, and community members, whose collective efforts help make our school a welcoming and supportive place for all students.
This week also marked the start of our DEEP programming! It was wonderful to see students exploring new interests, engaging in enriching activities, and making the most of these exciting opportunities. A special thank-you to Jena Woodworth and Kerrie Titus for their hard work in organizing and coordinating the program, as well as to the many dedicated volunteers who generously share their time and talents to make these experiences possible.
We would also like to recognize everyone who participated in this week's School Council and FRIES meetings and activities. Your involvement, thoughtful contributions, and commitment to our school community make a meaningful difference. We encourage all families to consider attending these monthly meetings. Your voices, ideas, and perspectives are always valued and appreciated!
Our kindergarten students also enjoyed a special adventure to Newburyport for their annual visit to the Firehouse Theater! Students attended a fall presentation of Spookley the Square Pumpkin and represented our school beautifully. They demonstrated kindness, thoughtfulness, and our CARES values throughout the trip. We are so proud of our kindergarten learners!
Looking ahead, our Harvest Celebrations will take place on Friday, October 30th! Classroom teachers will share details about their planned activities, so please keep an eye out for those communications. As always, all celebrations will follow our district's Wellness Policy.
We are also excited for our annual Harvest Celebration Parade on Friday, October 30th, at 2:00 PM! Our preschool and kindergarten students will lead the parade, and families are warmly invited to join us as spectators outside the school building. We look forward to celebrating together!
Thank you for the many ways you contribute to making our school such a special place to learn, grow, and thrive. We truly value our partnership with each of you and appreciate the care and commitment you bring to our school community. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or if we can be of support.
We look forward to another wonderful week together!
Warmly,
Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen & Mrs. Benincasa
One of the best parts of being at Doyon is the sense of community we share. Throughout the year, celebrations and school traditions give us opportunities to come together, have fun, and make memories. As we look forward to our upcoming Harvest Celebrations, it's a great time to remind our students that these special moments are about more than the activities themselves. They're about being together, including others, and enjoying all that makes our school community special.
Our CARES values help guide how we treat one another, especially when we come together to celebrate:
Cooperation: We work together, take turns, and help make activities fun for everyone.
Assertion: We share our ideas, speak kindly, and help others feel included.
Responsibility: We make good choices, follow expectations, and do our part to make celebrations successful.
Empathy: We remember that everyone has different traditions and experiences, and we respect and appreciate those differences.
Self-Control: We manage our excitement, practice patience, and help keep celebrations safe and enjoyable.
At the heart of every great school community are the people who make it special. Whether it's including a classmate in an activity, lending a helping hand, or simply sharing a smile, these little moments matter. As we celebrate together in the coming weeks, we hope our students continue to see that CARES isn't just something we talk about at Doyon. It's something we show through the way we treat one another every day.
Hello Doyon Families,
Some cases of strep to report this week. Strep throat is an infection in the throat/tonsils caused by group A streptococcus. It is most common in children 5-15 and rare in children under 3 (but possible) . The signs and symptoms include: fever, pain when swallowing, red/swollen tonsils, white patches or streaks in throat, tiny red spots on roof of mouth (petechiae), swollen lymph nodes, headache, stomach pain, nausea/vomiting, and also can present as a fine sand-papery rash. The treatment is antibiotics as well as supportive care including tylenol/motrin, encouraging fluids, soothing foods such as popsicles, and avoiding acidic foods/beverages which can be irritating. In addition, you should discard your child's toothbrush after 48 hours of antibiotic treatment.If you suspect your child may have strep throat, please visit your pediatrician or urgent care facility for a rapid/throat culture.
Just a reminder to please bring in any medication (including over the counter) as well as send along a med order from your child's doctor to accompany it. Thank you!
Have a wonderful weekend!
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.
The next FRIES meeting is on Wednesday, November 18th, in the Library.
Please check out and join the Doyon FRIES Facebook page for up to date information: facebook.com/groups/doyonFRIES
We have an exciting offering for our Doyon community in collaboration with We Are Family Photography:
🍂FIVE MINUTES OF FALL | A FRIES FUNDRAISER🍂
Five beautiful photographs.
A little piece of this season to hold onto.
And a whole lot of love for the community we call home.🤎
I’m so excited to bring a little something special to our Doyon families this fall!
On Sunday, October 25, We Are Family Photography will be offering sweet and simple fall family sessions, with $20 from every completed session donated to FRIES in support of our school community.
🍁10-minute family sessions
🍁5 professionally edited digital photographs
🍁Online gallery + personal-use print release
🍁$100 per family
🍁Doyon Elementary School, Ipswich
Because sometimes the smallest moments leave the biggest memories.
And when we come together, even five minutes can make a difference.
Booking is officially OPEN!🤎
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 26: DEEP Week 2 Monday Classes
Tuesday October 26: DEEP Week 2 Tuesday Classes
Wednesday October 28: DEEP week 2 Wednesday Classes
Wednesday October 28: Change is Simple visits grades 2, 3 & 4
Friday, October 30: Harvest Celebrations!
Saturday October 31: Halloween!
November 2026
Sunday November 1: Daylight Savings; Fall back an hour
Monday November 2: Deep Week 3 Monday classes
Tuesday November 3: Deep Week 3 Tuesday classes
Tuesday November 3: Picture retake day
Wednesday November 4: Deep Week 3 Wednesday classes
Monday November 9: Deep Week 4 Monday classes
Tuesday November 10: Deep Week 4 Tuesday classes
Wednesday November 11: NO SCHOOL; Veterans Day
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. 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. 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.
If 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.
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.