Doyon News
Friday, September 25, 2026
Time certainly flies when you’re having fun - we’ve officially closed out our second full week of the 2026–2027 school year here at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School! Our classrooms are already buzzing with enthusiasm, blending the familiar rhythm and energy of last spring with the excitement of welcoming our newest pre-kindergarten and kindergarten faces into the Doyon family.
We also want to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who attended the first of our two Curriculum Night events. Gathering together to share what daily learning looks like, discuss how we nurture each student's academic and social growth, and strengthen our home-school connection is always a highlight of the fall. Your active involvement and ongoing partnership truly make our school community thrive.
As you scroll through the remainder of this newsletter, please take a few moments to review the key updates and announcements we’ve put together to help your family prepare for the week ahead. If you ever have questions, ideas, or simply want to chat, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Benincasa or me - we are always happy to connect!
Warmly,
Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen & Mrs. Benincasa
Thank you for your help and care as we work to settle back into our school arrival routines. A quick reminder for families dropping off students in the car line:
- It is best for students being dropped off to sit in the rear, passenger-side seat; this allows us to quickly assist your child(ren) out of the vehicle.
- Please look for direction from staff, pulling up as far as possible, so that we are able to unload multiple cars at once.
- Please do not pass other vehicles in the car line.
- The arrival loop for car riders is staffed until 8:45 AM. Please do not drop students off at the front door, unless it is after 8:45 AM. After that time, your child is tardy. Please walk them into the school building.
If you have questions, concerns, or wonderings, we are happy to help!
As we wrapped up our second full week of school, students continued settling into routines, building relationships, and practicing our shared CARES expectations throughout the day. These early weeks are an important time for establishing habits that help our school community feel safe, welcoming, and ready to learn.
Each day offers students many opportunities to practice Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control—from working with classmates and moving through common spaces to solving problems and taking care of themselves and others. As our routines become more familiar, we will continue helping students recognize the many ways CARES can guide the choices they make at school.
We look forward to welcoming families to our last Curriculum Night on September 29! Here is our schedule for the evening's events:
Tuesday, September 29:
- Kindergarten Presentation: 5:15 - 6:00 PM in the Library
- Grades PreK, Kindergarten, First and Fifth General Session: 6:00 - 6:30 PM in the Cafe
- First Grade Presentation: 6:30 - 7:15 PM in the Cafe
- Fifth Grade Presentation : 6:30 - 7:15 PM in the Library
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
Dear Doyon Families,
Many cough/colds and sore throats again this week! We are also seeing some pneumonia and the need for inhalers if your child uses them. Please continue to encourage good hand washing and cough etiquette!
I am also reporting some cases of lice in some grades. 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.
Thank you so much for keeping your children home when they are ill and continuing to inform the school as we track trends. Please be sure to sign up for the flu vaccine ---we are already seeing cases of flu in some communities!
Mary Sforza, RN, MSN, NCSN
Doyon School Nurse(ph) 978-356-5506 ext 111
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.
September 2026
- Tuesday, September 29: Curriculum Night Grades PreK, K, 1 & 5
October 2026
Saturday October 3: FRIES Spooky Walk
Sunday October 4: RAIN DATE; FRIES Spooky Walk
Wednesday October 7: Walk, Bike & Roll to School
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
Monday October 19: FRIES Pasta Night at Doyon 5:30 - 7:00 PM