Sheehan Elementary
Weekly Newsletter
Dear Sheehan Families,
Last week, I shared a peek into morning meeting. This week, we’re heading to our Sheehan dining room, where two of our third graders were exploring the possibility of freshly squeezed orange juice. All you need is an orange, a straw, and a little creativity and optimism!
One of the things I love about lunchtime is the space it gives children to connect. Over a meal, children have time for the kinds of conversations that help them discover shared interests, build friendships, and feel connected to one another. These less structured moments are an important part of the elementary school experience, giving children time to enjoy one another’s company and a chance to take a breath in an otherwise very scheduled day.
They also offer plenty of opportunities to practice independence, solve problems together, and navigate being part of a community: including someone in a conversation, working through a disagreement, and leaving a shared space ready for the next group. Adults are nearby to support them as they figure these things out together. Also, this is 100% not a sales pitch for lunch volunteers… but we do love having parents, caregivers and other volunteers join us in the dining room to help during the lunch waves! If you are interested, there is a SignUp Genius in the PTA newsletter.
One of our goals this year is to weave our Core Four more explicitly into these everyday moments, building a common language across our school. During our Open Share on Wednesday afternoon, we will gather as a whole school to explore what our Core Four look and sound like during morning arrival, lunch, recess, and other parts of the day. We want these shared values to become familiar language children can use and put into practice wherever they are at Sheehan.
Ask your child about Open Share later in the week! You might hear about a way they can include someone at lunch, help arrival run smoothly, or work through a tricky moment at recess. It’s always fun to hear what they take away from our time together.
I hope you’re enjoying the weekend. And, as always, thank you for taking a few moments to read our weekly newsletter.
Stacy Mahoney and the Sheehan Team
Friday, October 23 : PTA Monster Mash, 5:30- 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 28: Early Release (12:00 p.m. Dismissal)- Afternoon Conferences
Wednesday, October 28: Evening Conferences
Wednesday, November 4: Early Release (12:00 p.m. Dismissal) Afternoon Conferences
Wednesday, November 11: NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 25: Early Release (12:10 p.m. Dismissal)
Thursday, November 26: NO SCHOOL
Friday, November 27: NO SCHOOL
Monday, November 30: Full PD Day for Staff- NO SCHOOL for students
Wednesday, December 9: Early Release (12:00 p.m. Dismissal)
Thursday, December 10: Sheehan Fall Play Performance (4:00- 6:00 pm)
Wednesday, December 23: Early Release
Thursday, December 24-January 1: December Break
Monday, January 4: Return from Break