We're almost done with MCAS testing for the year. Grade 5 will take the Science MCAS on Monday and Tuesday and that will be it. Thank you to our students for the hard work and perseverance they demonstrated on MCAS testing. We are all so proud of them!

We are looking good for staffing for the 2024-2025 school year, but there are a few important updates. We are moving Mrs. Rowell from the fifth section of third grade to the fifth section of first grade. This means that third graders will move from 5 sections this year to 4 sections next year resulting in class sizes of 23-24 students in each class. Rising first graders will move from current class sizes of 23-24 students to 18-19 students per first grade class. See the staffing chart below.

Mrs. McGowan is taking a year leave of absence next year to care for her new baby son and toddler son. We'll miss her and wish her well. We are in the process of identifying and hiring the long term substitute teacher for that class.

We have two upcoming weddings to celebrate! Both Ms. Johnson and Ms. Wragg are getting married this July. Ms. Johnson will change her name to Mrs. Marshall and Ms. Wragg will change her name to Mrs. Rinkus. We wish them both much joy and happiness on their upcoming wedding days!

We had so many students nominated this week for Magnificent Meerkats! We are so proud of these students for consistently showing expected behaviors, being a good friend to others, demonstrating perseverance with academic challenges, and being the best version of themselves that they can be!

Working on their upper body strength and with much excitement, Grades K-2 had fun using their imagination playing with the parachute. Grades 3-5 played two cooperative games called Airball and Capture the Chicken. It was amazing to observe students displaying so much teamwork.

It's that time of year! Next week will be our LAST book checkout of the 2023-24 school year. Please make every effort to help your students return all their books before the last two weeks of school. Lists and reminders will be going home soon. Thank you!

May

May 20 - Community Meeting - Grade 1 Hosting - Parents and Community invited to attend

May 20 - Gr. 3 Field Trip

May 20 - Gr. 2 Pedestrian Safety Lessons

May 20 & 21 - MCAS Grade 5 Science

May 27 - Memorial Day Holiday - No School

May 28 - K Field Trip

May 29 - Art Show 5-7pm (see invitation and expected behaviors below)

May 30 - NHS Seniors Walk Through Cole before Graduation

May 31 - Gr. 3 Field Trip

Upcoming - Mark Your Calendar

June 3 - K-5 Bike Safety Presentations

June 3 - Gr. 1 Field Trip

June 4 - KF and KG - Habitat Day 9:30-10:00

June 5 - KD and KJ - Habitat Day 9:30-10:00

June 5 - PTO Meeting 7pm

June 7 - Field Day

June 10 - Connections Meeting

June 10 - K Whales and Dolphins enrichment

June 10 - Grade 5 Band Concert

June 11 - Grade 4 Play

June 12 - Gr. 4 Tent Day

June 13 - Gr. 4 Geography enrichment

June 13 - Gr. 5 Move Up Day to NMS

June 13 - Grade 5 Celebration 6-8pm (Grade 5 Students and Parents only, no siblings or other family please)

June 14 - Gr. 2 Field Trip

June 14 - Gr. 5 Field Trip

June 17 - Tentative Last Day of School and Move Up Day for K-4

NO PLANS FOR THE LONG WEEKEND?

JOIN US FRIDAY, 5/24, FOR THE LAST STAY & PLAY OF THE YEAR.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/p4gxUM53ney4qv488

We will be trialing a new dismissal procedure - please read carefully:

• Students who are signed up will be dismissed from the gym door closest to the MAIN playground.
• Dismissal will occur AFTER the pickup car line has cleared (approx 3:15pm).
• The parking lot is BUSY at this time, please arrive early
• Please bring a sign with the LAST NAME of the children you are picking up (same as car pick up line) (We will call your child's name out if you forget your sign, but a sign will help move things along)
• Parents/Designated Adults will line up (similar to car pick up line) and ALL students you are picking up will be dismissed to you
• Please make every attempt to have a safe parent-to-child ratio
• Please collect your student(s) and join the fun!

Reminders about expected behaviors:

• Parents are ultimately responsible for the safety of the children that are dismissed to them.
• For instance, if your children play in the woods or on the soccer field, a parent should be close by monitoring them.
• All school rules apply at PTO events. Students not following expected behaviors (appropriate use of playground equipment, respectful words and actions, etc.) will be spoken to and may be asked to leave the event.
• If needed, students not following expected behaviors will not be allowed to attend year-end PTO events such as the art show and 5th grade celebration.

The Cole Art Show needs YOUR help! Please help us transform the halls of Cole School into an art gallery, featuring the work of all of our favorite artists. Help is needed before and during the event. Thank you! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B45A8AE2FAB9-49515129-2024

ART SHOW ETIQUETTE

We are very excited for our upcoming Art Show at the Cole School on May 29th. The Cole School students have worked so hard creating beautiful works of art for your viewing. When visiting an Art Show there are specific rules that should be followed to make it a successful event.

Please review the following with your child before attending the Art Show:

Look with your eyes, not with your hands. Do not touch any of the art work unless it is interactive.

Keep an arm’s length distance from the work.

Use quiet indoor voices.

Walk around the exhibit in a calm, slow manner.

No running in the halls.

No food or drink outside the cafeteria.

Families must stay together when walking around the art show.

No child should be roaming the halls unsupervised.

Please join the NHS Fourth Wall Players for their final show of the season! “Fools” is a hilarious comedy by Neil Simon. There are no special cautions or content warnings in this show. It contains mild adult humor. Run time is approximately one hour and 40 minutes, which includes a 10 minute intermission.