The Wellfleet Elementary News

Hello, Goodbye The crisp air is perfect learning weather and our Waves have been busy learning, creating, and exploring both inside and outside the classroom. As example, our Grade 5 had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Moody from the NEED Academy in preparation for their week long adventure to the edge of the world. One more week until they experience that WES rite of passage! Our Grades 2 and 3 kicked off their after-school band program with a fantastic first lesson! It looked good, and I am sure under the guidance of MR. Staker that it will sound great soon!

Grade 4 has been busy in multiple ways! In science with Ms. Shuemaker, students explored plant adaptations and learned how plants survive and thrive in their environments. Be sure to check out the pictures below! Fourth graders also shared their crayon writing with classmates, giving them an opportunity to celebrate their work and learn from one another. The crayon writing is a creative writing exercise that Mrs. Connolly has designed that encourages students to reflect upon themselves, identify the characteristics that make us each unique.

Grade 2 enjoyed a field trip to the Wellfleet Public Library! Students returned to school with lots of books and plenty of excitement about their next reading adventures. We are grateful to our public library for helping foster a love of reading in our students.

Looking ahead, next Wednesday, Grade 3 will be heading over the bridge to Plimoth Patuxet Museums to bring their learning about history and the past to life. We can't wait to hear about their discoveries!

We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend, finds time to relax, and returns ready for another week of amazing things at WES! Also, buckle up families the events spill over into the weekends the next couple weeks... Oyster Fest, Harvest Fest, Trick or Treating... Pace yourself!

Have a wonderful long weekend, Waves!

I am the walrus,

Principal O'Shea

A Staffing Update: Honoring David Samuels and Welcoming Jim Hogan

I am saddened to share that our longtime lead custodian, David Samuels, has resigned from his position at Wellfleet Elementary School. For the past eight years, David has been a quiet leader in our building, demonstrating tremendous dedication, patience, and skill. His steady presence and commitment to maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for our students and staff have made a lasting impact on our school community. He will certainly be missed, and his contributions will be difficult to replace.

David is also a lifelong learner who has been pursuing his goal of becoming a police officer by studying on his own time. Upon completion of the police academy, he will be joining the Orleans Police Department. While we are sad to see him leave WES, we are excited for him as he begins this next chapter and wish him every success in his new career.

Over the past month, we have been reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the lead custodian position. I am pleased to share that we have hired Jim Hogan, who brings an impressive background in creating and maintaining safe, clean, and well-organized work environments through his extensive experience with Intel. Jim has also volunteered his time supporting some of our most vulnerable populations, reflecting a commitment to service that we value deeply at WES. A father and grandfather who resides in Brewster, Jim will bring a wealth of experience and a strong sense of purpose to our school community.

We look forward to welcoming Jim to WES when he officially begins later this month. Please join me in thanking David for his eight years of dedicated service and wishing him the very best in his next adventure, while also extending a warm welcome to Jim as he joins the WES Waves!

Dear WES Families,

We are thrilled to welcome back Farmer Stephanie, who is bringing her wonderful expertise in Farm-to-School education back to our K–4 students!

Harvest Highlights & Special Local Lunch

Our students recently got their hands dirty harvesting 18 pounds of rainbow potatoes that they planted last spring. To celebrate their hard work, these potatoes will be served during lunch alongside local fish from the Chatham Fishermen's Alliance on Wednesday, September 30! During their garden time, students also harvested and sampled watermelon cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, ground cherries, and peppers right off the vine. Grades 4–5 Enrichment Program

As part of Sustainable CAPE, the Farmer in the School Program gives students hands-on outdoor learning experiences that connect healthy nutrition with lifelong health and environmental stewardship.

We are excited to offer a special Wednesday Enrichment Program from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM for students in grade 5.

Mark Your Calendars – Enrichment Dates:

• September 30

• October 14

• October 28

• November 18

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like more information on how to register your 5th grader. We look forward to a wonderful season of growing, learning, and eating together!

Below is an important message from our newly appointed Director of Digital Learning and Technology, Lisa Orlandella.

I am pleased to announce that we have reached our goal of transitioning paper-based registration forms to the Aspen Go Parent Portal.

Directions for logging into Aspen (slide deck)

Parent/Caregiver Directions for Online Returning Student Registration (OLRR) (slide deck)

Parent/Caregiver Directions for Online Returning Student Registration (OLRR) (video)

By having parents enter their information directly into Aspen, we can significantly reduce the potential for data entry errors, improve the accuracy of student records, and strengthen the security of sensitive information.

This means our online re-registration includes parent sign-off of the following:

• Medical Information

• Permission to Publish Form

• Acceptable Use Policy Agreement & Student Technology User Agreement

• Students' Rights and Responsibilities Handbook

After School Assistance

After School Assistance is available each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoon for students in grades 2–5. Teachers will be available to work with students who would benefit from additional academic support until 2:30 p.m. Please email Mrs. Belair to sign your child up. belairl@nausetschools.org

After School Assistance Schedule

• Mondays: Ms. Shuemaker and Ms. Blute
• Tuesdays: Mr. Pursel, Mrs. Connolly, and Mrs. Bradford
• Thursdays: Ms. Lyman, Mrs. Botting, and Ms. Wolf

💌Please reach out to Lindsey Belair at Belairl@nausetschools.org with any dismissal changes, concerns, or questions. If you haven't signed up your child for the After School Child Care program, please let Mrs. Belair know what your child's plan is for dismissal each day. You can send in a note with your child or reach out by phone or email.

🚗 If your child is being picked up from school, they will be dismissed form the cafeteria doors, and parents/guardians should be in the side parking lot waiting. A staff member will call the students out as parents arrive.

🚌If your child is taking the bus, they will be dismissed one bus at a time.

🏫If you have signed your child up for the After School Child Care program and chose your days of need, your child will automatically be dismissed there on those days.

📝Once after school assistance begins, (for grades 2-5 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays), if your child is signed up they will automatically be dismissed there and pick-up will be at the WES front doors, at 2:30. If they are signed up for the After School Child Care program, they will be dismissed there after after-school assistance.

• School Arrival: Students may arrive at school at 7:30am. Breakfast is available, and students may otherwise sit in the cafeteria until the bell rings at 7:45am.
• Bus drop-off takes place at 7:30am daily.
• Parent/Guardian drop-off takes place at 7:30am at the front loop. Students will be greeted by staff personnel and then go directly into the cafeteria.
• School Departure: Students are dismissed beginning at 2:00pm daily. The dismissal process takes about 10 minutes.
• If students are participating in the After School Child Care program (ASCC) then they will be dismissed directly there.
• Students being picked up by a parent/guardian will be picked up in the parking lot located at the north end of the building.
• Students taking the bus will listen for their bus to be called
• Supply Lists: All school supplies are provided to our students. Thank you Wellfleet taxpayers!

• Electronics: Upon arrival, student electronics (phone/watch) should be turned off and stowed away in their backpack. If parents/caregivers need to contact your student, please call the school at 508-349-3101, and the front office can get a message to your student.

• Breakfast and lunch: are free for all students! If your child eats breakfast at home and you DO NOT want them to access the breakfast offered, please let the teacher know.
• Snack: Please send your student with a healthy snack and reusable water bottle daily. We are seeking to provide a healthy snack grant on Tuesdays and Thursday, and are awaiting if we received the grant. Plan to provide a healthy snack daily until you hear otherwise.

We’re offering after-school circus classes this fall for children ages 3–12, including Little Lions, Tiny Tents, and Open Skills. Classes are held at our Big Top Circus Tent behind WHAT in Wellfleet.

We’d love to help more local families discover these programs, and we also want to make sure cost doesn’t prevent anyone from participating. If a family is interested but needs financial assistance, please reach out to circus@payomet.org to ask about scholarships. We’re happy to work with families to make the classes accessible.

Thank you so much for helping us spread the word and for your continued support of circus education in our community!

Here are a list of upcoming events:

Friday, October 9th:

• No School - Professional Development Day

• No School

Wednesday, October 14th:

• Grade 3 trip to Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Monday, October 19th - Friday, October 23rd:

• Grade 5 NEED Academy trip

• Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences

• Early Dismissal 11:00am Parent/Teacher Conferences

• Fall Festival time-TBD

• Pumpkin Harvest - Grades K,1,3

• Pumpkin Harvest - Grade 2

• Costume Dance Grades 4 & 5 - WES Cafeteria 5:30pm

• No School - Veterans Day

• No School - Thanksgiving Break

• Early Dismissal 11:00am

• Early Dismissal 11:00am

• No School - Holiday Break

• No School - MLK Day

• No School - PD Day

• WET Fest Grades 3-5

• No School - February Break

• Early Dismissal 11:00am

• Evening Parent/Teacher conferences

• Early Dismissal 11:00am
• Afternoon Parent/Teacher conferences

• No School - April break

• Early Dismissal 11:00am

• No School - Memorial Day

• No School - Juneteenth

WES October Lunch Menu

Truro Community Education Classes

FleetFund Info

Rental Assistance

Community Outreach in Wellfleet

Register with Wellfleet Rec

Free Play Fridays at Wellfleet Library

Storytime with Anna at Wellfleet Library

NEED Academy seeking Cook

Cape Kids Weekend Meal Bags

HPC Adopt-A-Family For the Holidays Sign-Up

Wellfleet Rec Halloween Parade

As you may know, the Nauset District has discontinued its use of ParentSquare and has transitioned to a new platform. If you download the Nauset App, you will receive all alerts, newsletters, and any other info from your child's school and the Nauset district. It’s the easiest way to stay updated with school news, alerts, and important announcements.

Similar to last year, I will continue using Smore to send out our weekly newsletters during the school year. These will begin the week before our return and will continue consistently throughout the year.

📱 Download the Nauset App:

• Apple App Store

• Google Play Store

WES School Health Services-Resource page: Contact Mrs. Cope-Crosen for more information at copec@nausetschools.org

The Lawrence Fund was established in March of 2023 by Ariana Bradford (Staff Member at WES) and Joan Zukas (School Committee member). The Fund was established to honor Lawrence Zukas, father to Ariana and husband to Joan. Its’ purpose is to financially support students and their families who may be in need of funds for camps, sports equipment, shoes, coats, boots, musical instruments, school supplies including technology support, etc. Request can be made to Mrs. Ariana Bradford, Mr. Adam O’Shea, Mrs. Claudia Cope or your child’s teacher. No proof of need is asked, The Lawrence Fund is just happy to help. Any additional questions can be answered by Claudia Cope at copec@nausetschools.org or by phone at (508) 349-3101.

Throughout the school year you may want to reach out to your child's teacher, or reach out to me.

All Nauset staff follow the email formatting below:

• the staff person's last name
• then the initial of their first name
• ending with @nausetschools.org

Now there is an exception to the rule: Ms. Claudia Cope-Crosen, our school nurse, is simply copec@nausetschools.org