The Wellfleet Elementary News

Summer May Be in Session, But WES Is Still Working!

While summer may be in full swing, there has been plenty happening behind the scenes at Wellfleet Elementary School as we prepare to welcome our students back!

Our technology team has been hard at work making several important upgrades, including improvements to our phone system and preparing new Chromebooks for students in Grades 4–5. We have also added additional security cameras and upgraded our entry system to further strengthen the safety and security of our school.

Our custodial team has been busy as well—scrubbing, waxing, painting, and completing the many behind-the-scenes tasks that help make WES a welcoming place for students and staff when they return in the fall.

We have also taken a small but important step in addressing some of our building's capital needs by beginning the process of replacing four windows in our kitchen. While this is a modest start, we hope to continue addressing additional capital improvements in the coming years.

Our Teachers Don't Take the Summer Off!

There is sometimes a perception that teachers "have the summer off." Nothing could be further from the truth! Our educators continue to dedicate countless hours to preparing for the upcoming school year. Over the summer, I have had the opportunity to connect with every educator in our wonderful school in one way or another. This has included preparing curriculum, setting up classrooms, participating in interview teams, planning with colleagues, and working to ensure that our students have a strong start to the new school year. Their commitment to our students extends well beyond the school calendar, and I am incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and care they continue to invest in WES.

We are also thrilled to share that we have secured a Speech-Language Therapist who will work with our students during the school day. Our SLP will be in the building two days each week, providing an important additional resource for our students that require this service. Additionally, we are working to finalize our Physical Education long-term substitute for Mrs. Sammi Botting, who will be out on maternity leave beginning in late September. We are committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive a high-quality physical education and health instruction throughout her absence.

So, while the school may look a little quieter during the summer months, there is a tremendous amount happening behind the scenes. From technology and building improvements to curriculum preparation and staffing, WES is working hard to make sure we are ready to ride the next wave into a fantastic school year!

Principal O'Shea

Parents and Guardians of a 5th grade; You should have received a Grade 5 specific WES Backpack Mail and email from me today. Please check your email for that information.

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 child care is available free of charge to all WES families beginning at the end of the school day and continuing until as late as 5:15 p.m. each day.

We are pleased to welcome back Rose (Clarke) Sugg as the program facilitator, with Jennifer Flanagan serving as the lead provider and Dale Sipple as the assistant.

The program is designed to be an extension of the school day while recognizing that students' energy may be waning after a full day of learning. Each afternoon includes a balance of structured activities, opportunities for play and connection, and time to unwind.

The program also incorporates opportunities to support students academically. Homework help is built into the daily schedule, along with dedicated time for reading or, for our younger students, being read to. Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where students can enjoy their afternoon while continuing to build independence and strengthen their learning habits.

If you are interested in enrolling your child, please click the link below. A staff member will follow up with you with additional information ASCC Sign-up.

Please sign up soon, as enrollment is first come, first served and space is limited.

We look forward to another great year of after-school programming at WES!

Dear WES Families,

Please complete this transportation form to let us know whether or not your student will be riding the bus for the 2026-2027 school year. This information will be used to create efficient and accurate routes and stops. Additionally, this will help us obtain accurate contact and address information as we move into a new school year. Please note that you must submit one form for each student in your household.

This form is required to be completed in order to ensure your student(s) are assigned a bus for FY27 school year

**Link for bus verification here: WES

Starting in Fall 2026, we are excited to introduce a new K-3 Instrumental Foundations Program taught by Mr. Staker. Your child will have the opportunity to sign up for an optional 25 minute small group instrumental lesson in addition to their regular general music class. The Foundations Program will focus on three core instruments which students will play concurrently throughout each grade.

• Irish Tin Whistle - Fingering, Breath Control, Melody and Pitch

• Ukulele - Rhythm, Coordination, Harmony and Accompaniment

• Diatonic Tongue Drum - Patterns, Visual Pitch Relationships

Grade 3 serves as a transition into Band, where students will also have opportunities to try instruments such as violin and marimba and begin exploring band instruments for the following year. The goal is to build a strong musical foundation so students can enter the 4th grade Band program with confidence, skills, and musicality already in place.

Expanded Opportunities for Grade 4-5 Band

We are also excited to expand our Grade 4-5 Band program! Next year we will be adding: Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Piano.

Students will continue to have the opportunity to play traditional band instruments, including saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, and percussion. Each week, students will attend a 25 minute small group lesson during the school day, as well as a full Band rehearsal before school on Tuesdays at 7:00 AM.

Please note that guitar, bass guitar, and piano are not available through the district rental program. Families who choose these instruments will need to own or purchase the instrument for their child. If that is not possible financially, the school will be able to provide assistance procuring an instrument.

Grade 4-5 Chorus rehearsals will continue to take place before school on Thursdays at 7:00 AM.

How to Join

If you are interested in Band, Chorus, or the Foundations Program, please register online through my WES Music Website. You will also find information about instrument rentals and purchasing options. In addition, I have included a link to an Amazon list of recommended affordable Foundations instruments. Instruments will be available at school, so purchasing is not required, but is recommended for home practice. Also, please note that financial assistance for 4-5 Band instruments is available upon request.

We are so excited to offer this new opportunity to strengthen long term participation and success in the school’s instrumental music program and to help students build readiness for future participation in band.

With Great Excitement,

Mr. Staker

Along with the information below, you will receive a great deal of first day paperwork. Please review it and where applicable, complete and return as soon as possible this will ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information.

• Breakfast and lunch: are free again 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.
• School Arrival: Students may arrive at school at 7:30am. Breakfast is available, and students may otherwise sit in the cafeteria until the first bell rings at 7:45am.
• 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.

Here are a list of upcoming events:

Tuesday, September 8th

• All Students (K-5) Red Carpet Ceremony 8:00am
• First Day of School Grades 1-5
• Kindergarten Orientation at 8:00am-9:15am

Wednesday, September 9th

• First Day of School Grade Kindergarten

Friday, September 18th

• Picture Day!

Monday-Friday October 19th-23rd N.E.E.D. Academy (Grade 5 only)

September 2026 Breakfast Menu -TBD

September 2026 Lunch Menu -TBD

FleetFund Info

Rental Assistance

Community Outreach in Wellfleet

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

Greetings from the WES Health Office!

I hope your children are as excited to return to school as I am! I can’t wait to see their shining faces soon. Before the year gets underway, here are a few important reminders for families:

Health Requirements & Screenings

• The state of Massachusetts requires that all students be up to date with immunizations to attend school. Exemptions include:

  • Medical: must be documented by a medical provider

  • Religious: requires an annual written statement on file

• Vision and hearing screenings take place annually. If follow-up is needed, I will send a referral letter home.

• BMI screenings are conducted in grades 1 and 4.

• Postural screenings are done in grade 5.

• Puberty education using the Our Changing Bodies curriculum is provided to grades 4 and 5. Families will receive advance notice and the opportunity to preview materials.

Medication Guidelines

• All medications require both a medical provider’s order and a parent/guardian’s written permission.

• Medications must be in the original prescription bottle with prescribing information and delivered to school by an adult. No baggies of pills in backpacks, please!

• If you’re having trouble obtaining a second inhaler for school due to insurance issues, let me know so we can problem-solve together.

• Standing orders for over-the-counter acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Tums are included in the back-to-school forms.

Please remember—if your child’s medical situation changes during the year, reach out so we can develop an appropriate plan for their school day.

Exciting News from the Garden & Cafeteria!
Thanks to a Community Preservation Funds grant, WES will be installing new raised beds in our school gardens. This will allow us to grow, sample, and even serve more school-grown foods in the cafeteria! We’ll also be welcoming guest chefs for taste tests to inspire students to try nutrient-dense foods.

Our Fresh Fruits & Veggies Program will return this year with offerings on Tuesdays and Thursdays right outside the classrooms. We’re also excited to welcome back Farmer in the School, Stephanie Rein, for hands-on garden learning. And—our very first apple harvest from the school orchard is coming this fall!

All of this programming is designed to support the long-term health and well-being of our students, helping them build the skills to make healthy decisions for life.

Looking forward to a wonderful year ahead,
Nurse Crosen

At Wellfleet Elementary School, we pride ourselves on providing supports that will help all students be successful. WES follows a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) a framework designed to provide early intervention and support for students facing academic or behavioral challenges.

It typically begins with universal screening to identify students in need of assistance, followed by tiered interventions that increase in intensity based on the student’s response.

• Tier 1 includes classroom instruction and universal supports for all students
• Tier 2 offers additional, small-group interventions for those who need extra help, and
• Tier 3 provides intensive, individualized support for students with significant challenges.

If a student continues to struggle despite these targeted supports, the MTSS team will convene to evaluate the student’s progress and needs. If it is determined that the interventions have been insufficient and the student demonstrates significant difficulties, a referral for a special education evaluation will be made by the school.

• This evaluation assesses whether the student has a qualifying disability and requires specialized services to succeed in the educational environment, ultimately leading to the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) if eligibility is established.

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