Doyon News

Dear Families,

We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful four-day weekend! Although it was a short week at school, it was filled with meaningful learning, connection, and opportunities for students to grow together. Throughout the building, students continue to demonstrate our CARES values in so many ways. It is always a joy to see these values come to life in our classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces. Well done, everyone!

On Tuesday, our teachers spent the day engaged in professional learning, collaborating and reflecting on ways to strengthen the experiences we provide for our students. We are grateful for their continued dedication, and we want to thank our entire school community for the many ways you contribute to making our school such a special place to learn and grow.

We also want to correct a date we shared in last week's newsletter. Our next School Council and FRIES meetings will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 21. School Council will begin at 5:30 PM, with FRIES following afterward. All are welcome, and we would love to have you join us!

Looking ahead, we are excited for a full five-day week of learning! Our Harvest Celebrations are also just around the corner, and teachers will be sharing more information about classroom plans and festivities as we get closer.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership, support, and the care you bring to our school community. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Mr. Whitehouse-Mullen, Principal

Mrs. Benincasa, Asst. Principal

Second graders work on collaboratively using grouping strategies to count collections of items and document their work using the Seesaw app.

Every day at Doyon brings new opportunities to learn, try something challenging, and grow alongside one another. Whether students are working through a tricky math problem, learning a new skill, or collaborating with classmates, we know that learning takes patience, perseverance, and a willingness to try. At Doyon, our CARES values help us create a school where everyone feels supported, encouraged, and ready to take on new challenges:

• Cooperation: We work together, share ideas, and recognize that we can learn so much from one another.

• Assertion: We ask questions, share our thinking, and speak up when we need help or encouragement.

• Responsibility: We come prepared to learn, put forth our best effort, and take pride in our progress.

• Empathy: We encourage classmates when something feels difficult, celebrate each other's successes, and remember that everyone learns at their own pace.

• Self-Control: We stay focused, practice patience when learning something new, and keep trying even when things don't come easily.

Learning isn't always about getting the right answer the first time. It's about being curious, taking chances, making mistakes, and discovering what we're capable of along the way. When we bring our CARES values into each learning experience, we help make Doyon a place where everyone feels confident to try, supported as they grow, and proud of how far they've come.

Dear Doyon Families,

A big thank you to all the families and students that participated in the flu clinic here at Doyon this week! We had over forty people get their vaccines on Wednesday!

We are so appreciative to Conley's Drug Store for making this happen and supporting our schools! It was convenient for families to get their shots together here at Doyon.

If you missed it....no worries! You can get your flu vaccine from your own primary care doctor or Conley's has vaccines available from 10-5 every weekday with no pre-registration necessary.

Now for the other news at Doyon....

A little bit of everything going around.....A few cases of hand, foot, and mouth, strep, and fevers/flu-like illnesses have been reported. Please remember to keep children home if they are generally not feeling well and they must be fever free for 24 hours to return. Thank you for letting me know so we can continue to track trends!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mary Sforza, RN, MSN, NCSN

(ph) 978-356-5506 ext 111

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.

The next FRIES meeting is on Wednesday, October 21 via Zoom.

Please check out and join the Doyon FRIES Facebook page for up to date information: facebook.com/groups/doyonFRIES

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.

Friday Morning Library Sign-Up

October 2026

• Monday October 19: DEEP Week 1 Monday Classes

• Wednesday, October 21: DEEP Week 1 Wednesday Classes

• Wednesday October 21: Kindergarten to Firehouse Theater

• Wednesday October 21: School Council Meeting via Zoom

• Wednesday October 21: FRIES meeting via Zoom

• Monday October 26: DEEP Week 2 Monday Classes

• Wednesday October 28: DEEP week 2 Wednesday Classes

• Friday, October 30: Harvest Celebrations!

• Saturday October 31: Halloween!

Dear Doyon Families,

We continue to maintain a safe and supportive school environment at the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School. Each school year, staff receive training in our emergency procedures in collaboration with our School Resource Officer, Detective Joe Perna. Our procedures now incorporate the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation, which provides shared language and clear actions for responding to a variety of situations.

Student safety presentations are conducted annually and are tailored to our students’ developmental ages. Detective Perna will visit classrooms next week to review these procedures with students. The student presentation for the Standard Response Protocol is linked at the bottom of this memo for your review and to support any conversations about school safety that may arise at home. This is produced by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. Some slides may be omitted during presentations depending upon the age of learners. A parent handout has also been linked for your review.

The Standard Response Protocol includes five actions:

1. Hold — In Your Room or Area. Clear the Halls.
   Students and staff remain in their classrooms or designated areas while hallways are kept clear. Classroom activities may continue. A Hold may be used during a medical emergency so responders can move through the building and the person receiving care has privacy.

2. Secure — Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors.
   Students and staff come inside, and exterior doors are locked because of a concern or hazard outside the school. Activities inside may continue as usual. For example, a Secure action may be used during police activity in the surrounding neighborhood.

3. Lockdown — Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.
   If there is a threat inside the school, classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, and students and staff remain quiet and out of sight. Students follow the directions of the adults supervising them.

4. Evacuate — To the Announced Location.
   Students and staff move to a designated location, inside or outside the building, under staff direction. An evacuation may be needed during a fire or another situation requiring people to leave an area.

5. Shelter — State the Hazard and Safety Strategy.
   Students and staff follow directions appropriate to a specific hazard, such as severe weather. The announcement identifies the hazard and the protective action to take, which may include moving to a designated shelter area.

Regular practice helps students and staff become familiar with these procedures. Students have already completed two fire drills, and in October we will conduct an emergency drill using student-friendly language and age-appropriate procedures. Our goal is to help students feel prepared, supported, and confident in following directions from trusted adults.

Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Mrs. Benincasa and I, alongside our school community, are here to offer help and support. Thank you for your partnership in keeping Doyon a safe and caring place to learn.