Pine Hill Post

We are still abuzz with excitement from Pine Hill International Night held on March 1st. Thank you to our CSA for organizing and sponsoring this event! With over 25 countries represented, our students and families enjoyed learning about cultural celebrations, music and dance, clothing, games, and sampling lots of delicious food. A testament to the amazing Sherborn community, we had great attendance at the event, including families who are not yet enrolled with school-aged children and families who have "graduated" from Pine Hill. We even had representation from the Sherborn PD serving Swiss fondue. A great time was had by all!

Pine Hill School has experienced a bit more teacher turnover than expected. Our new Spanish Teacher for grades K, 2, and 4, Genevieve O'Connell (hired in January) resigned, effective February 24th and we have been working to fill the position. We are appreciative that one of our substitute teachers is fluent in Spanish and has helped us by filling in for the past couple of weeks. We are excited to welcome a new Spanish Teacher, Wendy Lacunza who will be a long-term sub for us for the rest of the school year. Senora Lacunza holds Massachusetts Educator Licenses (Foreign Language - Spanish for the Preschool through Grade 12 levels) and has experience as long-term Spanish substitute teacher in a few other school districts. Senora will start with us next week. We have started the process of recruiting educator candidates for next school year and will conduct a wide search for a permenant Spanish teacher.

During our Black History Month celebrations, our fifth-grade students spearheaded a meaningful exploration into the lives of influential Black figures. Through diligent research, they crafted captivating "Who Are People?" slideshows, inviting their peers to decipher the identities of these impactful individuals. Furthermore, another class has embraced their newfound research skills to delve deeper into the legacies of important African American figures, honoring them in various ways throughout the month. Notably, students in 5S have ingeniously constructed "Instagram pages" for the figures they've studied, thoroughly enjoying the process of uncovering their timeline, leadership qualities, and lasting legacies. See the pictures below!

It's that time of year again! Pine Hillers are enthusiastically participating in this year's school-wide Picture Book March Madness. This year's theme is "Be Curious." Watch this video to learn more about our March Madness brackets. Ask your children about the March Madness books they've shared with their classmates and which titles they think will make it to the final four. Stay tuned for more March Madness updates in the coming weeks!

March 13: Early Release Day - dismissal at 11:15 am for Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 25 & 26: MCAS ELA Grade 3

March 27 & 28: MCAS ELA Grade 4

March 29: NO SCHOOL - Good Friday

April 1 & 2: MCAS ELA Grade 5

April 15-19: School Closed - Vacation Week

April 29 & 30: MCAS Grade 3 Math

May 1 & 2: MCAS Grade 4 Math

May 6 & 7: MCAS Grade 5 Math

May 8: Early Release Day (11:15am dismissal) Incoming Kindergarten Visits for parents/caregivers and students in the afternoon

May 10: Pine Hill Talent Show (students in grades 3-5 are in the show, all are invited to attend the event with an adult) 6:00-8:30pm in the Auditorium

May 13 & 14: MCAS Grade 5 Science, Technology and Engineering

May 27: Memorial Day - No School

Beginning on February 1, 2024, any resident of Dover and Sherborn or student attending the Dover-Sherborn Public Schools (through a guardian) has access to the William James College INTERFACE Referral Service. The INTERFACE Helpline helps individuals in subscribing communities become connected with outpatient mental health and wellness resources.

Through the Helpline that operates from 9 AM- 5 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 8 AM- 6 PM on Tuesday and Thursday, callers will complete an intake which takes about 15-20 minutes and then within a day or so of their call will be assigned to work with a Resource and Referral Counselor who will help them navigate the challenges of finding mental health services, including obtaining a referral match to an outpatient provider, as well as information and resources related to mental health and wellness. Please see What to Expect When You Call the Helpline or visit interface.williamjames.edu for more information.

The INTERFACE Helpline is not an emergency service. If you or the person you are seeking to assist requires a crisis response to meet immediate safety needs, please call 988, 911, go to your local emergency room, or find your local crisis services by calling 833-773-2445 and asking for crisis support.

Share your child’s love of books! The Pine Hill Library Gift Book program allows students to acknowledge a special teacher, administrator, or specialist by purchasing a book for the school library in their honor. To participate, complete the form here, which includes payment of $22 per book. Please fill out one form per student. Books can be purchased throughout the school year! For more information, please contact Laurie Ryan, Pine Hill School Librarian ryanl@doversherborn.org. Thank you for supporting our school library!

Dover-Sherborn High School to Present Mamma Mia! March 14-16

Put on your platform shoes, get ready to release your inner Dancing Queen, and come see the ultimate feel-good show, Mamma Mia, at Mudge Auditorium! A large cast, non-stop laughs, and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia a must-see! In addition, there will be an Art Exhibit by the Dover-Sherborn Regional Fine Arts' Students in the cafeteria for viewing before the show and during intermission.

Show dates are Thursday, March 14th, at 6:30 pm, Friday, March 15th, at 7:00 pm, a Saturday matinee on March 16th at 1:00 pm, and an evening performance at 7:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.ticketstage.com or at the door.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new, free MPY Parenting Solutions Library. To date, over 2,200 videos have been borrowed. MPY is offering the MPY Parenting Solutions Library in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. When parents grasp the interconnection between the brain, body, and behavior, they experience reduced stress levels, resulting in less stress for their children.

The Peace At Home Parenting Solutions team, comprised of experts with advanced degrees, stays abreast of the latest advancements in child development. With more than 30 specialists focused on child and adolescent development, including specific issues such as difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, handling racism, navigating grief, and other matters parents and our partners identify. These experts present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.

Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. The 24 library presentations focus on the topics below. Each presentation includes a 10-minute videos and handouts.

· Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle and High School Students

· Parenting Principles for Progress Not Perfection

· Mental Health Knowledge and Skills

· Support Your Anxious Child Library

· ADHD and Autism: How to Help Your Child Thrive

The Home Parenting Library may easily be accessed using the link on MPY’s home page (www.mpyinc.org). No log in or passcode is needed.