Peterborough Elementary School

What a start to the school year! The first day of school is always an exciting time for many students and staff. Reconnecting with friends, making new friends, meeting a new teacher or students, and finding your desk in a new classroom is always a thrill. There were lots of smiles and high-fives going around!

For me it was great to welcome back our staff before the students arrived. We kicked off the week with teachers and staff preparing for the upcoming year. I am proud to say that PES is fully staffed with amazing teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff who are ready to educate, care for, and enrich our students. Prior to student arrival, schedules were reviewed, class lists were finalized, school procedures were updated, and classrooms were set up.

Thanks to all the students and families who could join us on Tuesday for the "Meet and Greet". It was great for me to meet many new students and families. If we have not met yet, please feel free to introduce yourself if you see me.

Finally, you likely received an email regarding the First Day Packet Forms last week or the week before. If you have, please complete the forms as soon as you can. If you did not receive the First Day Packet Forms email, please let us know.

I am looking forward to a great year!

Have a great weekend,

Larry Pimental

Each Friday morning, we gather for an all-school meeting where we greet each other; we share, celebrate, and learn together; and we reflect on our core values of being respectful, safe, and kind. Today we kicked off the year with learning the "micro-wave" and the signal for quiet; we had some fun moving like animals, and we learned how bobcats model respectful, safe, and kind behavior in their environment. Please ask your children about the meeting.

Last year, at one of our family engagement meetings, it was suggested that we find ways to improve communication about school events. So, this summer the FELT created a school events calendar (see below). Please know that there could be events added, we don't know how winter weather will impact scheduled events, and sme things could change. But this is surely a good start!

Title One Annual Meeting- 5:00-5:30 in the PES Library

Open House- 5:30-6:30

Each year, families ask how they can contact other families for things like birthdays, play dates, and coordinating other activities. At PES, we do not share or handout invitations for private, out-of-school events or parties. However, the PES Buzz Book is a way to share directory information so families can connect with other families.

In compliance with School Board Policy JRA, PES in conjunction with the PES PTO, will be creating a "Buzz Book" or student directory. The directory would include students' names and grades, students' teachers, guardian names, mailing addresses, and email addresses. If you would prefer that your directory information NOT to be included in the directory, please notify me in writing or by email at lpimental@conval.edu by September 30, 2023.

Attached is the 2023-2024 School Handbook. In it you will find school information, rules, district policies, and other resources.

Dear Families,

It has been wonderful to meet and greet all the children in these first days of school. I look forward to the school year. Please be on the lookout for a Newsletter from me about the program here at PES next week. In the meantime I am creating a bulletin board titled “Fit Families” . I would love for your student(s) to bring in a picture of your family being active. Have a healthy and safe weekend!

Hi, My name is Jennifer Swasey and I am the PES School Counselor. This is my 3rd year at PES, 9 years in the ConVal district and 18 years as a school counselor. I have two daughters that went through the Conval school system and who are both in college now. My husband and I enjoy hiking, kayaking, basketball and being with our kids. Below is a snapshot of the school counseling program at PES. Please feel free to contact me by email jswasey@conval.edu

Classroom Lessons

Regular classroom instruction is provided to students by school counselors and is reinforced by teachers. Lessons in the academic, career, and personal/social domains are aligned with the American School Counselor Association’s Mindsets and Behaviors.

School counselors use the Second Step curriculum as part of their comprehensive counseling program. Second Step lessons are broken into four units: Skills for Learning, Empathy, Emotion Management, and Problem Solving. School counselors also provide instruction in bullying prevention using the Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit.

Additional lessons are provided based on the needs of the classroom. Lesson topics may include:

• The Zones of Regulations
• Awareness of Self and Others
• Attitudes and Behaviors
• Decision Making and Problem Solving
• College and Career Exploration

Counseling Services

Students who need additional support outside of the classroom setting may participate in individual or group counseling sessions with the school counselor. Some of the more common issues addressed in counseling include:

Personal/Social Skills

• How to interact with peers

• How to appropriately express feelings

• Improving communication skills

• Coping with change

• Dealing with grief and loss (including divorce and separation)

• How to manage strong feelings

• How to resolve conflict

• Building self-esteem

• Developing a positive attitude about school and learning

• Setting goals and priorities

• Increasing study and test-taking skills while reducing test-taking anxiety

Responsive Services

Teacher Consultation

In addition to providing direct classroom instruction, the school counselor works with teachers in areas such as: response to intervention, group dynamics, behavior management, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, special school-wide activities, and committees.

Parent Consultation

The school counselor is available to all parents of our students. Some of the areas in which we may work together are: new student orientation, home school relations, helping students achieve success academically, personally, socially and in a future career, self-esteem building, parenting challenges, dealing with crisis, referrals to community agencies, and attendance.

Email: lpimental@conval.edu
Website: https://pes.convalsd.net/
Location: 17 High Street, Peterborough, NH, USA
Phone: 603-924-3828
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterboroughelementaryschool
Twitter: @WeAreConVal