Something to Yelle About

ANOTHER AWESOME WEEK IN #HAYNation!

Hello from the Yelle.

Another sensational week here in #HAYNation!

You will hear me talking in extremes in terms of sensational, excellent, awesome, amazing, incredible, but believe me, that is seriously what is going on. We have had another tremendous week here at the Yelle. Everyone -- students, teachers, staff have all been superb in what I like to call our first "real" week of school. Last week we spent a lot of time getting to know each other, building solid relationships, learning to collaborate and cooperate, and just make sure our students see the Yelle as a welcoming place; that is what we always do, and then we start to build upon this foundation. And this week is where that constructing is happening. We are getting into our new Into Reading program, working in our Stepping Stones workbooks, practicing our problem-solving skills in ST Math, and doing some Mystery Science "experiences." This is what we started this week and it is going amazingly.

In the big picture above, each week, I use it as a way to highlight and show what we were able to accomplish during the week.

We have students working together, supporting each other's learning, up at the board discussing and explaining how and why they solved a problem as they did, and even one picture with one of my favorite things holding up her whiteboard so her teacher can see how each student is understanding what they are working on. This second week we are defiinitely into our learning. We have our very first in-person #GoodNewsCallOfTheDay for the school year, where a student's mom had come with siblings to pick up their brother. We have a couple of our Summer Reading Champs getting their reward of a trip to our vending machine and picking out a book of their choice. Another picture is of this week's #PositiveSignThursday message of how our Students BELONG here. We want them to keep coming, enjoying themselves as they are learning, and as in every picture, SMILING brightly. Now that's a great week!

These and the other pictures below that I have snapped throughout the week in and around the classrooms really do relay a story of the incredible relational accomplishments our students and teachers achieved this week. Please check them out below and all over our Instagram feed to help to tell the tremendous story we are writing this year.

Please check out the rest of the Newsletter for some important information including ...

Tuesday's Yelle Elementary Curriculum Night

Start With Hello Week

NEED Movie Night

Our Upcoming HAY PTO Meeting

Lifetouch Fall Picture Ordering

Upcoming Calendar Events to Mark Your Own Calendar

Community Events

Other PTO News

And much, much more ...

Please check it out.

Thanks; have a wonderful weekend; stay safe and well,

Marty

Martin R. Geoghegan

Principal

Henri A. Yelle Elementary School

Monday, September 16 through Friday, September 20 – Start With Hello Week (see below)

Tuesday, September 17 – Yelle Elementary Curriculum Night - 6PM for 4th Grade and 6:45PM for 5th Grade (see below)

Thursday, September 19 – HAY PTO Meeting (3rd Thursday of the month) at 6PM in Library

Friday, September 27 – ½ Day PD Day 11:40AM Dismissal

Our school will be participating in the Start with Hello program the week of Monday, September 16 through September 20. This program helps teach students the skills needed to create a culture of inclusion. By building a culture of inclusion, schools and communities can better support children while reducing the risk of bullying, violence and depression. Social isolation is a growing epidemic in the United States, and within our schools. The Start with Hello program is one step to decrease this.

Each day of the week, all students may participate in activities that encourage inclusion, kindness, and individuality (specific activities are listed below). We will be emphasizing the importance of our Core Values this year, and these lessons and activities will enhance our Core Values program. Please talk with your children about how they may have interpreted the different activities throughout the week and how they may be able to apply these values outside of school.

Monday

- “Hey Day!” Each student and staff member will be given a name tag, to design uniquely.

- Nametags will be worn all day and everyone will be encouraged to say “hello” to people that they pass by.

Tuesday

- Build a “Positivity Wall.” Each student and staff member will be given sticky notes to write down compliments and/or encouraging words for one another. Sticky notes will be placed on desks, lockers, and the windows in the front lobby.

Wednesday

- "Norton Pride Day." Students and staff members will be asked to wear Norton attire OR something that is purple and white.

Thursday

- “Random Acts of Kindness Day.” Each person in the school will be encouraged to perform 3 or more random acts of kindness throughout the day. See how many you can do!

Friday

- “No One Plays Alone Day.” Students may play at recess with other children they might not typically play with.

Hello Yelle Families:

We are doing a Yelle Elementary Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 17th, we invite all parents/guardians for an evening event, our Elementary Curriculum Night, where teachers will share the academic plan for the year.

4th Grade will be from 6 to 6:30PM, and 5th Grade from 6:45 to 7:15PM.

We will start the evening in the Gym for a quick overview from Mr. Geoghegan, which will be no longer than 7 minutes to start the night. Then we ask that guardians head to their child's Homeroom Teacher's classroom to be filled in on the particulars of 4th or 5th Grade.

In the past few years, many things have changed academically for our students and what we expect of them. We felt as though a night dedicated to academics was necessary, especially with our new Math program, Stepping Stones, and our new ELA programming this year in Into Reading.

This is a night where you can hear what you can expect your child to relay to you about what they are doing during the day, during classes, and what may be expected at home. A Q&A period will be built into those half-hour sessions, which will be staggered to allow folks with siblings the ability to visit different grades. Champions will be offering child care in the cafeteria for anyone who may need it.

We look forward to seeing you at this Curriculum Night!

Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Hello Yelle Families:

The HAY Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hopes all families had a great Summer vacation. We are looking forward to another senational school year!

The PTO sponsors monthly meetings, which are usually held the third Thursday of each month from 6-7PM in the HAY Library. The meetings could be changed if there is a calendar conflict with a school vacation or holiday and are usually moved to the Wednesday before or after. You can view on the HAY Calendar on the NPS website.

We look forward to seeing returning parents along with new faces from our fourth grade families!

Come join the meetings to hear what’s happening in your child’s school, how you can help out by volunteering, or ways for you to share an idea!

Contact us at:

hayellepto@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/HAYPTO/

This month’s meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 19th from 6-7 pm in the Yelle Library, where we will mostly be discussing plans for our upcoming October Book Fair, Trunk Or Treat, the candy contest, and more.

We would love to see everyone there!

Additional information can be found on our Facebook page, and we will always contact families with any important information with ParentSquare.

Students will be able to purchase ice cream treats in the cafeteria for $1 cash.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact

Mr. Mike Vacarro

DDS Norton Public Schools

Chartwell's

508.285.0150

Dear Yelle Families,

School pictures are ready!

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number.

All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.

More about the Smilesafe program here.

Thank you!

Please see more great Pictures and what is happening in #HAYNation like these by going to Instagram at @HAYSchoolNorton -- Make sure you Follow Us and Tag Us in any Posts you want us to see!

Principal Martin R. Geoghegan

Past Newsletters can be found Here.

Website: https://www.norton.k12.ma.us/henri-a-yelle-elementary-school
Location: 64 West Main Street, Norton, MA, USA
Phone: 508-285-0190
Instagram: @HAYSchoolNorton