BLACKHAWKS BULLETIN

Good Afternoon,

Thank you so much for your help with drop off and pick up on election day. With record turnout it sure was a busy place! Some friends and family were surprised to hear we remained open with voting happening on our campus. But what a gift for our students to see democracy in action! If nothing else, it helps them figure out the logistics. One third grader, looking out at the sea of cars in the parking lot, turned to me and said, "Wait, does everyone in the country come here to our gym to vote?"

With the national election behind us, please be reminded that here in New Hampshire we are fortunate to have many opportunities to make our voices count. This week the School Board will take its first look at the regular education portion of the proposed 2025/26 budget. The budget includes substantial proposed cuts including one professional staff and one paraprofessional position. While I have no doubt you will hear all about the budget in conversations around town, I encourage you to attend Tuesday's Board Meeting at 5:30 pm to learn about the proposals firsthand. It's so important to hear the facts and to share your questions, concerns, and suggestions directly with the administration and/or Board. If you are unable to attend Tuesday's meeting, please feel free to reach out to me, the SAU, or to a Board member directly. I am always happy to have a conversation about Plainfield School 🙂!

if your idea of getting involved falls outside of the realm of budget and staffing decisions, please note the following (more details throughout the Bulletin as well):

• PTA Meeting - This Wednesday at 7 pm the Meriden Library
• We are still looking for Bakers to help run a three week mini-session (Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:40) with 6th to 8th graders. Starts right after Thanksgiving. See Info below - reach out to Audra if interested and available.
• Volunteer to help with one of our FAST (Friday Afternoon Special Time) programs on Fridays (January 17 to February 7)
• Consider signing up as a substitute teacher.
• Attend our upcoming K to 4 movie night - Inside Out 2 - at 6 pm this Friday, November 15 in the gym.
• Support the Class of 2025 by buying a holiday wreath. Orders due Friday, November 15th.

As always, if you have any questions about anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me, Amanda or Katie here in the office!

Audra

P.S. The Boys & Girls Club After School Program is closed until further notice. They are still looking for a site director and counselor positions. Please spread the word and share the flyer below if you know someone that might be interested and a good fit!

Audra Bucklin, Principal

603.469.3250, ext 223

abucklin@plainfieldschool.org

Winter is coming! As you know, Plainfield tries to coordinate with Lebanon on days that may require either delayed opening or closing of schools. At the same time, there are circumstances where the districts may make different decisions based on safety and the ability to open.

Here are a few general things to remember about emergency calls:

1. Please listen for a call regarding delays or closings. Click HERE to sign up for our ALMA alert system if you haven't already done so.

2. NEW: This year, if you have a cell phone number in Alma, you will also receive the alert via Text.

3. If you sometimes have trouble with cell or internet service, you can also check for delays or closings on WMUR.

4. If you don’t receive a call and there’s nothing on WMUR, then everything is on its usual schedule.

Unique Circumstances for high schoolers:

1. If Lebanon and Plainfield are both delayed, bus transportation to Lebanon will be available, but delayed by two hours.

2. If Lebanon is open and Plainfield is closed, bus transportation to Lebanon will not be available, and attendance will not be required. If you still want your child(ren) to attend, transportation will be at your discretion.

The Superintendent of Schools in Lebanon and the administration at Lebanon High School have given assurances that, when Plainfield is closed/delayed and Lebanon is open, no student will be penalized, either academically or in co-curricular activities, for absence or late arrival under these circumstances.

Take Care and Happy Winter!

Dr. Sydney Leggett

Superintendent of Schools, Plainfield

We have just learned that we are now able, in addition to email and voice alerts, to send text alerts via Alma. If you have a cell phone number as a primary contact in Alma, you can expect to receive a text alert in addition to any urgent updates from the school. This will include snow day announcements, bus route changes, game cancellations, etc.

As this is a new feature, we are interested in your feedback. Please let us know what you think by emailing office@plainfieldschool.org.

Thank you!

Audra, Amanda & Katie

These will make great holiday gifts. Ordering is open until November 15th but if you want your order by the holiday break, it must be in TODAY. Click on the ad below to go directly to the school store website - Plainfield Elementary School Winter Store 2024 | Top Stitch Embroidery | powered by OrderMyGear

EVENTS THIS WEEK

NOVEMBER

10 - Lego League, 5pm

11 - NO SCHOOL, Veteran’s Day

12 - School Board meeting, 5:30 pm - Zoom Link

12 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

13 - PTA meeting at the Meriden Library, 7-8pm (social hour at Poor Thoms to follow) - Zoom Link

14 - Picture Retake Day

14 - Math Team Practice - 2:50 to 4 pm

14 - LHS information night, 8th graders only 5:30 pm

15 - Movie Night- Sponsored by the PTA 6:00pm

LOOKING AHEAD

17 - Lego League, 5pm

19 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

19 - Joint School Board meeting, 5:30

21 - Community Luncheon, at Plainfield School, 12:00

21 - Math team practice, 2:50

22 - End of Trimester 1

24 - Lego League, 5pm

26 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

27-29 Thanksgiving break- NO SCHOOL

NOTE: We DO HAVE SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 15. The online menu is incorrect. We are working to find out the options.

"COLD" Options: (offered daily)

Assorted Pre-made Deli Sandwiches, ham and turkey. Sunbutter/Jelly sandwiches

Yogurt Parfait with Fruit and Granola

Fresh Fruit and Veggie Bar with Dinner Roll

See Abbey Group Website for full details and to upload funds.

Please sign your student(s) up for their FAST (Friday Afternoon Special Time) activity choice. FAST runs for 4 weeks - 1/17, 1/24, 1/31 and 2/7. Don’t forget the section for chaperone interest and availability!

AY25 FAST Student Participation Form

Picture Retake Day is November 14th!

Retake day is for new students and staff members, transfer students, or for anyone who may have missed the initial picture day, OR for anyone who was unhappy with their original picture and would like to give it another try. If a student would like the retake photo to replace the original photo, please have the student return the original picture package to the photographer on picture day. We will replace the original package at no additional cost.

If this is the first time being photographed, just have the student/staff go to the camera and we’ll create a proof for them that will be sent to the school (and/or to their family email if we have that information). These proofs will be delivered approx. 4 weeks after picture day. An order code will be on the proof along with ordering instructions.

STUDY HALL

Please pay attention to the schedule in PickUp Patrol (of when we are offering dates). You’ll want to make sure it’s a date we are offering that week!

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS

Earlier this summer all families were mailed the free and reduced lunch forms for the school year. These forms not only help your family have access to our lunch program, but they also help the school gain access to more federal grant money which we use to support the students here in Plainfield. All of the information on the forms is confidential, and every eligible application helps us to earn more grant money for our students. We encourage all families that believe they could qualify to complete the free and reduced application and return to the SAU office. The application and supporting documents can be found on the Plainfield Elementary School Website. Please reach out to Cody Schoolcraft at cschoolcraft@plainfieldschool.org or 603-469-3250 if you have any questions.

Substitute Teachers Needed for 2024-2025 school year

The Plainfield School is seeking individuals who would be comfortable working with K-8th grade students in our building during the 2023-2024 school year. Applicants must be able to follow teacher substitute plans, be dependable, and enjoy working with children. If you are interested in applying, please contact Katie Lowery in the office at (603) 469-3250.

LOST & FOUND

2024-2025 Lost and Found…please take a look at our lost and found site and see if your children are missing anything. We already have some clothing hanging up. Please take a look and if anything looks familiar to your family, have your child stop and take it home.

Lost and Found Link

THANK YOU!

Items are flowing in for our giving tree to create food baskets for families in need within our community. It’s good to see people coming together to help others in such a positive fashion. Thank you!

IN HEALTH NEWS

We have had a handful of students with fatigue, hacking cough, body aches and headaches resulting in missed school days and some needing doctor visits and needing medication. Some kids have had low grade fevers with this as well. Hopefully it’s on the downswing now, but if you have any concerns about your student’s health, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss your student’s situation.

OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS

I have also become increasingly aware of students carrying over-the-counter medications in school. This is strictly forbidden as a pill or a cough drop left lying around somewhere could be mistaken for candy by younger students who then ingest it. I keep a supply of over-the-counter medications, to include cough drops, in my office. I’m sure you’ll recall filling out my medication administration forms at the beginning of the year as those forms guide me in helping to treat your students. If your student has parent permission to take an over-the-counter medication then they should obtain those medications from my office. As always, if you have a specific concern regarding your student, please reach out to me and we’ll figure it out.

Nurse Beth

In health,

Nurse Beth

3rd and 4th graders have hit the ground running in Spanish this year. We began the trimester with brief conversations in which students asked one another their names and how they were doing. This required the introduction of the verbs “ser” and “estar” which both mean “to be” in Spanish. From September 15 to October 15, we recognized Hispanic Heritage Month by doing a mini-project about famous Latinx and Spanish figures. For this assignment, they not only learned about the individuals, but also some Spanish words associated with their professions and fame. This month, students are learning about Dia de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, a Latinx tradition of remembrance that is celebrated in Mexico, the United States, and other parts of Latin America such as Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru. We read a short book about the celebration this week and will begin to study vocabulary terms next week. It has been a pleasure to add the 3rd and 4th grade cohorts to the Plainfield Spanish language and culture learning experience this year.

Middle School Elective EAs are up and running. Our second session runs from October 23 through November 20th. Students recently completed a survey to share their ideas for future electives and baking/cake decorating had considerable interest.

We thought this could make a great mini-session offering in December.

If you are interested and available to share your baking knowledge with our 6th through 8th graders, please reach out directly to Audra Bucklin, abucklin@plainfieldschool.org. These classes take place on Wednesday afternoons from 1:40 to 2:45. If needed, we could offer an additional 30 minutes for this activity on the following dates:

December 4

December 11

December 18

It could be fun to bake with the students and then donate their products to local senior citizens in town. If it goes well, we would love to connect with King Arthur's "Bake for Good" program for a spring offering (https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/learn/bakeforgood.)

Best,

Audra

Please support the 8th grade class by purchasing a wreath! Please scan the QR code to enter your information and what you would like to purchase!

Thursday November 14th 2024

8th Grade Families,

Please join us for an information night with a panel of educators from Lebanon High School Thursday, November 14th at 5:30 pm in the Music Room.

Hope to see you there!

John LaCrosse, School Counselor

Questions? Email: jlacrosse@plainfieldschool.org

11/13 7-8pm: Next PTA meeting at the Meriden Library, social hour at Poor Thoms to follow - Zoom Link

11/15 6pm: K-4 family movie night in the PES Library showing "Inside Out 2"

Please consider joining our next PTA meeting in mid-November. All families at PES are de facto members of the PTA and everyone is welcome to attend meetings. Come one, come all! You do not have to have “signed up” in the past. It is a great way to get involved in and enhance our children's PES experience.

Thank you to those who helped with cleanup of the PES garden on Friday 11/8!

Want to get on the PTA email list? Please email PlainfieldNH.PTA@gmail.com

Thank you,

Ella

PTA OCTOBER NEWSLETTER - Attached Below

Soccer has wrapped up. Please return your washed jersey/shorts as directed by your coach. You may not begin the next season of sports until your uniform has been returned to the office.

Basketball has begun! If your student intends to play, we must have a physical on file that is dated NO MORE than 2 years ago before they can play.

All teams will be practicing this week. For the most up to date schedule, please visit the co-circular calendar. ATHLETICS. Don’t forget to check the website under Athletics for the most up-to-date practice and game schedules!

Location: PES Gymnasium

Menu:

• Delicious chicken pot pie, and dinner rolls provided by the Abbey Group.
• Salad makings provided by Poor Thom’s Tavern and prepared by 5th grade students,
• Apple crisp made by 3/4 graders

K to 2 Students make decorations, students in grades 6 through 8 host our senior citizens.

This year, one of our visiting artists - Sage Tokach and the New London Barn Players - will be sharing a skit from Ezra Keats' "The Snowy Day."

4 Winds

4 Winds is a K-4th grade program; if you are interested or know of a family or community member who would like to volunteer, please contact Michelle Whitaker. mo.whitaker@yahoo.com or 585-690-3472

Town of Plainfield Community Services

Any Plainfield or Meriden resident requiring assistance for housing, heating fuel assistance, electricity assistance, medication assistance and or nutritional support from the Town should contact the Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell. Contact information: 603-469-3201 or email sschell@plainfieldschool.org. All information is confidential.

Food Pantry

Residents of the Town of Plainfield can access the following local services.
Note: The food pantry and clothing swap rooms are located in the Christ Community Church on Route 12A (across from the Plainfield Fire Department). The Food Pantry is open the 1st Thursday and the 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and warmly welcomes all Town residents.

Free Clothing Rooms

The Christ Community Church has (2) very well organized rooms that contain FREE clothing for adults and children. All clothing is donated and in great condition. In addition to clothing there are also Free household items, toys & books as well. These rooms are open to the Public each Tuesday morning from 9-11 a.m.

Free Fresh Veggies & Fruit

Free fresh produce provided by Willing Hands: please check the Town calendar for dates and times.