Nantucket Elementary School

Dear Families,

Wow! It is May - the second to last month in the school year!! Time surely does fly! As I am sure you are aware, we are in the planning stages for next year already as well. We shared the placement letter with you. Recall that we would like any information from you that you think would be important for us to know as we determine balanced classrooms for next year. We asked that you share this information with me by May 2nd (Monday 5/5 at the latest please). The information we would like you to share includes: peers that work for your child, peers that do not work for your child, learning style for your student, etc. Please do not request teachers for the next year. We cannot honor those requests.

Tonight is the FONPS Dance (flyer below)!! In addition, FONPS would like to recognize some of our teachers as next week is Teacher Appreciation Week!! Please click on the link below.

Vote for NES teacher appreciation awards including:

Showing Up Award

Community Involvement Award

Reach for the Stars Award

https://www.cognitoforms.com/FriendsOfNantucketPublicSchools/TeacherAwardsVotingParentsVote

Voting closes Monday!!

Speaking of our Educator Appreciation, wow!! We are incredibly humbled by your generosity!! We have the best parents by far. You are incredibly kind!! Thank you!! The week of 5/5 - 5/9 is National Teacher Appreciation week. At NES, the School Council solicits donations from our families to pay for a luncheon from 45 Surfside. Each teacher gets a fancy bag lunch (salads or sandwiches). We have chips, soda, and cake. The staff at NES gather in the cafe at tables that are set up with flower bouquets. It is a wonderful time to simply enjoy each other's company, relish in the fact that they are appreciated, and know that our NES family community is so grateful for the work they do everyday!!

In this same week, Kindergarten has NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, May 7. Our current students in Kindergarten stay home for the day, because it is the incoming 2025-2026 Kindergarten students' Getting to Know You Day. It is a half day for the rest of the district.

LIP SYNC is next Friday night, 5/9, in the Auditorium at Nantucket High School - 6:00 pm!! The dress rehearsal will be on Wednesday, 5/7 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm in the MPW Auditorium. Tickets are still available, but selling quickly. You can purchase these at the NES or NIS front desk. Tickets are $10.00 per person. We may have some left to sell at the door Friday night, but I would not count on it. It is best to buy your tickets in advance!! 💗 There will also be no bake sale that evening.

Thank you in advance for reading this and supporting our school!! Be sure to read the updates from our grade level teams and departments shared below. Lots of great things are happening!!

Best,

Kim Kubisch and Kim Albertson

Meri Lepore's Nurse's Corner

Counselor's Corner

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, a valuable opportunity to remind our school community of the importance of supporting children’s emotional and mental well-being. At NES, we are committed to nurturing not only our students' academic growth but also their overall health—body and mind.

One of the best ways we can promote positive mental health is by encouraging healthy daily habits. We kindly ask for your continued support in reinforcing the following at home:

Maintain a Consistent Routine

A consistent schedule for homework, meals, and bedtime can help your child stay focused and energized during the week.

Nutritious Foods

Please ensure your child’s lunchbox is packed with nutritious, balanced foods to fuel their day. A good mix of proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains supports focus, mood, and energy levels. It’s also important that your child has enough food to get through the school day feeling full and energized.

Outdoor Time

Fresh air and physical activity are natural mood boosters! We encourage families to make time for daily outdoor play, whether it’s a walk after school, time at the park, or simply some unstructured playtime outside.

Mindfulness and Calm

Children benefit from moments of quiet reflection or mindfulness each day. Whether it's deep breathing, a short meditation, or just taking time to talk about their feelings, these moments help kids build emotional resilience and self-awareness.

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we want to thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education. This time of year can be both exciting and challenging for students, and your encouragement at home plays a crucial role in their success. By working together, we can create a supportive, healthy environment where all students can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.

Warmly,

Heidi Smith

Elementary School Counselor

smithh@npsk.org

Jenny Williams

Elementary School Counselor

williamsje@npsk.org

Madeleine Sybert

Elementary School Social Worker

sybertm@npsk.org

Prek Update

We cannot believe it is already May! PreK has had another busy month. As the weather is turning, we have been able to spend more time learning outside. While talking about new growth in our environment, our families completed a family project on how we have grown. We love seeing how our families get creative together and the students love showing themselves off as well as looking at their friends when they were babies. Some of PreK is looking forward to our Kindergarten get to know you day, which is coming up next week!

Kindergarten Update

Kindergarten continues to practice digraphs and moving towards writing sentences. This reading unit focuses on becoming "Avid" readers and building a love of reading! In math we continue to practice working with numbers 11-20 and finish out the year with more shapes as well as place value within 100. Our Kindergarten ABC countdown starts on Monday, May 12th. Reminder that there is no school for kindergarten on Wednesday 5/7 for our Getting to Know You Day. It is a half day for the rest of the district. Kindergarten's last day of school is Friday, June 17th, 2025.

First Grade Update

First graders have been hard at work reading, writing and researching about the American Symbols some of which include: The American Flag and the Bald Eagle. During Math students have been learning about telling time to the hour and half hour, interpreting data, identifying coins and their value and measuring objects using different units of measurement. During Fundations, students have been working on remembering all of the trick words when they read and write them. First graders have been learning to recognize vowel teams such as oi, aw, and ea. They have also been working on understanding the consonant vowel consonant silent e rule. First graders have made great strides this spring!

Second Grade Update

Second graders have been very busy researching their family’s heritage. This is a big project for second graders. They use digital resources from Mrs. Dew’s library webpage as well as articles and books from the library and online to discover and learn about one country that their ancestors lived in. Through this research students will learn about the holidays, traditions, food, music, sports and much more. It’s an exciting time in our classrooms as the students are very interested in learning and sharing their new knowledge with peers and teachers. This is a great time to talk to your child about your family's traditions and special events. Also, encourage your child to ask questions when visiting grandparents or extended family about their lives as children. Here are some questions that they could ask to learn more about their relatives:

• What are the names of your brothers and sisters? Who is the oldest and youngest?

• What were your hobbies as a child? Your favorite games?

• Describe your childhood home and your hometown.

• What is your favorite childhood memory?

• Did your family have any special traditions growing up?

• What were your favorite and your most challenging subjects in school?

• What was your first job?

• Did you serve in the military? What were you trained to do? What do you remember most about your service?

• Are there some special family heirlooms that have been handed down to you?

• Where and how did you meet your nana/ grandpa?

• When and where did you get married? How old were each of you?

Specialists' Update

Greetings from the Science Labs,

Ms. Jami and Ms. Tornovish encourage you to visit our Science Lab website for updates this month. You’ll find our Science Newsletter here.

Peace, laughter, and lots of learning from the lab,

Ms. Jami & Ms. Tornovish

News from Physical Education

Greetings from the Gym!

K-2 students have been working hard on their underhand and overhand throwing, learning and practicing how to throw with good form and accuracy! Ask your child to teach you both kinds of throwing! We applied our skills of throwing in a fun game called, Clean Your Room! More important than their throwing skills; however, I asked our students to show responsible behavior such as following the rules of the game, working hard, and being a kind friend to all! I love teaching my students sport specific skills, but I love even more seeing my students’ show off their wonderful work ethic and friendship skills. These are the skills I remind them to take with them! I emphasize that being kind, having a positive attitude, and working hard will benefit them for a lifetime of health and happiness! Thank you for your continued support in helping your child come to PE prepared with comfortable clothing (layers are best), sneakers, and a positive attitude.

Best,

Mrs. Beaudette

March Library News!

Spring into Reading!

Dear Families,
This month at the library, we've been diving into all things spring! We've explored the changing seasons, discovered what makes spring so special, and learned about the animals that become more active as spring unfolds. We also celebrated Earth Day with meaningful conversations about how we can care for our planet, not just once a year, but every day.

As the school year winds down, we kindly ask families to check around the house for any library books that may still be hiding on shelves or under beds! Our goal is to have all books returned before Field Day. Each class will earn a small reward once all their library books are turned in, thank you for helping us reach that goal!

Warmly,

Mrs. Dew

A note on music class,

I hope this message finds you well. I am excited to share the musical journey your children have embarked on this month in our music classes.

For our second graders, May marks an exciting milestone as they learn to play their first song on the recorder. You might hear them humming "Hot Cross Buns" at home, a testament to their growing skills. They are eager to share their newfound knowledge and experiences with you, so be prepared for some enthusiastic discussions about their progress!

Our first graders have been focusing on enhancing their rhythmic accuracy by tackling more challenging songs, such as "Flea! Fly!" Additionally, they have been engaging in group games that emphasize collaboration and safe movement, fostering a sense of teamwork and cooperation.

In Kindergarten, we have been exploring the versatility of our voices and discovering new ways to express ourselves through movement. In the coming weeks, we will introduce a song in French, which will not only be a fun musical challenge but also an excellent way to expand their language skills.

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, I am truly impressed with the progress many students have made. Their dedication to improving their musical abilities, positive attitudes, and teamwork has been remarkable.

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

Sincerely, Roland Kinsman

News from the Art Room

The Nantucket Elementary School artists created still life paintings in April. Look for these to come home soon. First and second grade students are beginning a unit on weaving. Weaving teaches great lessons on perseverance and helps to show students that with patience they can do anything. Kindergarten students are making cherry trees using oil pastels and paint for a watercolor resist painting. They will finish these next week by adding paint and tissue paper for flowers. Our next unit will focus on patterns.

Please look at your student’s virtual portfolios in Artsonia. This our school’s link to join: https://www.artsonia.com/connect/2F9NDCKF

Thank you for your interest and support in our art program!

Sincerely,

Miss Grant

Driving and Parking on the NES/NIS campus -

There are multiple signs in English and Spanish that say and show -NO STUDENT DROP OFF int eh First Way Lot. Remember you are modeling and teaching your students to not follow rules when you are dropping off in the back.

We have had several concerns shared regarding safety of students as they enter and exit the school recently. These concerns have been regarding parent drivers not following safety rules. These are listed below for your reference. We appreciate all of your anticipated efforts and required patience.

• NES will open in the morning at 7:35am. Students who are walking, biking or getting dropped off should go right to the doors (front one or the Kindergarten one) to come in and make their morning choice. Prek students line up outside in the front of the school.
• If parents wish to escort their child to the door, they must park their car in the Backus Lane parking lot ONLY.
• The parking lot off of First Way, behind the school is for staff only.
• All of the parking spots are assigned to staff or students at NHS.
• Parents and Guardians should not use that lot for any reason.
• This is a terrible place for students to be dropped off, this is not a drive through, and there is nowhere for any non permitted driver to park.
• Again, please stop driving in this lot. We are asking you to be a model for all children in the morning and the afternoon.
• Drive through drop off in the morning is permitted at the K and NES/NIS side entrances. This means parents stay in their car, and a staff member will open the passenger side door to help your child exit safely. Then, the car continues driving out the exit. This is for all students.
• Drive through pick up in the afternoon is permitted for all students grades 2-5 in the large circle between NES and NIS. This means parents stay in their car, and a staff member will oversee students entering cars. Then, the car continues driving out the exit.
• K and 1 students are met by parents at the back K entrance. Students will be standing in their assigned class lines.
• The circles and driveways on campus ARE NOT PARKING SPACES. An adult driver must stay in the car while waiting for students to exit or enter the car.
• At dismissal, all parents will continue to wait outside for students to dismiss from their teachers (kindergarten circle for kindergarten and first grade students, outside of the front door for second grade students).
• In the event of inclement weather (severe snow or rain), kindergarten and first grade students will be dismissed out the kindergarten and cafeteria doors to parents outside and second grade students will be dismissed out the gymnasium doors to parents outside.
• Drivers may not pull into the bus loop to pick-up their children EVER.

• Any visitors to our school need to share their identification with the front office staff in exchange for a visitor's badge. You will need to sign in as well.
• There will be no charge for lunches again this year. However, all families should complete the free and reduced lunch forms that were sent home with teacher assignment letters.
• There can be no changes to a child's dismissal plan after 1:00 pm. Be sure your children know what they are doing each day after school.

Attendance - we are starting to see some students with higher absence numbers. It is very important that you notify your child's teacher or call the front office if your child is going to be absent. You can send a message to your child's teacher through REMIND or call the front office to leave a message regarding your child's absence at (508) 228 - 7290 ext, 3. If your child needs to miss 5 or more consecutive days, you must make an appointment with the principal well in advance of upcoming absence. The NES Parent Handbook has been posted on the NES website (www.npsk.org, click on schools, click on Nantucket Elementary School). Please review the important section on attendance. Retention in the current grade level is a possibility if a child has excessive absences. Children being in school each day is a necessity.

Remind App is a wonderful tool for both educators and families! We know this. We know our teachers love being able to communicate with the whole class as well as individually. We know that you, the parents, love this tool too! It is wonderful that this tool allows us to communicate in multiple languages. One caution for us to share is that teachers may not be able to respond to messages you send during the school day. They are teaching and not hanging onto their phones. You may not get a reply until after school dismisses.

Website: www.npsk.org
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA 02554, USA
Phone: 508 228 - 7290