September 24, 2917


Dear Quashnet School Community,

What a week! We deserve a return of summer after all that rain. It sure will be great to get back outside for recess too! 

Benchmark assessments are done, class rules and expectations are set, writing samples are complete. School has officially begun! Teachers are working with students in small groups, and planning instruction to help each student have a successful year in all content areas. One specific example of how we use data is in establishing WIN (What I Need) groups. This is where each student will meet daily to work with other students across the grade level who are working on similar skills for a 30 minute block of time. Groups may work on reading fluency, comprehension skills, inferencing, reading complex text, responding to complex text, and other ELA skills. Groups are flexible and are restructured several times per year by using assessment data, classroom performance, and through teacher observation. These flexible groups are designed to meet students' changing needs throughout the year. WIN block will begin on Monday, October 2.  

Please be on the lookout for the Stop & Shop A+ Program form being sent home.  Stop & Shop has restructured their protocol for participation in this program. If you are already registered for Quashnet School you are all set- your registration will carry over for this year.  In the past, we were able to sign-up new families with their permission.  We are no longer able to do this.  Each individual must do this on their own.  Last year, Quashnet School received over $10, 000 from Stop & Shop based on our enrolled families. Please consider going online to register. These funds help support the Right Choice ticket store, field trips, after school clubs, and more. Click on this link to register now: Stop & Shop A+ Rewards. Ask family members, friends, or anyone who shops at Stop & Shop to register for Quashnet School.  We appreciate your help and support! 


Arrival and dismissal requests - students who ride the bus are never recorded as late.  It is a great way to get to school! If you drop your child off at Quashnet in the morning, please pull up as far as the fire hydrant near the labyrinth.  Mr. O'Connor and I are there as well as a welcoming committee inside the front door, so we always have eyes on the students.  Students need to come out of the car along the entire walkway, please do not wait to get to the front of the school.  This slows the line for everyone. Please do not get out of the car, only students.  Pulling into the parking lot is not a safe solution unless you are going into school yourself. Only cross the line of traffic on the crosswalk and wait until directed to cross.  

With the clubs starting this week, dismissal can be a little hectic at times.  We want to make sure all 500 students get home to the correct location safely.  Please, please, please, do not change any dismissal plans after 1:45 PM. A note must come into school whenever there is a change in dismissal. If your child is registered for a club we will follow those dismissal instructions, it is when they change we request a note.  Thank you for your help and cooperation! 

Club confirmation notices were sent home on Thursday and Friday. If you have any questions, please call the office at 508-539-1550 and we will do our best to assist you.  Please note - there was no confirmation sent home for K-Kids - all students who registered are in the that club.  

Grade 6 will begin the GREAT Program this week.  The GREAT Program is a Nationally recognized program to help educate students about making healthy choices, GREAT choices! Each Grade 6 homeroom class will be working with their teacher and Deputy Shaun Cahill, from the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department, through this curriculum. The following link will bring you to the home page for GREAT with complete information.  https://www.great-online.org/GREAT-Home  The sixth grade program includes 13, 45-minute sessions.  The sessions align with both ELA and Health learning standards. Quashnet School fifth graders will benefit from a 6 session program in the spring. Deputy Cahill is also being trained in GREAT Families, which will be a program offered this winter in the evening for Quashnet families.  

Speaking of GREAT choices.  Did you know that every police station on Cape Cod has a Prescription Drop-Off box for old or unused medicine? Get rid of those old and unwanted Rx right at the Mashpee Police Department. 

Thank you Mashpee Substance Use Task Force for this helpful information! For more helpful information click on the following link:  https://www.mashpeema.gov/mashpee-substance-use-taskforce.


I wish you all a productive week ahead.  

Respectfully, 
Mrs. O'Brien 


Happy Fall!