November 13, 2017


Dear Quashnet School Community, 

Are you ready to UNPLUG? The challenge starts Monday, November 13th, to UNPLUG for two hours a night - students should turn in their coupons to their homeroom teacher each morning.  We will draw names each day for a few lucky students to win a game to take home.  The idea:  UNPLUG TO TALK & PLAY! Be sure to check out the flyer attached to your Sunday evening email. 





This week is Fill the VAN Food Drive sponsored by Mashpee Recreation Department.  Each school is having a collection to help with the cause. If each student and staff member could bring in one can we will have approximately 600 cans to send to the food pantry. Being Caring is a Falcon Five trait!

Wednesday's Veterans Day assembly was a very fitting honor for our Mashpee veterans.  The team of Mrs. Wunder, Mrs. Pagano, Mrs. Rastallis, Mrs. Blount, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Arsenault and Mr. Stickley put together a fabulous program and luncheon.  Please see this week's photos for great pictures.  Mrs. Richards' peace rock project created a beautiful welcome for our visitors.  Students painted rocks and lined the front walkway into school.  Beautifully done! All of the rocks will be placed in the court yard off the library for all to
enjoy. Thank you to Colonel Art Wunder, Cyndy Jones, and representatives from the 102nd Intelligence Wing, including Zoe, a therapy dog. 

Have you scheduled a conference with your child's teacher yet?  If not, now is the time!  Use the link to register for a time of your choice.  If you have any difficulty, please let us know.  We are more than happy to help.  Call 508-539-1550 x4100.  Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, November 30th and Monday, December 4th.  https://goo.gl/KXcRBg. 

This week is a full week; however, next week is only only two full days. There will be NO AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS OR A LATE BUS on Tuesday, November 21st. Please note that the next weekly update will be on Sunday, after Thanksgiving, November 26th. 

Do you have a loved one, family or friend who is currently deployed? We are looking for names of servicemen to receive a Quashnet care package filled with Halloween candy and thoughtful student notes. Please send in names and addresses to the office or email jrastallis@mpspk12.org. Thank you students for your thoughtful donation of candy! 

All parents/guardians of students in grades 4-6 should have received your child's Next Generation MCAS scores in the mail. As you probably have heard on the news or read in the paper, student scores across the state are lower than on PARCC assessments or with the Legacy MCAS (the original test). The major difference in the assessment is the complexity of the questions and the writing tasks. Quashnet teachers are working with purpose to provide students with increased opportunity to answer these type of questions. They are also working on building writing stamina and understanding the character count in an essay.  All students grades 3-5 will be expected to type an essay in response to a prompt with approx. 2,500 characters as one of the tasks on the Spring 2018 MCAS.  Grade 6 is expected to type approx. 5,000 character essay. Previously, only Grade 4 was required to write a long composition.  To see the test design of both ELA and Math Next Generation MCAS, click this link:  2018 MCAS Test Design. Should you have any questions regarding the Next Generation MCAS or your child's scores, please feel free to call or email me at  mobrien@mpspk12.org . 

  

Get your UNPLUG TO TALK & PLAY coupon in 

EACH DAY this week to win a fun family game!  Flyer will be sent home tomorrow, 11/13/17 or 

find a copy on line with your Sunday email.  

Since there will be no Blog entry next weekend, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful long Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends.  It is a great time of year to reflect on all there is to be thankful for.  I am thankful for my loving family and a career that is truly fulfilling.  Spending time with your children everyday is an honor and privilege that I do not take lightly.  Thank you Quashnet community for ALL you do. I am thankful for you.  

Respectfully, 

Mrs. O'Brien 

PS  PTO FALCON BUCKS are still for sale.  Get your tickets before it's too late! Tickets are available in the main office or contact  qsptopresident@gmail.com.