October 21, 2018




Dear Quashnet School Community, 

How is your pumpkin character coming?  I can't wait to see your creations lining the front hallway. Check out Harry Potter and his owl friend. Hedwig was made from a white pumpkin and feathers.   

Please deliver your pumpkin character to school starting Monday, October 22nd.  See details below- 

The PTO Book Fair starts this Friday, October 26th, and will be open to families Friday evening from 5-6 PM.  What a great way to preview/shop the fair! If you would like to volunteer to help at the book fair, there is still time to sign-up. Just click this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CA4AE29AAFB6-enchanted. 

Be sure to join the fun the Friday night at Crazy Hat Bingo starting at 6:00 PM in the QS cafeteria. 

Have you heard of SEL or Social-Emotional Learning?  

The definition provided by the Massachusetts Department of Education is: "SEL is the process of developing students' and adults' social and emotional competencies—the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors that individuals need to make successful choices." 

The Department of Education has identified SEL as one of its five core strategic priorities to improve student outcomes.

There are five SEL competencies that we are focusing on at Quashnet School within the curriculum and through our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System), the Falcon Five program.  The five competencies (defined by Casel) are:

Self-awareness: The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and their influence on behavior. This includes accurately assessing one’s strengths and limitations and possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.

Self-management: The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.
Social awareness: The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.

Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.

Responsible decision making: The ability to make constructive and respectful choices. 

To learn more about SEL, Social Emotional Learning, and how to support these competencies at home, visit this website: https://casel.org/in-the-home/.

Be sure to check out the photo tab for last week. There are multiple photos from the Grade 4 field trip to Mashpee Woodlands and the Grade 5 field trip to Santuit Pond. These field experiments bring the science curriculum to life.  Students study each ecosystem, learn about the flora and fauna, life cycles, and discover resources in their our own backyard. Grade 6 visited the salt marsh.  If you have a 4, 5, or 6th grader, be sure to ask them about their field experiment and about the discoveries they made.  

Come to School!  

Monday night is the third Botvin Lifeskills session with Mrs. McCue, Nurse Stacey, and Deputy Cahill. Raising children is the hardest, most important, and incredibly rewarding job anyone will ever have.  It is always helpful to discuss strategies on raising healthy children in our ever-changing world.  Dinner and childcare available- meeting begins @ 5:30 PM in the QS library - RSVP required, just call the QS office at 508-539-1550.

Wednesday Night - PTO meeting in the QS cafe @ 6:00 PM. 

Friday Night - Family Book Fair 5-6 PM and Crazy Hat Bingo 6-8 PM (no drop-offs please).

Next week - Book Fair breakfast for families - be sure to RSVP - Below is a copy of the form that was sent home with the details and dates-

Last but not least - please help our K-Kids help others.  

Food drive to support the Mashpee Food Pantry starts now through November 16th. 

Quashnet School Cares and Helps

Fill- the-Food-Van

Food Drive 2018

Now until Friday, November 16th

help our local Food Pantries

Be a part of our caring school team!

Bring in non-perishable canned goods, cereal, pasta, sauce, peanut butter, stuffing,  and other staple food items to assist our local family & community members in need.

Thank You from K-Kids and All Quashnet Kids!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

Let's go RED SOX!

Respectfully,

Mrs. O'Brien, Principal