March 21, 2021 

Dear Quashnet School Community, 

One of my favorite times of year is here - Happy Spring!! 

The sun is stronger, the weather is warmer, birds are singing, and flowers are popping up to say hello. 

The timing is perfect, as we prepare to bring all students back to school we will be able to use the entire school campus, inside and out, for learning spaces and opportunities.  

A Couple of IMPORTANT Announcements

1.  This Tuesday, March 23, there will be a Quashnet School Parent/Guardian Q&A Zoom to discuss the return to in-person learning for students in Grade 4-6.  Please join us from 6:00-6:45 PM. Zoom meeting link:  https://mpspk12-org.zoom.us/j/87685876668

2. Three half days were approved by the School Committee.  This Friday, March 26, April 2, and April 16 will ALL be early release days.  STUDENT DISMISSAL is at 12:30 PM. If there are any changes in dismissal plans for your child, please notify qsattendance@mpspk12.org and your child's teacher. 

3. Term 2 is rapidly coming to a close.  Grades officially close this week and REPORT CARDS will be issued ELECTRONICALLY on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.  Please be sure to check your inboxes on Wednesday, March 31, to view your child's academic progress. Hard copies of report cards will only be sent home upon request.  To request a hard copy, please email epagano@mpspk12.org or call the Quashnet School office at 508-539-1550. 

4. Student drop-off and pick-up are getting busier with so many students returning to school.  Please remember,

-do not get out of your car 

-students should be ready to get out of, or into, the car all along the front curb 

-PLEASE pull forward - do not stop at the sidewalk if there is space ahead of you

- for pick-up, the orange placard with your child's name should be displayed clearly

-if possible have your child exit/enter the car on the passenger side of your vehicle

Thank you for your help with this as we work to clear the lines as quickly, but as safely, as possible. 

Mashpee is a community that cares.  This is demonstrated regularly through the generosity of our families, staff, and students.  Below are some of the initiatives taking place in our school.  Please help support these civic-minded students. Another reason why IT'S GREAT TO BE IN MASHPEE! 

Student Council and K-Kids are co-sponsoring a food drive along with MMHS Key Club.  

The food drive runs March 22-April 2.  K-Kids and Student Council Members will be delivering brown stop & shop bags to classrooms to collect the non-perishable food items and on each Friday of the drive (Friday 3/26 and Friday 4/2) will come by classrooms to collect bags. The class that collects the most donations wins a free special activity.

All of the food items will be sent to the Falmouth Service Center and the Christ the King food pantry to support local families.  Thank you for supporting Quashnet K-Kids, Student Council, MMHS, and our community!

  

MMHS Key Club and National Honor Society are conducting a food drive to replenish the food banks in our town. They will have collection boxes at each school and in addition, the National Honor Society students will come to your homes for a  donation pickup on Saturday,  March 27th from 10-2. All you need to do is leave a bag with your donation out by your mailbox.

If you would like this service, please call 508-539-3600 ext 1272  and leave your name and street address. We greatly appreciate donations brought into school with your students too!!

 

A senior project focused on helping others - 

My name is Jake Pires-Simon and I am a senior at Mashpee High School. My senior project is collecting new or gently used baseball equipment which I will sanitize and then donate to the Mashpee Rec Department and the Boys and Girls Club. There have been so many losses and I am hoping that the children who cannot afford sports equipment will be able to benefit from this collection. It is so important for all of us to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and exercise. 

I will have a collection box at Quashnet School next week, March 22nd-March 26th. Please email me with any questions JakellPiresSimon@mpspk12.org. Thank you for your support and help. 

The Quashnet Student Council and K-Kids are still distributing Kindness Rocks. They bring a smile to all who find them or receive them.  

The students received a beautiful thank you this week from Laurentide to acknowledge their thoughtfulness.  

Well done! 

On Friday, March 19, the staff had the honor of Zooming with Brandon
Fleming, Assistant Debate Coach at Harvard University and Founder/CEO of the Harvard Diversity Project, shared some of his educational journey and perspective on education.  Here are a few thoughts: 

Cultural awareness is when I see you.  This is diversity. 

Cultural responsiveness is when I hear you.  This is inclusion. 

Cultural competency is when I am willing to meet you where you are.  This is equity. 

"Education is not transactional - Education is relational."  Relationships with each other make the difference. 

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead and I hope to see you on Tuesday, March 23, for the Parent/Guardian Q&A.  Please feel free to share any specific questions that you would like to be addressed with me beforehand at mobrien@mpspk12.org. 

Respectfully, 

Principal O'Brien