November 28, 2021
Dear Quashnet School Community,
I hope everyone has had a restful and joyful long holiday weekend with family and friends. A very special person in my life shared this sentiment this weekend, and I couldn't agree more.
It is not joy the makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful.
We are very grateful to the Wampanoag Tribal Education Department for their informative and interactive presentation last week. Students learned about the different regalia, the reason behind specific Tribal dances, and we enjoyed drumming and signing.
Mr. Darius Coombs visited with each lunch group to answer student questions and share numerous artifacts. Mr. Coombs also shared his story of how he paddled to Martha's Vineyard in a carved-out mishoon. An amazing story of achievement that hadn't been done in over 200 years. Students further enjoyed a delicious and traditional cranberry dessert. Thank you, Mr. Gus, for adding his culinary talents to our Native American celebration!
On the photo tab above, you will also see pictures from the assembly, lunch visits, and flag raisings at both KC Coombs School and Mashpee Middle-High School.
On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, students who ride the bus will be participating in a school bus evacuation drill. This is a yearly practice where the bus driver instructs the students to exit the bus from the emergency exit. The drill takes place during the morning run when the buses arrive at Quashnet School. As in the case of all emergency drills, this helps prepare students in the case of an emergency. Mr. Kapulka and school staff will be available during the drill to help supervise and assist in this exercise.
Thank you so much for supporting the "Mashpee Has Your Back Backpack Drive". We are excited to share that 30 backpacks will be delivered to our Key Club partners at MMHS.
We filled 23 backpacks with toiletries and cold weather gear thanks to the staff and student donations. We were gifted 7 fully packed backpacks from generous Quashnet families. We are very grateful for all of your support of K-Kids' service projects.
PTO Falcon Bucks:
Please send in any and all sales of Falcon Bucks tickets on MONDAY, November 29.
The first cash drawing will be this week!
This Friday, December 3, 2021, brings an end to Term 1 at Quashnet School. Report Cards will be issued to students in the form of a hard copy on Monday, December 13. Parents/Guardians are to keep the report card, but please sign and return the report card envelope to your child's homeroom teacher. The tab above, Report Cards - Student Progress, provides information on the grading system and the dates for all three terms.
Please note, students have not had a typical educational experience over the last year and a half. As a result, you may see more 2s than usual on your child's report card. A "2" means that a student is making progress. Please resist the temptation to translate the standard-based report card numbers into letter grades. They are NOT the same. If you have any questions about your child's progress, please reach out to the teacher(s). Mr. Kapulka and I are also available to help answer any questions and/or concerns.
Thank you, Mrs. Whiddon, Kyro King, Caoimhe Assad, Kai Daley, Mason Augusta, and Ryan Murtaugh for sharing your engineering design process and model catapults and windmills with the Mashpee School Committee and community on November 17. Well done!
Below describes the Grade 4 and Grade 5&6 recent STEM projects
At Quashnet School, we incorporate Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in lessons, through modeling, and in problem-solving discussions. One source for SEL training that we have participated in is Massachusetts General Hospital's, Think: Kids approach on collaborative problem-solving.
Think: Kids philosophy is that children do well if they can. "Research shows challenging kids lack the skill, not the will, to behave." As challenging behaviors or problems arise, we need to teach a skill to help children better handle a situation. MGH Think: Kids also has resources for parents. A recent article on children and challenging behavior during the holidays may be helpful to you. Use this link to see multiple articles that you may find helpful or a good resource: https://thinkkids.org/9-Ways-
Don't miss the festivities at the Mashpee Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 11 @ 6:00 PM. Come and cheer on the Quashnet School Student Council as they are working on a fabulous float.
Thank you Botello Home Center and Lumber Company for their support!
Congratulations to the executive board of the 2021 Quashnet School Student Council! Pictured left to right:
Lillianha Packett, Treasurer
Esme Milde, President
Madison Wright, Vice President
Emma Duvall, Secretary
Got Gingerbread?
Tuesday, November 30, is Principal Balestracci's last day at MMHS. He recently accepted a position in Fairhaven as an assistant superintendent. He has been an amazing partner on the leadership team, and he will be missed. I wish him much success in his new journey!
Wishing you all an amazing week ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.
Principal O'Brien
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