August 21, 2022

Dear Quashnet School Community, 

This is the last full week of summer vacation.  It is a great time to start to get back into routines and school-like schedules - early to bed and earlier to rise and shine! The first day of school for students is a week from this Wednesday, August 31, 2022. Check out this article on establishing stress-free mornings - there are some good suggestions https://childmind.org/article/school-mornings-without-the-stress/. Another helpful transition activity is to schedule a playdate with your child's friend(s) at one of the playgrounds here at school.  

The KCC and QS PTO is hard at work planning the Back to School BBQ scheduled for Friday, September 16.  More info to come! 

Please let your children know that they do not need to worry about finding the location of their homeroom. On the first day of school, Grade 3 teachers will be outside on the grass near the bus drop-off area.  Grade 4 teachers will meet students in the cafeteria.  Grade 5 and Grade 6 students will report directly to the gym. Grade 3 teachers will be wearing their class lanyards, and all teachers will have a sign with their names on it. Mrs. Stroshine is pictured here with her 2019 class on the first day of school. 

If your child does not ride a bus, we will guide them to meet their new teacher and classmates. Drop-off time is after 8:50 AM but before 9:05 AM. 

If you have not received a placement letter for your child, please call the Quashnet School office @ 508-539-1550.  We will help solve that problem! Several calls received this week were resolved quickly by verifying and correcting new/changed mailing addresses.  

The bus schedule will be published as soon as possible.  Once it is available I will add an active link to the bus tab above. You will also be able to access the schedule on the district website at www.mpspk12.org. The newly approved Parent/Student Handbook is also posted on the website and there is a link to it on the Items of Importance tab above. 

From last week's blog: 

Only your child(ren)'s homeroom teacher is listed in the placement letter. The table below shows teachers who are teaming together. Mark your calendars for the Quashnet School Open House scheduled for Thursday, September 15 at 6:00 PM so you will not only meet your child(ren)'s teacher(s) but also see their new learning environment and understand the grade level expectations.  

*We are very excited to welcome new staff members to the Quashnet School team.

 

Universal lunches will be available for all students again this year. I would suggest still having a lunch box for students to bring a healthy snack to school each day and a water bottle. Peanut products can be consumed in the cafeteria, but classroom snacks do need to be peanut free. Please, clearly label lunch boxes and water bottles with your child's first and last name.  

Thank you to the Mashpee Kiwanis Club for yet another generous donation of new backpacks filled with school and home supplies. Please call the school office (508-539-1550) or contact me directly (mobrien@mpspk12.org) if your child is in need of a new backpack. We are more than happy to help!

We know it is GREAT to be in Mashpee, and here is another reason why - you do not need to buy markers, crayons, pencils, pens, or a daily planner.  Students will be given those supplies. If there is something your child needs specifically, their classroom teachers will share those items with you. Please do not purchase big binders or a backpack with wheels - they are too big and do not fit in the lockers. 

The best, very best way to prepare for back to school is to have your child read each day. Check out the Mashpee Public Library for a FABULOUS selection of books. Reading recommendations also be found on the Massachusetts Children's Book Award website or Facebook page. "Massachusetts Children’s Book Award honors books that promote reading for pleasure among students 4th-6th grade. We release a list of 25 nominees from which MA students pick their favorite each year! MCBA is sponsored by Salem State University."  

Along with reading, practice those math facts! Math facts are to math like the alphabet is to reading. If a student spends too much time thinking about the facts they don't get to problem-solving at the same level as their peers. Skip counting, fact songs, games, and online apps can help make fact memorization fun. It will make a difference in readiness to engage in deeper learning! 

The first day of school for students is BEFORE LABOR DAY! We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Wednesday, August 31. Mashpee Public Schools will be closed on Friday, September 2, and Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day, then back to school on Tuesday, September 6. Please click here  https://www.mpspk12.org/district/calendar to see the District calendar and the yearly calendar.  

Congratulations to all who ran the Falmouth Road Race. Enjoy the week ahead! 

Respectfully, 

Principal O'Brien