Dear YES Families,
We hope this message finds you well, and that you had a joyful holiday season filled with warmth and cherished moments with your loved ones. As we embark on the new year, we extend a warm welcome back to school for all of our students and families!
We trust that the holiday break provided a refreshing opportunity for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. The new year brings with it a renewed sense of optimism, and we are excited about the learning adventures that lie ahead for our students. We look forward to our first day back in school together on Tuesday, January 2.
CONFERENCES, NEW ELECTRONIC REPORT CARDS & MAP ASSESSMENTS: JANUARY- MARCH
From late January to March is the winter parent-teacher conference window. During this time classroom teachers will be setting up mid-year parent-teacher conferences.
Yarmouth Elementary School reports on learning standards twice a year, once at mid-year and again at the end of the school year. Report cards are an "invitation to a conversation" and this will be a nice opportunity to celebrate your child's growth while also hearing about their next steps to keep growing as a learner.
This school year, we are excited to share that YES will have a new electronic report card. This will include a portal on PowerSchool that will allow you to access your child’s report cards and their historical progress from year to year as we move forward. We will be sending out a separate email shortly that will describe that process and how you will be able to access your child’s report cards during each marking period.
You will have access to your child’s report card before you conference with their classroom teacher. This is our first year using a new reporting system and procedures so we appreciate your understanding as we make this transition.
We also have the upcoming winter administration of the NWEA MPG/MTY reading and math assessments. The schedule is as follows:
Grade 2 Reading and Math: 1/23 and 1/30.
Grades 3 & 4 Reading and Math: 1/24 and 1/31.
Grade 5 Reading and Math:1/25 & 2/1
As you know, these assessments help to inform our instructional practices in supporting learning growth. Once testing is completed these results will be sent home to you.
CALLING ALL SUBSTITUTES!
As we enter the winter months it can be difficult for schools to find substitute teachers and YES is no exception. We are grateful for the substitute pool that we currently have but there continues to be a significant need. When we do not have enough available substitutes to cover classrooms that certainly can have an impact.
If you have ever considered becoming a substitute teacher we would love to have you talk to us! Please feel free to reach out directly to us or contact Kristin Beahm at the district office (207-846-5586) for more information.
EDUCATIONAL TECHNICIAN VACANCIES
You may also be aware that the state of Maine, and the entire country, has been challenged by a lack of candidates for educational support staff positions. Again, we are not an exception to that challenge.
In fact, we have three full-time instructional support educational technician positions available that we have not been able to fill this year. At this time we have several substitute teachers serving in temporary roles to meet the support needs of our students.
While we are thankful and appreciative of the substitute teachers who are filling those roles, we recognize the importance of filling those positions with full-time professional staff. If you, or someone you know, has an interest in pursuing a position as an educational technician we would be happy to share more information. Please feel free to contact us directly.
WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT- PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE
If your child is going to be absent from school for any reason it is important that is communicated to us. Please call or email the main office if your child is going to be absent on any given day. You can reach either Lisa Bianchini (lisa_bianchini@yarmouthschools.org) or Danielle Carter (dani_carter@yarmouthschools.org) at 207-846-3391.
CAR TAG REMINDER- THANK YOU!
After a reminder in December, most of our families are remembering to post their car tags or display the Pik My Kid app at pick-up time. We really appreciate your attention to this!
We still need to make sure that all of our families are doing this consistently. Over the next few weeks, if you do not have a car tag displayed the staff on duty will be giving reminders to have this prominently posted. This is an important safety protocol practice that we need to have in place as not all staff know who each parent/caregiver is.
WINTER WEATHER REMINDER
Despite the lack of snow so far this year, it is inevitable that winter weather will be upon us at some point again. In fact, the most recent weather forecast this morning indicates that snow could be falling in the next couple of weeks. Please make sure that your students are coming to school with the proper winter gear. At a minimum, winter jackets, hats, gloves, and boots are necessary each day this time of year. As the snow piles up, students will need snow pants to play in the snowy areas of the playground as well. Here are some reminders of our playground winter procedures:
- We will NOT go outside if the temperature on our website is 5 degrees or below. There are a number of sites to check for temperature, but for consistency, we will use the one on our YES website. Wind chill plays into this but fluctuates within seconds. The effect of a consistent wind chill combined with a temperature of 5 or below, may cause us to stay inside.
- Students need to have a winter jacket on and their legs covered (no shorts) if the temperature is below 40 degrees.
- Students who want to play on the snow banks on the playground must wear boots and snow pants.
- Students who want to play in the wood chip area when it is covered with snow must wear boots.
- Students who want to roll, crawl around, etc. in the wood chip area, must wear boots and snow pants. Put a simpler way, if students are going to get wet in the snow, they need boots and snow pants!
Thank you for your help in reinforcing these expectations at home with your children so we can keep them healthy this winter.
PTO NEWS
The Yarmouth PTO annual HMS/YES 5th grade fundraiser is here!
GLOW RUN 2024!
HMS and YES-5th grade host and raise money through this PTO fundraiser to benefit K through 8 enrichment opportunities for our kids in Yarmouth. The kids receive pledges from neighbors, businesses, family and friends. YOU pledge our schools WIN!
The kids have fun with GLOW RUNS and GLOW Dancing at school as well as other awesome incentives.
Not to mention the silly string battles with their favorite principals at YES and HMS 
Don't forget the teachers and assistant principals love silly string battles as well.
!!!
Mrs. Kilipatrick and Mr. McDowell haven't had enough opportunities with silly string battles and may be feeling left out!
Last year we were shy of $30,000, let's go after the big THREE O this year, we can do it!!!!
Go Yarmouth HMS and YES Clippers!!!
More information to come!
PRE-K - 8TH GRADE STUDENT & FAMILY DIRECTORY
This contains information of families who have opted in to participate.
Access online through Membership Toolkit: Log in order to create an account
https://yarmouthschools.member...
Access on your phone through the MTK app: Link to your account
Apple users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/membership-toolkit/id912169276
Google users: https://play.google.com/store/...
Printed booklets: Orders have been received and are being processed. Booklets will be distributed through student folders in the new year.
Have a question? See the FAQ sheet here: https://drive.google.com/file/...
Camp Directory 2024:
Yarmouth PTO - Caring parents supporting schools
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY: MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024: NO SCHOOL
On the third Monday of every January, we observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is a day for the nation to reflect upon the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a minister, civil rights activist, and nonviolent leader. Dr. King was considered the most influential leader in the Civil Rights movement, which aimed to end systematic racial segregation and discrimination.
Dr. King (often referred to as MLK) played a key role in creating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He received many awards and honors – most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Despite his early passing, Dr. King had an enormous, lasting influence on the Civil Rights movement and continues to be remembered as one of the most influential nonviolent leaders in world history. We will have no school on Monday, January 15 to honor the work of Dr. King.
As we resume our academic journey, we encourage you to stay connected with us. We value open communication and collaboration, and we are always here to address any questions or concerns you may have. Your involvement in your child's education greatly contributes to their success, and we are grateful for your active participation.
Once again, welcome back! We look forward to the next few months being filled with achievements, growth, and wonderful memories for our school community.
Wishing you and your family a prosperous and joyous new year!
Warm regards,
Ryan Gleason, YES Principal & Molly Kilpatrick, YES Assistant Principal