October 2022 - District Newsletter

Welcome back to school! Catch up each month with special recognition and newsworthy happenings from across the Plymouth Public Schools.

We kicked off the 2022-23 school year with a STUDENT INSPIRED theme. In June, Dr. Campbell invited students to share their voices and take part in choosing the District’s theme of the year. Several students participated and contributed to the theme of “Together.” There could not have been a better way to capture what that means for our school community than the student performance given to our staff on Opening Day. Áine Lindsay, PNHS junior, shared a moving speech on just what “Together” means for our school community, followed by a powerful and fitting rendition of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” by VPA students.

Before closing the ceremony, Dr. Campbell introduced this year’s theme poster to be displayed in each classroom throughout the district and includes the word “together” in every language spoken by the families of the Plymouth Public Schools. Take a look at this year's performance below. We are so proud of these students!

Nathaniel Morton Elementary School recently hosted a NMES Builds Day to highlight elements of construction, design, and engineering! Their Construction CREW was able to hear from experts in the field of construction and explore with all sorts of building tools, toys and equipment.

The Performing Arts Center at Plymouth North High School was a popular place the first two weeks of August with over 100 orchestra and concert band students in grades 5-9 participating in this year’s Summer Music Program. Under the direction of Mrs. Benson, Mr. Gruschow (Scituate), Mr. Loretz, Mr. Polombo, and Mr. Shaw, students spent their time learning music, honing their skills on their instruments, collaborating and socializing with their peers, and of course, sharing the gift of music with a performance at the end of the camp for their friends, families, and members of the community.

Each year, the Summer Music Program brings together musicians from every school in the district and provides both the students and directors with an opportunity to collaborate musically before the start of the upcoming school year. Thank you to the dedicated teachers and volunteers who spend countless hours over the summer teaching and directing these students. We look forward to the many wonderful performances ahead.

Don't miss the Fall Courtyard Concert, October 5th, 5:30 PM at Plymouth North High School as the PCIS Concert Bands perform under the direction of Mr. Andy Shaw!

THANK YOU to the hardworking men and women of our Facilities Services for all their efforts in making our schools and buildings safe spaces for learning!

Each year, the Plymouth Public Schools' staff is invited to nominate a colleague for the district's Inspiration Award. Five remarkable staff members were honored at this year's Opening Day ceremony, including Ms. Tara Frare, Science Educator at Plymouth North High School.

Ms. Frare has been an exceptional educator since she began her career at Plymouth North High School 10 years ago. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Ms. Frare!

Our PYDC Program Coordinator, Ms. Kelly Macomber, was recently recognized with the Cape & Plymouth Business 40 Under 40 Award! Kelly has been a leader in our district through her role as Program Director of the Plymouth Youth Development Collaborative (PYDC). Kelly uses her extensive experience, knowledge, and initiative to bring together local and state resources to Plymouth schools focusing on students' mental and behavioral health and substance-use preventative measures. Our district is extremely fortunate for her work and efforts. Congratulations, Ms. Macomber, on this well-deserved recognition!

And congratulations to Derek Paiva of Old Colony YMCA Plymouth for being honored as well! Thank you for your continued support and partnership with our schools.

We are committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families to create a safe and healthy learning environment. In support of our ongoing commitment, we partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care for our school community.

Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their Care Companion™ team is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community.

Students and staff as well as their families may access Care Solace FREE services in two ways: Call (888) 515-0595 at any time or visit CareSolace.com/plymouth. If you are interested in counseling-related services for your child, yourself, or another family member, please contact Care Solace for valuable assistance.

DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH OUR SISTER-TOWN, SHICHIGAHAMA, JAPAN?

Apply to be part of our virtual delegation by 10/14/22 at tinyurl.com/PlymouthDelegation2022

This opportunity is open to students currently in grades 6, 7, and 8 only. Interested students should be sure to fill out the application form online with the guidance of a parent or guardian.

All responses must be submitted by the end of the day on Friday, October 14, 2022. Students will be selected to participate in this virtual delegation based on the quality of their application responses, as well as based on recommendations by faculty/staff. Participation in the virtual delegation will be a commitment to at least three meetings over the course of the school year.

This year, Plymouth North Players’ Fall Play is Trap by Steven Gregg. Trap tells the story of an incomprehensible event in which every person in the audience of a play falls unconscious – every person but one. Using a documentary theatre style, the story comes to life as the strands weave together in an increasingly dangerous web. The play is Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22 at 7PM in the Performing Arts Center. Click for tickets!

Our community as a whole is fortunate to have such incredible organizations that provide important services to families in Plymouth. Please take a moment to learn about the following organizations and what they can do for you!

The Plymouth Special Education Parent Advisory Council is a wonderful resource for families of the Plymouth Public Schools. Follow along on their Facebook page for updated information or reach out to Plymouthspedpac@gmail.com. Their next meeting is October 20, 2022 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Mayflower Room at 11 Lincoln Street (Central Office), Plymouth, MA.

The Plymouth Family Resource Center, located on Court Street, has been such a valuable asset to our community. From peer support groups, parent education, budgeting and financial assistance, virtual playgrounds, and more, they continue to provide a wide variety of resources to families throughout Plymouth.

Please be sure to follow their Facebook page for important updates and events they have scheduled for the month of October. You can also learn more by visiting their website at www.plymouthfamilyrc.org.

The Plymouth Family Network is an outstanding resource providing support to families with young children and expectant parents living in the town of Plymouth. ​​PFN offers referral services, preschool/childcare guidance, early screenings, and free playgroups and parent enrichment opportunities. Learn more about PFN services and upcoming events on their website.

Don't miss out on any upcoming fun events! Subscribe to their monthly newsletter reach out to pfn@plymouth.k12.ma.us.

PYDC is a substance use prevention coalition overseen by Plymouth Public Schools that engages community partners and other important sectors within the community Plymouth who have a vested interest in keeping young people healthy and safe. If you're interested in becoming a part of the coalition, reach out to PYDC at pydc@plymouth.k12.ma.us

Young people report that as school returns they anticipate seeing people vape at similar or higher rates, according to a recent survey of 15-24 year olds by Truth Initiative. If you or someone you know is looking for a one page resource that consolidates options on how to help a young person quit vaping consider using our local resource around how to quit. In addition, if you're looking for support on how to have this conversation with your student, consider using our one page mini training focused on how to talk to adolescents about substance use.

This collection of local and state resources is to provide families and the general public with information about health, support, childcare services along with recreation and enrichment. Visit the Resource Guide on our website or by clicking here!

• Childcare Services
• Family Support
• Recreation & Enrichment
• Health Services
• & more!

Tune in to Plymouth EDTV on Monday, October 3rd for the next Plymouth School Committee meeting! The meeting agenda, along with presentation slides and reports can be found here.

The meeting with be streamed live beginning at 7:00 PM on Plymouth EDTV local channels Comcast 14 or Verizon 45, and on EDTV's YouTube channel. (Live Closed Captioning available on YouTube!)