Friday Flash
December 1st, 2023
Notes from the Principal's Office
I heard rumblings around the building from both students and staff that this felt like the longest week ever. We're not sure if it's because we just came off of a long Thanksgiving Break or if it's because of many of us arriving home after dark.
I'm happy to report that we are finally fully staff. This week Sarah Storer and Becky Fenner joined our staff as building based substitutes. They spent the week learning routines and getting to know our staff and students better. On Monday, Sydney Gonyaw will be joining us as our preschool para educator. While not a new addition, Jess Tuttle has returned to Newbury as our behavior interventionist, replacing Maggie Daly who has moved on to help out in one of the Oxbow programs.
We are very excited to announce that we will be having a fun day at forest school on Friday December 15th. Mr. Cook and Chef Creed are excited to put our new cast iron cookware to use in our outdoor classroom space. We have put a call out for offers of wild game that can be use to create some culinary delights over the campfire. If you are cleaning out the freezer to make room for this year's harvest, please consider sharing the bounty with us. You can contact Labette or drop your donation off at the main office.
Over the next few weeks I will be working on the draft budget for the next school year. As always, I will do my best to remain fiscally responsible, while meeting the educational needs of the children in our community.
~Loretta
Knights of the Round Table for November
Monkeys: Kamiyah Goodrich
Dolphins: John Michael Goodrich
Bears: Alaina Hanley
Otters: Timothy Longmoore
Owls: Keera Cooke
Sea Turtles: Owen Sackett
Sea Turtles: Ayva Gillingham
Bovines: Kaydence Corrow
Positivity Project: Kindness
Kindness means that you say and do nice things.
You are helpful to others and enjoy doing good deeds.
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Kindness. Kindness means you are generous to others and you are never too busy to help out. You enjoy doing good deeds for other people.
Kindness is grounded in the belief of a common humanity in which others are worthy of care, attention, affection, and compassion. Kind people think about the needs and feelings of other people, and then act to help those people. Kind people are selfless. That is why a true act of kindness is distinct from helping another person in order to simply gain something for yourself. An individual with the strength of kindness helps others because it's’ the right thing to do, not because they expect any reciprocal treatment or gain in reputation.
In addition to empathy and sympathy, the character strength of kindness is indicative of an individual’s moral reasoning capacity and level of social responsibility. That means people who develop kindness possess a strong personal ethical responsibility to care for other people. And, their acts of kindness towards others lead to additional acts of kindness by those who have been helped.
To practice and encourage the character strength of kindness with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
What are some ways that you can encourage kindness in your community?
Staff Spotlight: Kelley Houde
Third & Fourth Grade Teacher
Kelley Houde grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts. She earned her undergraduate degree from Green Mountain College and received her Master's of Education from Southern New Hampshire University. Outside of school Mrs. Houde enjoys snuggling with her cats reading a book on her couch or listening to music while lifting weights. Mrs. Houde would like her students to know That even if they are not currently students in my class my door is always open to them if they want a hug or a listening ear.
H3 Updates from Mr. O'Hearn
During H-Cubed: Harmony with Self, Harmony with Others, and Harmony with Nature; students at all grade levels spend time practicing the Positivity Project Character Strengths through movement, games, partner work, short readings or videos, teamwork and discussion. Recent topics have included Fire Safety and Halloween (Trick-or-Treating) Safety, Integrity and Creativity. Third and Fourth Graders worked together to show creativity by creating original games for their classmates to try in the gymnasium. Students in grades 5 and 6 practiced Gratitude by creating custom Thank You cards for someone special. Students wrote affirmations and compliments on classmates’ backs for the week of “Other Person Mindset: How our Words and Actions Affect Others” (See attached pictures). We also completed our “Wrinkled Heart Activity” while reading Kevin Henkes Chrysanthemum. When we are insulted or teased our hearts can “wrinkle”. When we are noticed and supported and treated kindly, our wrinkled heart can be “smoothed’. This past week H-3 has focused on Bravery. Students have shared some of their fears with a partner in the “Back-To-Back activity and led classmates in a stage performance activity. Next week’s focus will be on Kindness.
Energy & Machines with the Owls and Otters
The 3rd and 4th grade students are learning about types of energy and chain reactions.
Forest School Fun!
Important Dates
December 8th: Report Cards Go Home
December 20th: Open House & Winter Concert & Art Show
December 21st: Early Release at 12:15
December 22nd: No School
January 3rd: School Resumes
Principal Loretta Cruz
Email: loretta.cruz@oesu.org
Website: https://www.nesvt.org/
Location: 214 Pulaski Street, Newbury, VT, USA
Phone: 802-866-5621
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newburyelementaryVT