BLACKHAWKS BULLETIN
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!
Year of the Dragon - Submitted by Brenda Chien
In music class, we joyously marked the Lunar New Year, February 10th, by adorning the room with festive decorations and learned how to perform the dragon dance! Wishing everyone a prosperous and joyful Year of the Dragon! 🎉🐉
PRINCIPAL PONDERINGS
Week of February 11, 2024
Good afternoon!
In this season of hearts, I want to share a heartfelt thank you to the Class of 2025 for planning a very festive and well attended Valentine's Dance. It was a really fun night with lots of dancing, flowers for sale, and a photo booth with plenty of sparkle. And after the "clean-up crew" swept in, you would never even know the dance took place!
We are gearing up for a fun week at PES. This week is "Spirit Week" (see flyer below), Monday afternoon grades K to 4 will celebrate over 100 Days of School, and Friday we head off to our winter break with a number of after school options (Basketball games, Whaleback FAST, and National Girls & Women in Sports Day at KUA.)
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce that LEGO League is returning for a spring exploratory season and the PTA is gearing up for the annual Scholastic Book Fair. Thank you to Joe Bretton and Shannon Decker for stepping up to ensure these events continue. Details for both can be found below.
Speaking of parent/guardian involvement, please SAVE THE DATE for WINTER CARNIVAL - Friday March 8th from 1 to 3 pm. We encourage families to join in the fun if you are able. Josie Wolfinger and Jenny Smith are coordinating the event on behalf of PES and they would love to partner with anyone who is interested to plan an activity or run a station. Please contact Josie (jwolfinger@plainfieldschool.org) if you are interested to help. Either way, we hope you will come enjoy the afternoon with us.
Quick heads up for after break: Our Wellness Policy prohibits students from having energy drinks and caffeinated beverages at school. We are noticing that more and more students seem to have energy drinks in their lunch. Some labels can be deceiving. For example, the increasingly popular PRIME brand has a line of energy drinks that look very similar to their hydration drinks. Please be mindful of this when purchasing and packing beverages for lunches. I am reposting a previous piece about energy drinks under "Wellness Tips" below for more info.
Last but certainly not least, please be sure to check out my February report to the School Board (attached below). It includes links to the Quaglia Data for your review.
Have a great day!
Audra
Audra Bucklin, Principal
603.469.3250, ext 223
Plainfield artists thank the PTO for their generous purchase of a standing loom for art. This will be used in class and as choice group work. The loom was assembled and put in the classroom this week stirring up curiosity. Students jumped right in fastening the warp onto the loom and starting several weavings. Thanks again! We appreciate your support of the arts at Plainfield.
SPIRIT WEEK - FEBRUARY 2024
WEEKLY HAPPENINGS
Upcoming Events
12 100th DAY OF SCHOOL 🙂
12 - 4 Winds Training - 10:30 to 12:30 - Cornish (Calling all Owls)
13 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome
16 - FAST- Whaleback - 3:30 to 5:30 pm
19-23 - WINTER BREAK- NO SCHOOL
Parents of Drama students- please refer to the email from the Drama Club advisors as to when there is practice for your student (some are all cast, and some are specific groups only)
LOOKING AHEAD:
FEBRUARY
25 - LEGO League Spring Team Kickoff - 5:30 to 7:30pm - Grades 4 to 7 (the Spring Season is geared towards exploration and skills development in preparation for the fall competition)
27 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome
29 - Community Luncheon 11:30-1:00
29 - Math team Practice 2:50
MARCH
5 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome
8 - PES Winter Carnival - 1 to 3 pm - Parents/Guardians Welcome
12 - K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome
15 - End of 2nd Trimester
For the most up-to-date information, please be sure to see the Events Section of the website which includes athletic/co-curricular practices and games. If you download the website app on your phone (bottom right corner of the website for instructions), you can update the settings to it will alert you when events or news items are added.
LUNCH MENU
HOT LUNCHES (All are served with a veggie and milk)
MONDAY- Dress your own hot dog with maple baked beans
TUESDAY- Chicken and Cheddar Quesadilla with salsa, rice pilaf, and mexicali corn.
WEDNESDAY- Fluffy pancakes, real maple syrup, broccoli cheddar egg bites with sweet and white home fries AND frozen fruit sidekicks
THURSDAY- Creamy macaroni and cheese, maple muffins, with garlic roasted carrots
FRIDAY- Cheese, pepperoni, and veggie pizza with fresh broccoli salad.
"COLD" Options: (offered daily)
Assorted Pre-made Deli Sandwiches
Yogurt Parfait with Fruit and Granola
Fresh Fruit and Veggie Bar with Dinner Roll
See Abbey Group Website for full details and to upload funds.
OFFICE NOTES
Important Reminders from the Plainfield School Office
Substitute Teachers Needed for 2023-2024 school year
The Plainfield School is seeking individuals who would be comfortable working with K-8th grade students in our building during the 2023-2024 school year. Applicants must be able to follow teacher substitute plans, be dependable, and enjoy working with children. If you are interested in applying, please contact Katie Lowery in the office at (603) 469-3250.
LOST & FOUND
Are you missing a sweatshirt, water bottle, hat? Please check the lost and found site for any items that may belong to your student(s). We are gathering more and more items!
Amanda & Katie
603.469.3250
FROM THE NURSE
Important Reminders from the Plainfield School Nurse
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center has been receiving feedback that there is a need to provide parents, caregivers, and the general community with information/education around vaping and tobacco. With that, we have scheduled a free parent/caregiver educational webinar to be able to talk about the following topics.
What is vaping, and how does it work?
Current trends around vaping
The dangers of vaping
Examples of what the products look like
Brief cannabis information
How to support youth who vape or who are at high risk of vaping/ quit resources
Evidence based conversation starters for talking to youth around substance misuse
Q &A
The Vaping and Tobacco Education for Parents and Caregivers free webinar will take place on Tuesday, February 27th from 6:00-7:00pm. Register for the webinar here.
Thanks,
Nurse Beth
SPECIAL ALERT - ALLERGIES
We are reaching out due to an uptick in reactions and accidental exposures for students and staff with allergies. We would like to review the allergy status of our school community and are asking for your assistance in keeping our school community safe. We have students and staff members who are dangerously allergic to the following items (listed by type of restriction):
CLASS SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS - CHECK WITH YOUR TEACHER:
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Eggs
Soy
Peas
Lentils
Shellfish
Airborne wheat
Kiwi
Latex
PROHIBITED IN OUR BUILDING:
Pine, Balsam
Possible reactions include anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen seconds or minutes after you’ve been exposed to an allergen. In anaphylaxis, the immune system releases a flood of chemicals that can cause the body to go into shock. Blood pressure drops suddenly, and the airways narrow, blocking your breathing. Your pulse may be fast and weak, and you may have a skin rash. You may also get nauseous and vomit. Anaphylaxis requires an injection of epinephrine and a follow-up trip to an emergency room. If you don't have epinephrine, you need to go to an emergency room immediately. If anaphylaxis isn't treated right away, it can be fatal.
Due to the possibility of life-threatening reactions to the above items, we ask that you follow the guidelines of limiting and/or prohibiting as listed above. Also, please remind your child their food is for them only and should not be shared with peers. All refuse and/or leftovers should be thrown in the trash or stowed safely back in their own lunch box immediately. Finally, when contributing snacks to a class event, be sure to follow the teacher's guidelines for your child's classroom.
Thank you for helping us to keep all students and staff safe from severe allergic reactions!
Nurse Beth and Ms. Bucklin
CO-CURRICULAR UPDATES
Spring Sports
Basketball is coming into its last week of practices and games. Coach’s will be giving directions about returning uniforms. Don’t forget to check the website under Athletics for the most up-to-date practice and game schedules!
Now it's time to get signed up for Spring Sports:
- PES TRACK SIGN UP LINK
- LMS 2024 Spring Sports Registration Link - Lebanon Middle School Spring Sports sign ups are now open! LMS sponsors 7th/8th grade Baseball and 7th/8th Softball. Parents/Guardians can register their student right now via Arbiter Sports (formerly FamilyID see direct link below). Registrations close March 4th. For more information please reach out to LMS Athletic Director Mr. Franklin at bfranklin@sau88.net
- Lebanon Recreation Department Lacrosse - for 5th & 6th Grade - https://lebanonnh.gov.
LEGO League Returns
Looking to try and learn something new?
The FIRST Lego League team returns for current 4th to 7th graders. We will be competing in the New Hampshire scrimmage, which will happen in May.
This season will focus on the robot competition and the robot presentation only.
Our first session will focus building the competition board. Future weeks will see us develop both individual and team strategies for completing the missions.
Our first meeting will be Sunday, February 25th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Meetings will typically only be held on Sundays this term.
Please contact lego@plainfieldschool.org for more information.
DEI UPDATE
CLASS UPDATE - 5TH GRADE
5H - Submitted by Pam Hier
See our class newsletter below to see how learning comes alive in 5H!
CLASS UPDATE - KINDERGARTEN
Hanging Tough - The benefits of nature play in Kindergarten!
If you were to stand at the top of French’s Ledges or pull into the school parking lot at about 8:15 a.m. on a school day you would no doubt spot an incredible and resilient line of our youngest students busting out to the forest. Early morning freezing temps, rain, wind…nothing can stop this class.
Starting our day this way in Kindergarten has amazing benefits and research backs what we already knew by bringing children to the woods day after day! In an article titled, ‘Playing Outside: Why It’s Important for Kids’, Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP & Pooja Tandon, MD, FAAP, write, ‘Research shows that playing outside promotes curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Studies have found that children who spend more time in nature exploration had improved learning outcomes and more positive behavior. Research shows that when children spent time in nature they had less anger and aggression.’
Research is key but we have evidence each day in our own classroom. Children head out to the woods first thing and engage in problem solving, free play, and exploration and return to the school regulated, focused, and ready to learn.
Our community is so blessed to have such a phenomenal outdoor campus and staff support for what we know kids need. I am so proud of our youngest charges! There is no complaining (even on the coldest days); only an eagerness to have adventures. Thanks also to our invested parents and caregivers for dressing these kids for hard core fun in the snow! Our kindergarten class this year is strong as steel, steady as stone and that is no small part due to the regular and routine treks to the woods.
WELLNESS TIPS
(Resharing) ENERGY DRINKS
Energy Drinks Can Have Harmful Side Effects in Children and Adolescents
Teens are finding energy drinks an easy way to keep their energy up and make it through the school day and after school sports obligations. These energy drinks are gaining popularity among our adolescents due to colorful packaging, candy-like flavors, targeted marketing, and are easy to obtain. But energy drinks can have serious health concerns due to harmful effects on the adolescent body.
The main, energy-boosting ingredient is caffeine. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics the current recommendation for adolescents (ages 12-18) is less than 100 mg of caffeine per day. Each energy drink can have upwards of 170 mg of caffeine, per serving, whereas a cup of coffee typically contains 75-95 mg of caffeine. These energy drinks are typically more than one serving, but the teen is drinking the whole can… 340+ mg of caffeine! With some teens drinking 1-2 cans of energy drinks a day they are consuming 2 to 4 times the recommended amount of caffeine per day.
This leads to increases in blood pressure and heart rate and also causes the jitters and insomnia. Then insomnia perpetuates the cycle and they drink even more to get the same boost the following day. Before you know it, you have a teen who is addicted to caffeine as they have developed a dependence on the high that excess caffeine provides. Trying to break that cycle can cause withdrawal symptoms like headaches, mood instability and depression. A slow reduction in daily caffeine is the recommended method of breaking the cycle of addiction.
Additionally, there is a high concentration of sugar in these drinks which can initially improve energy, but when the sugar wears off, they crash. The sugar can give a short-term boost of energy but has no nutritional value and can cause major fluctuations in blood sugar levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends less than 25 grams of sugar per day for children over 2 years old. A two-serving can of an energy drink can have upwards of 50 grams of sugar.
You can help your child to make informed choices by reading labels with them in the store. Identify high caffeine drinks by discussing the information on the nutrition labels. Look at the serving size and number of servings per container and do the math to calculate how much caffeine and sugar are in a particular drink. Approach the conversation with honesty and be sure to not focus exclusively on the negatives but assist your teen in identifying safer sources of caffeine. And lastly, focus on natural energy boosts such as adequate protein intake, exercise, and good sleep hygiene practices.
NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS - KUA/PES
RSVP
Please RSVP using the following LINK.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Start a PreK Program in Plainfield
What: If you are interested in supporting the creation of a PreK in Plainfield, please plan to join our monthly meetings. Our long-term goal is to start a town funded PreK Program at the Plainfield Elementary School (similar to Cornish and other surrounding towns). Our short-term solution is to start a private PreK located within 5 minutes of Plainfield Elementary School.
Who: Anyone with interest in supporting this cause, parents of kids preschool age and younger, current or retired elementary teachers, anyone with experience starting a new program at a public school.
Where: Meriden Congregational Church Parish House (white building to the left of the stone church that sits at the top of the hill of KUA campus). 5 Mitchell Drive, Meriden NH 03770
When: Saturday, Feb 3 at 10am, with plans to repeat the first Saturday of every month
Why: Preschool is a valuable tool to help children grow and develop educationally, socially and
emotionally. It creates a culture of community among children and parents.
Children are welcome and there will also be childcare at the meeting!
We are actively looking for a PreK director to run the program. This is an opportunity to help create and build a program from the ground up. Please visit our website for more information at: https://www.plainfieldnhprek.com/
Or email at Plainfieldnhprek@gmail.com
We are also interested to know if you plan to have the youngest members of your family to attend.
Please take a moment to answer a few questions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/69WJRBG
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB - VACATION CAMP - Right here at PES!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Get started today with your registration!
Q: Does a child have to attend a program at their school, or in their town?
A: No! Members are welcome to register for any age-appropriate camp in any town. Members who attend the clubhouses are welcome to register for the school sites, or vice versa. Feel free to register for the program that works for you!
Q: Is there assistance available?
A: We offer a reduced fee based on household income. You will be asked to upload documentation along with the application. Documentation may include three most recent pay stubs, Social Security benefits, food stamps explanation of benefits, etc. Members will be responsible for the full fee until proof of income or State enrollment is confirmed.
The state of New Hampshire also provides assistance! They have recently revamped their requirements, and more NH families will qualify. Use this link to quickly find your eligibility!
Q: What do I need in order to register my child?
A: When completing the application, you will need a credit card for the $40.00 non-refundable registration fee. For new members, you will also need to upload a physical or child health form, as well as an immunization record.
TOWN OF PLAINFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES
Any Plainfield or Meriden resident requiring assistance for housing, heating fuel assistance, electricity assistance, medication assistance and or nutritional support from the Town should contact the Community Resource Director, Stephanie Schell. Contact information: 603-469-3201 or email sschell@plainfieldschool.org. All information is confidential.
Food Pantry
Residents of the Town of Plainfield can access the following local services.
Note: The food pantry and clothing swap rooms are located in the Christ Community Church on Route 12A (across from the Plainfield Fire Department). The Food Pantry is open the 1st Thursday and the 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and warmly welcomes all Town residents.
Free Clothing Rooms
The Christ Community Church has (2) very well-organized rooms that contain FREE clothing for adults and children. All clothing is donated and in great condition. In addition to clothing there are also Free household items, toys & books as well. These rooms are open to the Public each Tuesday morning from 9-11 a.m.
Free Fresh Veggies & Fruit
Free fresh produce provided by Willing Hands: please check the Town calendar for dates and times.
SUMMER CAMPS
WHALEBACK LOGISTICS
We had another great day at the mountain last Friday! The Friday Afterschool Ski Time (FAST) at Whaleback continues as follows:
Friday, 2/16
Friday, 3/1 (NEW)
Additional Make-up Day (TBD)
ALL LESSONS BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 4:15 PM. Link here to review the protocols and procedures in our chaperone handbook. Chaperones should plan to meet us at the mountain between 3:15 and 3:30 and will get your updated roster at that time. Plainfield students have the first floor of the lodge as our "base camp." The tables in the middle will be for free skiers (grades 5 and up who can ski and ride the chairlift without a chaperone.) The tables around the edges of the room are for our lesson groups. We will have signage for each group that includes the names of the chaperones so you can easily connect with your skiers to get organized and ready for their lesson.
PICK UP IS NO LATER THAN 5:30. AN AUTHORIZED ADULT MUST BRING THE CHILD'S ARMBAND TO THE CHECK OUT COUNTER ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE LODGE AND PHYSICALLY SIGN THEIR CHILD OUT ON THE ATTENDANCE SHEET.
NOTE: Students returning from lessons will check in outside by the picnic tables while free skiers can sign out inside at the table.
Things went very smoothly with the busing and we really appreciate your attention to the instructions below.
Students who plan to take the bus to Whaleback:
- Please be sure to send a note indicating your child is riding the bus to Whaleback
- No skis or poles are allowed on buses. They may be dropped off at drop off by the front corner of the school and MUST BE LABELED with the student's name and grade. (Please label both poles and both skis.) We will deliver the skis, boards and poles to the mountain and we try to organize them by grade level so students can find them a bit more easily.
- All other gear (incl helmets, boots, gloves, goggles, etc.) should be packed neatly in a bag the students can carry onto the bus.
- Students will board P7 at the usual time. They arrive at Whaleback before 3:30 and have plenty of time to grab a quick snack (if you are not signing up via Whaleback or sending cash, you will want to pack one), get suited up, and retrieve their equipment.
Students who plan to get a ride with a parent/friend:
- All Plainfield students should register via Whaleback's site (even if you have a season pass and don't plan to take the bus) - https://whaleback.theonlysky.com/ecomm3/products/view/?flow=Plainfield%20Elementary
- The adult you ride with is responsible for your supervision at Whaleback until PES chaperone/staff arrive. The adult should speak with Ms. Bucklin to ensure the student is checked in and on our list. If the students does not get signed in on our attendance list at the PES counter, they will remain the responsibility of the person who picked them up at school.
- All PES students are representing PES since it is "our day" at the mountain. As such, all PES skiers are responsible for conducting themselves in accordance with school rules.