Good afternoon,

I’m not sure why, but every year I am taken by surprise by how quickly summer turns to fall and transitions become routines! With our first five-day week behind us, things are definitely in full swing. I have lots of news to share and a couple of requests. Please read all the way through:

K through 4 School Sing is undergoing a “remake” of sorts. To allow time for the final touches, it is on hold until Tuesday, October 3rd. This year it will be held in the music room and be led by Coach McKittrick and Mrs. Lizotte. It should be loads of fun. Please plan to sign in with the office and join us promptly at 8:05 am on October 3rd. It will surely be the best 10 minutes of your day!

Curriculum Night - IMPORTANT SCHEDULE UPDATE:

There has been a last minute change in plans for Curriculum Night. There are now two separate nights as follows: (Babysitting Provided in the Music Room both nights.)

Thursday, September 21

• 5:30 to 5:55 pm - Kindergarten & 1st Grade

• 6:00 to 6:25 pm - Grade 2

Wednesday, September 27

• 6:00 to 6:25 pm - Grade 5

• 6:30 to 6:55 pm - Grades 3/4

First Annual Full School Trail Day: Thursday, September 28th we are planning to have all students and teachers participate in our first annual "Plainfield School Trail Day." We would love for parents and extended family members to join the fun as follows:

• K to 2 - Hiking to the "Top of the World" in Cornish, NH

• 3/4 - Hiking French's Ledges here at PES

• Grade 5 - Hiking Gile Mountain in Norwich, VT

• Grade 6 - Will do a hike at Hulbert that day

• Grades 7/8 - Cardigan Mountain

By now you should have received an email with more detailed information about departure times and expectations from your classroom teacher(s). Please reach out directly to them with any questions and be sure to return all permission slips (for you as a chaperone and for your child(ren) by this Thursday, September 21st.

Plainfield School Directory - Back by popular demand! After a mediocre response to the online directory permissions in Alma, we have decided to once again print the directory. I completely understand people’s desire to have the handy booklet form…I still have some dating back to 2004 in my possession 🙂.

Please complete the Directory Form to indicate whether or not you give permission to have your parent contact information printed in the directory next to your child’s name. The directory is organized by homeroom and provides a handy reference for birthday parties and playdates!

GOOD NEWS - After School Program: After a long wait, and a lot of work by Tracee Barden, our regional director for Boys and Girls Club, we are pleased to announce that things are looking VERY hopeful for the return of an After School Program for students in K through 5 at Plainfield School. The program typically runs from dismissal to 6 pm. They believe they can have their newly hired site director and staff fully hired and trained by early November.

In order to finalize staffing, the Boys and Girls Club would like more concrete information regarding possible interest. If you would be interested to participate in an after school program, please fill out this After School Interest Form no later than Tuesday, September 19.

FAST/Ski Program Update - Believe it or not we are already planning for Winter. As noted in the handbook on page 22, we are no longer operating the “Friday Afternoon Special Time” as an early release. Instead, in hopes to optimize community participation and collaboration, skiing will now be offered as an “after school” program and we will identify a single day in the winter for the entire school to enjoy winter fun in NH. Stay tuned for those details as parents and community members will definitely be invited to participate!

In the meantime, during late fall, students in grades K-8 will be invited to enroll in the ski program which occurs on Friday afternoons for six weeks (conditions permitting). The program takes place at Whaleback. The family cost includes fees for lessons, lift tickets, rentals, and transportation. The school helps coordinate the transportation and chaperone sign-up/assignment. We are still working out the specifics with Whaleback and a volunteer corps who will oversee logistics but there will be skiing at Whaleback this winter. I hope this helps folks make decisions regarding season passes.

Please Note: Grades 3/4 and 5 Curriculum night has now CHANGED. It is now being held on Wednesday September 27th from 6:30 -7pm. Babysitting will be provided in the music room by the 7th grade class.

Study Hall: We are offering Study Hall again this year on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:50 - 4:15pm with Ms. Buckman. We are actively looking for someone to cover Tuesdays and Fridays as well. We will keep you posted!

Student Athlete Supervision: When arranging after school plans, please keep in mind that students who have practices must attend study hall or be dismissed in one for the usual ways - walker, rider, bus. Students may not be unsupervised on campus while awaiting the start of practice.

LOST and FOUND: We already have some clothing hanging up. Please take a look and if anything looks familiar to your family, have your child stop and take it home.

Important Reminders from the Plainfield School Nurse