BLACKHAWKS BULLETIN

Good Afternoon,

Happy Thanksgiving Week! I know several of you are traveling for the holiday. Students have been excited to share their plans to see family and friends :). As we enter that time of year where holiday travel may extend into school days, please be reminded to always let your child's teacher AND the office know. In addition, be sure to make plans, as needed, to make up missed learning. I too am getting ready to travel over the holiday. I am headed to Washington State to see my son! I will be out on Monday and Tuesday after the break and Christine Downing (CIA Director) will be covering.

In the meantime, I would like to bring a number of timely updates/reminders to your attention as follows:

1. Lockdowns - We practiced our protocol for Lockdowns last week and plan to execute a full drill in the next couple of weeks. Teachers have all reviewed procedures and when they might be used, reassuring students of our plans and the ways they can keep themselves safe in a variety of emergencies that might require us to stay nice and quiet and out of sight. The discussions vary by grade level to match developmental needs. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or to your child's teacher(s).
2. Ski program - Time is running out! If your child plans to attend, please be sure to register online with Whaleback AND fill out our form in the email below. Also, thank you to those who have offered to volunteer. We truly cannot do this without you! We still need for more volunteers. We will arrive at the mountain at approximately 4 pm. Volunteers are needed in the lodge, at the base of the mountain, and/or assisting with student supervision during lessons. Volunteers ski and ride free. We are also still looking for a volunteer to manage the check-out process. Katie Lowery and I will provide training and support (organizing the process with lists, etc.)
3. After School Program - The Boys and Girls Club is still in need of one more counselor. Interviews are ongoing. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this excellent part-time opportunity, please have them reach out to Maura Linnehan (mlinnehan@nhyouth.org) She is the program site director here at PES. As soon as they are fully staffed, they will release full details and a sign-up link.
4. Holiday Concert - Brenda Chien is always thinking of ways to improve our concerts. This year, to manage crowd size and accommodate families of younger students, Brenda is offering two different times for our holiday concert on Wednesday, December 13. The K to 4 holiday concert goes from 5 to 5:45 and the 5 to 8 students will perform from 6 to 7 pm. Huge thanks to Ms. Chien who is ALWAYS thinking :).
5. 5th to 8th Grade Spelling Bee - This year's 5th to 8th Grade Spelling Bee will be held on December 14th at 1 pm. We will once again live stream the event. The link for the live stream will be sent via Alma on the day of the Bee. Classroom teachers have been provided lists for students. If your student needs a new list, please feel free to reach out to classroom teachers or Jen Lizotte at jlizotte@plainfieldschool.org.
6. Signing in: Please be reminded that all visitors and volunteers must sign in with the office upon arrival during school hours. This includes Tuesday morning K to 4 School Sing. Thanks for helping us keep everyone safe and accounted for in the event of an emergency!
7. NO SCHOOL: There is no School Wednesday through Friday this week. Happy Thanksgiving. We are so very thankful for all of you!

Sincerely,

Audra

P.S. Please be sure to read Dr. Leggett's District Newsletter (sent last week) for a number of important updates regarding the budgeting process and ongoing strategic committee work. There is also some information about some upcoming surveys in which we are seeking very important feedback and input.

Audra Bucklin, Principal

603.469.3250, ext 223

abucklin@plainfieldschool.org

We are thrilled to invite you back to Whaleback for an exciting winter season! Please take a moment to review the following information before registering your student, as we've made some important changes to the program this year.

Plainfield Elementary Mountain Days: 1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9

Registration Options

You can sign up your student for one or more of the following options:

• Lessons

• Free-Ride (no lessons)

• Snack

• Rental Gear

Lessons

Our lessons run for 60 minutes, starting at 4:15 PM and ending at 5:15 PM. We create lesson groups based on ability levels to ensure success on the mountain. We understand that some young snowsport enthusiasts may find it challenging to work on fundamentals on shorter trails, especially when there's a lot of mountain to explore. However, this step-by-step approach is crucial for building confident and skilled skiers or snowboarders.

The number one cause of injuries and disinterest in snowsports is when riders progress too quickly without the skills to navigate safely. So, we ask both you and your child to be patient with our program's gradual progression. Our goal is to create lifelong snowsport enthusiasts rather than overnight Olympians.

Freeride

If your student is in fifth grade or older, can confidently handle intermediate (blue) trails, stop when needed, and safely use chairlifts, they can participate in the freeride option. Please note that freeride doesn't include formal lessons, and students won't be supervised by Whaleback staff on the slopes. The freeride block begins and ends in congruence with the lesson block.

Snack

We offer a snack option for purchase. Please be aware that it's not a full meal but a mix of items that vary from week to week.

Rentals

Gear rentals are available for all students in the program, including skis/snowboard, boots, and poles (if needed). Helmets are also available at no extra charge, though we can't guarantee every student will receive one due to limited stock. While we understand snowsports can be costly, we highly recommend purchasing a mountain-sports helmet, the most important safety gear.

Rental equipment won't go home with students. They'll pick up their gear at the beginning of the mountain visit and return it by the end. This helps us maintain our rental fleet and saves you from hauling gear around.

If you want rental gear you can use on non-program days, visit our friends over at Golf and Ski who can provide a full kit for the entire winter season.

Equipment Fit Days

If you plan to rent gear from Whaleback, please attend one of our equipment fit days in December. Our rental equipment technicians will properly fit your child for skis/snowboard and boots. This ensures a smooth transition during program days and maximizes your student's time on the slopes.

Chaperones

While Whaleback Mountain supervises students during lessons, Plainfield volunteers takes over outside of lesson times. However, we believe students benefit from adult supervision. If you're a skier or snowboarder, you can volunteer your time and receive a day pass to chaperone free-ride students or provide behavioral support in our lesson groups, allowing our instructors to focus on teaching. If you don’t ski or snowboard, we would still welcome you as a chaperone to help out with transitions and lodge logistics! Please complete the Whaleback Transportation & Volunteer Form below to indicate your interest in becoming a chaperone.

Financial Aid

Our mission is to keep snowsports affordable and accessible for everyone. We understand it can be expensive, which is why we offer a financial aid program to help ease the financial burden. Please use the provided link to access our financial aid application.

Link: https://www.whaleback.com/financial-aid

Transportation to and from Whaleback Mountain

Plainfield Elementary manages transportation to Whaleback Mountain as we do not provide this service. Parents MUST sign their children out to a designated adult by 5:30 pm. Please sign up through the Whaleback Transportation & Volunteer Form below arrange transportation for your student/child. If you choose to drop off or pick up your student, please sign them in and out with the Plainfield representative. This ensures everyone's safety and accountability. Last year, we had an incident where a student was picked up without checking out, causing unnecessary concern. We appreciate your cooperation with our check-in/check-out procedures.

Contact info

Whaleback Mountain

Phone: (603) 448-5500

Email: learning@whaleback.com

Address: 160 Whaleback Mountain Rd., Enfield, NH 03748

Director of Learning Programs: Max Harrison

Plainfield Elementary

Phone: (603) 469-3250

Principal: Audra Bucklin

Email: abucklin@plainfieldschool.org

Disclaimers

• No make-ups for missed program days due to weather or illness.

• Program fees are non-refundable.

• We reserve the right to revoke any pass due to reckless behavior, foul language, participating without a pass, skiing with someone else's pass, or any form of substance abuse.

November 20 Mandatory 7th grade class meeting. 5:30-6:30 in the library

November 21 K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

November 22-24 Thanksgiving recess

Looking Ahead:

November 28 K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

November 29 Hood Museum Trip - 9am Mrs. Hier 5th grade class

November 30 Math Team Practice - 2:50-4:00pm

December 1 End of 1st Trimester

December 5 K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

December 6 Hood Museum Trip - 9am Mrs. Cook 5th grade class

December 7 Math Meet - 3:45pm, Location: Mascoma Valley Regional High School

December 12 K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome

December 12 PES School Board Meeting, 5:30 pm – Music Room

December 13 - WINTER CONCERT

• Dress Rehearsal Winter Band/Chorus School Concert - 1:00 pm- Parents/Guardians Welcome
• EVENING Grades K-4 5:00 pm and Grades 5-8 6:00 pm

December 14 Upper Grades Spelling Bee, 1 pm

December 14 Math team practice, 2:50-4:00pm

December 15 Report Cards sent home

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.

HOT LUNCHES (All are served with a veggie and milk - PLEASE NOTE: There is currently a chocolate milk shortage. Most students do not expect chocolate milk everyday but we wanted you to be aware.)

HOT LUNCHES (All are served with a veggie and milk)

MONDAY- Chicken Patty Sandwich with lettuce and tomato with roasted sweet potato wedges

TUESDAY- Bean Taco Bar with the works, mexicali corn and cabot sour cream

WEDNESDAY- NO SCHOOL

THURSDAY- NO SCHOOL

FRIDAY- NO SCHOOL

"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.

Reminder: Please make sure you sign in at the office whenever you visit the school during school hours, even when it’s a planned or recurring visit.

Thank you!

Reminder: On any given day, if you need to change your child’s after school transportation plan, please notify the office at 603.469.3250 or office@plainfieldschool.org by 2 pm.

The office will be closed Wednesday, November 22nd - Friday, November 24th for Thanksgiving Break. Happy Thanksgiving!

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

office@plainfieldschool.org

CDC/COVID

Please review this brief summary of the most up-to-date CDC Covid protocols. PES follows the NH DHHS guidance which is currently one and the same as the CDC guidance. There are a lot of viruses going around right now. While Covid numbers have been low here at PES so far, please be reminded you must still test when symptoms are present A positive Covid test requires 5 days quarantine and 5 days of additional masking. Let’s work together to keep our numbers low and our attendance (for both staff and students) strong by preventing the spread of Covid to the extent possible. We have covid tests available in the main office and nurse’s office. Please remember sick absences/notices need to be sent to schoolnurse@plainfieldschool.org as well as office@plainfieldschool.org. Nurse Beth will contact you if further information is needed.

The school has a supply of free COVID test kits. With the upcoming holidays we want students, and families, to remain healthy and happy. Any family who would like a small supply of COVID tests for use over the holiday break are welcome to stop by the school and get some from Nurse Beth.

As we approach the winter months with an increased use of hats, we become concerned with the possibility of lice in the school. Lice are a common occurrence in schools. Head lice do not transmit disease. When a student gets lice, it does not suggest that the student is not clean. It only indicates that the student has been near someone with lice.

HEAD LICE

Head lice are insects the size and color of a sesame seed. They do not fly or jump but scamper on the scalp. Lice are spread by head-to-head contact or from shared items like hats. For this reason, the nurse’s office does not have a supply of hats for student use. Lice may cause itching and scratching of the scalp. Lice eggs (nits) are teardrop shaped and white or hair colored. They are tightly attached to the hair shaft, usually behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Nits cannot be flicked off.

If head lice are found on your student, treatment is required before the student can return to school. It is recommended that treatment is started the same day as lice are found so that the student can return to school the next day with minimal academic interruption. All treatments require careful attention to the directions to decrease any risk of side effects and to ensure elimination of the infestation. Use only treatments recommended for head lice as products intended for animals or for other purposes will not be effective. Please contact the school nurse or your healthcare provider for recommendations on treatment.

Nurse Beth is in need of some things for the supply closet. We could use the following:

Mittens/gloves

Thanks,

Nurse Beth

schoolnurse@plainfieldschool.org

*Please remind all students to bring sneakers for P.E. days. Crocs and boots are not allowed in the gym.

Our Thanksgiving Tree was overflowing with donated items for our Thanksgiving food drive. We collected three large boxes of stuffing, veggies, cranberry sauce, cereal, gravy mix, applesauce, and lots of other stuff to help families in need. These will be donated to the Plainfield Food Pantry where they will be assembled into gift baskets along with a turkey. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our community in providing for others in these difficult economic times.

Our “Let your GRATITUDE be your ATTITUDE” wall is complete with class, teachers, and community members leaves. We are humbled to see the many things our students are grateful for.

We enjoy seeing all so many parents, grandparents, and friends who are able to join us for morning sing! We enjoy starting our Tuesday’s singing along together!

We are looking forward to focusing on Gratitude this month during Guidance Lessons and throughout our school! One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and even our happiness! Check out the infographic below for ways you can connect to our schoolwide theme during this month of Thanksgiving!

Family Photos

Natalie Strout, paraprofessional at PES, is offering photos to local families (see flier).

4 Winds

4 Winds is a K-4th grade program; if you are interested or know of a family or community member who would like to volunteer, please contact Michelle Whitaker. mo.whitaker@yahoo.com or 585-690-3472

Attention Grades 6-8 - NOTE TIME CHANGE

The Cornish Elementary School is inviting Plainfield students who are in grades 6-8 to their school dance.

• December 1st from 7-9pm in the gym
• Cost: $7.00
• Snacks and drinks will be available for sale.

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.