Dear YES Families, 

With the days getting longer, and Springtime just around the corner, we leap into March with a renewed sense of excitement! As we begin these last few months of the school year, I want to thank you for your participation at our recent parent-teacher conferences.  My hope is that this was an opportunity to celebrate your child's progress and learn more about their next steps in growing as learners.  Please know that your partnership and support is valued and greatly appreciated by our staff.

This upcoming month is a big testing month for our students in grades 3 and 4 with the MEA assessment, and we also look forward to having some wonderful learning experiences for our students beginning with a special event .

MARCH DATES/EVENTS TO REMEMBER

FRIDAY, MARCH 2: READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY

Read Across America Day, is an opportunity for you to take time to promote the love of reading.  It is not intended to focus strictly on Dr. Seuss books, but was chosen to be held on his birthday, March 2nd, in honor of the great contribution he made to the World of Reading and children's books. Here at YES we will be starting the day with a whole-school Community meeting to celebrate the importance of books and reading. The color theme for the day will be BLACK, WHITE, and RED (Cat in the Hat!) ... so students and staff are encouraged to try and wear those colors.  You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, To pick up a book and read with a child. You're never too busy, too cool, or too hot, To pick up a book and share what you've got. In schools and communities, Let's gather around, Let's pick up a book, Let's pass it around. There are kids all around you, Kids who will need Someone to hug, Someone to read. Come join us March 2nd Your own special way And make this America's Read to Kids Day! by Anita Merina  

FRIDAY, MARCH 2: YHS INTERACT CLUB KIDS MOVIE NIGHT 6:00 - 8:00 PM

The YHS Interact Club will be hosting a "Kids' Movie Night" on  Friday, March 2 from 6-8 p.m. at the First Parish Church in Yarmouth. Kids in grades K-4 are welcome to come dressed as their favorite superhero for a costume contest, watch a movie, buy popcorn and treats, and have fun with friends.  For questions please contact Karin Walsh, YHS Interact Club Advisor at karin_walsh@yarmouthschools.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7: YARMOUTH'S GOT TALENT AUDITIONS 4:00 PM

This K - 12 student competition is sponsored by the Music Boosters and the proceeds benefit our music programming.  All talent is welcome to audition - music, dance, arts, magic, comedy...or any creative endeavor that will win over the audience! Auditions for grades K-4 will be held here at YES at 4:00 p.m.  Cash prizes are based on audience vote. One first prize for each age group. Official rules and entry forms at YarmouthsGotTalent.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

We look forward to the time when our days start getting longer. Don't forget to set the clocks one hour ahead when you go to bed that night!

TUESDAY, MARCH 13: SCHOOL SAFETY DRILL

In collaboration with Chief Morrill and the Yarmouth Police Department we will be holding our second schoolwide lockdown drill of the year at 2:45 p.m.

THURSDAY MARCH 15: PTO MEETING YES LIBRARY 7:00 PM

Our monthly PTO meeting will be held in the YES library at 7 p.m.  All are welcome! Please consider attending to hear about all the great work the PTO is doing and learn how you can get involved to support their efforts. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 16: ST. PATRICK'S DAY GREEN 

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day (Saturday, March 17th) students may choose to wear green articles of clothing, including hats, to school on this day. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 16: YARMOUTH GOT TALENT 7:00 PM

Get your tickets! They go on sale March 14th , 7:00 pm at www.brownpapertickets.com (active link to come.) We look forward to seeing some great talent from YES in action that night!

MONDAY MARCH 19 & THURSDAY, MARCH 27: FACILITIES PLAN PUBLIC FORUMS

As Dr. Dolloff recently shared with you, the first Public Forum on the proposed facilities plan was held on February 13.  Approximately three dozen participants heard a presentation on the enrollment and facilities challenges faced by the Yarmouth Schools, and the proposed solution. Updated plans will be presented again on the following two dates:

March 19 at 8:00 a.m. in the Community Room at Yarmouth Town Hall

March 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Harrison Middle School

We hope to see you at as many of these meetings as possible.

MEA TESTING: MARCH 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

The Maine Comprehensive Assessment System provides information about the academic progress of students, schools, and the state as a whole. This system includes state assessments, known as the Maine Educational Assessments (MEA), that measure the progress of Maine's students toward the content standards adopted for Maine students

State and federal laws require that all students participate in assessments in designated content areas at designated grades. In conjunction with local and teacher-developed assessments, these assessments can help educators, parents, and educational leaders to understand how well Maine's schools are educating, how well Maine's students are learning, and where additional support may be needed.

All of our third and fourth grade students will be taking the reading, math and essay assessments over the course of six mornings in March. We have scheduled our students to take these assessments on 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, 3/27, 3/28 and 3/29.  We appreciate your help in making sure that your children are here in school on these days and well rested to take these important assessements.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23: K-4 COMMUNITY MEETING 2;30 PM

A Yarmouth's Got Talent encore performance for YES and Rowe students will highlight our March community meeting. We welcome our K /1 friends from the Rowe School on this day for a special K-4 event!

IMPORTANT FUTURE UPCOMING DATES 

APRIL 2-6: YES SPIRIT WEEK 2018

Last year began our annual "YES Spirit Week" and it was a huge success.  This year will once again feature fun spirit week dress up days like "Inside-Out Day", "Yarmouth Clippers Day",  "Mismatch/Mix and Match Day" and "Hat Day".  Let's have some fun celebrating the arrival of spring! 

FRIDAY, MAY 25: GRANDPARENTS/SPECIAL FAMILY FRIENDS DAY

Our Grandparents/Special Family Friends Day is held every year on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.  More details will come as we approach the date but please note this day for your planning and communication to all those grandparents and family friends who will be attending!

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share. Thanks for all that you do!

Respectfully,

Ryan Gleason, YES Principal