YES Newsletter

Yarmouth Elementary School June 2025 Newsletter

June 2025

From the Principals

Dear YES Families,

It’s hard to believe the school year is winding down! We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for making this year such a joyful and meaningful one. It’s been a true pleasure collaborating with you and working with your children.

To our returning families, we look forward to welcoming you back in September. To our fifth-grade families and students, you will be dearly missed! And to those saying goodbye to YES as your youngest moves on, please know how much we’ve appreciated your partnership over the years. We’ll be cheering your children on as they continue to grow and thrive.

As we celebrate the final weeks of school, we’re excited for all the special moments still to come—class celebrations and cherished traditions that mark the end of another incredible year.

This final newsletter for 2024–25 includes important information as we wrap up the year and begin planning for what’s ahead.

With appreciation,

Ryan Gleason, YES Principal & Molly Kilpatrick, YES Assistant Principal

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Second "Fans in the Stands" Unified PE Game!

On Thursday, May 29, the Unified PE Team earned a resounding victory over a group of staff all-stars with a final score of 12–2! Our fourth graders packed the stands to cheer on both teams, and we were thrilled to have many parents in attendance. Most importantly, all participants had fun, and the game provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the team's work on movement, teamwork, and building community throughout the year.

New YES Teachers 25-26

We are pleased to announce the hiring of the following three teachers at YES for the 2025-26 school year:

Jenna Block, Gr. 5 Jenna Block will be joining us as a fifth-grade teacher. She comes to us from the Brunswick School Department, where she has taught fourth grade for the past three years. Prior to that, she taught fifth grade at the Londonderry School Department in New Hampshire. Ms. Block has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Saint Anselm’s College. She has held leadership positions as a Science Curriculum Team Advisor, Teacher Mentor, Drama Club Director, and Girls on the Run Instructor. Ms. Block will teach Math, SS, and Science, and work with Mrs. Greely as a team teaching partner.

Emily Shopland, Gr. 5 Emily Shopland is also joining the fifth-grade team. Ms. Shopland comes to us from Alfred Elementary School, where she has taught third grade for the past four years. She also has experience teaching fifth and sixth grade at Danville Elementary School in Vermont. Ms. Shopland has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Biology from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from the University of Maine. She will teach Math, SS, and Science, and work with Mrs. Conley as a team teaching partner.

Miranda Eisenhart, Gr. 4 Teacher Miranda Eisenhart will be joining us at YES next year as a one-year-only 4th-grade teacher, filling in for Ms. Rhoads, who is taking a one-year leave of absence. A graduate of St. Joseph's College of Maine, Ms. Eisenhart has worked as a teacher in San Diego at Innovations Academy and as a 5th-grade teacher at Jordan Small School in Raymond. Most recently, she has been an Educational Technician at Yarmouth High School for the past year.

We are excited to welcome Ms. Block, Ms. Shopland, and Ms. Eisenhart to YES!

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June 2025 News at YES

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YARMOUTH TOWN MEETING JUNE 3 & JUNE 10 REFERENDUM

It is the time of year when the voters of Yarmouth determine if the budget will be approved. This is a two-step process. First, citizens can attend the Town Budget Meeting (June 3), where they will vote on a budget to be sent to a referendum. Attendance at this meeting is critical for a budget to be approved that represents the wishes of the residents of the town.

Once a budget is set by the voters at the Town Budget Meeting, the budget is then sent to a referendum (June 10), where each voter will have the opportunity to cast a ballot regarding the proposed budget. Again, participation is critical in order for the schools to be funded as the taxpayers wish.

VOTER APPROVAL DATES
Tuesday, June 3   Town Meeting – 7:00 p.m. at the YPAC at Yarmouth High School
Tuesday, June 10  Budget Referendum – 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at YHS Gymnasium

To read more about the proposed Yarmouth School Department budget, please access our Finance Webpage.

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YES Reforestation Project on Arbor Day- Volunteers Needed!

Help us bring new life to the landscape at YES! This collaborative project between Yarmouth Community Services (YCS), Yarmouth Elementary School (YES), Frank Knight Foundation, Royal River Conservation Trust, Yarmouth Tree Advisory Committee (YTAC), and Yarmouth Climate Action Board (YCAB) aims to reforest 2–3 acres of land impacted by recent construction. Volunteers will help students plant native trees, perennials, and grasses to restore habitat, improve biodiversity, and support outdoor education opportunities for students. No experience necessary—just bring your energy, a willingness to get your hands dirty, and help us grow a greener future for Yarmouth!

To sign up for helping all of the YES students plant on Arbor Day- Monday, June 9th- please sign up here! Arbor Day Planting Signup

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NWEA, MAINE THROUGH YEAR (GR. 2, 3, 4, 5) & COGAT SCORES (GR. 3 ONLY)

The spring NWEA & Maine Through Year assessment will be posted on to the PowerSchool platform the week of June 9th. CoGAT scores (grade three only) will be mailed home this week with an informational letter that helps to explain the results. 

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REPORT CARDS- JUNE 9

Student report cards will be available on the PowerSchool portfolio beginning Monday, June 9th.

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YHS GRADUATION WALKTHROUGH- JUNE 5

On Thursday morning, the Yarmouth High School Class of 2025 will hold their graduation rehearsal. That morning, they will also have a “walk through the schools” in their caps and gowns. Our students will fill the halls to cheer them on as they take a trip down memory lane. We look forward to congratulating them on this special time in their lives! Graduation for the Class of 2025 is on Sunday, June 8th.

YES FIELD DAY, JUNE 6 (RAIN DATE OF JUNE 9):

YES Field Day will be held on Friday, June 6, with a rain date of Monday, June 9. Please remember to send students with water bottles and sunscreen. A huge thank you to the PTO  and Ms. Pachuta for all their hard work in organizing this fun event for our students!


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COMMUNITY MEETING: JUNE 11

Our final all-school student assembly will be that morning. At that meeting, we will recognize our fifth graders as they will be moving on to Harrison Middle School next year.

YES STEP UP DAY: JUNE 12

On Thursday, June 12, we will have our annual "YES Step Up Day".  From 9:30- 9:55 a.m., students entering grades 2, 3, 4,  and 5 in 2025-26 will spend time with their future teachers and classmates. At 2:00 p.m. that afternoon, our rising 6th graders will visit Harrison Middle School to meet their teachers. On that day, all students will go home with information letters for families on their classroom placement for next year. 

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LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: JUNE 13

Our last day of school is Friday, June 13. Please remember that this is a half day of school for students. Classes will be dismissed at 12:10 pm, and bagged lunches will be available.  

YES SUMMER READING AND MATH LETTERS

As summer approaches, we are reminded that it is still important to keep our YES students engaged in some reading and math over the months that school is not in session. 

In addition to the public library programming, here are some other good tips to keep your children engaged in reading this summer.  Please review the YES Summer Reading Letter 

For some strategies to keep students engaged in math this summer, you can find some resources here: YES Summer Math Letter.

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MOVING FROM YARMOUTH?

Students who are moving out of Yarmouth will be provided with a fun activity during the step-up time.  If you know that you will be moving out of the Yarmouth School District and your child will not be attending YES during the 2025-26 school year, please stop by the office or give us a call to share your plans so we can support their transition to a new school.

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LOST & FOUND

 One last call for the Lost & Found! There are still several items left and any unclaimed clothing will be donated at the end of the school year.

Yarmouth Pre-K- 5 Parent Organization

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Yarmouth PTO News

YES FIELD DAY 2025!

We're looking forward to Field Day on Friday, June 6th!

Don't forget to send your kids to school wearing sunscreen and with their water bottles. It's going to be a great day!

Parent volunteers: please keep an eye out for an email with details. Thank you for your help!

PLEASE WELCOME YOUR 2025-2026 PTO BOARD

President: Allison Cole

Vice President: Katie Eichleay

Treasurer: Christina Copsey

Secretary: Jenny James

Rowe Rep: Annie Bernhard

YES Rep: Dearbhla Solinger

HMS Rep: Felicity Ryan

Digital Coordinator: Alyssa Planeta

Parent Education Coordinator: Damaris Drummond

Volunteer Coordinator: Emily Bates

Would you like to get involved with the PTO next year? We're still seeking committee chairs, committee members, and other volunteers! If you've recently filled out or updated your volunteer form, please keep an eye out in the next few weeks as we reach out about specific opportunities that match your interests. 

If we haven't yet heard from you and you're interested in any capacity, from leadership roles to one-time event volunteering, please fill out this form and we will be in touch. We hope you'll join us!

And, as always, if you have further questions about PTO involvement, please don't hesitate to reach out directly at yarmouthpto04096@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

JOIN US AT THE JUNE PTO MEETING

Our final meeting of the year will be held on Thursday, June 5th at 4 pm in the YES library. All are welcome and encouraged to attend! 

WANT TO KEEP IN TOUCH?

Click here, scroll down to “Join Our Email List" on the right hand side, fill out your information, and never miss a piece of PTO news!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Wishing all our students and families a safe, fun-filled summer! We look forward to reconnecting at the "Meet and Greets" in August. The first day of the 2025–26 school year is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2. You can find the full school calendar on the district website.

Stay tuned over the summer for details about Meet and Greet times and Open House dates. Until then, may you enjoy all the beauty and adventure a Maine summer has to offer.

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