From the Principals

Dear YES Families,

Despite the winter weather making a late comeback, spring is officially here and excitement is in the air at Yarmouth Elementary School as we begin the last few months of the school year!

It continues to be a wonderful year of learning, growth, and fun at YES. March was a busy parent-teacher conference month and we thank you for your partnership. As always, we greatly appreciate the combined efforts of all as we support our students' success.

Best,

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

April 2024 News at YES

April Autism Acceptance Month

In April, the YES community is proud to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. Here in the United States, more than 5.4 million adults are autistic, and 1 in every 44 children has been diagnosed with autism.

This month we celebrate the achievements of neurodiverse people everywhere and champion the equal rights and dignity of all those living on the autism spectrum.

Kindness Week April 1-5

From April 1-5, YES will celebrate our annual "Kindness Week". Our kindness initiative for this year is our World of Change fundraiser. We will finish our fundraiser on April 10.

Each day of the week will also feature a "Kindness Challenge" issued at announcements each morning. They include:

Monday: BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Tuesday: BE KIND TO FAMILY MEMBERS
Wednesday: BE KIND TO CLASSMATES
Thursday: BE KIND TO FRIENDS
Friday: BE KIND TO NEIGHBORS

On Thursday, April 11th World of Change will bring their change truck to YES, and classroom representatives will help load all of the change we have raised into the truck. When we return from April break we will learn how much money our school has raised for the Time to Compete foundation.

Friday, April 5th Yarmouth's Got Talent 2024

We look forward to seeing students' talents showcased in the “Yarmouth’s Got Talent” event this year on Friday, April 5 at 7:00 pm. Tryouts at YES will be held on Monday, April 1 after school in the Music wing.

There are several YES students who are submitting entries for this annual tradition. Whether they are selected for the show or not, we are so proud of our students for putting themselves out there to share their talent, creativity, and imagination.

Our hope is that all our students feel safe taking risks and trying new things in a culture of community encouragement and support.

Congratulations to our 5th Grade Boys Hockey Players!

At Harrison Middle School, beginning in the fifth grade YES boys can participate on the middle school boys hockey team. There are several fifth-grade boys who played on the team that won this year's Southern Maine Middle School Ice Hockey Championship. Congratulations to the team!

Solar Eclipse: Early Release on April 8 at 2:00 pm

A reminder that all Yarmouth schools will be having an early release on Monday, April 8th. The full eclipse occurs at our usual dismissal time at YES and that presents some potential safety challenges for eye safety. We will be dismissing students at 2:00 pm that day so students have transition time to be in a safe place during the time period that looking directly at at the sun without safety glasses is the most dangerous.

On that day, thanks to the support of the Yarmouth Education Foundation, we will be providing safety glasses for all students . We will also have students engaged in learning experiences about the eclipse. The goal is to take advantage of this great learning opportunity while also taking these steps to make sure our students are safe.

If you have any questions about the day please let us know.

Texting/Communication Reminders

Please remember that if your child brings a phone or wears a smartwatch they should not be using it either for phoning or texting during the day. We have had a number of situations where parents are texting students during the day. Please do not do that as it is disruptive to the instructional day. If you need to get a message to your child between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm please contact the main office and we will make sure that the message is delivered. We appreciate your support with this.

Kids Heart Challenge April 29- May 6

At YES we will be celebrating our annual Kids Heart Challenge sponsored by the American Heart Association. The purpose of this activity is to focus on health and to think of others who need support. Students will engage in a variety of fitness challenges and have the opportunity to dedicate their efforts by making an optional money donation to the American Heart Association. All students will receive a small gift for participating. This year both SEL and music classes are teaming up to provide a fun learning opportunity for our students!

YES Bike Train on May 10th

Dear YES Families,

May is National Bike Month! National Bike to Work Week is May 13th-19th, and before that happens, Friday, May 10th is the YES Walk and Bike to School Day. This day is a great opportunity for those who might be thinking about walking or biking to school to try it out with support, while also celebrating the environmental and health benefits of walking and biking. Yarmouth's extensive network of sidewalks and paths provides safe routes for people of all ages to walk or bike.

On that day, we will be having our Eighth Annual Bike Train to YES. What is a Bike Train? A Bike Train is a group of students and adults all riding to YES together from a few meeting spots around Yarmouth. We aren't able to meet everywhere in Yarmouth, so if your child would like to join us please find the most convenient meeting spot, then click on your spot to see what time we will be there. We would love to have you join us as an adult volunteer.

Please make sure all riders come wearing helmets for safety! (This includes adults.)

We will not be riding home together, please make your own plans for after school. Hope to see you there!

List of Meeting Spots and Departure Times:
7:45 AM - Parking Lot of baseline ES (Route 88 & Bayview)
8:00AM - Amvets Parking Lot
8:15 AM - Royal River Park Parking Lot
8:30 AM - Arrive at YES

The Yarmouth Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee has provided the following tips and resources for biking and walking to school:

Go in groups. It's easier, safer, and more fun to ride or walk to school in a group. As noted, you may consider organizing a regular Bike Train with other families in your neighborhood.
Plan your routes. Stick to sidewalks, quiet streets, and pathways whenever possible even if it adds a couple of extra minutes.
Be safe! If you are driving always yield for children in the crosswalk, slow down, and give people on bikes plenty of space. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has some great educational materials on bike safety basics. There are additional safety tips on the town's website here.

Weeks of May 6 & 13: Maine Through Year State Assessments - Grades 3, 4, & 5

The May administration of the state assessments will include Math, Reading (grades 3, 4, 5), and Science (grade 5 only). These will be administered during the weeks of May 6 and 13. Please keep these upcoming testing weeks in mind to avoid any scheduling conflicts.

Young Authors Camp

Do you have a budding writer who cannot seem to put the pen down? Well, this camp is a perfect fit!

Young Author Camps are an incredible opportunity for young writers. Dynamic, engaging writing experiences, facilitated by experienced, passionate teachers. Students explore a wide array of genres and develop their skills through playful exploration, guided practice, and even some art to enhance the writing experience. Our Young Author Camps provide students a place to write in a relaxed, comfortable, and creative environment where they can bring their love of writing to life.

Yarmouth's YAC is in its 11th year. 5 hours a day for 5 days. Cost $222 (scholarships will be considered).

Registration for Yarmouth camp is OPEN. There is an additional camp in Freeport in mid-July. Here are the details:

YARMOUTH YOUNG AUTHORS CAMP (6/17-6/21/2024) – current 4th-8th graders at YHS

Information and non-electronic registration form
Online Registration Link

FREEPORT YOUNG AUTHORS CAMP (7/15-7/19/2024) – current 3rd-7th graders at Wolfe's Neck Center

Information and non-electronic registration form Online Registration Link

Pre-K-5 Parent Teacher Organization

YES Field Day:

Save the Date! YES Field Day is on Friday, June 7. We’ll need parent volunteers to make this awesome day a success! Keep an eye out for more details in next month’s newsletter.

PTO Bike Swap and Bike Fair:

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Yarmouth PTO Bike Swap & Family Bike Fair! The PTO is gearing up for our annual used bike sale, with an expanded outdoor family event focused on bike safety education from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.

Sale drop off Friday, May 3rd, 5:30-8 pm, Rowe School

Event Saturday, May 4th, 9 am- 12 pm, Rowe School

(Rain date Sunday, May 5th)

Upgrade your ride! Sell your old one to its next owner! Show your skills on a closed course in a Bike Rodeo! Learn basic home bike repair! Try your hand at tool identification! Pick up some new safety gear! Includes a wheeled parade for our youngest riders, and plenty of family fun.

Funds collected by the PTO help cover the cost of enrichment activities for all students grades preK-8.

PTO Silver Graphics Fundraiser

Order beautiful keepsakes personalized with your child's artwork! Place your order by 4/10

Go to: https://www.silvergraphics.com/shop/

Enter Access Code: YS24Art

After you enter the Access Code, you’ll be able upload additional art also. All orders will benefit our school! 33% of proceeds to PTO!

Contact Tiffany Marianski at tiffanymarianski@gmail.com with questions!

Spring Break Reminder

Please remember that the last day of school before vacation is scheduled to be Thursday, April 11. Spring vacation begins on Friday, April 12 and students will return to school on Monday, April 22. Enjoy the break!

Yarmouth Elementary School April 2024 Newsletter