Happy October!

It’s hard to believe we are already heading into October! The first few weeks of school have been filled with energy, learning, and lots of opportunities for students to settle into new routines and reconnect with friends and teachers. We have been so pleased with how our students have embraced the start of the year, and we hope they are coming home with stories to share, new things to talk about, and growing excitement for all that is ahead.

At this point in the year, classroom routines, schedules, and expectations should be becoming more familiar. If your child is still finding the transition challenging, feeling anxious, or having difficulty settling into the school year, please reach out to their teacher or one of our school counselors. We are always happy to partner with you and want every child to feel comfortable, connected, and ready to learn.

October brings some of our favorite things about being at YES: changing leaves, cooler days, school traditions, and plenty of opportunities for students to learn and have fun together. We are looking forward to our annual Pumpkin Book Decorating activity and all the other special moments that make this time of year so much fun at school.

We are grateful for the wonderful start to the year and for the partnership and support you continue to provide. We have lots happening at YES, and we’re excited to share some updates, celebrations, and highlights from the weeks ahead.

Best,

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

We had our first all-school Community Meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 23rd! The school gathered to practice being respectful audience members and learn about the school's core value of citizenship. Special thanks to our guests, Collin Durant of the Yarmouth Bicycle Pedestrian Committee, who spoke about bike safety, and YHS students Oscar Harnett, Kavya Dearborn, and Phoebe Collins, who shared details about the high school homecoming events.

Classroom teachers will be reaching out to you in the next few weeks to schedule parent-teacher conferences for later this fall. We plan for all conferences to be in-person, but you can communicate with your child’s teacher if you prefer to meet virtually.

This is an opportunity for you to get an update as to how your child is progressing academically and as a member of the classroom and school community. It is also a time to learn how your child can grow as a learner and to understand ways you can support that process.

Please note that Wednesday, October 28th, is a half day of school with a 12:10 pm dismissal. Some parent-teacher conferences will be held that afternoon, per the sign-up schedule your child's teacher will share.

Thursday, October 1: School Picture Day

Wednesday, October 7: Walking School Bus Day & Yarmouth Fire Station Open House (Rain Date: October 8)

Friday, October 9: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, STAFF IN-SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY

Monday, October 12: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS- INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

Thursday, October 15: PTO Meeting - YES Library 4 pm

Monday, October 19: National School Bus Safety Week

Friday, October 23 - Friday. October 30: YES Book Fair 

Wednesday, October 28: Half Day of School 12:10 Dismissal

October 7th ~ Walking School Bus for Rowe & YES

Hello Rowe and YES Families,

October 7th is International Walk and Roll to School Day, and to celebrate in Yarmouth, we will be having a Walking School Bus. We will assemble at the Royal River Park parking lot (across the street from the Historical Society) at 8:00, departing at 8:10. We will then walk along the sidewalks up Elm Street to the intersection with Main Street. At Main Street, our Rowe walkers will turn left to continue down Main Street to the walking path across from Hancock Lumber. Our YES walkers will follow the crossing guard's instructions across Main Street to continue up West Elm Street to the walkers' path.

Please feel free to join up with us anywhere along these routes!

Parents and siblings are encouraged to attend. Please ensure that your child has a plan to get home independently, as there will be no Walking School Bus in the afternoon; however, regular bus lines will run in the morning and afternoon. This is a walking school bus, please no wheels.

We look forward to seeing you!

Rowe and YES Walking School Bus, Wednesday, October 7th, beginning at Royal River Park at 8:00 AM.

Thank you to Mr. Abbott for organizing this annual fall event!

News from the Yarmouth PTO

Welcome (back), YES families! The school year is in full swing and there's lots coming up:

Parent Education Event

Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Prevention Presentation with guest Katie Greer - Co-Presented with the Falmouth PTO

Oct 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Falmouth High School Auditorium, 74 Woodville Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105, USA

RSVP required

October PTO Meeting

Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 4pm in the YES library - All are welcome and we'd love to see you there! We anticipate being able to provide a babysitter and will confirm as the date gets closer.

Community Event: Trunk or Treat

Trunk or Treat is hosted annually by Yarmouth Community Services. The PTO will be hosting a trunk and we hope you'll stop by!

Thursday, October 29, 2026 at Town Hall / Memorial Green in Yarmouth

Register here through YCS. Spots are limited and tend to fill, so don't delay!

Minted Fundraiser (and Discount!)

Thinking ahead to holiday cards? When you order using code FUNDRAISEYARMOUTH at checkout, you’ll receive 20% off your purchase, and Minted will donate 10% of every eligible purchase back to the Yarmouth PTO— a win-win!