Principal Ponderings Graphic

Principal Ponderings 6/18/2023

Cody Schoolcraft

June 19, 2023

Happy Last Week of School!

While I promise to be in touch with important updates over the summer, this will be my last Weekly Principal Ponderings for a while. I imagine this will be a welcome break for many :). I would love to hear folks' thoughts on preference for this "weekly letter" supplemented by the website calendar and events updates vs. a more comprehensive, one-stop shopping, weekly newsletter-style communication (like we did last year.) Please send me an email with "School Communications Feedback" in the subject line and let me know your preference if you are so inclined.

Well, the rain held off just long enough to enjoy our first-ever PES graduation under the tent on our own campus. By all counts, it went pretty well! My favorite part was watching the graduates run out to the soccer pitch one last time following the ceremony - shooting on goal in their graduation finery! I would like to give a special shout-out to Emily Crouse, Jennifer Henderson, Candace Lord, and Heather Perry. As is our tradition, the 7th-grade class provided snacks for the post-graduation reception. These four women coordinated the efforts and they set the bar high!

Please be reminded that Students in Grades 3 to 8 are invited to participate in the Student Voice Survey.  If you turned in the permission form for your child(ren), we emailed a link to the survey last week. They can access it through their school email or as follows:

Student Voice Grades 3-5 Survey 

Student Voice Grades 6-12 Survey 

In addition, if you have not yet participated and still wish to do so, please complete the survey no later than Wednesday, June 21st. 

Parent Voice Survey 

Here’s what you need to know as we wind down to the last day of school on the first official day of summer  

 

MONDAY, JUNE 19 (Juneteenth)

  • 5th through 8th Grade Color Challenge - Students will engage in teambuilding activities as they prepare to “step up” as 6th through 8th graders next year. 
  • 11:45 am - Kindergarten BBQ
  • 1 pm to 2:30 pm - Grades 1 to 4 Spelling Bee - The link will be emailed tomorrow, before the event.

TUESDAY, JUNE 20

  • STEP UP DAY - 8:30 am to 9:30 am (Please note, schedules for 6th to 8th graders will be made available by August 1st) During Step Up Day, rising 6th graders meet with a panel of students and teachers to learn what to expect in 6th grade.
  • Kindergarten Graduation - 9:30 am
  • 6 to 8 Color Challenge Activities Day 2 - 6th to 8th graders will wear their “team colors” that are provided on Monday.
  • Safety Committee Meeting - OFFSITE EVAC DEBRIEF - 3:15 to 4:15 pm

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21st - EARLY RELEASE 

  • K to 5 Field Day
  • 6 to 8 Color Challenge - Day 3
  • Yearbooks distributed, final locker and desk cleanout as needed.
  • 12:50 Early Release

THURSDAY, JUNE 21 - You might be gone, but we will still be here 🙂

  • Staff will participate in a full-day training with UNH’s Browne Center. Our goal is to reflect on how things went this year (celebrating the good an acknowledging that which can be improved) and begin laying the foundation for a successful start of the 23/24 school year.
  • DEI Committee Meeting - 6 pm to 7:30 pm

FRIDAY, JUNE 22 - Teams will be preparing for the next school year:

  • The K to 4 team will fine-tune the schedule to maximize collaboration between teachers and opportunities for students to engage in flexible groupings so they are challenged at their ability level. Their work designing and preparing for instruction in a flexible grouping model will continue throughout the summer. 
  • 5 to 8 teachers and staff will deepen their commitment to creating a culture of respect and responsibility in the Upper Grades through restorative discipline practices and protocols for navigating “difficult conversations.”
  • Unified Arts teachers will be working on collaborative curriculum planning to make Unified Arts offerings even more engaging and meaningful to our 5th through 8th-grade students. We are especially excited to welcome our new Media Library Specialist, Angela Smith, and our new P.E. Health Teacher, Jenny Smith to this work on Friday.

Speaking of Hiring, here’s the final update:

  • Katie Lowery has accepted the Executive Assistant position. She comes to us with 16 years of front office experience at Hanover High School and is going to jump right into her new role this week by participating on the School Secretary Hiring Committee. 
  • Viki Bridge has signed on as a paraprofessional for the 23/24 school year. Michael Crane is off to graduate school in Boston (Berkley School of Music!) We are so thankful she will be sharing her reading instructions skills and deep love of reading with the rising 2nd-grade class. 
  • Jenny Smith joins us from Newport Middle School. Prior to that, she was in the corporate world, where she designed and implemented employee wellness programs. She grew up here in the Upper Valley and is excited to teach Physical Education and Health to PES students. 
  • We also have a signed contract for the elementary school opening. Annemarie Stout has taught many different elementary grade levels and has done intervention work over her many years in education. She lives here in Plainfield and has a passion for outdoor and project-based education. She will be the K to 4 Intervention Teacher next year. 
  • Jess Kondratowicz will take over for Ms. Evans on the 3/4 Team. Prior to joining PES, Jess taught for a number of years in a multi-grade classroom.  We so appreciate her flexibility to meet the needs of PES students during the 23/24 school year.
  • Heather Ball is staying with the district as a 1/2-time paraprofessional position supporting Plainfield student(s) who qualify for services in preschool.

As previously reported, we are also welcoming the following:

  • Media Library Specialist (stepping in for Viki Bridge as Viki retires after 6 years at PES) - Angela Smith, currently a K to 8 media library specialist in Bethel, VT. Angela is passionate about expanding literacy opportunities for students through collaboration with teachers, making the library a place students want to be, and partnering with community, government, and grant funding opportunities to expand programming and get books into students’ hands. Angela is a leader in her current district, serving as the district’s Equity Coordinator and leading and participating in Professional Learning Circles to improve learning outcomes for students. We are thrilled to welcome Angela Smith to PES! 
  • Technology Coordinator (a new position shared with Cornish) - Corey Canfield, joining us with many years of industry and school-based experience. Corey is currently working for the Woodstock, VT school district.
  • Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (a new position shared with Cornish and Grantham) - Christine Downing joins us with decades of experience in teaching, curriculum design, administration, and professional development. Her passion is designing highly personalized instruction to help meet the diverse needs of all learners.

This leaves us with two openings as follows:

  • One full-time special education paraprofessional - this position is posted.
  • One full-time (205 days) Administrative Assistant in the office - we have several highly qualified applicants for the position and are conducting interviews this week. 

Looking ahead to summer?

Check out the attached fliers for upcoming events and opportunities including “A Night in the Stacks” on Friday, June 23rd at the Meriden Library, basketball clinics throughout the summer at Cory Taber Park, and the Claremont Food Pantry on Thursday, June 22. 

LOST & FOUND - And for the last time this year 🙂 - Please remind your child(ren) to check Lost & Found - now available on tables in the lobby - and clean out their lockers and desks. Teachers will be helping with this throughout the next week and a half as well. Please don’t forget you can view our Lost and Found closet online. The lost and found website is updated weekly. Janna will be bringing unclaimed items to Listen.

Have a great evening…thank goodness it’s drying out a bit!

Audra