A Message from Mrs. Hennessey
Happy New Year! We are back in full swing here at Memorial School and we are so pleased to be reunited with our students after the winter break. This month, we will take part in NWEA assessments, and get back in the swing of our schedule. Next month, we will embark on our annual Kindness Challenge during the week of February 10th.
As always, thank you for partnering with us each day! We so appreciate your ongoing support. Please feel free to contact me directly at ahennessey@sad15.org or by phone at 926-4322.
Kindness Challenge
During the week of February 10th, Memorial School will take part in our ninth annual Great Kindness Challenge! We are very excited to be one of many schools across the country taking part in these activities.
Activities will include:
- An all-school kick-off in Guidance the week before the challenge.
- Students are invited to wear mismatched socks or shoes on Monday, February 10th to kick off this event!
- Distribution of a checklist with possible Kindness Challenges that students can perform during the week.
- Quotes about kindness on the morning announcements all week.
- A classroom Kindness Challenge keeping track of our kind acts for the week.
- A Spirit Day on Wednesday, February 12th: Dreaming of Kindness PJ Day!
- A Spirit Day on Friday, February 14th: Wear Red!
We are thrilled to spread a little extra kindness at Memorial School!
Valentine’s Day Considerations
Next month, Memorial School classrooms may be hosting opportunities where Valentines will be exchanged.
A note about Valentines: We ask that families send in Valentine’s Day cards (only) or Valentine’s Day cards with trinkets (pencils, stickers, etc.) instead of candy/food treats. No homemade food items will be able to be distributed. Any store-bought food items that are attached to treats will be sent home with students to be enjoyed at home (and with their guardians’ permission).
Participating in any Valentine’s Exchange is optional. Please let your child’s teacher know if you prefer for him/her not to bring in or collect Valentines. The classroom teachers will be in touch with details about classroom exchanges and activities and will provide a list of students if an exchange will be taking place.
2025–2026 Kindergarten Registration & Screening
On approximately January 15th, we will begin registering students for the kindergarten class of 2025-2026! Parents of students who will be five on or before October 15, 2025, please visit the Memorial School webpage and click the link to register your child for kindergarten. We can’t wait to welcome our incoming students into our Memorial community!
More information to come on the K Screening Process. If you have any questions about the registration or screening process, please contact Amanda Hennessey at 926-4322 or ahennessey@sad15.org.
Counselor’s Corner with Ms. Michelle
Happy 2025!! In Guidance classes, we will begin the new year discussing goals for ourselves in the new year. Then we will move on to learning about “Needs versus Wants”. We will wrap up the month by learning how our attitude can affect everyone around us. You can contact me at mgilbert@sad15.org or 926-4322.
Calling All Pet Photographs!
We are setting up a special bulletin board in the Memorial hallway with photos of our favorite pets! Students and family members are welcome to be in the photo as well! If your child would like us to post a photo of his/her pet(s), please email one to Miss Lisa at lhaughey@sad15.org. You can also send in a printed photograph. Students can drop printed photos in the office. (However, we suggest sending a copy of the photo as they are posted in a high-traffic area.) We can’t wait to see photos of New Gloucester’s most cute & cuddly pets!
Impact of Reading Together at Home
As we continue to foster a love of learning in our classrooms, we want to note the incredible impact that reading together at home can have on your child’s development.
Reading aloud with your child is one of the most powerful ways to support their literacy skills, build their vocabulary, and spark their imagination. When you read together, you’re not just sharing a story, you’re helping your child develop essential skills that will support their academic success and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Here are just a few reasons why reading at home is so important:
- Builds Vocabulary: Hearing new words and phrases helps children develop a rich vocabulary, which is essential for reading comprehension and communication.
- Encourages Imagination and Creativity: Stories open the door to new worlds, helping children think creatively and explore different perspectives.
- Strengthens Emotional and Social Skills: Through stories, children learn about emotions, relationships, and the world around them, which helps them understand themselves and others better.
- Improves Focus and Concentration: The time spent sitting and listening to a book helps develop important listening skills, attention span, and patience.
- Fosters a Bonding Experience: Reading together is a special time for you and your child to connect, share ideas, and discuss the story.
We encourage you to make reading a daily habit, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. Choose books that interest your child and explore different genres. Ask questions about the story to engage their thinking, and most importantly, have fun together!
If you would like book recommendations, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher. Thank you for all you do to encourage reading at home!
Winter Gear
Winter weather is here! Students are reminded to bring their boots, snow pants, hats, gloves, and warm jackets to school. Students will need snow pants and boots to fully enjoy the playground when there is snow on the ground. It is really helpful if students’ initials/names are written into snow gear as some items are similar and easily confused. Thank you for your assistance in keeping kids geared up for winter fun!
Memorial School Inclement Weather Plans
MSAD 15 will implement one of the several options when the forecast includes the potential for inclement weather. Those options include a two-hour delay, a remote school day, or the possibility of a complete cancellation with no school and no remote learning.
Two-Hour Delay: The day will begin two hours later than normal. Buses will pick up students two hours later than normal. Parent drop-off will begin at 10:40 AM. Breakfast will not be served.
School Cancelation: No school, no remote learning. This day will be made up at the end of the school year. This is done by adding days after the projected last day of school on the MSAD 15 calendar.
Remote Learning Day: When the forecast is worrisome, Memorial School may be sending home our district-issued iPads in anticipation of poor travel conditions and the potential of a remote school day. When devices are sent home, we will communicate this to you via email and/or Seesaw message. The iPads should stay in backpacks at home until a remote school day is officially called. If there is no remote school day, please keep the iPad, sleeve, charger, and headphones in the backpack ready to come right back to school that day.
On a remote learning day, students will follow the schedule below. Attendance is taken on a remote learning day. Students who do not attend live sessions or complete class assignments will be marked absent. If your child is sick, unable to participate, or has no internet access, please notify the main office and your child’s classroom teacher.
Should we implement a remote day we would use the following schedule:
K-2 Remote Day Plan
9:00-9:45: Live Zoom – Morning Meeting & Literacy (whole group)
9:45-10:00: Break
10:00-10:30: Live Zoom – Math (whole group)
10:30-12:00: Asynchronous work on Seesaw (including Specials) and/or small group/individual sessions with the classroom teacher, Response-To-Intervention staff, or Special Ed services
12:00 – 12:30: Lunch
12:30-2:00: As needed, small group/individual sessions with RTI or Special Education
Zoom links and assignments will be shared via Seesaw. You can also expect specific communication from Mrs. Hennessey and your child’s classroom teacher should we need to implement remote learning for any reason.
Students who participate in self-contained learning programs such as SLC or Gateway will receive information from the case manager and/or from the educational technicians who work with your child(ren).
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher. You may also call the main office at 926-4322 or reach Principal Amanda Hennessey directly by email at ahennessey@sad15.org.
Updated January 9, 2025