Fun Run!

I'd like to introduce our newest staff member. This week, we were lucky to have Caitlyn Lafleche join our team as a paraprofessional. She mostly works in 5th and 6th grades but we all know our paraprofessionals jump in to help everywhere so you may hear her name. This means we are nearly fully staffed! We are, however, still looking for help in the kitchen. We have a great team down there in a newly updated kitchen. If you'd like to learn more about joining us, please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or even better, apply here. 

As we look ahead to next week I wanted to remind everyone that Wednesday is a half day with dismissal occurring at 11:55. Please make sure to update your School Dismissal Manager if your child's dismissal will be different on that day. If your child will be taking a different bus or getting off at a different stop, please send them in with a paper note as well to give to the driver. 

This is followed by our Open House on Thursday evening. This year, we are adjusting this from our typical Curriculum Night presentation to a more organic Open House. To this end, teachers may provide you a handout or information about the curriculum, but our goal is really to give families a chance to meet their teachers and see the spaces their children spend many of their waking hours. Children are welcome to attend. However, of note is our parking situation and the need to rotate grade levels in and out to accommodate the small parking lots and narrow hallways. Explore the building but don't forget to stop by our library! Below you will find a schedule of grade availability. 
Also, the 7th and 8th grades will follow a slightly different plan, beginning in the cafeteria at 6:30 for a short group presentation. Specific expectations around grading and make-up work etc. will be shared at this time or in an accompanying handout.  Afterward, teachers will return to their classrooms, and families are encouraged to get around and see all the spaces in a more natural open house-type process. Activities will be varied in each room and this is an opportunity to ask questions of teachers. This is not, however, an opportunity for parent-teacher conferences. We want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to meet the teachers and see the spaces where their students spend their days. If you would like to have conversations around concerns for your specific child we are happy to schedule a time to meet where there will be less interruption and more privacy for your student. 
  • K/3 - 5:00-6:00
  • 1st/2nd/6th - 5:30-6:30
  • 4th/5th - 6:00-7:00
  • 7th/8th - 6:30-7:30
  • Specials/Special Education 5:45-6:45

In other big news this week, we are fortunate to be joined by two members of the Princeton Police Department this week. Officer Doyle has completed School Resource Officer training and the police department and district have entered into an agreement to have her serve as our TPS SRO. I had the opportunity to work with her last year and she is a wonderful addition. I love that we have a collaborative relationship with the department. Please know, she is not here to arrest or interrogate students. She's here to build relationships, help students understand the police are here to help and offer support around safety. If this wasn't good enough, Officer Doyle has a new partner your child may have come home talking about. Officer Cruiser is the most adorable chocolate lab comfort dog I have ever seen. He has yet to meet Lady but the building is absolutely buzzing about these two. 

For students in grades 3 through 8, the district will be completing the Panorama survey to determine how to best support our students emotionally. A letter explaining more about it can be found here. After learning about this, if for any reason you would not like your student(s) to participate, you can opt-out through the embedded link. This should be completed by Friday, September 29, 2023 at 5:00. 

We ended the week with some epic fun and color runs! The kids did a great job and had a blast. Thank you to the PTA and the volunteers who made this happen. Also, thank you to everyone who contributed to the cause. I'm currently looking and scheduling the pajama day and duct taping event! Stay tuned! 

Meanwhile, cross-country season is in full swing! They opened up the season with limited practice but participated in the Wachusett Invitational. TPS continues to be a running powerhouse with the boys capturing first place and the girls only missing it by one point. This was without all of our runners so we put the district on notice. I can't wait for the States. They continued their run (pun intended) with a dominant showing on Wednesday against Paxton. As I send this they are running against Holy Family. I'm proud of our student-athletes and their commitment to the sport. Thanks, too, to Coach! 

The Week Ahead: 
  • Monday (9/25) B Day
  • Tuesday (9/26) C Day
    • 3rd-grade field trip
    • Track Meet at Mountview
  • Wednesday (9/27) D Day
    • Half Day for PD (11:55 Dismissal)
  • Thursday (9/28) A Day
    • Open House
  • Friday (9/29) B Day
    • Grades 7 and 8 Field Trip
    • Kindergarten Nature Hike

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