From the Principal's Desk
We have had a great transition back to school! Staff have been working hard to establish routines and positive expectations. Students are responding with safe, respectful, and responsible behavior. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts!
Arrival & Dismissal: As a reminder, when dropping off or picking up your child, please use the inner visitors’ loop. The loop closest to the building is reserved for our buses, emergency personnel and vendor deliveries only. Supervision begins on the playground at 8:20am. Parent Pickups, Walkers and Bikers are dismissed first at 3:20pm. For safety, please remind your child to use sidewalks and crosswalks.
Online Student Information Forms: If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to verify/update your online student information forms. Having up-to-date information for you and your emergency contacts is of the utmost importance. Instructions are provided below. Thank you in advance for prioritizing this task!
Parent Information Night: We are excited to welcome you to our Parent Information Night on Tuesday, September 9th. You are invited to join me in the gym at 5:30pm for some whole school information. Teachers will be presenting information in their classroom beginning at 6:00pm.
Please know that we are always open to communication that will enhance your child’s educational experience with us and welcome your questions and feedback at any time.
Sincerely, Carol MacArthur
Principal, Grade 4-5
Office Reminders
- Student arrival begins at 8:20 AM.
- School begins at 8:50 AM. If your child arrives after that time, they are tardy and need to check-in at the office before going to the classroom.
- You can report absences, communicate transportation plans or make general inquiries by calling the main office at 829-4815 or emailing [email protected]
We greatly appreciate your attention to these procedures, as they help to ensure that our routines run smoothly and efficiently.
Online Student Information Forms
It’s time for your annual review of your child’s student information forms in Powerschool to ensure that we have updated contact and health information! For current MSAD #51 students, much of the information will be pre-populated to help you complete the forms more quickly. We recommend using a computer for the best experience, as phone screens may be too small to view all the details. Please verify and/or update the information as soon as possible.
To complete the forms:
Log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Click on the “Forms” icon on the left.
Click on the Enrollment tab and go to the “Returning Student” forms.
Additional information and instructions can be found here.
If you have any questions or difficulties logging into your account, please contact the main office at [email protected] or 829-4815.
Attendance Matters!
Did you know September is Attendance Awareness Month?
This is a nationwide event recognizing the connection between school attendance and academic achievement.
The evidence is clear. Good attendance is key to keeping students on track academically and engaging them in all aspects of school life. This is true for children of any age and every grade.
It is understood that some absences are unavoidable and students must stay home when they are unwell. The most important message to our students is that even occasional absences matter. Before you know it, just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10% of the school year. Too many absences, either partial days or full days, represent lost learning time in the classroom.
We ask that families avoid extended vacations that require students to miss school. Kindly try to line up vacations with the school’s schedule. This would apply for medical appointments as well.
We are asking for your support in helping your child get to school on time every day this year. Your child needs to be in school and engaged in learning to reach his or her full potential. We realize that every family faces challenges. Please let us know how we can best support you and your child so he/she can show up for school on time every day.
When your child is not at school, we notice because we care! Thank you for all you do to support your child’s school success and well-being, as well as our school.
For more information on the Count ME In! project, visit their website at http://countmeinmaine.org. 
Community Corner
Let's Ease Back-to-School
From PBS Kids for Parents: Consistent routines [at home] provide comfort and a sense of safety to young children. Following a schedule each day makes children feel safer and happier, which often leads to better behavior and cooperation. When they know what to expect, and what’s expected of them, kids feel more comfortable and confident about what lies ahead.
Here is a link to a short and sweet article from the Harvard School of Education on three tips for a successful back-to-school transition.
Welcome back to school. We're delighted to have your children here with us.
Please reach out if we can assist, or brainstorm, or just listen.
Katie Campbell, School Social Worker
Ali Waterhouse, School Counselor
Amy Vincent-Cross, School Social Worker
A Look Into Literacy
We are excited to welcome everyone back for a new school year! This summer provided wonderful weather, and we hope everyone enjoyed it. As we return to school, we are prepared for an incredible year ahead.
This year is particularly exciting as Pre-K through 5th grade will implement a new literacy curriculum: Amplify CKLA. This comprehensive language arts curriculum is grounded in the Science of Reading and integrates explicit foundational skills instruction—such as phonics and decoding—with a rich, knowledge-based curriculum. In grades 4 and 5, the program features an integrated approach, where skills and knowledge-building are seamlessly woven together. Students will engage with complex literary and informational texts to enhance comprehension and develop a broad background in subjects like history, science, and the arts.
Grade 4 will focus on Unit 1 this month, titled My Story, My Voice: Personal Narratives. This unit explores the genre of personal narratives, which are nonfiction works written by a first-person narrator who has experienced the events described. Students will read five personal narratives, identify genre elements, learn about literary devices used in these narratives, and work on understanding cause and effect. They will revise and publish their own narratives using rubrics, checklists, and peer feedback. Additionally, students will learn to identify and apply punctuation in dialogue and will acquire key vocabulary.
Grade 5 will also be engaged in Unit 1 this month, titled In My Own Words: Personal Narratives, which similarly examines the genre of personal narratives. Students will read five personal narratives and identify their elements. Frequent writing opportunities will allow students to apply these elements as they craft their own personal narratives. They will begin to identify and correctly use literary devices such as personification, point of view, similes, and metaphors in their writing. Additionally, students will learn the "Think as You Read" strategy to deepen their understanding of the texts.
We look forward to a productive and inspiring year ahead!
Check out what is going on at Prince Memorial Library:
Janet Giguere, Literacy Specialist
Math Matters!
Welcome to a Year of Math Growth! 🍎
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We are so excited about a year of exceptional math learning. During the first few weeks, we'll focus on building a community of mathematicians that promotes a growth mindset and establishes group norms.
In a growth mindset, we see ourselves as capable of growth and development. We believe that with effort, we can build any skill, which helps foster a joy for learning and excitement around new challenges. We see the brain as a muscle; the more effort we put in, the stronger it becomes.
Helping With Math At Home
As we work on building a growth mindset in the classroom, you can reinforce these ideas and support your child's math learning at home. Here are some strategies you can try:
Ask your child to be the teacher. Have them teach you the day's lesson using problems from the homework.
Encourage thinking by asking questions. Instead of giving answers when your child gets stuck, try asking questions like, "Have you seen problems like this before?" or "What's one idea you have for finding an answer?"
Treat mistakes as learning opportunities. If your child gets an answer wrong, ask them to explain how they arrived at it. Acknowledge and praise their correct thinking, then gently point out where the error occurred. After they understand their mistake, have them try a similar problem.
By encouraging effort, embracing mistakes, and asking guiding questions, you can help your child become a confident, successful mathematician.
Shannon Peterson, Math Specialist
Library News
The library has been hoppin' this week as 4th graders are introduced to their new space & 5th graders are welcomed back. During Library class, students had a chance to browse & check out books. Some students were reminded they still have materials checked out from last year (or before). Efforts in locating & returning materials ASAP are appreciated - even items from MIW (they can be sent over).
Dorothy Hall-Riddle, 4-8 Librarian
Tips from the Teacher Technology Team
By now, you have likely seen the Technology Usage Agreement that all students and families are expected to review and sign reinforcing our expectations for safe, responsible and respectful use of personal and school-issued technology. Our staff is committed to keeping technology usage focused on student learning related to our curriculum. We are mindful of the importance of balancing screentime with other important activities and take our role in teaching students about digital citizenship very seriously. We hope you will partner with us to ensure that your child’s technology usage enriches their lives as students and citizens in this digital world.
One valuable resource that we recommend is www.commonsensemedia.org which shares reviews and advice to help families make smart choices in the digital age. It is well worth your time to explore this site.
Check This Out!
Unexpected Science Lesson
Today, while practicing for our first fire drill, Mrs. Follett's class came upon a rather large family of baby snapping turtles crossing their walking path. After a necessary photo shoot, students helped these little friends back to safety and then headed straight to the classroom to make signage so others can keep a watchful eye out for them. What a wonderfully authentic learning experience!
The Late Bus
In addition to regular, daily dismissal, a late bus is also available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for students who stay for co-curricular activities or after-school academic support. Buses pick up students from GMS at 4:15pm and transport them home. Please be aware that depending on the number of students riding the late bus on a given day, your child's arrival time at home may vary. If you have specific questions about the late bus, please feel free to call the Transportation Garage at 829-4820.
Co-Curricular Activities
Information about clubs & activities will be shared soon!
Monday:
5th grade Band Mr. Barry Saunders [email protected]
Tuesday:
Chorus - Mrs. Jennifer Caton [email protected]
Thursday:
Newspaper Club - Ms. Melissa Fiess [email protected]
5th grade Ukulele Club - Mr. Barry Saunders [email protected]
5th grade Math Team - Mrs. Laurie Poissonnier [email protected]
During the School Day:
Green Team - Mrs. Monica Moore [email protected]
Civil Rights Team - Mrs. Jane Kilbride-Dupuis [email protected], Mrs. Katie Cassessee [email protected], Ms. Molly Russell [email protected]
Stay Connected
