April 4, 2022
Dear Rowe Families,
Our Maine Needs collection was a huge success. We donated new clothing, rain gear, diapers, a variety of toiletries, cleaning supplies, and many other items. Once again, the generosity of this community was overwhelming. Thanks so much to those of you who were able to contribute and to the PTO members who volunteered their time to deliver the items to Maine Needs in Portland.
Study of Light in Kindergarten
The kindergarten students just completed their study of light with their teachers and our district science consultant, Debbie Landry. The children made predictions and recorded their observations on the following questions: Does light travel through objects, does it bounce off objects, does it bend, and is it made up of a variety of colors? The light lab experiments were hands-on, engaging, and interesting. A big thanks go out to the kindergarten teaching team, Debbie Landry, and the parent volunteers who were able to help!
Poetry in first grade
First graders have been reading and writing poetry for the last couple of weeks. All six classes met with their teachers and me recently to share a poem and talk about ways to get inspiration for writing poems. There will be a sharing of poems written by the children across first-grade classrooms at the end of the unit. Kindergarten students will also be studying poetry soon.
End of Year Planning
We have been planning some fun end of year events for the students. We have some more science programming at both grade levels happening in late May and early June that is part of the Ocean Studies unit. We will be having a field day for the students this year, too. Teachers will be in touch with more information regarding upcoming special events after the spring break.
Public Pre-K is coming to Rowe School
The Yarmouth School Committee voted on March 10th to bring public Pre-K to Yarmouth in the fall of 2022. It has been part of the Yarmouth School Department's Strategic Plan for the last few years. We couldn't be more excited to offer this opportunity to the four-year-olds in Yarmouth! We have been working with local private providers to form partnerships. The programming will be half days, so students will attend either a morning or afternoon session. Information is available on our website, as well as a recording of the Pre-K Parent Information Night that was held on March 29th.
Dates to note:
Friday, April 15th-Friday, April 22nd – Spring Break-No School
Students return to school on Monday, April 25th
Thursday, April 28th – In-person PTO meeting in the Community Room at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 4:00 PM
Monday, May 30th- Memorial Day – No School
Wednesday, June 15th- Last day of school. This will be a half day for students.
K-8 Yarmouth Football meeting reminder here
Events at Merrill Memorial Library
The library is slowly gearing up for more activities and programs. We wanted to let you all know about our April events so that you can share them in any form you'd like. I will attach fliers for the events that have them.
Saturday, April 9: Virtual Cooking Challenge. Teams will pick up a box with mystery ingredients from the library and then join via Zoom on Saturday to open the box and get cooking. This is an all-ages program though we ask that participants be 12 or older or accompanied by an adult if they plan on using an oven. Registration is required (https://forms.gle/5X7ePsaqsRsRJ2e19). Limited to six teams.
LEGO Contest! Interested participants can pick up a LEGO plate from the library the week of 4/11-4/15 and then, using their own LEGO pieces, build something wild, fun, intricate, elegant, whatever. Builds can be dropped off at the library anytime up until the Tuesday after April break, 4/26 when they will be placed on display around the first floor of the library. Community members and library staff will vote on favorites in different categories.
In partnership with Island Treasure Toys: Board Games in the Library, many new board games will be available to play during the week of April Break, 4/19-4/23. No registration is required. All Ages.
Fridays in April: Garden Storytimes, 10:15 AM in the MML garden. In the case of inclement weather, these will move to Zoom. For more information, email Mary Randall at mrandall@yarmouthlibrary.org
Please contact Jill O’Connor for more information.
Jill O'Connor, she/her/hers
Youth Services Librarian
Merrill Memorial Library
Yarmouth, ME
(207) 846-4763
PTO News
Silver Graphics – Still time to order until 4/13! Choose from dozens of different keepsakes featuring your child’s artwork. Order online, delivery direct to your home 2-3 weeks after your orders are placed. You should have received an order form and instructions but we are happy to answer questions if you have them! Contact yarmouthpto@gmail.com
Bike Swap coming May 7! Please save the date & your old bikes! Bike Swap to be held in the Rowe School gym. Bikes can be brought in the day before, More details coming soon along with a call for volunteers.
Hannaford Card Load – April 6 and 27.
The April PTO meeting will be Thursday, April 28 at 4 pm. Planning for an in-person meeting at the town hall community room. All are welcome!
PTO is in full swing planning for many traditional end of year events like the Ice Cream Social and Field Day. Stay tuned for more details.
Join the Yarmouth Education Foundation (YEF) Board of Directors!
What is YEF? YEF is a community member-led nonprofit dedicated to enriching the overall educational experience of students in the Yarmouth School Department. YEF awards grants so that educators and students across all grade levels and schools can bring their innovative ideas to life. Recent YEF grants include: Black Student Alliance Learning Trip to Boston (YHS), Microscopic Engineering (HMS), Life Cycle of Frogs and Amaryllis Plants (YES), and Math Manipulatives for Remote Learners (Rowe & YES). Through emergency COVID grants, YEF provided KN95 face masks and covered the cost of background checks for up to 70 new volunteers and substitute teachers. Read more here.
We invite you to get involved!
Are you inspired by the opportunity to share Yarmouth schools’ innovation through compelling words and images? Join the YEF Board and put your social media and marketing interests to work.
Do you have creative fundraising ideas to engage community members through events, individual giving, and corporate donations? Join the YEF Board to sustain and build donor outreach.
In addition to specific Board opportunities for those with an interest in marketing and fundraising, YEF is always excited to hear from any and all community members who are interested in volunteering. Please email info@yarmoutheducationfoundation.org to express your interest and to learn more.
Sincerely,
Susan Lobel, Rowe School Principal
