Important Links

Quashnet School Website

Quashnet School 2024-2025 Photo Album

Quashnet School 2023-2024 Photo Album

Student Art Work

Food Services (Breakfast & Lunch Menu)

MCAS Schedule

Special Days this Week

Monday, December 9 - Day 6 (Early Release Day)

Tuesday, December 10 - Day 7

Wednesday, December 11 - Day 8

Thursday, December 12 - Day 9

Friday, December 13 - Day 10

Save the date for one of our upcoming marquee events here at Quashnet. The Pasta Dinner is in a couple weeks on December 19, 5:00pm-6:00pm. The school provides pasta, sauce, meatballs, salad, and drinks free of charge to all Quashnet students and family members who attend. Last year we served approximately 310 plates of pasta and meatball. I am hoping we do all that and more this year. All you need to do is show up between 5:00pm and 6:00pm and make your way to the cafeteria!

This year the PTO has decided to add a second part to the evening which we are super excited about. Immediately following the pasta dinner the PTO will be holding a Movie Night in the Quashnet gym! The gym doors will open at 5:45pm and the movie will start promptly at 6:15. That way you can make your way diretly from eating pasta in the cafeteria to the movie in the gym.

For the movie you are encouraged to bring a blanket or a camping style chair. We will also have folding chairs available to use as well. The movie being shown is Pixar's Inside Out 2. Concessions will be sold by the Quashnet PTO to enjoy during the movie. All items are $1 and only cash is accepted.

Please do not feel like you have to stay for both portions of the night. You are welcome to come and eat Pasta and not attend the movie. You are also welcome to show up only for the movie.

Understand that all students must be supervised by an adult during both portions of the night. This is NOT a drop off event for students. This is an event intended for family members to attend with their children.

We are also very excited for our annual spirit week. The week before winter break each school day has a theme. We encourage all students and staff to participate and almost everyone got very into it last year. Each day one class can win an extra recess with the principal based on their participation awards. I also give out a daily MVD award to the individual who is the Most Valuable Dresser for the day. See the days for the week below.

As the weather turns colder, please make sure students are dressed appropriately to go outside to recess. If the "feels like" temperature is over 20 degrees Fahrenheit we go outside for recess and if it is under that mark we stay inside for indoor recess. Here at Quashnet we determine the temperature utilizing the Weather Bug application station on the roof of Mashpee Middle High School. Weather bug has an app, and we also have a screen in the main office with updated live weather based on the station at MMHS.

The continued use of School Status Connect between staff and families has been awesome to see.

We do ask that anything to do with absences, early dismissals, or tardies for students still come to the QS attendance email at qsattendance@mpspk12.org rather than being sent via School Status Connect. This email comes to the main office staff who facilitate students arrival and dismissal at school along with tracking absences.

When the email comes to QS attendance office staff then facilitate making sure the student and homeroom teacher know.

December 10, 2024 - Report cards are sent home with students

December 17, 2024 - Deadline for report card envelopes to be signed by parents/guardians and returned to homeroom teachers.

Please know:

• The Wellness and Physical Education grades for grades 3 and 4 are combined to be one PE grade, since Wellness Classes for those grade levels are facilitated entire through co-taught PE classes.
• Places on the report card with an X or that is left blank means that the standard has not yet been covered in class so it cannot be graded at this time. These standards are covered later in the year, during the next two trimesters.

The Mashpee Public Schools ELPAC needs you!

ELPAC is the English Learner Parent Advisory Committee. Every public school in Massachusetts with 100 or more Multilingual Learners is required to establish an ELPAC. Membership is voluntary and open to all parents and legal guardians of current or former Multilingual Learners. The role of ELPAC can include:

• Creating by-laws (rules) regarding officers and operational procedures;
• Advising the school district, school committee, and board of trustees on matters related to English learners;
• Meeting regularly with school or district leaders to participate in the planning and development of programs to improve educational opportunities for English learners;
• Advising the district or school on any new proposed language acquisition programs
• Reviewing district and school improvement plans as they relate to English learners; and
• Meeting at least annually with the school committee or school council.

The next ELPAC meeting is scheduled for December 12 @ 6:00 at Quashnet School. Food and childcare are provided.

We will discuss:

1. Strategies for parents to support education at home

2. Monitoring grades in PowerSchool and Google Classroom

3. Using School Status Connect to communicate with teachers

Prior to any concerns being brought to my attention about the topics in the puberty unit I was always planning to send out the video being used in lesson 3 that aligns with the state standards. Caregivers now have the opportunity to preview the video and have conversations with their students ahead of time if they'd like.

Please see the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw1N06PKhu4

On the last newsletter I mentioned that you could send questions to me or the wellness teacher. I am now going to amend that statement and ask that question come only to me about the unit by calling the Quashnet main office or emailing me at eswitzer@mpspk12.org . That way, the teacher can focus on the teaching the students in the classroom.

I am aware that some families are concerned about the topics covered in our current fifth and sixth grade puberty unit in Wellness. It is important to know what we can and cannot control. Understand that we are mandated to follow the curriculum standards set forth by the state of Massachusetts in all classes. The topics being taught in the unit are in the "Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Frameworks" for these grade levels

The only difference from our schools perspective between this unit and every other unit we teach in every subject is that we are obligated to offer an opt-out forms to parents and guardians. All fifth and sixth grade students received a paper copy of this form that went home the week of November 18-22 that included the topics that would be taught in the five lessons. I also sent out a reminder on the newsletter on November 23 for all parents to make sure they pay attention to the form. The unit then started December 2.

Please know we honor each family's unique perspectives and approach to having these important developmental conversations with their children.

The PTO has brought back Quashnet School Spirit Wear, and it is now easier then ever to order and find just the right item for you or someone you know! Below is the link to the Spirit Wear website, that you can order online, and is delivered straight to your door. The PTO receives 10% of the sales as a donation that they can utilize to support future student events.

With Black Friday approaching, you may want to consider a Quashnet Spirit Wear item as the perfect holiday gift, while simultaneously supporting the Quashnet Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and in turn, our students.

Click Here to View the Quashnet Spirit Wear Website

This time of year, starting now, until after the new year, many families in our community who need some additional support for the holidays reach out to the school. We are proud that in our connected community we are able to support one another. One way we have been able to do this over the years is providing gift cards to families. All this information and support is done anonymously and with full confidentiality through our counseling department and administration.

Simultaneously, we have families with students here at Quashnet reach out and ask how they can support the school during the holidays. Supporting the school is supporting our families and students. If you are interested in helping out this holiday season, we are accepting donations of gift cards in our front office. The best gift cards for us to have are Stop and Shop or Walmart in $25 and $50 increments.

All donations are anonymous and contactless. Gift cards can be put into the box on the front desk of the main office titled, "Falcon Family Fund". All gift cards are then distributed by counselors to families who can use some support during the holiday season.

Hello Quashnet Families!

We hope you all had a safe and joyful Thanksgiving!

• We need YOU!! If you are looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in our school, come join the QSPTO! We hope you stop by our monthly meetings or reach out to us via email or on social media!
• Upcoming Events:
  • Dec 19th - Family Pasta and Movie Night, sign up to volunteer HERE!
  • Jan 2nd - Monthly PTO Meeting, in-person or virtual via zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89886334980)
  • Jan 9th - QSPTO Family Feud - Sign your team up now, limited spots!! Register here to play or volunteer!

- Gratefully

Victoria Haire

Quashnet PTO President

• December 6th- Grade 5 Water Cycle Event

• December 9th- Early Release Day/ PD in the afternoon

• December 10th- Term 1 Report Cards Issued to Students

• December 14th- Student Council Float at Chamber Parade @ 5:30

• December 16th-20th- Student Council Sponsored Spirit Week

• December 18th- Grade 4 Field Trip to “A Christmas Carol” 9:15-1:00

• December 19th- Pasta Dinner @ 5:30

• December 23rd- January 1st, 2025- Winter Break