February Newsletter

February 8, 2018

Dear Rowe Families,

We have had a busy string of weeks since we returned from the holiday break. It is hard to believe it is February already! We will have a community meeting to celebrate the 100th day of school coming up next week. We currently have a guest teacher coming into classrooms to do some mindfulness work with the children. This was made possible by a district grant. Teachers had an opportunity to meet with the presenter at a staff meeting earlier this week for an overview, prior to her classroom visits.

The Wise Minds, Big Hearts organization is offering a weekly session in mindfulness training for 6-weeks to William H. Rowe students and staff. Mindfulness is paying attention with kindness and curiosity. Students will learn skills like listening closely, calming their minds, checking in with their bodies and emotions, and having kind thoughts. They will also learn about their brains and how different parts help keep them safe, store memories, and learn! This training will be led by Erica Marcus, Mindfulness Educator and Yoga Instructor. Feel free to check out her website - wiseminds-bighearts.com 

Yarmouth Community Food Pantry serving Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Freeport & Pownal

Jared Conant, a Yarmouth student, is once again collecting food for the YCS food pantry. He is conducting the food collection in an effort to end hunger in Maine for his 14th birthday. If you wish to contribute, we will set up a collection bin in the office here at Rowe for donations of the food and household items listed below. The other option is direct contributions to the Yarmouth Community Food Pantry – please read the details below from Jared: 

Items with a Higher Priority: Laundry detergent, dish soap, ketchup, mustard, relish, salad dressing, & cooking oil

Other needed items: Canned meat (chicken/tuna) ** jelly** kid friendly cereal**coffee**paper towels ** hot chocolate** meat stew** instant oatmeal** spaghetti sauce** Shampoo **canned pasta (beef-a-roni, ravioli, etc.)** bars of soap**toilet paper** toothpaste & toothbrushes

**Thank you in advance for your kindness!!

***Monetary donations can be made in person or make checks payable to:

Yarmouth Community Food Pantry (YCFP) and mailed to 116 Main Street, Yarmouth, Maine 04096

Attn: Jared Conant

Note: If you are able, please join me on Feb. 24th from 9am to 11am. We’ll be accepting donations at the Yarmouth Community Food Pantry located at 116 Main St. Please enter the facility from Storer St. **First Parish Congregational Church**

Openings are available in our after school childcare program, Clipper Care

The rate is $18.00 per day, or $86.00 for a full week. Clipper Care is only available when school is in session. If there is no school, no childcare is available. There is reimbursement for snow days or other unexpected school cancellations only. All pre-planned holidays and vacations mean that Clipper Care is closed. Please contact Melissa Marston for further information at 846-5586 or via email: melissa_marston@yarmouthschools.org

Clarification regarding early dismissals: Any time we have an early dismissal or delayed start, lunch will be served to all students. This question has come up a few times. We apologize if this was unclear.

Maine author and illustrator, Lynn Plourde, will be coming to the Rowe School on March 21st

We will begin with an all school assembly in the gym and then Lynn will present to children in smaller groups throughout the day. Watch for an order form coming home from Ally Olsen, our librarian, if you would like to order a copy of one of Lynn’s books. She is happy to sign copies for the children during her visit. We are looking forward to this event and want to extend our thanks to the PTO for making this exciting opportunity possible for our children at Rowe!

Yarmouth’s Got Talent

Your child has the opportunity to showcase a talent at the 8th annual Yarmouth's Got Talent competition, to be held on Friday, March 16th at 7pm at
 Yarmouth Performing Arts Center (YPAC). Auditions will be hosted by Yarmouth music teachers.

Wednesday, March 7th at YES for students in grades K-4

(and on Monday, March 12th at HMS for grades 5-8 and YHS for grades 9-12).

Entry forms are due by Friday March 2nd.

If chosen to compete--your child will have the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience at YPAC and a friendly panel of celebrity judges. Ultimately it is the YPAC audience that will decide the winners of the competition based on votes cast the night of the event. There will be one winner in each of three grade categories and Cash Prizes will be awarded! (grades K-4: $150, grades 5-8: $250, grades 9-12: $350).

Dates to note:

Thursday, February 16th -             4:00                      PTO meeting in the YES library

Monday, February 12th                  6:30 pm               Community meeting at Yarmouth High School    

Monday, February 19th - Friday, February 23rd         Winter Vacation- No School

Friday, March 16th                          4:00 pm               Yarmouth's Got Talent Dress Rehearsal at the YPAC

                                                        7:00 pm               Evening Talent Show Performance

Sincerely,

Susan Lobel, Principal