May 27th, 2022

“The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

This is such a fun time of year.  It seems like almost daily we have one or two special events somewhere in the building.  I was so impressed with the performance of our 4th and 5th grade chorus students earlier this week.  You can tell that they have worked hard and they sounded absolutely fantastic.  We also had Special Olympics on Thursday which is always a great day and the students that participated had a wonderful time.  Please see the dates below so that you know what is coming up and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.  I hope you all enjoy your long holiday weekend!

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

END OF YEAR DATES

5/30 Memorial Day...No School!

6/1 3rd Grade Field Trip to Plymouth

6/1 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

6/2 PTO Walk-a-Thon

6/7 & 6/8 4th Grade Field Trip to Samuel Slater Museum

6/7 PTO Meeting in the Library at 6:30

6/10 Field Day

6/14 Move Up Day

6/14 5th Grade Graduation at 1:00 on the Field

6/15 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

6/17 Talent Show from 1:00-2:30 in the Gym

6/20 Juneteenth...No School

6/21 Last Day of School...Dismissal at 11:45, Report Cards Published

AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT END DATES

Session 3 is winding down so please see this After School Enrichment Letter for end dates of each of the classes.  A huge thanks to Ms. M and all of the staff who made this program possible again this year.  

LIBRARY BOOKS

We are no longer having the students check out books during library classes since we are getting close to the end of the year.  Please make sure that any books that are currently out are returned.  

4TH & 5TH GRADE CHORUS CONCERT

Our 4th and 5th grade chorus students did a wonderful job during their performance this week.  If you missed it or want to watch it again, you can find it HERE.  

SCHOOL LUNCH FOR 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

The federal government will be ending the waiver covering meal fees as of 6/30/22 and meals for the next school year will not be free unless you fill out a Free/Reduced application and qualify.  Please see the two attachments below for more information:

School Lunch Memo

My School Buck Information

LOST AND FOUND

Winter is behind us and our lost and found has accumulated lots of "stuff" over the course of the year.  If your child is missing something, please come take a look because it may be here.  After the school year is over, any remaining items will be donated.  

NO SCHOOL FOR JUNETEENTH

Just a reminder that there will not be school on Monday, June 20th in observance of Juneteenth.  This is a change from previous years so we want to make sure that families are aware.  

PTO WALK-A-THON

The PTO Walk-a-thon is underway!  We will hold our event on June 2nd (rain date June 3rd) and our celebration day will be June 6th!  Our goal is to raise $15,000!  See our Facebook page for links and info, or our website, douglaspto.my-pto.org for the flyer!  Just share your student's link to social media or via email to family and friends to get donations!  If you have not received your child's link, please reach out!  Our event page is https://app.99pledges.com/fund/DouglasPTOWalkathon2022

So far we have raised $10,995!  Mrs. Katz's class is leading the way with $1,145.  Mrs. Jost's class is in second place with $1,140 and  Mrs. Forest's class is in third place with $1,000

PTO Walk-a-Thon Flyer

PTO SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS

The PTO is happy to announce our partnership with 1st Day School Supplies again this year. No longer is purchasing a back-to-school supply kit a luxury, it is a necessity. With all the supply chain issues it is the only way to order back-to-school supplies for next year. I have personally found 1st Day School Supplies to be convenient, easy and hassle free! And they ship right to your home!! Order today before it’s too late as orders close June 30th!!

Incoming K and 1st grade click here to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=48663

Incoming 2nd-5th graders click here to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=48665

May 20th, 2022

                 “The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

Our 3rd graders took a field trip to the Douglas Fire Department on Wednesday this week.  It was the first field trip we have had in over two years so it was a lot of fun to see our students learning away from the school.  A huge thank you to Firefighter Joe and the whole department for making the day a positive one.  We are lucky in Douglas to have some great partnerships with the community!  

I'm sure that you have seen the recent rise in Covid numbers within the community.  Please continue to help us keep the school as safe as possible by keeping your child home if they are symptomatic.  If you ever have any questions, our wonderful school nurse, Mrs. Brundage can help you navigate the situation.  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.  

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

END OF YEAR DATES

5/25 4th & 5th Grade Chorus Concert at 1:00 in the Middle School Auditorium

5/26 Special Olympics from 9:00-11:00

5/30 Memorial Day...No School!

6/1 3rd Grade Field Trip to Plymouth

6/1 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

6/2 PTO Walk-a-Thon

6/7 & 6/8 4th Grade Field Trip to Samuel Slater Museum

6/7 PTO Meeting in the Library at 6:30

6/10 Field Day

6/14 Move Up Day

6/14 5th Grade Graduation at 1:00 on the Field

6/15 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

6/17 Talent Show from 1:00-2:30 in the Gym

6/20 Juneteenth...No School

6/21 Last Day of School...Dismissal at 11:45, Report Cards Published

4TH & 5TH GRADE CHORUS CONCERT

Our 4th and 5th grade chorus students will be performing on Wednesday, May 25th at 1:00 in the Middle School Auditorium.  Families are welcome to attend in person and can enter the building through the event entrance by the elementary playground.  Please DO NOT park on the back road by the fields or anywhere that you will block the normal flow of traffic.  You can also watch the performance through Zoom using this link: Elementary Chorus Concert Zoom

LOST AND FOUND

Winter is behind us and our lost and found has accumulated lots of "stuff" over the course of the year.  If your child is missing something, please come take a look because it may be here.  After the school year is over, any remaining items will be donated.  

FIELD DAY VOLUNTEERS

Field Day will be on Friday, June 10th with a rain date on Monday the 13th and we are in need of some volunteers to help make the day a success.  Volunteers will be assigned to a station and will support that activity.  You must have a CORI background check on file with the school and we cannot allow younger siblings to attend with the volunteer.  If you are interested in helping, please send me an email by Friday, May 27th and let me know if you would like to help for the morning (8:30-11:00), the afternoon (12:00-2:30), or for the whole day.  Due to the format of Field Day, we are not allowing parent spectators.  

NO SCHOOL FOR JUNETEENTH

Just a reminder that there will not be school on Monday, June 20th in observance of Juneteenth.  This is a change from previous years so we want to make sure that families are aware.  

PTO WALK-A-THON

The PTO Walk-a-thon is underway!  We will hold our event on June 2nd (rain date June 3rd) and our celebration day will be June 6th!  Our goal is to raise $15,000!  See our Facebook page for links and info, or our website, douglaspto.my-pto.org for the flyer!  Just share your student's link to social media or via email to family and friends to get donations!  If you have not received your child's link, please reach out!  Our event page is https://app.99pledges.com/fund/DouglasPTOWalkathon2022

So far we have raised $8,560!  Mrs. Katz's class is leading the way with $1,045 and Mrs. Forest's class is in second place with $890.  

PTO Walk-a-Thon Flyer

PTO SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS

The PTO is happy to announce our partnership with 1st Day School Supplies again this year. No longer is purchasing a back-to-school supply kit a luxury, it is a necessity. With all the supply chain issues it is the only way to order back-to-school supplies for next year. I have personally found 1st Day School Supplies to be convenient, easy and hassle free! And they ship right to your home!! Order today before it’s too late as orders close June 30th!!

Incoming K and 1st grade click here to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=48663

Incoming 2nd-5th graders click here to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=48665

May 13th, 2022

                “The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

As we get closer to the end of the year, we have lots of fun events planned so I have added many of them below.  We finished up with MCAS testing this week but still have a good amount of school left.  My hope is that these last few weeks will be fun but also filled with quality learning experiences that will help set our students up for success moving forward.  Specifics about end of year events will be communicated either by me or the classroom teachers as they get closer but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.  

Field Day will be on Friday, June 10th with a rain date on Monday the 13th and we are in need of some volunteers to help make the day a success.  Volunteers will be assigned to a station and will support that activity.  You must have a CORI background check on file with the school and we cannot allow younger siblings to attend with the volunteer.  If you are interested in helping, please send me an email by Friday, May 27th and let me know if you would like to help for the morning (8:30-11:00), the afternoon (12:00-2:30), or for the whole day.  Due to the format of Field Day, we are not allowing parent spectators.  

It looks like we are finally going to see some warmer weather.  I hope you all enjoy your weekend and we're looking forward to another great week.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

END OF YEAR DATES

5/18 3rd Grade SAFE Field Trip to the Douglas Fire Station

5/18 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

5/25 4th & 5th Grade Chorus Concert at 1:00 in the Middle School Auditorium

5/26 Special Olympics from 9:00-11:00

5/30 Memorial Day...No School!

6/1 3rd Grade Field Trip to Plymouth

6/1 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

6/2 PTO Walk-a-Thon

6/7 & 6/8 4th Grade Field Trip to Samuel Slater Museum

6/7 PTO Meeting in the Library at 6:30

6/10 Field Day

6/14 Move Up Day

6/14 5th Grade Graduation at 1:00 on the Field

6/15 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

6/17 Talent Show from 1:00-2:30 in the Gym

6/20 Juneteenth...No School

6/21 Last Day of School...Dismissal at 11:45, Report Cards Published

PTO WALK-A-THON

The PTO Walk-a-thon is underway!  We will hold our event on June 2nd (rain date June 3rd) and our celebration day will be June 6th!  Our goal is to raise $15,000!  See our Facebook page for links and info, or our website, douglaspto.my-pto.org for the flyer!  Just share your student's link to social media or via email to family and friends to get donations!  If you have not received your child's link, please reach out!  Our event page is https://app.99pledges.com/fund/DouglasPTOWalkathon2022

So far we have raised $4,840!  Mrs. Katz's class is leading the way with $720 and Mrs. Jost's class is in second place with $460.  

PTO Walk-a-Thon Flyer

PTO SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS

The PTO is happy to announce our partnership with 1st Day School Supplies again this year. No longer is purchasing a back-to-school supply kit a luxury, it is a necessity. With all the supply chain issues it is the only way to order back-to-school supplies for next year. I have personally found 1st Day School Supplies to be convenient, easy and hassle free! And they ship right to your home!! Order today before it’s too late as orders close June 30th!!

Incoming K and 1st grade click here to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=48663

Incoming 2nd-5th graders click here to order: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=48665

May 6th, 2022

               “The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

I want to thank our PTO and everyone else who helped make this week a great one for our staff.  The daily treats were fun and I know the staff very much appreciated all of the love and support.  Next Wednesday (5/11) is School Nurse's Day.  I don't know that I could have survived the past two years without our amazing nurse, Mrs. Brundage.  Make sure to tell her thanks for all that she does to help keep our students and community safe!  

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms!  

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

UPCOMING DATES

5/8 Mother's Day!

5/10 PTO Meeting in the Library at 6:30

5/11 School Nurse Day!

5/12-5/13 5th Grade Science MCAS

5/13 PTO School Store during Lunch

CLASS PLACEMENT

It is that time of year that we are beginning to create class lists for next year.  Please know that we are committed to making sure that each student has a teacher and classroom that will allow them to reach their fullest potential.  This Class Placement Letter has more information on our process and details on how to provide feedback if you are interested.  

PTO SCHOOL STORE

Our next school store will be on Friday, May 13th during lunch.  Please do not send more than $20 with your child.  

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

May is Mental Health Awareness Month so Mrs. Thompson will be working with each class throughout the month to do some fun activities with them.  She is also organizing a fundraiser to support the Wounded Warrior Project so please see this Flyer for more details.  

April 29th, 2022

              “The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

I hope everyone had a wonderful April vacation.  I was able to take a trip to visit family in Kansas and it was nice to get away for a few days.  We are now in the final stretch of the school year.  This week our students completed their Math MCAS Assessments.  We will do makeups next week and then 5th grade has their Science MCAS on May 12th and 13th.  The students are doing a wonderful job of taking their time and doing their best.  I'm excited to see how we perform as a school!  

It is that time of year that we are beginning to create class lists for next year.  Please know that we are committed to making sure that each student has a teacher and classroom that will allow them to reach their fullest potential.  This Class Placement Letter has more information on our process and details on how to provide feedback if you are interested.  

Next week is Staff Appreciation Week.  Our PTO has some great treats planned for our amazing educators but I also wanted to take a minute and say thanks to the truly talented group of people that I get to work with each day.  I'm excited to celebrate all of their hard work next week and thank you to everyone who is working to make the week a special one.  

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

UPCOMING DATES

5/2-5/6 Staff Appreciation Week

5/4 School Committee Meeting at 7:00 at the High School

5/6 3rd Trimester Progress Reports Published

5/8 Mother's Day!

5/10 PTO Meeting in the Library at 6:30

5/11 School Nurse Day!

5/12-5/13 5th Grade Science MCAS

5/13 PTO School Store during Lunch

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

May is Mental Health Awareness Month so Mrs. Thompson will be working with each class throughout the month to do some fun activities with them.  She is also organizing a fundraiser to support the Wounded Warrior Project so please see this Flyer for more details.  

SOCIAL MEDIA & YOUTUBE
Please pay attention to what your children are watching on YouTube and other social media outlets. Many children here at the Elementary School have been talking about a character called Huggy Wuggy. He is a character found in Roblox games. This is a very cute name for a not so cute character. He is scary, there is a lot of blood spatter in the game, and it could cause nightmares and confusion for little ones. There has also been talk of a video someone created using Huggy Wuggy. In this video, Huggy Wuggy is challenging kids to kill their parents and the other kids in their homes. Sometimes there are videos and games that seem harmless, but are very inappropriate for kids. Here are some links to articles about Huggy Wuggy.

https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/what-is-huggy-wuggy-schools-worried-over-viral-poppy-playtime-tiktok-1748028/

https://www.nbc15.com/2022/04/07/huggy-wuggy-inspired-videos-brings-warning-lafayette-co-officials/

April 8th, 2022

             “The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

I want to thank our amazing PTO for organizing the Read-a-Thon and Literacy Night.  Last Friday night was a lot of fun with our guest author, April Jones Prince.  The book swap and raffle were a huge success and it was great to celebrate our month long focus on literacy.  Thank you to everyone who attended this fun event!  

Most of our 3rd through 5th graders completed their ELA MCAS Assessment this week.  We still have a few more makeups to complete but I wanted everyone to know how proud I was of our students.  They really worked hard and took the test seriously.  I'm eager to see our results!  We will take the Math MCAS the week of April 25th.  

I will not be sending an update next week due to the upcoming school vacation.  My next update will be on April 29th.  Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns!  

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

UPCOMING DATES

4/12 PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the Library

4/15-4/22 Spring Break...No School!

4/26 Math MCAS Begins...MCAS Schedule

4/26 SEPAC Meeting at 7:00 in the Library

NUMBER DAY CALENDAR

I think we are done with snow days so please see the Updated Number Day Calendar that now goes until our new last day of school, Tuesday, June 21st.  

DOUGLAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE SURVEY
Members of the district Student Support Team are in the process of creating an updated extensive brochure for Douglas staff, students, and families regarding community services and resources within the area. To create a list that is relevant to the target audience, this Douglas Community Resource Survey was created in order to gain insight as to what areas and/or services that staff, students, and families would like more resources or information regarding and/or feel should be included. Examples of types of resources include counseling resources, disability services, housing services, recreational opportunities, etc. Please complete this form to the best of your ability.

DOUGLAS FOOD DRIVE

My name is Colin Squier and I am currently a sophomore at Douglas High School, I am enrolled in the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy and am doing a food drive to donate to the Douglas Food Pantry. There will be flyers hung up around the school depicting  the ideal foods for each grade to bring in, although all donations are greatly appreciated regardless. I look forward to your assistance in giving back to our community.

April 1st, 2022

            “The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

On Monday, our 3rd and 4th graders will have their first day of MCAS testing.  5th grade will begin on Wednesday.  These tests help us see how we are doing as a school and district and also provide data that help us with instructional decisions moving forward.  We try to minimize the stress placed on our students by making it feel like any other test.  Please help give them the best chance to be successful by ensuring that they arrive to school on time, get a good night sleep, and eat a healthy breakfast.  These things are important every day but especially important during MCAS.  If your child is absent on a day that there is testing, they will make it up when they return.  Please let me know if you have any questions and I'm excited to see the amazing growth our students have made this year!  

Mr. Bell

jbell@douglasps.net

508-476-4200

UPCOMING DATES

4/1 PTO Read-a-Thon Literacy Night from 6:30-7:30 in the Cafeteria

4/1-4/3 Recharge Weekend...MCAS will still take place on Monday 4/4 for 3rd and 4th grade

4/4 MCAS Testing Begins...MCAS SCHEDULE

DOUGLAS FOOD DRIVE

My name is Colin Squier and I am currently a sophomore at Douglas High School, I am enrolled in the Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy and am doing a food drive to donate to the Douglas Food Pantry. There will be flyers hung up around the school depicting  the ideal foods for each grade to bring in, although all donations are greatly appreciated regardless. I look forward to your assistance in giving back to our community.

FAMILY MATH NIGHT RECORDING

If you were unable to attend the Family Math Night last Wednesday, you can see a video of the event using this Family Math Night link.  There are some great ideas on games you can play with your kids at home that reinforce the math concepts they are learning here at school.  

PTO READ-A-THON

Thank you to everyone that participated in the Read-a-Thon.  Tonight, April 1st, we will have a fun evening to celebrate all of the reading that has been done.  Please see the two attachments below for more information:

Literacy Night Flyer

Book Swap Information

FOOD SERVICE UPDATE

April's "Food of the Month" is the Potato!  Please see this Potato Family Newsletter for details.