GRIT: Guts, RESILIENCY, Innovation, Teamwork

GRIT: Guts, RESILIENCY, Innovation, Teamwork

Rachel Simmons, a nationally recognized author, speaker & facilitator, will offer practical advice & helpful strategies to help your child become braver & interpret setbacks with more optimism.  This talk supports our theme of GRIT.  Join the TriTown Council and Rachel Simmons, for "Failing Well: Raising Resilient Kids" on Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 in the Masconomet Auditorium.  

"Failing Well: Raising Resilient Kids"

Success isn't just about winning: it's about who we are when we fall short. Today, kids and teens have never had more opportunity-or have ever seemed more fragile. When kids lack the skills to face down a challenge, recover from failure or adapt to change, they fall short of reaching their potential.  In this talk, you'll learn strategies you can use immediately to help your child become braver and interpret setbacks with more optimism. You'll also learn how to explore your own relationship to failure, so that you can model resilience for your child. Register at www.tritowncouncil.org (events tab).

Sixth Grade Canoe Trips

Each year our students head out on the Ipswich River with guides from the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary to explore the river ecosystem.

Proctor School Council

School Council

As mandated by the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (June, 1993) Proctor School established a School Council that is a representative, school building based committee composed of an equal number of parents and staff. The Council is an advisory body to the principal and its purpose is to assist the principal in reviewing the school building budget, in developing a school improvement plan, and in identifying educational needs and goals for our students at Proctor School. The Council meets one morning at 8 AM each month from 8:00-8:45. Our first meeting will be held on October 27. Subsequent meetings will be held on the following dates: November 24, January 26, February 23, March 29, April 26 and May 24. 

The TESPTO (Topsfield Elementary Schools Parent Teacher Organization) is facilitating the election process for new Council members for the Proctor School this year. They are responsible for handling all aspects of the election process, including the acceptance of nominations as well as the distribution, collection, and counting of the ballots.

If you were a member of School Council for the 2014-2015 school year, and are still interested, please contact Helen or Susan in the main office.  We may have vacancies here at Proctor School for Council representation. If you feel you are able to share your time and energy in this capacity, please submit a short paragraph to TESPTO to place your name in nomination. Please be assured that the only criterion for eligibility is a love of children and a willingness to serve! State your desire to serve, any life experiences that may support Council work, and the number of years you are willing to serve (one or two). Please deliver it or email to the school office (soleary@topsfieldps.org) by October 13 .

If ballots are necessary, they will be sent home on October 16 with a return deadline of October 22.

We need your help and assistance since our school will be stronger as a result of our working together on behalf of the children. If you have any questions that we may help you with, please don't hesitate to call us at 887-1530. Thank you! 

The Proctor Garden

The Proctor Garden

Green Topsfield has been incredibly helpful in creating opportunities 

for students and families to plant and maintain the Proctor Garden.  

The garden is in full bloom and ready to be harvested.   Green Topsfield has volunteered to work with our students to harvest the vegetables and donate its produce to those in need.  Students willing to help with this process should meet by the Proctor Garden at 8:15 AM on Wednesday mornings starting on Wednesday, September 23.  Please complete the attached permission if your child would like to help with the harvest and the donation process.

Garden Permission Slip

Going Even GREENER!

We are excited about continuing our mission to become an even GREENER school.  We continue to RECYCLE, REDUCE, REUSE and ROT (compost) and this year we moved from compostable trays to washable trays which continues to reduce our carbon footprint.  Thank you to GREEN Topsfield for their continued support.  Check out GREEN Topsfield at https://www.facebook.com/GREEN-Topsfield-245268968998949/timeline/

Students at  recycling station

Our NEW washable trays

Parent Curriculum Night

Thank you families for coming to the Proctor School Curriculum Night.  We appreciate the opportunity to share the curriculum and learning expectations with you.

Thank You to the Playground Committee

We love our new CHESS BOARD and MAYPOLE!

GRIT

GRIT

Our theme for the year is GRIT.  As a staff we have been developing ways to foster the elements of GRIT, Guts, Resilience, Innovation and Teamwork, in our students.  Angela Lee Duckworth has conducted research focused on how fostering GRIT in students provides life-long strategies and benefits.  Our classroom meetings and all-school assemblies will focus on developing resilience, risk taking and perseverance.  Below is a link to Angela Lee Duckworth's TED Talk, "The Key to Success? GRIT".   

https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit

What a Wonderful Start to the School Year!

What a wonderful start to the year!  It was great to see the excitement and enthusiasm for the new year that the students expressed on Thursday and Friday.  

This newsletter will focus on some of the safety procedures we have at Proctor. 

Arrival to School

Students may arrive to school by foot, bike, bus or car.  If driving your child to school, please let them out on the sidewalk which is parallel to the front of the school.  DO NOT use the Town Hall Parking Lot to drop children off.  Please don't arrive to school before 8:30.  All students should meet at the entrance nearest to the town hall. 

Dismissal

Students may walk, bike or be driven home by car or bus.  If you are picking your child up from school, please follow the driveway to the end of the fourth grade wing.  Students will exit by the end of the wing door and enter cars on the passenger side.  Cars should exit passed the tennis courts towards Grove Street. 

Students are dismissed at 3:10.  The office is very hectic at the end of the day and the early dismissals for non-emergency situations can distract the office from safely dismissing the rest of the students.  Therefore, we will NOT be allowing children to be dismissed from the office between 2:45 - 3:10. 

Bicycle Permission Slips

If your child will be riding his/her bike to school, you and your child will need to sign a bicycle permission slip.  Stop in the office for a permission slip.

Pick Up Notes

Please write a note if your child is going to be doing something other than their typical dismissal procedure. 

Permanent Notes

If you know your child will have a consistent, permanent dismissal change on a certain day of the week, you can write a permanent note which will be good for the entire school year.

Cell Phone

Cell Phones are to be kept off and in a child's backpack while in school and on the bus.  Students are not able to use their phones during the school day.  If you need to contact your child, please call the office.  

Beginning of the School Year Forms

The following forms need your attention for the start of the school year.  All forms were sent home in your child's back pack and/or can be found at http://www.topsfieldschools.org/proctor/ 

• Yellow Emergency Card - Please return ASAP
• Bus Rider Policy- This is in the handbook. Please read this through with your child.  You do not have to return this form.
• Handbook/Media Permission Signature Sheet- This will need to be signed and returned (handbook on website)
• Technology Acceptable Use Guidelines - This will need to be signed and returned (handbook on website)
• Code of Conduct - This will need to be signed and returned (handbook on website)
• Lefebrve Insurance Forms are found on the school website - These are NOT to be returned to school. The address to return them to is located on the form.  
• Free & Reduced Lunch Applications are located in the school lobby and can also be found on the school website.