November 2026 Newsletter

Posted Date: 11/03/26 (10:12 AM)

Elizabeth Pole School

November Family Newsletter

A smiling white polar bear wearing an orange and red scarf reads a book, surrounded by pumpkins and autumn leaves.

Welcome to November!

Dear Polar Bear Families,

November is a choppy month with several days off, an early release, and parent-teacher conferences. Please look over the dates below and mark your calendar so nothing catches you by surprise. Thank you for all you do to support your child's learning at home!

Important Dates:

Date: What's Happening:

Tuesday, Nov. 3 No school, Voting

Wednesday, Nov. 11 Veteran's Holiday (Veterans Day)

Tuesday, Nov. 17 Picture retake day

Thursday, Nov.19 Early release at 1:00

Thursday, Nov. 19 Conferences 2-6 pm

Wed.--Fri. Nov. 25–27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Picture Retake Day: Tuesday, November 17

If your child was absent on picture day or you would like a new photo, please let your child's teacher know before November 17. Retakes will only be taken for students on the teacher's list.

Tips for a Successful Parent-Teacher Conference

You must sign up for a conference prior to Nov. 19th. Please reach out to your child's teacher, since forms already went home. Conferences are Thursday, November 19, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. A little planning helps you make the most of your time together.

Arrive on time. Conferences are short and scheduled back to back, so being punctual keeps everyone on track.
Talk with your child first. Ask what they enjoy at school, what feels hard, and what they would like their teacher to know.
Bring a short list of questions. For example: How is my child doing in reading and math? How do they get along with classmates? What can we work on at home?
Share what you know. You are the expert on your child. Tell the teacher about their interests, strengths, worries, or changes at home.
Listen with an open mind. Celebrate successes and treat challenges as something you and the teacher will work on together.
Leave with a plan. Agree on one or two goals and how you will stay in touch.
Follow up at home. Share the positives with your child and talk about the goals you set.

Let's Talk About Bathroom Etiquette

Families, we recognize that using the bathroom without an adult present is new to most children at school. We are working with students on using the bathroom safely and respectfully. Please take a few minutes to talk about these points at home.

Go, then get back to learning. The bathroom is for using the toilet and washing hands, not for playing or visiting with friends.
Give others privacy. Knock on stall doors, wait your turn, and never peek over or under stalls.
Flush every time. Leave the toilet ready for the next person.
Wash with soap. Scrub for 20 seconds (about two rounds of "Happy Birthday"), rinse, and dry.
Keep it clean. Put paper towels in the trash and keep water in the sink, not on the floor.
Use a quiet voice. Sound carries into hallways and classrooms.
Tell a grown-up. If something is broken, messy, or someone is making you feel unsafe, let an adult know right away.
Ask when you need to go. It is always okay to ask your teacher to use the bathroom.

A cheerful white bear wearing a colorful backpack holds up an autumn-themed drawing in a classroom.

November (cont.)

Pickup Reminder: The Blue Tag

To keep every child safe, please follow these pickup rules:

Back of the building: You must have your blue tag to pick up your child here.
No blue tag? Please go to the front office to pick up your child.
Leave the blue tag in your car. Keep it displayed in the car even if you walk up to the door to meet your child.

Thank you for helping us make dismissal safe and smooth for everyone. Please treat all school staff with courtesy and respect as they work to keep students and families safe. Following staff directions and school procedures helps ensure a safe, orderly arrival and dismissal for everyone. Disrespectful language or behavior toward staff will not be tolerated. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership.

Last Year's MCAS Results: Our Plan Forward

Our school is making progress toward its improvement goals, and we recognize that more work is needed to help every student succeed. Recent results show a need to strengthen reading comprehension, support students learning English, and improve students’ experiences at school.

To address these needs, we will focus on the following steps:

Strengthen reading comprehension. Teachers will help students understand what they read through vocabulary instruction, purposeful questions, and opportunities to discuss and write about texts.
Learn from effective classroom practices. The principal and school leadership team will visit classrooms regularly to observe reading instruction and student participation. Teachers will have opportunities to visit colleagues’ classrooms and bring effective strategies into their own teaching.
Provide targeted support. Staff will regularly review student assessments and classroom work to identify needs, plan small-group instruction, and adjust support as students progress.
Support students learning English. Classroom teachers and English language specialists will work together to build students’ language skills and understanding of classroom texts.
Build a positive school community. We will reinforce schoolwide expectations, teach strategies for managing emotions and resolving conflicts, and use student feedback to strengthen safety and belonging.

Families are important partners in this work. Reading together, asking your child to explain their thinking, and staying connected with teachers can support continued growth. We will share progress and ways families can help throughout the year.

Thank You, Polar Bear Caregivers!

We are proud to be Polar Bears and grateful for your partnership and wish you a happy, restful Thanksgiving. As always, please reach out to your child's teacher with any questions.

Warmly,

Mrs. Jones

Principal