August 5, 2022
Dear Parents and Guardians:
On behalf of myself and the entire faculty at Plainfield Memorial School, I would like to welcome you to the start of the 2022-2023 school year. I look forward to collaboratively working with each family. At Plainfield Memorial School we are committed to creating a partnership with you to ensure the success of your child. We value communication with families and encourage you to contact us with any questions or needs you may encounter.
Plainfield Public Schools work towards continuous improvement each year. At Plainfield Memorial School we are implementing strategies to support these district goals.
School Climate and Safety
Safety is at the forefront of our plans for the school year. This encompasses physical safety of our facility as well as the social emotional well being of our students. In the hierarchy of needs, humans need to feel safe above all else. We have made some additions to our campus that will enhance security in our building. Using the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence model, R.U.L.E.R. We will help our students to Recognize their emotions and Understand how these emotions impact them. By Labeling the emotions students can communicate how they are feeling and in turn learn how to Express positive and negative emotions effectively and use these skills to Regulate their behaviors.
Curriculum and Assessment
This summer teams of teachers and administrators have been working to align our curriculum across the district. The team has updated our pacing guides and assessment calendars to be sure our students are progressing. Our district and building level data teams will frequently meet to analyze the progress our students are making.
Academics and Student Learning
Plainfield Public Schools has adopted a new program to support our Language Arts Curriculum. WONDERS, from McGraw Hill will be implemented in grades pre-k through grade 5. This resource will support the instructional practices that are researched based to support our students in Reading and Writing. We have enjoyed opening the boxes to see the brand-new materials our students will be able to experience this year.
Research shows that children who read a minimum of 20 minutes a night are more successful readers than those who don’t. This is a daily expectation at Plainfield Memorial School. Please consider reading with your child. Spending 20 minutes reading together provides you with quiet, uninterrupted time together engaged in the same meaningful activity.
Please remind your child to do his/her best in everything and to show respect to everyone. At PMS, we promote “Cougar P.R.I.D.E.” and students are acknowledged for showing Perseverance, Respect, Independence, Dependability and Excellence. Through the use of Cougar Paws, we recognize students who follow our school-wide expectations.
Frequent communication between home and school will help your child be even more successful. Within our Student Agenda, you will find a copy of our school’s handbook. Our school policies and procedures are outlined here. Our website address is www.plainfieldschools.org. In the Plainfield Memorial School tab, you will find links to all our staff’s email.
It is with extreme pleasure and pride that I welcome you to a new school year. Our goal is to provide all children with a productive and successful intermediate school experience. I value your input and suggestions and am available to meet and talk with you at any time. By working together, I am certain that we can create a community where students can reach high levels of growth. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me so that we can work together for your child and our school.
Your Partner in Education,
Natasha Hutchinson
Principal