Proctor Informational Update: Summer Newsletter August 17, 2025

Posted Date: 8/17/25 (8:59 AM)

Dear Proctor Penguins and Families,

It’s hard to believe, but the start of the school year is quickly taking shape! As we move through August, I’ll continue sharing these summer newsletters to help you stay connected without overwhelming you with too much at once. Think of this as a “slow roll” of important updates, so you never feel like you’ve missed something. And remember: you can always find updates on your ParentSquare app, the Proctor School website, and on our Instagram page.

Speaking of Instagram, you may have seen some exciting updates recently:

We just hosted our New-to-Town Student Scavenger Hunt, where students and families got to learn more about Proctor while exploring the building. Special shout-out to our 5th grade Penguin Tour Guides: Charlotte, Fiona and Kerry!
Proctor also just hosted the two-week Multilingual Learner Summer Program. it was wonderful to see students filling our halls with energy and excitement in the middle of summer!
Our Lower Wing Playground is also getting some much-needed TLC. Thank you to our PTO for helping to fund repairs and for purchasing a brand new piece of equipment for our students to enjoy!

Looking ahead:

All Families: Mark your calendars for Chalk the Walk Sunday, August 24 (time TBA)- see below for details.
Kindergarten Families: Orientation will be on Wednesday, August 27th at 9:00 am. Students will meet their teachers, take a short bus ride, and families will have the chance to connect with our school nurse. If you didn’t order an EPI school supply kit, this is also a great time to bring in your child’s supplies.
All Families: Our first day of school is Thursday, August 28.

We’re so excited to welcome everyone back soon and can’t wait for another wonderful school year together!

This weekly newsletter will outline the following updates:

Save the Date
Chalk the Walk
Arrival and Dismissal
Parent/Caregiver Book Group
New Food Service Provider for 2025–2026
Kindergarten Meet Up
Pages with Penguins

Respectfully,

Stacy Mahoney

Calendar of Events

June 18- August 27: SUMMER BREAK

8/24- 2nd Annual Chalk the Walk- Time TBA

8/27- Kindergarten Orientation and Bus Ride- 9- 9:45 AM

August 28: Students Return!

2025-2026 School Year CALENDAR- It includes key dates like the first day of school, holidays, early release days, and professional development days.

Chalk the Walk Sunday, 8/24 (Time TBA)

Our PTO is hosting Chalk the Walk at Proctor! Students and families are invited to come decorate the sidewalks and driveway with welcoming messages for our teachers as they return on 8/25. Time is TBA, so watch ParentSquare and our Instagram for details closer to the date. Bring your creativity (and chalk if you’d like); we’ll have some on hand, too!

Parent/Caregiver Drop Off

To keep arrival safe and smooth for everyone, please follow the times and routes below (see attachment with map):

8:10 – 8:25 am → Small Loop Drop-Off

Use the small loop during this time.
Students exit on the field side (driver’s side) for safety.
Pull all the way forward in the loop to keep traffic moving.
Staff will be present to assist students and guide them to morning recess.
One lane only – no passing. This keeps walkers and bike riders safe at the crosswalk.

After 8:25 am → Main Loop Drop-Off

Use the main loop after 8:25 am.
Staff will guide cars to drop-off points.
Please watch for school vans unloading at the front of the building. Please wait until their lights are off before passing.

✅ Reminders

Do not use parking spaces in the loops for drop-off. This creates unsafe back-ups in the drop-off line.
If your child needs extra help getting out of the car, please park on Jefferson Rd and walk them in.
Consider practicing a few drop-offs before the first day to help your child (and you!) feel comfortable with the routine.
Buses will continue to use the main loop (front of building) between 8:10 – 8:25 am.

Morning Arrival (8:10–8:25 a.m)

All students begin the day with recess (outdoors, weather permitting).
K–2: Line up on the lower right side of the building → staff will walk them to recess.
3–5: Line up at the upper wing → staff will walk them to recess.
Around 8:15, staff on duty begin walking groups to recess.
Students arriving after 8:15 may head directly to recess.
Extra support: Staff and student helpers will guide everyone during the first couple of weeks.
The bell rings at 8:25 AM, which will signify that the students will line up in their morning recess lines with their class. At this time, an adult will lead the students into the building.
In the event of inclement weather, students will head directly to the gym rather than going to outdoor recess.

Breakfast is also available for any student who would like to participate. Should your child like to have breakfast in the morning between 8:10-8:25, please direct them to the cafeteria. There will be staff members helping new students.

Parent/Caregiver Pick Up

Students are called down to the lobby at 2:59 p.m.
Walkers and parent/caregiver pickups are dismissed from the building at 3:00 p.m.
Parent/caregiver pickup happens in the main loop at the front of the building.
Two staff members will be out front to assist students in getting safely into cars.
ANY DISMISSAL CHANGES SHOULD BE EMAILED TO proctorattendance@nsboro.k12.ma.us

Bus Dismissal

Buses line up in the secondary loop (opposite of morning drop-off). This change in location helps ensure safety and smooth traffic flow.

Parent/Caregiver Book Group

This year, our district will continue our focus on the theme of BELONGING, asking the question:

What does it mean for a student to belong in a classroom, a school, and a community?

To deepen this work together, we invite parents and caregivers to join a book discussion group around Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity by Floyd Cobb & John Krownapple.

This book reminds us that every child has dignity, an inherent worth that deserves to be seen and honored. When schools and families work together to protect that dignity, children thrive and experience a true sense of belonging.

Our conversations will be:

Welcoming and inclusive: open to all parents and caregivers.
Practical and relevant: connecting the book’s ideas to everyday moments in our classrooms, at recess, and even at home.
Focused on community: exploring how we can strengthen belonging for every child and every family at Proctor.

Whether you’re an avid reader or just curious to join the conversation, your voice matters. Together, we’ll learn, share, and grow as a school community.

We’ll plan for four gatherings spread throughout the year, where we’ll connect, reflect, and discuss key themes from the book as they relate to our children, our school, and our community.

Interested?

At this point, no need to reach out to me about joining. I mostly wanted to put this exciting opportunity on your radar as we begin the year. I’ll be back in touch once we’re into the swing of the school year with dates and details. I hope you’ll consider joining this new way of learning and growing together as a community.

Here is the link to purchase or preview the book.
If purchasing the book is a challenge, please don’t hesitate to contact me and we’ll work it out together.

New Food Service Provider for 2025–2026

We are excited to share that our district has partnered with Whitsons Culinary Group as our new food service provider this year! Whitsons brings a fresh, nourishing menu designed to give students the energy they need each day. You can explore the full menus for August through June here: Whitsons Meal Planner.

Here’s what you need to know:

Breakfast and lunch are free again this year. Thanks to continued grant funding, all students will be able to enjoy both meals at no cost.
Breakfast: Students who wish to enjoy breakfast will go directly to the cafeteria when they arrive so they can eat and still get to class by the 8:25 bell.
Lunch: Students will place their lunch orders each morning in their classroom. Please take a few minutes to review the menu with your child at home so they feel confident making their choice when they arrive.

For questions, you may contact our Food Service Director, Matt Delaney, at delaneym@whitsons.com or 508-351-7010 ext. 2222 (ARHS).

We’re looking forward to a great year of healthy meals with Whitsons!

Kindergarten Meet Ups

Join us to let Proctor's incoming Kindergarten class get to know each other before the first day of school! Details are included in the attached flyer.

Pages with Penguins

We love seeing our Penguins read! Share your child’s reading adventures by emailing Mrs. Mahoney your photo to be posted on our school's Instagram account.

Volunteer Opportunities

Yearbook Committee

Help us capture the story of our school year! Being part of the Yearbook Committee isn’t just about graphic design—it’s about:

Collecting and organizing photos from events, classrooms, and families
Helping with layout ideas (no design experience required!)
Brainstorming fun page themes
Collaborating to make sure every student and event is represented

The more people we have, the better—many hands make light work, especially when it comes to gathering and organizing photos! Mrs. McMahon was incredibly helpful in taking this responsibility on last school year. Thank you, Mrs. McMahon.

5th Grade Parent/Caregiver Committee

Join us in planning all the special 5th-grade events, including the class gift, celebrations, and end-of-year traditions.

If you’re interested in either committee, please email Mrs. Mahoney.

Coming Soon!

As we get closer to the first day of school, watch for additional updates on:

Lunch menus and snack guidelines
Communication tools for families
Back-to-school events

These details will be shared later in August to make sure you feel fully prepared.

Proctor PTO

Thank you to everyone who supported the PTO this year. We are looking forward to continuing the momentum we picked up this year. We've had more parents/caregivers coming to meetings, volunteering at events, and providing great suggestions on how we can continue to grow the Proctor PTO!

Interested in learning more about our PTO or how you might be able to participate? Email us at proctorpto@gmail.com.

NSPAC

Interested in getting involved? Reach out to us at nspac1@gmail.com.

Weekly Communication- Virtual Backpack

Kindergarten Registration Letter

School Start & End Times

Proctor Attendance Email

2025-26 DISTRICT Calendar

Student Supply List 2025-2026

Create Parentsquare Account

Proctor PTO

@ProctorElementary