We have been very busy in Music so far in 2026! In January we began our unit on Expressive Qualities in Music. Kindergarten and Grade 1 are learning simple dynamics, like loud and soft, or forte and piano, as well as simple tempo such as slow and fast, or largo and presto. Second and Third grade are learning about how dynamics and tempo can change within a song, which in dynamics sounds like crescendo and decrescendo, and in tempo sounds like accelerando and ritardando. All students are also learning about how different dynamics and tempo in music can make us feel different ways. 

We had the opportunity to apply this new knowledge to real life when we attended a Jazz in the Schools concert on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Students gathered in the gymnasium while drummer Bart Weisman, bass player Rich Hill, and pianist Fred Boyle played everything from Duke Ellington’s Take the A Train to Miles Davis, Vince Geraldi, and Herbie Hancock. The children enjoyed listening to the music, clapping along, learning about the history of Jazz, and dancing to the beat. Jazz in the Schools Presentations are made at no cost to the schools. The program is funded by the non-profit Provincetown Jazz Festival.

This Jazz concert will usher in our month-long celebration of Black History Month in music class! During the month of February, we will be exploring all of the different genres of music which originated from early African American culture, such as Spirituals, Blues, Ragtime, and Jazz, and how this music evolved into Motown, Soul, R&B, Rock and Roll, Funk, Reggae, Disco, Pop, and Hip Hop.

As always, if you have any questions about what we are doing in music class, please feel free to reach out via Parent Square or email - healyk@dy-regional.k12.ma.us.

Remember to keep a song in your heart!

Ms. Healy, M.E. Small Music Teacher

The last week or so all students in Preschool through Grade 3 have been working on Jumping! The littles started with jumping in and out of hula hoops and using them as jump ropes. The kindergarten students are focusing and learning the three basic jumps: two feet forward, two feet backwards and jogging in place. In first grade we start introducing jump rope tricks and expand on them in second and third grade. The jump rope tricks the older students learn include: the skier, bell, rocking horse, straddle, side swing, crossover straddle, crossover with arms, hot pepper and the double jump! We are also half way through our Kid's Heart Challenge Fundraiser for the American Heart Association (please see attachment for more information)! Regardless of whether the children participate in the fundraising or not, all students will enjoy the Kids' Heart Challenge Activities in their regularly scheduled Physical Education Classes next week. The music will be playing and a variety of jumping activities will be available for all students to enjoy including: pogo sticks, pogo balls, short ropes, long ropes, jumping bands, jumping sticks, skip its, and a trampoline! Any questions about the fundraiser should be directed to Ms. Buron at burons@dy-regional.k12.ma.us! Thank you, Ms. Buron

Dear MES Families,

Being at school every day helps students stay connected, confident and on track in their learning.

We understand snow, rain, and seasonal illnesses like colds, flu, fevers and earaches can sometimes make it harder to get to school.

While some absences are unavoidable, every missed day, including excused absences, interrupts the routine of learning and makes it harder for students to feel engaged and connected.

1. Develop back up plans for getting your student to school. If you can’t take them to school, see who else can give them a ride, or maybe have them walk to the school bus stop with other families. 

2. If your student gets sick or you are not sure whether to keep them home or send them to school, talk to your child’s medical provider or the school nurse for advice.

3. Look for signs of stress or anxiety. If you feel that anxiety or stress is playing a role, talk to your student’s teacher, the school nurse or counselor, or your medical provider about how best to support your child.

4. Promote healthy habits. Encourage hand washing, good sleep, healthy meals, daily exercise and plenty of fluids.

5. Prevent the spread of germs. Remind children not to share cups or utensils with others.

6. Dress your student for the cold weather. If you need help with coats, hats, or gloves, please call the school at (508) 778-7975.

Let us know how we can help you. If you’re having trouble or need resources, please call us at (508) 778-7975.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Sincerely,

Ms. Mahedy & Mrs. Bohl

New Cape & Islands youth recreational field hockey league coming Summer 2026! 

Please complete this short survey to gauge community interest, age groups and potential program locations. 

This is an interest form only.

We’re so grateful for our social worker, Emily Bassett. Ms. Bassett's positive, kind, and uplifting presence is a true gift — she provides strong, compassionate support to our students and their families, partners thoughtfully with staff, as well as the community and makes MES a better place every day. We celebrate Emily this week and always — we don’t know what we’d do without her!

Our kindergartners continue to learn about thoughts and feelings as well as following the group plan. They also learned what it means to “think with our eyes”. Our eyes are like arrows and point to what we are thinking about! When we think with our eyes, we can notice and observe others to help us know how to interact with the world around us! A lot of times, we call this “reading the room”.

Most recently, our first grade students learned about how every social situation has hidden rules. These hidden rules are expectations that are generally understood but are sometimes not always spoken or written down. Students can think with their eyes and listen with their whole body to help understand the rules in any situation. Students learned what it means to do what is expected: which is all about figuring out those rules and making sure our behavior follows those rules. They also learned what happens when they do something unexpected. When they have unexpected behavior, this can make others feel uncomfortable, sad, mad, or confused.

Our first graders also learned about the size of the problem. Problem solving is a complex process that takes a lot of practice! To help solve our problems it is important to have these helpful reminders:

Problem solving can become a lot easier when we learn to self regulate as we work through the problem. Being able to identify the size of the problem also helps us know what steps we need to take next. Some important questions to ask ourselves when faced with a problem are:

With all of this recent snow, a snowman has appeared outside of the counseling and nurse’s office to help teach all of our ME Small students about the different sizes of problems we may face everyday!

YARMOUTH PORT, MA - Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has announced that applications are now available, with a deadline of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, for one three-bedroom home at 26 Horne Avenue in Pocasset (Bourne), two homes (one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom) on Mackie Drive (at 3571 Main Street) in Brewster, and four homes (all three-bedroom) at 805 Gifford Street Extension in Falmouth. The homes will be a mixture of ranch and Cape styles.

 

The maximum household income for the houses is 60% of the area median income for Pocasset (Bourne), one home in Brewster, and two homes in Falmouth, and 80% for one home in Brewster and two homes in Falmouth. For a four-person household, the current maximum income at 60% is $80,100; at 80%, it is $106,800. These income guidelines are adjusted annually.

 

The applicant household must be willing to commit 250-500 hours of sweat equity to build the home and have a housing need. The monthly housing payment (mortgage, taxes, insurance, homeowners association) for these homes is estimated to be around $1,562 - $2,071, depending on the cost of taxes, insurance, changing interest rates, and other terms. 

 

The deadline for application submission to the Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod office is 3/31/26. More information about applying for a Habitat Cape Cod home is available at https://habitatcapecod.org/.

 

 

Applicants are strongly urged to attend one of the in-person or virtual Zoom Habitat Cape Cod Application/Information Workshops for prospective buyers. Please see the website habitatcapecod.org for details.

            

Virtual Workshops: To receive the Zoom link for a specific date, visit habitatcapecod.org/to-apply-for-a-home. Please have the application available to look at during the workshop.

 

Bourne Library, 19 Sandwich Rd.       

 

Brewster Library, 1882 Main St.          

 

Falmouth Library, 300 Main St. 

If you have any questions, please contact Family Programs Manager, Mary Ann Mills-Lassiter at applications@habitatcapecod.org, or call 508-362-3559 x121.  

Please make sure your students are ready for the cold, (coat, hat, gloves-preferably waterproof, boots)...we go outside for recess as long as the feels like temperature is 20 degrees or above! That's brisk!

MES has established a new social media page on Facebook and Instagram, and I wanted to provide the links for you to follow along if you’d like! We’ll be sharing school events, student learning and achievements, community engagement and more!