Dear Great Falls Families,

A heartfelt thank you to all of our families who participated in our recent family conferences! We appreciate the time you took to connect with your child's teacher, celebrate their successes, and discuss their continued growth as learners. These meaningful conversations strengthen the partnership between home and school, and we are so grateful for your ongoing support!

It is hard to believe we are already saying goodbye to October! Our Great Falls students have been busy learning, growing, building friendships, and making wonderful connections throughout our school community. There is so much to celebrate, and we have plenty of exciting things ahead!

Looking Ahead at Great Falls!

• Tuesday, November 3: Staff In-Service Day – No School for Students. Don't forget to VOTE!
• Wednesday, November 4 – P.I.E. School Safety Event: 5:30 p.m. | Village Elementary School, 12 Robie Street | Families from Great Falls, Narragansett, and Village are invited to a special Partners in Education (P.I.E.) evening focused on school safety! Join us to learn about school safety procedures, emergency response protocols, and what families can expect during an emergency. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. Pizza and childcare will be provided! We hope you can join us for this important conversation!
• Friday, November 6: Picture Retake Day for students who were absent or would like another opportunity for school photos.
• Monday, November 9: Kiki the Compassionate Kangaroo will be visiting our kindergarten classrooms to help our youngest learners discover what it means to show kindness, caring, and compassion.
• Thursday, November 12: Schoolwide ALICE Practice Drill. Students and staff will continue practicing important safety procedures in a calm, supportive, and age-appropriate manner.
• Tuesday, November 24: Last day of school before Thanksgiving break!

As we welcome November, we look forward to continuing our focus on kindness, compassion, gratitude, and connection. These are the qualities that make Great Falls such a special place, and we see them reflected in our students each and every day.

Most importantly, thank you for sharing your amazing children with us! It is truly a privilege to watch them learn, grow, and shine. We are grateful for the trust you place in our staff and for the many ways you contribute to our caring and connected school community.

At Great Falls, connection is the heart of learning, and together, we continue to make our school a place where every child feels welcomed, valued, and a true sense of belonging.

Wishing all of our Great Falls families a wonderful start to November!

Warmly,
Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

 Hello Great Falls Families!

October has been a wonderful month at Great Falls! Our classrooms are filled with learning, laughter, kindness, and opportunities for students to connect and grow. As we head into the next few weeks, I wanted to share some important dates, celebrations, and friendly reminders.

Wednesday, October 21 – Early Release Day & Connection Time: We are excited to kick off our first student Connection Time of the school year! Students will connect with peers and staff from different grade levels through fun activities that promote friendships, belonging, and community. After all, connection is the heart of learning!

October 21 & 23 – Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences: We look forward to welcoming families for fall conferences! This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your child's progress and strengthen our home-school partnership.

• Wednesday, October 21: Conferences until 6:00 p.m.

• Friday, October 23: Conferences until 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3 – No School for Students: Our educators will participate in districtwide professional development focused on strengthening instructional practices, purposeful play, and creating supportive, regulated classrooms. It's also Election Day, so don't forget to vote!

Wednesday, November 4 – P.I.E. School Safety Event: 5:30 p.m. | Village Elementary School, 12 Robie Street | Families from Great Falls, Narragansett, and Village are invited to a special Partners in Education (P.I.E.) evening focused on school safety! Join us to learn about school safety procedures, emergency response protocols, and what families can expect during an emergency. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. Pizza and childcare will be provided! We hope you can join us for this important conversation!

Socktober Success – Over 1,000 Pairs of Socks!: WOW! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Great Falls families, we collected over 1,000 pairs of socks to support individuals and families in need! What an amazing example of our students putting kindness into action. Thank you for helping us make a BIG difference!

A Few Friendly Reminders

Fidgets and Toys: Please help us keep Nee-Dohs, squishies, and other toys at home unless specifically approved by a staff member as a learning or regulation tool.

Cooler Weather: Fall temperatures are here! Please send your child with appropriate outdoor clothing so everyone can comfortably enjoy recess.

Staying Connected: Continue checking communications from your child's teacher and Great Falls for important updates and opportunities to get involved.

We are so grateful for the kindness, generosity, and support our families show each day. Whether you're attending conferences, supporting school events, or encouraging your child each morning, you make Great Falls a special place!

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community!

Warmly,

Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

Dear Great Falls Families,

What another wonderful week at Great Falls!  Our classrooms and hallways continue to be filled with learning, laughter, new friendships, and lots of opportunities for students to grow. It has been so exciting to watch our students settle into their routines, build connections with their teachers and classmates, and dive into the school year.

This week, our teachers also spent time learning and growing together during our Early Release professional development. Throughout this school year, our staff will continue to focus on providing engaging, high-quality learning experiences while creating classrooms where every child feels connected, supported, and ready to learn.

Here are a few upcoming dates and reminders for Great Falls families:

• Friday, September 18 – Our kindergarten students will have a special visit from Carlos the Courageous Crocodile!

• Tuesday, September 29, 5:00–6:30 p.m. – Great Falls Back-to-School Picnic! We hope you’ll join us for an evening of food trucks, music, face painting, playground fun, and time together as a school community.

• Thursday, October 8, 8:00–8:25 a.m. – Grade 1 Family Breakfast in the Great Falls cafeteria.

As we move further into the school year, please remember that our Great Falls website is a great place to find school information, upcoming events, announcements, and helpful resources:

https://greatfalls.gorhamschools.org/

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping make Great Falls such a special community.  We are so grateful to work alongside our families in supporting our students. Connection truly is the heart of learning!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

 Dear Great Falls Families,

What a wonderful week at Great Falls School! As we move through the school year, we continue to be grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and support our students and families bring to our school community each day.

Looking Back at Our Week 🌟This week was filled with learning, connection, and plenty of opportunities for our students to grow. From classroom learning and hands-on activities to time spent building friendships and being part of our school community, there is always something exciting happening at Great Falls. We are proud of the effort our students are putting into their learning and appreciate the partnership of our families in supporting them at home.

Looking Ahead 📅There is lots to look forward to in the coming weeks! Please keep an eye out for upcoming school activities, special events, classroom happenings, and important reminders. The school calendar can get busy, so we encourage all families to regularly check the Great Falls School website for the most up-to-date information.

🌐 Great Falls Website: https://greatfalls.gorhamschools.org/

The website is your go-to resource for:

• 📅 School calendar events and important dates

• 📣 School updates and announcements

• 🏫 Information about what is happening at Great Falls

• 🤝 Community events and resources

• 🔔 Important reminders for families

We encourage you to bookmark the website and check it regularly so you don't miss what is happening at school or in our community.

Thank you for being such an important part of the Great Falls community. Your partnership, encouragement, and support make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students. Have a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to another great week ahead!

Warmly,

Becky Fortier

Welcome Back!

Dear Great Falls Families,

What a wonderful first day of school! 💙💚

Our hallways and classrooms were filled with lots of smiles, happy kids, excitement, and the wonderful energy that comes with the start of a brand-new school year. It was so great to welcome our students back to Great Falls! Our students did an amazing job learning new routines, reconnecting with friends and staff, meeting new classmates, and settling into their classrooms.

Thank you to our families for helping make the first day such a positive and successful one. We are so excited about the year ahead and all of the learning, growing, friendships, and fun to come!

As we get started, please be sure to stay connected and find important school information, updates, and calendar dates through:

🌐 Great Falls Website
https://greatfalls.gorhamschools.org/

📸 Great Falls Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/great.falls.elementary.school/

💙 Great Falls Parent Connection on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/greatfallsparentconnection

🙋 Interested in volunteering in our schools?
Learn more about volunteer opportunities here:
https://www.gorhamschools.org/page/opportunities-for-parental-engagement

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us. We are so happy to have everyone back and look forward to a fantastic school year together!

Here’s to a great year at Great Falls! 💙💚

Becky Fortier
Principal
Great Falls Elementary School

August Letter from the Principals

 Dear Great Falls Families,

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! Although there is still plenty of summer left, we know many families are beginning to look ahead. Here are a few important dates and updates to help you prepare for the start of the 2026–2027 school year.

Important Dates

• Wednesday, August 26: Grades 1–5 Open House, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, August 27: First day of school for students in Grades 1–5

• Monday, August 31: Kindergarten Open House and Popsicles with the Principals, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, September 1: First day of school for Kindergarten students

Open House: Our Grades 1–5 Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 26, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for students and families to meet their teachers, visit classrooms, and become familiar with the school before the first day.

Kindergarten families are invited to a separate Open House on Monday, August 31, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. We will also enjoy Popsicles with the Principals as we welcome our newest Great Falls students and families!

School Supplies: Teachers will share information about any specific classroom supplies students may need. Please remember that we will make sure every child has the materials necessary for a successful school year.

Arrival and Dismissal: Additional information about arrival, dismissal, bus transportation, parent drop-off, and pick-up procedures will be shared before the first day of school. Reviewing these procedures ahead of time helps us keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.

New Staff: We are excited to welcome several new staff members to the Great Falls community this year! We will be sharing introductions over the coming weeks so families can begin getting to know the wonderful educators joining our team.

Please continue to watch your email for additional updates as we get closer to the start of school. We are looking forward to welcoming our returning families back and meeting those who are new to Great Falls.

Until then, enjoy the remaining days of summer. We cannot wait to see our students’ smiling faces back in the building!

Warmly,

Becky Fortier, Principal
Deanna Etienne, Assistant Principal

❤️Connection is the heart of learning.

End of Year Message

Dear Great Falls Families,

As another wonderful school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank you for your partnership, support, and trust throughout the year. Together, we have celebrated successes, overcome challenges, and watched our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

This year was filled with memorable moments—from classroom learning and school-wide Connection Time activities to field trips, concerts, celebrations, and countless acts of kindness. Every day, our students remind us of the joy, curiosity, and resilience that make Great Falls such a special place to learn and grow.

To our fifth-grade students and families, congratulations on completing your elementary school journey. We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and wish you the very best as you begin your next chapter at Gorham Middle School.

As summer begins, I encourage all of our students to continue reading, exploring, playing, creating, and spending time with family and friends. Summer is a wonderful opportunity to recharge and make lasting memories.

We are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back in August! Please mark your calendars for the following important dates:

Important Dates for the 2026-2027 School Year
• Grades 1–5 Open House: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• First Day of School for Grades 1–5: Thursday, August 27, 2026
• Second Day of School for Grades 1–5: Friday, August 28, 2026
• Kindergarten Open House: Monday, August 31, 2026, from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• First Day of School for Kindergarten: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Labor Day – No School: Monday, September 7, 2026

Thank you for being such an important part of our Great Falls community. It is truly an honor to serve as your principal and to work alongside such incredible students, families, and staff.

On behalf of the entire Great Falls team, I wish you a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer. We look forward to seeing you in August!

Warmly,
Becky Fortier
Principal
Great Falls Elementary School