THOUGHTS and THANK YOUS
Dear Farley Families,
This week I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in planting mums in our school parking area this past weekend. Your effort in bringing vibrant fall colors to our campus has made such a beautiful difference. The mums are not only festive but truly brighten everyone's day when they drive in to the lot. Seeing the cheerful pops of orange, yellow, and red reminds us all of the care and community spirit that makes our school such a special place. Your contribution has created a warm and welcoming environment that everyone—students, staff, and visitors alike—can appreciate. Special thanks to caregiver Tonya Eckert for suggesting and organizing this event and to BJ's Wholesale Club and Stop and Shop for donating 28 gorgeous mums!
If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, don't forget about Ms. Susana's Portuguese Story Hour from 10:00am to 11:00am at the Hudson Public Library. All are welcome! Register for the event HERE. The library was having some difficulty with the link this week, so feel free to call the library to register as well: 978-568-9644. This weekend, my wife and I are headed to Rhode Island to share some exciting news with our folks. My wife's one-woman show has been picked up by Prague Shakespeare so she will be headed to Prague this summer! For those of you new to Farley, over the past few years, my wife Liv has curated a show called "Judith". Last year, she performed in NY City, Sarasota Florida, and Worcester. Just this past weekend, Prague Shakespeare called to offer her a month-long stint with them. I am so proud of her!
Read Always,
Rachel Scanlon (she, her, hers)
978-567-6153 - rscanlon@hudson.k12.ma.us
#ExplainYourBrain
October 19th:
- Portuguese Storytime at the Hudson Public Library @ 10:00am. For more information scroll down to "Other Updates"
November 5th:
- No school for students
November 6th:
- Picture retake day.
- Home and School Association Meeting-6:00pm in the Farley Library. Join online using this link: meet.google.com/goh-pzio-oev.
November 25th and 26th:
- Half-day for students
- Caregiver Conferences-more information to follow next month
WHAT IS PANORAMA?
As you already know, building social-emotional learning skills is an important goal for our school and is a priority in the district. Over the next several weeks, students and teachers across the district will participate in several exercises to better understand these concepts and to reflect on how they perceive these skills in themselves. The information gained will support the school’s ability to provide comprehensive and timely support for your child. Students in grades 3-12 will be asked to complete the social emotional screening tool through the Panorama platform during an identified class time. The survey shouldn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to complete and students’ responses are kept completely confidential. For students in grades K-2 a screening will be completed via teacher feedback. We are asking that all of our students participate in the surveys, as their responses will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs. The results of the screener are compiled to identify students who may need additional support. Please read the attached letter to learn more about the screener, as well as how to consent and/or opt-out. Do not hesitate to reach out to one of our School Adjustment Counselors if you have any questions: Sarah Mielke at semielke@hudson.k12.ma.us or Tiago Goncalves at tagoncalves@hudson.k12.ma.us.
WELCOME MR. SERRA!
This year, Anibal Serra has transitioned into HPS' Bilingual Portuguese Language Acquisition Instructional Coach. Born in Portalegre, Portugal, Mr. Serra holds multiple Bachelor’s degrees in Education, a Master’s in Special Education, and a Ph.D. in Linguistics focused on the Portuguese-speaking community in Hudson. With 21 years of teaching experience across Europe, Africa, and Asia, he has held various roles from kindergarten through elementary, middle, and high school, up to the college level. In Africa and Southeast Asia, he designed and established high school libraries and local newspapers from the ground up, aiming to promote and celebrate local cultures and languages.
At Hudson High, where he taught for the past 10 years, Dr. Serra developed a comprehensive curriculum for all levels of Portuguese, covering both World Language and Heritage Language courses. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the school’s Medical Interpretation program. In recognition of his contributions, he received the "Superintendent's Award for Curriculum and Instructional Leadership" in 2015. As the newest instructional coach, Mr. Serra will be spending a lot of time at Farley, working primarily with our Dual Language teachers as our program continues to grow. Welcome to the Farley Family Anibal!
MEET OUR SROs!
The Hudson Police Department has a long-standing relationship with the Hudson Public School District that spans over two decades. The department currently has School Resource Officers assigned to the Hudson High School and the elementary and Quinn Middle School. During the school year, SRO’s spend their day at the campuses, working closely with school officials. They assist in campus safety, education, mentoring, and spend their days interacting with the students, parents and staff. Det. Chad Crogan and CRD Murf are assigned to the elementary schools and the Quinn Middle School, and SRO Samantha Costa is assigned to Hudson High School.
The Hudson Police Department acquired our community resource dog, Murf, in March of 2022. They got MURF through a generous donation from the Murphy Family to support our efforts in community engagement. MURF is an English Cream Golden Retriever from GOFI Dog (Golden Opportunities for Independence). To qualify as a CRD through GOFI, both the dog and the handler must pass rigorous testing and titling through the American Kennel Club, starting with their Puppy STAR and progressing through Canine Good Citizen (CGC), CGC Advanced and Urban, and finally passing GOFI’s own Public Access Test. The main objective of having a CRD is to bring communities together. CRD’s are an exciting development in police work, providing a valuable resource to communities in need. With their extensive training and public access capabilities, they are well- suited to serve as trusted partners to law enforcement agencies and provide a valuable service to the public. Murf spends time with kids across all grade levels. Just recently, Murf joined our Fun Run Reward Inflatable race. Throughout the year, you might find him reading to students or being read to, hanging out at lunch, or playing with kids at recess. MURF is essentially a celebrity.
DISTRICT-WIDE INTEGRATED MONITORING INFO
Please read the following message from the DESSE:
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Hudson Public Schools during the week of November 4th, 2024. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.
Hudson Public Schools will be undergoing a Group B monitoring review that addresses special education teacher and related service personnel licensure and professional development; parent, student, and community engagement, including compliance with Child Find requirements; facilities and classroom observations; implementation and oversight of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); time and learning, and equal access.
The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.
Hudson Public Schools will host an orientation about the review process in collaboration with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.
Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Jesus Pena, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3767 to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html.
THE FARLEY FAMILY DIRECTORY IS HERE!
The SECOND draft of the Farley Family directory is now available. Thank you to Sarah Tracy for creating this resource. If you still want to be part of the directory, please still sign up!
Here is the link to last year's directory: Farley Family Directory
Still want to sign up? Click this link: https://forms.gle/eEQg6ZaSBnDqoDko7
Please email her @ sarah.tracy97@gmail.com if you have any questions
JOIN US-ALL ARE WELCOME!
Here is the link to join online: meet.google.com/goh-pzio-oev.
WHAT IS A "HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION"?
For those who are new to Farley here is information again on what exactly a "Home and School Association?
The Home and School Association is an organization made up of students’ caregivers for the purpose of supporting the education of children at Farley Elementary by fostering relationships among the school, families, and teachers. The Home and School Association provides a vital and much-appreciated service to school leadership and the entire school community. The activities sponsored by the Home and School are designed to build community and enhance learning.
As a caregiver of a Farley student, you automatically become a member of Home and School and are welcome to attend our monthly meetings (either in person or virtually) as well as take an active role as a volunteer in our school.
Here are some of the amazing ways the Home and School Association (HASA for short) has supported our school in the past:
· The HASA has hosted numerous events and provided volunteers when needed. Here are are just a few examples of the events: the Book Fair, the Farley Fun Day, the Valentine's Dance, Farley Gives Back Bingo Night, the Ice Cream Social, and so many more.
· The HASA has provided funds for field trips and sponsored cultural assemblies
· The HASA puts on the Farley Fun Run-our only fundraiser of the year which has provided funds to upgrade our library, create an outdoor classroom in our courtyard, and most recently enhance our playground.
Pleas join Farley's Home and School Association's monthly meetings. More information to come on the day meetings will be held. Free childcare is always provided for these meetings.
Just in case you don't have Farley's Home and School's Facebook link--here it is:
DISTRICT-WIDE ATTENDANCE LETTER NOTIFICATION
We are now one month into the 2024-2025 school year and I know that you have many hopes and dreams the days to come. To make sure those hopes and dreams are realized, I want to ask for your commitment to making sure your child attends school every day possible this year. The evidence is clear: children with good attendance are more likely to be successful in school and in life. Research shows that high attendance rates in elementary school are directly linked directly to high student achievement. Every day counts. Missing school even 10% of the time has a significant negative impact on reading and math achievement as children progress through school.
Good attendance starts early. Research has shown that the attendance habits established Kindergarten through Grade 2 have lasting effects on students throughout their education: children with high attendance in the early grades continue to have good attendance; and students with low attendance in the early grades are more likely to have low attendance—and lower academic performance—throughout their elementary and middle school years.
As caregivers, you are your child’s most influential teacher, I am asking for your support in helping your child get to school every day and to get to school on time by 8:35 every day. We realize that every family faces challenges. Please let your child’s teacher know if your family needs help dealing with a challenge to your child’s good school attendance. We will do our best to help you and your family ensure that your child’s school attendance stays on track.
Like last year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has mandated that families, whose children have 5 or more absences or 5 or more tardies be formally notified, in written form, of their child’s attendance. While Farley keeps accurate records of which absences are “excused” and “unexcused” the DESE does NOT distinguish between “excused” and “unexcused” absences.
Each school in the district will be emailing these letters home twice month. Please do not worry if you have received one of these notifications. We understand that kids, especially elementary age, get sick more often, have medical appointments, etc. We also understand that Covid-19 and the flu are still an issue. Farley staff always reaches out personally if attendance or tardies are a true concern. We like to work with families to help rectify any attendance issues that arise.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR PICK-UP/DROP-OFF STAFF
For the safety and well-being of both students and staff, the Farley teachers at car pick-up and drop-off kindly ask that drivers not use cell phones while in line. They would like caregivers to refrain from taking pictures and videos of kids walking into school as well. Thank you in advance for help with this.
PAW PRINT STICKERS EXPLAINED!
Students get Paw Print Stickers for going above and beyond. When a staff member "catches" them doing something spectacular, they get two stickers-one to wear and one to put on their homeroom Fox poster. When their classroom Fox poster fills up with stickers, they get to have a classroom celebration. If you see a paw print on your child's clothing or backpack, please ask them what good deed they did to receive the sticker!
A REQUEST FROM A RESIDENT
A few of the residents who live on Lincoln Street asked me to remind all car pick-up drivers, to please refrain from parking in front of the driveways on Packard or Lincoln Streets while waiting for pickup. Blocking driveways makes it difficult for residents to access their homes. Within the next few weeks, car pick-up will be so fast that this shouldn't be problem. But for now, please be mindful of where your care is idling. The residents thank you in advance for your cooperation.
WE ARE HIRING!
FARLEY'S NEW VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS
Vision:
Farley Elementary School prepares all of its students with the academic and social-emotional skills they need to thrive as thoughtful, creative, and curious citizens who value diversity and lifelong learning.
Mission:
Farley Elementary School is a safe and inclusive community where everyone feels seen and valued. We inspire and empower all of our members to grow, explore, and ignite a love of learning. We value creativity, curiosity, global citizenship, and equity and believe our cultural and linguistic diversity makes us stronger.
Farley Elementary School
Email: rscanlon@hudson.k12.ma.us
Website: https://cafarley.hudson.k12.ma.us/
Location: 119 Cottage Street, Hudson, MA, USA
Phone: 978-567-6153
District Resources:
Civil Rights Coordinator- Jennifer Allard jnallard@hudson.k12.ma.us
Title IX Coordinator- Jennifer Allard jnallard@hudson.k12.ma.us
Director of Student Services- Catherine Kilcoyne cakilcoyne@hudson.k12.ma.us
District 504 Coordinator-Catherine Kilcoyne cakilcoyne@hudson.k12.ma.us
McKinney Vento Contact-Catherine Kilcoyne cakilcoyne@hudson.k12.ma.us
Foster Care Point of Contact-Catherine Kilcoyne cakilcoyne@hudson.k12.ma.us