Marathon Memo

April 14 - 17

Spirit Week

Details Below

Friday, April 18

Good Friday

No School

April 21 - 25

Spring Recess

No School

April 14 - 17 will be Spirit Week at Marathon. Spirit Weeks are a fun way to encourage school spirit, a positive culture, and unity among students and staff.

Monday, April 14: Tie Dye Day

Wear Tie-Dye!

Tuesday, April 15: Team Day

Wear your favorite team/sports gear!

Wednesday, April 16: Rainbow Day

Wear every color of the rainbow!

Thursday, April 17: Marathon Day

Wear your running gear!

Let’s talk about science! Following an independent review of our elementary science/technology/engineering (STE) curriculum and instruction, we are in the process of implementing a three-year transition to Curious Science, a cohesive, coherent, standards-based K-5 STE curriculum. This implementation includes the gradual introduction of units over three years, which have been launched with professional development to support this transition. As this work progresses, Curious Science units will replace previously taught units. Social Studies (CDJ) and Science unit instruction alternates.

Since last year, teachers have engaged in multiple professional development sessions to support unit implementation. Kindergarten students engaged in the We are Kindergarten Scientists unit, and first-grade students engaged in the Introduction to First Grade Science and Engineering unit. These units were highly successful from both student and teacher perspectives.

The accessible, hands-on approach and the use of a science notebook have sparked excitement for all. In May, the HPTO will fund Janet MacNeil, the primary author of the Curious Science curriculum, to visit first-grade classes for outdoor science lessons. We want to make this an annual enrichment: a guest celebrity scientist. Students have “met” Janet through video lessons; she is a celebrity in the eyes of many at Marathon! Ask your child to tell you about being a scientist.

We now have a Pride Squadlocker Store where merchandise with the Hillers/All Means All logo is displayed.

If you are interested in contributing to the Pride Committee, please send an email to hps_pridecommittee@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.

On Tuesday, May 13 the HTPO will host the Scholastic Spring Book Fair in the gymnasium. Across the hall in the cafeteria, we will host Bingo for Books. Save the Date! Details will be in the May edition of the Marathon Memo.

Special Education Preschool Teacher, Chelsea Bradway, successfully submitted a proposal for a Winged Foot. Learn more about this project that involved the entire Marathon School Community:

GREAT NEWS- Our Marathon Elementary School design was accepted for the 2025 Winged Feet exhibition by the Hopkinton Center for the Arts and the 26.2 Foundation for the Boston Marathon! It is the 100th year that Hopkinton served as the starting line of the Boston Marathon.

WHAT - The idea is for the students to make their mark by dipping their fingers in paint and using them as a paintbrush to paint the winged foot. Doing so, students and staff created a bright, colorful winged foot showcasing their joy and beauty. This was done in art class, preschool classrooms and the lobby. Through collaboration, it is the hope of inspiring all humans to see that as a community, if we work together, we can make the world beautiful. Our approximately 2 feet wide by 3-foot-high exterior art installation will be mounted to a metal pole resting at eye level. Think of all the people that will see it!

WHEN- Our winged foot will be displayed from April 6th through April 27th. The Boston Marathon is on April 21st. The artwork will be available for auction, and the proceeds will support the HCA and the 26.2 Foundation.

RECEPTION- The reception for the Winged Feet Exhibition will be on Saturday, April 12th at 4 PM at the Hopkinton Town Common where the feet are installed.

"I am so excited to create Art with all of the Marathon Community!" Chelsea Bradway

Happy Spring!

In April, we are looking forward to many springtime music activities as we welcome the chirping of birds, the rain, which helps our flowers grow, and playing outside on a sunny, warm day.

Recently, the Grade One students have become experts at four beat rhythmic patterns and the Kindergarten children are doing a fine job showing their understanding of rhythms of favorite nursery rhymes. We have been dancing and singing and composing music too!

First-grade musicians had a great time playing rhythm bingo. As they were playing, they noticed that they became more and more proficient with their understanding of the concept of rhythm. In March, they enjoyed a circle dance from Ireland and enjoyed hearing me play a jig on my sopranino composer - a tiny recorder with a very high sound! Most first-grade classes have now completed writing their composed song, “The Swing,” on the staff. After weeks of work, they proudly took them home! Your children love to sing The Month of the Year song. “March” is all about the blowing wind, and April will be about how the clouds bring showers. The history and cultural aspect of music involves the study of great composers and the music of other cultures. We sing many songs from other countries and are continuing our study of the Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeaus Mozart. Soon, we will have a fun time doing some movement activities along with Mozart’s delightful music.

Kindergarten children can easily notate the rhythms of our sweet, well-known nursery rhymes. Most recently, they are showing their expertise at writing the rhythms of ‘Little Miss Muffet’ and ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’. Along with their rhythmic notation, they are now creating their own colorful pictures depicting the rhymes. They love to contribute their ideas as to how they can personalize their pictures by adding trees, grass, birds, butterflies, sky, rainbows, clouds, sunshine, etc. Your children learned about the pentatonic (five-note) scale and how they can transfer our song, “We Are Growing,” from the glockenspiels to the black keys of a piano/keyboard. The classes will soon sing about flowers and playground fun as they learn “Spring has Sprung.” They loved playing “Leprechaun Through My Window.” They laughed joyfully as they danced the jig, enjoying the cultural traditions of Ireland. They were intrigued by the music of Antonio Vivaldi. They already heard ‘Winter’ from The Four Seasons. In April, they will listen for the tweeting birds and the thunderstorm in “Spring.”

Musically Yours,

Mrs. Moran

First Grade: June 10

Kindergarten: June 11

General rain dates: June 12 & 13

Our Wellness Teachers in collaboration with the HPTO coordinate station rotations on our recess field for Field Day fun each June.

This is a student event with parent volunteers facilitating the different station activities. Field Day is not a spectator event.

The HPTO will coordinate volunteers - details to follow.

Volunteers need a CORI on file with the Hopkinton Public Schools. If you plan to volunteer, check to see if your CORI is up-to-date at moffice@hopkinton.k12.ma.us or stop by the Marathon Office to complete the form with a picture ID (driver’s license or passport) between 10:00 am - 2:00 pm to complete your CORI application.

SEPAC has asked our Marathon Elementary School special educators, related service providers, and paraprofessionals to make a wish list of items that would be helpful in their work with students with special needs. (Example: therapy supplies, items for the classroom, equipment for learning ADLs, or anything that would be helpful to students). The goal is to provide enriching materials that further the work that our educators do every day. Similar to how a PTO provides additional educational items and supplies, Project SHARK hopes to add materials and supplies that enhance and add on to classroom materials.

SEPAC is proud to support our amazing teachers. We hope that this project puts a spotlight on special education, the phenomenal work of our educators, and the different needs of students with disabilities.

Donate to Marathon Elementary School Project SHARK in 2 ways:

• Amazon.com Wish List – search “Hopkinton SEPAC” or use this link here.

• Don’t forget to include a note of thanks to our wonderful educators in the “Gift Message.”

• We want to thank families that donate! – Optional: Click “Share your default shipping address.”

• Donate the following gently used items (Email ESeekell@gmail.com to arrange delivery):

• K-1 Intensive Learning Specialist Classrooms

• Flexible seating

• Sensory equipment

• Sensory materials

• Toys for K-1

• Games

• Fine motor activities

• Speech Therapy

• Games

• Occupational Therapy

• Board games for children age 3+

• Fine motor toys and activities for ages 2+

• Adjustment counselor

• Games

Extended School Year (ESY) 2025 Info Session – Virtual Seminar

April 8, 2025, at 7 pm

Zoom link:

https://tinyurl.com/HOPESY2025

Pizza Party at the Playground

May 3, 2025, from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Marathon Elementary School playground (behind the school)

If it rains, we will meet in the cafeteria and gym.

Join us for pizza and fun at the playground. We will also have snacks, sports, and crafts.

Please RSVP to our free event by 4/30. RSVP here.

For people experiencing homelessness, the need for new, white socks is critical. Spending hours on their feet, with walking as their primary mode of transportation, and being exposed to extreme weather conditions, too often, the people served by BHCHP face painful infections and avoidable health complications when unable to access new, clean socks. Each day, BHCHP relies on donations of new, white socks to distribute to more than 10,000 patients. By participating in this sock drive, you will provide patients with a basic essential to protect their health and give them comfort and dignity.

Please join the Jochim Family in donating new, white socks for the Red Sox Foundation. You can also donate by Venmo to @DianneJ10 with “Sox for Socks” in the message tab. We will be collecting until June 10th at all our local schools. Just look for our donation box at the entrance, and then we will deliver all the New White Socks to Fenway in August when they have their Sox for Socks drive. If you happen to be at the game, come say “Hi,” as we will also be working the main gate that weekend.

You're invited to try Girl Scouts with us! On May 19th at 5 pm, at the Hopkinton Library Betty Strong Room, we will have an Animal Dance Party. This includes a hands-on activity for kids, an overview of our programs for caregivers, and an opportunity to meet other families who are interested in participating in a local Girl Scout troop.

Let us know you’re coming here: https://www.gsema.org/eventrsvp3

Interested but unable to attend? Let’s get in touch! https://www.gsema.org/en/get-involved/more-info-region-3.html

Contact us at: moffice@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

Arrival Procedures

Dismissal Procedures

Lauren Dubeau, Principal

Eric Mitchell, Assistant Principal

Mark Campbell, Administrative Assistant

Rosemary Tabakin, Administrative Assistant