What's Happening ?? !!

Dear Hawley Parents/Guardians, Staff and Teachers,

October was terrific; Welcome November! I hope you all weathered the storm and are safe with power, and your road is clear. Remember: Turn back those clocks tonight.....

Buckle up, keep your hands and feet in the car at all times, and stay seated as you read on to find out What's Happening at Hawley .......

We have a new Kindness Wall. We are on the look out for staff and students performing extraordinary acts of kindness that just stand out and need to be recognized. We have had students helping new students find their way, lending book fair money, picking/cleaning up without being asked, helping injured students carry things and get around, sharing school supplies, sitting with students at lunch that sometimes sit alone, etc. What a KIND school.

Here's a small sample and we'll keep looking!!!

A few times a year, we gather as a school for an assembly Celebrating what we do each day and how hard we work. We look at artwork, discuss books we are reading, the kindergarteners sing, we honor kindness, and guess who is who with staff baby pictures. A 4th grade class hosts and runs the show. Mr. Poeltl's class had the honors this round and it was terrific.

The Safe School Climate Committee meets monthly to discuss and plan for social-emotional learning at Hawley School. Classroom teachers, special area teachers, paraprofessionals, school counselor/psychologist, administration, and parents are all represented on the committee.

Each month, Hawley School will have an SEL focus. In November, our focus will be SELF-AWARENESS. Self-Awareness is the ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, & values and how they influence behavior while assessing strengths and limitations with confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.” Self-awareness includes:

• Identifying emotions

• Accurate self-perception

• Recognizing strengths

• Self-confidence

• Self-efficacy

To foster students’ self-awareness at school, we will make weekly announcements regarding the focus, as well as plan simple activities and discussions throughout the month. Specifically, we will be holding a Self-Kindness Day on Friday, November 22nd. On this day, students will reflect on their own strengths and interests and sign up for two activities of their preference (ex: painting, coloring, reading, etc.) that will be teacher led. More information will be coming!

Support Self-Awareness at home by asking your child the following questions:

• What things make you special?

• What is something you’re great at?

• What is something you want to be better at?

• How can you reach that goal?

• How do you like to work/learn at school/home?

• How can I help you?

If you have any questions, please contact Jenna Connors, Lead Teacher, or Kim Shapiro, School Counselor.

Learn more about Self-Awareness with this video: https://safeYouTube.net/w/Coov

Math Superstars is back! Participation is optional. The first worksheet was due yesterday but with no school that day due to the storm, you can send it in this week. Sign-up forms, worksheets and more information is located on the Hawley PTA website (under the student enrichment link) which you can access from the Hawley website.

Contact Nancy White with any questions. nancygwhite@yahoo.com

A Hawley Family has made a donation to our school out of the kindness of their heart. The money is being used to help create a Mindfulness Room. The room is designed for students to utilize to be mindful, reduce stress, take a break, relax, and prepare for success in the classroom.

With the donation, we purchased floor mats, beanbag chairs, electric candles, soft music and lighting. It has been very helpful to students.

On behalf of the staff and students of Hawley School, I thank you!!

The Newtown Fire Department comes to Hawley once a year to share with our students what they do and ways to prevent fires and how to be safe/what to do in the case of an emergency. They show the truck and the equipment that they use and our 4th graders even crawl through a smoke filled room. It is always a fun and informative day. Our Thanks to the NFD for their time and more importantly, for their service.

The PTA Monster Mash fundraiser is this upcoming Friday, 11/8/19, at the Reed School from 6:00-8:00 PM. There will be music, food, dancing, face painting and auction items for great prizes and fun activities with Hawley staff. Wear that costume one last time!

Click here for more information and to RSVP if you have not yet done so.

Our Fall Book Fair was a smashing success. That you to the PTA for arranging and to all the parent volunteers that gave of their time.

We recently held Parent-Teacher Conferences. We enjoy sharing with you the work we are doing with your child(ren) and ways you can support them as well. Thank you for coming in and for your partnership.

The PTA also provides staff with dinner on the evening conferences. It is so thoughtful and we thank you. It is much appreciated.

• When picking up your child early, we ask that you check in with security, go into the office to sign the student out and then remain in the office until your child comes to you.
  
• Lately, we are having a large number of student pick-ups between 3:15-3:30 PM. Although you certainly have the right to sign your child out of school at any time, I remind you that this is a very busy time of day. Students are returning from a special or chorus. Instruction is still occurring. Special activities are happening in classrooms. The office is answering phone calls and we are preparing for dismissal. I encourage you to please try to make it until the end of the day for regular dismissal.
• WALKERS: students that walk home do so because parents have filled out a form giving them permission. Part of the process on your end is to make sure they know a safe path home. There is almost always a police officer out front assisting with traffic and helping the students cross the busy street. In the event an officer is not there, we have told the students to simply return to the bus loop and tell a staff member and we will go help. Please review this with your walker as well.
• Our school counselor, Mrs. Shapiro shares a lot of information to help students emotionally through social media. Here is her information: www.instagram.com/elementarycounselingcorner & www.twitter.com/klaiso87

• Tues, 11/5: NO SCHOOL- Election Day!
• Fri, 11/8: Monster Mash- Reed School, 6:00-8:00 PM
• Mon, 11/11: Veteran's Day Celebration
• Tues, 11/12: Picture Re-takes
• Thurs, 11/21: PTA Meeting, 4:00-5:00 PM
• Fri, 11/22: Movie Night, 6:00 PM
• Wed, 11/27: 2 Hr Early Dismissal
• Thurs-Fri, 11/28-11/29: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Recess

Mr. M was walking students to the bus

"Which bus is yours?" Mr. M inquired

"37" a student replied

"Which one is 37" Mr. M continued

"That one" another student stated

"How do you know?" Mr. M giggled

"The 3 and the 7 on the side" the confused student answered

To which another student said to his friend, "He should really know that, right?"

Click HERE to see our Twitter page.

*For us to use your child's likeness, we need your permission. You can grant it via the ParentPortal.

Twitter: @hawley_school

Our website contains a tremendous amount of information and has the answers to most questions. PLUS, a staff directory/emails, handbooks, forms and more Click HERE to check it out!

Proud Hawley Principal

Email: morettic@hawley.k12.ct.us
Website: http://newtown.hawley.schooldesk.net/
Location: 29 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT, United States
Phone: 203.426.7666