Hansen Weekly Update

Hello Hansen Families,

This was an exciting week of school! We had our 'First Friday', welcomed our Kindergarteners to Hansen, and had an almost full week of school! There was also a lot of progress made on our Front Playground (pictures below), and while we don't have an exact date on it's completion, it is looking more and more like an excellent and exciting space that will be enjoyed by all of our students!

In classrooms, students and staff became more familiar with each other and have already started building those ever-important lasting relationships that help a school year get off to a strong start. Routines and expectations are becoming more familiar, students appear more adept at transitions and following directions quickly, and there is palpable excitement in the air in every classroom as learning opportunities are being embraced with enthusiasm!

Each new school year, school buildings say hello to new educators and bid goodbye to dear colleagues and friends, and that is true at our school as well. Later this month, we will wish a fond farewell to Mrs. Allison Hoff, who has anchored our special education department and been a valued administrator and colleague at the Hansen Elementary School. Please join me in wishing Mrs. Hoff well in her new endeavor, when she leaves us in a couple of weeks!

Finally, I hope everyone has a restful and rejuvenating weekend, as we prepare for our first 'full week of school', beginning Monday at 8:20 a.m.!

With Hansen Pride,

Paul McKnight

Principal

Hansen Elementary School

• Sept. 10th: CAPT mtg., 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., Hansen Library

• Sept. 10th: Instrument Rental Night, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m in the CHS cafeteria (4th / 5th graders only)

• Sept. 11th: School Council Mtg. 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Hansen Library

• Sept. 11th: Open House, Gr. 2-5, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

• Sept. 18th: Early Release, Staff Professional Development

• Sept. 20th: Hansen Family Movie Night 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. (Parking Lot)

**Attention parents - our Hansen Elementary School's start / end times are now 8:40 a.m. and 2:55 p.m. If they are at their bus stop on time every day, and/or dropped off at 8:20 a.m., when doors open, they won't face the stress of being late, and learn the value of being on time.

Attached is this year's school calendar for you, below:

On the First Day of Kindergarten, parents had a chance to meet each other and share in the mixed emotions of the 'first drop-off' and enjoy some refreshments at the CAPT - Sponsored BooHoo & Yahoo Breakfast!

Instrument rental night is Tuesday, September 10th from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m in the CHS cafeteria.

Instrument Classes in Canton Elementary Schools:

GRADE 5: Students in grade 5 can choose between band (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone), strings (violin, viola, cello, bass), or general music (classroom music similar to grades K-4). Classes are free of charge, and are taught during the school day. Here is the registration link.

GRADE 4: Students in grade 4 have general music during the school day. In addition they can choose to be in strings class (violin, viola, cello, bass). Strings classes are free of charge but happen before the school day on Friday from 7:40 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. Here is the fourth grade registration link. You will need to arrange transportation to school the morning of your child's class. Strings Class will begin this Friday.

The classes themselves are free of charge, families only need to provide an instrument and method book for their child’s use. Families with financial need may be able to borrow an instrument from the school. Please email Catherine Eckersley at eckersleyc@cantonma.org if there is financial need.

You and your child should have a thoughtful conversation about the choice of instrument and group class they will participate in this year.

Rental Night For Parent Convenience:

Easy Use Rental Website

You may pre-order an instrument and pick it up on rental night OR you can shop and arrange your rental that night! YOU DO NOT NEED TO PRE ORDER TO ATTEND THE RENTAL NIGHT AND RECEIVE AN INSTRUMENT.

Instrumental music teachers will be on hand to answer questions and assist with registration. Students who will play a string instrument need to be measured for the appropriate sized instrument. Find more information about our vendors here.

Encore - Private Lessons in Canton Public Schools

For the benefit of student learning, busy families and to support the Canton music department, private lessons are offered in our district schools. We have an extremely talented faculty to provide your child with one-on-one attention and support. Private lessons are not required, but are highly recommended. Use this link to learn more.

MusicCounts!

A group of musically motivated parents come together every month to support all the music students and the music program in Canton. Through their fundraising, we are able to provide scholarships for lessons, offer enrichment programs, purchase expensive instruments and equipment to enhance the curriculum. Please consider becoming a member or volunteering. Click here to learn more.

A reminder that Wed., Sept. 11th, from 6 -7 p.m. is our Open House for families of 2nd - 5th grade students. Come and visit our school and your child's classroom!

Hello Hansen Families,

We are grateful for the opportunity to run these after school programs with the Hansen Elementary school. Please take a moment to look through the flier and see if our programs are of interest. We are offering grades K-2 Super Sports. Students will play a variety of sports and games each week. We are also offering grades 3-5 Flag Football and Dodgeball. When the weather is nice we will be outside playing flag football and on rainy days we will have dodgeball in the gym. We hope you will join us for all the fun this fall. (See Flier Below for Sign Up Info!)

Thank you!

F.A.S.T. Athletics

Parents, if you are dropping off your student in our arrival line, please remember to stay in your vehicle. School staff will help your children exit when it is safe, and we'd ask that you not get out to assist, please. This way we know who is crossing, and our drop-off line moves in a fluid manner.

Thank you!

If your child rides the bus, please remind them that they are expected to behave in a safe manner at all times on the bus. Standing up, yelling, throwing objects or engaging in verbally or physically unsafe or inappropriate behaviors will not be tolerated. Students who don't meet those expectations will be removed from the bus to ensure our bus drivers can safely transport students to and from school.

Thank you in advance for helping us ensure everyone riding the bus is safe this year!

We're excited to enhance our communication with you through Powerschool, our new portal for student information. To access your child's academic progress, attendance records, and more, please visit the PowerSchool Parent/Guardian sign in page. If you need to request your credentials to set up an account for the Powerschool Parent Portal, please submit a request here.

In addition to the portal, we're introducing a convenient text messaging feature to keep you updated on important school announcements. To opt in, simply text Y or yes to 67587.

Thank you for your partnership in your child's education!

Our bus company, First Student has introduced an app for you to use to track the bus your child is on each day called FirstView. Click here for more information on this new opportunity for bus parents to have real time information on bus arrivals.

Parents, please click on the following link for the CPS Elementary Student / Family Handbook

It has a lot of important information that we'd like to share with you, so please make sure to review it.

A letter will be coming out from the district soon with information and links on acknowledgement, receipt and review of the handbook, along with other annual forms for parents to review and return.

Thank you!

Canton Association of Parents and Teachers (CAPT) Membership Renewal OR Registration

Now is the time to renew your Canton Association of Parents and Teachers (CAPT) Membership or join for the first time! Thank you in advance for your annual contribution. Without you, our organization could not provide the support for Hansen in-school programming, field trips, community-building events, and more!

Renew or register here: https://forms.gle/u7FEc3KRVj5wi3Et9. (Printable Membership Form - can be returned at an upcoming meeting or to the school.)

Questions about CAPT? Visit our website: https://sites.google.com/view/hansen-capt

First CAPT Meeting:

The first Hansen CAPT meeting of the year is Tuesday September 10, 7-8pm in the Hansen Library. The meeting agenda will be shared and posted on the CAPT website ahead of the meeting.

If you are not able to attend in person, please join us on Zoom. (Meeting ID: 308 252 7330 Passcode: 567740.) Everyone is welcome to join us after the meeting for socializing at Trillium in the lounge area!

Upcoming Meeting Dates (7pm, Hansen library and via same Zoom link as above)

October 8

November 12

December 10

Room Parent Signup:

If you are interested in being a Room Parent this year, please sign up using this form: https://shorturl.at/GOZZ7. Sign up by September 12.

Volunteer Interest:

Many hands make light work! We couldn't hold the following Hansen community events without the help of volunteers like you. Whether you are interested in aiding the event team in planning an event or want to be the first to know when volunteer signups are distributed, CAPT would love your help with our planned events!

Fill out this form to show interest: https://forms.gle/QZJJz9xjrNfj4GXe8

NOTE: This does not commit you to the event, but will help the CAPT team reach out as we plan.

This year we've introduced a new SEL curriculum to our classrooms - Wayfinder. For access to a visual outlining Wayfinder's 'Core Skills + Competencies' which the instructional curriculum is based, click here . Thank you!

Need Family Assistance?

Family Resources

Canton Helpline

Canton Food Pantry

Canton Farmers Market

The Canton Farmers Market also accepts SNAP and HIP

Canton Holiday Helpers

Quincy Family Resource Center

My Brother's Keeper

How to Get Help | The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Boston

More support:

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Chat online or call 800-273-8255

The Trevor Project Lifeline

Support For LGBTQ+ Youth

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Text NAMI to 741741