Hamilton Happenings

We had a great first week back with our kids and are grateful to be back in our school routine!

We have our next Hawk Nest on Wednesday. Kids are encouraged to wear Hamilton spirit wear! Our next PTA meeting is on Thursday at 7 pm. As always, all are invited, and childcare will be provided. We will end our week by kicking off the Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser on Friday in a school-wide assembly.

• Tuesday, 1/14, 7 pm- 5th Grade Festival of Choirs Performance (and field trip performance during school day)
  
• Wednesday, 1/15, 3:10 pm- Hawk Nest #4
  
• Thursday, 1/16, 7 pm- PTA Meeting
• Friday, 1/17- 4th Grade STEMi Field Trip
• Friday, 1/17, 3:10 pm- Kids Heart Challenge Kickoff Assembly
• Monday, 1/20- MLK Jr. Day – No School
• Wednesday, 1/22- Half Day of School (12:59 dismissal); Teachers working on report cards.
• Thursday, 1/23- Half Day of School (12:59 dismissal); Teachers working on report cards.
• Friday, 1/24- Half Day of School (12:59 dismissal); Teachers working on report cards; end of first semester.
• Tuesday, 1/28, 6 pm- The Magic of Lights
• Tuesday, 2/4- Report Cards Released in PowerSchool Parent Portal
• Friday, 2/7, 6:30 - 8:30 pm- Hamilton Family Dance

Our second annual Magic of Lights cultural event will occur on Tuesday, 1/28 starting at 6 pm. Hamilton families will be sharing their traditions through table displays and performances. All are invited to attend, and there is no prior sign-up required! We can't wait to see your family there!

The Hamilton School Dance is just around the corner! Join us for a night full of music, dancing, and unforgettable memories! Please see the flyer and Q&As for additional details.

A few items to note:

• Space will be limited, so please make sure to sign up before space fills up.
  

• We are also looking for volunteers to assist with setup the day of the event.
  

To ensure a fun and safe experience for all students, all students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the dance; this is not a drop-off event.

Please reach out to Liz Waldman at evenetti@gmail.com if you have any questions. You don't want to miss out on this fun opportunity to dance the night away with your classmates. We can't wait to see you there!

We are excited to announce that we are accepting nominations for our 2024-2025 Outstanding Teacher of the Year! Please consider taking the time to nominate that special teacher who makes a difference in the lives of countless students. We look forward to celebrating our wonderful teachers!

TWO IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered. Every question must be answered: an answer of N/A or a single word is not considered complete.
   
2. Please be mindful of your nomination length.

The nomination form can be found here: https://forms.gle/q5NEcYKVNrqueh9C6

The deadline to nominate someone is Friday, January 17, 2025, at 5 p.m. Nominations will NOT be accepted after this date and time. If you have any questions, please email me at kmontante@troy.k12.mi.us.

Thank you so much for your willingness to nominate one of our fabulous teachers!

New this school year, all elementary schools have adjusted the formal communication plan with our families. All students will receive two report cards (one at the end of each semester - January and June), and all families will receive two parent-teacher conferences at the mid-point of each semester (October and March). This allows us to be in formal contact with every family four official times throughout the school year. As always, we welcome and encourage communication between home and school on a more frequent basis. We appreciate your partnership and are happy to discuss your children whenever the need arises.

Our first semester ends on January 24, 2025. Report cards will be available for parents to view on PowerSchool on February 4, 2025.

If your student did not yet order a yearbook, they will bring home a last-chance ordering form in their red folders next week. The last day to order by is February 7th.

Quack, Quack! The Heart Heroes are coming back! Our school is participating in the Kids Heart Challenge, kicking off on 1/17/2025 with a schoolwide assembly, and it’s time to sign up your student to become an official Heart Hero. This fundraiser is optional, but goes toward a great cause!

To Sign Up:

• Download the Free AHA Schools App for Apple or Android and click on “Register Now.” Then scroll down to join your school's team.
  
• Or click HERE and choose “Sign Up” to get started.

Thank you for your support! Together, we are building a Nation of Lifesavers!

The annual Martin Luther King Citywide Day of Service will occur on Monday, January 20, at Athens High School. We would be honored if you would consider joining us for this fantastic event.

We have two headline speakers for the event, Dr. Sarena Shivers and Greg Smith. Our event begins with breakfast at 8 a.m., with our program starting at 8:30 a.m., followed directly by several community service projects. Service projects this year include fleece blanket making, packing activity bags, packing parent support bags, packing bracelet-making kits, and a card-making station.

If you qualify for transportation, we strongly encourage students to ride the bus as it promotes independence and helps with traffic flow. The bus loop is directly in front of the school. For arrival, Hamilton support staff and 5th grade student safeties will be ready to direct your students from the bus loop to the exterior classroom door, which opens at 9:04 am.

For dismissal, your students will exit their exterior classroom door and load their bus beginning at 4:07 pm. Hamilton support staff oversee this process, and 5th grade safeties are trained to lead Kindergarten and 1st grade students to their buses.

While we strongly encourage using bus transportation if you qualify, you can also drive your student to school. The car loop is adjacent to the school. For arrival, Hamilton support staff will oversee your students walking from the car loop to their exterior classroom door. As early as 9:00 am your student can exit their car door and begin walking to their classroom door, which will open at 9:04 am. Parents should remain in the vehicle at all times.

You will notice that half of the parking lot in front of the school is for parent parking. At both arrival and dismissal, parents who wish to park and walk their students to their classroom may do so. This is a great option for parents with Kindergarteners. Students must be accompanied with their guardian as they walk across the parking lot.

For dismissal, your students will begin walking to the bus loop at 4:07 pm. 5th grade safeties will walk Kindergarten and 1st grade students to this location. Dr. Recker and several staff members will help direct traffic and kids into correct cars. In order to expedite this process, it is a good idea to have your student’s name and teacher’s name posted in the right side of the car window the first few weeks. Please pull all the way ahead and only load in the right lane. Please stay in the car during this process. When parents have multiple students, the older student is encouraged to stand with the younger students.

For arrival, please wait to enter campus until 9:00 am. You may either walk your child to their exterior classroom door or until they are safely on the sidewalk. There is also a bike rack for students to utilize.

For dismissal, please meet your child outside their exterior classroom door at 4:07 pm. When the teacher opens up the door at the end of the day, your child will be released directly to you.

School Address:

5625 Northfield Pkwy

Troy, MI 48098

School Hours:

• Full Days: 9:04 am - 4:07 pm
  
• Half Days: 9:04 am - 12:59 pm (no lunch service)

Phone Numbers:

• Attendance Line: 248-823-4401
• Main Office: 248-823-4400