Principal Nolan's Notes

December is a busy time for families and also for HES, with many fun activities on the calendar. Students had fun dressing up for HSO's Wacky Wednesday Beach day today! During this exciting time of year, learning is our consistent focus. This week we will wrap up i-Ready testing which will provide us with information about our students' growth and assist us in making instructional decisions. Continue to ask your child(ren) detailed questions about his/her learning and prioritize sleep, a healthy breakfast, and time to unwind with you. You are their first and most significant teacher day in and day out.

Assistant Principal DiMatteo and the HES Attendance Team worked hard behind the scenes to compile the long list of students that received the PAWSome Attendance Award for last month. Can you believe that despite the large number of illnesses floating around, 332 students (77% of our student population!) earned the PAWSome Attendance Award for the month of November? WOW!

Students that earn the PAWSome Attendance Award have missed zero or one day of school in the given month. Check out students in Mrs. Bannerman's 2nd grade class that earned this award for November. (pictured below) Amazing!

THANK YOU for your efforts to get your student(s) to school each day! We know that illness and other extenuating circumstances happen and students aren't always able to make it to school but it's important to celebrate when they do!

We want to celebrate all of the outstanding and "everyday" things that our Whip-Purs are doing around Hampshire when they are not at school. Our Whip-Purs Around Town bulletin board displays pictures of students and staff participating in activities ‘around town’ such as volunteering at the Food Pantry, ice skating, competing in a sports competition, going to the library, helping with grocery shopping, cooking, etc. The options are endless!

Please send in, or email, a picture to your child's teacher with a brief description of the activity shown. We will print it and add it to our shared bulletin board. Thank you!

Students and staff have the option of participating in our Holiday Spirit Week during the final week before winter break.

• Monday, 12/16 - Wear a holiday hat
• Tuesday, 12/17 - Wear RED
• Wednesday, 12/18 - Wear Green
• Thursday, 12/19 - Wear your holiday best!
• Friday, 12/20 - Wear pajamas

Students have worked hard to complete the winter i-Ready diagnostic during these last two weeks. HES will wrap up i-Ready testing on Friday, allowing individualized lessons to resume.

The office will work to print i-Ready reports for each student and send them home before winter break begins.

We will begin monitoring i-Ready efforts in Lessons Completed and Time on Task next week in order to award classes with the Top Banana Award in Reading and Math.

Thank you for staying connected to your child's i-Ready progress! HERE are directions to help you monitor your child's i-Ready weekly goals.

Please see the attached flyer for more information and join us at Hampshire High School on Friday, 12/20 for a Pack-the-Place event to support the basketball teams! We are continuing to collect items for the Hampshire/Burlington Food Pantry. Students get in free by bringing in a food item to donate to the Food Pantry. See you there!

12/11 - HSO Bingo Committee meeting 6:00 PM (Resource Center)

12/16 - Band/Orchestra/Chorus Concert 6:30 PM (HHS)

12/16 - Spirit Week begins (see above)

12/18 - HSO meeting 6:30 PM (Resource Center)

12/20 - End of Quarter 2

12/20 - Pack-the-Place Basketball Game & Food Drive 6:00 PM (HHS)

12/23-1/3 - No school (winter break)

1/6 - School resumes

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. Have a wonderful night!

Sincerely,

Jen Nolan

Hampshire Elementary School Principal

jennifer.nolan@d300.org