HES Shark Scoop

Dear HES Families and Caregivers,

The final week of the school year is always a mix of emotions, but this year was truly one of the most meaningful and memorable in recent memory.

Our 4th Grade Step Up Ceremony was incredibly special. This class has grown into such a tightly knit group, and it showed in how fiercely they cheered for each other’s successes. Watching them sing to us and play their musical instruments with absolute gusto was a moment none of us will soon forget.

Meanwhile, our K-3 students took part in our beloved annual Step Up Day tradition, visiting next year’s teachers and classrooms on the final day to get a sneak peek at the exciting adventures ahead.

From cheering for our amazing retirees and perfect attendees to the emotional tradition of "clapping out" our departing fourth graders at the end of the day, the energy was unmatched. We wrapped it all up on Friday with our whole-school slideshow, which turned into a full-blown celebration with Sharks singing, dancing, and reliving the best moments of the year.

We want all of our Sharks to keep their brains active over the break! To help mitigate the summer slide, we highly encourage students to log into iReady MyPath for both reading and math practice. Just 39 minutes per week total is all it takes to keep those skills sharp and ready for the fall!

Thank you for every kind word, high five, and gesture of appreciation you extended to our staff during these final weeks and throughout the year. We appreciate your partnership more than words can say.

We wish everyone a fantastic, safe, and joyful summer. Please remember that our doors are always open. If you need anything at all or just want to chat, don't hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,

Christie

Thursday, August 20 -- Kindergarten First Bus Ride (Tentative Date)

Wednesday, August 26 -- PTO Ice Cream Social 3-4:30 Playground

Tuesday, September 1 -- First Day of School Grades 1-4

Thursday, September 3 -- First Day of School Kindergarten

Friday, September 4 -- No School

Monday, September 7 -- Holiday No School

Tuesday, September 8 -- First Day of School PreK

Wednesday, September 9 -- Early Release 1:35 pm Dismissal

Wednesday, September 23 -- Early Release 1:35 pm Dismissal

If you missed our last Parent University, focused on literacy for all ages and how to support reading and writing over the summer, you can watch the video recording and find the presentation on our website. You can also find information about Summer Reading for all grades on our website.

As Robin Millen prepares to transition to Superintendent in the coming months, she will be available to families for conversations and questions.

Parent/caregiver virtual drop-in office hours

• Wednesday, June 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 22, 12-2 p.m.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join these virtual sessions with Dr. Millen at any time during the noted time frame to ask questions, share feedback, or offer suggestions. Stay tuned for more opportunities to share input and ask questions. She is also holding similar sessions for faculty, staff, and students.

As work begins on Phase 1 on the Monomoy Middle School Renovation Project, with the siding and windows being replaced, we are planning for Phase 2 - replacing the roof. The roof replacement work is necessary to protect our Towns’ investment in the middle school and the work currently being done to install new windows and siding. The roof project must be approved at Town Meeting in both towns next month, and at the ballot, in order to move ahead. You can find Phase 1 project updates, Phase 2 information, and a number of frequently asked questions on our website.

Did you know that you can use tools right in your web browser to translate any website you are visiting?

• The Monomoy website has translation tools accessible by clicking the button at the upper left corner of the site.

• When visiting any website, you can set your browser to translate the content.

• Aspen is our Student Information System, where you can see your student’s grades and other important information. Aspen allows users to change the default language from English to Haitian Creole, Spanish, or Portuguese. If you need translation to another language, you can use your browser settings to do so.

• We have shared details and instructions on our website for how to adjust these settings.

• You can find more information on our website about other translation tools we have available in our schools.

If you have problems using any of these tools, please email webmaster@monomoy.edu.

SUN Bucks applications are now open! SUN Bucks is a food benefit for families with children during the summer months, previously known as Summer EBT. SUN Bucks provides a $120 lump-sum summer benefit per school-aged child for income-eligible families. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance in partnership with DESE and with assistance from schools. All enrolled students identified as meeting the income eligibility standards for free or reduced-price lunch during school year 2025-26, either through an NSLP household paper application or direct certification, are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks. Students identified as homeless, migrant, runaway or participating in Head Start are also automatically eligible. Students who do not meet the aforementioned criteria can apply for SUN Bucks benefits through DTA by visiting www.DTAConnect.com.

Ms. Allyson Joy, Assistant Principal

Email: ccutone@monomoy.edu
Website: https://www.monomoy.edu/Domain/9
Location: 263 South Street, Harwich, MA, USA
Phone: 508-430-7216