Mary Hogan Family News

We are almost at the start of school. The faculty and staff have been working hard to get everything ready to welcome students for the Community Welcome Back Day on Tuesday 8/25 and the first day of school on 8/26!

As you start to think about transitioning kids back into school, HERE is a great resource. There are 7 recommendations for you to help your child make this change feel more successful:

1. Slowly Bring Back School Routines
2. Build Excitement About School
3. Visit the School - You can do this on Tuesday 8/25!
4. Shop for School Supplies Together
5. Set Fun Goals
6. Keep One Summer Tradition Alive
7. End the Summer with Encouragement

Read the article for more info about each one! They are GREAT suggestions.

See you all soon enough!

💙,
Jen

We are so excited to welcome you to Mary Hogan in the morning on Tuesday 8/25/26, the day before the first day of school.

• 9-10.30 - 📖 Classroom visits 🏫- Families can visit their new classrooms (and their former classes) and connect with their teachers this year.
• Families can also:
• Sign up to volunteer at Mary Hogan - or check that you are already set up.
• Connect with some community resources
• 10.30-11.30 - 🎒Getting ready to go back to school 🍎- Come learn and experience some learning with us
• 🎵🎨 Explore the library, art, music, PE, and spanish classes and learn more about what your students will be learning
• ⏰ Stop by the North Gym and learn about building morning routines, our school meals, counseling work and more!
• 11.30 - Popsicles on the playgroud 🛝 - Bring a picnic lunch and grab a popsicle and enjoy the playground!

In the photo (L to R): Jen Kravitz (principal), Matt DeBlois (assistant principal), Michael Dudek (student response coordinator)

Matt is joining us at Mary Hogan this year after 10 years as principal at Vergennes Union Elementary School (and 13 as a principal in ANWSD). He is the lead administrator for student services, food, coordinated service plans. So, if you have questions about these, please reach out to him at mdeblois@acsdvt.org or 802.382.1413.

FUN Facts about Matt:

• He worked at a radio station in college as a DJ.
• He plays baseball in a 40 and over league all over Vermont.
• He has been a paperboy, worked at Wendy's, picked and packed auto parts for shipping all over the world, did calf chores, tutored, and worked for an electrician in the past.
• Last, he was once forklift certified by OSHA. I am not sure how so you should ask him about it!

This is Mike's 2nd full year at Mary Hogan as Student Response Coordinator. He is the lead administrator for: counseling, social emotional, & behavioral supports; transportation & the bus; truancy; Hazing, Harassment, & Bullying (HHB); Student Council; and McKinney Vento Act.

FUN Facts about Mike:

• He swam in a competitive swimming invitational in St. Croix as a teenager.
• He likes to think that he can beatbox.
• He has traveled to over 10 countries, including Austria, Germany, Poland, and Mexico.
• He is a first-generation American.
• He is currently building a treehouse for his daughter.

MIDDLEBURY - Please note that the buses will now be using a new numbering system. Middlebury buses are: Bus #6, Bus #7, Bus #8, Bus #9, and Bus #10. Four of the five Middlebury Routes have also been adjusted to optimize ride time and capacity.

#6 (Sonya)

#7 (Angela/AJ)

#8 (Nerf)

#9 (Carol)

#10 (Kelly)

Stops have been eliminated from Valley View Dr., South Village Green, and South Ridge (beyond MUMS)

• Students who live on South Ridge beyond MUMS can get on/off Bus 9 at MUMS.

Please make plans with your child before the school day begins so that they know how they are getting home from school. When this is not settled before school, it can lead to children becoming anxious and distracted during the school day, worrying about what their plans are for after school.

If possible, please send a schedule to your child’s teacher clarifying after school plans. Having these plans is particularly important for students who are in grades K-3, as well as students whose after school plans change on a daily basis. Knowing plans ahead of time allows us to reassure students who are worrying about where they are going after school.

If your child is taking a bus to a stop other than what their normal stop is, they will need a bus note that will be verified by the office and returned to your child. Then the child will need to present it to the driver when they get on the bus.

If your plans change after the school day begins, contact Lorrie Fundis in the Front Office to let her know of the change. Please do not just email the teacher, as they do not regularly check email during the day. Any changes after 2pm should be due to an emergency.

• 2.55pm - Classroom teachers bring their classes out as a whole to the car pick up location, leaving their classes at 2.55pm.
  • If parents/guardians/designees want to pick up a child in person, they should walk. Those driving should park either in the north lot or at Memorial Sports Center and then walk over to meet their child.
  • If parents/guardians/designees want to pick up a child by vehicle, they will be directed to get into one of two lanes along the A Wing of school. If the driver is not a parent/guardian/designee, staff will check in with Lorrie or the classroom teacher. Staff will provide traffic control.
• 3pm - Teachers walk their remaining students to the bus and Mary Johnson After School program, where they would say goodbye to students.
• 3.05pm - Buses depart Mary Hogan for MUMS and MUHS pick ups before starting their route.

It is VERY important that vehicles continue to move through the lanes at dismissal. At no time during dismissal should you leave your car unattended. Stay in the line and a staff member will ensure your child is safely delivered to your car.

There is SO much more information about the school day, expectations, etc. in our Family Handbook. Click on the link below to access it from our website.

Every Season Change - because this can stay in their cubby if you want

• a change of clothes (including socks and underwear) so they have it just in case they need it.
• Shoes for PE (or send them in each PE day)
• Waterbottle (this can stay at school but you probably want to check that it is clean every so often)

Each Day

• A snack
• Appropriate clothes for outside (we will go out rain or shine and until it is 0 degrees)
• Lunch if they are not getting school lunch

Our school day is from 8am until 3pm. Below you will find arrival and dismissal details as well as other school day information.

K-5 Arrival and Breakfast 🥞 🍳

• 7.45 - Doors open - students may begin arriving for breakfast
  • Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grades
    • Enter through Main Entrance
    • Breakfast Served in North Gym 🧇
    • Seating is at tables by grade
  • 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades
    • Enter through South Gym Doors
    • Breakfast Served in South Gym 🥚🍞
    • Seating is at tables. Students have choice over where they sit.
    • Older siblings of a K-2 students can sit with their siblings in the North Gym.
    • Not eating? Head to the library 🎲📚 to read or quietly play a board game
  • Breakfast expectations are the same as our lunchroom expectations:
    • Find a seat that you want to sit in
    • Use an inside voice
    • Use walking feet

• 8.00 - The school bell rings. 🔔 🏫
  • Students already in the building are dismissed to class.
  • Students arriving at 8.00 may grab a to-go breakfast that will be available to eat during snack time.
  • Students in grades K-2 enter through the main doors; 3rd-5th enter through the South Gym doors.

• 8.08 - Doors are staffed until this time, then they will be closed in order to safely secure the building.
• 8.10 - Instruction begins. Students must be in class to be marked present and on time.

• Students will be marked tardy if they arrive in class after 8:10 am. Students arriving after 8.10 will need to check in at the Main Office.schoo

The MUHS Field Hockey team is excited to offer a fall field hockey clinic for youth interested in learning about the game! These weekly clinics led by high school players and coaches will touch on fundamental field hockey skills, teamwork, and game play. This clinic is open to players in 2nd-5th grade with any amount of experience. A stick selection is available for players who do not have their own stick. Players should bring their own shin guards, mouth guard, and water. Please notify MaKayla if your child is riding the bus and a Varsity player will meet them. We are hosting a total of four practices and one scrimmage. Please take note of the dates below. Registration funds support the MUHS Varsity Field Hockey Program.

Schedule:

Practices (3:45-4:45)–Wednesday 9/9, 9/16, 9/30, 10/14

Youth Day–9/23 @ 4:30 Come cheer on your Varsity Tigers at Jette Field!

Home Scrimmage (5:00-6:00)–Thursday 10/8 vs. Bristol

Location: MUHS Field Hockey fields (below high school football fields)

Cost: $60

Instructors: MUHS Field Hockey players and coaches (MaKayla Broughton & Tajah Marsden)

Contact: mbroughton@acsdvt.org

Register with the Middlebury Parks & Rec Dept.