Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

It has been such a fantastic and full week here at Mary Hogan, even though we were only in school for 3 days. Despite a very wet and rainy start to our first day, teachers, staff, students, and families brought such positive energy into school that it must have been the reason the rain cleared out by mid-morning!

These first three days helped students get to know their new teacher and classmates, learn the routines of their new grade, and play. Throughout Mary Hogan, students were practicing together, supporting one another, and reached out a hand to help their peers - and the adults. I saw so many students and adults living up to school essential agreements of:

• We take care of ourselves.
• We take care of others.
• We take care of our space.
• We try our best.

I can't wait to see what next week will bring! Until, then, you will find lots of info below, including:

• Upcoming Events
• Important Back to School Info for Week 2
• Family Resources & Opportunities
• Photos of the week

Be well,

Jen

Monday 9/4 - Labor Day - No School

Tuesday 9/5 - First day of preschool!

Wednesday 9/6 - First Walk and Roll to School Day!

Thursday 9/7 - Picture Day (info and photo orders coming home on 9/1)

Friday 9/8 - Evacuation Drill

Thursday 9/14 - 6-7pm - Back to School Night

Thursday 9/21 - 6.30 - MESA Meeting in the Mary Hogan Library

Walk and Roll to School returns to Mary Hogan on Wednesday, September 6th. The Walk and Roll to School program celebrates students and staff who walk, bike, scooter, skateboard, take the bus, or carpool to school. The purpose of the program is to encourage more active, healthier, and sustainable transportation modes. Students who walk and roll receive a small prize upon arrival at school. Walk and Roll to School happens on the first Wednesday of each month (except for January) throughout the year. The program is run by Middlebury Safe Routes with assistance from MESA. Additionally, participation in the Walk and Roll to School program ensures that Mary Hogan can reserve the Local Motion bike trailer for PE classes at no cost.

Our two preschool classrooms will get their year started on Tuesday 9/5. We can't wait to have them join us for the school year. Their classes begin at 8.15, so you will be seeing families begin to park in the parking lot alongside A wing at that point.

If your child is in K-5 and tardy, please be careful and mindful of the preschool families at this time. Thanks for your help!

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

Welcome back! We are thrilled for another school year. Here is a little information about our role. Our goal is to provide support to students, families, and teachers to create a positive learning environment. We teach developmental classroom guidance lessons on life skills, facilitate skill-based small groups, assist students one on one, and connect students and families to resources in and outside of school. Click here to learn more about us and our services, and when and how to make a referral.

Looking forward to a great school year!

Jena & Mary

We will be holding our first evacuation drill on Friday 9/8. This drill will be a fire drill. Teachers will have practiced with their classes in advance of what to do and where to go if the fire alarm goes off. In addition, we will be letting classes know in advance of the drill, providing time for the teachers to remind their class what to do when they hear the alarm.

When the fire alarm goes off, we ask students to leave their things in the classroom and follow the teacher out the closest door. Classes line up on the black top in order and teachers take attendance to make sure all students are accounted for. Fire drill lead staff will check to be sure everyone is accounted for, including visitors, before ending the drill and having students go in. Teachers will then debrief the drill with their students.

We will have evacuation drills most months this year so we can practice what to do in the event we need to leave the building unexpectedly.

Loads of information about Mary Hogan and your child(ren)'s school experience is located in our Family Handbook. It can be found on our website HERE.

Want to know more about the Volunteer Process? Check out more information HERE.

MESA is the awesome parent group at Mary Hogan. MESA meets each month on the third Thursday at 6.30pm in the Mary Hogan library for a principal's round table discussion and business meeting. We welcome all families to come to some or all of meetings and be part of what we do.

MESA works hard to enhance the learning for students and support teachers and staff at Mary Hogan. We do this in a number of ways and need your help to be successful. You will see more information in the newsletters coming out this year.

Some of our leaders for this year, include:

President: Alicia Butler

Treasurer: Casey McDonough

Secretary: Lianne Lussier

Events Chairs: Adrienne MacIntire & Meghan Dishaw

Readathon Chairs: Hannah Harding & Rebecca Bennette

If you have any questions, feel free to email mesa@acsdvt.org to connect.

We expect students and staff to stay home with any potentially contagious illnesses or symptoms including the following:

1. Vomiting/diarrhea-must be 24 hours symptom free before returning to school

2. Fever 100.4 or greater-home until fever free without use of medication for 24 hours

3. Any infection requiring antibiotic-keep your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours

4. Persistent cough that disrupts normal activity

5. Unexplained rash

6. Influenza-stay home until fever free without medication for 24 hours

7. Any other symptoms or illness that impedes a student’s ability to learn or staff’s ability to work.

You may return once feeling well enough to be at school and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

Click here to view our COVID and Contagious illness guidance infographic. We are currently waiting to hear if we will continue to have access to COVID tests to send home with families and staff as needed. At this time, the school nurse will no longer be able to test students or staff for COVID at school though this is subject to change.

Grade 5 boys and girls interested in working on their basketball skills and playing more games, we have a great opportunity for you. Mini-metro basketball has been around for more than 30 years. Come join the grade 5/6 team from Middlebury! We have both a boys team and a girls team. Games are every Sunday starting on Nov. 5th. We will have one or two practices a week throughout October in Middlebury. We work on fostering a positive environment and focus on skill and team development.

Tryouts will be on Sept. 9th for the grade 5/6 boys at the Town Rec. gym from 4:30 to 5:45pm. The grade 5/6 girls tryouts/first practice will be on Sept. 10th from 5:45 to 7:00pm at the same gym. In both cases please arrive up to a half hour early to get fitted for uniforms. The Middlebury Basketball Association will be covering all fees and expenses. Players will need to travel for some games, we will also host games in Midddlebury at the Town Rec. gym.

For more information please email info@middhoops.com