HAROLD MARTIN SCHOOL NEST

Dear HMS Families and Friends,

We made it through our first full five-day week, and it was a great one! Our students continue to settle into routines, build friendships, and bring so much positive energy to HMS each day.

One of the highlights in our front hallway continues to be our schoolwide Our School Is a Family bulletin board, inspired by the book by Shannon Olsen. Classrooms have continued adding their own special touches, and it is certainly turning into a masterpiece! It has been so much fun watching it grow and seeing the many ways our students are helping to show what it means to be part of the HMS family.

There is lots to share in this week’s newsletter, including information about a new book club, an update from our Student Support Specialist, Melanie Sala, and assessment updates from our reading and math departments. We also held a mid-week fire drill, and our students did an amazing job. They followed directions, moved safely, and showed how well they understand our school expectations.

I hope everyone has a chance to relax and enjoy the weekend. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

Sara Duval

Harold Martin School, Principal

• Wednesday, September 23 – Bus Driver Luncheon 🚌🚍
• Thursday, October 8 – Fire Prevention Day 🚒🚒
• Friday, October 9 – No School: Professional Development Day
• Monday, October 12 – No School: Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day
• Thursday, October 15 – HMS Picture Day
• Friday, October 16 - Hopkinton Lions Club Vision Screening
• Monday–Friday, October 26–30 – HMS Book Fair
• Tuesday, October 27 – Book Fair Family Night 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 30 – Annual Halloween Parade 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 3 – No School: Election Day
• Tuesday, November 10 – No School: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Wednesday, November 11 – No School: Veterans Day

We are excited to share that HMS will be hosting our first-ever Bus Driver Luncheon and Bus Safety Afternoon on Wednesday, September 23rd! We are grateful to First Student for supporting this opportunity and allowing our bus drivers to spend the afternoon with us at Harold Martin. Our goal is to strengthen the important relationships between students and the drivers who help care for them each day, while also giving students a chance to thank our drivers and learn more about bus safety.

During the afternoon, our drivers will join second- and third-grade students for lunch, and our kindergarten and first-grade students will have dedicated time to meet with their drivers, build connections, and review bus expectations. Students who regularly ride the bus will also learn about bus evacuation procedures and what to expect during an emergency drill. Later in the afternoon, all classes, including students who may not regularly ride the bus, will have an opportunity to visit the buses, meet our drivers, and review expectations for field trips and other school transportation. We are looking forward to a fun and meaningful afternoon centered on safety, relationships, respect, and community.

Our reading and math team is hard at work! Check out this update from our intervention team:

As we kick off the school year, our Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will take Literacy and Math Benchmark Assessments three times a year: Beginning of the Year (BOY), Middle of the Year (MOY), and End of the Year (EOY). These quick check-ins help us monitor progress and ensure every child gets the support they need.

What’s New This School Year

• K–2 Literacy (Acadience): Grades K–2 have transitioned to Acadience for literacy assessments, which will also serve as our Dyslexia screener.

• 3rd Grade Literacy (Aimsweb): 3rd graders will continue taking the Aimsweb reading benchmark. This also serves as our Dyslexia screener.

• K–3 Math (Aimsweb Norms Update): Students will continue with Aimsweb Math. Please note that Aimsweb updated its national scoring norms this year, so percentile scores may look slightly different than in previous years. We are sharing information about these changes and what they mean when reviewing your child’s assessment results and progress.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences (Nov. 10): We will share your child’s BOY Benchmark results during conferences on November 10. We look forward to partnering with you to celebrate their growth and plan next steps together!

A Message From Our Student Support Specialist:

In the early elementary years, school days can often feel long and overwhelming. Students are trying their best to navigate school work, classroom expectations and develop friendships through collaboration, fun and solving problems. Sometimes students may need guidance during these opportunities.

The HMS Student Support Center, also known as The Perch, is a resource available to all students throughout the school day. The center offers a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for any child who needs a quiet space or a calm place to reset during their day. The Student Support Center provides a dedicated area where children can process their behaviors and feelings with trusted support. Whether a student is experiencing a stressful moment or just needs a temporary break to refocus, our team is here to help as they journey through their day, building skills for school success.

Please feel free to reach out to the HMS Student Support Specialist, Melanie Sala, anytime with any questions.

msala@sau66.org or 603-746-3473

The Hopkinton Children’s Clothing Sale will be held on Saturday, October 3, from 8:00–11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Church. Bring a reusable shopping bag and fill it for just $5, with all proceeds benefiting the Hopkinton Food Pantry. Donations of clean children’s clothing, shoes, maternity clothing, crib sheets, and blankets may be dropped off on St. Andrew’s side porch from September 25 through October 2.