Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

Welcome back... nearly... to school! This first newsletter of the year is filled with loads of information you may find helpful as we get started in the year. Each week, the newsletter will include highlights from the week as well as information from ACSD, MESA (our parent organization), and the community. The end of each newsletter (after this week) will be full of photos from the week, so you can see in pictures what we are up to. I hope you find the newsletter informative and helpful - and I am always open to feedback to make it even better.

This week, teachers and staff have been engaging in learning together to get ready for a great new year. Next week is the big week: we have Mary Hogan staff meetings, give rooms a final touch, and welcome you on Tuesday 8/29 from 9 to 10am to come visit. Then things get started with the first day of school on Wednesday 8/30 at 8am. I can't wait to see your children on Tuesday and again on Wednesday!

It is going to be an awesome year at Mary Hogan!

Be well,

Jen

Monday 8/28 - 4-5pm - Preschool Popsicle Party on the Black Top

Tuesday 8/29 - 9-10am - Classroom Visitation - Open to all Mary Hogan families!

Wednesday 8/30 - First Day of School!

Monday 9/4 - Labor Day - No School

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

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

Come meet your child(ren)'s teacher(s) on Tuesday 8/29 from 9-10am. We can't wait to welcome you into Mary Hogan to see the classroom(s) that your child(ren) will be in.

Be sure to check out the gym to see Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Bull, Art room to see Ms. Hartman, Music to see Mrs. K, Spanish room (A3), and Library to see Miss Julie and Miss Liz.

We can't wait to see you!

School starts at 8am and students should arrive between 8-8.10am. After this time, they will be marked tardy.

When your child arrives to school in the morning, they will enter a door based on their grade. So, when you come to visit, you may want to check out that door and help make sure they know where to go. There will be adults at the doors on visit day as well as each morning to greet students.

Entrances are:

• Kindergarten, 4th and 5th Grades - Main Mary Hogan entrance.
• Kindergarten lines up by the double doors. 4th and 5th grade line up by the single door.
• 1st and 2nd Grades - End of C wing (by Hawk Zone)
• 3rd Grade - End of A wing (through the mural)

Older siblings can enter with younger siblings and walk them to class if families decide that they want to do this.

Parents can walk their child to class the first day. Kindergarten families can walk their children in the first two weeks of school.

Whether your child rides the bus or gets dropped off by an adult, it is important to think about how and where you will say goodbye in the morning.

It is important for children to have an understanding of how you will say bye in the morning and where. It gives them a sense that you care about them and trust that they will have a good day and will see them later.

Not sure how you want to say bye, here are some ideas.

Please send your child(ren) with the following each day to help things run smoothly for them:

• Big enough backpack to hold everything below
• Water bottle
• Change of clothes (including extra socks and underwear)
• Snack
• Sneakers (for PE days)
• Rain jacket if its rainy

Please label all your child(ren)'s clothes so they get back to you if they are lost.

Your child(ren)'s classroom has all the school supplies your child(ren) may need the first day and during the year.

Dismissal is in a wave format.

Preschool dismisses at 2.15pm

K-2 pick ups and older siblings are dismissed at 2.52pm

3-6 students and bussers are dismissed at 2.56pm.

At the end of the day, students will be brought out by their teachers to be dismissed. Kindergarten classes will meet parents around the stop sign and classes will line up from there to the north. The order generally is:

• Kindergarten
• 3rd grade
• 2nd grade
• 1st grade
• 4th grade
• 5th grade

This is based on the location of their classrooms in the building rather than grade.

Teachers will get their students on the bus, if they are bussers, and will need to see an adult designated by the family for any students being picked up.

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.

Please send in a note with your child with their typical schedule. We have note pads in the main office that are for dismissal/late arrival notes. They are golden in color. If you need one, please let us know or swing by the office.

During arrival and dismissal, there are 3 lanes in the parking lot along A wing of Mary Hogan. The lane closest to the school and closest to Rt 7 are for those waiting for their children. A staff member will ensure your child is getting into your car.

The middle lane is for when you have your child and are driving through and out of the parking lot.There will be staff members directing the traffic each day.

Please be patient with others as everyone learns the traffic pattern and with the traffic at pick up.

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.