Hawlemont News

Dear curious community,

September has come to a close and our classrooms have settled into routines. We ended September with the All School Hike at Mohawk Trail State Forest. Our students, staff, and families showed the GRIT that Hawlemont learners are known for. Parts of the trails were challenging bringing us over boulders, under logs, across mud, and, for our 5th and 6th graders, to the summit of Todd Mountain. I had the pleasure of hiking with every group during the day and was consistently filled with pride with who our students are and how persistent they can be. There are certainties we know. Learning can be hard, hiking can be hard. And, whether you think you can or can't, you're right (Henry Ford). Our staff, students, and community echoed words of encouragement for ourselves and each other as we navigated the hardest parts of our hike, building each other up and getting us all safely and happily to the end.

I want to highlight a couple upcoming calendar reminders -

Apple Squeeze at Oktoberfest 10/3 10:00-5:00!

PTO meeting - Monday October 5th at 3:30 in the Hawlemont Library

Half day dismissal on 10/7 (12:30 for K-6 and 12:00 for PK)

Take care,

Amber Tulloch

10/5 - PTO meeting, 3:30

10/7 - 12:30 dismissal (noon for preK)

10/12 - Indigenous Peoples' Day - No school

10/14- All School Meeting, 10:15am all welcome

10/21- 12:30 dismissal (noon for preK)

11/2 - District PD day, no school for students

11/11 - Veterans Day, no school

11/12 & 11/13 - 12:30 dismissals (noon preK), conferences

11/25 - 12:30 dismissal (noon preK)

11/26 & 11/27 - Thanksgiving Break, no school

12/9 - 12:30 dismissal (noon preK)

12/23 - 12:30 dismissal (noon preK)

12-24- 1/1/27 - Winter Break, no school

1/4/27 - First day back to school!

We have a new Fax number - Hawlemont Fax: (413) 826-7999

Dear Families,

This year, our elementary schools will be piloting a new anti-bias curriculum, called Amazeworks, in all classrooms. We are also using this curriculum during advisory in our middle and high school. This program is part of our ongoing effort to build a more caring, compassionate and inclusive school community where all students belong.

With this program, teachers and students build social and emotional skills that foster healthy identity development and respect across differences. They participate in regular, intentional conversations on identity, difference, and bias, which prevents the internalization of stereotypes, reduces bias levels in children, and increases learning and engagement. Teachers also engage in ongoing self-reflection about how their own identities and biases impact relationships and their work with children and families.

The AmazeWorks Elementary Curriculum uses children’s picture books in grades K-5 and video-based lessons in grade 6 to incorporate the tenets of Anti-Bias Education in order to create classrooms of equity and belonging. Each picture book/video lesson explores different cultures, identities, lived experiences, and family structures. Each lesson contains discussion questions, journal prompts, and follow-up activities to further enhance children’s understanding of Anti-Bias Education.

By facilitating meaningful discussions about identity, difference, and bias, teachers prevent biased-based teasing and mistreatment while maintaining a safe and supportive school environment. Students learn and feel better in classrooms where they feel seen and valued for all of who they are. Students learn about empathy, accepting oneself, respect for others, noticing and rejecting bias, and standing up for themselves and others.

Classroom teachers will share more about the curriculum as the year progresses. If you have questions or want to know more about the curriculum, please reach out to the principal or the director of curriculum, Sarah Jetzon sjetzon@mtrsd.org.

We have new before and after care staff!

Ms. Tracey Kelleher will be welcoming before care students, and Ms. Jessica Webber will be our after school coordinator!

Before and after care will start on Thursday September 3. Before care is available starting at 7:15am, and after care is available until 5:30pm. Prior sign up is required.

ALSO - new this year - we enrollment forms! These must be filled out and returned before your student can join. Please request them from the front office and they will be sent home for you to fill out and return.

To print the forms at home- please use this link.

Please see the following attachment with notes from Nurse Julie.

Should they stay or should they go?

When to keep your child home from school and when they will be sent home from school for respiratory symptoms and other conditions.

Keeping our students, staff, and community healthy

Presently there is a respiratory illness circulating. Help keep our school community as healthy as possible by following these recommendations if your child is not feeling well. Consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s symptoms or if their symptoms persist. In addition, please reinforce proper hand hygiene technique and cough etiquette with your child.

If your child has any of these respiratory symptoms, please follow guidelines below:

COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV can have similar symptoms. Seek medical care as needed for testing and treatment. Symptoms may include but are not limited to chest discomfort, chills, cough, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue (tiredness), fever or feeling feverish, headache, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, and wheezing.

A huge thank you to Berkshire Pizzeria for continuing to host School Spirit Night!

Every order from 4-8PM will receive a 10% discount when you mention "Hawlemont" - AND Berkshire Pizzeria will donate 10% of sales to Hawlemont!!

Hello parents/guardians,

I want to inform you that I will be performing vision and hearing screenings, along with, height and weight checks (1st and 4th grade only for those without a current physical) as mandated by the state of Massachusetts on your students starting the 2nd week of October and into the month of November. Please let me know if your child has had or has an appt scheduled with a specialist to be tested this school year. I will only send results of the screenings home if a referral to a specialist is needed. In this case, I will also attempt to call you with the information. If you have any objection to your child being screened at school please let me know in writing.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call.

Thank you,

Julie Senecal RN BSN M.Ed,

Hawlemont School Nurse

Phone: (413) 339-8316

Fax: (413) 826-7999

Email: jsenecal@mtrsd.org

Dear families,

The HAY program is well underway this fall as we welcome the animals back to the barn and have exciting gardening and cooking projects planned. As we begin these projects, we are looking for donations of the following items:

Wood chips

Compost

Kitchen Towels (have any old or extra lying around?)

A dish rack

New canning jar lids

As always, thank you for your generous support of the HAY program.

Sincerely,

Stacey Mackowiak (Ms. Mack)

HAY Teacher

"Dear 4H Parents,

Some clubs are starting next week and we are missing some forms from you. In order for your child to start their chosen clubs we need to have completed forms and payment. If we do not have those your child will not be allowed to stay.

Next Weeks Schedule:

Monday - Animal Science

Tuesday - First Year Weavers

Wednesday - Advanced Weavers

We also still have room in some of the clubs, if your child still would like to join a club we have space in the following: Animal Science, Amazing Planet, Pins & Needles (5th-6th only).

You can still pick up blank forms from the Front Office.

Thank you,

Liz Billings & Sheila Litchfield"

Each month this year, I’ll be sharing practical strategies for social-emotional skills designed to help students thrive both in and out of the classroom. From building routines and managing stress to problem-solving and celebrating growth, these monthly blurbs will offer quick tips you can try at home to support your child’s independence and confidence.

As students settle into the school year, the end of September and start of October are ideal times to Build Independence and self-reliance. When children learn to do things for themselves—whether it's packing their backpack, solving a problem, or asking for help—they build confidence and resilience. Independence doesn't mean doing everything alone; it means knowing when to try, when to ask for support, and how to advocate for their needs. This month, let's empower our students to take ownership of their learning and daily responsibilities.

Top 5 Ways to Build Independence:

1. Let them make age-appropriate choices – What to wear, which homework to do first, what snack to pack

2. Teach problem-solving before jumping in – Ask "What do you think you could try?" before offering solutions

3. Encourage self-advocacy – Practice phrases like "I need help with..." or "Can you explain that again?"

4. Assign age-appropriate chores – Making their bed, setting the table, feeding pets, folding laundry

5. Step back and let them struggle (a little!) – Resist the urge to rescue immediately; give them time to figure things out

Which way will your family try first? As always, thank you for supporting your child's success at home!

Best,

Paula MacLean

Special Education Teacher

Educational Team Leader

Shannon LeBeau - Office Manager

Amber Tulloch - Principal

Email: slebeau@mtrsd.org
Website: https://hawlemont.mohawktrailschools.org/
Location: 10 School Street, Charlemont, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 339-8316
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HawlemontElementary