Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

It has been a great first week back at school. I have loved seeing all of the faces - new and old - and catching up since we last saw each other. It was also a week where we invited our newest students in kindergarten to come to kindercamp. And, what a wonderful group they are! Next week, they start kindergarten in their year long classroom. I can't wait to see how all the students grow this year.

Growth is one of our core values at Mary Hogan. We know that students grow in so many ways - from their height to their approaches to learning, from their friendships to their reading, writing, and math skills. One of the things that students are doing in their classes this week and next is thinking about their goals for the year and what their hopes and dreams are. What are your hopes and dreams for your child(ren) this year?

Below, you will find some important information for the start of the year, including:

1. Upcoming Important Dates
2. News from School
3. Information about Logistics
4. Family Resources
5. Photo of the Week

See you soon!

💙, Jen

Monday 9/2 - No School - Labor Day

Tuesday 9/3 - 1st Day of Preschool

Wednesday 9/4 - Picture Day! and Walk and Roll to School Day

Thursday 9/12 - 6-7pm - Back to School Night

Walk and Roll to School returns to Mary Hogan on Wednesday, September 4th. 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 the Mary Hogan Student Council. 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.

Welcome back to Mary Hogan, from your specials’ teachers! Here are some friendly reminders to start the year with success:

• PE: Please have students bring gym friendly shoes (no sandals, crocs, boots or heels) and bring water bottles for hydration.

• Spanish: No gum in class because it interferes with pronunciation and communication.

• Music: We sing a lot! Gum and cough drops pose choking hazards and are discouraged from being used in the music room.

• Art: On Art days, please try and send your students with clothing that can get messy.

• Library: The library was busy this week with every child spending some time in our space. Many students were excited to borrow some books after we spoke about how to take care of them. Please discuss a safe place to keep library books in your home! Books are checked out for two weeks and if books become overdue, you will receive an email. At that time please remind your child to return their books. We provide a plastic library book bag to help keep track of library books and to help them stay clean and dry. Please let us know if a book becomes lost or damaged, we do not charge families. Our community borrowed more than 20,000 books last year. Hopefully, this year the library will be even busier with readers!

Mary Hogan School offers a climbing program for our 4th and 5th grade students. This program nurtures teamwork, problem-solving, and goal setting in a challenge-by-choice environment.

The success of the climbing program depends on the involvement of trained volunteers. Since each climbing station must be manned by a trained adult, the more volunteers that we have, the more opportunities we can offer our students.

This year our annual volunteer training will be held on Friday 9/27 from 7:45 am to 12:30pm at Mary Hogan School. This training is designed to familiarize our volunteers with the equipment, safety procedures, advancements in the field, and the climbing elements. Volunteers do not need to be classroom parents; however if you are a parent or guardian, this is a great opportunity to share this experience with your child.

If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to Cyndi (cpalmer@acsdvt.org) before Friday 9/20.

If you are dropping your child off at arrival, please pull all the way forward in the drop off area, even if your child will be entering the A or C wing entrances. This helps avoid traffic jams. School staff are there to make sure they get to their doors safely.

The Early Breakfast arrival at 7.50am is available for all students who want to get an early breakfast, starting on Tuesday, 9/3.

TIMING:

• 2.55pm - Classroom teachers bring their classes to the car pick up location

• 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.

If you are picking up your child, the grades will be lined up by the pick up area in the following order from the stop sign heading north in the parking lot:

• Kindergarten - They will meet parents at the stop sign.
• 3rd grade - They will meet parents between the stop sign and end of walk way from black top.
• 2nd grade - They will meet parents between the stop sign and end of walk way from black top.
• 1st grade - They will meet parents at the end of the walk way from the black top.
• 4th grade - They will be to the north of the walk way from the black top.
• 5th grade - They will be farthest north in the parking lot.

School staff will help your child get to your car. Please do not get out of your car to get your child unless you park in the north lot. Thank you!

All programs are offered virtually and FREE! - Programs are 2 hours per week for 14-18 weeks

• Strengthening Families Program for Families with Teens - starting September 5, Thursdays 12pm
• Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 9, Mondays 5pm
• Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 11, Wednesdays 6pm
• Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 19, Thursdays 1pm
• Prenatal Nurturing Parenting Program - starting September 24, Tuesdays 6pm
• Nurturing Fathers Program - starting October 7, Mondays 6pm

Upcoming Circle of Parents Support Groups:

Circle of Parents® is a network of professionally facilitated, peer-led, self-help support groups for using a strengths-based approach and a shared leadership model. All Circles are offered virtually and FREE! Circles meet weekly for 60-90 minutes and are ongoing *Participants may join anytime

• Perinatal Circle of Parents - Tuesdays 630pm
• Circle of Parents/Single Moms - Thursdays 515pm

Reach out to familysupport@pcavt.org for more information and to register.

Do you volunteer in our schools? Join Superintendent Wendy Baker for a discussion about how to streamline, strengthen, and improve our volunteer program at ACSD schools. We will schedule a time to meet this fall to gather your feedback. Interested?

You can always access our Family Handbook on our Mary Hogan Website. It had A LOT of important information about Mary Hogan and how we do things, including:

• Arrival and Dismissal,
• Health Information,
• Code of Conduct,
• Student Supports, and more.

Take a minute when you have a chance to check it out. Read what feels pressing now and explore so you know how to find things later.

Each month, we will send home a lunch menu. You can also access the menu on the ACSD website under Families>School Meals (HERE).

Vegetarian options are listed on the menu in RED.

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