Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

Happy 100th Day of School! It is amazing how we got so far in the school year - way past the half way point of our 175 school days. Congratulations to all Hawks for a successful 100 Days! I can't wait to see how the last 75 days unfold.

Next week is Valentine's Day and I wanted to remind you all that we do not celebrate Valentine's Day with candy or cards.

Although we do not celebrate or decorate for particular holidays in school, we do weave holidays into our classroom learning. This means a class may talk about the principles behind the holiday or learn about the history, tradition, or cultures that led to the holiday. For example, this month a class may talk about how Valentine’s Day is a time when we demonstrate how we care for others.

We ask that families do not send in any candy or cards from home. While this can be a great way to show you care about friends outside of school, it can also cause conflict and hurt feelings in school.

Thank you for partnership and support of our continued focus on learning, perspective taking, reflection, and caring.

💙, Jen

Monday 2/10 - morning skating - 9.30 - Conklin & Burke, 10.45 - Corrigan

• 1:45-2:15pm - Zoom Author visit with Aron Steinke (Mr. Wolf’s Class)

Tuesday 2/11 - McColly & F Gould classes go to Birds of VT Museum

Wednesday 2/12 - Early Release Day! 11.30 for preschool and 12.35 for K-5

• morning skating - 9.30 - Leavitt, 10.45 - Ceci & Sinopoli
• 10.30-10.45 - Stop, Drop and Read

Thursday 2/13 - Book Character Dress Up Day (rescheduled date)

• 5.45 - Literacy Night!

Friday 2/14 - TURN IN READING LOGS

This Friday marked the 100th Day of School for the year. Sticking with tradition, the kindergarten was super focused on the number 100 this week, writing 100 words, counting 100 items, counting to 100 different ways (by 1s, 5s, 10s), and of course a cheerful and loud 100th Day Parade around Mary Hogan. It was SO MUCH FUN!

We did it, Hawks! Together we read over 77,800 minutes in one week! Holy cow! Keep recording those times this week coming up. Target times are:

• Preschool-2 - 20 min/day
• 2nd & 3rd grades - 30 min/day
• 4th & 5th grades - 40 min/day

Reading can be the student reading, someone reading to them, listening to an audio book. It can also be at different times so you can read for 5 minutes in the morning and then 10 in the afternoon and 15 before bed and that is 25 minutes overall!

The 1st grade had a treat this week as Game Wardens came in and talked with them about beavers. They brought in beaver pelts, skulls, feet, and a tail to demonstrate some of the remarkable adaptations beavers have that help them survive in ponds, streams, wetlands, and rivers. Beavers are a keystone species, and impact so much of the environment around where they live. And students loved hearing all about them!

We loved the snow that came this week as well as the cold and snowy winter. While we haven't had a big storm, the persistent cold temperatures combined with little snows here and there have made things super fun at recess this week. Some 1st grade classes got to enjoy the big hill by the rec center this week, too. From building together to sledding, discovering shadows in snow to creating a snow cafe that serves mac and cheese, pizza, and salad, students are loving the snow.

Students had a blast this week, the first week of the Readathon! We had Dan Abdo, who writes and illustrates books with his friend Jason, come talk with everyone on Tuesday. Dan talked about the creative process, how he comes up with book characters, and what it is like to work with his high school best friend, Jason. Check out his books - Blue, Barry, and Pancakes and Barb the Berzerker at the library!

Students also had the first of the after school clubs that are focused on reading and writing. From poetry with Ted Scheu and story telling to buddy reading and crafting, many students were after school and reading and writing. They loved it! Thank you for supporting this activity to happen and for signing up your children. More after school fun next week!

Middlebury Safe Routes and Student Council helped recognize the students who walked or rolled to school on Wednesday this week with some delicious hot cocoa. It was the perfect way to start the cold day!

Many thanks to the volunteers who helped make this happen and to Steve for getting the hot cocoa warmed up and Mr. Pratt for setting everything up!

First graders created self portraits of themselves looking ahead 94/93 years!

MESA has been busy planning lots of fun events and fundraisers!

Read-A-Thon!

The Read-A-Thon is MESA's biggest fundraiser. It's a month-long celebration that encourages reading. We have lots of fun things planned for the month, including an Opening Ceremony January 30th, 9am and a closing ceremony, February 21st at 2pm. There is also a Literacy Night Thursday, Feb. 13th from 5:45-7:15. Come have dinner, meet other families, and attend literacy workshops. See the link for a full list! Read-A-Thon Events

Middlebury Parks and Rec 5/6th Grade Basketball Tournaments - Feb 8th/9th - MESA will once again run the concessions booth at the boy's tournament. We will be looking for food donations and for volunteers to run the booth. Please see the sign up genius.

Boys Tourney: Boys Sign up

Vermont Bookshop - special event Wednesday, February 19 - Saturday, February 22. Use the codeword "HAWKS" at checkout and they will donate 20% of your purchase total to MESA. This is a great collaboration with VBS.

Mary Hogan Benefit Bake at American Flatbread - Middlebury - Wednesday, Feb 26th - $3 from each small and $4 from each large flatbread goes back to MESA. This includes dine-in and take out!

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