Haynes Monthly

Dear Haynes Families,

It seems like the school year just started and we are already just about halfway through! I know that it's a cliche to say it, and I really can't believe that we are already one week away from Winter Break. Haynes really is a special place and I've been enjoying my first year as principal! As I walk through the school, there is tremendous work that is happening in every classroom where I see students working collaboratively through fun and engaging activities that push their thinking.

I'd like to share some of the work the staff has been doing to bring engaging, equitable, and accessible experiences to our students. Through our Leadership Team, we developed five committees that staff members could join. The five committees are Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Community & Celebrations, Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics (STEAM), and School Meeting. All teachers are a part of one of these committees and they are the ones that are the driving forces behind the work. Each committee has already identified action items and we hope to share them with you soon.

As we approach the Winter Recess, I want to wish you all a healthy and relaxing break and I look forward to 2024!

Best,

Bryant Amitrano

At Haynes, we want all of our students and staff to feel valued. As one small part of this work, we are going to work harder to pronounce all of the names in our community correctly. A project that we are working on this year is developing a database of staff and student names so that we can ensure that all names are being pronounced correctly. RL Sarafconn, our ELD has helped to lead this work.

All Haynes students and staff will record our names in mini audio files. This will take just seconds per person. We will store these names in a secure folder that staff can access. This way teachers can practice the names of their students before the first day of school. Principals can listen to the recording before announcing a student award over the intercom. Colleagues can listen to each other's names to ensure they're not mispronouncing a name they see mostly in emails. Together, we can help everyone feel like they belong.

As you enjoy the time together with your children, below are some ideas on how to keep your child(ren) engaged in math during break, and also any time when they are not in school.

Math Ideas

• Games that can be played with your family and friends (ie. Card Games, Yahtzee, and any board games)

• Puzzles are a great way to support the building of spatial reasoning skills. (blog about the importance of Puzzle Play)

• Bedtime Math (Try this website or app. in place of a book at bedtime or maybe in addition to. Either ask your child the question(s) posed or have your child develop a question based upon the scenario.)

• Math in Literature (link connects you to our SPS Community Math Website.)

• Printable Games and Activities

• Optional Learning Extensions

Most importantly, this should be fun and engaging for your child(ren). When people are engaged in fun, challenging activities, they are: improving their basic math skills, enhancing their number and operation sense, developing their math reasoning and communication in mathematics, and most importantly gives them time to interact with you.

Reading Ideas

• Visit the Goodnow Library. Check out their calendar here.

• Traveling by car this week? Listen to a podcast.

• 12 Podcasts Your Kids Should Be Listening To or Stories Podcast

• Check out a book from one of these ILA book lists.

• Create a cozy and soft reading space for your child. Even a pillow against the wall with a lamp nearby can serve as a reading nook.

• Common Sense Reading Apps

Below are the SPS Guidelines for homework:

• Homework assignments will be related to instructional objectives and reinforce classroom learning. Teachers will strive to ensure that students understand the purpose of the assignment and can complete the work independently.
• Teachers will take into consideration students’ individual needs and available home resources when assigning homework.
• Homework assignments will provide opportunities for concept and skill development through review and enrichment experiences.
• Completed homework assignments will be reviewed by the teacher to check for student understanding. Instructional follow-up will occur.
• Homework will not be assigned on designated religious holidays, over long weekends (3-days or more), or during vacation weeks. Weekend homework will not be assigned at all for students in grades K-5. Homework may be given over the weekend in grades 6-8; however, the total time for weekend homework will not exceed the prescribed time for a single evening’s study.
• Homework will not exceed the recommended guidelines below. With long-term projects, teachers will break tasks into manageable chunks that can be completed within these guidelines.

Grade Homework Time Limits per Night

K-2 No homework other than occasional activities at teacher discretion

Grade 3: 0-20 minutes per night maximum, occasional assignments given M-Th

Grade 4: 0-30 minutes per night maximum, assignments given M-Th only

Grade 5: 0-45 minutes per night maximum, assignments given M-Th only

This is the time of year when I start watching the mass.gov influenza and covid charts, however, I don’t need a chart to tell me that things are starting to rise at Haynes.

Please remember that we are following the same COVID DESE Guidelines as last year, which had 5 day isolation for positive cases.

• With COVID-like mild symptoms, students can stay in school as long as a COVID antigen test was done and is negative.

• Notify Nurse Jackman if your child tests positive for COVID.

• Another round of free COVID tests are available to order from https://www.covid.gov/tests

• Beginning 11/20/23, you will be able to place another order of 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. If you did not place an order between 9/25/23 and 11/19/23, you will be able to place TWO separate orders of 4 free at-home tests.

School vacations are full of fun and excitement, however, the change in routine can sometimes lead to moments of dysregulation for our students. Fresh air and movement are excellent regulation tools. December break is a great time to get outside and play. There are many benefits of being outdoors including opportunities for creativity and problem-solving, sensory experiences, and the opportunity to work on motor skills.

-Go for a daily walk

-Make a winter-themed sensory bin

-Blow frozen bubbles

-Winter nature hike/ Scavenger hunt

-Winter-themed obstacle course

And if we are lucky…

-Go sledding

-Build with snow

-Shovel snow

Have fun! Enjoy your break!

Anna Noel, MS, OTR, BCP

Occupational Therapist

• Speaking of winter weather, you can find information related to snow days and school delays in the Inclement Weather Procedures section of the SPS website. The most important thing to note is that our system will send a message to the phone number in Follett Aspen, so be certain your phone numbers are accurate in our Follett/Aspen Student Information System. Another important thing to know is that there is no Sudbury Extended Day in the morning if there is a school delay and none at all if school is canceled. Also, any snow days will be “real” snow days, not “remote learning days.” Cue the cheers from students and teachers.

Stock up now for the holidays or get ready for January’s Spirit Day (1/19) - the theme is "Show Your Haynes Spirit”.

• 12/25-1/1 - Winter Recess
  
• 1/2 - Return to School
• 1/10 - Early Release - 11:45 AM
• 1/19 - Elementary School Term 1 Ends
• 1/22 - School Advisory Council - 2:45-4:00 PM - Haynes Conference Room
• 1/24 - No School for Students - Professional Development Day
• 1/31 - Early Release - 11:45 AM