Mary Hogan Family Newsletter
October 25 2024
Dear Mary Hogan Families,
We have a 4 day student week coming up next week. Friday is set aside for conferences, though some teachers offer them at times other than Friday. You should have heard from your child's teacher about signing up for a conference. If you haven't, please reach out directly to your child's teacher.
Next Thursday is Halloween, so I wanted to take a moment to remind families that we do not celebrate holidays at school. Please do not send them in with costumes on for Halloween. Below is from our Mary Hogan Family Handbook and explains how we approach all holidays:
Holidays
We acknowledge various holidays and classes may think about general principles behind some holidays - gratitude, caring, community - or we try to tell a more complete story about the holiday (ex. Thanksgiving). We do not celebrate individual holidays at school. We believe that informing students around the celebration of holidays can be the work of schools; however we do not celebrate, decorate, or otherwise condone holidays in classes or as a school. Education is different from celebration.
Thank you for supporting our school's approach to individual holidays. Have a wonderful weekend!
💙, Jen
All caregivers are encouraged to come view SCREENAGERS - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE EDITION in the north gym of Mary Hogan School. The event will take place at 6:30pm on Wed. Nov. 6th. Light refreshments will be served. Free childcare can be provided if you notify Julie Altemose by Oct. 31st. The film is 55 minutes long and there will be a short discussion after with local pediatricians!
Are you watching kids become too accustomed to using technology at too young an age? Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her kids and learned that the average kid spends many hours a day looking at screens. In "Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition", Dr. Ruston reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions for empowering kids to navigate the digital world and find balance.
Mary Hogan is hosting a Math Night for Caregivers on November 12 at 6:15pm. This is a chance for you to understand how math is being taught today so you can become familiar with some of the models and strategies being used in our K-5 classrooms. Light refreshments will be served. Free childcare can be provided if you notify Julie Altemose by Oct. 31st.
The 5th graders were the leaders during our October All School Meeting this week. The theme of the meeting is was the Learner Profile Attribute PRINCIPLED. Students led us in a moment of mindfulness, and a greeting. They shared with us the Power of One and how we can make a difference and be principled around school and in life. They taught us a new song and how to offer applause using American Sign Language. They modeled being principled, being risk-takers, and being caring. They were also great communicators. Way to go 5th grade!
This year, all classes are going on weekly walks around school grounds and around town. This idea is modeled off the adventure days that our preschool classes take as well as the work the 2nd grade team did last spring with their students. We want students outside and really getting to know their community on foot, as well as how to walk safely around town, how to walk and talk, how to stick with a group at a common pace, and enjoy walking.
So far, we have seen a lot of growth in student walking stamina as well as really enjoyed the beautiful fall. You will keep seeing us around town all year long each week!
