Weekly Update from The Main Office
Horace Porter School - November 22, 2022
Kara Levenduski - Principal
Karen Caputo - Assistant Principal
Natasha Hart - Administrative Assistant
Tammy Nye - Administrative Assistant
Email: nhart@hwporter.org
Website: hwporter.org
Location: 3 Schoolhouse Road
Phone: (860)228-9493
Important Upcoming Dates
November 24 to November 27 - Thanksgiving Break
December 3 - 8th Grade Fundraiser - Pancakes, Pajamas & Breakfast with Santa
December 6 - Stem Night - 5:30pm
December 9 - Connecticut Children's Hospital - PJ DAY - Fundraiser
December 13 - Winter Band Concert 4pm in Café
A Message from Our Principal
As we begin our Thanksgiving break, I would like to thank all of you for your commitment to Horace W. Porter School. I am thankful for all the students who come to school every day ready to learn, you are the joy in our work. I am thankful for the support of our families, especially looking around today at all the volunteers for the Games of Gratitude. I am thankful for the teachers, bus drivers, administrative assistants, nurses, support staff and the administrative team. We all work together to ensure students' success and happiness.
Most importantly, we are thankful for the parents that trust in us daily. We are grateful for your partnership in your children's education.
I wish you all a happy, healthy and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.
Games of Gratitude
Sincerely,
The PBIS team
First Lego League Championship
Language Arts with Mrs. Thornton
PBIS K-5 RAFFLE
This weeks Raffle Prizes were Donuts with Ms. Henry, Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Levenduski, Extra Recess with a friend, and Popper Toys
Mark Your Calendars!!
ATTENTION GRADES 6-8 STUDENTS
The Panther Players Present..............
PTO MEETINGS AND EVENTS
PJ DAY AT HORACE PORTER IS DECEMBER 9TH
The Leo's Club Coat Drive
M&J Looking for Bus Drivers!!
Amaryllis Growing Kits Fundraiser
Looking for a special gift for your loved ones? This year Horace W. Porter Student Council are selling Amaryllis Growing Kits! Please see attached Flier for more information on prices!
All of the profit will go towards student activities, end of the year teacher appreciation gifts and a memorial for Dr. Lynn Rookey.
Reading For Education PTO Fundraiser
Here is how it works:
1) Go to www.rfe.net and sign up your kiddo
Enter your School ID: 0000150284
2) Send out emails with the link, post on social media
3) Those you send the link to have an option to purchase books or a gift card for a teacher!
4) Win prizes! Pre-k through 4th grade will receive a wife life hugger. 5th grade through 8th will receive a pair of ear buds with volume control! You can earn more prizes as you sell. (The prizes will go to the teachers on Fridays and most likely go to the kiddos on Mondays).
Last year we raised over $4k for the teachers!!
This year we would love to get the word out to as many people as we can to bring even more support to our teachers
Important Food Services Information
As you know, the Food Services Program opted to participate in School Meals Assistance Revenue for Transition (SMART) funds to provide free meals (breakfast and lunch) at no cost for all students at the start of the school year. However, despite the close monitoring of funds and my great hopes that the funds would carry through December, they will not. I realize that previous communication stated that I would provide a thirty-day advanced notice. Unfortunately, we reconciled October yesterday due to a delay in receiving supporting documentation, and due to increased participation, the funds are set to be exhausted by the end of November. I am formally communicating that the SMART funds will be exhausted by 11/30/2022, and we will return to pre-pandemic operations beginning 12/1/2022. Please submit a Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Application, located at if you believe your student may be eligible for Free or Reduced Meals to avoid unpaid meal charges. We are in the process of implementing a new Point of Sale System (POS), and we will be sending home information on the new online payment portal as soon as it is accessible. Positive Balances will be transferred to all students with a positive balance on their NutriKids/SchoolBucks account from before the pandemic.
Meal Prices as of 12/1/2022
Lunch
Full Price $3.50 Reduced $0.40
Breakfast
Full Price $2.00 Reduced $0.30
SNAP Assistance
Just so you know, new increased income guidelines went into effect as of October 1, 2022. If you qualify for SNAP assistance, your child automatically qualifies for free school meals. If your children qualify for free school meals or milk, you might also qualify for SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps). SNAP helps people buy food for themselves and their families. SNAP benefits are issued each month on plastic debit cards. You can use SNAP benefits to buy food at major supermarkets, neighborhood grocery stores, online at participating retailers, and some farmers’ markets authorized to accept SNAP. Please use this link to access more information. Snap Assistance
Charging and the Collection of Unpaid Meal Charges
EASTCONN will contact the parents/guardians of students who charge meals to their meal accounts for the District to collect the delinquent debt. The first such communication will be a written communication, by mail or e-mail, after three meal(s) have been charged. Subsequent written and verbal communications with parents/guardians concerning delinquent debt will be made by the building administrator or designee as necessary and appropriate. All communications regarding unpaid meal charges shall be made directly and discreetly to parents/guardians. Written communications with parents/guardians regarding the collection of a student’s unpaid meal charges shall include an application for free or reduced-price meals, information on local food pantries and the Connecticut Department of Social Services’ supplemental nutrition assistance program, and a link to the District’s or Town’s website that lists any community services available to Town residents. If a student’s unpaid meal charges are equal to or more than the cost of thirty (30) meals, the parents/guardians of such student will be referred to the District’s homeless education liaison.
We appreciate your patience as we transition back to pre-pandemic operations while implementing a new Point of Sale System.
Please feel free to reach out to Heather Plourde at hplourde@eastconn.org if you have any
Horace Porter Cell Phone Policy
ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND GAMES
The school strives to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment while providing students with opportunities for reasonable access to cell phones and other electronic devices. This policy also recognizes the use of electronic devices for educational purposes with administrative permission or with teacher approval within the classroom. The possession and use of electronic devices at Horace W. Porter School is a privilege and a responsibility, not a right. Inappropriate use will result in the loss of privileges.
If a student brings their cell phone to school, it is required that they keep their phone in their locker all day. All lockers have locks.
It has been reported that students are using their cell phones during the school day during transitions and on the busses. It is important students respect the privacy of others and refrain from any videotaping or taking photos.
If a student has a cellphone out during school hours, they will first be asked to return it to their locker. The second time, they will be asked to give the phone to the teacher and the student may pick up their phone at the end of the day. If a student has their phone out a third time, it will be brought to the office and a parent called to pick up the phone.
Please discuss these expectations and consequences with your child.
No recording, video or audio, or photographs may be taken in school unless it is part of a lesson and all appropriate privacy protections, such as contained in FERPA, are honored.
The sending, sharing, viewing or possessing pictures, emails or other material of a sexual nature in electronic or any other form on cell phones or other electronic devices is prohibited in the school setting.
8th Grade Information
Hello 8th Grade Parents,
Can you believe it? Your 8th grader is almost a high school student! Over the next few months, students will be exploring their high school choices. Please review this timeline by clicking on the link below for information directory with your students, as time does fly during this process.
Career Day
On Wednesday, May 24th, Horace Porter will be hosting a Career Day for our students.
We need parents and local professionals to present about 30 minutes about their career path to our students to make this event possible!
Please contact Corey Polakowski to get involved- cpolakowski@hwporter.org
Or please fill out this Google Form for more information about the event!
Horace Porter Yearbook
Don't wait until the end of the year to order your Porter Yearbooks.
Click on the link below to order.
Porter PTO Spirit Wear
Click on the link below to visit our PTO Spirit Store. Perfect gear for upcoming Porter Pride Days throughout the year.
PTO Store