Husky Highlight
January 17, 2021
Note from Ms. Moulton
Greetings Hosmer Families,
Good Morning on this day of the celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and re-commitment to the ongoing work of justice. Last week (and this coming week) students in all grade levels and classrooms are engaging in learning about this important individual and other changemakers of the past and present. During morning announcements, I shared the photos here to remind our students that our heroes are also people like us - they were children, they played with their families, they laughed. I am sharing those images of MLK below with you.
Covid Updates
As you are aware, the omicron surge has impacted school significantly. In addition to higher rates of absence for both students and staff, we have also further increased our physical distancing - reducing small group work in the classrooms and increasing vigilance with other precautionary measures including hand washing, etc. We do go outside when we can, so please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.
We appreciate your ongoing support in proper mask-wearing, covid testing, and keeping your child home when they are not feeling well.
Classroom Newsletters
Classroom newsletters went home this weekend. If you have not yet read the one for your child's class, please do. There are many wonderful examples of student work, ways to help your child at home, and photos of our classrooms at work.
Move Updates
As I mentioned last week, the furniture is arriving daily. This week students saw the many chairs being unloaded and it was exciting! (See photo above.) If you visit the school please try not to park along the new building side of Concord St. in order to help with this process.
Grand Opening Celebration
Tomorrow, teachers will get their first peek at the interior of the new building. It is magnificent!
Mark your calendar for the official Grand Opening of the New Hosmer Building on Tuesday, February 1st. I can't believe that is in only two weeks! While we will not yet be moved into the building, families and community members are invited to come in to see the amazing new building. More details to come!
At the most recent School Committee meeting, the team voted to include Harriet Hosmer, an esteemed artist, in the dedication along with her family members, Alfred and Hiram. We are excited to include her in the celebration of the Hosmer family, for whom our school is named.
Truly, there is a LOT happening right now at the Hosmer. Thank you for your ongoing support of our teachers, staff, and students.
With a grateful heart,
Ms. Moulton
URGENT Annual Student Verification is Due
The Annual Online Fall Guardian/Emergency Contact Info Verification forms are still open. This process utilizes our online registration/enrollment system and is required annually to verify and update student demographic, health, family, and contact data.
Please note: To ensure you receive all of the District’s email and phone communications, please provide a primary phone and email address for each custodial contact – Mother, Father, or Guardian. The form is pre-populated with student data as it appears in our system. Please review and update as necessary.
Enrollment is mobile-friendly and is accessible from any smartphone. If you do not have access to a computer or a smartphone, please contact the Registrar at 617-972-4216.
Covid Information
Returning to School After a Positive Case of Covid
The following guidelines should help you navigate your child's return after an identified case of Covid-19.
If your child tests positive for COVID and is asymptomatic, they may come back on day six. The day you test positive for COVID is day 0. For example, if you get a positive test on Wednesday (day 0), you can return on the following Tuesday (day 6). See chart below.
If your child is symptomatic and then tests positive, day 0 is the first day you start to develop symptoms.
If your child tests positive and develops symptoms AFTER the positive test, day 0 resets to the day they become symptomatic.
Students CAN ONLY RETURN after 5 days of isolation if they are asymptomatic, OR if they are fever-free and their symptoms are resolving.
If your child has had COVID, they cannot be part of pool testing for 90 days from the positive test, as they may test positive for up to 12 weeks on a PCR test. You must inform the nurse so that your child has been positive and should not be included in testing.
Procedures We Review Daily
Mark Your Calendar!
Monday, January 17th - No School - Martin Luther King Day
Tuesday, January 18th - Boys & Girls Club is CLOSED
Thursday, January 20th - DIversity Council - 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Monday, January 24th - PTO Meeting 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Link to meeting
Friday, February 4th - Report Cards go home
Friday, February 18th - NO SCHOOL - Faculty/Staff Unpack in our New Building!
The Boys & Girls Club is closed on Tuesday!
Please note that the Club will be CLOSED for Afterschool Drop-In Programming on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022
There will be NO bus to the Club
February Vacation Program
Mark your calendars, online registration for Community Education's 2022 February Vacation Program opens at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 19th! Click the link to their flyer below for full details https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oi41jGN5Ue9GPd-GUINmYHwGQBMnYpP9/view?usp=sharing
Please reach out to Debi Cornelius at debora.cornelius@watertown.k12.ma.us and Jeff Bodner at jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions regarding the 2022 February Vacation Week Program.
News From the PTO
Hello Hosmer Families, we have 2 updates for you this week:
Our next meeting will be on Monday, January 24 at 6:30 pm on Zoom (log-in link, Meeting ID: 950 8040 7309, Passcode: 4fj1t4).
Truffles Fundraiser: support our 5th graders! Truffles are from Dan’s Chocolates (dans.com) and will be available for pick up outside at Hosmer before the February vacation. Purchase online at store.hosmerpto.org or return paper form students will bring home in backpacks to school before Friday, January 28. If you use the paper order form, please include a check made out to Hosmer PTO and your name and email address. We will email you with pick-up logistics. Flavors are gluten-free and come with 16 truffles per pack:
- o Lot-a-Choc: Milk chocolate with a core of 64% cacao dark chocolate.
- o Caramel River: Silky milk chocolate with gourmet caramel.
- o PB Ecstacy: Creamy milk chocolate with peanut butter.
- o Peppy-R-Mint: Fragments of peppermint candy canes in 64% cacao dark truffle balls.
- o The Caffeinator: 64% dark cacao chocolate laced with dark coffee beans and caffeine.
- o Orangadu: Deep, dark 70% cacao chocolate infused with orange zest.
As always, please contact us with any questions and suggestions: cm@hosmerpto.org and tf@hosmerpto.org. We wish you all a healthy and happy new year, Christina Murphy and Theresa Flaherty
SEPAC Officer Elections
HOW TO VOTE ONLINE
Please support the Watertown SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) by casting your vote in the SEPAC Officer Election.
How do I vote?
Click here to access the online SEPAC Officer Election Ballot or copy and paste this link into your web browser https://forms.gle/JSsEdGAFZDTpcv3q7
How long is voting open for?
The online ballot form will open at 6:00 PM on Friday, January 14, 2022 and close at 6:00 PM on Friday, January 21, 2022.
How many candidates can I vote for?
You can vote for up to two candidates for each of the listed SEPAC Officer positions.
How many times can I vote?
You can only submit one ballot.
Who will collect and review the submitted online ballots?
The election results will be collected and reviewed by the Watertown Public Schools School Committee liaison to the SEPAC.
When will the election results be announced?
Election results will be shared with the community the week of January 24th.
This Week's Lunch Menu
Help Wanted - Instructional Assistants
Community News
Watertown Unity Breakfast
About Us
Website: www.watertown.k12.ma.us/hosmer
Location: 1 Concord Road, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7740
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HosmerElementarySchool/
Twitter: @HosmerSchool