HMMS Happenings!
October 2, 2022
Dear HMMS Families,
As we turn the calendar to October, our students and staff continue to settle into their school routines. Much like September, we have some important events and activities that kick-off this month, including after school clubs, our annual Back to School Night and our Visiting Author experience.
Please see below for some important information and reminders for this month, including:
- Club Information for 2022-2023; clubs begin this week!
- PJ Day and Stop Drop & Read this Friday, October 7th!
- HMMS Back to School Night is Thursday, October 13th from 6:30-8:00 pm
- Chromebook Insurance - deadline to purchase in October 15
- Author visit with Leslie Connor is October 25th!
- HMMS School Council - looking for volunteers!
As always, we have included Main Office contact information and "Important Dates to Remember" at the bottom of this newsletter.
A schedule update for 6th grade families:
The YMCA needed to reschedule our teambuilding field trip to November 15-17. We will not visit the YMCA this week. Teachers will be sending more information regarding the YMCA trip, as well as permission slips, in the coming weeks.
There is No School on Wednesday, October 5, in observance of Yom Kippur.
There is an Early Release Day on Friday, October 7, with student dismissal at 10:45am.
I hope you are having a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Ms. Motte
Principal
HMMS Club Offerings this Year!
HMMS Clubs begin this week!
Here is some important information regarding clubs:
- Students can sign up for the clubs at anytime during the year.
- Clubs will begin after dismissal and will conclude at 3:10pm.
- Students may either be picked up, walk, or take the late bus home after the clubs.
- Clubs are offered Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- There are no clubs or late bus on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Club Fee
There is $75 club fee that allows students to participate in as many clubs as they would like for the school year. Students can try out clubs for the month of October without paying the club fee. After that, all students will be required to pay a fee of $75 for continued involvement in clubs. The fee can be paid with this website.Late Bus Information
The late bus is available for everyone. Students will let the bus drivers know where they live in order to be dropped off at or near their typical bus stop. There is a fee of $1 for any student who does not already pay to ride the bus (6th graders over 2 miles from HMMS and students who do not typically ride the bus). A pass can be purchased in the HMMS office each day.
Ski/Board Club **sign ups later this month**
We are excited to run a ski and board club for the 2023 winter season! Mr. Goldman and I have been in communication with Life Long Learning, who helps organize this club for our Franklin schools. They are working with Wachusett Mountain and will provide sign up links later this month. We will provide updates as soon as we have more information!
PJ Day, Stop Drop & Read 10/7
After advisory, we will spend some time as a community reading a variety of Leslie Connor's novels. Students have the option to bring a Leslie Connor book to read independently, or to sign up for a Leslie Connor read-aloud. HMMS staff will be reading a variety of her works, and students can sit back, relax and enjoy this literary experience!
HMMS Back to School Night is October 13, 6:30-8:00pm
On Thursday, October 13th, we invite our parents/guardians to attend Horace Mann Middle School’s Back to School Night! The evening will begin at 6:30 pm in the HMMS auditorium with a brief welcome from Ms. Motte and Mr. Healy. From there, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade parents/guardians will follow their child’s schedule, traveling to different classrooms until the evening ends at 8:00 pm.
This event is always a great kick-off to the school year for teachers and families. It provides an opportunity for teachers to introduce themselves, preview curriculum and share team-based information, and provides an opportunity for families to make a connection with HMMS teachers and learn about their child's classes for the year.
We hope to see you there!
Chromebook Insurance Enrollment ends 10/15
A reminder for all school-issued Chromebooks:
You have the opportunity to purchase OPTIONAL Chromebook insurance for the year. The Franklin Public Schools Chromebook optional insurance program provides coverage against accidental damage (drops, spills, etc.). There is no deductible and no limit to the number of claims that can be made for a Chromebook.
Insurance can be purchased only via online payment and only during the open enrollment window, which ends on October 15, 2022. This form must be completed for each device your child/children may have. Use this link to register and purchase insurance.
Coverage Option - The cost for coverage is $45 per year, per device with lower rates for those who qualify for free/reduced meals. Coverage includes Accidental Damage from cracked screens and liquid spills, liquid submersion, fire, flood damage, vandalism, natural disasters, and power surge due to lightning.
NOT COVERED: Intentional damage, case carvings, broken chargers, will not be covered. Additionally, if a device is lost or stolen (as determined by our insurance provider), families may be responsible for the total cost of the device. Please note that full loss due to theft is only covered when accompanied by a police report.
Note: While the insurance is OPTIONAL, those choosing NOT to insure devices will be responsible for the full replacement cost of $250.00 should an accident or loss occur. Full replacement cost will be the only option available and partial costs to repair a damaged Chromebook will not be considered regardless of the damage as we do not repair these devices in-house.
HMMS School Council
As the year is getting underway, we will be re-establishing our School Council at Horace Mann Middle School. This is an advisory group that meets monthly with the school's administrative team. The Council provides valuable perspective and feedback about the school's short and long-term goals. Members also assist with reviewing the school's handbook.
The Council will meet monthly on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-3:30pm. The first meeting this year will be held on Tuesday, October 25th at HMMS. During that session, a schedule of additional meetings will be discussed.
If you are interested in joining HMMS School Council or if you have any clarifying questions, please email Ms. Motte directly at motter@franklinps.net.
Important Dates to Remember...
October
- Wed Oct 5 - No School, Yom Kippur
- Oct 5-7 - HMMS Book Fair at Escape into Fiction!
- Fri Oct 7 - Stop, Drop & Read!, Early Release Day for students, dismissal at 10:45am
- Mon Oct 10 - No School, Indigenous People Day/Columbus Day
- Thu Oct 13 - HMMS Open House, Back to School Night! 6:30-8:00pm
- Oct 24-28 - HMMS Fall Spirit Week! More info to come...
- Tue Oct 25 - HMMS Visiting Author Day with Leslie Connor!
- Wed Oct 26 - Leslie Connor evening event for families, 6-7pm, Escape into Fiction
- Thu Oct 27 - Fall Picture Re-Takes
- Fri Oct 28 - Early Release Day for Students, dismissal at 10:45am
- Tue Nov 8 - No School, PD Day for Staff
- Nov 9-10 - Early Release Days, Parent/Guardian Conferences
- Fri Nov 11 - No School, Veteran's Day
- Nov 15-17 - 6th Grade YMCA Field Trip (rescheduled from October)
- Nov 23-25 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
December
- Mon Dec 5 - Last Day of Term 1
- Tue Dec 6 - Term 2 Begins (students transition to new UA trimester course)
- Wed Dec 7 - Early Release Day for Students, dismissal at 10:45 am
- Wed Dec 14 - Term 1 Report Cards Released in Aspen
- Dec 26-30 - No School, Winter Break
About HMMS
508-541-6230 ext 2816
Mr. Healy's contact information
508-541-6230 ext 2846
Email: name@franklinps.net
Website: https://www.franklinps.net/horacemann
Location: 224 Oak Street, Franklin, MA, USA
Phone: 508-541-6230
Twitter: @HMMSLightning