Holyoke Public School News

Noticias de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke

Dear Families, Partners, and Colleagues,

Last week, Massachusetts released MCAS test scores for all public school districts, including Holyoke Public Schools. You can read more about the district’s MCAS results below.

Families should have received their children’s individual test scores earlier this week. If you have questions about your child’s scores or academic achievement in general, please contact your school’s main office to schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher or school counselor.

This week’s Holyoke Update includes the following:

Holyoke Public Schools’ 2022 MCAS results show mixed progress
HPS receives updated square footage figures for Donahue, Kelly, and Sullivan
Schools plan activities for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
Upcoming events and school calendar

A reminder that Monday, October 10 is a holiday for HPS students and staff, as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. We made the decision in 2020 to honor Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day as a reflection of our commitment to becoming an antiracist and culturally responsive school community. Many other school districts, cities, and states have also done the same.

While Indigenous Peoples Day is not a federal holiday, last October President Biden signed a proclamation declaring the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day. His proclamation reflects the federal government’s “solemn obligation to lift up and invest in the future of Indigenous people and empower Tribal Nations to govern their own communities and make their own decisions. We must never forget the centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror wrought upon Native communities and Tribal Nations throughout our country. Today, we acknowledge the significant sacrifices made by Native peoples to this country—and recognize their many ongoing contributions to our Nation.”

Wishing everyone a relaxing, long weekend!

Mr. Anthony Soto, Superintendent

Holyoke Public Schools’ 2022 MCAS results show mixed progress

On September 29, Massachusetts released MCAS test scores for all public school districts, which provided an overview of statewide learning since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual school districts received their overall results last week.

Families should have received their children’s individual test scores earlier this week. If you have questions about your child’s scores or academic achievement in general, please contact your school’s main office to schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher or school counselor.

Holyoke Public Schools’ 2022 MCAS scores reinforce what Holyoke Public School educators already knew: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted students’ opportunities to learn in our classrooms with the support of their teachers and peers.

“Our students, families, and teachers worked hard throughout the 2021-22 school year to move forward with teaching and learning, but these efforts could not fully overcome the impacts of the pandemic, including interrupted learning and lost instructional time,” said Superintendent Anthony Soto.

At a high level, the district’s 2022 MCAS results showed mixed progress compared with 2021 scores. Holyoke’s results are mostly consistent with state trends. English Language Arts (ELA) scores declined overall, although 5th grade ELA scores remained steady and 7th and 8th grade ELA scores increased slightly. Math scores increased slightly in grades 3-8 and declined slightly in grade 10. Science scores increased in grades 5 and 8. Compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, achievement in grade 10 ELA remained steady but achievement fell in all other grade levels and subject areas.

“We have significant ground to make up across all grades and subject areas to fully recover from pandemic learning losses,” said HPS Executive Director of Academics Rebecca Thompson.

Good attendance clearly has an impact on achievement. Students with stronger attendance (above 90%) were at least two times more likely to meet or exceed expectations in every subject than students who were chronically absent (missing 10% or more days of school, which is on average 18+ days per year).

“As we move beyond the initial stages of the pandemic, Holyoke Public Schools is taking a number of important steps to help our students get back on track academically and to improve overall student attendance when absences aren’t related to illness,” Superintendent Soto said. These district-led initiatives include:

Providing families factual information and positive supports to reinforce the importance and benefits of good school attendance.
Working with school-level teams to proactively support consistent student attendance and help families find solutions to potential barriers.
Regularly assessing and analyzing students’ unmet learning needs on their journey to meeting grade-level expectations.
Supporting teacher teams across the district to analyze data together and plan powerful lessons that accelerate learning for all students.
Strengthening our early literacy instruction with the goal of having all students learning to read at grade level by third grade, so they can read to learn in all disciplines for the rest of their lives.

All are welcome to attend an upcoming School Committee meeting to hear a full presentation about the MCAS results and response. The date, time, and location will be announced soon.

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Sullivan

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Kelly

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Donahue

HPS receives updated square footage figures for Donahue, Kelly, and Sullivan

An architectural firm recently hired by the district to work on a project unrelated to rezoning has recalculated the square footage sizes of Donahue, Kelly, and Sullivan schools using computer assisted drawing (CAD) software.

These new calculations show significantly smaller square footage numbers for Sullivan School and slightly larger square footage numbers for the other two schools, compared to the figures previously reported through the district’s rezoning outreach efforts. Those earlier square-foot calculations date back more than 25 years, and no one currently working at HPS knows their origins.

The architectural firm’s newly calculated numbers are as follows:

Donahue is 74,212 square feet, which is 3,662 square feet bigger than the previously reported 70,550 square feet.
Kelly is 89,361 square feet, which is 3,059 square feet bigger than the previously reported 86,302 square feet. This makes Kelly the largest of the three schools.
Sullivan is 71,401 square feet, which is 40,599 square feet smaller than the previously reported 112,000 square feet. This makes Sullivan the smallest of the three schools.

Although all three schools have the same number of traditional-size classrooms—33—Kelly has a larger cafetorium than the other two schools, as well a large library/rotunda area the other two schools don’t have, and two gyms instead of one.

“We realize that some of our community members may have formed opinions about which of these three schools would be our best choice for converting to a middle school based on those previously shared square footage figures, and we wish we had been able to get these square footage figures out to people earlier,” said HPS Chief of Strategy Erin Linville. “Building size is only one of many factors being considered, and all three buildings are sufficiently large enough for the estimated enrollment of 500-550 students. We continue to seek community feedback about which of these buildings will become a middle school in 2023. We very much want community feedback on this, so please take this survey by October 13 to share your opinion.”

If you’d like to learn more about the district’s rezoning process, consider participating in an upcoming community meeting on Tuesday, October 11, at 5:30 p.m. Register here to receive the Zoom link. Parents who participate in DPAG, ELPAC or SEPAC will receive a direct calendar invitation, too.

You can also learn more about rezoning by:

Referring to the district’s website for in-depth information.
Reading and sharing this flier (in English and Spanish)
Watching this 9-minute video with background information and hopes for the future.

Watching this 4-minute video (in English and Spanish) that includes photos from each of the three schools so you can get a feel for each of the buildings.

Reviewing these slides that provide details about the similarities and differences of the buildings themselves and some of the pros and cons to the actual location of each building. All three school buildings have the necessary elements for a middle school building for 500-550 students.

Schools plan activities for National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

In classrooms throughout Holyoke next week, students will participate in grade-appropriate activities such as group discussions, completing questionnaires and worksheets, and watching videos to help them better understand the many forms of bullying and cyberbullying. Activities will also focus on how to prevent bullying from happening, the role of the bystander, and the serious consequences of bullying that can last a lifetime.

"We want all of our schools to be positive and safe places for students to learn without harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying,” said HPS Director of Student Support Services Giselle M. Rojas. “We can all do something to stop bullying together.”

As one relatively small but highly visible step, all HPS students and staff are asked to wear the color orange on Friday, October 14 as a demonstration of unity, kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

HPS provides a variety of supports to staff and families around bullying prevention, said HPS Compliance Manager Marisol Barresi. “Also, ongoing data is collected and analyzed with relation to reported incidents of bullying throughout the district. This helps to understand trends and determine where additional work is still needed,” she explained. All staff are trained annually on bullying awareness and prevention methods, as well as procedures for reporting and investigating bullying incidents. HPS has also posted information on bullying prevention and the intervention process on the district website in both English and Spanish.

What exactly is bullying, and why is it harmful?

The website www.stopbullying.gov explains it this way: “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.” You can learn more here and here.

Upcoming Events & School Calendar

Upcoming events and school calendar

Monday, October 10, Indigenous Peoples Day—No school
Tuesday, October 11, Virtual Community Conversation about rezoning, 5:30-6:30 p.m., via Zoom. Register here.
October 17-21, STEM Week
Monday, October 17, Holyoke School Committee Meeting, 6-8:30 p.m., via Zoom
Tuesday, October 18, District Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 6-7 p.m., Holyoke High School North
Thursday, October 20, Middle School Building Committee, 6-8 p.m., via Zoom
Wednesday, October 26, SEPAC Trunk or Treat, 6-7 p.m., more information to follow

*The Calendar, Bell times, and Events page on the HPS website provides more information about these events, including meeting access details.

REMINDERS:

How to contact us if you need support
Enroll your child today at enrollholyoke.com
Update your contact information

Estimadas familias, socios y colegas,

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La semana pasada, Massachusetts publicó los resultados de las pruebas del MCAS para todos los distritos escolares públicos, incluidas las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke. Puede leer más sobre los resultados de los MCAS del distrito a continuación.

Las familias deberían haber recibido los resultados de las pruebas individuales de sus hijos a principios de esta semana. Si tiene preguntas sobre las puntuaciones de su hijo o hija, o sobre su desempeño académico en general, póngase en contacto con la oficina principal de su escuela para programar una cita con el maestro o el consejero escolar de su hijo.

La Actualización de Holyoke de esta semana incluye lo siguiente:

Los resultados del MCAS de 2022 de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke muestran un progreso mixto.
HPS recibe cifras actualizadas de los pies cuadrados para Donahue, Kelly y Sullivan
Las escuelas planifican las actividades para el Mes Nacional de la Concienciación sobre la Prevención del Acoso Escolar
Próximos eventos y calendario escolar

Le recordamos que el lunes 10 de octubre es un día festivo para los estudiantes y el personal de HPS, ya que celebramos el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas. En 2020 tomamos la decisión de celebrar el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas en lugar del Día de la Raza como una reflexión de nuestro compromiso de convertirnos en una comunidad escolar antirracista y culturalmente receptiva. Muchos otros distritos escolares, ciudades y estados también han hecho lo mismo.

Aunque el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas no es un día festivo federal, el pasado mes de octubre el presidente Biden firmó una proclamación que declaraba el segundo lunes de octubre como Día de los Pueblos Indígenas. Su proclamación refleja la "solemne obligación del gobierno federal de levantar e invertir en el futuro de los pueblos indígenas y empoderar a las naciones tribales para que gobiernen sus propias comunidades y tomen sus propias decisiones. Nunca debemos olvidar la campaña de violencia, desplazamiento, asimilación y terror que durante siglos han sufrido las comunidades nativas y las naciones tribales de todo el país. Hoy, reconocemos los importantes sacrificios que los pueblos nativos han hecho por este país, y reconocemos sus muchas contribuciones actuales a nuestra nación"

¡Les deseo a todos un relajante y largo fin de semana!

Sr. Anthony Soto, superintendente

Los resultados del MCAS de 2022 de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke muestran un progreso mixto

El 29 de septiembre, Massachusetts publicó los resultados de los exámenes MCAS de todos los distritos escolares públicos, que proporcionaron una visión general del aprendizaje en todo el estado desde el inicio de la pandemia del COVID-19. Los distritos escolares individuales recibieron sus resultados globales la semana pasada.

Las familias deberían haber recibido los resultados de las pruebas individuales de sus hijos a principios de esta semana. Si tiene preguntas sobre las puntuaciones de su hijo o hija, o sobre su desempeño académico en general, póngase en contacto con la oficina principal de su escuela para programar una cita con el maestro o el consejero escolar de su hijo.

Los resultados del MCAS de 2022 de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke refuerzan lo que los educadores de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke ya sabían: La pandemia del COVID-19 interrumpió significativamente las oportunidades de los estudiantes de aprender en nuestros salones de clases con el apoyo de sus maestros y compañeros.

"Nuestros estudiantes, familias y maestros trabajaron arduamente a lo largo del año escolar 2021-22 para avanzar en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje, pero estos esfuerzos no pudieron superar completamente los impactos de la pandemia, incluyendo la interrupción del aprendizaje y la pérdida del tiempo de instrucción", dijo el superintendente Anthony Soto.

En un nivel alto, los resultados del MCAS de 2022 del distrito mostraron un progreso mixto en comparación con las puntuaciones de 2021. Los resultados de Holyoke coinciden en su mayor parte con las tendencias estatales. Las puntuaciones en Lengua y Literatura en inglés (ELA, por sus siglas en inglés) disminuyeron en general, aunque las de quinto grado se mantuvieron estables, las de séptimo y octavo grado aumentaron ligeramente. Las puntuaciones en matemáticas aumentaron ligeramente en tercer a octavo grado y disminuyeron ligeramente en el décimo grado. Los resultados en ciencias aumentaron en quinto y octavo grado. En comparación con los niveles prepandémicos de 2019, el desempeño en el décimo grado de ELA se mantuvo estable, pero el desempeño descendió en todos los demás niveles de grado y las materias.

"Tenemos que recuperar un terreno importante en todos los grados y las materias para recuperarnos totalmente de las pérdidas de aprendizaje por la pandemia", dijo la directora académica ejecutiva de HPS, Rebecca Thompson.

La buena asistencia tiene un impacto claro en el desempeño. Los estudiantes con una mayor asistencia (por encima del 90%) tenían al menos dos veces más probabilidades de cumplir o superar las expectativas en todas las materias que los estudiantes con absentismo crónico (que faltan un 10% o más de días a clase, lo que supone un promedio de más de 18 días al año).

"A medida que superamos las etapas iniciales de la pandemia, las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke están tomando una serie de medidas importantes para ayudar a nuestros estudiantes a retomar el camino académico y mejorar la asistencia general de los estudiantes cuando las ausencias no están relacionadas con la enfermedad", dijo el superintendente Soto. Estas iniciativas dirigidas por el distrito incluyen:

Proporcionar a las familias información objetiva y apoyos positivos para reforzar la importancia y los beneficios de una buena asistencia a la escuela.
Trabajar con los equipos a nivel escolar para apoyar de forma proactiva la asistencia constante de los estudiantes y ayudar a las familias a encontrar soluciones a los posibles obstáculos.
Evaluar y analizar periódicamente las necesidades de aprendizaje no satisfechas de los estudiantes en su camino hacia el cumplimiento de las expectativas del nivel de grado.
Apoyar a los equipos de maestros de todo el distrito para que analicen juntos los datos y planifiquen lecciones potentes que aceleren el aprendizaje de todos los estudiantes.
Reforzar nuestra enseñanza de la alfabetización temprana con el objetivo de que todos los estudiantes aprendan a leer a nivel de grado en tercer grado, para que puedan leer para aprender en todas las disciplinas durante el resto de sus vidas.

Todos están invitados a asistir a una próxima reunión del Comité Escolar para escuchar una presentación completa sobre los resultados del MCAS y la respuesta. La fecha, la hora y el lugar se anunciarán pronto.

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