The Hopkins School Hawk Squawk
Principal's Update - 10/24/22
Updates from the Hopkins' Office
Dear Hopkins' Community,
First off, I hope that all our families celebrating Diwali this weekend have enjoyed a happy, safe and festive holiday season! The fall season has been a busy one - and there is no stopping in sight! This coming week, Hopkins School will be celebrating our Annual "Be Fearless, Be Kind" Spirit Week. The timing of this special spirit week, over the last week of October, is timed to correspond with National Bullying Prevention Month, as well as our "Understanding Our Differences" enrichment units, which are designed to help our students understand more about those who learn differently (this month's focus is on Intellectual Disabilities at grade 4 and Autism at grade 5). As one of the station leaders for UoD unit last week, I was so impressed with the way our fourth graders engaged in the subject, sharing about friends they have with Intellectual Disabilities and discussing ways to promote inclusion for all learners - it made my heart grow at least four sizes! As a school, we believe strongly that the best way to prevent bullying behavior is to create an environment promoting kindness, acceptance and inclusion. This can't be done in single health lesson or Morning Meeting, but rather must be infused into our school-wide and classroom culture-building practices. Check out the special theme days below - we hope your child will choose to participate!
Speaking of upcoming celebrations, I've included a form below for our upcoming Veterans Day Assembly. With 645 students and 100 staff, we no longer have the space to welcome in many family members to these special days, but we would like to extend an invitation to those with family who are veterans and would be willing to come in and be recognized during this Whole School Meeting. For those with family members who are veterans, but not close to Hopkinton, the form also gives the option to share photos for this special Hopkins' day. We look forward to teaching our students about the meaning of Veterans Day - and it certainly makes it more meaningful to know a bit about the stories of those related to our students!
As I shared last time, we have entered fall conferences season. At Hopkins, we seek to promote close relationships with all families, knowing it is critical to partner together for the benefit of our children. At the Back to School nights, I shared the challenge that educators face when sharing about children with their families. We recognize that these are your most precious commodity - and therefore, a natural point for pride, frustration and certainly, worry. This can make for difficult conversations and certainly, emotional ones. Below, in the parent resource section, I've shared some helpful articles about ways to prepare for conferences. Here is one that I found particularly thought-provoking, from the perspective of a teacher/parent.
As you know, 10 minutes is a short period of time when you are talking about one of your favorite subjects - your child! However, please remember your child's teacher(s) are on a tight schedule - trying to manage 25-48 conferences with families just as eager as you are! You can anticipate that Hopkins' teachers will be discussing personal development for your child in the critical areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making, as well as details about academic development. You will find information on your child's progress in these same areas through our report cards that are issued early February and again in June.
Please, remember my words of advice from last time and at those Back to School events: come in with an open mind, ready to learn about your child's strengths and prepared to leave with areas of focus/goals and potentially challenges for your child, as well. And of course, assume positive intent by your child's teachers. Many of us are parents, too, and we all recognize the sensitivity that comes with discussing a child's weaknesses with families. It can be hard to hear that your child is struggling to take responsibility for a challenging behavior - or finding it difficult to master a new concept in math. Over my time at Hopkins, I have come to know that the educators here are firmly committed to helping children succeed, but that does mean partnering with families and sharing challenges, along with the bright spots. Please, be open to these conversations and remember to think big picture: a conflict with a peer does not necessarily mean there is bullying, just like trouble with inferential reading does not always point to a learning disability.
We value and build on the knowledge each parent has of their child to make sure their time at Hopkins is enjoyable and successful. Positive lines of communication between home and school enable the children to receive continuity of education, care and support within both the home and school settings - it definitely helps them to feel more secure when they receive consistent messages from both. Some final thoughts on this topic:
Your views about our school and your child's experience are welcome - and there are a range of communication channels that parents and other members of the school community can use to enable a two way flow of information between themselves and the schools: phone, email, Zoom meeting, in-person conferences. It is helpful to think about the purpose of communication to determine which means would be most helpful.
We recognize that from time to time you may have a concern that you wish to raise with the school. It is vitally important that any concerns regarding the well-being of your child are shared with us, when appropriate. We cannot support children if we are not aware that anything is happening!
We are committed to responding to a parental concern as quickly and as sensitively as possible in order to resolve the issue promptly. Please recognize that your child's educators are responsible for several dozen children and have many, many responsibilities - and limited time to complete these jobs. While sending an email may seem quick and easy, teachers frequently carefully craft thoughtful responses to families, so assume that it may require a few days for a response from a teacher (typically two school days).
If there is an urgent/emergency need regarding your child, it is often best to include office staff (including administration, nurse, admin assistants) or a member of our behavioral-emotional support team in your call/email, to ensure a timely response. Think about the content of your communication - it this an "immediate," "within 2 days" or "by the end of the week?"
We are excited to welcome you into your child's school world in coming weeks, whether for a Zoom conference or in building. We know that the partnerships between home and school build for stronger outcomes and look forward to giving you a closer look into their school world.
Warmly,
Vanessa Bilello
Principal, Hopkins School
Important Hopkins School Dates
Please contact us if you have any questions on events listed below!
Monday, October 24th - NO SCHOOL
Week of October 24th- Understanding our Differences Gr. 5: Autism
Week of October 24th- Be Fearless, Be Kind! SPIRIT WEEK (sponsored by Principal's Cabinet - see below)
Wednesday, October 26th- Mismatched Sock Day
Thursday, October 27th - "Blue Up" to Prevent Bullying
Friday, October 28th - Principal's Cabinet Spirit Day - BATTLE OF THE HOMEROOMS! (each classroom creates their own theme and competes against the other homerooms in that grade level - Mrs. Bilello and Mr. Cotter crown the champs!)
Friday, November 4th - 1PM Early Release (Lunch is served)
Tuesday, November 8th - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, November 10th - Hopkins' Veterans Assembly (if you have a local family member who is a veteran of the US Armed Forces and would like to attend this assembly, please reach out to vbilello@hopkinton.k12.ma.us). Any families that have a family member who served, especially in uniform, is also invited to share those with Mrs. Bilello and Mr. Cotter below - we would love to recognize them for their service during this day! Please check out the form below.
Friday, November 11th - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, November 17th - Picture Retakes at Hopkins School
Friday, November 18th - 1PM Early Release (Lunch is served)
Wednesday, November 23rd - 12:20 PM Early DISMISSAL (NO LUNCH SERVED!)
Thursday, November 24th - Friday, November 25th - THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO SCHOOL
Friday, December 2nd - - 1PM Early Release (Lunch is served)
Email: hoffice@hopkinton.k12.ma.us
Website: https://hopkinselementary.hopkinton.k12.ma.us/
Location: 104 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, MA, United States
Phone: 508-497-9824
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HopkinsElementarySchool
Twitter: @HopkinsSchool
Wednesday Spirit Day: Mismatched Sock Day!
Thursday Spirit Day: "Blue Up" to Stomp Out Bullying
Friday: "Homeroom Battle!"
SEL Resources: School/Family Connections
Social Emotional Learning Resources
Additional Social-Emotional Resources for Families
F.A.Q.
Arrival/Dismissal Routines at Hopkins School
What are school drop-off/pick up procedures?
Busses:
If your child will be taking the school bus, you can access bus route information on the school district website. Hopkins will be sharing busses this year with Marathon. We encourage a 10-15 minute window at the beginning of the year, as route times are approximations. Be respectful of the time, as those not prepared will delay the route for all. For the dismissal route, again, please allow a 10-15 minute window of time. Route times are approximate, not exact. If your child loses their bus pass, please contact Transportation to order a new one (cost is $10). Drivers will accommodate students while the await a new card.
Front of School Drop Off/Pick Up: Students being dropped off at the building can arrive starting at 8:35 AM, when supervision will begin in the front of school, for walkers/bikers and parent drop-offs (see map below). This is considered a “live drop-off,” meaning drivers must remain in their cars during drop-off time. Have your child seated in the back on the passenger side of the car and please say your goodbyes quickly, as others are waiting to drop off their children. This side will be closest to the curb when you pull up in front of the school, and will allow for the safest drop-off. The tardy bell is now at 8:55 AM. Students do go up to classrooms by 8:45 to unpack at lockers and get organized for the day. Families are encouraged to drop off by 8:45, as it allows students plenty of time to settle in each morning.
School dismisses promptly at 3:15 PM - parent pick up follows the same route as morning drop-off. It is necessary to stay in your vehicle when in the dismissal line- having your child's name printed in the dashboard is helpful and showing ID is required. This also applies to all after-school enrichment programs, unless the instructor has arranged with families to meet at another location outside our building. This is not applicable for the YMCA Afterschool Care, which has their own dismissal protocols.
Because we have so many buses picking up and dropping off at Hopkins all at once, we will continue using the ‘access road’ to queue waiting buses. That access road exits with a right turn next to the entrance into the front driveway/parking of Hopkins. If you are in the line of cars dropping off or picking up students, please do not block the access road so buses can exit.
Dismissal/Transportation Changes for Students:
It is critical to your child and our staff at Hopkins that we know your child’s dismissal routines, or, if there is a change to transportation at the end of the day. Any dismissal changes also need to comply with our District’s Transportation policies. To make changes to a dismissal, please use the form on the district website.
It is also important for your child to know their dismissal plans each day, especially if they have different routines on different days of the week. Children are sometimes confused or forget about the days of the week. Kids can also be on “auto-pilot” at the end of each day and not think about where they are supposed to go. If your child has different plans on different days, please review with your child their schedule and routine.
Other FAQ
What are school office hours?
Our school office hours are 8:00-4:00. There is no supervision prior to 8:35 AM. At 4:00 PM, the office closes and families will not be able to gain access to Hopkins.
How do I dismiss my child early from Hopkins - or different than their normal daily plan?
Families changing dismissal must complete the Hopkins' Dismissal Form. It can be found on our school webpage, as well.
What do I if my child is going to be absent?
Contact our absence line at (508) 435-0312.
What about lunch?
FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS: Free meals are available to all students once again this year, due to MA state funding. No documentation/application is needed to receive these benefits. Only complete, reimbursable meals are eligible (1 meal, with milk, per lunch period). Snacks, single milks, water, seltzers, double meals, etc. are NOT FREE and will be charged accordingly. Students are required to pick their option (hot, vegetarian, cold) at 9AM each morning and no changes are allowed to their orders during lunch.
Access elementary school lunch menus here. Additional lunch is available for $3.00 ($.75 for milk). Online payments can be made through the HPS website, or with a check. Students are also welcome to bring their own lunch. As a reminder, Hopkins students do have lunch on Early Release Days, but not on Early Dismissal Days. Please check the school calendar on the website for details.
What about lockers?
Hopkins School students will be using lockers for storage of their coats, backpacks and lunches only. Hopkins does not permit students to lock their lockers. As a reminder, Hopkins School is not responsible for lost or stolen valuables. Students are asked to keep such items at home.
Other Key Info?
Be sure that you and your family review our HPS Elementary School Handbook prior to the start of the school year- all families are required to sign off that it has been reviewed each year.
How can I get involved?
Families are encouraged to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the HPTO (Parent-Teacher Organization), SEPAC & ELPAC (Special Education/English Learner Parent Advisory Councils), as well as HEF (Hopkinton Education Foundation). These are all great ways to become part of our community at Hopkins- and are extremely important supporters of our schools in Hopkinton! You can find links to these organizations at the bottom of this newsletter or from our website. Many of these volunteer-run organizations will be at our Curriculum Nights for families to learn more.
Hopkinton Parent-Teacher Organization
The Hopkinton Parent-Teacher Association (HPTO) provides students at our elementary schools with a variety of enrichment programs during the school year to enhance and support classroom instruction. THE HPTO organizes parents/guardians to volunteer at Hopkins - whether you are available weekly or for special events. The HPTO counts on your membership to support activities in the schools that are enjoyed by all. For more information, please visit the HPTO website.
Volunteering
As a reminder, any volunteers do need to have an up-to-date CORI on file in the office. Check with the office for details. Volunteer opportunities are frequently coordinated through our HPTO.
Security Reminders
Drop-off Window:
In an effort to minimize disruptions, drop off hours for forgotten lunches, instruments, and other items occur between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM at Hopkins School. Please do not bring forgotten homework to school. To drop-off items, you will be buzzed into our main entrance exterior door, and a table will be located in the vestibule. Please leave the clearly-labeled items on the table. We no longer allow visitors into the main section of the building to drop-off forgotten items. Our staff will call students down to the Main Office to pick up these items at approximately 11:00.
School Doors:
Just a reminder that we ask for everyone’s support to prevent ‘tailgating.’ While holding the door open for others is a polite thing to do, it can be a security risk in our schools. Please do not hold the door open for others; we kindly ask that all visitors pass through our buzz-in system at the main entrance to the school.
Quick Links
Hopkinton Family Support Organizations
Communication
Our school website has static information, but it is also updated with current news, photos and bulletins. Every other week, you can expect a school-wide update from the Principal’s Office, the Hawk Squawk. This is distributed to families via email and can also be found on the school’s webpage. You can also follow us on Twitter: @hopkinsschool, Instagram (hopkins_elementary), and Facebook (HopkinsElementarySchool). Ms. Babson sends out the Hopkins Herald newsletter every other month. This includes articles written by staff and students at Hopkins, as well as many pictures from our hallways.
In addition to the above school-wide methods, please communicate openly with your child’s teacher(s). Each teacher has an email address and voice mailbox. Many also utilize a website and/or Twitter to share news. You can find their contact information on our school website or you can call (508)-497-9824 to reach teachers’ voicemail.