HMMS Happenings!
August 27, 2022
Dear HMMS Families,
The countdown is on...are you ready????
Our first day of school for students is Tuesday, August 30th!
Please see below for some important opening day details, including timing and logistics for drop off, where students report to start the day, lunch information, medication drop off and other helpful reminders to start the school year!
Please refer back to my summer newsletters for helpful information about supplies, team configurations and accessing Aspen.
Thank you for your patience as we continue identify and fix schedule errors that remain in Aspen. Mr. Healy and I have reviewed all team placements and homeroom teachers to ensure they are accurate for Tuesday, as this is the most important information your child will need for entering on the first day.
Full schedules will be reviewed with all students as part of first day orientation. Mr. Healy will continue checking in with teachers and students our first week back to make sure everything is accurate. There are many layers to middle school scheduling and we appreciate everyone's understanding when addressing any issues!
Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to welcome our new School Resource Officer, Amanda Ayer to the HMMS/Oak Street Elementary/ECDC complex! Officer Ayer has shared an introductory letter below for our families. She will be actively present around our campus to get to know our students, staff and families, so we wanted to make you aware of who she is and why you may see her on the first few days of school!
As always, if you have any questions in the coming days, feel free to reach out to someone in the main office.
HMMS Office: 508-541-6230
Ms. Motte, HMMS Principal: motter@franklinps.net phone ext. 2816
Mr. Healy, HMMS Assistant Principal: healyb@franklinps.net phone ext. 2846
Mrs. Simon HMMS Secretary: simonb@franklinps.net phone ext. 2869
We are so excited to welcome you back!
It is going to be a great year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Motte
Principal
Welcome to HMMS Officer Ayer! Get to know your new SRO!
Hello everyone,
As the new SRO serving your child’s school I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Officer Amanda Ayer; I have been with the Franklin Police Department since 2018. I applied for the position of Community Service Officer, which includes SRO, because I have always had a passion for working with kids and developing strong relationships in every community I join.
In the past I have volunteered in the children’s ministry for my church for ages 0-12. I have also lead “small groups” for middle school girls during summer breaks, to help them to grow and be confident in themselves, especially as they entered high school. I also worked in a child care facility, and due to my ease with multiple ages, I worked with every age of child there, from infant to 5th graders. I did specialize in working with preschool age children there, which I must admit was the most fun for me.
I have loved working in and getting to know the Town of Franklin over the last few years. Some of you may recognize me from department events we have held such as our Halloween party and Meeting with Santa. I enjoyed patrolling the town and having the opportunity to connect with its people but I am very excited to be in this new role where I can focus on making positive and lasting relationships with everyone in our school district.
Please expect to see me at your school regularly. I will be assigned to multiple schools so you may not see me every morning but I can be reached by administration or my departmental email aayer@franklinma.gov and will work with all of you to answer any concerns or questions you have.
Respectfully,
Officer Amanda Ayer
Medication Drop-Off 8/29
HMMS Medication Drop-Off - August 29th, 12:00-2:00pm
Stephanie Leeber, our new School Nurse, will be in the Health Office on Monday, August 29th from 12:00-2:00pm. Student medications and medical paperwork can be dropped off at this time.
Mrs. Leeber and Mrs. Kalemkerides will collect any remaining student medications on the first day of school. Please check in at the main office if you are stopping by. Please be mindful and cautious during our busy drop off and pick up times.
All medical forms can be found on the FPS Website.
First Day Logistics - TUesday, August 30th!
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
All students meet in the auditorium to start the first day! We make it easy, whether you are a returning student or a new student to our building. HMMS staff will be outside and along the route to the auditorium, waiting with smiles to guide students to right place!
In the auditorium, students will be grouped by grade level. They will locate their homeroom teacher for morning attendance and will settle into their seat for a brief welcome message from Ms. Motte and Mr. Healy. After this, students will transition with their homeroom teacher to their classroom to start the day.
First Day Schedule
We adjust the order of classes for the first day of school so that 6th graders spend time with their academic teachers for orientation activities before traveling to Unified Arts classes (E and F period). Students will receive an adjusted first day schedule from their homeroom teachers on Tuesday morning. They will also review their full 14 day schedule and get to know their flow of classes.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL REMINDERS
Drop Off Routine
If you are dropping off (or picking up) your child by car, for safety sake:
Please follow the traffic pattern for student drop off (and pick up) by car. HMMS staff will be stationed outside to direct traffic and keep the line moving.
Cars need to line up along the driveway and flow into the parking lot. This will minimize back-up along Oak Street.
Please do not drop your student off in the parking lot for drop off or ask your student to meet you in the parking lot at pick up.
Use of the parking lot crosswalk is limited during these busy times to ensure a safe and orderly process.
Students should not exit or enter a vehicle unless it is along the sidewalk in front of the building. Students should exit vehicles on the right hand side next to the building.
Please trust that our drop off and pick up system works when everyone follows the rules.
It is indeed the safest and most efficient system.
We have worked carefully with the Franklin Police Department to develop this traffic plan.
Student Walkers
When walking to school, please be sure your child is walking safely using sidewalks and crosswalks to get to school.
HMMS Busses
At 7:10 am busses will drop off students and everyone can enter the building.
Early Arrivals
Students can be dropped off beginning at 7:00 am for anyone who arrives early. Early students will wait outside until our morning bell rings at 7:10am.
ARRIVAL ON DAY 2 AND BEYOND...
Each morning students will enter the building at 7:10 am, go to their locker and then report to their Advisory (formerly called Connections) class. Students must be in Advisory by 7:20 am every day for daily attendance.
We will take the first week to settle into our morning arrival routine and make sure everyone knows where they are going. After that transition period, students who arrive after 7:20 am will be marked tardy.
Dismissal
Dismissal begins at 1:55 pm each afternoon. Please plan for a 1:55pm dismissal for your student until the end of September. Please use the same drop off traffic pattern outlined above when picking up by car in the afternoon.
Clubs and Late Bus
We will make announcements regarding clubs and the status of the late bus towards the end of September. We expect after school clubs to be up and running by early October.
2022-2023 Bus Information
Bus Passes
Bus Passes will be distributed to students on their first day of school. Drivers will begin checking passes on September 12, 2022.
Bus Routes
Click directly on this webpage for information regarding 2022-2023 bus routes, or click on the PDF document below for a list of district bus routes this year.
For any transportation questions please visit the district's transportation webpage:
Backpacks, Chromebooks, Lockers & Lunch
Backpacks: Students will be allowed to carry their backpacks throughout the day to hold their Chromebooks, school supplies and water bottles. Students should come to school each day with a backpack. If you are in need of a backpack for the school year, please contact Mrs. Simon in the main office!
Chromebooks:
7th and 8th Grade - Students should bring their charged device to school daily, beginning August 30th. Seventh and eighth grade students kept their school issued Chromebooks and chargers over the summer. Any new students will be issued a device on 8/30 during homeroom.
6th Grade - Sixth graders will receive a school issued Chromebook and charger on the first day of school, August 30th.
Chromebook Registration & Chromebook Insurance:
Please register your Chromebook by visiting this link: Chromebook Registration Form
If you do not have your Chromebook or you do not have the tag number, please type in "no tag" in the form. During the registration process you will have the opportunity to purchase OPTIONAL Chromebook insurance for the year. This is a great bargain and it is strongly recommended that you take advantage of this offer. This has prevented many families from having to pay $200 for a replacement Chromebook!
Lockers: Each grade level will set locker expectations at the start of the year. At a minimum, lockers will be used to store specific items such as cell phone, coats and lunches. Lockers will be assigned during homeroom time on the first day of school. All students will be assigned a locker buddy, two students per locker, as we have a limited number of lockers in our school.
Lunch: Here is what your student can expect:
- We will be using the HMMS cafeteria. There are eight seats per table.
- 7th & 8th grade students will be able to choose who they sit with beginning on the first day.
- 6th grade students will sit at homeroom tables for the first 3 days of school and then will be able to choose who they sit with beginning the second week.
- School lunch menus will consist of the "main" menu and several other options. Students do not need to pre-order lunches.
- All students are allowed 1 free breakfast and lunch daily and will be charged accordingly for second meals and a la carte items.
- Water will be sold at lunch as an a la carte item this year.
- We will be using our new Point of Sale System (Titan) to track meals and any a la carte purchases.
- For additional information, visit our Food Services webpage
First Day Paperwork & HMMS PCC Info
First Day Paperwork
Please be on the lookout for any paperwork coming home on the first day. We try to limit the amount of paper handouts given throughout the year, but we always need to share some important information to start the year! Additionally, there will be electronic forms coming from the main office that you will need to fill out at the start of the year.
HMMS PCC
Each year we have a dedicated group of parent volunteers who play a pivotal role for our students and school community. Thank you to Shari Feldman, Michelle Panter and Erin Finn who have already begun their work as HMMS PCC Executive Board members for this year!
The PCC is always looking for additional volunteers! The first PCC Meeting for 2022-2023 is Tuesday, September 6th at 9:00 am. We will meet in the HMMS cafeteria.
Attached below are a welcome letter from the PCC that further outlines the work they do for our school, as well as information to make direct donations to the HMMS PCC.
Important Dates to Remember...
August
- Mon Aug 29 - Teachers Return to School (PD Day).
- Tue Aug 30 - First Day of School for Students!
September
- Fri Sep 2 - No School for Students (PD Day for Staff)
- Mon Sep 5 - No School, Labor Day
- Tue Sep 6 - First HMMS PCC Meeting for 2022-2023, 9:00-10:30am
- Thu Sep 15 - Fall Picture Day!
- Wed Sep 21 - Early Release Day for Students, dismissal at 10:45am
- Mon Sep 26 - No School, Rosh Hashanah
October
- Oct 4 & 6 - Grade 6 YMCA Field Trip (more info to come...)
- Wed Oct 5 - No School, Yom Kippur
- Fri Oct 7 - 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
- Tue Oct 25 - HMMS Visiting Author Day with Leslie Connor!
- Thu Oct 27 - Fall Picture Re-Takes
- Fri Oct 28 - Early Release Day for Students, dismissal at 10:45am
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