Hemenway Happenings
Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year, August 8th, 2022
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A Message from the Principal
May 2023
May 1, 2023
Good Morning Families and Caregivers,
This week, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all of our teachers and staff for their compassion, dedication, and teamwork in support of our students, families and overall Hemenway Community. I hope you will join me in celebrating their contributions to Hemenway.
Our teachers and staff are the backbone of our school community, and their hard work and commitment to excellence are what make our school such a special place. They inspire our students to be their best selves, encourage them to reach for the stars, and help them discover their passions and talents.
As a principal, I have observed and collaborated with this team and have been in awe of their compassion, creativity, and warmth. I have the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented educators. I am constantly in awe of their creativity, resilience, and boundless energy, which they bring to the classroom every day.
To our teachers: thank you for your tireless efforts in shaping the lives of our students. Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your willingness to go above and beyond to help our students succeed. Your impact on our school community is immeasurable, and we are grateful for everything that you do.
To our students and families: please join me in expressing your appreciation for our teachers this week. Whether it's a kind word, a note of thanks, or a small gesture of gratitude, your support means the world to our teachers and helps them feel valued and appreciated.
Thank you again to all of our teachers for your dedication, your passion, and your love for our students. You truly make a difference in the lives of so many, and we are proud to have you as part of our school community.
Family Feedback Form: Please consider completing this survey to provide us with feedback about your experiences at Hemenway Click here
MCAS testing Take a look at the MCAS message below for the Math and Science testing dates: Tuesday, May 2 - grade 3 Math Wednesday, May 3 - grade 5 Math
Transportation Requests for the 2023-2024 School Year: Form available in ASPEN.
- All information is available on the Transportation Department website: http://bit.ly/FPSTransportation
Family Project: Take a look at a Hemenway Panel Painting Proposal Are you interested in joining the team to coordinate this project and/or participate as an artist? See Form
Sincerely,
Marybeth O'Brien
Principal
June 1st Music Concert
Current Grade 4 Students - Sign up for Instruments/Band for 2023-2024
Library Card Registration - Message from Mrs. Rothwell
Does your child have a library card?
Please make sure your student has their own library card with the Framingham Public Library (FPL), in preparation for summer reading and an upcoming field trip to McAuliffe Library. Permission slips and details to follow.
The FPL will now accept a digital library card registration form that parents/guardians can fill out for their student. Click here for the link to register your child for a library card.
Registering digitally is preferred but if you would rather fill out a paper form, attached are printable forms in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Deadline: Please sign up by May 12th so your child will have their card in time for the field trip to the library.
Additional information can be obtained on the FPL website. Please contact your librarian directly with any questions: krothwell@framingham.k12.ma.us
ATTENTION GRADE 3, 4, 5 Families: MCAS Testing
As we near the end of March and welcome Spring, we prepare for our annual state assessments. All students in grades 3-5 will participate in the MCAS 2.0 or Next Generation MCAS. These assessments provide us with important data regarding the performance of our students and our school. This year students in grades 3-5 will be participating in these assessments during the months of March - May. Each grade level will participate in 2 English Language Arts sessions and 2 Mathematics sessions. The 5th grade will also participate in the Science assessment which is 2 sessions. These tests are computer-based and will be administered using the student tablets.
It is our goal to ensure that all students feel prepared and confident when approaching the assessment. We ask that students take this assessment very seriously so they can show all that they have learned. We ask that they show their thinking by working through difficult text and problems to demonstrate a growth mindset. You can help at home by ensuring that your child:
- Gets a good night’s sleep and plenty of rest the night before each testing session.
- Arrives at school on time so they may enjoy breakfast in the classroom with their peers.
- Comes to school with a positive “I can” attitude (a word of praise from parents is always a great way to begin the day)
Your partnership is very important to us. Please call us with any questions or concerns.
Here is the current schedule. Please make every attempt for your child to be present on this day and refrain from scheduling appointments. We ask that students are on time and remain in school the entire day to ensure that they have as much time as needed to complete their assessment.
Grade 3 Testing Dates:
- March 27th and 29th: English Language Arts
- April 28th and May 2: Mathematics
Grade 4 Testing Dates:
- April 11th and 12th: English Language Arts
- May 9th and 10th: Mathematics
Grade 5 Testing Dates:
- April 4th and April 6th: English Language Arts
- May 3rd and 5th: Mathematics
- May 16th and 19th: Science, Technology and Engineering
Arrival and Dismissal Maps & Procedures
Attendance and Reporting your child absent:
Absence line: 508-626-9149
Call between 4:00 P. M. and 8:30 A.M. if your child is to be absent OR tardy.
Late students must report directly to the office upon arrival.
Dismissing a Student Early
A written request from a parent is necessary for ANY dismissal changes. Requests should be emailed to the classroom teacher and tlambert@framingham.k12.ma.us or brought into the school office before the start of the school day. No requests will be taken after 2:30pm unless it is an emergency. No student will be dismissed based on a telephone request.
Stay Hydrated
It is very important to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day. All of our classrooms have water bottle fill stations. Please send your child to school with a water bottle, so they are able to fill their bottles and stay hydrated. If you are unable to provide a water bottle, please contact your child's teacher, and the office will provide a water bottle for your child.
Dear Families,
The character education theme of the month for May is “Compassion”. We have defined compassion as “Showing concern or empathy for others”. This month students will engage in lessons focused on working on understanding others’ feelings, and showing empathy and kindness to them. Showing compassion can be easy to do with people with whom we are close to, but students will learn the importance of showing compassion to all people they may encounter in their lives. Students will learn that choosing to show others compassion will bring more peace, happiness, and overall feelings of well being into their own lives as well as the lives of others. Through morning meetings, focused read-alouds, and social emotional learning blocks in their classrooms, students will learn about the importance of compassion. Students will work on recognizing others feelings, and practice acts of kindness, empathy, and compassion. We welcome families to engage in conversations with their children to strengthen their understanding of the importance compassion plays in their everyday lives.Here are some conversation starters that we are working on in class around Compassion!
- What is compassion?
- How do you show compassion?
- How do you feel when someone shows compassion or empathy towards you? Why?
- How does it make others feel to receive compassion?
- Why is showing compassion for others important?
- What does a classroom that shows compassion look like and sound like?
Character Trait of the Month: COMPASSION
Learning and Life Competency Skill Sets
Self Awareness:
- I know myself.
- I am aware of skills, behaviors, and attitudes that help me.
Self Management:
- I identify, express, and manage emotions.
- I exhibit self-regulation.
- I demonstrate perseverance and resilience.
Social Efficacy:
- I communicate and problem solve effectively.
- I demonstrate empathy and respect.
- I foster healthy relationships.
- I am assertive and I self-advocate.
- I cooperate and participate.
- I demonstrate civic responsibility.
Academic Efficacy:
- I invest in quality work.
- I organize to learn and study.
- I set goals and self-assess.
Upcoming Events
APRIL - JUNE
- April 11 - Grade 4 MCAS: ELA
- April 12 - Grade 4 MCAS: ELA
- April 12 - PTO Meeting: 6:30 pm
- April 17 - April 21: April/Spring Vacation Week
- April 25: School Improvement Council Meeting 8:00 am Hemenway Office
- April 27: Early Release Parent-Teacher Conferences
- April 28: Grade 3 MCAS: Math
- May 2: Grade 3 MCAS: Math
- May 3: Grade 5 MCAS: Math
- May 4: Early Release Parent Conferences
- May 4: Kindergarten Helper Gallery Walk 10:00-10:30
- May 9: Grade 4 MCAS: Math
- May 10: Grade 5 MCAS: Math
- May 10: PTO Meeting 6:30 pm
- May 11: Early Release - Parent Conferences
- May 16: Grade 5 MCAS: Science, Technology, Engineering
- May 18: Early Release Parent Conferences
- May 19: Grade 5 MCAS: Science, Technology, Engineering
- May 25: Early Release Parent Conferences
- May 25: Grade 2 Family Math Event
- May 26: Kindergarten Field Trip - Natick Community Farm
- May 29: No School - Memorial Day Observance
- June 1: End of the Year Concert
- June 2: Grade 5 Field Trip - YMCA Ropes Course
- June 6: Grade 3 Field Trip - Ecotarium
- June 7: Kindergarten Only - No School, Orientation for Incoming Kindergarten
- June 8: Kindergarten Sing-a-Bration!
- June 12: Grade 4 Field Trip: Harvard Museum of Natural History
- June 12: Grade 5 Yearbook Signing
- June 14: Grade 5 Awards Celebration (Rain Date June 15)
- June 14: PTO meeting - 6:30 pm
- June 16: Grade 5 DJ Party hosted by PTO
- June 16: Hemenway Fitness Day - 10:18 - 11:18
- June 19: No School - Observance of Juneteeth
- June 22: Last Day of School - 12:00 Release
Last Day of School for the 22-23 School Year
The last day of classes for FHS Seniors is Wednesday, May 17th and the last day of Senior finals is Wednesday, May 24th.
The last day of school for BLOCKS is Wednesday, June 21, 2023. There is no Little Explorers after school program on the last day for BLOCKS.
The last day of school for students in Kindergarten - Grade 11 is Thursday, June 22, 2023 (Half-day)
First Day of School for the 23-24 School Year
The 2023 - 2024 District Calendar will contain a new page outlining religious, cultural, or days of appreciation that are typically observed in our community. That piece of the calendar is being finalized and translated and will be shared next week. Until then, please put the following first days on your calendar!
First Day of School for Grades 1 - 12: Wednesday, August 30, 2023
First Day of School for BLOCKS and Kindergarten: September 6, 2023
Community Event: Youth Dance Team Clinic - May 7th
Community Event: Juneteeth Fest 2023
PTO: Parent Teacher Organization Info and Meeting Dates
Parent Teacher Organization:
The mission of the PTO is to enhance and support the educational experience at Hemenway for all students, to develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging caregiver involvement, and to improve the community environment at Hemenway through volunteer and financial support. Sign up for the PTO newsletter to learn more about the happenings, volunteer opportunities and more: https://hemenwaypto.membershiptoolkit.com/create_account
The PTO meets monthly to plan events, discuss PTO business, and work to achieve its mission. Join a meeting. Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7:00-8:00 pm at the Hemenway Cafe.
- Wednesday, September 14th: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, October 12th: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, November 9th: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, December 14th: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, January 11th: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, February 8th: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, March 8th: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, April 12th: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, May 10th: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, June 14th: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm