Hamilton Avenue Update
Diane Chiappetta Fox, Principal
April 12, 2024
Vol. 2 No. 32
Riverside Rangers!
Thank you, Riverside Rangers, Dr. Agiurgioaei Boie, Ms. Tepper, and Ms. GonzalezMontes, for bringing the Riverside School "Rangers" to Hamilton Avenue School to teach us about their program! Hamilton Avenue School is so excited to start our own program, "Husky Helpers," which will give our 5th-grade students leadership opportunities and help all Hamilton Avenue students feel more connected to our school. What a fantastic collaboration between two great schools!
Absences
Did you know that 29% of our school, grades K-5 have 11 or more absences this school year?
It is of the utmost importance that students come to school EVERY DAY! When they are late or absent, they miss crucial, valuable instruction time. Folks, we can do better. We are working on strategies to help families improve attendance. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
Spring Afters:
See below for the course listing.
I wish you all a restful break. For those who celebrate, I wish you a happy and peaceful Passover. See you on TUESDAY April 23! DON'T FORGET - 4th-GRADE WATER SAFETY on 4/23! Wear your suit to school!
Best,
Mrs. Fox
Standardized Testing Beginning May 1st
Thank you, Student Council, for creating encouraging posters for our students who will be taking standardized tests!
💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍
Parents, we need your support in taking these assessments very seriously. This is how we are measured within our district and the State of CT. Teachers and students have been working incredibly hard preparing for the assessments this year!
We strive to ensure that your child—and all Greenwich Public School students—receive an education that prepares them to thrive in a global economy and in civic life. That’s why Connecticut has adopted challenging academic standards, including the Connecticut Core Standards in mathematics and language arts and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). We expect that all our students will attain a firm grounding in mathematics, language arts, and science by the time they graduate from high school, preparing them to succeed. Our teachers and administrators are committed to working together to support students with excellent instruction and resources to meet these new expectations. Click here for more information ENG/SPA
I wish you all a restful break. For those who celebrate, I wish you a happy and peaceful Passover. See you on TUESDAY April 23!
Best,
Mrs. Fox
A Message from Western Middle School
Dear Parents/Guardians of Future Wildcats,
On Wednesday, May 1st at 6:30 pm, Western Middle School will be holding an event for students and parents of 5th graders receiving special education or Section 504 support. We ask that only parents and 5th grade students attend, since it is usually a very well-attended event. During this meeting, you and your child will meet the Western staff that provides special education and Section 504 services and supports. We will review our services and supports, as well as discuss some areas we focus on in middle school and how parents can help support their child. The big event of the night is the Western student and parent panel. The students and parents will answer the important questions that you and your children have. It is a great night, and we hope to see all of you there. Attached is a flyer that provides additional information.
Please RSVP to the event using one of the links below, so we can make sure we have a translator for parents that need one, as well as provide enough refreshments.
Information from last week
Placement for Next School Year
If you wish to provide information for our team to use in placing your child in a classroom next year, please send an email to Mrs. Fox by May 10, 2024. While you cannot request a particular teacher, please provide any information about what type of environment best suits your child's learning style. We do not keep a record of information from previous years, so if you have specific concerns from previous years, please share them again. Questions? - Just reach out!
State Board of Education
On Wednesday, the Superintendent invited me to the State Board of Education to share information about the great things we are doing at Hamilton Avenue School. We created a video to share with the Board. I was so pleased with it that I wanted to share it with you. Click the link to view the video. Enjoy!
Greenwich Afters Information
Spring afters with Greenwich After School are open for enrollment! If you haven’t registered yet but plan to, do it ASAP, as classes will only run if enough students are signed up. See the class offerings and register here: https://www.greenwichafterschool.com/HamiltonAve.html.
Got questions or suggestions? Reach out to Greenwich After School at info@greenwichafterschool.com / 888.212.3837.
Water Safely Program
As I shared with you back in November, the District has partnered with the YMCA to offer water safety to all 4th-grade students this year. Below is a link for a virtual meeting with the YMCA about the Water Safety course. Due to a schedule conflict, our data has changed to APRIL 23. The Y requests that all parents complete a parent questionnaire before students attend. Click the Safety Around Water (SAW) Fact Sheet for more information and the parent questionnaire in both ENG and SPA. Please feel free to return the questionnaire to your teacher at any time, and we will send reminders closer to the trip date.
READING UNDER THE STARS!
A fabulous success! Thanks to all who made this possible. See some photos below!
Husky Shout Out!
5th grade Art students have been working on observational drawing this month. They drew still life plants this week!
More treats from the Hydroponic Tower in 3rd grade!
5th-grade readers visit 1L and 1E!
1st Grade Scientists
Opening geodes and making observations about what they found!
🔭🧪🔬
4th and 5th Students at the Symphony!
Thank you GPS, for organizing or 4th and 5th graders so they may be exposed to the beautiful Greenwich Symphony Orchestra. We are fortunate to participate in this "assured experience" with our students.
STEAM Challenge
Your child has now completed the research phase of the STEAM Challenge. Now it is time to do something! If they are doing an experiment, start experimenting! If they are building something, start building! If they researched a question or problem, start thinking about what they have learned and how they will share that learning. Your child also needs to consider if there is any additional information they need. Click Here for the Slide Presentation about the STEAM Challenge.
You can support your child by discussing what they learned and how they want to share their learning with others. Ask your child to consider the following questions:
What have I learned?
What conclusions can I make?
What can I teach others?
What evidence do I have to support my findings?
Why is this important?
What needs to be designed, built, or made?
What are my next steps?
EVERYTHING AFTERS!!
Greenwich Afters Information
Greenwich After School is reviewing spring enrollment numbers and will provide an update on their spring afters soon.
Hamilton Avenue Afters
This spring, we're excited to offer a third session of after-school enrichment opportunities for Hamilton Avenue students.*
Program Description: The After-school general enrichment program offers Hamilton Avenue students the opportunity to participate in traditional afters in an attempt to expose our students to general enrichment activities, broadening their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual capacities. This program has been funded by the Greenwich Alliance for Education to offset the cost to families. Suggested donation of $20 will be collected per student per session for snacks and supplies. All classes are from 3:05-4:05.
Courses and Schedule:
MONDAY DATES: 4/29, 5/6, 13, 20, 6/3, 10
Afternoon Movement: Dr. Lynch in the Gym for grades 2-5
TUESDAYS DATES: 4/23, 30 5/7, 14, 21, 28
Art Club: Ms. Shores in room 211 for grades K-1
THURSDAYS DATES: 4/25, 5/2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Art Club: Ms. Shores in room 211 for grades 2-5
TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS: 4/23, 25, 30, 5/2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
Knitting: Ms. Long in room 233 for grades 3-5
*A minimum number of participants is required for the program to run. Slots will be filled on a first come first served basis upon receipt of the signup form.
PTA Headlines
Thanks to all that came out for Hamilton Ave skate night it was a great success! We have more spring events coming up and need your volunteering help! There are a lot that won’t be big time commitments. The more people that help out the less strain it is on everyone. Please email hamavepta@gmail.com to find out ways to get involved and trust me, your kids notice and it always makes them smile.
At a future PTA meeting we will be voting on PTA Board positions. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for a position, we appointed our nominating committee at this months meeting so please email: kieralewis@me.com.
And DON'T FORGET to sign up for the PTA. You can sign up easily online here. Our goal is 100% participation
A Message from the YMCA
The After School Enrichment Program still has spots open, register now! We are thrilled to offer a dynamic and inclusive program for students K – 5th grade centered on educational and character growth that includes many of the fitness and youth activities offered by the YMCA of Greenwich.
Our program is currently operating:
- Program ends June 21th, 2024
- Monday – Friday, 3:00-6:00PM
- $595 per month
- Bussing to the Greenwich YMCA (from Cos Cobb, Julian Curtiss, North Street, Hamilton Ave and New Lebanon ONLY).
- Two healthy snack per day are included in tuition and ice cream on Fridays!
- Early dismissal days are included.
- Vacation Camp Days are available for an additional fee plus a discount for after school families.
- Activities include monthly themes, field trips, Reading Champions, homework assistance, financial literacy learning, weekly free swim, sports & games, arts & crafts, STEM projects with MakeInspires and so much more! See our weekly schedule attached.
Please visit our website for more information:
https://www.greenwichymca.org/after-school/
Registration is open, please see the information below to enroll. Registration is confirmed when all documentation is submitted.
To Register:
1. Complete the YMCA 2023-2024 After School Enrollment Form.
2. Complete the Health Assessment Record. Immunization Records MUST be attached.
3. Complete the Authorization for the Administration of Medication form, if applicable.
4. Complete the Financial Aid Application, if applicable.
All forms can be downloaded from the after school webpage. Forms can be returned to Julia Borges via email or in person at the YMCA of Greenwich.
News From Around the District
District Digest
From the Desk of Mrs. Simonelli
Greenwich Public Schools District Digest
Greenwich Public Schools Listening Community - To offer a safe space where parents/caregivers of children receiving special education support can come together, feel heard and connect with others.
Click for the Autism and Transition Resource Fair April 30, 2024 ENG/SPA
Interested in working in a school?
District job opportunities
The district has many job openings. If you are interested please click on one of the links below. Contact David Eisenstein: david_eisenstein@greenwich.k12.ct.us or (203)625-7400.
Full-Time Professional Assistant: Full-Time, JobID: 2248
Cafeteria Monitor (approximately 15 hours per week): Cafeteria Monitor GPS
Mark Your Calendar!
April
April 22: NO SCHOOL
April 23: Grade 4 Water Safety (rescheduled)
April 23: Water Safety Grade 4
April 24: Grade 5 Field Trip BHH 9:30-12:30
April 24: Community Service Awards GHS PAC 5-6:30
April 25: Grade 5 Field Trip - Camp Seaton
April 25: Grade 3 Field Trip - Bruce Museum
April 26: Color Wars!
April 26: Grade 2 Field Trip - Audubon
April 29: Grade 1 Field Trip - Stamford Nature Center
May
May 3: Grade 3 Field Trip - Botanical Gardens 9:15-11:45
May 3: School Store Open
May 6-10: PK-Grade 2 in school Suzuki Recitals
May 7: Hamilton Avenue Art Show
May 7: PTA Dinner Meeting
May 9: Grade 3 Field Trip - Bush Holley House
May 15: 9:30 AM, 7 PM Spring Concert Gr. 4 & 5 Band, Chorus and Orchestra
May 20: K Field Trip - Stamford Nature Center
May 21: Grade 3 Bush-Holley House Field Trip
May 21: Grade 2 - Greenwich Land Trust Field Trip
May 21: EARLY RELEASE - Kindergarten
May 21: Incoming K Visitation
May 22: STEAM Challenge Rehersal
May 23: STEAM Challenge
May 24: Husky Day
May 24: EARLY RELEASE