NewsNotes 1/28/22

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HM NewsNotes 1-28-22

NewsNotes Issue #10 January 28, 2022 From the Principal Essential Info EARLY RELEASE DAYS NEXT WEEK Wednesday, February 2nd at 12:20 PM (normal Wednesday schedule) Thursday, February 3rd at 12:10 PM Weekly COVID Case Number Report - Week of January 24th For the week of January 24th, Horace Mann school has recorded six (6) positive COVID cases (students and staff) at our school.  1 out of the 6 was reported through our pooled testing program.   NEW COVID TESTING PROGRAM (see details in the next section) All families need to “opt-in” to this new testing program. The previous consent form will not apply.  Access the Opt-in form through Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen  Follow these instructions (link) once you are logged into Aspen FACILITIES UPDATE -   On Thursday, 1/27, we had our second Working Group meeting as well as our first Public Building meeting.  For all of the meeting updates, video recordings, and details of the addition project, you can click on the following link: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/public-buildings/capital-projects-investing-now-for-newton-s-future/school-projects/horace-mann PROGRESS REPORTS -  Progress reports will be available via Aspen for all families on February 10th.  Please note the change of date to allow an additional week to complete mid-year assessments.  SCIENCE NIGHT - Will again be online this year on Thursday, February 17th (see added details below) Due Date For Video Submissions - Monday, February 7th Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 - Please see the linked document regarding Kindergarten registration for the upcoming school year. Detailed Updates New Covid Testing Program - As shared previously and posted on the NPS website here, the Newton Public Schools is shifting its testing strategy away from pooled testing (PCR) and toward at-home weekly rapid antigen tests. This new weekly at-home rapid antigen test is for ALL students PreK-12+ (vaccinated and unvaccinated.) Staff & students who've had covid within 90 days can opt-in for the take-home tests, but should NOT test for 90 days from their symptom onset or diagnosis. We expect the new testing program to be implemented the week of February 7, 2022. Below is specific information you will need in order for your student to participate in the new at-home testing program: All families need to “opt-in” to this new testing program. The previous consent form will not apply.  Access the Opt-in form through Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen  Follow these instructions (link) once you are logged into Aspen An at-home rapid antigen tests kit will be distributed at school every other week. Each kit will contain two tests. NPS recommends that all families conduct a rapid test on TUESDAY of each week.  Here are printed instructions (link) for conducting the test at home. Here is a video tutorial (link) on conducting the test. Translations are included. Only positive results need to be reported to the school. You will complete this form (link) to report a positive result. Nurses will provide follow up information to families, including the date for return to school, following a positive test. In addition to the weekly at-home rapid antigen testing program, we will continue in-school symptomatic testing for students and staff that develop symptoms during the school day. We will discontinue the Test and Stay testing program and contact tracing. Please be vigilant in checking your student for symptoms, conducting the daily health assessment (link), and staying home when sick. All testing information can be found on our website here: NPS COVID Testing Webpage. This includes a Frequent Asked Questions document. Hour of Code - We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works.But only a fraction of us are learning how technology works. Only 51% of all high schools offer computer science. That’s why our school participates annually in The Hour of Code. More than 100 million students worldwide are part of this effort, which is designed to to teach these foundational 21st-century skills. During this time, classes sign up with Lauren Dietz, our IT integration specialist, to learn about and participate in a variety of coding activities.  See http://hourofcode.com/us/en for details and activities you can also try at home.. Lunar New Year - Lunar New Year is a holiday that originated in a number of Asian countries thousands of years ago. The story around Lunar New Year i tells the story of Nian who was an ugly beast that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. Legend has it that Nian was afraid of the color red, loud noise, fire and red paper decorations. Lunar New Year is celebrated on the first full moon of the lunar calendar and continues for fifteen days.  It is also known as the “Spring Festival.” This year Lunar New Year will start on February 1st, 2022. Ten days prior to the start of Lunar New Year those who celebrate take part in the tradition called “sweeping of the grounds." Which consists of cleaning out their houses to remove any bad luck that may be lingering. Family celebrations start on Lunar New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year’s Day which include religious ceremonies to honor their ancestors and family members give out red envelopes with money. Many celebrations take place that include dancing and fireworks up until the last day when the “Lantern Festival” takes place. Each Lunar New Year an animal is chosen, and this year is the Year of the Water Tiger. Click the following link for further information on Lunar New Year Traditions:   https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/a38883958/lunar-new-year-traditions/. International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27th was International Holocaust Remembrance day. This year the United Nations theme is Memory, Dignity, and Justice. On this day we honor the genocide of six million Jewish victims and the millions of other victims who died at the hands of Nazism. In addition we remember those who died in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Click the following link for International Holocaust Remembrance Day Resources. Black History Month - The DEI Department, with the Department of Teaching and Learning, is excited to share resources to celebrate and honor Black History Month across the district and all disciplines.  Classroom teachers will have access to these resources, not only during the month of February, but throughout the school year, to integrate stories of Black Americans into the curriculum, advisories, extracurricular groups, and overall school culture in recognition of the diversity of contributions to our country and our American culture. Click here for some resources for at home learning   Math Bulletin Board - Inspired by the math coach at Burr school, we have created a bulletin board near the front lobby to celebrate math and to provide opportunities for students to engage in fun and challenging activities.  Here is a short (2 min) video describing the idea:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1svGDEqC3q81cGYHFlC59VcpDrUv9gk2C/view?usp=sharing Please encourage your child to participate!! From the PTO Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! The PTO is on Facebook and Instagram! Follow us: @hmannpto (Instagram) and Horace Mann Parents Group (Facebook). You can also email us at hmannpto@gmail.com. Sign up Now for Online Trivia: Sat. 2/12 8pm Attention all HM grown-ups! Come test your knowledge of trivia during the second HM online trivia night (adults only)! Last year was so much fun that we're doing it again. Join us on Saturday, February 12 from 8-9pm. The host will ask trivia questions, then send teams to breakout rooms to discuss answers. There will be time to socialize at the end. Sign up with a group of friends (up to 8 adults total) or meet some new friends-- we'll put you on a team. Sign up here by February 1. The winning team gets bragging rights and a fabulous prize. This is a free event for adults in the HM community, sponsored by the PTO. Science Night: Submit Videos by 2/7 Join us for a night of VIRTUAL science fun on Thursday, February 17. To participate, please upload a  video (up to 3 min) of your student's work to this link by Monday, February 7th. Include your student's name and topic in the file name. The video may be edited for length. This is meant to be kid-driven and easy on parents!  Links for potential project ideas: Science Buddies   Quick Science Activities  Education.com Questions? Contact Beth Cronin at crobar1000@hotmail.com  Your Help Needed Meal Train for Hawk Family A member of our parent community, Andy Comings, is experiencing a health crisis and is currently on medical leave. Delivering a meal helps his family have one less thing to worry about. The meal train set up earlier this fall still needs your help. You can sign up here: https://takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=HUNL8561 You can also donate to his family here: https://gofund.me/e872091e Know How to Use WordPress? Are you comfortable using WordPress? Got a free hour every couple weeks? The PTO would love your help keeping our website updated! Please email us at hmannpto@gmail.com .  Other Important Dates Food Trucks at HM: Fri. 3/4 Virtual Talent Show: Fri. 4/29 Food and Culture Night: Thurs. 5/12 (in person!) Support HM When You Shop Remember Horace Mann when you are shopping at Amazon or scanning your supermarket receipts. Donate to Horace Mann with purchases you already make! You shop. Amazon gives. Start at http://smile.amazon.com and set "Horace Mann Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization" as your charity. Amazon will donate to HM with every purchase. Shopping for holiday cards or personalized items? Try minted.com. Use code FUNDRAISEHORACE to save 20% and Minted will donate 15% of your order back to the PTO. Thanks for paying your PTO dues The PTO has a suggested donation of $50 per student or $150 per family for our annual dues. You can pay on-line through Membership toolkit. All dues goes to the operating budget of the PTO. Looking Ahead Upcoming Events Monday, January 31 Pooled Testing Thursday, February 3 Early dismissal at 12:10 Monday, February 7 Pooled Testing Monday, February 14 Pooled Testing Monday, February 21 Winter Vacation Pooled Testing Tuesday, February 22 Winter Vacation Wednesday, February 23 Winter Vacation Thursday, February 24 Winter Vacation Friday, February 25 Winter Vacation Quick Links

Horace Mann PTO 225 Nevada Street Newton, MA 02460 hmannpto@gmail.com

NewsNotes 1/14/22

NewsNotes Issue #9 January 14, 2022 From the Principal Essential Info Weekly COVID Case Number Blurb - Week of January 10th For the week of January 10th, Horace Mann school has recorded eleven (11) positive COVID cases (students and staff) at our school.  6 out of the 11 were reported through our pooled testing program.   Close contacts have been identified and letters went to the impacted classrooms. Information on districtwide COVID cases and vaccination rates can be found on the Newton Health and Human Services website here: NPS COVID Case Count and Vaccination Rates. Progress Reports Timeline Change -  Progress reports will be available via Aspen for all families on February 10th.  Please note the change of date to allow an additional week to complete mid-year assessments.  Science Night - Will again be online this year on Thursday, February 17th (see added details below) Due Date For Video Submissions - Monday, February 7th Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 - Please see the linked document regarding Kindergarten registration for the upcoming school year. Detailed Updates Dear HM Families, We are back at work here in the new year, trying to re-establish routines and engage in learning amid the spike in covid cases since returning from the break. This month we will be engaged in conducting assessments, writing progress reports, moving forward with the curriculum, and continuing our work on Hawk Families.  Our next Hawk Family meetings will take place on Friday, January 21st.  Here are some other updates: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday -  Newton Public Schools will be closed on January 17th to honor the late Martin Luther King, Jr. In alignment with NPS’ Statement of Values and Commitment to Racial Equity, the DEI Department has provided us with instructional resources to support community celebrations and classroom discussions of Dr. King’s legacy, while holding our professional development focus of Racial Identity Development (elementary) and Culturally Responsive Instruction (secondary) at the forefront. Classroom teachers have been engaging in these conversations prior to the holiday on Monday and will continue to do so in the coming days.   Facilities Update - We held our first meeting of the Horace Mann Working Group was this past Thursday, January 13th.  We met with the designers from RDA, along with city personnel to go over the scope of the project. Moving forward, the goal of this group will be to focus on design and process.  We will meet monthly for now. There is a second group, called the Horace Mann School Building Committee that will also meet regularly regarding this project.  This meeting includes two parent representatives, along with city officials.  The first meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, January 27th. PTO sponsored meeting with School Committee/Superintendent Meeting - Each year, we host a meeting to talk about all things related to Horace Mann and the larger school district.  This year’s meeting with take place on Thursday, March 10th at  6:30 PM.  This meeting will take place on Zoom.  A link will follow. SEPAC Update - Upcoming Parenting Workshops Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7-8:30pm*    Eating (module 3) Thursday, February 6, 2022 9-10:30am     Eating (module 3) Wednesday, February 16, 2022 7-8:30pm*     Schedule and Routines (module 4) Thursday, March 3, 2022 9-10:30am     Schedule and Routines (module 4)     Interactive Media Use & Youth Mental Health: Guidance for Parents of Students Across the Developmental Span The Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is excited to partner with Boston Children’s Hospital’s Digital Wellness Lab to offer a comprehensive presentation on the relationship between children's and teens' media use and their mental health. The Digital Wellness Lab's senior content strategist, Kristelle Lavallee Collins, will discuss the most recent research on the relationships between interactive media use and the well-being of children and adolescents. The presentation will also cover the latest science-based strategies parents and caregivers can employ to support children in developing a "healthy” relationship with technology and screen media.  For questions, contact info@NewtonSEPAC.org. We hope you will join us! Date/Time -  Jan 27, 2022 07:00 PM   Register - https://bostonchildrens.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jYYsTQrKQNq6Voan9rvqwA Questions - Submit your questions in advance here: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6642281/Newton-SEPAC-Digital-Wellness-Lab-Presentation From the PTO Happy New Year! We are hoping for a happy and healthy 2022 for all. As always, feel free to email us at hmannpto@gmail.com . Return of Online Trivia: Sat. 2/12 8pm Attention all HM grown-ups! Come test your knowledge of trivia during the second HM online trivia night (adults only)! Last year was so much fun that we're doing it again. Join us on Saturday, February 12 from 8-9pm. The host will ask trivia questions, then send teams to breakout rooms to discuss answers. There will be time to socialize at the end. Sign up with a group of friends (up to 8 adults total) or meet some new friends-- we'll put you on a team. Sign up here by February 1. The winning team gets bragging rights and a fabulous prize. This is a free event for adults in the HM community, sponsored by the PTO. 14th Annual Science Night: 2/17! Join us for a night of VIRTUAL science fun on Thursday, February 17. To participate, please submit a short video of your work by Monday, February 7th. Details to follow! Questions? Contact Beth Cronin at crobar1000@hotmail.com Other Important Dates Food Trucks at HM: Fri. 3/4 Virtual Talent Show: Fri. 4/29 Food and Culture Night: Thurs. 5/12 (in person!) Your Help Needed Meal Train for Hawk Family A member of our parent community, Andy Comings, is experiencing a health crisis and is currently on medical leave. Delivering a meal helps his family have one less thing to worry about. The meal train set up earlier this fall still needs your help. You can sign up here: https://takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=HUNL8561 You can also donate to his family here: https://gofund.me/e872091e Know How to Use WordPress? Are you comfortable using WordPress? Got a free hour every couple weeks? The PTO would love your help keeping our website updated! Please email us at hmannpto@gmail.com .  Support HM When You Shop Remember Horace Mann when you are shopping at Amazon or scanning your supermarket receipts. Donate to Horace Mann with purchases you already make! You shop. Amazon gives. Start at http://smile.amazon.com and set "Horace Mann Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization" as your charity. Amazon will donate to HM with every purchase. Shopping for holiday cards or personalized items? Try minted.com. Use code FUNDRAISEHORACE to save 20% and Minted will donate 15% of your order back to the PTO. Use the BoxTops app to scan your receipt. The app finds participating products and instantly adds them to HM's-- just set up the app once with id# 480266. Every bit adds up! If you need labels for clothing, water bottles, or anything else, check out Stuck On You. Start here and 20% of your purchase benefits the PTO. They also offer stationery, bags, and many other gifts. Thanks for paying your PTO dues The PTO has a suggested donation of $50 per student or $150 per family for our annual dues. You can pay on-line through Membership toolkit. All dues goes to the operating budget of the PTO. Looking Ahead Upcoming Events Monday, January 17 No School - Martin Luther King Day Pooled Testing Monday, January 24 Pooled Testing Monday, January 31 Pooled Testing Thursday, February 3 Early dismissal at 12:10 Monday, February 7 Pooled Testing Monday, February 14 Pooled Testing Monday, February 21 Winter Vacation Pooled Testing Tuesday, February 22 Winter Vacation Quick Links

Horace Mann PTO 225 Nevada Street Newton, MA 02460 hmannpto@gmail.com