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
