HM NewsNotes February 15, 2023 |
ESSENTIAL INFO Important Dates
Superintendent Search Community Forums
Dr. Anna Nolin Community Forum
Mr. Thomas Anderson Community Forum |
DETAILED UPDATES Dear HM Families,
As we all know, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake took place on February 6th, causing massive destruction on the Turkey/Syria/Lebanon border. Every day, there are rapidly rising estimates about the loss of life, with the death toll now surpassing 39,000 people. In addition, there have been heroic, yet dwindling efforts to find survivors, challenges in getting aid to the region, and suffering of those who are trying to stay warm, find food and secure shelter. The stories are truly heartbreaking.
The impact is being felt locally as well. We have staff and families with direct connections to this tragedy; including several families from Turkey, as well as staff from both Turkey and Syria. In addition, Ms. Akdag and Ms. Salvatore have a pen pal relationship with a school in Turkey, not far east of the epicenter.
I write to you today in support of the families who are affected by this devastating earthquake. In Akdag/Salvatore, we are currently collecting warm clothing to send to Turkey in the near future. Ms. Elamri, one of our teaching assistants, is spearheading efforts to support fellow Syrians, including a vigil that will take place in Newton this week (see below). In addition, I’ve provided a couple of links and resources offering suggestions for how members of the HM community can help.
For anyone interested in providing goods directly, please see the two donation sites below:
- New Day Syria
- Donation site: 19 Washburn Ave, Needham, MA 02492
- Turkish Embassy Boston
- Donation site: 31 Saint James Ave. Suite #840 Boston, MA 02116 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Requested Items:Clothing (socks, underwear, shirts, pants, shoes, sweaters, coats, gloves, hats, etc.) Gear (tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, portable phone chargers, blankets, etc.) Other Items (baby food/formula, canned and nonperishable food items, hygiene products, diapers, etc.)
For anyone interested in donating money or other options, Charity Navigator has compiled a curated list of 28 charitable groups most relevant to the disaster in Turkey and Syria. These groups are rated and monitored based on their effective and efficient use of funds.
In addition, here are two sites suggested by our HM Turkish families:
AHBAP: https://bagis.ahbap.org/bagis?currency=USD
Bridge to Turkiye: https://bridgetoturkiye.org/ |
Staffing Update - I mentioned in my last Newsnotes that Mary Gartland would be on a leave of absence for an extended period of time this year. I am happy to report that Annie Nguyen will be returning to HM as a long term substitute to fill our social work needs. Annie is a licensed social worker who worked in the same capacity last year for several months. Annie will return to Horace Mann after the February break and will be staying on through the remainder of the school year. Annie will be in school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
MCAS Dates - Below is the schedule for statewide testing this spring
| ELA | MATH | SCI/TECH | Grade 3 | 3/30 and 4/3 | 5/1 and 5/5 |
| Grade 4 | 3/31 and 4/6 | 4/28 and 5/4 |
| Grade 5 | 4/4 and 4/10 | 5/2 and 5/8 | 5/15 and 5/22 |
Budget Presentation/Info - On January 23rd, Superintendent Kathleen Smith and the Newton School Committee shared big picture scenarios related to next year’s school budget. They presented two possible outcomes, based on whether voters approve the upcoming Override Vote. Click the links below for more information:
DESE Annual Report Card
Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas.
A link to our school’s report card is included here - 2022 School Report Card - Horace Mann.
The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more. Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.
We are proud of our efforts to provide a stable and supportive environment for our students. We are continuing to employ a variety of systems and practices that we believe will help all of our students achieve at a high level. These include: A commitment to differentiated instruction in all academic areas. A tiered system of academic interventions in our early literacy programming that starts with assessment screenings to determine instructional level, grouping based on student need, supplemental instruction taught by our strong literacy team, and progress monitoring. Using Title I funds to provide small group math intervention for students identified as needing support. Establishment of a positive school-wide culture that embraces diversity, inclusion, kindness, compassion, and a growth mindset. A commitment to becoming a culturally responsive, anti-racist school that ensures equitable access to pedagogy, curriculum, and school-wide practices that are reflective of the diverse cultures that we welcome into our community.
Finally, as your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:
Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach, Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver, The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact Mark Nardelli at nardellimv@newton.k12.ma.us. To see our district’s report card or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit reportcards.doe.mass.edu.
Sincerely,
Mark Nardelli Principal |
Hello all Food & Culture Night Table hosts & volunteers,
On behalf of the Committee, I thank you all for your generous and tremendous efforts in making this night a huge success! We were so thrilled to see everyone and the gym packed to its brim just like the past years. This could not have been possible without the enthusiasm you all showed.
A lot of the committee members are graduating this year and next; so, please reach out if you would like to help organize this event and bring your own flair to this fun evening. We have documents to outline the whole process and will happily guide anyone who is willing to take on this task.
Thank you Mark, Rose, Elisabeth and the PTO for your continued support for this event.
Sincerely, Food & Culture Night Committee (Connie, Lisa, Heena, Poonsaeng & Shanu)
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What a busy few weeks at HM! And there's more coming... Stay tuned for information about HM social events and issues affecting HM (including the NPS budget and the override). Follow us on Facebook (Horace Mann Parents Group-- Newton, MA) or on Instagram (@hmannpto), or reach out by email: hmann.pto@gmail.com. Enjoy your winter break! |
Thanks for Stocking the Staff Room! |
| Thanks to all the 2nd and 3rd grade families who helped us stock the staff room this week! The staff room looked so festive -- it was a great way to show our love for the staff. Grades K&1 get their turn in April. We'll have a cookie swap in March. Stay tuned for more details! |
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Get Ready for Science Night: March 10! |
| Science and Engineering Night is an interactive, kid-propelled, non-competitive evening of science fun, driven by the notion that every child who has ever asked "why?" is an innate scientist.
Kids can work with friends or siblings (with adult supervision) and do an experiment (e.g. how does temperature affect how well popcorn pops?) or build a gadget (e.g. a periscope or balloon rocket). The project must fit on half a tabletop and include a written explanation of the science behind it - a poster, a drawing, etc. Don't get hung up on complexity or sophistication. We want kid-quality work! Encourage your child to start thinking about topics or experiments that interest them. Sign up coming soon! |
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| Be an Informed Voter You probably received an application to vote by mail. If you didn't, you can download one here. You can also vote early in person (March 3-7) or on election day (March 14). Question 1 includes money to finance the HM renovation and addition and $4.5 million for the school budget. If the override does not pass, the school budget shortfall is $6-8 million. Schools will lose up to 50 teacher positions. More information: |
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| Thanks for coming out on Valentine's Day! Thank you to everyone who came out to stand with the teachers on Valentine's Day! We showed a lot of love for HM. |
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Have You Ordered Your Spirit Wear? |
| Store closes midnight on Friday! The HM store is only open through 11:59PM on Friday, February 17. Click here to order. This is the only spirit wear we will be offering this year.
Items will be ready around March 15. We will have pickup options before and after school. We can't wait to see you in your new HM gear! |
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Amazon will end its AmazonSmile charity donation program in February. However, you can still support the PTO by using the BoxTops app to scan your receipts or by saving 20% by using code FUNDRAISEHORACE at www.minted.com. |
| Thanks for paying your PTO dues The PTO suggests a donation of $50 per student or $150 per family for our annual dues-- but any donation is welcome! You can change the dollar amount in your cart when you pay online through Membership Toolkit. The Horace Mann PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Does your employer have a matching gifts program? Contact your human resources department to learn more about increasing your impact. |
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Nutrition Study I am writing from Boston Children’s Hospital about a special opportunity for your students to participate in a unique nutrition study on milk consumption and childhood health. The study is being run by our team at the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center. We’re aiming to recruit 9- to 12-year-old boys and girls to participate in the trial. The study will compare the effects of whole milk and nonfat milk on nutrition and health-related outcomes. Eligible children whose parents decide to enroll will receive free milk deliveries from Crescent Ridge Dairy in Sharon, MA, for a full year, with the possibility of financial compensation as well. We would like to let parents know about the study through newsletters, bulletin board postings or other venues at your schools. If this might be possible, or if you have any questions, please contact us as below. Thank you for your consideration! Kind regards, Elisabetta Ferrero |
Upcoming Events | | Monday, February 20 | | | Tuesday, February 21 | | | Wednesday, February 22 | | | Thursday, February 23 | | | Friday, February 24 | | | Friday, March 3 | | | Friday, March 10 | | | Monday, March 13 | | | Wednesday, March 15 | | |
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