Facilities Design Update

Facility Design Update September 29th, 2023 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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A big thank you to RDA Design Team and the Horace Mann staff for their collaborative efforts on Thursday during our Early Release Day. We used the time to review the interior designs and offer suggestions to the team. We looked at: Grade level breakout and project spaces Traffic flows in large group areas Optimal placement and sizing of various rooms (ELL, literacy, math, special ed, etc) Lockers Staff and student bathrooms Storage The main office area Delivery logistics and more! The staff had so many good questions and ideas. We look forward to seeing how the design team incorporates our suggestions. Facilities Update from Josh Morse Good Morning Horace Mann Community, Last night we had a great Design Review and Horace Mann School Building Committee and Community meeting. For those of you who missed the meeting you can watch the recording here. Our design team from GRA and Traverse Landscape Architects presented updates on the latest site and landscape plans. GRA then took us inside the building and reviewed the minor refinements to the proposed addition and renovations. Attached to this email is a copy of the presentation given last night as well as the requested draft space summary comparison that shows the existing conditions compared to what is being proposed. I was also asked to provide an update to the project schedule. I have drafted a revised schedule for review by the project team and I'll send along the final version as soon as it's ready. We received some great suggestions last night. From refinements to some of the project breakout areas, to flipping the basketball court and playground, all comments were focused on getting everything just right for the staff, students, and neighborhood. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 26th at 6:00pm and you can join the meeting once it starts by clicking here. Regards, Josh Morse Public Buildings Commissioner Public Buildings Department City of Newton When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential. _2023-09-28 RDA Horace Mann DRC (2).pdf Design Plans Download 2.3 MB 2023-09-25 HM DRAFT Space Program RDA Update Option D.9.2.xlsx Space Program Details Download 93.3 KB Mark Nardelli Mark is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters

Back to School Night Follow Up

 Dear HM Families,

Please find the attached slide decks for last night's Principal and PTO presentations.

Principal Presentation

PTO Presentation

Also, please use the link below to provide feedback on this year's event timing and format (whether you attended or not).  It is quick...only 4 questions.

Back to School Night Feedback

Thanks again for your support,

Mark Nardelli

Principal

Parent Guide for HM Back to School Night

Parent Guide - Back to School Night Click the link below to access info about tomorrow's event ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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Parent Guide to Horace Mann Back to School Night Parent Guide to Horace Mann Back to School Night 9/20/2023 docs.google.com Parent Guide to HM Back to School Night.pdf Download 260.6 KB Mark Nardelli Mark is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters

Horace Mann School Principal Update 9/18/23

Horace Mann School Principal Update 9/18/23 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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School Photos Reminder - We will have School Photos tomorrow - Tuesday, September 19th. Back to School/Curriculum Night - Wednesday, September 20th from 4:00-6:00 PM Please review the NEW TIMING and the NEW FORMAT of our event. FORMAT 4:00-4:45 - OPEN HOUSE Walk the School, Visit Classrooms and Meet OUR STAFF! PARENT/CAREGIVERS and CHILDREN WELCOME 4:45-5:30 - PRINCIPAL/PTO PRESENTATION In the Gym 30 minute presentation Parents/Caregivers ONLY HM and DAD Staff will provide CHILDCARE out on the playground. 5:30-6:00 - K - 5 CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS Parent/Caregivers can attend ONE classroom/grade level presentation of their choice. Individual classrooms or grade levels will share a 30 minute presentation, Q and A session. HM and DAD Staff will provide CHILDCARE out on the playground. 6:00 - END of EVENT Staff on the playground will be assigned a grade level/classroom and will transition students back to their MORNING ARRIVAL LINE SPOT. Parents will meet children at their normal MORNING ARRIVAL LINE SPOT before heading home. Dias Memorial Garden Whimsical. Creative. Dedicated. Fun These are just a few of the attributes that Heather Dias brought to her fourth and fifth-grade classrooms at the Horace Mann Elementary School for twelve years. Students who had the opportunity to work and learn under her tutelage benefited from her belief that every child is entitled to a public education which ignites their curiosity and propels them into a lifelong pursuit of learning. Effective teaching is a craft built on talent, devotion and love. Through her relentless advocacy and student-centered instruction, Heather Dias repeatedly modeled what good teaching looks and feels like. We are grateful to share the new area that was created in honor of Heather Dias, former Horace Mann teacher and special educator, who worked at Horace Mann beginning in 2010. We aren’t quite done with the garden, but our hope is that students can use this space to read, write, draw, or simply dream…all of which are favorite activities of Ms. Dias. In the coming weeks, we will be adding additional plants and flowers and a gorgeous and whimsical spinner. A huge thank you to the entire HM community for the generous donations that made this project possible. Thanks also to the HM PTO, to LoriAnn Akdag, and to Rose Mariano, for their efforts to pull this project together. We are continuing to work on the design of our renovation project. As you can see below, we meet every other week to fine tune and improve upon the design. Our next big step is to bring the most recent design drawings to the entire Horace Mann staff. This will take place later in September. All City Orchestra Newton's All-City Orchestra (ACO) is back! Auditions will take place throughout the month of October. The ACO is an afterschool group that rehearses once a week and works on challenging and fun repertoire. Any students in grades 4-8 looking for a higher-level orchestra experience should consider auditioning! See attached flyer to sign up for an audition slot, and for more information, please read the ACO's season announcement. Mark Nardelli Mark is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters

Horace Mann Principal Update 9/8/2023

Horace Mann Principal Update Thank you for a great start! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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Despite the heat and humidity, we've had a seamless and positive start to the school year, welcoming a new Kindergarten class as well as new students across grade levels. We've been busy this week getting to know one another, establishing routines, and beginning to foster a sense of community in each classroom. Personally, my wife and I moved two of our children into college. Julia moved into Northeastern and Eliana moved into Lesley. Eliana definitely got the better deal with a larger dorm room and air conditioning. So far, the girls seems to be settling into their new environments. At home, we are all adjusting to having a different vibe around the house...Alora visibly misses her sisters the most, but I think we all feel the same. This week's notes are brief...please look at the two items below: Back to School Picnic - Tuesday, September 12th from 5:00-7:00 PM. This is a chance for families to get together as a community. Unfortunately, staff will not be present at the event this year. Back to School/Curriculum Night - Wednesday, September 20th from 4:00-6:00 PM Please review the NEW TIMING and the NEW FORMAT of our event. FORMAT 4:00-4:45 - OPEN HOUSE Walk the School, Visit Classrooms and Meet OUR STAFF! PARENT/CAREGIVERS and CHILDREN WELCOME 4:45-5:30 - PRINCIPAL/PTO PRESENTATION In the Gym 30 minute presentation Parents/Caregivers ONLY HM and DAD Staff will provide CHILDCARE out on the playground. 5:30-6:00 - K - 5 CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS Parent/Caregivers can attend ONE classroom/grade level presentation of their choice. Individual classrooms or grade levels will share a 30 minute presentation, Q and A session. HM and DAD Staff will provide CHILDCARE out on the playground. 6:00 - END of EVENT Staff on the playground will be assigned a grade level/classroom and will transition students back to their MORNING ARRIVAL LINE SPOT. Parents will meet children at their normal MORNING ARRIVAL LINE SPOT before heading home. If you would like more information/background on this format change, please continue reading. RATIONALE for this PLAN At the Open House families get to meet ALL of our staff and see ALL of our programming (Art, Music, Library, PE, Special Ed, ELL, etc.). It is important for us to offer child care for this event. To do that, we had to move the event earlier so we still have daylight and avoid the limitations of minimal indoor space. Also, because DAD is still open, this timing allows us to have extra support on hand to supervise students. The timing of the event, although earlier, allows parents some choice. They can attend the Open House (or not), can bring children (or not). Classroom presentations are still late enough to think about people who need to get out of work. An important part of this evening is the chance for families to learn about the values of our school, get an overview of the curriculum, learn classroom expectations, and hear about developmental milestones at each grade level. We felt this could best be achieved via the traditional principal and classroom presentation format. The open house, combined with the presentations, gives parents with multiple children the chance to SEE more than one classroom, even if they only hear ONE presentation. Allows for staff and families to get home early on a school night! We look forward to see you all there! Mark Mark Nardelli Mark is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters