Opening of School 2018-2019

Dear HM Families,

I want to welcome you all to the start of the 2018-2019 school year.  Below is some important information for the first week:

1) Tuesday, 9/4

• Group A Kindergartners and all students in grades 1-5.
• It is also Voting Day, which will be held in our gym.  Voters will use a separate entrance to vote and there will be a security presence throughout the day.
• 12:30 dismissal for ALL students

2) Wednesday 9/5

• Group B Kindergartners (12:30 dismissal) and all students in grades 1-5 (3:00 dismissal)

3) Thursday 9/6

• Group A and B Kindergartners (12:30 dismissal for all K's until late September)

Also, please read through the procedures below regarding Arrival/Drop-off and Dismissal procedures:

Horace Mann Drop-Off and Dismissal Procedures

Arrival

• We encourage families to ride and/or walk to school as much as possible.  It encourages healthy living and reduces congestion during mornings and afternoons.
• All school doors are locked throughout the day with the exception of morning arrival time.
• The front and rear school doors are set to automatically unlock at 8:20 am.   Prior to the opening of the doors at 8:20, students may play on the playground or in the front of the school grounds.  However, supervision is not maintained by the school at this time.
• For children who arrive consistently before 8:20, there is an early morning program that begins at 7:30 am.  Families can enroll online and breakfast can be purchased on a day-to-day basis.
• Students should plan to arrive each day at 8:20 and will be marked tardy by 8:30. Doors will automatically lock again at 8:35.  Specials and morning meeting will begin at 8:35.

Drop-Off Procedures

• If you are driving your child to school, please plan to drop-off in the blue zone area and let them walk to class.  Do not leave your car unattended.
• As a reminder, families will be permitted to walk their children to class to start the school year. Over time, we will encourage increased independence and expect children to report to class on their own.

Dismissal Procedures

• School ends on Tuesday at 12:30 pm.  On all other days, school is dismissed at 3pm.  Please try to arrive a few minutes early. If you are going to be late for any reason, call the main office to let us know.  
• At the end of the day, students in grades 3-5 are dismissed at the front entrance. Students in K-2 are dismissed at the rear entrance.  For K-2 students, a teacher will look to make eye contact with the parent or guardian who is there for pickup before releasing any child.   
• K-2 classes will have a designated spot for dismissal each day.  Please wait along the grass, the fence, or road leading to the parking lot.  Do not wait under the school overhang as it creates congestion in the hallways upstairs as classes try to exit the building.
• Again, if you are leaving your car for any reason, please park in one of the designated areas on the map.  DO NOT park on the grassy side of Albemarle Rd. for any reason.

Parking Ideas (see the map below):

The Blue Zone on Albemarle Rd (alongside the school) can be a congested place to park and fills up early.  Parking further down towards the pool is an option but can make for a long walk, if you are in a hurry. However, there are several other options that are actually closer to the school entrance:

• Brookside Ave - accessible from Washington St.  
• Page Rd. - accessible from Lowell Ave.
• Albemarle Rd. - on the opposite side of Watertown St., and on the opposite side of Cheesecake Book.

Safety and civility are the goals of these guidelines...Thanks in advance for your cooperation!  

Mark Nardelli

Principal

Welcome Back - Opening of School Year 2018-2019

August 18th, 2018

Dear Horace Mann Families,


I hope that this letter finds you well during these hot and humid late summer days. We’ve done our best to keep busy and keep cool. Earlier in the summer we enjoyed a trip to Florida to visit Christine’s parents before returning and spending most of our time in and around New England. While the kids had their fair share of camps and day trips, it isn’t easy to entertain a group that has teens and toddlers and everything in between. Santa’s Village in Jefferson NH would be one exception, where everyone seems to have fun. A quick shout out to the Svartstrom family who we saw taking in the same attractions with their group of four! - it is always fun to see HM families in unexpected places.

A quick update on our household as we enter the new school year: Eliana (15) will be entering her sophomore year of high school as we now await her Biology MCAS scores. This year math will be her focus, while also taking a couple of dance classes and participating in the school theater program. Julia (13) will be in 8th grade and continues to make soccer her almost full time commitment (in addition to her phone - social media, Fortnight, etc.). Alora (7) will be in grade 2 (which means a new school in Medfield). She has also officially caught the gymnastics bug (which is a very good outlet for her seemingly limitless energy); she spent most of the summer climbing things and turning herself upside down. Vincent, who will be three in October, made several important and life changing leaps this summer...he is potty trained (mostly), no longer takes a nap, and learned how to hold his breath for a few seconds under water. He can also effectively intimidate each of his sisters, which he happily does throughout the day. Finally, my wife Christine will be continuing her work as a half-time integrated preschool teacher. As always, we are now dreading the return to the busy fall schedule of work, soccer, gymnastics, dance, making lunches, daycare, and more!


A few of us also spent time this summer trying to support the Mendez family. For those of you who are unaware of the story, Rigoberto Mendez, father to 4th grade student Max Felipe-Lopez, is set to be deported in mid-September. A number of staff and families have tried to offer their support in keeping the family together. At the time of this writing, we still have no change in status for Rigoberto. 

Here’s a link to a recent news story: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/ICE-Decision-Undocumented-Massachusetts-Father-to-Be-Deported-in-Month-490958181.html


While we don’t know if other efforts could change the outcome of this situation, I do want to acknowledge the support from the HM staff, from many of our families, and from the broader community. The efforts have only served to reinforce my faith in the direction of our work at our school. It further strengthens my resolve as a school leader to ensure that we are doing all we can to teach each other and our students to listen, to be kind, to be compassionate, and to appreciate all that a diverse community has to offer.




As always, a good portion of summer involves my own commitment to learning, and reading is an essential part of that process. Below is a selection of books I was able to digest these past few weeks. I included links if you want to find out more about the titles...

• The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas 

• Waking Up White by Debbie Irving

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo 

• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi 

In addition, several staff spent time working on a variety of continued initiatives for the upcoming school year. I will be writing in more detail about that in the coming weeks.



Moving on to more practical matters, I have several updates about the upcoming year:




Staffing/Programming News -

• A hearty welcome back to Courtney Bonzey as she returns from maternity leave. Good to have her back to lead the next group of HM Kindergartners!

• This year, we WILL again be a Title 1 School (we are 3rd on the list in terms of socioeconomic measures). This typically means we will have additional funding to hire staff who can provide intervention in both literacy and math. 

• Stephanie Parent (inclusion aide) - Stephanie will be working as a paraprofessional in 3rd this year, bringing along a background in speech and social pragmatics. She is a graduate of Bard and Boston College.

• Late this summer, Chris Green informed me that she will be re-retiring and won’t return to Horace Mann this fall. Chris spent many years as an early literacy aide before shifting into inclusion where we were able to utilize Chris’s sign language skills. I want to thank Chris for her caring and dedicated years of service.

• Congratulations to Morgan Harper, who will be working as a full time librarian at both Peirce and Franklin. A big thanks to Morgan for his efforts to work in all grade levels with all kinds of children at HM over the past four years. We wish him the best in his new role. 

• On a related note, Morgan’s departure has offered us the opportunity to keep Mohammed Adam at HM. Mohammed will work as a paraprofessional in a 4th grade classroom this year. 

Carr School - 

The big undertaking this year will be our impending move to Carr. Here are several things to think about in getting ready for the move. This list will be sure to grow:

• Meeting with Diana Beck (principal at Zervas) to talk to her about her experiences with doing a move. 

• Meeting with Eric Sprung (principal at Cabot), to talk about our staff can spend some time at Carr this year.

• Room and space assignments.

• Creating a plan for purging and packing.

• Think about closure at HM.

• Creating procedures at Carr - arrival and dismissal, lunch, etc.

Placement - Information will go out to families on Friday, August 24th. I will send placements out electronically via email and also post class lists on the front and rear doors of the school.


Facilities - As always, please take a few minutes to thank Bill Pepicelli and Al Zelmann. They worked a lot of hot and humid days on the second floor, making an already tough job even harder. The building is already looking great for the arrival of the children. Thanks again for all you do!!!



School Supplies - If you participated in the school supply program last spring, kits are scheduled to arrive soon and will be distributed to classrooms prior to the first day of school. If you chose not to participate, a copy of each grade’s supply list is posted on the Horace Mann website at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/2636. You can take advantage of sales and buy the items on your own. Please be sure to send your child into school with these supplies ready to start a great year of learning. The PTO can sponsor any student for whom the purchase of supplies would create a financial hardship. Please contact me for information.



The school calendar has been integrated into our website and will be updated regularly. You can access the calendar at this link: http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/horacemann. You can also follow us on Twitter @HoraceMann687.

Important Dates

August 30th at 5:30pm - K Playdate (please note that this is a PTO event, teachers will not be present)

September 4th - 1st Day of School - Grades 1- 5 and Group A Kindergartners

September 5th - 1st Day of School - Group B Kindergartners

September 10th - No School - Rosh Hashanah

September 11th - Back to School Picnic

September 17th - PTO Open House (specialists, special ed, literacy, ELL)

September 19th - No School - Yom Kippur

September 24th - School Picture Day

September 27th - Early Release Day and Back to School/Curriculum Night






Finally, the following article might be helpful as you think about transitioning from the end of summer into the more structured (and hectic) school schedule).


https://www.care.com/c/stories/3204/transitioning-from-summer-back-to-school/



Enjoy these last few days!




Mark Nardelli

Principal

NewsNotes 6/30/1028

A Tribute to the 5th Grade Class of 2018 - At last week’s graduation, we celebrated the culmination of a six year journey for a wonderful group of 5th grade students who will now be moving on to middle school.  At this year’s ceremony, the focus was on kindness, inclusion, and making mistakes in order to learn.   Below is a poem I shared that captures what I felt was the spirit of this group.  Best of luck to our graduates!

The Power of One

by Ashish Ram

One song can spark a moment

One flower can wake the dream

One tree can start a forest

One bird can herald spring

One smile begins a friendship

One handclasp lifts a soul

One star can guide a ship at sea

One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness

One laugh will conquer gloom

One step must start each journey

One word must start each prayer

One hope will raise our spirits

One touch can show you care

One voice can speak with wisdom

One heart can know what’s true

One life can make the difference

You see, it’s up to you!!

Art Show - Thank you to Mr. Dailey for working hard with the students over the course of the year to pull together this year's art show.  Students in 3rd through 5th grade displayed what they've learned in art through drawing, painting, clay sculpture, weaving, paper mache, and more.  We also had a selection of musical pieces (performed by our students).  Thanks to all who were able to attend.





Reflections on the Year - An essential part of what we do at Horace Mann is reflect on our goals, celebrate our accomplishments, and think about ways we can make improvements next year.   I've tried to capture a few snippets of what we tried to accomplish this year as a school…

• Family Outreach:
  • FORJ - Out of a citywide effort to promote conversations about race, a small group emerged at Horace Mann and met several times to react to and discuss readings and videos, and offer a way for families across our community a chance to connect.
  • October Workshop Scenarios/Discussion.
  • Science Night - Students who might not normally have a chance to participate in Science Night were partnered with a teacher to work after school to research and carry out a science experiment.
  • Our Friends/Our City - Boston students selected a friend to partner with for playtime on Thursday mornings before school.  We will also do an outing in Boston this fall.
• Buddy Bench - Created, decorated and modeled the use of a new bench for our playground that encourages students to be more aware of others who might need a friend. 
• Creative Arts and Sciences - We again made an effort to diversify our selection of guest performers and presenters, specifically bringing in people that defy stereotypes.  Our hope is to continue this work by bringing in more people of color from professions that are generally underrepresented.
• Staff Learning and Professional Development - 
  • Used the framework provided by James Banks to guide our work to create a more culturally responsive school.
  • Brought in high school students to share their experiences growing up in the Newton Public Schools as students of color.
  • Held numerous activities, discussions and reflective conversations about concepts, videos and texts related to identity.
• Small Group Staff PD Work - We had a number of teacher-led groups working this year to accelerate our goal of becoming more culturally proficient.  Some examples include:
  • Expanding our selection of read aloud and text talk books in grades K, 2 and 3 to include stories with more diverse characters and characters with circumstances that might be different from the stereotypical norm.
  • Broadening our selection of biographies in grade 4 to including less well known scientists, inventors, and other historical figures. 
  • Creating lessons to support student discourse of thought-provoking topics through the teaching of targeted listening and speaking skills. 
  • Publishing a series of lessons on anti-bias and prejudice reduction.
  • Creating a mural and poetry wall on the 2nd floor to act as windows and mirrors into the lives of our families and students.
  • Began the process of looking at student demographics in our IEP referral process, intervention, and behavior support.
  • Reading portions and discussed implications of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

• STEM pilots - In 1st and 4th grade, we’ve been testing out a variety of materials and activities aimed at broadening the student academic experience while also fostering adult/student connections.  We’ve offered Snap Circuits, Lego challenges, Boat/float challenges, and more, to small groups of students during lunch.  The goal is to expand academic offerings to include more hands-on, inquiry based activities that increase student engagement and acknowledge varied student learning styles. The pilot went well and we are planning to purchase additional equipment and materials to expand this effort.

• Flexible Seating pilot - Late this spring, Ms. Chatfield completely re-vamped her classroom to create more varied and flexible working and learning spots. Instead of traditional chairs and tables, we used PTO funds to purchase bands, ball seats, floor seats, net seats, and other alternative seating options to see how students would respond.  We also lowered tables and offered areas of the room where students could stand up to do their work.  Overall, the changes were well received by the children and seem more developmentally responsive to their needs. Our hope is to use what we learned to better inform our decisions about what we would like to see next year and at Carr School when we move.

Carr School - We will spend a good chunk of time next year thinking about and planning for our move to Carr in the fall of 2019.   I will continue to advocate for building modifications, and we will begin to think about a variety of things related to the move: room assignments, packing, arrival and dismissal procedures, traffic patterns, and more.  We will also think about how to bring closure to our time at the 687 Watertown St. location.  Stay tuned.

Moving Along - A few staff will be moving on from Horace Mann next year to pursue other challenges. Mohammed Adam, Janine Steinhauser, Sarah Morgethaler, and Sarah Pappo have all spent at least two years at Horace Mann as paraprofessionals, interns, and filling in for maternity leaves.  They are now looking to pursue the next phase in their careers.  We wish them the best.

Thank You - I'd like to share a word of thanks to the members of our PTO Board for their tireless efforts to support our school again this year.  Jon Mendecina, Adam Brown, Jess Schiefer, Sharon Russo, Jacqueline Freeman, Megan Anapolle, and Susannah Wardly.  I also want to thank all of the families who donated their time and money to the various programs we offer throughout the year.  Our school wouldn't function without the dedication and commitment of the families in our community.

Have a Great Summer!
Mark Nardelli
Principal

Horace Mann/Carr School Move Update

May 31, 2018

Dear Horace Mann Community,

I write to share with you recent progress on the district’s long-range facilities plan, which is designed to ease overcrowding and improve learning environments in our schools. As you know, Horace Mann has been slated to move to the Carr building upon completion of the Angier, Zervas, and Cabot elementary school projects. With the Cabot project progressing on schedule, the School Committee voted last night to permanently move Horace Mann to the Carr Building at 225 Nevada St. in the fall of 2019.

The Carr building was fully renovated in 2014 and is a well-equipped modern elementary school with 20 core academic and student services classrooms, cafeteria, kitchen, art room, music room, media center/library, gymnasium, and extended day space. We are excited for Horace Mann students, faculty, and staff to experience and enjoy this excellent learning environment.

Over the next year, we will be working with Mark and our City partners to make additional modifications to the Carr building to ensure it is ready for use as a permanent elementary school. This will include development of traffic and circulation plans to ensure safe walks, bikes and rides to school. We will be working to ensure that the move, planned for summer of 2019, is seamless. Plans and timelines will be shared with you as we move forward.

Thank you for your patience during this planning process. We look forward to working with you over the next year to ensure a smooth transition to your new school building.
Sincerely,

David Fleishman Superintendent

NewsNotes 6/3/2018

The month of June is filled with activity at Horace Mann.  The space below is an attempt to share some of what is going on these last few weeks of school:

• Assessments - We are currently conducting a variety of assessments to measure student learning in math, writing, and reading.  This information will help teachers to write progress reports.  It will also serve as a starting point for assessments and instruction in the fall.
• Progress Reports - Spring reports will be published on June 21st on the new Student Information System call ASPEN. Details will be coming soon.
• Placement - We are well underway with regard to creating class placements for next year.  In many cases, teachers create class lists for a given grade 3 or 4 times.  In the younger grades, we also set up class “playdates” with the new groupings to get a sense of the dynamics.  If we need to make adjustments, we reconvene the team.  In some case, we start over again from scratch.
• Celebrations - Lots of classrooms are inviting families in to see a culminating project, a variety of work samples, or a performance.  Some of the work taking place in classrooms is dedicated to 
• Closure - Teachers are also engaging students in activities that offer a chance for reflection and closure to the classroom experience. 
• Schedule Review - Each spring, we look at our master schedule and make adjustments to the way we systematically allocate resources to maximize how we use staff, how we run interventions, etc.

Fitness for Life - Another awesome day…as always, thanks to David Tynes for the inspiration for this event, as well as the tremendous effort it takes to organize, practice, setup, and put away all of the activities.   Thanks to the staff who ran activities, to Rose Mariano for helping with logistics, and to Elissa Matloff for tending to the children with allergies, scrapes and bruises, etc. Thanks also to all of our classroom teachers and other staff who worked with students to cooperate, take risks, and have fun. Finally, a huge thank you to all of the parents who contributed to organizing snacks, ordering water bottles and food, setting up grills and cooking, and for being present at the event. This event is a great way to summarize and showcase all that it means to be part of the HM community.

Carr School Planning - Now that the School Committee has voted to move us to Carr for September of 2019, we have begun to think about our planning needs in earnest. On Tuesday, June 5th, I will be bringing a small team of people (including central office staff) to do a walk-through at Carr to discuss requests around classroom space, storage space, and other things that might come up.  Shortly thereafter, I will update the community on what we hope to achieve.

Return Library Books - Because Ms. Karam is split between schools, I’d like to support her efforts to collect library books from students over the next two weeks.  If you have a book signed out, please remember to turn it back in as soon as you can!  Thank you!

Articles -  Came across a few articles over the weekend that I thought were worth sharing…might make for some interesting discussion out on the playgrounds or sports fields this spring...
For the first one, I thought sharing might provide families with a window into our philosophy and thinking about what is important in making schools a productive place:

 http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2018/03/how_principals_drive_student_improvement.html

The second two articles are on a completely different topic but related to one another.  I know my wife and I struggle with decisions around access to screen time, independence, decision-making, responsibility, and more.  The two articles delve into both.

The first features an interview with the author of a new book titled Why Children Aren’t Behaving and What You Can Do About It

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/06/02/611082566/why-children-arent-behaving-and-what-you-can-do-about-it

The second talks about how little independence our kids truly have these days.  If you can’t access it directly frorm the link, try searching for it in your Apple News app on your IOS device

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-overprotected-american-child-1527865038

NewsNotes 5/17/18

Carr School Update -  It appears at this point that we are very likely to be moving to the Carr School Building next summer and opening up in the fall of 2019.   The following notes are an excerpt from the School Committee meeting that took place on Monday, May 14th.  The notes discuss the preparations needed for the move: "There are facility adjustments and costs associated with preparing the Carr building to become a permanent school, and other costs associated with moving the school. The district has begun to make rough cost estimates and to delineate the type of work that will be required. The following activities andprojects at the Carr building will be needed in the upcoming fifteen months to ensure a smooth transitionfor the Horace Mann community, including: Adding a separate bus lane Possible modification to two adjoining smaller size classrooms to create more flexible space Addition of a storage area because only crawl space storage is available in the building HVAC work to add cooling to the Carr building as a permanent school building (CIP funds) A furniture and equipment inventory (to facilitate move, reuse or surplus existing furniture and needs assessment for new student furniture; Carr was furnished with a mix of good quality used furniture and new items five years ago) Limited replacement of student furniture Teacher stipends; packing support Professional movers to transfer curriculum materials and limited furniture and equipment" May Assembly - At this month’s assembly, we got together as a whole school to share a number of things that we wanted to celebrate: Kindergartners in Ms. Seyferth’s class decided on their own to celebrate KIND WEEK in their classroom.  They started by making a giant poster for a new student, made an effort to do kind acts at school and at home, did a craft project where students created tiny cutout versions of their classmates, and talked about Kindness at whole class meetings throughout the week.  We also decided to make KIND WEEK an annual event for the whole school! We recognized Erica Sato, 3rd grader in Ms. Rosen’s class who recently was selected as one of five national finalists of the Future Chefs Challenge, sponsored by Sodexo.  She won some cool prizes, including a scooter,  an iPad and more. Congratulations again to Erica. We finally unveiled the Buddy Bench, complete with each student’s fingerprint creature.  The bench is aimed at providing students with an opportunity to connect with others at recess.  So far, we’ve seen students display tremendous empathy and kindness as they’ve reached out to one another to invite new friends to play.   Mr. Feldstein’s class memorized and performed the poem Human Family by Maya Angelou.  I’ve included the text of the poem at the end of my NewsNotes section. Newton Serves - A belated thank you to all of the families who came out on Sunday, April 29th to take care of the grounds around Horace Mann.   Volunteers came to spread fibar and mulch, do some trash cleanup, and otherwise take care of the area surrounding our school. Thanks also to Ashley Sullivan and Kristy Moore for coordinating this year’s event. My Friends, My City - David Tynes, Priscilla Bartley, and Claudia Hoover have recently initiated an effort to connect Boston and Newton students and families.  We began by asking students in the Metco program to identify a friend in Newton who they would like to connect with.  On Thursday mornings, the two groups of children come to the gym to play basketball before school.  Later this spring, the students and their families will then spend a day in Boston getting to know more about one another as well as more about life in the city.  Our hope is to expand this program next fall! Teacher Appreciation Week - Last week, the PTO provided a wonderful array of daily treats to show appreciation for the tremendously hard work that our teachers put in on a daily basis.  We had a nice, light breakfast and lunch, ice cream treats, classrooms supplies, and an array of appreciative cards and notes from students and families.  Thank you to all of the community members who participated.  Thanks also to Jess Schiefer, Jacqueline Freeman, and Megan Anapolle for organizing.  It was a great morale boost for staff. Human Family Maya Angelou I note the obvious differences in the human family. Some of us are serious, some thrive on comedy. Some declare their lives are lived as true profundity, and others claim they really live the real reality. The variety of our skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight, brown and pink and beige and purple, tan and blue and white. I've sailed upon the seven seas and stopped in every land, I've seen the wonders of the world not yet one common man. I know ten thousand women called Jane and Mary Jane, but I've not seen any two who really were the same. Mirror twins are different although their features jibe, and lovers think quite different thoughts while lying side by side. We love and lose in China, we weep on England's moors, and laugh and moan in Guinea, and thrive on Spanish shores. We seek success in Finland, are born and die in Maine. In minor ways we differ, in major we're the same. I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.

Calendar

Fitness for Life Friday, May 25 No School-Memorial Day Monday, May 28 Family Appreciation Night and PTO Open House Friday, June 1 Deadline for ordering School Supplies June 15 Parent Pick-Up Basketball Friday, June 15 5th grade Graduation Thursday, June 21  Last Day of School-noon dismissal Friday, June 22 Visit the entire Horace Mann Calendar at www.horacemannpto.com

From the PTO

THANK YOU to all who helped at NEWTON SERVES! It was a great day, despite the rain. Lots of volunteers helped pick up trash and spread mulch and Fibar. A big thanks to our organizers Ashley Sullivan and Kristy Moore.  Fitness For Life is getting greener!  The PTO has approved the donation of individual, reusable water bottles for all students. These water bottles are BPA-free and feature exclusive Fitness for Life artwork designed by our very own Mr. Dailey. In addition, Belmont Springs has agreed to donate 50 gallons of water to help us fill them! Thank you Belmont Springs. Don't forget to pay on-line if you haven't already. [Store_Button] Order your School Supplies for next year   Horace Mann is again working with SchoolKidz.Inc. to bring great school supplies into our school. Skip the back-to-school lines and have your child's school supplies delivered to his or her classroom on the first day of school— it couldn't be easier! Teachers have put together lists of required school supplies. To order, either fill out the form that was sent home with your student or:  1. Go to WWW.shopttkits.com 2. Enter Account 32991 3. Fill in your child's name and grade 4. Add to cart and checkout Kits will be delivered to your child's classroom on the first day of school. As always, ordering an extra kit for the classroom is much appreciated. If you choose not to use this great service, (why wouldn't you?)  remember to print out the list of required school supplies for your child and purchase them on your own. (Avoid the hassle-order through us! )  DEADLINE: JUNE 15, 2018 Family Appreciation Night! Bring the whole family to the Horace Mann gym on Friday, June 1 from 6-8 p.m. for a fun game of Bingo with prizes and refreshments. Hosted by the PTO. Let's gather together one last time before school lets out for summer! Board members will be on-hand to answer questions about the PTO and offer a year in review.  Let us know you plan to attend by signing up below. [Signups_Button] Parent Pick-up Basketball Friday, June 15 Horace Mann Gym Just a $1! [Store_Button] Want to get involved? The PTO needs help with two committees next year. We need someone to head up our Box Tops committee. This includes coordinating all of our purchase-to-donate programs, such as AmazonSmile and Stop and Shop A+ Rewards. We are also looking for someone to help run two (or more!) community building events. Ideas can range from a night at the Paint Bar to trivia night at a local pub or anything in between!  Please email freeman.jac@gmail.com if you are interested.

Tynes Times Spring Edition

The Tynes Times

 Spring Edition

EFFORT IS EVERYTHING

April 25, 2018 – With spring finally here, the kids at Horace Mann are back outside enjoying the fresh air and running, jumping, hopping, skipping, galloping and leaping over some rain puddles. Now is a good time for families to prepare to “make time for exercise.” Family hikes, family workouts, or any physical activity that involves the family unit will leave a positive and lasting impression on most children. The following is one of many links that will help you get started: http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/family-fitness-tips

What’s been going on in Physical Education? - We have finished our Striking Volleyball, Basketball units and we are preparing for Fitness For Life.

What’s Next? – We are now in the early stages of our massive unit on Fitness, Nutrition and the Systems of the Body with emphasis on the cardiovascular system. We will be focusing on food labels and comparing and contrasting the old and new ones that are soon to hit your grocery store. We will be learning about cells, DNA, and the amazing, incredible human body. The students will be working out with over 25 machines and pieces of fitness equipment.

Sneakers - Please make sure your H.M. student brings his or her sneakers on Physical Education class days.  Please no sandals, crocks or flip-flops!

Student Helpers from North - All year long students from Newton North’s Special Education programs come in to assist me in Physical Education classes. We have students every Tuesday and Friday. This continues to be an enriching program for our students and for the students from North, as well!

Save the Date - Fitness for Life is Friday, May 25^th!

(Rain Date - 6/1) For those new to Horace Mann, this is an event that happens only at our school. We reserve the entire Auburndale Cove for the day and celebrate fun, families and fitness. This is an event that I encourage all families to participate in. It is a wonderful way to connect with the entire Horace Mann community. You will be receiving a lot of information in the next few weeks.

Parent Helpers – WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are in need of parent helpers to be part of the set up and break down crew on May 25^th for Fitness for Life. Please let me know if you are able to help out.

SET UP - This involves meeting Mr. Tynes at the Cove to unload the truck and set up the stations. If you are available we will meet at 7:00am. I will have a map, tools, and instructions for each station.

BREAK DOWN - At 1:45 we will begin breaking down the stations. We will load up the truck and head back to Horace Mann.  If you have a pick up truck and don’t mind throwing some stuff in the back, this will be a big help.

As your children grow and begin to choose spring sports, chances are you may be asked to coach or help out with one of the teams. Here is some advice from a teacher and dad who has been doing both for over 30 years:

Four Tips for Family Members Who Coach - The students are just beginning to figure out how to use their amazing bodies. At Horace Mann, I encourage all children to give their best effort. As they grow and participate in sports, the right coach can shape, make, or break a child.

1.   Make sure you are familiar with child development and what research, data, and science says is best for a particular age group.

2.  Try not to punish with exercise (it is not what happens here in Physical Education class). Exercise should be meaningful and fun.

3.  Remember - it is about them, and you have a great opportunity to make a lasting impression.

4.  Make it fun, safe and “make their day.”

In The Sprit of Sportspersonship,

Mr. Tynes