hollymead happenings - albemarle county public schools aug 2017.pdf · fard is going to 5th grade....
TRANSCRIPT
434-973-8301 August 2017
Dear Hollymead Families, The excitement is building! For a couple of weeks teachers have been in and out of the building planning and organizing class-rooms in order to make sure we are ready for a great start to the school Year. It is a most wonderful time of year when we are all excited to learn and grow with our new classes! We have a couple of changes in staff at Hollymead this year. As you may already know, Megan Kop-ley will be our new guidance counselor. She has many years of experience as a counselor and a class-room teacher. She is excited to get to know students, families and staff. The lower numbers in grades kindergarten and first grade are moving up and there will only be three classroom teachers in second grade this year. Mr. Bernhardt is moving to 4th grade and Ms. Groeber-Fard is going to 5th grade. All students at Hollymead will be using a new math program this year called ST Math. The “ST” stands for spatial temporal because they have to manipulate images in their mind in order to solve math problems. ST Math has been used in Albemarle County Title I schools for the last five years and has helped them be successful. In fact, the research shows that students who are using ST Math grow significantly in their mathematical achievement. This web-based program begins teaching con-cepts non-linguistically and then connects to symbols and language. This is a standards-aligned pro-gram that allows students to move forward as they master each level. Teachers have control over what students are working on and monitor student progress so that they can help when students are stuck. Each grade level will decide how ST Math will fit into their math classrooms. ST Math can be used whole class and/or in a center rotation. ST Math is designed to be challenging and will help us continue with our emphasis on “failing up”. We try to help everyone understand that you have to be willing to fail sometimes in order to learn. We will continue our work on Project Based Learning. Our goal is to give students more opportuni-ties to use creativity and critical thinking to learn and demonstrate their learning. Some PBL will give students more control and choices over what they are learning. Teachers will be developing oppor-tunities for students while also sharing and receiving feedback on the PBL offered from colleagues. As you know, we work to emphasize Hollymead CARES in all the work that we do. CARES stands for cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. We know that you are also teach-ing these things at home and together we will help our community be a place we can be proud of. Please contact me if for any questions or concerns. You can reach me by phone, 434 973-8301; by email at [email protected]; or in person at school. Nancy Teel Principal, Hollymead Elementary School
Hollymead Happenings
Dates to Remember
Aug. 23—First Day of School!
Sept. 4—Labor Day Holiday
Sept. 6-Back To School Night, 6:00-7:35 pm
Sept.22-Teacher Workday, No School
Oct. 26-End of 1st Quarter
Oct .27-Teacher Workday, No School
Nov.6-Prof. Development Day, No School
Nov. 7-Election Day
Nov. 23-24-Thanksgiving Break, No School
Dec.-20-Jan 2—Winter Break, No School
Jan. 15-MLK Holiday-No School
Jan. 19-End of the 2nd Quarter
Jan.22-Teacher Work Day, No School
Feb. 19-Prof Development Day, No School
Mar 30-Teacher Workday, No School
Mar 30-End of The 3rd Quarter
Apr-2-6-Spring Break, No School
May 28-Memorial Day Holiday, No School
Jun. 7-Last Day of School (half day)
FORMS, FORMS, FORMS
Your child will be bringing home some very important materials on Open House day. Please go through these forms carefully and return all requested information ASAP!
It is very important that the pink Dismissal Information form and the blue Emergency School Clos-ings form are sent to school on the first day. These forms are posted on the HES web site, under the “Parents” tab.
Please remember that all field trip chaperones MUST have completed the Volunteer Handbook (forms) and have turned them into the main office. You need to sign up every year.
Parents who are applying for free or reduced lunch should submit that application only for their children enrolled at Hollymead. Send one form per family.
Those wishing to participate in the school accident insurance should enroll on line: http://markel.sevencorners.com . DO NOT SEND INSURANCE FORMS TO THE SCHOOL.
Return the PTO Family Information Sheet if you would like to take advantage of their many
opportunities.
Review the bus rules and regulations and the school rules with your child, even if they don’t ride daily.
Read and review the contents of the Hollymead Handbook on our web site, paying particular attention to the Technology Policy. Additional technology policy information as well as sign-off forms will be included in the packets children take home the first day of school.
SCHOOL HOURS IN EFFECT FOR 2017-2018 SCHOOL STARTS AT 7:55 am (students should be at their desks & ready to learn!)
BUSES UNLOAD: 7:45 a.m.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS: 7:55 a.m.
DISMISSAL BEGINS: 2:30 p.m. BUSES DEPART: approx. 2:40 p.m.
WALKERS/BIKERS WILL BE RELEASED AFTER BUSES DEPART
SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS: 7:30-3:30 MONDAY-FRIDAY
Medication at School
We want to make parents aware of the main points of Albemarle County School Board Policy JGCD-E regarding student medication at school, which is included in the Parent-Student Handbook. Here are the highlights: Whenever possible, medication should be scheduled
outside of school hours. If prescription medicine must be dispensed during
school hours, a medication form (see the Student-Parent Handbook) MUST be filled out and signed by a parent/guardian and the prescribing physician. Forms are available in the school office.
Parents/Guardians may complete the medication
form for school personnel to administer non-prescription medication during school hours if necessary.
No more than one month’s supply of a prescribed
medication shall be stored at school. Medications are housed in a locked cabinet in the
clinic and administered by the nurse or a designated staff member.
Medication cannot be dispensed to a child without
the appropriate form. Please refer to the Parent-Student Handbook under the “Student Health” section for more detailed information. If you have any questions, you may contact our nurse, Eileen Gomez at 973-8301 or [email protected].
Student Lunch Information - 2017-2018 The cost of a student lunch is $2.60. Adults pay $3.45. The lunch period is 25 minutes. Parents and visitors are welcome to have lunch with students! Please be sure to inform the school office
if a visitor (i.e. grandparent) is coming. The times by grade are listed below: (subject to change) Kindergarten: 11:25am 3rd Grade: 12:40pm 1st Grade: 11:50am 4th Grade: 11:00am 2nd Grade: 12:15am 5th Grade: 1:00pm
HOLLYMEAD’S CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
The strategic planning process is a model that focuses on continuous improvement. Each school develops a School Improvement Plan (SIP) based on Albemarle County School Division Goals and Objectives (Policy AE). The SIP answers the following critical questions: Where is the school at present? Where does the school want to be? How will the school get there? How will the school measure its progress? Assessment data, survey results, and other indicators drive the School Improvement Plan. Currently, a designated team is evaluating our data to revise the plan. Our strategic plan is aligned with the Division goals. The SIP is a living document and will be up-dated throughout the school year. It will be posted on the Hollymead website as updates are made. Additionally, look for updates in each newsletter.
Please Call The School Office if you Need Assistance Parents can reach the Hollymead office at 973-8301. Absences and tardies should be reported to this number before 8:30 am. A voicemail may also be left at this number for an absence or tardy. Please be sure to leave your child’s first and last name, teacher and reason for the absence. Parents may access school information via Hollymead’s web page, https://www2.k12albemarle.org/school/hes/Pages/default.aspx Information will also be sent home with students via periodic classroom notes, the Hollymead Buzz post-ings and quarterly newsletters. Parents may email Mrs. Teel at [email protected] or Ms. England at [email protected]. Our goal is to provide you with updated information about Hollymead School activities. Feel free to phone us any time you have questions or need information.
Gifted Services at Hollymead
The Albemarle County Local Strategic Plan for Gifted Education mandates service for all students with potential. Mrs. Lisa King is serving as Hollymead’s Gifted Resource Teacher (GRT) this year. She is a resource to all teachers and ensures that students who need additional enrichment are provided with materials and activities that stretch their minds. Mrs. King is very excited about the upcoming year and looking forward to meeting all transferring students and their families. Faculty members at our school consider students for gifted services through the Albemarle County nomination process. Parents, students, and com-munity members are also encouraged to nominate students. Please contact Mrs. King directly for a nomination packet and pertinent guidelines. When a faculty member nominates a student, parents receive information about the selection process along with directions for providing parent input. (NOTE: Albemarle County requires all incoming previously “identified” students who are transferring from outside our district to go through the nomination process, even if they have been participating in a gifted program at their former school.) School-based committees meet each nine weeks to consider students nominated for the program. School ability test scores, exceptional performance and products, school achievement, and evidence of thinking skills are reviewed. This eligibility process is organized into three cycles annually. Students who have completed nomina-tions (including nomination form, permission to test, and input from the person nominating the student) by each deadline are considered during the cycle. Incomplete nominations are deferred to the next cycle. The nomination /eligibility deadlines for the year are:
NOMINATION NOTIFICATION 9/29/17 12/1/17 12/1/17 3/1/18 3/1/18 5/15/18
If you have questions about gifted services, want more information about the selection process, or would like to nominate a student for consideration, please contact Mrs. King, Gifted Resource Teacher, at
973-8301, ext. 28160 or [email protected].
Policy for Bringing Pets To School: If you child wishes to bring a pet to share for “show and tell”, we need to see a certifi-cate of good health from a veterinarian. This is in accordance with school policy. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 973-8301. Thank you!
Special Education Advisory Committee The Albemarle County Special Education Advisory Committee is composed of parents of special education students, other interested persons from the community, and educators in the field who have an interest in special education. This committee provides advice concerning unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities and assists in the formulation and development of long-range plans for these children.
Any parent who is interested may attend special education advisory committee meetings. The first meeting for the new school year will be Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Meetings are held in Room 320 of the County Office Building (401 McIntire Rd) from 7:00-9:00 p.m. More information about SEAC can be found at http://webstorage.k12albemarle.org/specialeducation/SEAC.htm.
The first meeting this school year will be on 9/12/17 7:00-9:00 pm
FROM THE HOLLYMEAD PTO... We would like to welcome new and returning Hollymead families to the 2017-18 school year! The Hollymead PTO includes every parent, teacher, and staff member at our school. We are an all-volunteer PTO who supports Hollymead through various programs and activities in an effort to make our school community the best it can be.
At the Open House, you will receive a 2017-18 Parent Pack-et. We ask that you take a few minutes to review this helpful and important information. Take a minute to meet the Board members. Read through the various school year activities and decide if there are some simple ways you can support the PTO with your time or talents. If you aren’t able to contribute through volunteering, con-sider a donation to the PTO. There are many ways to get involved and support your child and the Hollymead PTO. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information about specific opportunities that are available, please contact Jill Dowling or Kristin Lyons at [email protected]. We encourage you to take a few minutes to complete these important forms, both of which can be found in your Parent Packet and on the Hollymead PTO web-site, hollymeadpto.org. * School Directory Sign Up * Volunteer Registration Many thanks to each and every one of you for helping to make Hollymead a special place to learn and grow. We look forward to working together! Hollymead PTO
IMPORTANT CAR DROP OFF/PICK UP LANE INFO! Listed below are a few important reminders regard-ing the procedures in the drop off/pick up lane in front of the school: 1. Do not get out of your car. 2. At drop off, children should be seated on the right hand side so that school personnel can help them out if necessary. 3. Children should never get out (or load) on the left side. 4. PLEASE do not pass cars that are unloading or loading students. This happens very often and is un-safe! The safety cones are there to remind drivers this is a single lane at both drop off and pick up. Please follow all instructions and directions given by the crossing guards. They have been trained by our sheriff’s department and are working to keep every-one safe. For the safety of our students & staff please adhere to these procedures and rules. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
DOGS AT HOLLYMEAD
Due to safety concerns, dogs are not permit-ted on school grounds. Please do not bring them when you are walking your kids to/from school. Also, please leave them at home when you are dropping off or picking up your children by car. Some of our students are very afraid of dogs and they do unsafe things in order to stay away from them. Thank you for your support!
Hollymead Happenings is a publication of
Albemarle County Public Schools. It is published quarterly and distributed to all Hollymead families.
Albemarle County Public Schools does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, pregnancy
or marital status in its programs and activities. The Director of Human Resources has been designated to handle all inquiries regarding non-discrimination
policies.
Address any inquiries or concerns to: Director of Human Resources, 401 McIntire Road,
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 (434) 296-5827
Our Vision: All learners believe in their power to embrace
learning, to excel, and to own their future. Our Mission:
The core purpose of Albemarle County Public Schools is to establish a community of learners and
learning, through rigor, relevance, and relation-ships, one student at a time.
www.k12albemarle.org
Excellence. Young People. Community. Respect.
We want to thank the following people, to whom we owe much, for getting our school ready for the 2017-2018 year: The parents and students who so generously de-voted their time assembling hundreds of student information packets: Jill, London, Shannon and students Collin, Jack and Evie! This is a huge job and our office staff members are very grateful for your assistance. Rochelle Keshap and her team of volunteers for providing our staff with a delicious brunch on Tuesday. Last, but certainly not least, a big thanks to our custodial staff, Alma Lawson, Miguel Carrazco, Jimmy Bolden and Surja Mongar for their hours of hard work. They have moved furniture, stripped and waxed floors in every part of the building, repaired, cleaned, and performed hundreds of tasks behind the scenes to make Hollymead shine. Everything looks great...thanks to all of you!
Change of Dismissal Info for Walkers
We ask that parents indicate on the dismissal forms if supervision is required when their child is walking home. If supervision is required, the parent needs to put in writing each day the name of the person (if not parent/guardian) authorized to pick up the child (ID MAY be required). If no one is there to meet your child at pickup, we cannot release your child.
Reminder when you’re visiting Hollymead -
Please remember to bring identification (i.e. Driver’s license) when visiting school.
We have new staff members in the office that may not know you.
The safety of our students and staff is a priority and we appreciate your support of this policy!