School Wide News

Preschool Parent Teacher Forum

2008-10-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

The Preschool Parent Teacher Forum has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date. We will keep you informed of the new date.

October Schoolwide News

2008-09-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Fall is finally here in all its splendor! We are off to a wonderful start, helped in no small measure by the string of beautiful fall days we enjoyed in September. Preparations are well underway for our annual Harvest Fest on October 24th. We have some fun activities planned for the students and invite you all to come and join us for this first community gathering of the year. You will be receiving a letter in the mail with your tickets and a schedule of events. Look for sign up sheets for volunteers on the bulletin board in the main entrance to the school soon.

Environmental Day at Tuckernuck is this Thursday October 2nd. Be sure your child comes dressed for a day of outdoor activities. The Preschool will be celebrating the beginning of fall with an Apple Fest on Friday October 3rd. Look on your child’s class page for more information on both of these special events.

On October 10th the Preschool teachers will participate in the first of three professional development workshops that will introduce them to the early education philosophy and practices of Reggio Emilia. RE is very similar to the Multiple Intelligence pedagogy used in the upper grades. We hope that this will provide an even more fluid transition for students between our preschool and upper school programs. A special Preschool Parent Teacher Forum has been planned for October 14th at 3:00pm. Childcare will be available. This will be a time for teachers to share some of what they have learned about the Reggio Emilia approach to early education and for parents to ask questions and become involved in this exciting learning venture. If you have questions feel free to contact one of our Parent Teacher Forum ambassadors this year:
Petra Shaw, Emily Hacker, Nicole and
Ian Hoffman, and Mary Catherine Jones.

Our first Upper School Parent Teacher Forum will meet on Thursday October 30th at 4:00pm. Parents are invited to meet with teachers to reflect on the upper school curriculum and discuss any changes or modifications that we can institute going forward. The Upper School Parent Teacher Forum ambassadors are Joe Brancato, Francoise Bishop, Jill Stagner, and
Kate Vattes. Please contact them for information, questions, or concerns.

Thank you to all of the mentor parents who reached out to our new families at Back to School Night. New families should feel free to contact their mentor families with any questions or concerns.

Over the summer we cleaned out and painted the Library in an effort to create a more student centered space for quiet reading and reflection. Lisa Whipps has started a literacy program with the Preschool, Kindergarten, and Early Elementary classes there one day a week. See attached flyer (Literacy with Ms. Lisa) and look on our website for more pictures and descriptions of what the students are doing with Lisa.

In an effort to encourage and promote reading school wide, (and to help us sort through and clean out the plethora of paper backs we have) we will also be piloting a “Ladder to the Library” program for the upper school students. Students who read to each rung of their classroom ladder, will earn a special “Library Lunches” and be given the chance to choose a book from the library to take home. Look for details in your child’s upcoming class pages.

As part of their Responsive Classroom practices, teachers spend time in the beginning of the year working with students to come up with rules that will guide their social education throughout the course of the year. These classroom rules were shared and discussed at one of our early school wide meetings. Because the students will be studying the history of New England in their classes this fall, we used stonewalls as a metaphor for our discussion about our school wide rules. Just as stonewalls were built by early farmers to define their property and to keep animals and crops safe and protected, so our school rules are human made boundaries designed to keep us safe and to allow everyone in the school community to grow and flourish in a safe and clearly defined learning environment.

In order to keep us all mindful of our rules, we are building a stonewall together in the front hallway. Anytime anyone in the upper grades is witnessed doing something that exemplifies one of our school rules—their name and their action will be added as a “stone” in our wall. By publicly affirming our social curriculum in this way, we hope to inspire students towards positive actions and choices in their interactions with each other. We welcome any positive observations you have about teachers or students as well.

The school recently joined New Hampshire’s School Recycling Club. The students have been learning about composting and helping out with recycling paper, plastic, and glass. A reminder to try to limit the amount of non-recyclable waste in your children’s lunches by using reusable containers and water bottles.

We will have a Halloween parade and festivities in the preschool and a contest this year in the upper school. Prizes will be awarded to students who use the most recycled materials. The theme for the contest is “fruits of the season.”

On display soon in the front hall you will see a collection of our students’ Visions of Peace. This artwork is part of a statewide community art project sponsored by NH Peace Action and will be on display at a to be determined location in December. Bethany Reed, the coordinator of this project came to our school in celebration of International Peace Day on September 21st and explained the purpose and importance of the initiative. The school is also participating in an international community service project called Pennies for Peace. The program, which was established by Greg Mortenston, author of Three Cups of Tea and founder of the Central Asia Institute, collects pennies from schools across America to help raise funds for school children (especially girls) in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The children have already collected many pennies! Thank you for your help.

Michelle Leuci’s lovely portraits and class photos of the children are now up on her website and will stay there through end of the month. You can order the photographs and sizes you want and she will ship them to you directly. Michelle’s website is http://www.michelleleuci.com/. Ask your child’s teacher if you need the password.

Starting on October 6th you will also need a password to access your child’s classroom page on our website. As was announced at Back to School Night, this is simply a proactive safety measure we have initiated in response to some parent’s concerns. More information will follow in your child’s class news.

Many of you have commented on Lisa Dean’s new “window on the world.” Not only does this afford her a bit of fresh air and a chance to greet students and parents as they enter and leave, it is another one of our safety initiatives this year. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Safety Committee or if you have safety ideas or concerns you would like addressed please contact Sara Duval. Our next meeting is October 17th at 3:15 and all are welcome. Childcare is available.

As the days get chillier, we ask that you remember to send your child with warmer outside clothing. The lost and found in the front office already has several items—be sure to check there for any stray hats or cover-ups.

Warmly,

Heather Harwood

Back to School Night

2008-09-26T05:58:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed hosting all our class parents at Back to School Night 2008.

September Music Slideshow

2008-09-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a slideshow from some September, 2008 music classes and events:

Press Release: Take a Child Outside Week

2008-09-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

We're celebrating "Take a Child Outside Week" in our wetlands and forests, September 24-30!

Download our PRESS RELEASE about the week >>

You can learn more about this all-natural national program at the following websites:

2008-2009 Back to School Night

2008-09-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

We invite all current HIS parents and families to join us for our:

Hopkinton Independent School
2008-2009 Back to School Night
Thursday, September 25, 2008
4:00-5:00 Preschool
5:00-6:00 Grade K-Grade 8

Come visit our classrooms, talk with our teachers, and learn about our dynamic programs for this Norumbega (local history) year!
View all posts about Back to School Night (including last year)...

Installing Our Kestrel Home

2008-09-15T18:18:00.001-07:00

Here's the kestrel that visited us on Thursday!

Jeremy showed us how to install a kestrel house high up in a tree on our wetlands.

If we're lucky, we'll have a kestrel of our own living here by next Spring. See the Early Elementary Blog for more photos of our kestrel visit.

A Kestrel is Coming!

2008-09-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 11, 2008 we received a visit from the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. A wildlife expert presented to us about American Kestrels, and then we installed a kestrel home in our forest, so that our school can host this amazing bird of prey. [View Photos]

According to Squam Lakes:

The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center developed the Kestrel Project that will use specially-designed nesting boxes installed at schools throughout the state to try and create suitable nesting sites for American Kestrels. This is a Conservation and Educational project that will allow students to take part by doing observations of these boxes. American kestrels have been in decline recently so we are taking action by creating artificial nesting boxes made from metal mailboxes to increase durability. These nesting sites serve as much-needed places for kestrels as well as getting the children outdoors to enjoy and be connected to nature.

For more information, visit the Squam Lakes Kestrel Project page.

HIS Receives "Picturing America" Award

2008-09-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hopkinton Independent School has received a Picturing America award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. As part of the award, we will receive 40 high-quality reproductions of great works of American art.

According to Picturing America:

Picturing America, an exciting new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art.

The nation’s artistic heritage—our paintings, sculpture, architecture, fine crafts, and photography—offers unique insights into the character, ideals, and aspirations of our country. Picturing America, a far-reaching new program from the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association, brings this vital heritage to all Americans.

To view the images in the program, visit: http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/

School Photos: September 22-24

2008-09-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

We have scheduled the following dates for school photos:

Grades K-7: Monday, September 22, 2008 (Rain date Sept 29th)
T/TR Preschoolers: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 (Rain date Sept 30th)
MWF Preschoolers: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 (Rain date Oct 1st)

Here is a note about photo orders from our photographer, Michelle Leuci:

Greetings Parents!

School pictures will be taken by Michelle Leuci Photography. All photos will be taken outdoors, therefore a rain date has been set for each class. All students will have their picture taken on the designated date and added to the Hopkinton Independent Gallery at www.michelleleuci.com according to date taken (go to Ordering). All print orders can be placed individually in a shopping cart format. There is no obligation to purchase, and no minimum orders. All orders are à la carte and shipped directly to you. The gallery will be active within 2 weeks of the shoot, and will remain active to order from for 1 month.

First Day of School

2008-09-02T23:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a big day of introductions and new experiences!

We circled up after lunch for a quick song...
Then, at the end of the day the upper school (K-8) met with our new director, Heather.

Watch the other class blogs for news about our first day!

September School Wide News

2008-09-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all returning students and families and a special welcome to the 34 new students and families we have joining us this fall. Since their retreat in the spring, the teachers and staff have been collaborating and planning to ensure a challenging, engaging, and inspiring educational experience for your children. We are all looking forward to an exciting school year, full of change, growth, and exploration.

A copy of School Wide News will come home with your child each month. In addition you will receive weekly notices and updates from your child’s teacher. Both communications will also be posted on our website at http://www.hopkintonind.org/, enhanced with our teacher’s wonderful photo journals of each week’s events and activities.

At our faculty retreat this fall the teachers and staff used the poem Wooden Boats by Judy Brown as a springboard for reflection and discussion about how to continue to craft and polish our evolving Multiple Intelligence, place-based curriculum. Their curriculum maps, which have been in the works for over a year, will be up on our website soon and ready for you to see and discuss with your child’s teacher at our Back to School Night on September 25th. Preschool families are welcome from 4:00-5:00 and Elementary and Middle School parents from
5:00-6:00. We look forward to seeing you there!

The poem also encouraged us to consider the many unique gifts we bring to the craft of teaching; the creativity that lies at the core of our profession as educators. I know that many of you also have special talents and interests and we encourage you as always to share them with our teachers and students.

The theme of this year’s curriculum is “Norumbega: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea: the People, Places, and History of New England and New Hampshire.” This course of study lends itself well to enrichment opportunities that will expose the children to the discipline, artistry, and history of New England Arts and Crafts. We have planned a number of Craft Circles for the fall that will bring local folk artists to the school to share their skills and talents with our students. Look for details in up-coming class pages!

You will see some new faces at school this year. JoEllen McCaffrey joins us as a preschool teacher in the Quechee classroom. JoEllen will also be coordinating the science curriculum with the elementary grades and offering a nature explorers class in the after school program one day a week. Pat McCabe joins us from Sunapee and will be teaching our middle school students History, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. Rebecca Cloutier and Paula Ward will be helping out in the Amoskeag and Pemigawasset classrooms respectively. Rebecca is a seasoned kindergarten teacher, most recently at Bow Elementary. Paula was the founder and director of the after school program, Bow Kids Inc. and will lend her experience to running our after school program this year. Please join me in welcoming all of these new faculty to HIS.

Marek Bennett, Marilyn Knapp, and Lisa Whipps will be returning this year in slightly different capacities. Marek will be teaching Spanish and Music part time on Wednesdays and Fridays and providing website and technology support for the school and faculty. Marilyn will teach Middle school math and support the science and language arts curriculum for the 3rd and 4th grade students. Lisa will be assisting Sara in the Abenaki classroom in the mornings and will also be developing and supporting an early elementary literacy program in the afternoons.

This year we will have a common lunch period for grades 1-7 at 12:45 in the Multipurpose Room or outside on the picnic tables as weather permits. We hope to make this a joyful community gathering and welcome you to join us if ever you can.

We will be offering Pizza on Wednesdays again this year starting on September 17th. If you would like your child to participate, please fill out the attached form and return it to your child’s teacher.

Included here are our offerings for After School Programs. We have several new offerings this year and hope to have more variety again in the spring. We are also pleased to be able to provide extended care until 6:00 pm this year.

Before school drop off this year begins at 7:00 am. The regular drop off time is 8:15 am for the Upper School and 9:00 am for Preschool. Preschoolers with siblings in the Upper School may arrive as early as 8:15 as well. If you need to drop your child off or pick them up before or after these times, please be sure to sign them up for extended care. Teachers will dismiss students at 3:00 to the area behind the fence near the parking lot. Please wait for students to exit the building and pick them up.

We installed a beautiful new swingset over the summer. Many thanks to the Haydinger Landry family for this generous contribution to our playground.

As you may know, there have been a few cases of head lice reported in Hopkinton over the summer. Attached you will find some information about how to treat it. Please let us know if your child should present with a case. We will continue with all of our regular hygienic practices, but in order to be proactive we would ask that for the first few weeks of school students refrain from bringing personal items such as stuffed animals or pillows from home. The kindergarten and preschool teachers will give every child a special bag for their belongings and we would ask that you store all personal belongings that go back and forth between home and school in these at least for the first month or so of school. Thank you for your cooperation in this.

It has been a busy summer full of new beginnings and new adventures for me and my son. As I take on my position as Interim Head of School, I am so grateful to everyone who has helped to make this transition a smooth one. Thanks especially to Paul Dann, the Board of Directors and all the members of the Transition Team: Courtney Huff, Jodi Burnham, Eileen Eber, Deb Marcou, and Heather Staples. Their warm support and intelligent guidance have been invaluable to me. I look forward to working with them throughout the course of the year.

Feel free to call the office (226-4662) or stop by to see me if you have questions or concerns about anything. I look forward to getting to know you in the year ahead.

-- Heather Harwood

"Arts in the Wild" Camp Photos: Fun and Games

2008-08-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed some songs and active games down by the dining hall...

Below, we're playing our newly-built and -decorated rain sticks on the busride home!

"Arts in the Wild" Camp Photos: Forest Walks

2008-08-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

During our week at Camp Tuckernuck, we're practicing our woodlands observation skills with "Wordless Walks" in the forests. For 30-40 minutes at a time, our groups explored wide-ranging terrain... without a single word!

We talked with our hands, our faces, and with our bodies.

We discovered lots of great new sounds, plants, animals, and landscapes... and we found lots of delicious summer berries, too.

Of course, it wouldn't be "Arts in the Wild" camp with music at the campfire circle...
You can find many more pictures and samples of the comics we drew here.

Wind 'N' Willows Camp Photos: June-July 2008

2008-07-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

"Down by the Bay" Camp: Photos

2008-07-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

Inspector Detector Camp: Photos

2008-07-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

Sports & Games Jamboree: Photos

2008-07-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

Breeze into Summer Camp: Photos

2008-07-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Museum Week: Photos

2008-06-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Awards Night 2008

2008-06-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

Students, parents, teachers, and friends of all grade levels gathered Thursday night to celebrate the completion of another school year.

Awards Night recognizes each child's unique contributions to the school, and celebrates the graduating eighth grade class.

If you have any other favorite photos from Awards Night, please email them to Marek.

Camp Tuckernuck Week

2008-06-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Our annual Environmental Week at Camp Tuckernuck brought us many changes in weather, and lots of opportunities to explore the woods and waters of Deering Lake!

The rainy weather meant it was safe to have a campfire.

We had some very helpful parents on site, as well....

Thanks to all our parent volunteers and teachers for such a memorable, fun, and educational week!

(For more photos and class notes, visit the Ossippees' Camp Tuckernuck post, and the Upper Grades' notes on exploring and surveying.)

2008 June School Wide News

2008-06-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

Greetings all. We’re down to the wire on year end activities. Here are a few quick updates:

Special thanks to all who participated in and supported our Twentieth Year Celebration events. What a wonderful week of excitement and learning we all had. Please be sure to check out our website for a recap. Thanks to all those families and friends who helped to make our week at Camp Tuckernuck such fun.

Children’s Center End of Year Celebration will be Tuesday, June 10th from 10:00-12:30. We will learn how to tie-dye shirts, have songs with Kathy Lowe, and a potluck lunch. Preschool families are invited.

Graduation and Awards Night will take place at school on Thursday, June 12th at 5:30 and is for students and families in grades K-8. Please join us for an evening of celebrating our children’s school year successes. Awards Night is a culminating event of this school year and so much more, as we recognize and honor our latest graduates. There will be a potluck dinner following the awards ceremony and there is a sign up sheet posted on the main bulletin board.

View all posts on "Awards Night" >>

Last Day of School is June 13th. We’ll have the usual 5:30 closing for the After School Program. Class field trips may be scheduled for next week. . . watch for news from classroom teachers.

Interim Care with Cynthia and Beth begins Monday, June 16th. Day Camp for ages 6-14 will begin on June 23rd and Wind n Willows begins on June 30th.

Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts: Information will be sent home this week. Daisy’s are for girls starting kindergarten in September (ages 5-6) and our new Brownie troop is for girls starting 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, grade in September (ages 6-8). If you do not receive a form but have a daughter within that age range please stop by the office to get one.

Summer Camp: If you plan on sending your child to camp and have not yet signed them up, please do so as soon as possible. For more information, visit our online listings of Beech Hill and Wind 'n' Willows Day Camps and Tuckernuck Camps.

20th Year Celebration: Photos

2008-05-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

Enrichment Clusters: Finishing our Projects

2008-05-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, the Bookshelf Building cluster cut, sanded, and stained lots of lumber:

On Friday, we assembled our shelves!

It took a lot of teamwork, and we are very proud of our accomplishments!

The Folk Arts cluster created some terrific decorations and designs:

Meanwhile, over in the Kindergarten biking cluster, students practiced safe bike riding!