Mid-March School Wide News

Winter has certainly tried our patience this year. Luckily we’ve had a chance to get out and enjoy the few sunny days we’ve had recently. Here’s an update on some matters pending:

Enrollment Confirmation: We have just opened enrollment up to families who have been on the waiting list. Preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-3 run the risk of over enrolling. So if you are planning on reenrolling, please send that confirmation in ASAP.

Multiple Children/Multiple Year Tuition Reductions: We are pleased to offer tuition reductions for families who have multiple children and who enroll for multiple years. The reduction matrix is attached. Please contact me if you have any questions about this plan.

Summer Camp Registration: All camp programs are actively enrolling summer campers. Program information on Wind n Willows Preschool Programs, Beech Hill Day Camp, Tuckernuck Overnight and Day Camps, Beech Hill Players, and Comics Camp is located in the main foyer or you can check out our website for more information. Please let Jodi know if you need to wrap summer camp payments into a full-year tuition.

New Head Search: The search committee has set aside a time for parents to meet the two candidates for the Interim Head of School. These are Monday, March 24th and Wednesday March 26th from 3:30-4:30. This will also be an opportunity for parents to provide some input to the search committee. The search committee hopes to make a final recommendation to the Board in April.

Twentieth Year Celebration: Our planning is well underway. Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, May 31. We’ll have outdoor activities during the day for children. The Celebration Dinner will get underway around 5 pm with live music. A barn dance will follow. Invitations will be mailed out in April. During the afternoon of Thursday,
May 29th David Elliott, award winning author and parent of an HIS alum, will be a featured speaker for a symposium for educators and parents that we will host on Art, Nature and Childhood Imagination. Details to follow in late March.

Middle School Students participate in Peru Reconstruction Project: HIS middle school students are working to support a group of volunteers who will travel to Peru in May to build a model home for families in Chincha, Peru. Chincha is located in the mountains north of Lima and suffered extensive earthquake damage in recent years. If you would like to learn more about the project, please contact Marek Bennett mbennett@hopkintonind.org or check out the group’s website at http://perureconstructionproject@blogspot.com.

After School Music Lessons Available: Justine Paul, a talented musician and seasoned piano and violin teacher will be here on Tuesdays, beginning April 1st to teach private lessons. Justine will also guide a small choral ensemble for interested students. If you have an interest in private instrumental lessons, please call Justine at 224-1307. If your child (grades K-8) is interested in an afternoon chorus, please let me know. (cchesley@hopkintonind.org).

Last Day of School: Barring any future school cancellations, we anticipate that the last day of school will be June 13th.

Thanks to Ski Chaperones: With another year of safe winter sports behind us, we thank our fantastic chaperones who were able to give their time each week so that we could have fun on the snow: Marilyn Knapp, Trish Collins, Deb and Bud Marcou, Terri and Lee Wilcox. We also thank Karen Robertson, Van Nichols, Wendy Hebert, and
Beverly Primeau for joining us.
April Vacation Child Care Sign Up: There will be a sign up sheet posted on the office door. The deadline for signing up will be Friday, April 4th.

Yoga Classes Begin this Week: Swimming Comes Soon: Students in grades K-8 will begin Yoga Class this week. Yoga will continue through April at which time we may offer classes for our preschoolers. Swimming and basketball at Colby Sawyer’s Hogan Center for grades 5-8 will begin on Tuesday, March 25th. A note for parents: The Hogan Center has just replaced the basketball court with a brand new floor. They’ve asked that students bring a clean pair of sneakers to wear on the court — not the pair of shoes that they wore in. Watch for details from your child’s classroom teacher.

Monadnock Class Fundraiser for Travel Study and the Environment: Our eighth graders will travel to Washington DC in May for a travel study in American Studies. They are trying to raise some funds to support their trip. Attached is an order form for either an “Earth Machine” backyard compost bins for $55 each or for kitchen compost pails for $15 each. If you’re not already doing so, these items are great tools for teaching kids about reducing waste in our homes. We need a minimum order of 20, so please check with friend and relatives too. These make great family gifts. Orders must be placed in the folder on the main foyer bulleting board BY MONDAY, MARCH 31. Check should be made payable to the Hopkinton Independent School. Delivery will be in time for Earth Day, April 22. Our middle school students appreciate your support!

Spring Break is Coming: We will be closed the week of April 21st.Childcare will be offered. Sign-ups for childcare will be posted on the office door. Sign-ups close on April 4th.

Theater Night: Grades K-8 will celebrate the performing arts on Thursday, April 17th beginning at 6:30 pm. Please mark you calendars. Details forthcoming from classroom teachers.

End of Day Dismissal: We’re working to smooth out the process of afternoon dismissal to assure student safety and prompt dismissal. Students who leave at 3 pm will be waiting at the front entry when you arrive. We ask parents who need to come in to the building not to park on the circle and to please wait until waiting students have been dismissed (by about 3:10). We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.