Dear HMS parents, guardians, and caregivers,
We hope this message finds you well and enjoying all things apple and pumpkin flavored. We are now one full week into October, and we have a four-day weekend ahead of us. Students will have tomorrow (Friday, October 8) off as educators participate in a full day of professional development, and all of us will have Monday off as we observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day. As part of our bi-weekly update, we wanted to share and celebrate with you how much reading our students have done since September 1. The image included here was created by our librarian, Brandie Burrows, and it shows how many books circulated in the month of September: 2,355 books! Thank you for all that you are doing to support our readers while they are at home.
In this update, you will find information about the following topics:
HMS Main Office Closure
HMS New Traffic Pattern
NWEAs Update
Social Emotional Learning
Pooled Testing - Update
PTO Update
Covid Pop Up Testing
HMS Update #6 will be sent on October 22, 2021. We hope you enjoy the long weekend. Please continue to reach out with any questions.
With gratitude,
Mandy Lewis and Tom McDowell
HMS Administrative Team
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HMS Main Office Closure
Due to professional development opportunities on Friday, the HMS main office will be closed for the purpose of picking items up. Phones will be answered periodically. The best way to reach HMS staff will be by email. You may find staff information for email linked here.
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HMS New Morning Bus Pattern
In order to create a safer drop off procedure, beginning on Tuesday, October 12, buses will drop students off on the HMS Playground. Pedestrians, bikers, and students being dropped off by vehicles will continue to use the loop in the morning. Our afternoon departure procedures will not change at this time.
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NWEAs Update
This week our 5th and 6th graders engaged in NWEA-Measures of Academic Progress assessment (MAP), and the results will help us gauge their academic growth in literacy and math. Next week our 7th and 8th graders will complete the assessment. The MAP scores are only one source of information about our students’ progress. Daily work, classroom assessments, projects, classroom discussions, and conferencing provide a more complete picture. Results will be shared with students and families when they become available.
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Social Emotional Learning
The focus for HMS educators this year continues to be social emotional learning. During our professional development day on October 8, we will continue to build skills around supporting students and families with social emotional learning strategies. We hope to share resources with families this year to help build emotional intelligence at home as well. Linked here is one resource that you may find helpful. While the article itself was originally published twenty years ago and updated several years ago, the content is relevant to the key components of SEL development.
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Pooled Testing - Update
We are in the process of implementing pooled testing at HMS. Here is our timeline:
On October 4, we piloted pooled testing with Stephanie Robison's classroom and the Main
Office staff.
On October 12 (Tuesday due to the holiday), all fifth and sixth grade homeroom students who
are registered will participate in pooled testing.
On October 18, all HMS homeroom students who are registered will participate in pooled
testing.
We encourage all parents and guardians to consider enrolling their student in pooled testing. For more information and directions for registration, view Superintendent Dolloff’s letter here.
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PTO Update
News to Use: If you missed our September newsletter, full of fun information, you can find it here!
Spirit Wear: Thank you to everyone who ordered! We can’t wait to see you in your Clipper Pride. Orders will be sent home by the end of the month.
Staff Appreciation: The staff at HMS has gone above and beyond in bringing our kids back 5 days a week, so we would love your help giving all of them lunch on us via gift cards to a local eatery! To donate, send a check or cash in with your child labeled “PTO/staff appreciation” or donate online via GiveButter. Thank you for helping us make this happen for our incredible school staff!
Hannaford Gift Cards: 10/27 by noon - Thank you to everyone who participated in the first two loads of this free-to-you fundraiser! Look for a form coming home before each load, or print one here.
Boon Supply: 10/18-11/5 - Catalogues are coming home this month full of exciting products with 40% of your purchase going to the K-8 PTO!
October PTO Meeting: 10/21 4pm - All are welcome to attend! Look for zoom information on our website and social media pages before the event.
Trunk or Treat: Friday 10/29 4-6pm - Join your PTO at the first ever YCS Trunk or Treat at Yarmouth Town Hall! More info here.
Questions or Comments: Please contact Kim Tyau at yarmouthpto04096@gmail.com. Thank you for all of your support!
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Covid Pop Up Testing
The Yarmouth Covid Task Force continues to provide weekly pop up testing. Here is information from Margaret Downing: The weekly COVID pop-up testing clinic is 8-10 a.m. at the Log Cabin on Main Street starting this coming Tuesday (due to the holiday on Monday). The rest of the clinics will be on Mondays at the Log Cabin, same time.
The first clinic on Monday this week was very successful. 57 folks were tested, all negatives! There were singles, couples and parents with kids. Some had symptoms, some needed testing to go back to work or school. The team, led by Dale and Daniela, is ready to go for the next 5 weeks. Please spread the word about the testing clinic and the new location. We’re also urging use of the Navica app. to speed the process for people coming to be tested.
Here’s the info for setting up the app.
WANT TO MAKE TESTING EVEN FASTER & EASIER? Use the Binaxnow NAVICA App!
Fast check-in at testing site
Results sent directly to your phone in 15 minutes
Results for you & family stored in the App
Share results with school, employers, etc.
Steps to use the blue NAVICA App:
Download the blue NAVICA App from the App Store onto your phone and create a secure profile for yourself or your entire household. https://www.globalpointofcare.abbott/en/product-details/navica.html
Make an account for yourself and then add any other family members.
You will get separate codes sent in emails when setting up each person’s account. Make sure you “SAVE” whenever you can while creating your accounts.
Each person you make an account for in the Navica App will have a unique QR code. Swipe LEFT from the parent account to see other accounts.
Show your NAVICA profile’s unique ID at the Testing Site and move QUICKLY through registration.
Older children can also download the App on their phones but must log into the parent account. Make sure they know your login info.
For technical support call Dale 603-252-5921 or Daniela 207-837-1878 before testing day.