[HMS News] 11-18-05

[William Carozza]

HMS News 11-18-05

The Author Committee extends “tree”-mendous thanks to our staff,  
students, community (especially the PTA, the HMS lunchroom staff and  
Kelli Cyr and the parent volunteers) for making our author visit a  
huge success again this year.  Congratulations to our raffle winners.

Chapin Family Syrup
Lauren Metzger
Bohannan Family Syrup
Matthew Lewis
Covered Bridge Restaurant gift certificate
  Kevin McGrath
French’s Greenhouse gift certificate
Gavin Faulkner
Little Hedgehog/Bella gift certificate
   Pieter Rhynhart
Gould Hill Farm gift certificate
Kayl Murdough
Rossview Farm wreath
Carly Kanter, Caroline Flood
Stone Falls Gardens gift certificate
Matthew Baronas
Beech Hill Farm gift certificate
  Matthew Baronas
Wal-Mart gift certificate
Spencer Carney
Scammon's Tree Farm
Andrew Reale, Riley Bennett

*****

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

The focus for the Artist-in-Residence program is the arts and the  
environment.  This year Emile Birch, a professional sculptor, will  
guide third and fourth graders in the design, construction and  
installation of two sculptural elements.  It is our hope that a  
sculpturally designed sign for HMS and a sculpture that enhances the  
sloping area adjacent to the newly constructed playground at MSS will  
be developed through this residency.  Presently, these plans are  
tentative and are subject to change as Emile and students work  
through the creative process.  Emile Birch has extensive experience  
working with student groups and process in creating a variety of  
sculpture installations.
Introductory presentations will be held at HMS and at MSS.  During  
these presentations, Emile will discuss what a sculptor does, share  
examples of his own work and focus on the artistic process in the  
development of a sculpture.
There are three phrases to the residency.  Phase 1, the design phase,  
will take place in December.  Phase 2, the fabrication phase, will  
begin in January, and the final phase in May will include the  
installation of the sculpture. Phae 3 will involve both parents and  
children volunteers who will help install the sculpture.  Afterwards  
a celebration/dedication ceremony will take place.

Sincerely,
The Artist-in-Residence Committee

*****
FROM BILL

One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is seeing families enjoy a  
school event together. One such event was this week’s presentation at  
night from author Marty Kelley. As you read further, you’ll see other  
opportunities such as our Holiday Concert, Family Movie Night, and an  
Antiquarian Society event.

Take a few minutes this week and check out our assortment of bat  
houses hung on some of the trees around the right hand perimeter of  
the playground. These were built and donated by members of the  
Hopkinton Conservation Commission as an educational venture for our  
children and was prompted by our recent EEE problem.  Bats do a nice  
job of eating mosquitoes! Thanks to Lee Wilder and Todd Aubertin for  
their hard work building and installing the bat houses—and teaching  
out students about bats.

Have a wonderful weekend with your family,

Bill Carozza
Principal

*****

MUSIC NOTES

Parents, please mark your calendars, if you haven't already, for our  
upcoming winter music celebrations which will be held at 1:45 in the  
H.M.S. muti-purpose room on the following dates:
Kindergarten and 1st grade
will share on Dec. 12th

2nd and 3rd grade
will share on Dec. 13th
In the event of snow cancellations, the alternate day will be Dec. 19th.

Please be aware that I prefer and emphasize words like sharing and  
celebration over concert and performance. It is designed to be an  
opportunity for the children to join with their friends in giving a  
gift of music from their hearts to friends and family in a festive  
community atmosphere. While they are learning and experiencing  
aspects of performing for an audience, I do not want them to have the  
pressures which can be associated with an overemphasis on  
performance. I also want them to consider music participation as a  
fun, "normal," community event. This carries over to the subject of  
attire. The children should be dressed in festive, yet comfortable  
clothes. Most importantly, they should wear their beautiful smiles.

November Music Room Happenings
We have been mainly focusing on preparing for next month, but here  
are a few other activities:

Kindergarten - We have had a lot of fun with the the singing  
activity, Five Little Leaves. It encourages melodic singing and gives  
opportunity for the children to creatively dance like leaves floating  
in the breeze, while reinforcing the subtraction by one concept. It  
gets a little silly when Mrs. G. has to get out her imaginary rake  
and clean up the "mess" and if that doesn't work, out come the leaf  
blower and then the lawn mower. We have begun learning a few winter  
songs for our upcoming celebration.  We have been singing about "Jack  
Frost" and I have asked the kids to be on the lookout for his  
appearance. You might want to look with your child at "his" handiwork  
when the designs appear on your window panes.

1st Grade - November has us singing and dancing about the many things  
for which we are grateful. We have also had some fun adding various  
percussive instruments and vocal sounds to the song, I Hear Music  
Everywhere. The air guitars come out for Polar Puppy.

2nd Grade - The children have been very creative in coming up with  
some fun dance moves for Roller Coaster. This activity loosens them  
up for a cool boogie-woogie number that they are having a great time  
with! Our latest challenge is learning a new song that is sung in a  
round.

3rd Grade - We have engaged in a number of activities that have had  
the children patting rhythms on drums as well as clapping and  
stepping some other patterns in beat to a fast whimsical tune. It's  
fun to do and even funnier to watch. The children have enjoyed  
listening to and singing along with some of the Celtic styled  
percussion and rhythms in some of the new songs that they are  
preparing. We have also been doing a little language study in  
preparation for another song that we will share with you next month.

*****

The Pace of PE
  From Mr. La Torra:

At the beginning of October, I introduced a bulletin board titled  
“Express Yourself” to all of the Physical Education classes. On this  
bulletin board are six rules or expectations that Mrs. Henderson and  
I look for while the students perform their warm-ups and physical  
activities. They are: 1. Wears Sneakers; 2. Actively Participates; 3.  
Plays by the Rules; 4. Respects Others; 5. Uses equipment  
Responsibly; and 6. Displays Good Sportsmanship. As a class, we  
discussed what all of these mean. At the bottom of the bulletin board  
are three words that the students use to assess themselves at the end  
of class each day. They are as simply: 1. Awesome, 2. Good, 3. Needs  
Work.  At the end of each class, I walk down the line with the class  
list and ask each student how they think they did for that day. I may  
disagree with a student’s answer and either bump it up or bump it  
down based on what I saw in class. I always ask the student why they  
think they should receive the self assessment they’ve told me, so  
that I can be sure they understand why they have given me their  
response.

At the end of each month, I will count up the number of “Awesomes”  
received for each class. The class who received the most Awesomes  
gets to keep the “Super Sneaker” in their class room for a whole  
month. The Super Sneaker is one of my own personalized basketball  
sneakers. I feel it will give the students something to work for,  
along with the idea that they may focus on the expectations for  
class. For the month of October the Super Sneaker award went to:  
Kindergarten- Mrs. Boyko’s AM class, 1st Grade- Mrs. Pepper’s class,  
2nd Grade- Mrs. Yonemura’s class, and 3rd Grade- Mrs. Grady’s class.


Tim LaTorra

*****

COMMUNITY NEWS
Events listed under Community News do not necessarily indicate  
endorsement from Harold Martin School or the Hopkinton School  
District but are provided as a community service.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol sing

The annual Hopkinton Village Chritsmas Lighting and Carol Sing is  
Saturday, December 3rd from 4 to 6PM.  Please plan to join us for  
this traditional, fun start to the Christmas festivities.

  For those of you not familiar with this event, we gather around the  
Hopkinton Village Center Christmas tree, the Town Band plays, we sing  
Christmas Carols from song sheets, and the Christmas tree lights are  
turned on for the first time.  Then we walk over to the  
Congregational Church for hot chocolate and goodies.

This is a family event, wonderful for all ages.  Bring you  
flashlights if you wish.

Held regardless of weather, except extreme snow, which did cancel  
this event in December 2003.  No rain/snow date.  Call if you have  
any questions:  Valerie Chittim 226-2727 or vchttmAcomcast,net

Pick up orders from PTA Fundraiser:
If you ordered any frozen foods from the second PTA Fundraiser,  
please pick up your order at Maple St. School on Tuesday, November  
22nd between 5:00 and 6:30.  These items do need to be refrigerated,  
so if you cannot make it, please contact Kathy Donohoe in advance to  
make other arrangements.
746-3502, teamdonohoe at comcast.net

*****

MOVIE NIGHT  #2

Are you looking for a great family event for all? Mark your calendars  
for December 3 at 6 PM for the next HMS Movie Night. We’ll be showing  
“The Polar Express” which is coming out on DVD November 22. Instead  
of renting it, come and join your friends on the 3rd at the Maple  
Street School gymnasium.

*****

NH Antiquarian Society Celebrates the Season

Hopkinton, NH. The New Hampshire Antiquarian Society will celebrate  
the holiday season with an open house on Saturday, December 3, 2005  
from 12:00 – 3:00 PM at the Long Memorial Building. This family event  
will feature an exhibit “A Few of Our Favorite Things,” which will  
include a dugout canoe, antique bicycle and many children’s playtime  
artifacts from years past. A holiday ornament craft will be offered  
for children. The afternoon will also include a reading of “Twas the  
Night Before Christmas” at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 PM. The NHAS Museum  
Shop will remain open for this event. The Shop features many holiday  
gift and decorating items as well as books on local history.

Students from Hopkinton High School will assist Antiquarian Society  
docents with the day’s program. Admission is free and is open to the  
public. For more information, contact NHAS at 746-3825 or nhas at tds.net.

*****

By the way, the staff at HMS is looking for another refrigerator for  
our staff room as our old one is getting small! If you have one that  
you would be willing to donate, please let Bill Carozza know. Thanks.


_ _

Bill Carozza  | Principal
____________________________
Harold Martin School
271 Main St.
Hopkinton, NH 03229
p. 603 .746 .3473
w. www.hopkintonschools.org/hms/principal