[HMS News] 3-31-06

[William Carozza]

HMS News 3-31-06

Greetings from a balmy Harold Martin School. Today we are mailing  
home individual student results from the Fall 2005 New England Common  
Assessment Program (NECAP) tests to parents of third graders. This is  
the new state assessment, taking the place of the former NHEIAP  
tests, in order to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left  
Behind requirements. The assessment tests students in grades 3-8 in  
math and reading and in grades 5 and 8 in writing.

Over the last few years in Hopkinton, we have emphasized student  
assessment to a larger degree. For instructional purposes, we now  
assess students in grades 2-10 in reading and math as part of our  
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) computerized program, we regular  
assess our students in reading using the Developmental Reading  
Assessment in the elementary grades, and teachers have many informal  
forms of assessment as well.

I struggle with the over emphasis of state assessments over other  
forms of measuring student progress. These are the scores which are  
published in the paper and receive the greatest attention. Thus, it  
is important to remain balanced as we view the NECAP scores and  
include these results with everything else we know about our students.

Feel free to contact me with questions about NECAP or student  
assessment in general. You can certainly bring your questions to the  
next Coffee with Carozza which will be held next Tuesday in the Art  
Room at HMS beginning at 8 AM. Our special guest is Maple Street  
School Principal, Michael Bessette.

Have a great weekend.

Bill Carozza
Principal

*****
PTA FUN FAIR
Mark your calendars for the annual PTA Fun Fair to be held from  
10am-2pm on May 20th.

Volunteer forms will be going home soon - we are looking for people  
to sign up to run a booth or game, as well as many other  
opportunities. If you have an item to donate for the Silent Auction,  
please notify Julie Morris at 746-4137 or by email at  
hopkintonschoolspta at yahoo.com

*****

CLOCKS!
Don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend!!

*****

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC ROOM
We have marched right into Spring. The idea of March coming in like a  
lion and going out like a lamb provided the basis for several songs  
and movement activities. It also inaugurated the K-1 focus on  
orchestral instruments. We proudly donned our imaginary crowns and  
paraded about the room to “The Royal March of the Lions” from The  
Carnival of the Animals, by Saint-Saens. We celebrated Saint  
Patrick’s Day with a variety of songs, jigs, and games. The  
kindergartners were very excited about being introduced to the hand  
drums. They will be learning to imitate and invent some drumming  
patterns as well as reading some basic patterns comprised of quarter  
notes and rests.

      The first graders are continuing their study of The Carnival  
Animals with a new section every week. The study includes listening  
to the selection while engaged in a movement activity, discussing the  
elements and instrumentation and then listening again while coloring  
a page that shows the featured animals and instruments. In addition  
to “The Royal March of the Lions,”  the children are experiencing,  
“Hens and Roosters,” “Mules,” and “Tortoises.” It is a fun way to  
develop some auditory discrimination and listening skills. The  
children have also sung some songs which focus on instruments and  
instrument families and have discussed related instrument posters.

      The 2nd graders have done a fantastic job learning the songs  
for their up-coming musical presentation, Character Matters. They are  
just now receiving their assigned parts and will begin the process of  
focusing on stage presence, movement, spacing, and projecting in  
smaller groups. We will also be spending more time on the script and  
sequencing.

     The third graders have been working hard at note identification  
and the fingering for their first five notes on the recorder. They  
have completed a number of activity sheets that incorporate note  
identification into a little story. They have all made good progress  
and are excited about applying their skills to a game that involves  
distinguishing a played note pattern from 24 possibilities and then  
replicating it on their recorder. As mentioned earlier, actual  
practice and progress on the recorder is a matter of individual  
interest. As incentive, though, I have “an eagle tree” in my room for  
“high-flyers.” There are four limbs that each have a particular song  
designation. Any time that a student has learned one of those songs  
and can perform it for the class, they get to place an eagle with  
their name on it up on the limb representing that song. Students who  
have placed an eagle up thus far are Madison Sorel, Preston Baxter,  
Jamison Crouch, Sarah Ewing, Meghan Kissinger. Erik Backe has earned  
two eagles.

*****
'TWEEN SCHOOL N' HOME

Child Care Program

at Harold Martin School

Week of April 3-7



Monday:  National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day; Spring Pets

Tuesday:    Woodworking:  Picture Perfect

Wednesday:  Woodworking Continued:  Picture Perfect

Thursday:  BEACH DAY

Friday:  Celebrate Spring!



For registration information, call Linda Ottery, Executive Director

529-2186 or tsnh at comcast.net

*****

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.

Easter Egg Hunt - Saturday, April 8th at 11:00am at Houston Park in  
front of the Town Library.  The Easter Egg hunt is open to youth up  
to grade 3.  This event is free, make sure to bring your basket to  
collect your eggs.  There will be face painting, giant bubble making,  
and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny!  Please park behind the  
Hopkinton Town Library near the playing fields.

  Spring Archery - Marcia Wyman, Director and Founder of the New  
England School of Archery, Inc., is back again to lead our Spring  
Archery program on Thursday evenings from May 11th – June 1st.   
Beginner and Family classes will be held from 5:00 – 6:00 PM and  
Advanced classes will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 PM.  Cost is $60 per  
person ($55 for additional family members).  For a registration form  
and a detailed description of classes go to http://www.hopkinton- 
nh.gov or contact the Recreation Department at 746.2915

American Red Cross Babysitting Course – The Hopkinton Recreation  
Department is once again offering the American Red Cross Babysitter  
Training Course.  In this course you will learn how to: perform First  
Aid and get professional help fast, identify common safety hazards  
and prevent injuries, choose safe and age-appropriate toys and games,  
prepare simple meals and snacks, handle bedtime issues, find and  
interview for babysitting jobs, and more.  This is a great class for  
anyone who is looking to work with youth in summer programs or pick – 
up some extra money by babysitting for friends and family.  Classes  
will be held May 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 11th from 6:00pm-8:30pm (you must  
attend all four classes for certification).  Cost is $45 per person  
and is open to youth Ages 11-15.  To download a registration form go  
to www.hopkinton-nh.gov or contact the Hopkinton Recreation  
Department at 746.2915.

Silver Striders Senior Walking – The Silver
Striders get together at 10:20 – 11:20 AM in
  the Gymnasium at Hopkinton Middle/High
School.  For a walking schedule check out the
Hopkinton Recreation Department event Calendar at
  www.hopkinton-nh.gov or contact the
Recreation Department at 746.2915.  No
  registration is necessary, just bring your sneakers and enjoy some  
good company!

Summer Camp Registration Forms are now available online.  Join the  
Hopkinton Recreation Department this summer as we go on whale  
watches, whitewater rafting trips, learn how to swim, better our  
sport techniques, and just have fun in the sun.  Program information  
and registration forms are available at www.hopkinton-nh.gov click on  
“Recreation” and see what is available for you and your youth to  
participate in this summer.  For additional information or to have  
forms mailed to you contact the Recreation Department at 746.2915.   
You do not need to be a resident of Hopkinton to participate in these  
activities


_ _

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