[HMS News] Parent Flash 1/16/09

[William Carozza]

PARENT FLASH  1/16/09

CALENDAR CHANGES

The Early Dismissal in January has been changed to Wed., January 28.   
School will dismiss at 12:00.

Hot Lunch will be changed due to the early dismissal.  Tuesday, 1/27  
the Mac and Cheese dinner will be served and on Wednesday hot dog and  
fries will be the hot lunch.

January 28th is also a Pats Peak ski day.  Students should go to Pats  
Peak at 3:00, as usual.  Please send notes for your child’s dismissal  
plans for all ski days.

*****

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

When I was driving to work this morning, the temperature hit minus 18  
and that was coupled on the back of not having power in our house.  
Whew. Clearly, the weather this winter is giving us the “opportunity”  
to experience life as it existed at a very different time. Perhaps it  
has given us a chance to find perspective. To be honest, most of us  
are just tired of the inconvenience!

Meanwhile, we are busy people at HMS.

*    I encourage you to attend the Hopkinton Budget Committee meeting  
this Wednesday night, January 21, beginning at 6:30 at the Town Hall.  
The School Budget will be the primary focus of the meeting. You’ll  
have a chance to see democracy in action as the members of the Budget  
Committee review our district budget and pose questions. You can find  
plenty of helpful information on our district web site at: http://www.hopkintonschools.org 
.

*   Our next HMS/MSS Parent Advisory Council meeting is this Tuesday  
afternoon, from 5:30-6:30 PM in the Maple Street School library, just  
before our regular School Board meeting. The major topic will be  
bullying. MSS Principal Michael Bessette and I will be sharing a  
district wide initiative in this area, which is in the very beginning  
stages.

*   This time of year our parking lot becomes very cramped with snow  
piling up, eliminating a number of spots. I completely understand the  
need for some parents to walk their children down to the playground  
first thing in the morning, but it is making our parking lot difficult  
for our staff when spots are at a premium. At some point, I would  
encourage you to use our drop off system in the morning, thereby  
freeing up the parking lot. We have adults posted until about 7:45 on  
the walkway leading down to the playground. Thanks!

*  I have received quite a bit of feedback asking for the Parent Flash  
to be shorter and more concise. Thus, we won’t be putting as much town  
and recreation department material in the Flash but encouraging you  
through links, to check out the web sites that contain the  
information. In addition, the town has smartly created separate email  
lists and you can select which list you would like to subscribe to.  
For instance, you can subscribe to the Hopkinton Recreation Department  
site by heading to http://www.hopkinton-nh.gov/subscriber.

*   As you probably know, we have a major bridge closing on Rte 127,  
which will affect travel for many including our bus transportation.  
The changes should only affect bus 91, 96 PM, and 1 stop (Cressy Brook  
on bus 97). By this weekend, I’ll have the changes up on my  
Principal’s pages at: http://hopkintonschools.org/hms/principal

Don’t forget, we celebrate Civil Rights/ Martin Luther King Day this  
Monday and there is no school. Have a great weekend, Bill

*****

COFFEE WITH CAROZZA Wednesday, January 21

*****

Hopkinton PTA Fun Fair

Yes it's that time of year again for us to start planning for the  
annual Fun Fair! More details will come in the next few months but for  
now we are looking for an assistant to help the Fun Fair Chairperson,  
Stephanie Lesko. No experience is necessary, it just requires the  
ability to have a few flexible hours a week from now until the  
carnival in May. For more information, please contact Stephanie Lesko  
at 746-2156 or lesko at conknet.com or Julie Morris, Director of  
Volunteer Services at 746-4137 or juliemorris at tds.net

*****

HONDURAS

2 MILE FUN RUN!

AT HOPKINTON HIGH SCHOOL

Saturday January 24, 2008

12:00am Start

10:00-11:45am Registration*

    $ 5 students and seniors

    $ 10 adults

*(no pre-race day registration)

Benefits Hands to Honduras

The Interact Club at Hopkinton High School is going to Honduras for  
twelve days of service.  We help build classrooms and repair schools.   
100% of the proceeds from this race will go to the supplies we need to  
complete our projects.

PRIZES FOR TOP 3 MALE & FEMALE FINISHERS

*****

Notes From the

                    Music Room

Kindergarten – The children have been introduced to the concepts of  
“ballet” as a story and “music” as a means of communication. Our  
consideration of how music might describe situations and feelings lead  
to an exploration of music elements through movement. The children  
listened to aspects of music from “The Nutcracker” and responded in  
expressive dance with flowing scarves. They enjoyed watching a portion  
of  “The Nutcracker” on video, observing how the story was  
communicated through music and movement. The children will meet my  
doll, “Wolfie” Mozart in celebration of his birthday on January 27th.  
They will move to some of his music as well as become acquainted with  
the concept of “variation” with the song and book, “Twinkle, Twinkle.”

1st Grade – We started off our new calendar year with the song, “It’s  
a Brand New Day.” The children learned some dance steps to go along  
with the song. After listening and moving, they incorporated their  
reading skills into following and singing along with the printed  
lyrics. We included a section of whistling or humming and playing  
percussion instruments to add to the fun. The children watched some  
highlights from “The Nutcracker” with a focus on how music can tell a  
story. They will celebrate Mozart’s birthday with a movement activity  
to the 1st movement of his 40th symphony as well as singing a song to  
the tune of his composition, “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” which describes  
his playful genius.

2nd Grade – In order to prepare the children to begin work on their up- 
coming mini-musical, we began this month with a comparison of ballet  
and musicals. As an example of a musical, the children practiced some  
dance steps to go along with the lively tune, “Put on a Happy Face”  
from “Bye Bye Birdie.” They followed along with the lyrics, learning  
about the musical symbols, “sign” and “Coda.” We talked about how  
their musical will include songs and some movement as well as speaking  
parts for willing volunteers. We watched some selections from “The  
Nutcracker” to see a story presented with music and movement, but  
without words. The children will be introduced to their musical in the  
coming weeks. They will also celebrate Mozart’s birthday in song.

3rd Grade – We began this month with the song, “Everyone Needs A  
Hero.” The children learned some steps to go with the salsa beat and  
then sang the lyrics and added drums. They discussed heroes past and  
present; some famous, and others not necessarily making the headlines.  
Of course, you were mentioned in the list. The children will be  
learning about the treble clef this month. They will sing about it, do  
puzzles associated with it and engage in related activities. This will  
prepare them for receiving their recorders in February, giving an  
opportunity for practical application of their studies.

*****

Mark your calendar for….



THE FAMOUS HMS SPAGHETTI SUPPER

THURSDAY,

JANUARY 29th

There will be two serving times: 5:45 and 6:45.  A form for  
“reservations” will be sent home next week so the staff can prepare  
the right number of dinners!  Adults: $6.00, Children $3.00 and  
families $18.00.  All money will be collected the night of the dinner.

Hope you can come—it’s a grand school-community event!



_ _

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