[MSS News] School and Community Announcements: Monday, October 31, 2011

[Steven Chamberlin]

October 31, 2011

Hello Everyone:

It seems unbelievable that I am looking out at snow covered yards and  
roofs. Overall, I think the Hopkinton area was pretty lucky. Though a  
number of elementary students have lobbied for Halloween as a day off  
from school, I am thankful that I did not have to make a snow day call  
this week.

A few notices as November is about to arrive:
The Hopkinton School District will be testing its auto call system  
this week. If you have not provided the District with a preferred  
emergency contact, it would be appreciated. The goal is to have all  
the numbers entered for a test on Saturday.
Hopkinton Middle School students do not have school this Friday  
(November 4) as the middle school staff will be participating in an  
additional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conference Day.
All schools will be closed November 10 (the district wide Parent/ 
Guardian Teacher Conference Day) and November 11 (observance of  
Veterans Day.)
Please watch for a Safe Routes To School survey coming out this week.  
The information is needed to support a grant application.
A few community announcements:
In observance of Veterans Day, a wonderful candle light ceremony is  
planned at the Civil War Park in Hopkinton. The event is scheduled for  
Friday, November 11, 1 at 4:25pm.  Additional information is at the  
link below:
  	http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hsdsuper/VeteransDay.candle.11Nov11.pdf
The Sean Powers Wood Bank at the transfer station is in need of  
hardwood to support families this winter. A volunteer day for  
splitting and stacking wood is scheduled for November 12. If you have  
wood or are available to volunteer, please email tcongoran at hotmail.com.
Please remember a Farmer’s Market is held in Hopkinton on Saturdays  
from 10:00am - 1:00pm. A flyer with additional information is  
available at the link below:
     	http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hsdsuper/Hop.Farmers.Mkt.pdf
A Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16 from  
2:00pm - 7:00pm at St. Andrew’s Church in Hopkinton. Additional  
information is available at the link below:
	http://www.hopkintonschools.org/hsdsuper/Red.Cross.blood.drive.pdf

An announcement from the FCC and FEMA
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency  
Management Authority (FEMA) are planning the first Emergency Alert  
System (EAS) nationwide test, which will take place at 2:00 PM (EST),  
Wednesday, November 9, 2011.  The test will last approximately three  
(3) minutes.  Normal programming will return following the test.
FCC and FEMA are conducting a public relations campaign utilizing  
print, broadcast, and other media to prepare the public for the test  
and the fact that a “live” alert code is being used.  If you are part  
of an organization, below is a draft article that could be used for  
use in your group’s newsletters, telephone trees, blogs, meeting  
announcements, or any other way your group uses to communicate  
important information.
The November 9 test will utilize a “live” national alert code, i.e., a  
coded message that will make it appear as an actual emergency  
announcement, not a test.  This is necessary in order to allow FCC and  
FEMA to test the actual working order of EAS equipment and the state  
of readiness of EAS operators and participants.
An audio message will precede the alert message announcing that the  
exercise is a Test Only.  Other information will be broadcast after  
the test concludes.
Additional information about the test is available at the FCC’s  
website www.fcc.gov/nationwideEAStest.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,



Steven M. Chamberlin
Superintendent of Schools 
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