Dear Mary Hogan Families,

It was amazing to see so many families at Back to School Night last night. I think we had at least 2/3 of the whole school come in and visit classrooms and tour the school. I saw a lot of student leadership, showing their families around. I also saw a lot of families connecting with each other in person out on the playground with some ice cream. Thanks for coming! And keep looking for other family events at Mary Hogan in the coming months!

Below in the newsletter, you will see information about:

• Upcoming Events
• Volunteering, Substitute Teaching, and Open Positions
  
• Start of the Year Paperwork
• MESA meeting and fundraiser
• Photos of the week

See you all soon!

Jen

The 5th graders are choosing our first spirit day theme. On 9/15, we hope everyone will dress up for RAINBOW DAY!

9/15 - 6.30pm - Mary Hogan Library - Come meet with other parents for the MESA (parent organization) meeting. More information to follow about this event.

As we get started, we are still looking for a number of paraeducators to complete our staffing. Paraeducators play many important roles at Mary Hogan - from supporting a student with personal care to supporting a whole class or small group with academic instruction.

We love our paraeducators and we need your help to ensure we are fully staffed this year! . If you love supporting our kids, are curious, and want to spend more time in an awesome place, surrounded by a supportive team, please consider applying (or sharing) the positions here.

We are so excited to welcome parents and community members back into our buildings this year! If you are interested in substitute teaching or volunteering this year, please start an application now!

We are hoping to build a large group of people who are interested in volunteering at Mary Hogan. We are looking for folks who want to have lunches with students, play at recess, do some extra reading, help out in a class, go on field trips, and more! If this sounds like something you might be interested in, click below to fill out the volunteer application.

An extra bonus this year is that if you volunteer to have lunch with students (even your own child) and sit at their lunch table, you can eat school lunch for free!

If you haven't yet turned in the start of the year paperwork, please do that. We are looking to collect a bright pink page to get any address updates, FERPA/COPPA paperwork, as well as emergency dismissal plans, and Free and Reduced Meal applications (linked below). All families should turn in all four. Thanks for your help!

MESA is the Middlebury Elementary School Association and is the parent-teacher group for Mary Hogan. A flyer with all of their information will be coming home with your child today. Also coming home is a flyer (below) about their fall photo fundraiser.

The next MESA meeting is next week - 9/15 at 6.30pm in the Mary Hogan Library. All are welcome to come.

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

It was a great first two days of school! I was so excited to welcome families into the building for the first day and there were smiles everywhere as families stopped by classrooms, students got settled in, and the day got underway. This is just the start of the year, but there is so much to be grateful for - being together, a great team of teachers and staff, supportive families, and finally cooler weather!

Below in the newsletter, you will see information about:

• Upcoming Events
• Health Notes
• Walk and Roll to School Days
• Volunteering, Substitute Teaching, and Open Positions
• Photos of the week

Thank you so much for all of your support of your child(ren) and our school in our transition back to school!

Jen

9/7 - 7.45-8.15am - Walk, Roll, or Carpool to school and get recognized for your efforts (see more info about Walk and Roll Days below!)

9/8 - All day students and classes will have their photos taken. A flyer to sign up for photos is coming home with your child on Friday 9/2.

9/8 - 6-7.15pm - Please come check out your child(ren)'s classroom after the first week of school. Let them show you around and what they have been working on. Teachers will be here to talk with you about the year and their classroom. Then, enjoy some ice cream with us!

9/15 - 6.30pm - Mary Hogan Library - Come meet with other parents for the MESA (parent organization) meeting. More information to follow about this event.

Greetings! I hope everyone has had a nice summer filled with things that bring you joy. As we transition into this new school year, our approach to managing COVID is very similar to how we ended last year. We look forward to this new chapter with less focus on COVID and more focus on enjoying each other’s company and all of the special moments and celebrations we will all share this school year. Our comprehensive guidance for COVID and other contagious illnesses can be found here. Here are some of the highlights:

• If you have COVID related symptoms or symptoms of another potentially contagious illness, please stay home and return when you feel well enough and have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. Please contact your school nurse if you have questions or need further guidance.
• COVID testing is optional and rapid antigen tests are available to staff in all schools.
• If you have symptoms, test positive, or are exposed you can get the most updated information on next steps from the Vermont Department of Health.
• Our ACSD COVID Response Page will be kept updated with the latest information and critical updates will be sent to staff, students, and families as needed.

Have a wonderful start to the year and reach out anytime. Kelly

Walk and Roll to School returns to Mary Hogan on Wednesday, September 7th. The Walk and Roll to School program celebrates students and staff who walk, bike, scooter, skateboard, take the bus, or carpool to school. The purpose of the program is to encourage active, healthier, and more sustainable transportation modes. Students who walk and roll receive a small prize upon arrival at school. Walk and Roll to School happens on the first Wednesday of each month throughout the year (except for January). The program is run by Middlebury Safe Routes with assistance from MESA. Additionally, participation in the Walk and Roll to School program ensures that Mary Hogan can reserve the Local Motion bike trailer for PE classes at no cost.

As we get started, we are still looking for a number of paraeducators to complete our staffing. Paraeducators play many important roles at Mary Hogan - from supporting a student with personal care to supporting a whole class or small group with academic instruction.

We love our paraeducators and we need your help to ensure we are fully staffed this year! . If you love supporting our kids, are curious, and want to spend more time in an awesome place, surrounded by a supportive team, please consider applying (or sharing) the positions here.

We are so excited to welcome parents and community members back into our buildings this year! If you are interested in substitute teaching or volunteering this year, please start an application now!

We are hoping to build a large group of people who are interested in volunteering at Mary Hogan. We are looking for folks who want to have lunches with students, play at recess, do some extra reading, help out in a class, go on field trips, and more! If this sounds like something you might be interested in, click below to fill out the volunteer application.

An extra bonus this year is that if you volunteer to have lunch with students (even your own child) and sit at their lunch table, you can eat school lunch for free!

All school meals will be free again for ALL students. However, it is VERY IMPORTANT that EVERY family completes the free and reduced meal application form this year. A paper application will be mailed soon, or you can apply now online. Over $300,000 of funding each year comes to Mary Hogan based on the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced meals.

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

Students head back to school in 5 days! We are so excited to see all of the students and welcome them in to a new year. I have also heard from families and students who are really looking forward to getting back into a routine, meeting their teacher, and starting the year. Whether you and your child(ren) are excited, nervous, or both, we are all working hard now to make sure the transition back to school is as smooth as possible.

Below in the newsletter, you will see information about:

• First Day of School Information
• Arrival and Dismissal
• Upcoming Events
• Outstanding Teacher of the Year - It's a Mary Hogan teacher!
• Helping Mary Hogan (and maybe even getting a free lunch!)

Keep reading and we will see you soon!

Jen

Our first day of school is 8/31. School starts at 8am and we will be excited to see you.

Families of all grades can walk their child to their classroom on the first day. Kindergarten families can walk their child to class for the first 3 days of school.

Please plan how you will say "bye" to your child(ren) on that first day of school, particularly if you plan to drop them off in their classroom. Classes start once students arrive.

After you drop your child off, please come by the tent by the parking lot for some muffins and coffee from 8-8.45. It will be a chance for families to connect. MESA (our parent organization) and I will also be there.

Each grade is assigned to an entrance at Mary Hogan (see map). Students in that grade should go to their entrance when they arrive. School doors open at 8am. Between 8-8:15, students get settled in their class and get breakfast. Students are considered tardy only if they arrive after 8:15. Please do not drop your child off before 8am because there are no staff available to supervise them.

If you are dropping your child off via car and do not want to walk them to the door, please move through the two lines that will allow you to drop your child off safely. There will be a staff member providing traffic support in the lines.

As we get started, we are still looking for a number of paraeducators to complete our staffing. Paraeducators play many important roles at Mary Hogan - from supporting a student with personal care to supporting a whole class or small group with academic instruction.

We love our paraeducators and we need your help to ensure we are fully staffed this year! . If you love supporting our kids, are curious, and want to spend more time in an awesome place, surrounded by a supportive team, please consider applying (or sharing) the positions here.

We are so excited to welcome parents and community members back into our buildings this year! If you are interested in substitute teaching or volunteering this year, please start an application now!

We are hoping to build a large group of people who are interested in volunteering at Mary Hogan. We are looking for folks who want to have lunches with students, play at recess, do some extra reading, help out in a class, go on field trips, and more! If this sounds like something you might be interested in, click below to fill out the volunteer application.

An extra bonus this year is that if you volunteer to have lunch with students (even your own child) and sit at their lunch table, you can eat school lunch for free!

All school meals will be free again for ALL students. However, it is VERY IMPORTANT that EVERY family completes the free and reduced meal application form this year. A paper application will be mailed soon, or you can apply now online. Over $300,000 of funding each year comes to Mary Hogan based on the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced meals.

We are working to meet the communication needs of all ACSD families. You can help by taking 5-10 mins to share your thoughts in this survey! Click the button above or HERE to take the survey.