It was a wonderful turn out for the Back to School Night. I popped into many classrooms and the presentations by the teachers were fantastic. If you still have questions about the curriculum, expectations, school routines etc. please make sure you contact your child’s teacher. A big thank you to all the parents and grade 5 students who provided childcare.
Parent teacher conferences are the next structured opportunity for you to connect with your child’s teacher. Teachers are scheduling these through their websites, emails, or sign ups outside their classrooms. These will take place on: October 22 and 29 and November 4 and 5. During the parent teacher conference you will have time to sit with the classroom teacher and discuss your child’s progress and set some goals for the year. For new parents, these conferences provide time for you to discuss many aspects of your child’s school experience. I am also available during these times so feel free to stop in if you have a question.
Technology is integrated throughout the student’s experience at Hardy from kindergarten to grade 5. We are very fortunate that parents contributed funds to purchase a complete classroom set of iPads for grade 3. At this time, all students in grades 3 and 5 have access to an iPad assigned to them throughout the day. Other grade levels also have access to iPads. The district is developing a technology plan to make sure that the needs of our students are being addressed so they are prepared to keep up with the fluid changes in technology.
Getting to know your children is a critical first step in establishing lasting learning relationships. At Hardy, the teachers engage in Morning Meetings and Open Circle meetings to build those interpersonal relationships, address social competency skills and establish a warm, nurturing and supportive classroom environment. We also conduct academic assessments to learn more about our students and to help inform instruction. Generally, we assess students in math and literacy three times a year using district wide and research based assessments. These assessments are not used to grade your child but rather to give us information regarding their strengths and areas that we need to support.
The first Friday of every month is Hardy School Spirit day. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing Hardy wear or clothing that is red and white, our school colors. The PTO will be selling Hardy wear at PTO sponsored events so keep an eye out.
For student with food allergies we offer a peanut free table. In order to properly manage and monitor the food items at the tables, students with allergies can invite up to three friends. As students get older and start to feel more comfortable, we do try to support their independence and self advocacy by encouraging students with allergies to sit at the non-nut free tables only with parent permission.
All School Assemblies begin at 8:45 and generally finish by 9:30. Mark your calendar the following assemblies:
Dec. 19: Winter Concert
Jan 16: Martin Luther King Jr.
Have a wonderful week-end!
Charlene Cook, Principal
Hardy Elementary School
781-446-6270, ext.2301
cookch@wellesleyps.org
293 Weston Rd. Wellesley MA 02482