Hello Hardy Families MCAS Schedule: The spring MCAS schedule is below.  You will notice that there are three testing sessions for ELA.  This is new – the state has adopted a hybrid MCAS test that includes PARCC questions on the third day; these are timed, which is also new.  You can view PARCC test examples on the DESE page or click this link: PARCC has published a guide to finding and using released PARCC test questions that will give parents a better understanding of the kind of work their child should be prepared to do. English Language Arts:  Grade 3:  March 29, 31 and April 7 Grade 4:  April 7, 12 and 13 Grade 5:  March 29, 31 and April 6 Math:  Grade 3:  May 17 and 19 Grade 4:  May 17 and 19 Grade 5:  May 10 and 12 Science: Grade 5:  May 23 and 24   2016-2017 School Calendar: The WPS Academic Calendar 2016-17 has been approved and posted: http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/sites/wellesleyps/files/file/file/calendar_academic_2016-17_0.pdf Parent Book Group: The next parent book group will meet on Tuesday, April 12th from 6:30 to 7:30.  We will be discussing the book Waking Up White by Debby Irving.   Marathon Runners for METCO: Friends of Wellesley METCO: We are very excited this year that three members of the Hardy Community are running the Boston Marathon for the Friends of Wellesley METCO (FWMI). FWMI is a non-profit organization which sends 158 students from Boston school districts to Wellesley’s elementary (10 METCO students attend Hardy), middle and high schools. Children who would otherwise attend overcrowded and largely underperforming city schools receive a high quality education while Wellesley benefits from increased diversity.  If you would like to support our Hardy marathoners, Anna Garcia-Miller (mom to Kristina in 2nd grade), Felicia Moran (Lipari) (4th grade teacher) and Jennifer O’Neil Sebaratnam (mom to Emily in Kindergarten) please visit the FWMI fundraising page at  https://www.firstgiving.com/friendsofwellesleymetco/Friends-of-Wellesley-METCO-2016  Tardy Guidelines: I’d like to send out a huge thank you to all the Hardy families who have shown how much they value and model getting to school on time! You are outstanding and are making the start of the day smooth and productive for your children and supporting a healthy school environment. Thank you for your efforts.   The School Council continues to try to improve the drop off and pick up and at our last meeting we made a few adjustments.  I have attached two documents for your reference.  The first is an updated Tardy Guideline overview.  The second is a letter that families will receive if your child is tardy more than three times.  The biggest change is we want parents to use the loop driveway in front of the school to park and bring their child in if they arrive after 8:30. That is the only time parking is allowed in the loop driveway. Because it is not safe for students to be walking through the Hardy parking lot, parents should not be using it for drop off in the morning or pick up after school.  We will continue to lock all school doors promptly at 8:30 so if you arrive after 8:30 your child will need to enter with an adult through the front door only.  We encourage families to drop off at 8:15 or shortly after to give students some time to connect with friends and get some physical activity on the playground before the start of the school day.  It is a healthy way to start the day! Tardy Guidelines         Parent letter  Budget: The WPS FY17 Budget Guidelines have been approved by School Committee and posted: http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/sites/wellesleyps/files/file/file/fy17_budget_guidance.pdf HHU: Please continue to refer to http://www.wellesleyma.gov/hhu for information on the Hardy, Hunnewell, Upham Facilities Project. 
WEF Survey:  Thanks to a WEF Grant, we are planning to do a major update to the WPS website http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/ over the next few months with our primary goal to make it mobile responsive for viewing on smartphones and tablets. At the same time we would like to take the opportunity to improve it in other ways so that it is meeting the needs our staff, parents, students and community members. Please take our brief survey to give us your feedback. Questions? Amy Ritterbusch ritterbuscha@wellesleyps.org Survey Link: http://goo.gl/forms/6AEQu6oUXB   Thank you, Charlene Cook, Principal Hardy Elementary School 781-446-6270, ext.2301      cookch@wellesleyps.org  

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