Dear HPS Educators, Students, Families, Partners and Friends, Thank you to the teachers and students at Kelly, Morgan, Dean, and Lawrence Schools who welcomed me into their classrooms this week. I am working with principals to provide educators with meaningful and actionable feedback. I see much promise when I visit schools and see our educators and their students in action. I have also had the opportunity to discuss the Turnaround Plan with staff, families and community partners. I appreciate the thoughtful questions and enthusiasm about the work ahead. It’s been a busy, short week which kicked off with the school committee meeting on Tuesday night. The agenda included an overview of the Turnaround Plan, a presentation from the Kelly School Leadership Team on their family engagement work, and an update from Holyoke Community College President Bill Messner on our plan to dramatically increase student access to dual enrollment at HCC, starting this year. I envision a day when the majority of our high school students graduate with multiple college credits in their portfolio. The school committee also heard from Dr. Hyry‐Dermith who shared a report on our 2014‐15 MCAS scores. His presentation showcased growth in the last few years in our 3rd grade ELA and math scores. This is a statistically significant increase and a positive sign that the Holyoke Early Literacy Initiative is working. However, the majority of HPS students are not meeting state standards. Our work together must be urgent, strategic and focused on all of our students and their families. Our students’ academic performance is only one piece of data that clearly calls us to action as a school community. Best wishes, Steve
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE STUDENTS TREATED
Congratulations to Sullivan School students, as they were the recipients of a special, school‐wide ice cream treat for having the overall highest percentage of students that completed the Summer Reading Challenge. Thank you to Sodexo for making the generous donation of ice cream for our Sullivan School students.TURNAROUND PLAN MEETINGS
Parents/Guardians, you are invited to attend the following Turn Around Plan meetings hosted by Dr. Zrike. Your feedback will be critical in making the Turnaround Plan come alive for our youth. October 22nd, 6:00 – 7:15 PM at Beaudoin Village (15 Barrett Avenue)
October 27th, 6:00 – 7:15 PM at the Holyoke High School Auditorium (500 Beech Street)The recently released District Turnaround Plan includes priorities and strategies to accelerate student achievement as well as benchmarks connected to student outcomes. To access the plan and supplemental information visit: http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/turnaroundplan.htm
HOLYOKE HIGH SCHOOL FAMILIES ‐ SETTING UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
The Holyoke High School Community Outreach Group will be hosting a series of gatherings throughout the community, for the 2015‐2016 school year. Families are welcome to come and speak with teachers, guidance counselors, and other staff members about issues that are key to the success of their child. The next community gathering will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 PM on October 21, 2015 at Fire Station #1, 600 High St. Find out how you can help your student have a successful year at Holyoke High School. Meet faculty, discuss strategies and receive handouts on study tips, report card dates, and MORE! Spanish translation will be available as well as light refreshments and a children’s corner.HOLYOKE HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL
Faculty and students had a very early morning last Friday, as they were featured on Western Mass News' Honor Roll Live segment. Visit: http://www.westernmassnews.com/story/30227856/honor‐roll‐live‐holyoke‐high to view coverage of this event.Holyoke Update – October 16, 2015
MORGAN FULLY SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Morgan Full Service Community School has open house scheduled for Monday, October 19th from 5:00‐6:30 PM. Families, students, and community members are encouraged to meet with teachers and tour the school. All other schools in the district have hosted open houses and visitors have had the opportunity to see first‐hand the resources, activities, and programs that are available in our district.
RECRUITMENT UPDATE
We are well underway with the 2015‐2016 school year! There are still opportunities for employment with the Holyoke Public Schools. We have openings for teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff. Visit our district website and apply today!
ON‐GOING ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Pre‐K Expansion There are still opportunities to enroll qualifying 4‐year‐old children who have not attended preschool in the past in free, full‐day programs at several schools. Friendly, bilingual staff are ready to answer questions and support families in the enrollment process at any of these numbers: Head Start: 413‐788‐6522 | VOC: 413‐552‐1559 | Holyoke Public Schools: 413‐534‐2055 Holyoke Public Schools Dual Language Grade One Holyoke’s Joseph Metcalf School is offering an enrollment opportunity for any student currently in grade one who is interested in attending our Dual Language Program. This innovative program offers language acquisition opportunities in English and Spanish, research‐based curriculum that is aligned with the district's benchmarks and the state's curriculum framework, and instruction that is conducted half‐day in Spanish and half‐day in English. Visit http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/duallanguage.htm to learn more about this exciting program. Contact Joseph Metcalf School Principal Amy Wetzel Burke to schedule a screening appointment for your first‐grade student at (413) 534‐2104 or [email protected].WALK FOR AUTISM
Making a difference…one step at a time! See flyer at the end of this document regarding details for the Sunday, October 18th event. CONNECT WITH USQueridos Educadores, Estudiantes, Familias, Socios y amigos de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke, Gracias a los profesores y estudiantes de las Escuelas Kelly, Morgan, Dean y Lawrence que me acogieron en sus salones de clase esta semana. Estoy trabajando con los directores para proporcionar a los educadores con refuerzos significativos y procesables. Veo mucha promesa cuando visito las escuelas y observo a nuestros educadores y sus estudiantes en acción. También he tenido la oportunidad de discutir el plan de reestructuración con el personal, las familias y los socios de la comunidad. Agradezco las preguntas inteligentes y entusiasmo sobre el trabajo por delante. Ha sido una semana corta y ocupada, la que se inició con la reunión del comité de la escuela el martes por la noche. La agenda incluyó una visión general del plan de reestructuración, una presentación del Equipo de Liderazgo Escolar de la Escuela Kelly en su trabajo de participación familiar y una actualización del presidente del Holyoke Community College, Bill Messner, en nuestro plan para aumentar dramáticamente el acceso de estudiantes a la inscripción dual en HCC, a partir de este año. Me imagino un día en que la mayoría de nuestros estudiantes de secundaria se gradúan con múltiples créditos universitarios en su portafolio. El comité de la escuela también escuchó del Dr. Hyry‐Dermith que compartió un informe sobre nuestras puntuaciones del MCAS 2014‐15. Su presentación mostró un crecimiento en los últimos años en nuestras puntuaciones de 3er grado de ELA y matemáticas. Este es un aumento estadísticamente significativo y un signo positivo que la Iniciativa de Alfabetización Temprana de Holyoke está trabajando. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudiantes de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke no están cumpliendo con las normas estatales. Nuestro trabajo conjunto debe ser urgente, estratégico y centrado en todos nuestros estudiantes y sus familias. El desempeño académico de nuestros estudiantes es sólo una pieza de datos que nos llama claramente a la acción como una comunidad escolar. Mis mejore deseos, Steve
Actualización de Holyoke – 16 de octubre de 2015
OBSEQUIADOS LOS ESTUDIANTES DEL DESAFIO DE LECTURA DE
VERANO
Felicitaciones a los estudiantes de la escuela Sullivan, ya que eran los destinatarios de un helado de regalo especial para toda la escuela por tener el porcentaje global más alto de estudiantes que completaron el Desafío de Lectura de Verano. Gracias a Sodexo por hacer tan generosa donación de helado para nuestros estudiantes de la Escuela Sullivan.REUNIONES DEL PLAN DE REESTRUCTURACION
Padres/Guardianes, ustedes están invitados a asistir a las siguientes reuniones del Plan de Reestructuración conducidas por el Dr. Zrike. Su comentario será crítico para hacer que el Plan de Reestructuración cobre vida para nuestros estudiantes 22 de octubre, 6:00 – 7:15 PM en Beaudoin Village (15 Barrett Avenue)
27 de octubre, 6:00 – 7:15 PM en el Auditorio de la Escuela Secundaria de Holyoke (500 Beech Street)El Plan de Reestructuración recientemente publicado incluye las prioridades y estrategias para acelerar el rendimiento de los estudiantes, así como puntos de referencia conectados a resultados de los estudiantes. Para acceder al plan y suplementaria información visite: http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/turnaroundplan.htm
FAMILIAS DE LA ESCUELA SECUNDARIA DE HOLYOKE – CONFIGURACION PARA UN AÑO EXITOSO
El Grupo de Extensión de la Comunidad de la Escuela Secundaria de Holyoke será el anfitrión de una serie de reuniones en toda la comunidad, para el año escolar 2015‐2016. Las familias son bienvenidas a venir y hablar con los maestros, consejeros, y otros miembros del personal sobre temas que son claves para el éxito de su hijo. La próxima reunión de la comunidad se llevará a cabo de 3:30 a 6:30 PM el 21 de octubre de 2015 en la Estación de Bomberos #1, 600 High St. Descubra cómo usted puede ayudar a su estudiante tener un año exitoso en la Escuela Secundaria de Holyoke. Conoce la facultad, discutir estrategias y recibir folletos de consejos de estudios, fechas de boletas de calificaciones, y más! Traducción al español estará disponible, así como refrescos y un rincón infantil. CUADRO DE HONOR DE LA ESCUELA SECUNDARIA DE HOLYOKELa facultad y los estudiantes tuvieron una mañana muy temprana el viernes pasado, ya que se presentaron en el segmento en vivo del Cuadro de Honor de las noticias de Western Mass. Visite: http://www.westernmassnews.com/story/30227856/honor‐roll‐live‐holyoke‐high para ver la cobertura de este evento.
