Holyoke students can develop their skills and have fun playing football and soccer thanks to community programs offered in partnership with Holyoke Public Schools. The programs are free, and no equipment is needed. No need to register; students can just show up to participate!
Don't let the flu and COVID-19 catch you off guard this winter, join us for a Flu & COVID Vaccination Clinic happening on Wednesday, February 15, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at The Care Center (247 Cabot Street). Vaccinations and boosters will be available for those six months and up, bring your insurance card for the flu shot and be prepared to stay for a 15-minute observation after getting vaccinated. Registration is encouraged but optional; you can register at https://bit.ly/3HfbXg6. And as a bonus, get a $75 gift card for COVID vaccines while supplies last!
Take advantage of this opportunity to protect yourself and your loved ones from these serious illnesses.
HPS kicks off attendance campaign with celebration tomorrow, January 18! Holyoke Public Schools will celebrate students’ attendance achievements with festivities scheduled for 4:15-5:15 p.m. on January 18 at Holyoke High School North. During the event, Mayor Joshua Garcia and HPS Superintendent Anthony Soto will be joined by 50-70 students and their families from throughout the district to celebrate the students' excellent attendance and/or significant attendance improvements.
Holyoke Public School’s “community-centric” approach to strategic planning was featured in a recent article published by consulting firm Education Resources Strategies (ERS), shining a bright light on both the process and the outcomes. The article can be found here: http://bit.ly/3G9tSUN
“While many districts often struggle to execute a planning process that fosters widespread community buy-in, HPS leaders were able to design for equitable, long-lasting engagement,” ERS wrote in the article. “They embedded the community directly and authentically in the work to create full alignment and a bold plan that will guide them over the next few years.”
The district’s Strategic Planning process began in September 2021 as Superintendent Anthony Soto launched his entry plan work and included an inclusive planning process throughout spring and summer 2022. Under the umbrella of the district’s existing turnaround plan, Holyoke Public Schools released a new multi-year strategic plan in August. The plan reflects all the work that had been done under the turnaround plan over the last almost seven years and articulates focus for the next few years. Throughout the process, more than 400 staff, family members, students, and community members provided input for the plan, in addition to the 1,150+ people who contributed to Superintendent Anthony Soto’s entry plan process that concluded earlier this year.
Viruses and bacterial infections are on the rise: Please take precautions. RSV, Flu, COVID-19, and Group A streptococcus infections also pose combined risks. Like schools and communities across the state and country, Holyoke has recently experienced overlapping surges of viral illnesses among our students and staff, including the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu, and COVID-19. Some parts of the country have also seen an increase in Group A streptococcus infections (such as scarlet fever and strep throat) in children. Massachusetts health officials are bracing for these bacterial infections to be on the rise locally, too. All of these illnesses are contagious, and spread can occur relatively quickly. It is particularly concerning that it is possible for individuals to have two or more of these viral conditions serially, simultaneously, or even paired with bacterial or other infections. And because the symptoms for these three viral illnesses share some similar symptoms, it can be hard to tell them apart. If your child is symptomatic, we recommend keeping your child at home and reaching out to your healthcare provider for guidance. Likewise, we recommend the same for staff members. You can read more about these illnesses on our website, along with important steps you can take to help keep yourself and your family healthy this winter. https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/page/health-wellness-nursing
Need help understanding the Phase 2 rezoning decisions made by Holyoke Public Schools? To help provide answers, we've posted a Frequently Asked Questions section on our website https://bit.ly/3iGpxQK.
If you have any other questions or issues, just email us at enrollment@hps.holyoke.ma.us with your address and your child's current grade level, and we'll be happy to help.
McMahon School welcomed so many students and families for Winterfest last week! It was ‘snow’ much fun!
Spirit week at Metcalf began yesterday with Grinch day!
All athletic activities are canceled for this afternoon, Friday December 16. All other after-school activities are operating as usual.
Great article from MassLive about HHS Dean's co-op program where students can match with potential employers to intern, learn new skills, and even earn money! 😎
https://www.masslive.com/business/2022/12/holyoke-dean-techs-co-op-fair-matches-students-with-future-employers.html
Last week we celebrated our English language development teachers: Emely Santiago of Morgan Elementary and Angela Steward of STEM Academy, for excellence in instruction and advocacy for our multilingual learners.
HPS School Committee member Erin Brunelle received special recognition during the November 4 meeting of the Massachusetts All-State School Committee for her “support for children and public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Thank you Ms. Brunelle for your dedication to our community!
Second graders from Kelly's Dual Language program had the opportunity to celebrate fall with their teacher Lina Saravia. Families came to the school to celebrate the students' achievements in this year's first quarter. The students sang songs using the district curriculum, read narratives they had written, and simulated a volcano explosion through the science project "Landforms" parents, children, and teachers made a gratitude circle and closed the event with artistic activities.
Odalis Amparo will be representing HPS during the 2022 La Cosecha Conference, the largest dual language conference in the country. La Cosecha 2022 will bring educators, parents, researchers, and practitioners supporting dual language enrichment programs across the U.S.
Odalis is a first-generation Latina, currently working as a mathematics coach at HPS. She is passionate about the intersection between equitable, anti-racist math instruction, second language acquisition, and culturally sustaining pedagogy.
More information about the conference can be found at www.lacosechaconference.org
On the last day of STEM Week, Holyoke High School and middle school students worked alongside industry professionals from the PepsiCo design team and the Boston-based Mobile Makers community art program. Students created prototype solutions such as a specialty backpack for firefighters, adaptive shoe technology for use in the desert, and harnessing clean energy from water sources.
PepsiCo designers also shared their career-path stories with students to demonstrate the power of design/design thinking and as inspiration to consider pursuing work in the creative fields.
More kids should know: HHS North students participate in Ad Council PSA warning about fentanyl.
Earlier this year, Holyoke High School North was invited to be part of a national Ad Council pilot project (https://bit.ly/3TxOBan) to help young Americans understand the deadly reality of fentanyl-laced drugs.
Two Holyoke teachers and two school leaders were honored by the State of Latino Education in celebration of Latinos for Education’s 5th Anniversary as well as Hispanic Heritage Month.
They include:
- Holyoke High School ESL Teacher Janet Morales
- Kelly Dean of Management and Operations Roberto Vicente
- Peck English Teacher Christine Perez
- Sullivan Principal Sacha Garcia-Mailloux
The annual State of Latino Education Event brings together local, state, and national education leaders to celebrate the resiliency of the Latino community and to spotlight the critical role that Latino educators and leaders play in achieving educational equity for Latino students.
Congratulations to first-grade teacher Emma Pascarella as she embarks on completing a one-year Teach Plus Massachusetts fellowship, a highly selective, rigorous program for excellent teachers who want to deepen their knowledge, expand their influence, and lead in shaping education policy and advocacy.
Learn more about Ms. Pascarella’s Teach Plus fellowship in this news article published on MassLive https://bit.ly/3eB2yVP.
Donahue students prepared for weeks for an October 14 showcase of their family cultures in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage month. Students sampled delicious foods prepared by their classmates’ families, danced, and wore traditional clothing from their native countries.
Holyoke Public Schools families with school-age children might qualify to receive up to $30 a month towards their internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet, thanks to the Federal Infrastructure Law’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at www.getinternet.gov.
