Holyoke Public Schools - Juntos Podemos | Together We Can

In order to catch up on outstanding work items due to a busy enrollment season and ultimately best serve our families, the HPS Enrollment Center will be closed to the public from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, September 14. The office will reopen at 1 p.m. days for in-person visitors and phone calls. For the fastest response time, please email enrollment questions to enrollment@hps.holyoke.ma.us and transportation questions to transportation@hps.holyoke.ma.us.

Holyoke Health Center’s dental team is back in Holyoke Public Schools continuing to provide safe, quality preventive dental care and education to students through the free Oral Health Screenings Program. Families who would like their children to participate in the portable dental program at school should complete and sign the consent form sent home with children during the first week of school. Families may also contact their school nurse (list of school nurses https://bit.ly/3sWiB78) to request a consent packet.

Holyoke High School students from all three campuses and their families are encouraged to read the College Counseling Corner newsletter produced by HHS North College and Career Counselor Anna Rigali. Each edition includes timely resources and helpful hints to help high school students prepare for college, including meeting with college recruiters, taking college admission exams (looking at you PSATs and SATs!), financial aid, college field trips and so much more. Link to College Counseling Corner Newsletter https://www.smore.com/es4rh.

Listen to Donahue student Joelimar Brito talk about what she does to get ready and be on time for school. 🌟Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!🌟

Have you filled out your child’s back-to-school packets? Your child should have been sent one home in their backpack. Families also have the option to fill it out online at www.enrollholyoke.com by clicking on their student name and then selecting “back-to-school packet”. Thanks in advance for ensuring that we have the important information contained in the packet, like emergency contact information, their media release, and more.

📣 'Beyond the Bell' enrollment starts Today! Formerly Connections, this after-school program for grades 1-5 returns Oct 2 at Donahue, Lawrence, McMahon, and Morgan. To enroll, visit https://bit.ly/3t3aJOY.

🗓️ 🏫 Mark your calendars! Schools across the district will begin hosting their open houses. : Thursday, September 14, Lawrence School Open House, 4-6 p.m. | Tuesday, September 19, HHS Dean Open House, 5-6 p.m. | Thursday, September 28, Morgan School Open House, 5-6:30 p.m. | Thursday, September 28, E.N. White School Open House, 5:30-6 p.m. | Tuesday, September 26, HHS North Open House, 5-6:30 p.m. | Tuesday, September 26, McMahon School Open House, 3:30-5 p.m. | Wednesday, September 27, Sullivan Middle School Open House, 5-7 p.m. | Thursday, September 28, Metcalf Middle School Open House, 4-5:30 p.m. | Thursday, September 28, Donahue School Open House, 5-6:30 p.m. | Tuesday, October 3, STEM Academy Open House, 5-6:30 p.m. | Tuesday, October 10, Kelly School Open House, 4:30-6 p.m.

We aim to keep you up to date through our twice-monthly e-newsletter, which has been renamed “Together for Holyoke” as a reflection of the essential partnerships between our schools, our families, and our community. Together for Holyoke - Stories and Inspiration From our Schools https://bit.ly/3Z5vVSR.

Middle and high school students in Holyoke have a range of after-school activities 🎒. Middle schoolers can join the Play Ball program at the Boys & Girls Clubs 🏐🏀 for sports like volleyball and basketball, starting September 26 from 5:30-8 p.m. 📅. Interested students should contact their school 🏫 or Ann Mann at (413) 534-7366 ext. 126 and ensure they meet all necessary requirements ✅. Meanwhile, Holyoke High North and Dean students can explore extracurriculars like athletics and clubs 🏃‍♂️🎨 via their school's guidance department.

Watch this video of PreK and Kindergarten students on their first day of school! 🎒🍎📚

Design and planning work for the new middle school building is continuing on schedule, while abatement of the William R. Peck Middle School is expected to begin later this month and demolition soon thereafter. Construction documents were 60 percent completed in late August, said Margaret Minor Wood of Anser Advisory. She serves as Holyoke’s project manager for the new middle school construction project. “We are pleased that both estimates came in $2.5 to $3 million lower than projected,” she said, after reviewing the 60 percent completed construction documents. “While we are not expected to bid the project until winter, they are reflective of an industry-wide trend of construction inflation dampening. They are also promising for Holyoke to keep the overall project cost within budget.”

In order to catch up on outstanding work items due to a busy enrollment season and ultimately best serve our families, the HPS Enrollment Center will be closed to the public from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the following Thursdays: September 7 and September 14. The office will reopen at 1 p.m. on those days for in-person visitors and phone calls. For the fastest response time, please email enrollment questions to enrollment@hps.holyoke.ma.us and transportation questions to transportation@hps.holyoke.ma.us.”

📸 Some of our favorite pictures from the first day of school for students in PreK and Kindergarten! We were so excited to welcome our future teachers, electricians, inventors, nurses, artists, musicians, and more as they begin their journey at Holyoke Public Schools. Click the link to view https://bit.ly/3sOqGux.

The first day of school starts tomorrow for students in PreK and Kindergarten! Tag us on your first day of school photos on FB or IG or use #HolyokePublicSchools.

Families with children in PreK and Kindergarten met their teachers and staff at the annual Ready for PreK and Kindergarten event at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round.

🥳 Congratulations to Donahue, Kelly, Metcalf Middle and McMahon for their first-day attendance rates of 92%+! Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school--and themselves. Kudos to all students who are starting the school year out strong by coming to school on-time and ready to learn!

📸 📸 📸 Some of our favorite pictures from students in grades 1-12 on their first day of school! https://bit.ly/3qVyaeY 🎒 🏫 🍎

Students and families are invited to Holyoke's 6th annual “READY for Pre-K and Kindergarten Welcome” event Thursday, August 31 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Holyoke Merry Go Round. Students can ride the carousel, engage in fun activities, and meet their teacher. Families can learn more about HPS and access helpful resources.

The first day of school for grades 1-12 is tomorrow, Wednesday! Don’t forget to share your back to school pictures with us! Tag our Instagram or Facebook profiles or use the hashtag #HolyokePublicSchools.

Pictures from last Friday's back-to-school event at Donahue! Students and families got to know their teachers and school staff, tour the building, and participate in fun activities.