H.B. Lawrence School

District leaders dove deep into planning for the 2024-25 school year during a leadership retreat held last week. This opportunity allowed leaders and administrators from all schools and departments to share ideas, discuss difficult topics, and focus on shared goals for the months ahead.

It was fun for all at the first-ever Holyoke Elementary Farm Fun Fair! 🧑‍🌾 Students and families that attended the event at Donahue School were entertained, educated, and nourished thanks to FoodCorps, who hosted the event. Representatives from local food nonprofits shared resources and seeds, while kids enjoyed activities like “pin the tomato on the vine” and decorating garden stones. The HPS food truck was on site to serve a taco dinner with locally-sourced ingredients.

🎥 (Full Graduation Ceremony) 🎥 https://youtu.be/h2_u6IXVRGY?feature=shared 71 Holyoke High School Dean Campus students celebrated their graduation on May 30, 2024 with both high school diplomas and vocational training in their chosen fields. We can't wait to see what you accomplish! 🎓

Rising Stars, next year's school budget, graduations, electric school buses, and more in this week's Together for Holyoke https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-june-7-2024

June is Pride Month! Together we can… ❤️ Intentionally build a community that is anti-racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive. 🧡 Ensure that students, families, and staff get the support they need to be successful. 💛 Seek out and incorporate the voices of those impacted, with a commitment to include those who have been excluded in the past. 💚 Promote access and inclusion for all students, staff, and families. 💙 Respect, embrace, and honor the diversity of our students, families, staff, and community. 💜 Reflect on our own behavior to minimize harm to others. 🌈 Create a culture of acceptance and empathy so that everyone feels valued and is able to contribute to our community’s success.

The last day of school is Friday, June 21 with a three-hour early release. - El último día de clase es el viernes 21 de junio, con una salida temprana de tres horas.

Breathe deep and learn to de-stress with Morgan students 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSkFF-eOoGM 🎥 As part of the TRAILS Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum that has been implemented district-wide this year, Morgan students are exploring a variety ways to manage stress. During a recent classroom discussion, a group of second-graders shared some of their favorite stress-relief tactics, including deep breathing and tracing their hands.

Holyoke Public Schools is offering free summer meals for children and teens under the age of 18 throughout the summer. We need your help in picking when and where we should provide these meals to ensure we are selecting the most convenient times and locations, so please complete this short meals preference survey. Survey closes on Wednesday, May 29. Meal times and locations will be announced soon after. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzh8Y2GPzWwDUTtIjK_fzxe0_e5vsq1CxV5f9kXWp5kvzZ5A/viewform

HPS schools will be closed on Monday, May 27 in recognition of Memorial Day. Enjoy the long weekend. See you Tuesday.

The Holyoke Elementary Farm Fun Fair is fun for all! ✨ Join us at 5 p.m. Thursday June 6 at Donahue School for games, crafts, and seed planting for kids, and a wealth of local garden, farming, and food access resources for adults. RSVP at bit.ly/farmfunfair2024

We’ve got the beat at Sullivan School! 💃 In addition to typical physical education offerings, students at Sullivan can also take dance classes. Together with the guidance of an instructor, they learn different moves and techniques, choreography, and how to perform in sync as a team 👯

Is your child ready for kindergarten? 🎒 Kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is now open for children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2024. The first day of school will be here before you know it—enroll today! https://enrollholyoke.schoolmint.com/login

As summer draws closer and closer, so do summer learning opportunities! 🌞 Summer programming at HPS is split into two main programs: Summer Learning Academies for elementary and middle school students, and Extended School Year for elementary, middle, and high school students with an eligible IEP. Learn more and enroll today at https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/page/summer-learning

Did you know? 🤔 Data shows that students who learn in dual language immersion programs—including native Spanish speakers—outperform their single-language peers on standardized tests in middle school and beyond. HPS offers an immersive dual language program with Spanish and English instruction, beginning with preschool and kindergarten at E.N. White and Kelly Schools, and continuing through elementary, middle, and high school. Learn more and enroll today: https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/page/dual-language-program

5-9-2024 Together for Holyoke - Juntos por Holyoke | Stories and Inspiration From our Schools - Inspiración e Historias de Nuestras Escuelas https://holyokepsma.edurooms.com/engage/holyoke-public-schools/newsletters/together-for-holyoke-may-9-2024

Check out this drone footage taken on Friday, May 3 at the middle school construction site. https://youtu.be/ZbaGxoXjoN4

Our students are planting seeds and cultivating knowledge 🧑‍🌾 This is our second year of partnership with FoodCorps, a national program focused on food justice. Elementary students are planting gardens, learning about the environment, and getting hands-on with where food comes from. This program is supported in part through MA FRESH grand funding from the Massachusetts DESE, which is being used to maintain gardens at each elementary school and provide classroom supplies so that students can enjoy their harvest 🥕🍅

Join the Holyoke Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and HPS to discuss Extended School Year & summer programming opportunities for your student. Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 6-7 p.m. at Holyoke High School - North Campus. We will offer language interpretation, childcare, and refreshments. To request transportation or for more information, please contact the Student Services & Special Education Department at (413) 534-2000, ext. 1209.

Holyoke Public Schools will soon be offering free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults at Kelly School on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 5-6:30 p.m. Child care and light snacks will be provided. All interested adults are encouraged to apply. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjpJDEGbiqdmP8Js9w902yJedbB4wbaMKD8tCZibSbhmtRHQ/viewform

All HPS schools will be closed next week, April 15-19, for April break. Classes resume on Monday, April 22. Reminder to families that April Vacation Academy is in session April 15-22 for students in grades 3-8 who enrolled in the program.