William G. Morgan School

Students from Morgan and Lawrence Schools sang songs of Puerto Rican Parrandas and learned a song from Haiti in celebration of multilingualism and community during the English Learners Parent Advisory Council’s “Parranda Around the World” program at Lawrence on Monday, December 1. The event saw a terrific turn out, with more than 30 families participating. Multilingual families are encouraged to participate in future ELPAC activities that will showcase multilingual students’ superpowers and excellence. ELPAC meetings also feature important working group conversations around ways Holyoke Public Schools can continue to celebrate and support our multilingual learners. To learn more: https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/page/elpac

Mark your calendar! The Holyoke Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Holiday Celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Holyoke Merry Go Round at Heritage State Park, 221 Appleton Street. Everyone is welcome to participate in this year-end celebration and holiday party, which includes free carousel rides and other fun activities for children and their families.

A shout out to 4th grade student and mathematician Najeromi (Yuyu) Ortiz Merced and Morgan fourth-grade teacher Ms. Leslie Beauregard for demonstrating how to multiply fractions by whole numbers at the November School Committee meeting. You displayed our REACH Learner Profile attribute of “apply critical thinking.” Our School Committee members especially appreciated the hands-on manipulatives of Hershey bar squares to demonstrate the lesson!

Do your children eat breakfasts or lunches provided through their school cafeteria? If so, please take this brief survey by December 1. https://bit.ly/47xEGZa - ¿Comen sus hijos desayunos o almuerzos proporcionados por la cafetería de su escuela? Si es así, realice por favor esta pequeña encuesta antes del 1 de diciembre. https://bit.ly/47xEGZa

Shout out to 13 new teachers who participated in the 5-week Saturday series to further develop as educators. The sessions will feature practice clinics for classroom management, guided work time for lesson planning and grading, workshops on HPS systems and structures, and guest speakers. Every teacher walks away with tangible products and practices they can use right away in their classrooms.

With the holiday season around the corner, now is a good time for families, students, and educators to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations if they have not already. More information is available on our HPS Health, Wellness, and Nursing page (https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/page/health-wellness-nursing) and on the Department of Public Health’s website (https://bit.ly/46oaM8n).

Help HPS! There's still time to complete our Panorama survey by November 22. https://bit.ly/3SuPqTM Please complete one survey for each school where you have a child attending.

United Way of Pioneer Valley has opened the newest food pantry in the city to serve area families in a downtown section of Holyoke considered to be a “food desert” since there are limited options to purchase food within walking distance of the neighborhood. The cupboard, located at 164 Race Street, is open Thursdays from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Stories of Resilience and Adaptation! Join Nuestras Raices for stories celebrating the power of community and joy in the face of climate change from 5:30-8 p.m. tomorrow, Friday November 10, at El Mercado, 413 Main Street, Holyoke. Hear storytellers from our community and get a chance to share your own stories. Dinner will be provided by De Todo Un Poco free of charge. To RSVP, call Cielo at (774) 242-8660 or email csharkus@gmail.com

Reminder: Turn back your clocks on Sunday, November 5. Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 5 in Massachusetts—so be sure to set your clocks back one hour late Saturday evening or Sunday morning! While some digital clocks will automatically adjust for seasonal Daylight Savings Time changes, many won’t. The annual fall back to standard time means there will be one hour less of daylight in the afternoons and one additional hour in the mornings.

Trunk or Treat! Everyone is welcome to this fun family event presented by Holyoke SEPAC and Holyoke Public Schools. Event runs 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, at HHS North, 500 Beech Street.

Interested in working for Holyoke Public Schools? Come find our booth at the job fair at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield until 7 p.m. today to learn more about current openings. HR Generalist Maria Borras and Director of Recruitment and Induction Christie Elman will be there to answer your questions!

Holyoke Public School’s “Moving Forward” strategic plan is now available for viewing and downloading in English and Spanish. Now in its second year, the strategic plan has been updated to include new benchmarks for the 2023-24 school year that will drive strategic efforts for the second year of the plan. The English file is here: https://5il.co/26gcf The Spanish file is here: https://5il.co/26gch

Adults and teens ages 13 and up who live, work, go to school, or own property in Massachusetts are eligible to register for a free ecard membership to Boston Public Library. Signing up is easy and takes just a few moments to complete. E-card holders can then access the library’s complete collection of online resources, including an extensive number of audiobooks and ebooks in the Overdrive section of the online library, as well as books, comics, movies, TV shows and more through Hoopla streaming services. Members can also access Press Reader to read magazines (available in all languages) and the Boston Globe. Follow this link to register: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6598436/eCard-Registration

Adults and teens ages 13 and up who live, work, go to school, or own property in Massachusetts are eligible to register for a free ecard membership to Boston Public Library. Signing up is easy and takes just a few moments to complete. E-card holders can then access the library’s complete collection of online resources, including an extensive number of audiobooks and ebooks in the Overdrive section of the online library, as well as books, comics, movies, TV shows and more through Hoopla streaming services. Members can also access Press Reader to read magazines (available in all languages) and the Boston Globe. Follow this link to register: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6598436/eCard-Registration

In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting local community leader Betty Medina Lichtenstein. She is a former executive director of Enlace de Familias. She became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to hold a public office in Massachusetts in 1985 when she won the first of four consecutive two-year terms on the Holyoke School Committee. In 2019, the City of Holyoke dedicated the street next to Enlace de Familias as "Betty Medina Way" to honor her work and legacy in Holyoke.

On behalf of all students, families, and staff, HPS leaders thank our custodial and facilities team for everything you do to promote a healthy, welcoming school environment. Your extreme efforts this past summer to ensure a smooth transition with rezoning and to get our buildings ready are especially noteworthy.

Holyoke Public Schools students in grades 3 to 12 are invited to join the Holyoke Youth Basketball’s winter league, which runs December 5 to February 23. If you need more information, contact Ed Caisse at (413) 858-0225. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3ZySzmU. This program is free. Don't miss this exciting opportunity!

Join us today, September 29th, at the Holyoke YMCA from 6-8 p.m. for the Leaders vs. Future Leaders basketball game. Last year, the Future Leaders lost by a point, and they're eager for a rematch. Among the Leaders are Mayor Joshua Garcia, Superintendent Anthony Soto, Holyoke Knights Head coaches Juan Maldonado and Andrea Enright, and new addition, Senator John Velis. Everyone is welcome! DJ Edski will be providing live music!

The City of Holyoke has recognized and celebrated Hispanic and Latino cultures over the years. This photograph from 1973 captures a Puerto Rican festival during the city's centennial celebrations. These events have played a significant role in fostering community, preserving cultural traditions, and highlighting the city's rich and diverse heritage.