Mission: Excellence for All! Excellence by All!
August 2, 2010
Dear Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to BHMCS! Summer has flown by and it is time to begin preparing for the first day of school and a new year. For many parents and students, the close of summer brings excitement about new teachers and friends, as well as anxiety over the unknown and a new beginning. I want to reassure you that although the first week or two may be difficult for your son or daughter, experience shows that new friends are made quickly, familiar faces are seen in the halls, cafeteria, and playground, and our teachers are pros at easing students into the school.
Horace Mann School:
As a Horace Mann Charter School, BHMCS operates differently than other schools within the district. First and foremost, our school is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board serves as the “School Committee” to BHMCS and is charged with ensuring that our school is:
Staff and Trustees work together to ensure that BHMCS lives up to the mission of Excellence for All. We provide in-house professional development for our staff, generate our own curriculum and assessment models which are standards-based, and incorporate a uniform and thematic approach to instruction. As a charter school, we are unique in that we are held to standards as outlined in our Charter, receive in-depth reviews by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Charter School Office, follow goals outlined in our Accountability Plan, and undergo annual site visits by the state. As the year progresses, you, as a parent, will learn more about our Charter through attendance at PTA and Board of Trustees meetings, and reading monthly school newsletters.
Curriculum:
In an effort to communicate what is being taught in our school, you will receive information regarding curriculum units your son or daughter will be studying, lists of the academic standards that are addressed in the classrooms, and information on how you, as a parent, can become a partner in your child’s education. Our website, www.bhmcs.org, provides a wealth of information on our school, staff, curriculum, and Charter. I encourage you to visit our site often and provide as much feedback to the school as possible.
Upcoming Events:
Prior to the start of school, the Board of Trustees and PTA will be sponsoring an informal cookout for parents and students. Please join us on Tuesday August 24 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The school will be open for parents and students to tour the facility and discover all of the features of our school. Although all staff may not be in attendance, and there is no formal agenda, experience has shown both families and students enjoy the opportunity to get a sneak peek at what to expect.
Important Dates to Remember:
Wednesday September 1: first day of school
Friday September 3: school closed
Monday September 6: school closed
Tuesday September 7: school re-opens
Open Houses / Curriculum Nights:
In an effort to provide more time to visit with teachers, the event will be held separately for fourth and fifth grade. We hope to see you in attendance!
Grade 4: Tuesday September 14: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Grade 5: Tuesday September 21: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Parent Teacher Association:
PTA meeting are generally held on the first Tuesday of every month. All are welcome to attend and participate in events. Although a reminder will be sent out prior to each meeting, below is a list of meeting dates:
September – No Meeting Tuesday October 5
Tuesday November 2 (Literacy Month) Tuesday December 7 (Book Fair)
Tuesday January 4 Tuesday February 1
Tuesday March 1 (Family Math Night) Tuesday April 5
Tuesday May 3 June – No Meeting
Board of Trustees Meetings:
Generally, the Board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. Meetings are held in the BHMCS Library and begin at 5:00 p.m. Meetings are open to all and public comment is encouraged at the start of each meeting. Below is a list of the meeting dates:
Thursday September 30 Thursday October 28
Thursday November 18 Thursday December 16
Thursday January 27 Thursday February 17
Thursday March 24 Thursday April 28
Thursday May 26 Thursday June 23
Parent / Teacher Conferences:
Communication between parents and teachers is critical in fostering academic and social achievement. Although you may schedule an appointment to meet with a teacher at anytime, below are half days set aside for conferences:
Tuesday December 7 Thursday December 9
Daily Schedule:
School hours are from 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Students may arrive between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Any student arriving after 8:10 a.m. will be considered tardy. Students dropped off early should enter the front doors and wait in the lobby until 7:55 a.m., at which time students may proceed to the cafeteria for breakfast or to homeroom.
Homeroom Assignment:
In an attempt to alleviate safety concerns about posting classroom assignments, we have enclosed your child’s homeroom teacher assignment within this mailing. As you know, the process for placing students in rooms is a lengthy one and placements are based on educational need. Our goal is to provide every student a well-balanced classroom in which he or she may thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Classroom teachers generally send out a special welcome letter to all of their incoming students by the end of August. Within each letter you will find suggestions for materials that may be needed for the beginning of school, general information about the classroom, and a student roster for the homeroom.
If you would not like your child’s name shared among his or her classmates in the welcome-back letter, please fill out the attached form and return it to the main office.
Bus Passes:
All students riding the bus must have a bus pass issued by the school district. As per the bus company rules, students may only ride the bus that they have been assigned to and exit at their designated stop. Passes may be picked up on Wednesday August 18 and Thursday August 19 from 7:00 a.m. to
4:45 p.m. at the Barnstable Intermediate School, 895 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Hyannis. For further information, please contact Sandy Gifford at 508-790-6498. Bus routes and times are printed on individual passes and will be posted in the Barnstable Patriot. Please plan on being flexible with time frames over the first few days, as buses may be slightly off schedule as new routes are initiated.
Parent Pick-Up:
Students who will be picked up every day, or have a note in the morning to be picked up that day, will exit the building at the doors next to the gymnasium entrance at 2:30 p.m., where staff will supervise dismissal. Parents should form a double line of cars on either side of the pavement in order to expedite the pick-up process. Should you need to pick up your child early, please sign him or her out in the main office.
Walkers / Bike Riders:
Students who are walking or riding to school must wait in the main foyer until all of the buses have left the area. If your son or daughter is riding a bike, please be sure he or she wears a helmet.
Visitors:
We require all visitors to sign in and obtain a visitor pass when visiting beyond the main lobby. Please remember to stop at the office.
Forgotten Item Drop Off:
In order to minimize disruptions throughout the day, we call students to the main office at 10:30 a.m. and at the end of the day, for items that have been dropped off.
Lockers:
Students have lockers near their homeroom. Please have your son or daughter bring in a combination lock so he or she is able to secure all personal items. In addition, it is always a good idea to label all clothing, lunch boxes, and other belongings.
School Supplies:
Parents and students often ask what they will need for school supplies. Other than a few pencils, pens, ruler and a notebook, students should wait until they hear from their teachers directly before purchasing any special items.
Important Telephone Numbers:
Main Office: 508-420-2272
Guidance Office: 508-420-0190
Nurse: 508-420-9054
First Day of School:
On the first day of school, grade four students should report to the gymnasium, and grade five students should report to the cafeteria. Signs will be posted with teacher name and room number for students. Once all of the students are in the building, teachers will meet their students and bring them to class in order to begin the day together.
Your son or daughter will be bringing important forms home on the first day of school. Please fill out all emergency data forms, biographical data forms, home language survey forms, and free/reduced lunch forms, and return to homeroom teachers as soon as possible.
In order to expedite some of the data we will need to begin the year together, please fill out the attached dismissal form and have your son or daughter turn it in to his or her homeroom teacher on the first day of school.
School Lunch:
Our cafeteria provides nutritious breakfasts every day and tasty lunches each full day of school. The cost of breakfast is $1.00 while lunch is $2.00. Reduced and free-of-cost meals are available to those in need.
A computerized cash register system is utilized in our cafeteria. All students will receive a student ID card for purchases which will be utilized for the rest of their career in the Barnstable Public Schools. Meals may be pre-paid with cash or checks (made payable to the Barnstable School Lunch Program) or you may use the “MealpayPlus” link found on our website (www.bhmcs.org).
Rules and Responsibilities:
Our commitment to you is to provide a safe and orderly learning environment for your child while providing the best academic program possible. As partners in education, we need to all be aware of expectations. While the Student / Parent Handbook provides an in-depth look at the code of conduct, the following will give you some insight as to what is to come:
At the Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School, we will emphasize “Three Keys to Success” for each student each and every day:
Three rules we focus on and reinforce everywhere include:
We ask parents and guardians to act as partners in education in three areas:
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees, welcome to Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School!
Sincerely,
Kara Peterson
Principal
BHMCS Student Information Sharing Form
2010-2011
Parents and guardians have requested a list of students in their child’s homeroom prior to the start of the 2010-2011 school year. If you do not want your child’s information shared by his or her teacher, please fill out the form below and return it to BHMCS by Monday August 16.
I do not want my child’s name shared with his or her classmates, prior to the start of the school year, by the school or classroom teacher.
Child’s Name: _________________________________________ Grade: _________
Homeroom (Teacher Name): _______________________________
Parent / Guardian Signature: ________________________________ Date: __________
BHMCS Technology Department
2010-2011
If you would like to receive Monthly Newsletters, notices, etc., by email, please fill out the following information and return to your child’s homeroom teacher.
Thank You!
BHMCS Technology Department
Child’s Name: ______________________________ Grade: ______ Homeroom: ______
Your Name: _______________________________ email address: _________________________
Alt. Name: ________________________________ email address: _________________________
STUDENT DISMISSAL FORM
At dismissal, my child __________________________________________ will:
_____ Use his / her bus pass and depart on _______________________________(name of bus)
_____ Go to parent pick-up each day and be picked up by:
______________________________________ or ____________________________________
_____ Go to day care in the cafeteria
_____ Walk home
_____ Ride bike home
Please note, students are not allowed to ride any bus other than their own, and may only get off the bus at their designated stop. In addition, if dismissal plans should change from those noted above on any given day, a note is required. For example, if your son or daughter normally takes the bus, but you intend to pick your child up one day, you need to send in a note to inform the teacher.
Parent / Guardian Signature: ______________________________________________
Classroom Teacher: ___________________________ Room Number: ___________
****Please return this form to your child’s homeroom teacher on the first day of school.****
BHMCS Mission: Excellence for All!