Tuesday the Bridgehampton Fire Department is coming to give a fire safety demonstration.  And, yes, there is lunch tomorrow! Find out what it is here on our Parent Portal or on Instagram at @haygroundcooks

Thursday we will be celebrating Hayground Founding Grandmother Tinka Topping’s 102nd birthday!

It was great to see so many families at Curriculum Night last week. We hope you came away with more information about the exciting year to come and also learned a little more about Hayground’s educational philosophy. 

This week is full of great opportunities as well. Friday night is our first Parent Social organized by the Parent Committee. Please join us.
This coming Saturday, our first Helping Hands Day and our first Open House. Please join us in coming together for a fun day of odd jobs around the school including emptying out the gym loft and giving the Rainbow Climber ( designed by Hayground students!) a paint job. You don’t have to commit to the full day at Helping Hands- stop by for an hour or two. 

Please tell all your friends about the Open House - parents are our best ambassadors for the school.

As a special bonus there will be tours of the New Building at 9:30 and 1:30 this Saturday.

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Thank you all for a wonderful and successful clothing swap and a super fun morning of apple picking.

We look forward to seeing you at Curriculum Night this Thursday from 5:45 - 8 :00 pm. Childcare and pizza will be provided.

Join us at our first Parent Social at Kidd Squid October,16 - 6-8pm. Come connect with fellow parents for a relaxed evening of great company, local brews, and fun. Thank you to the Parent Committee for organizing this!

All of the class notes are here on the website: They are full of information about the past weeks of school and they are fun to read!

IMPORTANT! Pick up and drop off protocols:

As we get used to the change in routines now that school has started here a few extremely important reminders. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in helping us keep pick up and drop-off safe and efficient and clear.

Permission to go home with other families: It is important that the office is notified in a timely manner (before pick-up time) if your child is going home with someone other than you.  

It is essential that the office knows all the people that have permission to pick up your child. Please make sure Cheryl and Joanna have that list.

It is not enough to communicate with a student’s parents if you make an arrangement to pick them up. The school needs to know. Especially if the child is supposed to take the  bus. We can’t override that if we don’t hear from the parent.

Children may not walk back and forth to the parking lot without parents even if you are playing after school hours.

After school hours, the school buildings are closed to students. There are afterschool programs running which shouldn’t be interrupted and  there are meetings happening and teachers ar preparing for the next day.

Classes start at 8:30 - arrival after 8:30 is disruptive to the classes in progress. Please drop your child at the office if you arrive late.

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We hope you all survived the Noreaster and didn’t lose power. 

Please enjoy this fascinating podcast which the faculty is listening to and discussing on the “Reading Wars” over the years.

-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-wars-the-%241-billion-industry-thats-failing/id1610920915?i=1000593095863- 

Monday, September 28 - Open Board meeting - 5pm ( Please rsvp if you need childcare)

The first Parent Committee meeting is this Tuesday, September 29 at 2 pm. We hope you all can make it. Upstairs in the kitchen.

Wednesday, September 30 - 3:00-4:30  Clothing Swap  - Bring Halloween costumes to swap as well!

Friday, October 2 - Apple-picking  we leave school at 9:30 please sign and return the attached permission slip. 50 Horsemill Lane, Water Mill, NY 11976

Our lunch Culinary Arts Lunch Program started lat week! There is always lunch Tuesday - Friday. Please pack your child lunch on Mondays and plenty of snacks for the day, everyday. Please let Phoebe and Scott know about any allergies your child has.

Housekeeping:

Afterschool programs started this week. Joanna Tobing is administering the programs this year. Please check and make sure your child remembers what they are signed up for.

Pick-up and drop-off protocols:

Drop - off: Please walk your child into the school. If you arrive after 8:30 please check-in at the office. Math class starts at 8:30 so we try to minimize interruptions. 

Pick-up: Please either park in the parking lot and come to get your children at the sandbox or you can pull up in the lane next to the buses and your child will be called to come to you. Students are not allowed to walk to the parking lot unattended for obvious reasons. If you have to pick-up your child early please check out in the office.

All information  and changes about your child’s  pick up and drop off goes through Cheryl and Joanna in the office - not the classroom teacher. They are not checking their phones and emails regularly during the school day.

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We had a great start to school last week. We noted the pool and getting to know each other and settling in. 

Unfortunately, Ecologist Carl Safina had to postpone his visit to us for gathering tomorrow. We will keep you posted when we reschedule. 

The first Parent Committee meeting is Tuesday, September 29 at 2 pm. We hope you all can make it.

Our lunch Culinary Arts Lunch Program starts this week! We are looking forward to enjoying homemade food from the bounty of our gardens. There is always lunch Tuesday - Friday. Please pack your child lunch on Mondays and plenty of snacks for the day everyday. 

Housekeeping:

Please find linked here: our blanket permission trip form for field trips. 

Pick-up and drop-off protocols:

Drop - off: Please walk your child into the school. If you arrive after 8:30 please check-in at the office. Math class start at 8:30 so we try to minimize interruptions. 

Pick-up: Please either park in the parking lot and come to get your children at the sandbox or you can pull up in the lane next to the buses and your child will be called to come to you. Students are not allowed to walk to the parking lot unattended for obvious reasons. If you have to pick-up your child early please check out in the office.

All information  and changes about your child’s  pick up and drop off goes through Cheryl and Joanna in the office - not the classroom teacher. They are not checking their phones and emails regularly during the school day.

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Important dates

Monday, September 28 - Open Board meeting - 5pm

Tuesday, September 29 - Parent Committee meeting - 2 pm

Thursday, October 8 - Curriculum Night 6-8 pm ( Childcare will be provided)

Monday, October 12 - Indigenous People’s day - No School

Saturday, October 18 - Open House/Helping Hands day

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We look forward to welcoming our community to the Opening Potluck Picnic on Sunday, September 13, from 4 to 6 pm. Please mark it on your calendar and be sure to join us. There will be more information soon.

Also, plans are underway for our annual transition to school from camp, and once again, we would appreciate any help setting up classrooms and other spaces. We need help painting shelves, organizing books, organizing the common library, and other projects. We could use the help on Friday, September 11 - 10 to 12. If you have a spare hour or more, please come by and help us get ready. This is also a great time to meet old friends and welcome new families.

Please join us in welcoming back Amy Taylor who will be working with R.J. teaching with us while Lucy is on maternity leave with her new baby Ariella! Also, please welcome back Travis Foreman who is back from Miami and will be teaching with Julie.

 As you may know as our population changes so do our groupings. Please see your email for the list of groupings. This year we have one Early Childhood classroom taught by Tohanash and Javis. We have two parallel, younger-end Middle Groups. One will be taught by Marybeth and Lora and the other by Sakiko with Dulce. The two parallel, older-end Middle Groups will be taught by Julie and Travis and Amy and R.J.. Liz will teach our oldest group – the Senior Learners. We pay special attention when making groups and try to make sure all students have social and intellectual peers. Also, children have the opportunity to be with other friends during lunch, recess and math class daily and gymnastics and gathering twice a week. 

We are happy to continue our work with Hudson Music both during the school day and afterschool. Also enclosed is information about the lunch program and an updated calendar. Very soon, you will hear from the parent committee chair, Kim Feierstein, about buddies for new families and other details about the school's opening. The afterschool program will be starting the week of September 21. The offerings will be coming soon.

Look for letters from your child(ren)’s teachers and information about getting ready for the first day of school - September 16.

If you have any questions, you can reach us by email at Aachuthan@hayground.org.

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer. 

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Thank you all for coming to the Spring Festival last week it was a truly rich and inspiring event.

This week is the last week of the Afterschool Programs. Friday, May 29 will be the last day.

We are getting very excited for 30th Anniversary party on June 6.  A huge thank you to the parent group that has taken on organizing this party.  Please sign-up to help out on June 5th from 1-4 pm and don’t forget to get your tickets.

The School Dance  5 - 7pm ( Middle groups and up) and Sleepover are this Thursday, May 28.  

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Finally a spring weekend! There has been tremendous activity on the New Building - THE roof of the Art room is up and the floor of the outside classroom was poured on Friday.  This week the walls of the second floor should be installed. For all building progress updates and if you would like to donate to this effort please click here: …www.hayground.org.

We are super excited for our Spring Festival this Wednesday, May 20. From 12:30 - dismissal. See the parent calendar for the schedule and details!

Parent/Teacher conferences are this Friday - - School is closed

The 30th Anniversary Party Committee  has been hard at work planning a wonderful day to celebrate Hayground's 30 years! You can sign up to help out on June 5th here.

5/20 - Spring Festival 12:30 - dismissal 
5/22 - Parent teacher Conferences - School closed
5/25- Memorial day - School closed
5/28 - School Dance ( Middle groups and up) (Sleepover ( 10 years old by September 2026)
5/29 - last day of after school
6/5 - 30th anniversary party helping hands 1-4pm
6/6 - 30th anniversary party
6/8 - Beach day/ Rain date  6/9 
6/12 - Graduation!.

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Happy Mother’s Day!

It has been a bustling week at the New Building! All of the steel and Glue-lam beams and the art studio floor panels have been installed.

Please join us for Senior Leaners presentations by Lucia Lear, Nina Manion, and Lila Jordan on Tuesday, May 12 at 2:20.

Please mark your calendars for the Spring Festival next week on May 20 from 12:30 until dismissal - We have an exciting line up of food, exhibitions and music! A detailed description of the afternoon will be coming soon! Come celebrate all the great work your children have done this year!

You can buy your tickets to the 30th Anniversary party here! It is going to be a great celebration on the first 30 years of Hayground School and Camp!

The Senior Learners will be on their trip to Boston from 5/13 - 5/15 - Have a great time!

Please make sure and sign-up for Parent/Teacher conferences on May 22.

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5/13-5/15 - Senior Learner Trip to Boston

5/20 - Spring Festival 12:30 - dismissal 

5/22 - Parent teacher Conferences - School closed

5/25- Memorial day - School closed

5/28 - School Dance ( Middle groups and up) Sleepover ( 10 years old by September 2026)

5/29 - last day of after school

6/6 - 30th anniversary party

6/8 - Beach day/ Rain date  6/9

6/11 - Field day 12:45 - dismissal 

6/12 - Graduation!

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We have an exciting week ahead of us!

The New Building is coming along - the septic system is being installed and the steel trusses should be arriving this week.

Please join us for gatherings Tuesday and Wednesday this week at 2:00pm! Also yearbook photos will be taken this Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gatherings:

Tuesday - The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center will be bring their rescued Raptors to Hayground at 2:00 pm. You will have a chance to meet “Meep” the Great Horned Owl and “Vlad” The Turkey Vulture and maybe a Screech Owl. 

Wednesday - Julie’s class Hayground Variety Show 2:00pm

Thursday at 6:00pm The Hayground School Variety Show - The whole school is invited!

Yearbook Photos - Tuesday and Wednesday 

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4/28 - Raptors gathering 2:00 pm
4/30 - Julie’s class show-6pm
5/7 - Senior Learner dinner 5:30
5/13-5/15 - Senior Learner Trip to Boston
5/20 - Spring Festival 12:30 - dismissal 
5/22 - Parent teacher Conferences - School closed
5/25- Memorial day - School closed
5/28 - School Dance ( Middle groups and up) Sleepover ( 10 years old by September 2026)
5/29 - last day of after school
6/6 - 30th anniversary party
6/8 - Beach day/ Rain date  6/9
6/12 - Graduation!
6/15-19 - end of the year meetings/ pack up rooms

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The Senior Learners will be presenting their independent projects to a panel of community members on Wednesday. They will present to the school community in the following weeks. We will let you know so you can join us.

Vivian - Dystopian Building

Dash - Surfboard as a canvas

Aylin - Education What do kids want to learn?

Lily- Role Play Game

Sydney- Play-writing

Lila- Beading

Nina- Babydoll dress

Lucia- Making pasta

Miles- All about fishing

JC- The Perfect Cupcake

Raphael- Eco-friendly building

Ava- Sports Painting

Parker- Animation

Indie- Birding in Costa Rica

Please mark your calendars!

Wednesday, April 30 - Julie’s class presents  The Hayground Variety Show  

Wednesday, May 20 - Hayground  Spring Festival  12:30 until dismissal 

Saturday, June 6 - HAYGROUND'S 30th Anniverday party!

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Spring is finally here! (Fingers crossed!)

Round two of the Parent Potluck and Trivia Night is this Friday, April 17 at 5:00 pm — childcare will be provided. It was a lot of fun last time.  RSVP

A few buildings and grounds updates - the gym awning is almost complete. We are in the process of installing a new slide for the playground and moving the old one. The new building is moving right along - we have passed inspection on the plumbing, electrical and geothermal HVAC system rough-ins. Thank you to all the contributors to Hayground school - If you haven't already done so please consider donating to the annual appeal and/or the new building fund. 

www.hayground.org/donate

On Wednesday, many of the student will be heading to the Budding Authors celebration at Bridgehampton school at 10:00 am and will return by lunch.

Thank you to those that have gotten in touch about contracts for next year. If you haven't done so please do asap.

Please mark you calendars for our Spring Festival -Wednesday, May 20 12:30 - dismissal. 
4/15 - Budding Authors at Hampton Library 10 :00 am
4/17 - Parent Trivia Night/Potluck - 5:00pm
4/28 - Raptors gathering 2:00 pm
4/30 - Julie’s class show
5/13-5/15 - Senior Leaner Trip to Boston
5/20 - Spring Festival 12:30 - dismissal 
5/22 - Parent teacher Conferences - School closed
5/25- Memorial day - School closed
5/28 - School Dance ( Middle groups and up) Sleepover ( 10 years old by September 2026)
5/29 - last day of after school
6/6 - 30th anniversary party
6/8 - Beach day 
6/12 - Graduation!

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Please join us for the Parent Committee meeting Tuesday, March 31 at 2:15 pm in the office above the kitchen.

If you haven’t submitted your paperwork for next year please do so as soon as possible. This helps us know how many new students we can accept and let them know in a timely manner.

Our building is moving right along - the foundation has been backfilled  - the plumber and electrician will be finishing up their rough-ins this week and the Geothermal heat well will be dug this week. We are hoping to have all Hayground families donate to the Building and/or the Annual Appeal in the next few weeks. As we send progress reports to our larger donors it is great to say that we have full board, faculty and parent participation in the project. You can do so here - https://www.hayground.org/donate

Please mark you calendar for our Spring Festival on May 20 from 12:30 - dismissal - There will be a yummy lunch which parents are invited to - presentations in classroom, the student Art show, Science fair and Garden experiences to see as well as a rock concert!

Open this post to view another drone video of our New building by Senior Learner - Rafael Mizrahi

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We had a fun “Pi day” last week.  Students memorized the digits of Pi to their best ability and then “pied” teachers. Video coming soon!

We have amassed a small boutique of lost and found clothing - winter jackets, hats, gloves, Tupperware and water bottles abound! Please check the lost and found for any missing items right by the from door.

Pick up and drop off reminders - School starts at 8:30 (arriving late disrupts math classes and your child misses math instruction)- Pick up is promptly at 3:00 - Afterschool pickup is promptly at 4:30 Monday - Thursday and at 2:00 pm Fridays.

Building Update: the foundation was backfilled last week and the dirt inside the building was leveled for the electrician and plumber to rough in their conduits. Please enjoy this drone video by Raphael Mizrahi class of 2027.

3/30 - Budding Authors Submissions Due
4/3-4/10 - Spring vacation - School closed
4/17 - Parent Trivia Night/Potluck
4/30 - Julie’s class show
5/13-5/15 - Senior Leaner Trip to Boston
5/20 - Spring Festival 
5/22 - Parent teacher Conferences - School closed
5/25- Memorial day - School closed
5/28 - School Dance ( Middle groups and Up) Sleepover ( 10 years old by September 2026)
5/29 - last day of after school
6/6 - 30th anniversary party
6/8 - Beach day 
6/12 - Graduation!

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Thank you those who have been in touch about enrolling your children for next year. The due date was March 2. We had a robust Open House last Saturday. We always prioritize current families and try and keep space for them. That said, we also want to be able to offer contracts to prospective families promptly which we can only do confidently if we know about our current families. 

Please check your email and our website for class notes. You can learn about all the classrooms at Hayground and what they are up to. 

Also, we have updated the photos on our website and replaced some of our older photos with current students and projects. On the home page if you scroll down you will see a wonderful video about Hayground School made by Vanessa Roth ( Phoebe and Augie’s mom). It was filmed by Hayground Alumni Julian Alvarez ’10. It captures Hayground quite wonderfully.

If you haven’t done so please consider donating to our Annual Appeal and/or the New Building fund. You can do all of that here —  www.hayground.org  We will be sending out updates bi-weekly on the progress of the building.  

Highlights for this week - Monday the building inspector will be here to inspect the foundation walls. After the inspection we will backfill against the foundation. The plumber and electrician should be here later in the week to do their rough-ins.

To date we have raised $2,400.000 of the $4,100,000 budget for the new building and the renovation to the existing classroom building. If you find any aspect of the project appealing ( geothermal heat, solar panels, library, science, art, landscaping, amphitheater)  and want to talk more about donations please get in touch. No donation is too small — or too large!

As part of our supervision and mentoring protocols Stephanie Krusa ( one of our mentors) and Marcelle and Arjun will videotape each of the classrooms and specials this week. The teachers will submit plan for the video session beforehand including goals. After the video the teachers and Stephanie, Marcelle and Arjun watch the videos together and debrief. It is a very rich experience.

Drop off and Pick up reminders:
Please Slow Down!
Please keep an eye on your children once you have picked them up. 
Children are not allowed to go into the parking lot by themselves for obvious reasons.

The social media committee is looking for parent testimonials. We would love to hear your stories! Please fill out this attached questionnaire.

Upcoming dates:
4/3-4/10 - Spring vacation - School closed
4/17 - Parent Trivia Night/Potluck
4/30 - Julie’s class show
5/13-5/15 - Senior Leaner Trip to Boston
5/20 - Spring Festival 
5/22 - Parent teacher Conferences - School closed
5/25- Memorial day - School closed
5/28 - School Dance and Sleepover
5/29 - last day of after school
6/6 - 30th anniversary party
6/8 - Beach day 
6/12 - Graduation!

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Please get your contracts for next year in to the office as soon as possible. We have many applicants for the next school year. We want to save space for our current families and be able to inform prospective families in a timely manner.

What a wonderful and vibrant week we had!  I hope you had a chance to see the student art show at the Parrish Art Museum on Saturday. It will be up for a month. 

Again, what an amazing Soul Food Night!  

Stop by the Amagansett American Legion today 11-2 for Empty Bowls fundraiser and try some of the soups.. Especially ours made by Phoebe, Scott and the senior learners. 

Monday, March 9  at 5 pm please join us for our Open Board Meeting .. Childcare will be available. 

Our Staff Development Day was very interesting and informative: We met with former Hayground parents Mike Hogan ( Vanity Fair ) and Elise Jordan (NBC MS Now). Clyde is their daughter. We talked about the state of journalism today. In the afternoon we met with documentary filmmaker  Mark Obenhaus about his recent documentary “Cover-Up” which chronicled the career of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. It is definitely worth a watch on Netflix.

3/8 - Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Project Most — Amagansett American Legion 11-2
3/9 - Open Board Meeting 5:00 pm
3/14 - Open House - 10-11:30
4/3 - 4/10 - Spring Recess - No School

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We have an exciting and busy week ahead of us!

Soul Food Night - Wednesday, March 4 at 6pm - Please RSVP here Soul Food RSVP  Hudson Music would like any student sin the afterschool program to arrive at 5:30 to warm up[.

Transition to High School - On Thursday, March 5th, we’re excited to host a “Transition to High School” event for our senior learners and any parents who would like to join. This is a chance to hear directly from recent graduates and their parents about their experiences, insights, and tips for making the move to high school as smooth and meaningful as possible.

We’ll gather in the school’s gathering area from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, and we hope you can join us for this informative and supportive conversation. 

Friday, March 6 - Staff Development day - School closed

Saturday, March 7 - 11:00 - 2:00 Student Art Opening at the Parrish Art Museum

Sunday, March 8 - Hayground will be at the Empty Bowls fundraiser at The Amagansett American Legion - To benefit Project Most  https://www.projectmost.org/

We had a case of RSV in our community las week, for more information click here - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098

3/4  - Soul Food Night 6 pm
3/5 - “Transition to High School” 5:00-6:00 pm
3/6 - Staff development day - School Closed
3/7 - Parrish Art Museum Student art exhibit opening
3/8 - Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Project Most — Amagansett American Legion
3/9 - Open Board Meeting 5:00 pm
3/14 - Open House - 10-11:30
3/31 - Parent Committee meeting - 2:15

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The New Building is chugging along. The forms are off of the foundation walls and the plumbing, septic and electric are being roughed in before they pour the floor.

We have a lot of fun events in the coming weeks: 

Soul Food Night is March 4 at 6pm. Come ready to see great performances, join the lemon-themed dessert contest, eat great food and bring your dancing shoes! We have all been learning dances lead by Lucy. 

The Student Art Show at the Parrish Art Museum - Saturday, March 7 11:00-2:00

Empty Bowls Sunday March 8 - Hayground students make soup to benefit Project Most - Amagansett American Legion.

Monday March 9 - Open Board Meeting 6 pm.

Please fInd attached the updated Hayground Calendar with the changes to the Spring festival ( New date May 20) and Family Conference Day ( New date May 22)

3/4  - Soul Food Night

3/6 - Staff development day - School Closed

3/7 - Parrish Art Museum Student art exhibit opening

3/8 - Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Project Most — Amagansett American Legion

3/9 - Open Board Meeting

3/14 - Open House - 10-11:30

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Please welcome Taj Ignacius Brophy - Born Thursday, January 29 - 10 pounds, 2 ounces. Congratulations Khalila,  Matt and big sisters Xiomara and Naima!

That was more snow than expected. I hope you all stayed warm and enjoyed it. 

Please join us Monday, February 9 at 2:15 in Jeff's Kitchen for the Culinary Arts Program parent meeting. Come hear how we run the program and share your impressions. We look forward to a big turnout. 

Tuesday at 2:15 is the Parent Committee meeting in the office upstairs in the kitchen. All are welcome. 

The snow is drifting and hard to manage. The parking lot and paths are cleared and accessible. If the wind keeps up there may be new drifts in the morning. 

The new after school session is up and running and very well attended. Please be sure to park in the parking lot when you pick your child up and not in the roadway. Pick up is promptly at 4:30 Monday - Thursday and 2:00 pm on Fridays.

If the weather cooperates we will be pouring the foundation walls of the Arts, Library and Science center on Wednesday or Thursday. Please use the Butter Lane side for entrance and exit on that day. There will be many cement trucks around the construction site. I will send an email when the day is confirmed

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The Parent Committee is excited for our first potluck dinner and trivia night on January 30 at 5:30. Please rsvp to the link below. Childcare will be provided

Trivia RSVP

Attached here please find the afterschool offerings for the Winter/Spring session which runs Monday January 26 - May 29. Payment is due before the first session. Please help your child make choices that they can stick to. This is true especially for Hudson Music.

Mark Your Calendars:

1/26 - Open Board meeting
1/26 - New after school session starts
1/26 - Culinary Arts Program meeting 2:15 in the Kitchen
1/30 - Parent Potluck and Trivia Night - 5:30 
2/3 - African- American Read-in
2/10 - Parent Committee meeting @ 2:15
2/12 - Liz and Sabra’s book club 3:30- 4:30 - Raising Awe Seekers
2/16-20 - Winter Recess - School closed

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