Welcome to 2023!
As we start this year, I am so excited for what is to come. As our students have returned, we have noticed that in the two weeks away they grew taller and a little more mature. Our teachers have returned refreshed and ready for the new year. These next twelve weeks are the meatiest learning of the year, and we are ready for the challenge and the fun!
This month we will celebrate the life and legacy Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr with a school assembly and classroom activities.
On January 19, we will have our first ever Literacy Night. Please mark your calendars to join us from 6:15 to 7:45 for some book reading fun!
Finally, at the end of the month we will hold mid-year progress conferences. We are looking forward to the opportunity to meet with families to share student progress and set goals.
Looking forward to seeing you in the building soon!
In partnership,
Stefanie
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Parent Conferences January 26 & 27 |
Conferences are Jan. 26 and 27. There will be no school those days for elementary students.
When scheduling, the default method for conferences is in-person, but families can make a request for a video conference or phone conference in the drop-down menu options, if necessary. Your teacher will confirm your request by sending a virtual conference meeting link.
As a reminder, there are no conferences for middle school students (except Montessori) or high school students.
MEALS: Elementary students will be able to come to their schools for FREE on-site breakfast and lunch, which will be served at the following times:
- Breakfast: 8-10 a.m.
- Lunch: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Meals are not available for parent/guardians or children not enrolled at SPS.
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Literacy Night on Thursday, January 19th @ 6:15pm |
In partnership with our PTG, we are holding our first Literacy Night!
Please join us that evening to hear our teachers read and enjoy books together.
- Plan to arrive between 6:15 - 6:30 to pick up a program
- Several classrooms will be open with teachers reading
- You will pick three classrooms to visit and listen to the reading
- At each classroom you will get a sticker on your program
- After the third session you will bring your stickers to the library for a small take-away gift from the PTG.
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Middle School Transition Webinar - Jan 10 |
Dr. John Traynor, assistant professor at Gonzaga University, Matthew Henshaw, principal at Flett Middle School, Tiara Thomas, counselor at Sacajawea Middle School, and Jeremy Ochse, SPS executive director of schools (southwest), will discuss the developmental changes, school changes, and what families/parents can do to help their student navigate the transition from elementary to middle school. Attendees can register here.
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On-time Attendance Matters |
Coming to school on-time makes a big difference in student learning. Students arriving late not only miss out on the morning routines and information, but missing just 10 minutes a day of school, means students miss 1800 minutes a year, which is 30 hours of school!.
We will be encouraging all students to arrive on time so they can participate in the morning routines including breakfast and be present for the full day of school. To support a successful and quick transition to the classroom teachers begin picking up their classes on the blacktop at 8:25.
If your child arrives after 8:35 (9:35 on Mondays), they will need to check in to the office and their tardy will be recorded and tracked.
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Want to know about what is happening at Hamblen? Please check out our calendar on the website. Events that are coming up quickly are shown on the homepage. When you click on View Calendar you will be able to access the calendar for the whole year. |
Hamblen's character word for the month of January is Perseverance. At Hamblen, students are learning that perseverance is pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles. Here are some ways you can continue talking about perseverance at home with your child:
- It's not all about success vs. failure. It's natural for children to view a task through the lens of success vs failure. But you can help change that view by talking with them about how there are many factors that contribute to success and failure, and some are out of their control. The only thing you can control is yourself, the effort you put into things. Failure is not trying and falling short, failure is refusing to do anything at all.
- Show your child what perseverance looks like. This can be done from an example from your life or you can use great examples from history such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Albert Eistein. Reading books about perseverance is also a great way to show examples of perseverance.
- Celebrate accomplishments from perseverance. When your child works hard at completing a task or project and showed perseverance it is okay to celebrate that with them! Maybe it is praise, a special outing or a tangible reward.
- Try, try, and try again. Perseverance is like any skill, you need to practice it continually or it will weaken over time. Encourage your children to try new things, chances are they won't be naturally gifted at all of then, which will test out their perseverance as they try to improve.
- Be there for them. Perseverance is an uphill battle. Sometimes it feels like we go backwards instead of forwards, but with support and encouragement from you, it will make the battle easier.
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Stay in touch with Hamblen! |
Hamblen, and all other schools in Spokane Public Schools, utilize Blackboard Messenger to send recorded voicemails, emails and text messages to families. This is the main form of communication for notices and school closures.
If you are not receiving:
- Phone Calls - Call 855.502.7867
- Text Messages - Text the word START to 60680
- Emails - Check to see if SPS emails are routed to your junk folder. If that does not work, email Rachel Nicholson in the SPS Tech Dept at RachelN@spokaneschools.org and request that she assist.
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Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped us get the cookie dough/wrapping paper distributed. Our sale was a great success! Our next meeting is in January and we hope to see you there!
We are still in need of volunteers to help with the following positions:
- Volunteer Coordinator
- President Elect
- Treasurer Elect
- Hospitality Chair
- 5th grade promotion/yearbook Chair
Please email Stefanie Heinen at stefanieh@spokaneschools.org if you are interested.
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We are in need of noon recess supervisors and morning crossing guards. If you are interested please call or stop by the main office to get more information. |
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January
Calendar of Events
Trait = Perseverance
3 - School Resumes
9 - Late Arrival
School Starts at 9:30am
10 - Middle School Transition Webinar @ 10 - PTG Meeting @ 6:30pm
13 - MLK Assembly @ 9:45am
16 - No School MLK Observance
19 - Literacy Night 6:15 - 7:45pm
20 - Mystery Spirit Day (each grade has chosen a theme)
23 - Late Arrival
School Starts at 9:30am
26 & 27 - No School Conference Days
30 - Late Arrival
School Starts at 9:30am
Feb 1 - January Reading Calendars Due
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