Dear Lower School Parents,
Greetings from Ireland where the Banes are enjoying soft rain, lots of tea, and the luxuries of lighter schedules and the company of family. I hope you are having a restful, family-filled summer also.
With just over a month until the beginning of a new school year, this long email is intended to provide you with all the information you need to get ready for September.
Summer Reading: We hope you and your daughter are enjoying our Lower School summer reading book El Deafo by Cece Bell. We will use this book in our special celebration of summer reading on Friday, September 15. Please refer to the Holton website for the full list of summer reading suggestions.
Lower School New Student Orientation: We look forward to seeing all new Holton students at the Lower School New Student Orientation on Thursday, August 31, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in Simms Reception Room. Students do not need to be in uniform. New parents are invited to attend a technology training session during the same time to learn more about navigating the Holton website and to get answers to questions about the start of school.
Technology Session for New 5th & 6th Families: Both new fifth and sixth grade students and their parents should plan to stay after New Student Orientation, August 31, for a technology session from 4:30-5:30 p.m. to address resources and requirements unique to their grades.
Class Placement: All students will learn of their homeroom placement on the morning of the first day of school, Tuesday, September 5, during a special Gathering following Convocation.
School Uniform: Please refer to the Holton website, "The Holton Lower School Uniform", for uniform requirements. Jumpers in the Holton plaid are available at Lands End (online) and Flynn & O'Hara (Rockville and other locations). Please be sure your student's jumper is hemmed to just above the knee. You may also want to check our gently used uniform resource, called the Holton Hang Up, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Just an FYI: navy golf shirts are a new option with the jumper, although a white golf shirt remains in uniform. Shoes should be in dark leather with sturdy rubber soles (such as the Merrell brand or the Sperry 3-holed laced style "Billfish").
PE Uniform & Gym Bags: Physical Education uniforms may be purchased through Lands End (online) and at the Holton bookstore. We recommend students have a pair of sturdy, laced athletic sneakers (with non-marking soles, please) at school, specifically for PE. Third and fourth grade students do not need to buy the grey PE t-shirt. All students will receive a Holton Lower School gym bag, free of charge, at the beginning of school.
LS Planner: Students will receive a Lower School planner to record homework and to help stay organized. No need to purchase a separate planner.
Supply Lists: We have made every effort to lessen financial and time burdens on families with a very streamlined school supply list. Teachers will supply students with most of their classroom needs throughout the year. See the Supply List on the website for more details.
Communication Policy and Cell Phones: We want our Lower School students to develop independence and strive to create an environment in which students can manage their busy school lives with minimal disruption. Therefore, we ask that communications between students and parents be reserved for emergencies only and coordinated through the Lower School Office. Our policy requires students to power off mobile devices that are not being used for school work. Moreover, students are not permitted to send or receive phone calls, texts, or emails during the school day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For these reasons, electronic means of communication, through cell phones or iPads, such as email or text messages are not a reliable way for parents to reach children. The simplest and surest means for parents and students to communicate is to contact the Lower School Office.
Attendance Expectations: The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. Please have your daughter at school on time – we recommend you drop her off in front of the Lower School Entrance by 7:50 a.m. each day. This enables her to have time for morning interactions with classmates and teachers, settling in without the anxiety raised by rushing or entering when classes or Gathering is underway. If you are running late, or if your daughter will be absent, please notify Helen Poon in the Lower School Office as soon as possible.
Carpool and Sixth Grade Safety Patrols: In a separate mailing from the Lower School Office, you will receive two cardboard placards with your family's carpool number. Please place a placard in your car(s) for use during carpool pick-up. Cell phones may not be used during carpool. Please obey posted traffic signs and all directions given by Chris Mayer, our extremely diligent traffic director, and our Sixth Grade Patrols. All sixth grade students are automatically enrolled in our very important traffic Patrol Program. This is a wonderful opportunity for real leadership and service, and we can work around your sixth grade student's schedule. Please contact us if you have any questions.
After School Study Hall, Homework Zone: Monday – Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for students to work on homework before they leave school in an after-school study hall located in the Lower School Library. Homework Zone will run from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays (not Fridays) and will be supervised by Holton Lower School teachers. Students attending after school instrumental music classes, or traveling on Holton buses may attend Homework Zone. Homework Zone is free of charge and is on a drop-in basis (no registration).
Lower School Extended Day
This program is designed for all Holton-Arms Lower School students remaining on campus after the school day has ended. Extended Day runs 4:30-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 3:30-6 p.m. Fridays. Snacks, cooking, outdoor recreation, and crafts, are all part of this after-school program. There is no pre-registration. This drop-in only service will be billed to your Holton-Arms Account by the Business Office at an hourly rate of $7.50 an hour.
Bus transportation: Information about routes, schedules, and pricing is available on the parent portal. If you have not returned your transportation contract, please do so as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Daryl Owens, Transportation Director (x6486). If your daughter is a first-time bus rider, please let us know so we might help her in any way we can as she finds her way at the beginning of the year.
New Teachers, New Roles: We are very fortunate to welcome back two teachers to Lower School this year, Christy Diefenderfer, who returns to Third Grade Homeroom after a year as Interim Head of our Middle School, and Melissa Novak who returns as General Music and Chorus teacher. Melissa worked in this role at Holton from 2008-2012, leaving when her husband Chris was transferred out of the area. In the meantime, Melissa and Chris welcomed daughter Charlotte into the world. Most recently Melissa worked at Norwood as Chorus teacher. We are so fortunate to be able to welcome Melissa back to Lower School. Margo Tintle is moving from Third Grade to Fourth Grade Homeroom, where she will also focus on social studies instruction.
As announced earlier, Sherry Wells will be our new Assistant Director of Lower School beginning this year. In her new role, Sherry will continue to teach fifth grade social studies but will also provide additional administrative support to Lower School Faculty, particularly, but not exclusively, in curricular matters.
Grade 6 Language Arts: Sue Owen. Sue comes most recently from Fairfax public schools. She has also taught all girls for five years at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, an independent school in Philadelphia. Sue has a one year old son, Miles. Sue made a huge impression on everyone she met at Holton on her visit day. We are confident she will be a great fit.
Learning Specialist: Susan Bentley. Susan has worked in independent schools most of her career. An elementary school teacher by training, Susan has spent much of her time as an US learning Specialist, much of it at Trinity Prep in Florida, and more recently at Foxcroft in Virginia. Susan has two grown children. Susan, who was born in South Carolina and still has that lovely southern accent, is very happy to be returning to working with elementary aged children.
Librarian: Evelyn Khoo Schwartz. Evelyn, who was born and raised in Singapore, comes to us following a few years at home with her three young, beautiful children, and before that she was a librarian at Georgetown Day School.
Band: Allyson Royster. Allyson, who plays the flute, has taught at Middle School level, both internationally in Hong Kong and in Florida. She brings a wealth of experience and is excited to be moving to the D.C. area for the first time.
Finally, I will be returning to the classroom as I join the Fifth Grade Math team, teaching one of the four sections of Math. I can't wait, I can see the math sparks flying already!
Health Forms: In order to attend school, all students must return a fully completed Health Form to the School Nurse, Lori Herringa, before the first day of school on September 5. The Health Form is posted online. Please contact the Nurse if you have any questions or concerns.
Lower School Music: We have a rich and lively music program at Holton Arms. The Lower School Instrumental Music letter on the website outlines important information about our after-school instrumental lesson schedule. In addition, students are encouraged to take advantage of our Fine and Performing Arts Adjunct Program for individual instruction after school. Returning fifth and sixth grade students, continuing with their current instrument selection, will not have an after school lesson this year. The Music Department has a letter on the website with important information for new parents:
In addition to one instrumental ensemble rehearsal per cycle, all third and fourth grade students and any students in their first year of study (i.e. fifth and sixth graders new to the instrument) are required to take a group lesson after school that provides instruction for students on the same instrument and at the same level of experience. Group lessons are provided by the Music Department at no additional charge to families.
AFTER SCHOOL GROUP LESSON SCHEDULE 2017-2018
Mondays 3:30-4:15 p.m. Beginning violins and violas
3rd grade winds (all 3rd grade band students will play recorder)
Mondays 4:15-5:00 p.m. 2nd year violins and violas
1st year percussion (any 4th- 6th grader new to the instrument)
Tuesdays 3:30-4:15 p.m. Beginning cellos and basses
1st year flutes, clarinets, and oboes (any 4th- 6th grader new to instrument)
Tuesdays 4:15-5:00 p.m. 2nd year cellos and basses
1st year saxophone and brass instruments (any 4th- 6th grader new to instrument)
Field Trip Permission Slip: Please complete and submit the online form, giving your student permission to attend school field trips and giving important emergency information to the chaperones (new students may have already done this).
September 11 National Day of Service: In remembrance of the events of September 11th, we are participating in the National Day of Service with collections for three worthy causes:
Bikes for the World: Do you have any bikes that your children have outgrown or you no longer need? We are collecting them for donation to Bikes for the World, www.bikesfortheworld.org, a local organization that has now donated over 100,000 used bicycles internationally and throughout the D.C metropolitan area. Bring your used bikes to Lower School during the week of September 11-15.
Towel Collection: Animal shelters across the D.C. region appreciate donations of used (and washed) towels to care for their lovable residents. Please inventory your towel collection at home or ask your local pool for lost & found towels as potential donations!
Ugly Mug Collection: Help us save the Earth's valuable resources by donating the "gently used" or forgotten coffee mugs in the back of your pantry. We will make them available to the Dining Room for community use, in hopes of eliminating waste associated with paper products.
Picture Day is Wednesday, September 13
Lower School girls should be in uniform on Picture Day. You will receive an email from which you can see the proofs of your student's portraits and can choose which one(s) you would like to order.
Back-to-School Night
Save the date Thursday, September 28, 6-8:30 p.m. We will begin in the Dining Room.
Late Openings
Mark your calendars for our late opening dates for this year (10 a.m. opening—morning buses and morning care available beginning at 7:30 a.m. in the Dining Room):
September 20 (Professional Development)
October 16 (Professional Development)
November 1 (Halloween)
November 15 (Professional Development)
December 13 (Professional Development)
February 5 (Super Bowl)
March 14 (Professional Development)
April 9 (Professional Development)
May 16 (Professional Development)
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We will have parent-teacher conferences on Thursday & Friday, November 9 & 10, with online sign-ups for appointments later this fall. No classes for Lower School students—a wonderful opportunity for play dates! The next set of Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences will be Thursday & Friday, March 1 & 2, 2018.
Important Upcoming Dates
Since printed calendars have a notoriously short life, we have decided not to include one here. However, we have created an academic calendar to provide you with a snap shot of the coming year. We encourage you to use the calendar on the Holton website as your resource for keeping current on upcoming events; the Thursday ePouch will highlight events happening in Lower School and will include teacher newsletters. Teachers and Parent Association Grade Representatives will also be in communication with you about the exciting events in the classroom and in the grade level, respectively.
We are so excited about all we can achieve this year and look forward to seeing you soon,
Patrick Bane
Director of Lower School
Holton-Arms School
301.365.6119