Congrats to a couple of our Awesome Knights - Lakeisha Cubero Montanez & Camryn Rist! Keep up the great work!
Don't let the flu and COVID-19 catch you off guard this winter, join us for a Flu & COVID Vaccination Clinic happening on Wednesday, February 15, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at The Care Center (247 Cabot Street). Vaccinations and boosters will be available for those six months and up, bring your insurance card for the flu shot and be prepared to stay for a 15-minute observation after getting vaccinated. Registration is encouraged but optional; you can register at https://bit.ly/3HfbXg6. And as a bonus, get a $75 gift card for COVID vaccines while supplies last!
Take advantage of this opportunity to protect yourself and your loved ones from these serious illnesses.
HPS kicks off attendance campaign with celebration tomorrow, January 18! Holyoke Public Schools will celebrate students’ attendance achievements with festivities scheduled for 4:15-5:15 p.m. on January 18 at Holyoke High School North. During the event, Mayor Joshua Garcia and HPS Superintendent Anthony Soto will be joined by 50-70 students and their families from throughout the district to celebrate the students' excellent attendance and/or significant attendance improvements.
Holyoke Public School’s “community-centric” approach to strategic planning was featured in a recent article published by consulting firm Education Resources Strategies (ERS), shining a bright light on both the process and the outcomes. The article can be found here: http://bit.ly/3G9tSUN
“While many districts often struggle to execute a planning process that fosters widespread community buy-in, HPS leaders were able to design for equitable, long-lasting engagement,” ERS wrote in the article. “They embedded the community directly and authentically in the work to create full alignment and a bold plan that will guide them over the next few years.”
The district’s Strategic Planning process began in September 2021 as Superintendent Anthony Soto launched his entry plan work and included an inclusive planning process throughout spring and summer 2022. Under the umbrella of the district’s existing turnaround plan, Holyoke Public Schools released a new multi-year strategic plan in August. The plan reflects all the work that had been done under the turnaround plan over the last almost seven years and articulates focus for the next few years. Throughout the process, more than 400 staff, family members, students, and community members provided input for the plan, in addition to the 1,150+ people who contributed to Superintendent Anthony Soto’s entry plan process that concluded earlier this year.
Viruses and bacterial infections are on the rise: Please take precautions. RSV, Flu, COVID-19, and Group A streptococcus infections also pose combined risks. Like schools and communities across the state and country, Holyoke has recently experienced overlapping surges of viral illnesses among our students and staff, including the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu, and COVID-19. Some parts of the country have also seen an increase in Group A streptococcus infections (such as scarlet fever and strep throat) in children. Massachusetts health officials are bracing for these bacterial infections to be on the rise locally, too. All of these illnesses are contagious, and spread can occur relatively quickly. It is particularly concerning that it is possible for individuals to have two or more of these viral conditions serially, simultaneously, or even paired with bacterial or other infections. And because the symptoms for these three viral illnesses share some similar symptoms, it can be hard to tell them apart. If your child is symptomatic, we recommend keeping your child at home and reaching out to your healthcare provider for guidance. Likewise, we recommend the same for staff members. You can read more about these illnesses on our website, along with important steps you can take to help keep yourself and your family healthy this winter. https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/page/health-wellness-nursing
Twas two hours before winter break, when all through Knights nation,
The faculty and staff were looking forward to some time off and celebration.
The teachers have been working so hard on getting kids to speak in class,
This work can be hard…our tanks are out of gas!
We have been celebrating our HOWLers, Knights of Excellence, and Awesome Knights,
We have been working so hard to keep the hallways clear and always in our sights.
Knight Time is helping us to build community and spread some cheer,
This week we did an Attendance Blitz to let kids know the importance of being here!
We loved Charlie and his chocolate factory and Unified BBall took the win,
This past Monday so many people wore green to try to get the Grinch to grin.
We had some fun in Town Halls with kids and in Minute to Win It with staff,
Thanks to you all for having some fun and taking time to laugh.
During the Winter Concert we enjoyed some Christmas carols and works of art,
We have been working to build a restorative culture, this is work where we can all take part.
At the Cita con Sabor a Café, I learned all about Bomba and we danced the night away,
At the 3 point contest who knew Josh Abrams was the GOAT…NO WAY!
We celebrated our Adams scholars and the achievement they made,
We had a Reverse Job Shadow where so many careers and paths were displayed.
We started our 8th grade visits, we want our new Knights to be excited for the next step,
We did PSATs, Perfect Attendance celebrations, multiple spirit weeks…this school has pep!
Now admin, now faculty, now counselors, now clerks,
On custodians, on paras, on staff - here is how it works,
We work as a team; we get the job done,
We take our work seriously, but we also have some fun.
To the top we will rise, to the top we will go,
We are committed to student achievement,
And we are not moving slow.
We love the students we work with; they bring us so much pride,
We are committed to working with them and their families -
And we’ll do this side by side.
Thank you for all you do, I appreciate your work and you,
This work is not always easy, but that has not stopped you from doing what you do.
Dash away, dash away, dash away peeps,
In 2023, HHS North is going to grow by bounds and leaps.
- Lori McKenna, Principal
Holyoke High School North Campus
All athletic activities are canceled for this afternoon, Friday December 16. All other after-school activities are operating as usual.
Congratulations to some of our recent HOWLers and Awesome Knights!!
Erikah Cumba, Zavier Vargas, Isaiah Valentin, , Marialis Camacho, Michael Melendez, Erin Gauthier, Rory Shea, Carla Lopez, Davian Concepcion, Luiz Marcano, Azariah Heredia.
Keep up the awesome work!!!
Each week students get selected by their teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom expectations and behaviors.
Congratulations to some of our HOWLers of the Week and Awesome Knights ~Kamelia Cruz, Robert Tabin, Desmond Caballero, Ava Tellier, Angelise Rodriguez, & Yomar Rodriguez Calderon
Each week students get selected by their teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom expectations and behaviors.
This week we also celebrated 1 student from each grade who have perfect attendance!!!
Congratulations to some of our HOWLers of the Week ~Thais Rodriguez & Nathaniel Gomes ~ Awesome Knights ~ Maria Zaya Rosario, Emani Matos, Shane Bourgeois & William Rivera ~ and students with perfect attendance ~ Xavian Burgos Colon, Gabriel Nieves, Bradley Provost & Jesmarie Colon!!
Each week students get selected by their teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom expectations and behaviors.
Congratulations to some of our HOWLers of the Week and Awesome Knights!!
Casimir Pierre, Eliezer Betancourt, Eila Ramoth & Julisa Brito Valdes
Each week students get selected by their teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom expectations and behaviors.
Congratulations to on of our HOWLers of the Week from our ELS team - Mohab Ramadan!! Keep up the great work!!
Each week students get selected by their teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom expectations and behaviors.
Congratulations to some of our HOWLers of the Week and Awesome Knights for this week - Cian Cahallan, Peter Rivera, & Noahlevith Garay-Cintron!! Keep up the great work!!
