Pictures from the annual back to school event held this past Saturday. More than 2,500 students received backpacks filled with school supplies to start the new school year! Families and community members enjoyed games, food, and fun! Thanks to South Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, Sodexo, Holyoke City Hall, PeoplesBank, Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts, Enlace de Familias, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Holyoke Health Center, OneHolyoke CDC, and so many more for making this event possible. Thank you!
The annual Backpack Back-to-School Fair is this Saturday, August 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McNally Field, behind Kelly School. All Holyoke families are encouraged to attend! 2,500 backpacks filled with school supplies will be given away. There will be lots of free food and a wide range of fun activities for children of all ages, including a chance to win one of 50 bicycles. The event is organized by Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative.
There is still time to make plans to attend college this fall! The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is holding events August 8-24 aimed at helping recent high school graduates make plans for continuing their education this fall. Go to https://www.mefa.org/yourfuture for more about these events and resources.
High school may be in the rearview mirror for our recent Opportunity Academy graduates, but their June 22 high school graduation ceremony can now be viewed in its entirety in this 95-minute video. English link here: https://youtu.be/04AZEQtlZAk Spanish link here: https://youtu.be/Wju6zo1m1FY
Summer programming and extended school year begin on Monday, July 10!
Join us at the Summer Eats BBQ kick-off event at Heritage State Park today from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. https://5il.co/1y9zn
Exciting news for HPS students in grades 6-12! Starting next school year, we'll be using Yondr pouches for cell phones. Following a successful pilot program, each student will receive a Yondr bag to store their phone during the day. Phones will be secured by staff, and students can carry them in their backpacks
Students who are new to Holyoke Public Schools can now enroll for the 2023-2024 school year. Enrollment is open for students at all grade levels at www.enrollholyoke.com. Families who prefer to enroll their children in person or over the phone may call Enrollment Center (413) 534-2000, option 1, to make an appointment.
Holyoke Public Schools offers exciting summer programs for all district elementary, middle, and high school students through four unique summer learning academies and Extended School Year programming. Register now at www.enrollholyoke.com to secure your spot! Limited availability.
For a detailed air-quality fire and smoke map in real time, please refer to this link: https://fire.airnow.gov/ You can zoom in to see specific areas, or zoom out to see the full United States and Canada, or more.
HPS offers summer opportunities for students of all grade levels through four academies and Extended School Year programming. Register now at www.enrollholyoke.com before programs fill up. Space is limited, so enroll your child soon. All participants receive breakfast, lunch, and transportation within district guidelines. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/43L5B1C for summer learning info and https://bit.ly/3Cckdv2 for extended school year info.
Families: Plan to attend tonight's SEPAC meeting at 6 p.m. via Zoom to learn more about Extended School Year and summer programs for students. Register here: bit.ly/3MFsXP9
HPS students who will be in grades 6-8 are reminded to enroll soon in the Generation Teach Summer Learning Academy. Space is limited. Go to www.enrollholyoke.com!
Holyoke students, teachers, staff, and families will be performing random acts of kindness on Friday, May 26 as part of Shine-on Day to honor the memory and lasting legacy of former SHINE student Genesis Silva. One way to participate on Friday is to wear pink, green, or purple—Genesis’ favorite colors. Whatever you do to celebrate Shine-on Day, please consider sharing photos with communications@hps.holyoke.ma.us so we can share the light with others through the district’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Learn more in this video from 2018 when Shine-On Day first launched: bit.ly/3IEvaZM
Today's middle school flag football practice is cancelled because of rain.
Dinosaurs once roamed the earth, and there's visible proof right in Holyoke! Take a short hike on the Dinosaur Footprints trail and see them for yourselves, from now until November 30 when the park closes for the season. Free admission! Learn more in this "Only in Your State" news article: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/walk-along-dinosaur-tracks-ma/
High school juniors from Dean, North, and Opportunity Academy are invited to attend a Junior College Planning Night program at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 27, at Holyoke High School North. Participants will learn about the steps required to apply to college, get answers to their questions about college and financial aid, and hear about support for college and career planning at HHS
Holyoke Public Schools offers a wide range of employment opportunities for job candidates who are committed to encouraging bold thinking, exploring all possibilities for student success, embracing all students and families as their own, empowering school teams to impact change, and engaging in meaningful feedback. For more information or to apply, please visit our TalentEd job portal here https://bit.ly/3KKOEuA. There are numerous teaching, paraprofessional, and substitute positions available. Sign-on bonuses and/or relocation assistance may be available.
Counselors at Holyoke High School’s North, Dean, and Opportunity Academy campuses will be headed into 11th-grade classrooms in April to provide important college and career planning information to students. A College Planning Night is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, in the HHS North auditorium for families of high school juniors at all three campuses.
Grade 11 students are encouraged to take the SAT at HHS North on May 6. This is a test required for admission at some colleges. The regular registration deadline is April 7; the late registration deadline is April 25. Students must register at www.collegeboard.org. Students who would like help registering can visit the Gear Up office at their school.
