August 21, 2023
Dear Hoover Families,
We are very excited to welcome our Hoover Hawks back to school for the 2023-2024 school year!
I hope this letter finds you well and that you have been enjoying a terrific summer. I have included lots of information for you that I hope you will find helpful and not overwhelming as we prepare to open school for the new year.
Class Placement:
You will find your child’s placement on the Aspen portal will be available by end of day today, Tuesday, August 22nd.
The development of class lists is a comprehensive task that requires the collaborative efforts of the professional educators at our school. All aspects of child development are taken into account. A great deal of time and effort has been put into the development of class lists, and we believe that every student will have a successful school year in the classroom in which they have been assigned.
The list of Homeroom Teachers and their locations can be found here Hoover Homerooms and Locations 23-24.
Classroom teachers will be reaching out to students and families to welcome you back to school in the days ahead.
Additional Staffing information:
If your child is in 4th grade and has no teacher assignment- We are in the process of onboarding a new 4th Grade teacher. Information about this will come in a separate email soon.
Kindergarten and New Families have received additional information from Leslie Blaney, the District Data Coordinator about logging into Aspen for a reference for all families is forthcoming.
To access your Aspen account go to: https://ma-melrose.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.doc
If you cannot remember your login or password or need assistance, please send an email to: itsupport@melroseschools.com and you will receive an email response with the necessary information to log in.
Staffing Updates:
We have two members of our staff that will be taking on new roles this year.
Ms. Samantha Weld has been an Academic Interventionist at Hoover. She is now taking on the role as a Kindergarten teacher. Congratulations, Samantha.
Mariellen Hardy will be taking on the role as Digital Literacy Specialist.
Important Dates:
Tuesday 8/22, 6:30 - 7:30 PM. Kindergarten Orientation for Parents/Guardians Only, Please enter the doors to the left of the main entrance (the modular units).
Wednesday, August 23rd, 6:00-7:00 P.M. Mayor’s Kindergarten Welcome, at Fred Green Field at Melrose High School
Tuesday, 1:50-2:20 P.M. Hoover Kindergarten Welcome on the Hoover Playground and all New Student/New Family Welcome on the Hoover Playground.
Wednesday, August 30th: First Day of School in Melrose for all students K-12.
Arrival/Dismissal:
All students Grades K-5 will enter the building and go directly to their classrooms as they arrive on the school grounds between 7:53 and 8:03 A.M beginning August 30th.
Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 5 students will enter the modular entrance between 7:53 and 8:03 and will exit there at Dismissal at 2:20. **For the first two days of school only, Grade 5 will enter through the main entrance to give some extra time and space for our Kindergarteners to enter.
Grades 2, 3, and 4 will enter and dismiss at the Main Entrance facing First Street.
Please review the Hoover Drop off and Pick Up Procedures to ensure a safe, efficient, and orderly arrival and dismissal process.
Mandatory Data Collection:
Here is the Melrose Public Schools Confidential Student Health and Emergency Information Form. Parents/Caregivers must complete the Student Health form and return to school on the first day via your child’s backpack. If you have any questions about completing the mandated forms please contact our parent information center at 781-662-2000, press #1.
Follow-up communication will be forthcoming with information on how to:
Update Contact Information
Update Media Release Permissions
Opt in for school and District communications via Thrillshare
And acknowledge that you have read:
The Elementary School Student Handbook
The Social Media Policy and the Acceptable Use Policy
The collection of this information is mandatory and will provide our school and the district with information to communicate with families more effectively.
Breakfast and Lunch:
Melrose Public Schools will offer another year of meals at no cost for students. Melrose Public Schools will be participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. As part of this program, we will offer healthy meals every school day. The Massachusetts legislature has provided funding to make meals available at no cost to all students during the 2023-2024 school year, regardless of household income. However, families should still complete a Meal Benefit Application as this provides data for key funding for academic resources and may also connect families to additional benefits. This data will also support the additional funds provided by the Commonwealth for this pilot.
In addition to free meals, our elementary schools offer for purchase optional 2nd pizza slice with a meal for $2.25 or 8 oz. milk (without a meal) for $.75.
There is no School Friday, September 1st and Monday, September 4th for the Labor Day Observance.
Open House:
Thursday, September 21st: Hoover is hosting our annual “Back to School Open House” starting at 5:30 P.M. This evening, teachers will provide parents/caregivers with an overview of the curriculum and learning goals for the coming year. All Grades K-5: 5:30-6:30. More details to come.
For additional information about the school and District, visit the Hoover and District websites. Keep a 2023-2024 District Calendar handy so you will know all ½ day Wednesdays, early dismissals, holidays, and vacations.
We are so excited for a great year ahead!
All the best,
Mitzi Galante
Principal