Hamilton Huskies
Dr. Leah Kedley, Principal
September 2023
Welcome back Hamilton Huskies,
Hello Hamilton Families, students and community members. Welcome back to the 23-24 school year. I am thrilled to welcome everyone new and returning to our school community. I am excited to be here as the new Principal and we have been working hard this summer to have a lot of great things in place for this school year.
Hamilton Elementary is one of 5 elementary schools serving as an official community school hub. The community schools strategy transforms a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. Using schools as hubs, community schools bring together educators, families, and community to address the needs of the whole child.
We strongly believe in the partnership between home and school and using the rich resources of our community to enhance the lives for all of children and families. We will have different events each month and encourage and invite you as family and community members to be involved. Please read more below to understand the mission and purpose of Community Schools and stay tuned for more events.
We have many new exciting ideas planned for this year. You will see below our very own Book Vending Machine. We are so excited for children to have the opportunity to earn and get their own book to bring home and share with you. We plan to launch the Hamilton Walking School Bus. More information will be sent home and posted on the website as we develop our routes and determine the needs from all of you. We would love to get this started the week of September 18th. We will have a few back to school and engage the community events. These dates are listed below.
Again, I am truly thrilled to be here and join this school community. Hamilton is such a special place and we are working hard to make it even better. If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email. I look forward to welcoming your children here on September 7th and working with you as family and community members throughout the year. It truly does take a village and we are fortunate to have such a wonderful group of educators and staff to greet and support your children each day.
Please do not hesitate to reach out.
All the best,
Dr. Leah Kedley
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival: The school building opens at 7:30 am each day. Students will either go to the gymnasium or the cafeteria until 7:45 when the school day begins.
K-2: Go to Cafeteria & Grades 3-5: Go to the gym
Dismissal:
Early pick up ends at 2:00pm. You should notify the school if you are picking up early, no later than 10am each day.
Doors #1 & #2 are on the 6th ave side in the fenced in blacktop area. Doors #3 & #4 are on the 7th ave side by both stairwells.
Pick up and walkers:
2:30-Dismissal for Grades 1-5
2:20-Dismissal for Pre-K, K and special education Classes
Door numbers and colors are labeled and assigned.
Door #1/Orange: Pre-K, & 4th grade
Door #2/Green: McKee/Allen & Catello, first grade, Keough & McKillop
Door #3/Yellow: Martell, Altschuler, & 5th grade
Door #4/Red: Miller, Young, Milkins & 3rd grade
Bus Dismissal:
2:30 students will dismiss to their designated space in the main hallway to line up and be escorted to their bus.
Hamilton Book Vending Machine
Community Schools
What is a community school:
A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Community schools offer a personalized curriculum that emphasizes real-world learning and community problem-solving. Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends.
Using public schools as hubs, community schools bring together many partners to offer a range of supports and opportunities to children, youth, families and communities. Partners work to achieve these results: Children are ready to enter school; students attend school consistently; students are actively involved in learning and their community; families are increasingly involved with their children's education; schools are engaged with families and communities; students succeed academically; students are healthy - physically, socially, and emotionally; students live and learn in a safe, supportive, and stable environment, and communities are desirable places to live.
Hamilton will launch our very own community room and boutique in October 2023, be on the lookout for dates and opportunities to be here in Hamilton and taking full advantage of all our community school has to offer.
Dates to Remember
Cannot wait to see you!!
September 7th-FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Doors open at 7:30am
Dismissal begins at 2:20 for Pre-K and K
Dismissal begins at 2:30 for Grades 1-5
September 14th- Block party 3:00pm-4:30pm
September 27th-Back to School Night:
Pre-K to 2nd grade: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Grades 3-5: 4:00pm-5:00pm
September 18-Launch of the Walking School Bus to school
Upcoming Dates TBD:
Dialogue and Donuts with Principal Kedley (held monthly)
Opening of Hamilton's Free Library on the front lawn
Opening of Hamilton's Community Room and Boutique
Expectations for the First Days of School
If you are bringing your children to school: Teachers will meet families and students in the fenced in parking lot area off Webster and 6th ave. Each classroom teacher will have a sign with their name and students can go to stand with them. Once most students have arrived, the teacher will lead the line into the school from the main entrance and take them to their room.
When children get off the bus, they will be escorted to find their teachers in the fenced in parking lot area to walk in as a class.
If you do not know your child's name, we will have staff all around to support identifying the proper classroom and ensuring your child is safely released into the right classroom.
Since it is the first few days. Arrival and dismissal usually take a little longer and we appreciate your patience in advance. We want to make sure we account for all children and have a plan for each child.
Lunch and Recess: Each lunch period is 20 minutes and 20 minutes for recess with a 5 minute transition.
Pre-K: 11:00-11:45-Lunch & 10:30-11:00-Recess
Kindergarten: 10:50-11:10-Lunch & 11:15-11:35-Recess
First: 11:15-11:35-Lunch & 11:40-12:00-Recess
Second: 11:40-12:00-Lunch & 11:15-11:35-Recess
Third: 12:05-12:25-Lunch & 12:30-12:50-Recess
Fourth: 12:30-12:50-Lunch & 12:05-12:25-Recess
Fifth: 12:50-1:15-Lunch & 1:20-1:40-Recess
Construction:
Hamilton is getting a new playground. This is exciting but it also means we will wait patiently for the new playground to be completed. We will use some of the blacktop/pavement areas for outdoor recess using different sports and equipment for this time period. Until the new playground is installed our playground is off-limits. Hopefully everything is done by October. The courtyard playground is also off-limits until construction is completed on the roof. Construction workers will NOT be in the building during the school day.
Your child's safety is our priority. We will do our very best to communicate any needs and look forward to working with you as we begin this new year.
Community Schools
Hamilton is a Community School. Click here to learn more!
PTO Welcome Back!!
September 14th from 3:00pm- 4:30pm
Popcorn, Snowcones, Cotton Candy & More
Back to School!
So Excited to see you!
Contact Numbers:
Hamilton Elementary Main Office: 518-881-3720 (press 1)
Here you will get prompts to reach : attendance clerk (press 2) & nurse (press 3)
Principal email: kedleyl@schenectadyschools.org, Assistant Principal email: Pieronekk@schenectadyschools.org
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