There will be no classes for students next week, November 25 - 29, due to Conferences and Thanksgiving break. HRS offices will be closed November 27 - 29.

We look forward to welcoming students back to campus on Monday, December 2!

Fall parent-teacher conferences will be held next week on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26. If you haven't had a chance to sign up yet, please do so today. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's homeroom or advisory teacher directly. 

While you're on campus, be sure to:

• Visit the Spirit Gear sales tables in Lower School and Middle School.
• Check Lost & Found for items your student may have misplaced. Lower School is particularly full of forgotten treasures... retainers and water bottles and raincoats, oh my! 

Remember: The Middle School Dance is tomorrow, November 22, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Drop off and pick up for the dance will take place in the front of the Middle School building on 20th Ave S. The following expectations have been shared with Middle School students:

• Only HRS Middle School students will be admitted.
• Students are subject to behavior rules and expectations as outlined in the Student Handbook.
• No outside drinks, drink containers, or gum allowed.
• There are no in-and-out privileges. Once a student leaves the dance, they may not re-enter. 
• Students should be picked up promptly at the end of the dance (8:30pm).
• Leave large bags and personal items of value at home. There will be a coat check for items, including cell phones.  

We hope to see your student at the dance! 

Hamlin Robinson School uses the emergency messaging system, BrightArrow, which is integrated with your myHRS contact information. BrightArrow delivers school-wide, time-sensitive information to our HRS community via email and text message. If you need to update your contact information, please do so in your myHRS account.

It is the policy of HRS to only use the emergency messaging system when a closure IS occurring or for other emergency messages.

Send any questions to info@hamlinrobinson.org. 

Join us for our next HRS Speaker Series event, Ending The Silence, on Thursday, December 5 from 6:00-7:00pm. Heather Street from NAMI Seattle will lead a discussion designed to help families and educators understand and support the mental health of students at home and in the classroom. 

Learn more and register for the free webinar on the Speaker Series webpage. On this page, you'll also find recordings of past Speaker Series events, including the most recent presentations from October and November.  

Don't forget to register for the upcoming After-School Programs! Offerings are $280, running for 10 sessions from early December through mid-March.

Music Academy is also beginning a new session, offering private lessons in drums, guitar, piano, ukulele, voice, and strings!

Visit CampBrain to register and read full course descriptions. Any questions? Contact Nathalie Curtis.

HRS will be hosting a tuition assistance (TA) application support evening on Thursday, December 12, at 6:00pm, in the Lower School Library. Max Beron, Director of Business & Operations, along with a member of the Admissions team, will provide an overview of the tuition assistance application process, assist you in starting your application, and answer questions. 

The deadline to submit a TA application for currently enrolled families is January 17, 2025. 

The goal for the TA support evening is to help families submit applications for the 2025-2026 school year as soon as possible — even while waiting on additional documentation (e.g., tax returns). HRS laptops will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own device to access the TA application. More information and a registration form will be shared in the December 5 Thursday Thoughts.

Thursday Thoughts showcases a different Arts and Wellness subject area each week. Today, Kendall Melonson spotlights what's happening in Lower School P.E.

This week in lower school physical education, students explored circus arts! This popular unit is packed with all kinds of exciting activities, including juggling, unicycles, flower sticks, Chinese yo-yos, and stilts. Juggling strengthens students' hand-eye coordination and rhythm - and leaves them with a huge sense of accomplishment! They created patterns and rhythmic routines with flower sticks and worked on intricate tricks with the Chinese yo-yo, from the classic "walk the dog" to more complex spins and twirls. They tried out unicycles and stilts, growing their confidence to attempt new skills and having a blast in the process.

P.E. class is a chance to explore new physical skills and get moving, but it also emphasizes social and emotional learning. By fostering a sense of accountability for one's actions and a commitment to the well-being of others, students develop essential life skills. These can be achieved through activities that promote teamwork, cooperation, safety, receiving and providing feedback, empathy, and respect. Students learn to share equipment, encourage teammates, engage safety in play, follow rules, and set goals. Physical education can also provide opportunities for students to develop self-discipline, perseverance, and a positive attitude towards challenges.

Parents from Levels 4 and 5 are invited to learn more about HRS Middle School at the Middle School Preview on Thursday, December 5 from 8:30-10:15am. At this special event, you'll hear from the Middle School leadership team about our comprehensive middle school program as well as our supportive high school transition process.

Parents should have received an invitation earlier this month. Please register here with the names of all adults who will attend.

We look forward to sharing more about the HRS Middle School experience!

On behalf of the HRS Family Association, we're sharing the secret message below!

As we near the winter break, we are planning a way to demonstrate our appreciation for all that HRS staff and faculty do for our students. The Family Association is hosting a fiesta-themed Taco/Burrito Bar luncheon on Friday, December 13. We have created a Signup Genius for the food, drinks, and volunteering opportunities needed to help with the luncheon. Thank you!

You are invited to take a peek at this brief video as we unveil the theme for this year's auction. It's gonna be a blast!

Also, please check your mailbox soon for a packet with more information about how each of you can support our school and students through the auction. Save the date for our main event on Saturday, March 22, 2025 -- when we'll set our sights on building the future. 

Look for the most current details regarding procurements and sponsorships on our auction webpage!

Remember: The Middle School Dance is on Friday, November 22, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Drop off and pick up for the dance will take place in the front of the Middle School building on 20th Ave S. The following expectations will be shared with Middle School students:

• Only HRS Middle School students will be admitted.
• Students are subject to behavior rules and expectations as outlined in the Student Handbook.
• No outside drinks, drink containers, or gum allowed.
• There are no in-and-out privileges. Once a student leaves the dance, they may not re-enter. 
• Students should be picked up promptly at the end of the dance (8:30pm).
• Leave large bags and personal items of value at home. There will be a coat check for items, including cell phones.  

We hope to see your student at the dance! 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Family Association meeting yesterday! In addition to school news, upcoming volunteer opportunities, and the big reveal of this year's auction theme, attendees had the chance to hear a presentation on the Science of Reading by Emma Lopez, Curriculum Specialist. You can find the slide presentation and meeting minutes posted on the myHRS Family Association tile.  

Our next Family Association meeting is on Wednesday, December 11. If you have questions, please email Carly or Shannon.

On behalf of the HRS Family Association, we're also sharing the secret message below: 

As we near the winter break, we are planning a way to demonstrate our appreciation for all that HRS staff and faculty do for our students. The Family Association is hosting a fiesta-themed Taco/Burrito Bar luncheon on Friday, December 13. We have created a Signup Genius for the food, drinks, and volunteering opportunities needed to help with the luncheon. Thank you!

Don't forget to register for After-School Programs for the winter trimester! Programs run from December 2 – March 14. All programs are $280 and run for 10 sessions from 3:25 - 4:25pm. Visit CampBrain for the full list of programs.

Our Music Academy is also beginning a new session, offering private lessons in drums, guitar, piano, ukulele, voice, and strings!

Register, see rates, and read course descriptions on CampBrain. For questions, contact Nathalie Curtis.

We're so grateful to everyone who has supported this year's Annual Fund, Game-Changers! Every student and every family that benefits from our programs has you to thank.

A special shoutout to Level 1 and Level 2, current champions of the Pizza Party challenge! There's still time to join them and help your student's grade level earn a slice of victory - make your gift today! Every grade level that reaches 75% family participation in the Annual Fund will get a pizza party.

Gifts of any size allow Hamlin Robinson School to deliver on our transformative mission - thank you for your support.

Thursday Thoughts showcases a different Arts and Wellness subject area each week. Today, Rebecca Osman spotlights what's happening in Middle School Drama.

The Creative Drama class—a Middle School Drama elective—is closing out their final week of rehearsals for their culminating project, Where The Wild Things Are. Our class is designed to foster creativity, build confidence, and develop essential life and ensemble skills like public speaking, cooperation and collaboration. Following professional theater practices, students progress from initial table reads through technical rehearsals with full lighting and sets. Through this process, they learn what goes into creating theater, making them more appreciative consumers of theater and art in general. Most importantly, the process of putting on a show proves to students they can accomplish things that may seem intimidating at first – with many discovering it's more fun than they expected! There's nothing like seeing students surprise themselves with abilities they didn't know they had.

We're particularly excited to welcome Lower School students as our audience for Where The Wild Things Are, teaching them to be engaged and respectful audience members. There's something magical about presenting a story many of them already know and love, showing how familiar stories can take on new life when interpreted through a different artistic medium.

Save The Date! The annual Middle School Science and Engineering Fair will be held on April 3, 2025. Level 6 students will be showcasing the prototypes they built by following the Engineering Design Process, while the Level 7 and Level 8 students will be presenting on the experiments they designed using the Scientific Method. A schedule will be shared closer to the date - you are all invited!

Please note there will be no school tomorrow, November 8 for Progress Report Day. Childcare through the Day-On program is available.

We could all use a little more self-care in our lives! Our upcoming Day-On will center around wellness and rejuvenation, featuring yoga, meditation, affirmation and gratitude exercises, and spa treatments. Your student will head into the weekend refreshed and relaxed!

Please register by 6:00pm tonight on CampBrain!

Please join us for the next Family Association meeting on Wednesday, November 13, from 8:30 - 9:30am in the Lower School Library. Each monthly meeting offers an opportunity to meet other parents, hear updates from Head of School Stacy Turner, and learn Slingerland Basics from the Instructional Support Team. This month's topic: The Pillars of Reading.

On behalf of the HRS Family Association, we're also sharing the secret message below: 

As we near the winter break, we are planning a way to demonstrate our appreciation for all that HRS staff and faculty do for our students. The Family Association is hosting a fiesta-themed Taco/Burrito Bar luncheon on Friday, December 13. We have created a Signup Genius for the food, drinks, and volunteering opportunities needed to help with the luncheon. Thank you!

Join us next week for the HRS Speaker Series on Thursday, November 14 at 6:00pm, featuring early childhood specialist and author Amanda Morin!

In Beyond Behavior Charts: Reframing and Rethinking Behavior Through a Neurodiversity-Affirming Lens, Morin will explore how to better understand student behavior through context rather than compliance, while examining the impact of traditional behavior management systems on neurodivergent students. 

See full details on the HRS Speaker Series webpage. This virtual event is free of charge, but advanced registration is required.

Class photo and picture retake day is on Thursday, November 14, for both Lower School and Middle School. All students will participate in class photos.

If you would like your child to have an individual photo retake, please fill out the Photo Day Order Form under Parent Forms + Resources on myHRS.

Thursday Thoughts showcases a different Arts and Wellness subject area each week. Today, Melissa Schmoll spotlights what's happening in Lower School Art:

The Lower School art studio is in full swing! Our approach in the Lower School is Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) which has a simple philosophy: The child is the artist. The art room is their studio. What do artists do?  Artists practice eight Studio Habits of Mind, and art lessons are centered on technique, skills, concepts, vocabulary, ideation and problem solving. Students-as-artists choose from open “centers” to create original art that is meaningful to them. Levels 3-5 have access to Drawing, Paper Arts, Painting, and Sculpture. Levels 1-2 work primarily from curated “table centers” to create work of their choice. The most popular center these days is Sculpture. A big THANK YOU for all those donations of paper towel tubes and little boxes! Please feel free to reach out or come say hello in the Lower School art studio!  

This month, the HRS libraries are featuring books in honor of National Native American Heritage Month. Stop by or view the full list of suggested titles on the online catalog for lower school or middle school students. View additional resources on the HRS Library webpage.  

This December, we will celebrate Grands Day at HRS! Celebrating all of those important grandparents and grand friends who enrich the lives of students, this special event welcomes Grands to campus for a peek inside life at HRS. Please note that each Grands Day is for students from specific levels. Each event will begin promptly at 9am. Street parking will be open on 20th Avenue South after the buses leave, starting at 8:30am. Both buildings have elevator access to classrooms.

Middle School Grands Day (Levels 6-8): Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 9am-11am

Intermediate Grands Day (Levels 4-5): Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 9am-10:30am

Primary Grands Day (Levels 1-3): Friday, December 20, 2024 from 9am-10:30am

Next week, HRS will send out an invitation that you can share with the Grands that might join your student.

Please join Jonathan Lee next week for the Parents of Students of Color Gathering!

On Thursday, November 14 from 3:30-5:00pm, our Director of Equity and Belonging will host a conversation group for parents/guardians of students of color at HRS. Childcare will be available during the event - please RSVP here!

Questions? Please contact Jonathan Lee.

Mark your calendars! The Middle School Dance is on Friday, November 22, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Drop off and pick up for the dance will take place in the front of the Middle School building on 20th Ave S. The following expectations will be shared with Middle School students:

• Only HRS Middle School students will be admitted.
• Students are subject to behavior rules and expectations as outlined in the Student Handbook.
• No outside drinks, drink containers, or gum allowed.
• There are no in-and-out privileges. Once a student leaves the dance, they may not re-enter. 
• Students should be picked up promptly at the end of the dance (8:30pm).
• Leave large bags and personal items of value at home. There will be a coat check for items, including cell phones.  

We hope to see your student at the dance! 

Thank you to those who have already supported this year's Annual Fund, Game-Changers! 

As we shared previously, every grade level that reaches 75% family participation earns a pizza party for the entire level. We'd love to have pizza parties for every grade level - so we're extending the opportunity to achieve this. Below, you can see how many more families would need to participate to achieve a pizza party for their student's grade level.

• Level 1: one more family!
• Level 2: one more family!
• Level 3: 14 families
• Level 4: 20 families
• Level 5: 20 families
• Level 6: 28 families
• Level 7: 30 families
• Level 8: 36 families

Gifts of any size allow Hamlin Robinson School to deliver on our transformative mission. Make your gift today!

The latest edition of The Link, the HRS Learning Center newsletter, is out now. The Learning Center is a resource hub for everyone, not just the HRS community. We encourage you to share our events, programs, and services with those who may need them. Stay updated on everything happening at the HRS Learning Center by reading The Link each month!

As Veterans Day approaches, we will honor those who have served or are currently serving in any branch of the military. If you would like to recognize a family member or loved one for Veterans Day, please use this form so they can be acknowledged in Lower and Middle School Library displays.

Winter Trimester After-School Programs are now open for registration. Programs run from December 2 – March 14. All programs are $280 and run for 10 sessions from 3:25 - 4:25pm. Visit CampBrain for the full list of programs.

Our Music Academy is also beginning a new session, offering private lessons in drums, guitar, piano, ukulele, voice, and - new this trimester - strings (including violin, cello, and more)!

Register, see rates, and read course descriptions on CampBrain. For questions, contact Nathalie Curtis.