Home of the Hawks

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Greetings and Welcome to Hamilton home of the HAWKS!

Please take some time to read and learn about some of the amazing things happening at our school. #(Heart)work (HAWK)work

Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival

● 7: 30 a.m.-- All students must be outside and ready to enter the building at 7: 30 a.m. The doors will open at 7: 30 a.m. Students will be able to get a “grab-and-go” breakfast to take to their classrooms if they choose. It will be optional but all students must enter the building at 7: 30 a.m. Students will be marked tardy after 7: 40 a.m.

Dismissal

● 2: 10 p.m.-- Dismissal (Please arrive by 2:05 p.m. to pick up children on time if they are not walkers or bus riders). If you need before or after school care please reach out to Fitness, Fun, and Games. Financial Assistance is available based on income. Information on Fitness, Fun, and Games can be found below.

Students will dismiss from the same doors they enter in the morning. If students have permission to walk home (grades 3-8), they must leave the grounds immediately following dismissal. Middle school students who pick up elementary siblings can walk to the front of the building to get them.

Before and After Care

Before and After Care is provided through one of our community partners, Fitness. Fun and Games (FFG). These spaces are limited so please do not wait to register. Application link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesiD9quIrXur-yGUI0mTJoclpqn2_QjMiAeFqOftiRB McfMQ/viewform.

For more information about FFG please visit http://www.fitnessfunandgames.org/hamilton.html . You may also contact Director Mohan at 443-602-4030. Again, this program is separate from Hamilton so please direct all questions straight to FFG.

Here are the most recent Health & Safety Protocols:

Baltimore City Public Schools is excited about providing full in-person learning to all students in all grades. Recent updates to the COVID-19 guidelines for schools from the CDC, combined with state and local expertise have helped us to refine our health and safety protocols. Key protocols to help keep our schools' safe places to work and learn this fall include:

● Vaccination access: City Schools has partnered with the Baltimore City Health Department to provide vaccination clinics across the City.

● Face coverings: Face coverings are optional.

● Physical distancing: Distance will be maximized to the extent possible while allowing all students to return for in-person learning. The extent possible will be based on the sq. footage of the classroom and the number of students in each class. Various classroom layouts, including layouts with students facing each other, can be used to support an engaging classroom experience. Schools may resume in-person meetings with families with participants socially distanced. Face coverings, ventilation, and our other preventive measures work together with physical distancing to provide additional protection.

● Screening testing: Regular COVID testing will continue this fall to help identify potentially infected people so that steps can be taken to prevent further transmission. Additionally, on-site COVID testing will be available for students who have symptoms of a COVID-like illness.

● Ventilation: higher efficiency mechanical filters and HEPA air purifiers will continue to be used to help mitigate infectious aerosol transmission.

● Handwashing and respiratory etiquette: Routines and education to support handwashing and respiratory etiquette will continue to be implemented.

● Symptom monitoring: Everyone entering a City Schools building will be reminded to monitor their symptoms and to not enter if they are experiencing symptoms. Parents and families need to monitor students for any illnesses prior to sending them to school. Do not send sick children to schools.

● Quarantining and isolation: Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will continue to be isolated and their non-vaccinated close contacts will continue to be quarantined

● Cleaning and disinfecting: Cleaning and disinfecting procedures using products designed to combat COVID-19 will continue to be used daily. Cleaning and disinfecting will be done by each building’s team instead of a centrally deployed team.

● Covid Testing Consent Forms: Parents will have to sign the consent forms for students to be tested at school, if needed, or have students tested on their own and submit a negative result before students can return.

Uniforms Hamilton

Students are required to wear school uniforms. Picture examples are under the "School Year 2021-2022" tab on this website. Top: Burgundy collared shirt. Bottoms: 4 options- Khaki pants, Khaki shorts, Kaki below the knee skirt, burgundy and gray plaid below the knee uniform skirt Dresses: 2 options- Khaki uniform below the knee dress, Burgundy plaid below the knee uniform dress. Sweaters/ Hoodies: 3 options- all sweaters or hoodies must be one of the solid colors below.

Burgundy, Black and White

PTA

At Hamilton, we believe in the beauty and power of community. Our families are such a major part of our story. We are so thankful for our partnership with our Hamilton PTA. Please reach out to our Hamilton PTA and become a member if you haven’t already. You may find additional information about our PTA on our school website. You may also inquire via email at HamiltonEMSPTA@gmail.com.

* Please note that due to safety concerns, parents will not be permitted to walk children to their classrooms.

Our theme this year is, “Let your light shine”. We want our students, staff, and families to shine bright this school year. We know our Hamilton students are incredibly gifted, innovative, artistic, and the list goes on and on. We will build on these strengths to ensure that our students are able to show up authentically and shine those beautiful lights to help illuminate the world.

We are honored to serve the students and families of Hamilton Elementary Middle School, the best school in WORLD! If you have any questions, please call us at 410-396-6375 between 8: 30 a.m.- 2: 30 p.m. or email us. If you leave a phone message we will be sure to respond back to you within 48 hours.

Please explore the rest of our website and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments.

Natasha Pouncey- Principal- npouncey@bcps.k12.md.us

Zaakira Muhammad - Assistant Principal- Middle School- zmuhammad@bcps.k12.md.us

Lorrie Randall- Assistant Principal- Elementary School- lharris04@bcps.k12.md.us

Mrs. Chalk- Support with enrollments- lchalk@bcps.k12.md.us

Mrs. Myers- Support with withdrawals- mbmyers@bcps.k12.md.us

Highest Regards,

Natasha Pouncey, Proud Principal

“There is always light, if we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

-Amanda Gorman