Home of the Hawks

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER OF LEARNING!

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Greetings Hamilton Families!

We have missed our HAWKS over the summer. It’s hard to believe that School Year 2022-2023 is almost here! We wanted to check in with our families and provide some additional information and updates. Please take some time to read the letter in its entirety. The letter is lengthy, but we wanted to ensure that all families received the most up-to-date information.

Arrival and Dismissal

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 allowed to come in for breakfast starting at 7:15 a.m. Breakfast is optional, but all students must be prepared to enter the school at 7:30 a.m. to start class. After the first week of school, students will be marked tardy after 7:40 a.m.
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). We do not have staff to hold students past dismissal time. It’s imperative that all students are picked up on time. 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 at the bottom of this letter. Elementary students will be in the front of the building near the door in which they entered. Middle school students will be in the back of the building. 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.
Early Dismissal - If you must pick up your child earlier than 2:10 p.m., you must do so before 1:40 p.m. Students are often in transition between 1:41 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. They are preparing to leave by completing exit tickets, gathering their belongings, or reporting back to their classrooms from resource or recess. Consequently, we are asking that parents/guardians refrain from requesting an early dismissal after 1:40 p.m.

Important Upcoming Events

Hamilton’s 2nd Annual Back-to-School Block Party - Saturday, August 13, 2022!

1:00 - 4:00 p.m., Rain date- August 14, 2022 2:00 -5:00 p.m.

We had so much fun at our first annual Back to School Block Party last year and we are excited to host another one. We are still finalizing details so please be sure to check your email and our school website for more updates and information. We will have games, raffles, school supplies, food, face painting, book give-aways, and so much more! We thank our community partner, “Parties by Niecy”, for hosting this event.

Pre-K and Kindergarten- Sneak-a-Peek at Your Seat!- Thursday, August 25, 2022

4:30 pm to 5:30 p.m.

Families will have an opportunity to learn about the pre-k and kindergarten program, meet staff and tour the classrooms. We will also have popsicles with Principal Pouncey in the front of the building starting at 4:15 p.m.!

Welcome Families New to Hamilton -Friday, August 26, 2022

1:00 p.m. - 2: 00 p.m.

Families new to Hamilton will be able to come to visit their classrooms. Teachers will not be available to meet, but you will be able to take a tour of the building to see the classroom space. We want to provide our students new to Hamilton an opportunity to see the building before their first day of school.

First Day of School - Monday, August 29, 2022 @ 7:30 a.m.

First day of school for students. Please see the first day logistics section below. We want to limit the number of people in the building due to Covid-19 Health and Safety concerns. As such, on the first day of school, staff will come outside to greet students. Students will then be escorted into the building by Hamilton staff. Families will drop off students outside of the building.

Scholastic Book Fair- September 12-16th, 2022

Scholastic is a fundraiser for our school. Students will get a chance to view the books in advance. Then, they can bring money in to purchase books, you can put money on an account for them, or purchase them online. More information will be given as we get closer to the event.

Elementary School Back-to-School Night- Tuesday, September 13, 2022

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Back-to-School Night for all grade levels will be in person! We will share more information in the coming weeks. Please plan to join us in person to learn about all of the amazing things happening at Hamilton!

Middle School School Back-to-School Night- Wednesday, September 14, 2022

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Immunizations

7th-grade students need 1 dose of Meningococcal (MCV4) and 1 dose of T-Dap.

Kindergarten students need 2 doses of Varicella and 2 doses of MMR. Students who are out of compliance will require these immunizations to avoid being excluded from school in September. Please read the following to ensure you are in compliance:

Families are advised to make an appointment with their primary care facility as soon as possible. If they are unable to get an appointment with their primary care provider, they may seek alternate locations, see below.
The Baltimore City Health Department TIKE Immunization Clinic is open in August on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. The TIKE clinic has 36 available appointments each of those days. As we get closer to the first day of school, those appointment times will fill up quickly.
The Rales school-based health center at KIPP Baltimore (2000 Edgewood Street) continues to offer immunizations to students that attend a Baltimore City Public School.

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_QjMiAeFqOftiRBMcfMQ/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. Please direct all questions straight to FFG.

Safety Protocols for the Fall

Here is the most recent Health & Safety Protocol for Fall 2022 from the School District’s website:

Baltimore City Public Schools is excited about fully reopening to all students in all grades. Most students will return to their classrooms. 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. A schedule is available here. Please access this flyer to see the schedule.
Face coverings: Face coverings will continue to be optional.
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.

Supply List

We have released the school supply list. The school supply list is under the tab labeled "School Year 2022-2023" on our school’s website and attached to this letter. I understand that many of us are experiencing extremely challenging times. Please reach out to your grade level administrator or myself if you need assistance with the school supply list.

Middle School Addition: All 6th - 8th grade students need a lock for their locker. You can purchase a combination lock or a key lock. If you get a key lock, the extra key must go to your child’s homeroom teacher. If it is a combination lock, your student must give a copy of their combination to their homeroom teacher. This is to ensure that students have access to their combinations in case they lose or forget their combinations or keys.

Uniforms

Hamilton students are required to wear school uniforms. We also have information related to our school uniforms on our school website.

Top: Burgundy shirt.

(Elementary School)Bottoms: 4 options- Khaki pants, Khaki shorts, Khaki below-the-knee skirt, burgundy, and gray plaid below-the-knee uniform skirt.

(Middle School )Bottoms: 4 options- Black khaki pants/slacks, Black Khaki shorts, Black Khaki below-the-knee skirt, or (khaki-colored (tan) bottoms for this school year only). Middle school students will be transitioning to all-black bottoms. Jeans are not allowed. We understand that many families have already purchased uniforms for the upcoming school year. As such, middle school students will be permitted to wear khaki-colored (tan) bottoms during this transitional school year (22/23). Jeans are not allowed. Starting school year 23/24, all middle school students will be required to wear black bottoms.

Dresses: 2 options- Khaki uniform below the knee dress, gray plaid below the knee uniform dress.

Sweaters/ Hoodies/Cardigans/Blazers: 1 option- all sweaters, cardigans, blazers, or hoodies must be burgundy only. No other colors will be permitted to be worn during the school day.

Class Assignments/Schedules

Class assignments will be available after August 24, 2022. You will be able to look on the parent portal starting August 24th for homeroom assignments. If you have never set up a Parent Portal account or need to add a new student, please email Mrs. Chalk a lchalk@bcps.k12.md.us or Mrs. Randall at lharris04@bcps.k12.md.us for the Parent Portal Activation letter. If you have already set up your account, but forgot your password, you must call 443-984-2000 to get it reset. If you are unsure, request the activation letter first. This is the website: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/campus-portal

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.

First Day of School Logistics:

All teachers will be outside to greet students on the first day of school. Teachers and staff members will help direct you and your child to the correct entrance. Parents will drop off their students outside of the building. Elementary students (1st - 5th) will enter through one of three entrances in the front of the building. Middle school students (6th - 8th) will enter from the back of the building.

Pre-Kindergarten and Ms. Gray’s Kindergarten class will meet inside the “tot lot” located at the rear of the building near the playground. (Fenced in area)

When facing the front of the building, Ms. Roberts’ Kindergarten and Mrs. Riga’s class will wait at the door to the right of the flagpole. There are green squares on the ground to direct students to the correct door.

Grades 1-3 will line up at the door to the left of the flagpole where there are blue triangles leading to the door. Grades 4-5 will enter at the main entrance in front of the flagpole where gold and burgundy circles are on the ground.

Middle school will line up in the rear of the building. All middle school students will line up according to their homeroom number which is on the ground outside. For example, students in homeroom # 603 will line up behind the “603” sign which is spray-painted on the ground.

It is imperative that parents set up a Parent Portal account not only for the homeroom assignment but also to check grades and report cards throughout the year. If you have called for help and still do not know the homeroom your child is in on the first day, we will have teachers and staff available to help you and your child locate the correct homeroom.

* Please note that due to safety concerns, parents will not be permitted to walk children to their classrooms. We are holding pre-kindergarten and kindergarten orientations and a “Sneak-a-Peek at your Seat” for students new to Hamilton in order for parents to see the building and classrooms.

I thank you for taking the time to read this entire letter (smile). Please know that we hear you and we are working to ensure you receive the most updated information. We will continue to provide ongoing updates throughout the school year. Our theme this year is, “Ubuntu”. Ubuntu is a South African philosophy when loosely translated means, “I am because we are.” If I have learned anything from the past year it’s that we are all connected. I hope we can work together this upcoming school year and build off of the incredible work we have already started. Our community and families are our hearts and we value our bonds with our village. We are truly stronger together. We want our students, staff, and families to continue to shine bright this school year. We will build on these relationships 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. We look forward to an amazing year with you all.

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 within 48 hours.

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

School Website: https://www.hamiltonelementarymiddle.org/

Highest Regards,

Natasha Pouncey

Principal

Home of the HAWKS!

💗(HEART)work is (HAWK)work

I am because we are.