Get the details for the first weeks of school!

August 4, 2016

NewsLink is your source for up-to-date stories

and information about life at Hinkletown Mennonite School.

Back to School Night & Family Picnic
Watch for it: Summer Mailing with 2016-17 forms and infor
Landscaping Work Times for Volunteers
Employment Openings at HMS
Summer at HMS: Camps, Reading Challenge & office hours
HMS Athletics for the fall
2016 HinkleFEST & Auction
Bussing & Dismissal Schedules for the first week of school

Back to School Night

Monday, August 22, 2016 - 5:45-8:30 pm

Don't miss a fun night planned for you and your children! Back-to-School Night & Family Picnic is a time where both you and your child(ren) get to meet other families in our school community, share a meal together, greet our teachers, see the classrooms, drop off school supplies and even get a school bus ride.

5:45-6 pm Arrival, name tag pick-up and food drop-off

6:00 pm Welcome, review of the evening, & welcome to new families

Supper and fellowship

6:40 pm Children's care/supervision

6:45 pm Parent meeting time

7:15 pm Dismissal to classroom visitations

8:30 pm Any final meetings with teachers and good-night

Each family brings one main dish and one side dish to share

Dessert, drinks and tableware will be provided by our Parent-Teacher Fellowship (PTF).

Serving with you,

Dawn Landes, Administrator/Principal

Summer Mailing is On Its Way!

Forms & Parent Handbook

Our summer mailing is going out this week! In it you will find lots of information to help you prepare for the new school year as well as forms that help us keep our records current. The cover letter will list the forms inside which can simply be returned with your child during the first week of school.

The Parent Handbook has lots of specifics regarding attendance, transportation, dress code & much more. It is available here, on the Parent Page of our website, and at the top of every NewsLink.

If you have moved this summer and have not alerted the office to your new address, please do so immediately! The bus can not pick up your children on August 24 if we do not have the correct address! The summer mailing will include the bus stop pick-up and drop-off times.

Beautifying Our Campus

Your whole family can help get our school ready for the new year

Spend an evening or Saturday morning at school with your family. . . the Landscaping Committee is requesting helping hands to get the flower beds and mulched areas of our school fixed up and ready for the new school year.

Please plan to join the committee on

Friday, August 12 - 6:00-8:30 pm

or Saturday, August 13 - 8:30-Noon

                  to clean out the flower beds
                  and mulch the playgrounds.
                     Water will be provided.

If possible, RSVP to office@hmsk8.org so we know approximately how many to expect. But if you don't RSVP, you can still just show up to help!

Employment Opportunities

HMS is still accepting applications for the following positions

BUS DRIVERS - for regular routes and substitute

driving. Fill out the "Bus Driver and General Staff Position" application form found on the HMS website and submit to Monica Good, Administrative Assistant.

MUSIC TEACHER - part-time general music, choral and instrumental director. Submit resume and cover letter to Dawn Landes, Administrator/Principal.

VOLLEYBALL COACH - girls volleyball in the fall for grades 5-8. Submit letter of interest to Justin Weaver, Athletic Director.

Final 2016 Summer Activities at HMS

Summer Library Hours


	Get ice cream & recess time in September for completing the Summer Reading Challenge!

The final day for Summer Library hours is tomorrow, August 4 from 9 am-noon. Stop in for your last chance to enter the prize drawing.

Summer Reading Challenge

Students have three weeks to finish out their summer reading forms and win ice cream and extra recess rewards once school starts. Students can turn in their completed forms to their classroom during the first two weeks of school.

Visit the library wikipage for all the Summer Reading Challenge information. . .

Summer Office Hours

For the summer, the HMS office is open from 9 am-2 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. HMS will return to school-year office hours--daily from 8 am-3:30 pm--beginning on Wednesday, August 24. The office will be closed on Monday, August 22, from 8 am-2 pm for All-staff Inservice Meeting.

HMS Athletics

Boys Soccer & Girls Volleyball

(grades 5-8)

The fall sports season starts on August 15 with practice from 6-8 pm. This is open to any interested student in grades 5-8. Students received an invitation and information packet in their class letters. Feel free to contact Mr. Justin Weaver, Athletic Director, at jweaver@hmsk8.org with any questions.

Cross-Country Season Around the Corner (grades K-8)

We are gearing up for another exciting Cross- Country season here at HMS for all interested students in grades K-8! Cross-Country is a fun inter-grade activity that includes after-school practices, and races against other runners and schools.

Practices include challenges to achieve personal goals, opportunities to learn good health habits, as well as time to play fun group games. We encourage all students in grades K-8 to consider Cross-Country as a great way to stay fit and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Registration information will be coming home in backpack mail during the first week of school.

2016 HinkleFEST & Auction
October 7 & 8, 2016

Every family . . . every student . . . every teacher . . . can't miss it!!!

The HMS benefit Auction has always been the school's largest community event. Donated items are already coming in, thanks to a dedicated group of auction solicitors. Volunteers are planning children's activities including the ever popular bounce house and the barrel train from the 2015 auction, along with many others--fun for the whole family!

VOLUNTEERING: With every family volunteering before and during the weekend, there will be both fun and accomplishment in hosting this event together! Watch for the volunteer sign-up in September.

WHAT WILL BE SOLD:

JOHN DEERE TX GATOR: 2013/14 model year, low hours. 18 hp V-Twin Kawasaki gasoline engine. Top speed 20MPH, 600 lb. bed capacity. If you or someone you know is looking for this equipment, make sure they put the auction on their calendar!

OUTDOOR WORK & RECREATION ITEMS: If you know of any items or experiences you think people would love to bid on related to outdoor work or activities, please consider donating them or suggesting them to the planning team. A table is set up in the front lobby for auction donations.

BAKED GOODS: Another way to support the auction is with baked goods. The bake stand will feature, "Recipes from your Family Heritage." Watch NewsLink for more information on how to donate.

MEAT/FARM PRODUCE SALE: Our Friday night auction will feature a meat and local farm produce sale again this year. Contact Dawn Landes if you have an interest or questions about this opportunity.

This is our biggest fundraising event of the year, helping to underwrite both operations and capital replacement needs at HMS.

Calendar, Announcements & Reminders

First Week of School Dismissal Schedule & Transportation

Wednesday, August 24	Pre-K Preview day for Mon/Wed students & parents 9-10 am Parent pick-up	Kindergarten 11:40 am dismissal Bussing provided	Grades 1-8 11:40 am dismissal Bussing provided
Thursday, August 25	Pre-K Preview day for Tues/Thurs students & parents 9-10 am Parent pick-up	Kindergarten 11:40 am dismissal Parent pick-up at Main Entrance	Grades 1-8 2:50 pm dismissal Bussing provided
Friday, August 26	Pre-K - Friday class Regular schedule 9 am-Noon Parent pick-up	Kindergarten 11:40 am dismissal Parent pick-up at Main Entrance	Grades 1-8 2:50 pm dismissal Bussing provided

Bus Notes for 2016-17

If your children will REGULARLY be using a bus stop other than your home stop, you may send in a standing bus note to let the office staff, teachers and drivers know your plans for your children. If you had a standing bus note established last year, please send in a new note to confirm your plans for this school year.

We request that, if possible, bus notes be submitted by 1 pm each day, in order to assist the office staff in compiling the notes for the teachers, bus drivers and supervising staff in time for dismissal. You may send a note in backpack mail, email the office at office@hmsk8.org or call the main office number (717-354-7100).

Dates to Remember - For more information, including sports schedules, visit the Google-based HMS online calendar.

August 10-12	Solid Rock Kids Camp (grades 1-3)
August 22	Back to School Night & Family Picnic
August 24	FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for 2016-17 Early Dismissal - 11:40 am
August 24 & 25	Pre-K Preview Days - for parents with their child Wednesday, 9-10 am - for Monday/Wednesday students Thursday, 9-10 am - for Tuesday/Thursday students
August 25 & 26	Kindergarten Early Dismissal at 11:40 am Parent Pick-up at Main lobby *Please note: Bussing will not be provided at 11:40 am for kindergarten students. Grades 1-8 will be dismissed at the normal 2:50 pm to ride the buses home.
October 7-8	HMS HinkleFEST & Auction

Shop & Support HMS

Hinkletown Mennonite School

office@hmsk8.org | 717-354-7100| www.hmsk8.org

2016-17 school-year calendar | Online Events & Sports calendar | Parent Handbook