Get off to a good start with the info in NewsLink!  
August 18, 2016
NewsLink is your source for up-to-date stories 
and information about life at Hinkletown Mennonite School.
Alert: Phone Service Outage at HMS

Last Friday, a severe electrical storm went through the area surrounding the school. Despite surge protection and barriers, the school's phone & internet systems were damaged by the lightening. Initially we thought the repairs could be completed quickly. However as the week has progressed, it has become apparent that the repairs are more complex than originally identified. Our internet connection has been restored but our phone system remains inoperable. 

How can you contact the school? 
  • You can reach all faculty & staff by email.
  • To contact Rika Allen or Monica Good at the front desk, email office@hmsk8.org. They will respond by phone or email as soon as possible. 
  • For enrollment or communication questions, call Melissa Beidler at 610-462-8081. 
  • For auction or fundraising questions, call Jody Fausnight at 717-512-8985. 
  • For urgent or academic questions, contact Dawn Landes at 717-799-7900. 
We are working towards a solution by the first day of school. We apologize for any inconvenience this week! A huge thank you to all of our Technology Committee volunteers, particularly Roy Hoover and Greg Hess, who have been working extensively (including some late nights & early mornings) to solve these problems! 

Back to School Night BackToSchoolNight
Monday, August 22, 2016 - 5:45-8:30 pm 

Monday's Back-to-School Night will be a great evening of meeting and greeting new families and returning families, sharing a meal together, and getting oriented to new teachers and new classrooms! 
Don't miss a fun night planned for you and your children! You can drop off school supplies, return informational forms and even get a bus ride!  

5:45-6 pm    Arrival, name tag pick-up 
& 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 &                        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). 

Welcome New Faculty & StaffNewStaff

Mrs. Janelle Zook Cunalata, Music Teacher & Director Janelle & her husband Franklin, and 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, recently returned from living & working in Ecuador. She is fluent in Spanish & enjoys a variety of music styles. Mrs. Cunalata has her master's degree in music education & brings lots of experience working with student in preschool on up. She writes music and particularly enjoys instrumental instruction. One of her string ensemble pieces was performed this summer at a "Music for Everyone" camp in Lancaster. Janelle & her family live in Mt. Joy and attend Laurel Street Mennonite Church. 


Mrs. Beth Miller, bus driver 
Beth Miller will be joining our transportation team as our bus #6 driver. Bus 6 route will cover the Akron area & south this year. Mrs. Miller comes to us with over five years of experience in driving school busses both in Pennsylvania & Florida. She mentions how much she enjoys working with students and making sure they are safe. Mrs. Miller lives in Ephrata and attends Mt. Zion Baptist Church. 
 

Get a taste of the items already donated:  

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!  


 
BETHANY BEACH VACATION HOUSE: For a week or a long-weekend. Sleeps 10-12 in a 2015-built home with resort-style amenities included; 3 miles from the beach. 

CATHEDRAL WINDOW COVERLET: 103"x103"; made by local church sewing circle; donated by grandparents of HMS students. 

OTHER ITEMS: Weekend Getaways in various locations; Hot Air Balloon ride for 2; Refreshing Mountain Zip Line tours; Framed Ephrata Cloister Land Deed lithography prints; 

and much more still to come!  

Watch NewsLink in September for more information on how you can be involved!
 
HMS AthleticsAthletics

First soccer practice. 
Photo courtesy of 
parent Sydney Ropp
Boys Soccer & Girls Volleyball 
(grades 5-8) 
Practices have started for the fall seasons! We're looking forward to seasons of skill-development, team-building and great sportsmanship with  other teams in the Christian Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CCAC). Check out the online sports calendar for game dates & times. . . 


 
Cross-Country Season Around the Corner (grades K-8) 
Watch for information about Cross-Country participation in the first weeks of school! 
Cross-Country is a fun inter-grade activity that includes after-school practices, and races against other runners and schools. 
 
  

If you connect on social media through Facebook, don't forget to LIKE the HMS Facebook page. The HMS Facebook page includes photo updates & happenings from the day-to-day activities to the big events. It is also one of the ways we announce inclement weather delays and cancellations during the winter months.  
Shop & Support HMS Shop
Support HMS through your daily purchases 




You can benefit HMS through your purchases at Amazon.com, Yoder's Country Market, Giant Food Stores, BoxTops for Education & Campbell's Labels for Education. 


Calendar, Announcements & Reminders Announcements
 
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). 


HMS Board of Trustees:  July 11, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes 

Dates to RememberFor more information, including sports schedules, visit the Google-based HMS online calendar.  
 
August 10-12Solid 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 & 25Pre-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. 
 
August 25Middle School Orientation at Woodcrest Retreat 
September 2-5No School - Labor Day Holiday 
September 7Bible Presentation Assembly
   for 4th graders and new students in grades 5-7. 
   Parents are invited to attend. 
Summer Reading Challenge Reward 
   Students turn in Summer Reading Sheets to Mrs. Quirk 

October 7-8 
 

Hinkletown Mennonite School
 office@hmsk8.org | 717-354-7100|  www.hmsk8.org

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