Students from schools across Massachusetts were honored on April 28^th at the Fitchburg Art Museum for placing at the state level of the National Reflections Program competition.

Sixteen Hopkinton students placed at the state level and received awards for arts excellence and achievement through the National PTA Reflections program.

Three students placed first in their categories:  Helen Gao, Matthew Paolucci, and Sean Walker.  These students will move onto the national level of competition.

We are very proud of all our state winners and excited for those competing at nationals.  Results should be available by the end of May.  We wish them the best of luck during this competition.

Reflections is a national arts-based program that encourages students to express their creativity across a theme and through a variety of mediums.  This year’s theme was “Diversity Means…”.  The program competition begins at the local level with winners moving onto state and then the final, national level.

Winners pictured above at the Fitchburg Art Museum: (Back Row) Matthew Paolucci, Abigail Furlong, Alexandra Holmes, Jacob Burden (Front Row) Sean Walker, Sarah Kang, Ailene Barry, Mirabella Paolucci, Hannah Ianelli, and Catharine Barry. Additional Hopkinton state winners not pictured: Allison Chen, Sam Chirco, Melanie Cole, Mia Coutinho, Katie Litchfield, and Helen Gao

Students from schools across Massachusetts were honored on April 28th at the Fitchburg Art Museum for placing at the state level of the National Reflections Program competition.

Sixteen Hopkinton students placed at the state level and received awards for arts excellence and achievement through the National PTA Reflections program.

Three students placed first in their categories: Helen Gao, Matthew Paolucci, and Sean Walker. These students will move onto the national level of competition.

We are very proud of all our state winners and excited for those competing at nationals. Results should be available by the end of May. We wish them the best of luck during this competition.

Reflections is a national arts-based program that encourages students to express their creativity across a theme and through a variety of mediums. This year’s theme was “Diversity Means…”. The program competition begins at the local level with winners moving onto state and then the final, national level.

Read more…

Nine students, representing three schools, and seven grades, submitted the winning entries and an accompanying essay question, “Why is healthy eating important to you?”

Judging by the essay responses, Hopkinton students are on the right track. Some of the responses included:

“Eating healthy is important to me because it is part of a fun, playful, feel-good lifestyle. I think that eating healthy should not mean giving up taste and joy.” – Aren, Grade 5

“Healthy eating is important to me because it helps your body be strong, and will prevent diseases.” – Eva, Grade 5

Healthy foods and healthy eating helps me get strong. I like getting strong because then I will be more protected from things that are dangerous, like germs.” – Mikayla, grade 2

“Healthy eating is important because it makes us feel better and we are able to do more in life when we are healthy.” – Michael, grade 3

“It keeps my organs healthy and my muscles strong. My skin feels smooth and keeps my weight just right for my age.” – Tara, grade 3

The Elmwood School winning entries included “Winter Worms”, a team effort by second grade students Kate Dion, Grace Joy, and Hannah Hutchins; and “Stuffed Shells” by third grader Geneva Sanga.

The Hopkins School winning entry for fourth grade was “Turkey chili burritos” by Sarah Wilme. The winning entry for fifth grade was “Fruit and yogurt sundae” by Abigail Jaye.

Hopkinton Middle School winning entries included “Hoisin Chicken Wrap” by sixth grader Chris Rowell; “Garden Fresh corn, tomato and black bean salad” by seventh grade student Rachel MacIntosh; and ” General Tso Chicken version” by eighth grader Austin Schofield.

The student recipe contest was open to students in grades 2 – 8 at Elmwood School, Hopkins School and Hopkinton Middle School. Winning recipes will be featured on the menus in the student chefs’ school cafeterias. Student chefs have also earned the opportunity to work with Hopkinton’s “Chefs Move to School” celebrity chefs in their school cafeteria.

The contest is part of a year-long partnership between the Hopkinton School District and celebrity chefs Andy Husbands and Chris Hart. The partnership will bring the chefs’ culinary creativity to the school food service under the “Chefs Move to School” program. Founded in May 2010, “Chefs Move to School” is an integral part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative.

The premise of the Chefs Move to School program is that chefs have a unique ability to deliver healthy nutrition messages in a fun and appealing way. The program pairs chefs with schools in their communities with the mission of collaboratively educating kids about food and proper nutrition to help improve the way children interact with food, from the cafeteria to the classroom. The chefs will act as consultants to the Food Service Director, and will work in the school cafeterias with the winners of the student recipe contest.

The Hopkinton Public School Food Service Committee, comprised of Food Service Director Sherry Toscano, and members of the HPTA and School Councils, brought the program to the attention of local chef Chris Hart, who lives with his wife Jenny and two children, Ethan and Jaimie, in Hopkinton. Chris reached out to Andy Husbands, his co-author of the BBQ cookbook Wicked Good Barbecue.

Andy Husbands, the award-winning chef/owner of Tremont 647, has been enticing patrons with his adventurous American cuisine at his South End neighborhood restaurant and bar for well over a decade. A James Beard “Best Chef” semi-finalist, Andy competed in the sixth season of Fox Television Network’s Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay – www.tremont647.com
Chris Hart, winner of the Jack Daniel Invitational World Championship in 2009 has dominated the competition BBQ circuit for the past 10 years with his team, iQUE. The team was the first group of northerners in barbeque history to win a championship. In 2010 Chris cooked an elaborate tasting menu at the James Beard House in NYC. In 2011 he competed in the Food Network’s inaugural season of Best in Smoke.

For more information, please contact one of the following Hopkinton Public School Food Service Committee members:

Diane Bird, School Council Representative – birds9@verizon.net

Deb Dionne, HPTA Wellness & Health Coordinator – deborahdionne@gmail.com

Sherry Toscano, Hopkinton School District Food Service Director – stoscano@hopkinton.k12.ma.us

The Adopt-A-Marathoner program, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is an opportunity for Elmwood students to study Kenya, host the elite Kenyan runners, and participate in pre-Boston marathon activities with a pep rally and question/answer sessions.

This year the celebration was held on April 12. The Elmwood gym was filled with waving Kenyan flags, speeches, songs, dancing and lots of excitement. The students, faculty and guests were wowed with the dramatic entrance of the runners through fog and flashing lights in a darkened gymnasium.

The children sang the Kenyan National Anthem, which was so moving it brought some audience members to tears. The runners joined Mr. Keane’s class as they sang and danced together to the song “Jambo, Jambo” (loose translation: How are you? Everything in Kenya is fine.)

Dr. Landman welcomed our visitors from Kenya and recognized our international friendship. This years’ event was even more note-worthy with the attendance of the US Ambassador to Kenya , Elkarah Odembo, who invited us to come to Kenya.

In her last year as Elmwood School principal, Mrs. Silver hosted the event and was recognized by John Hancock for her contribution to the Adopt-A Marathoner program. One of the creators of the program, Silver recognized that her students could learn valuable lessons from the runners such as perseverance, determination, and working hard to achieve a goal.

The event is sponsored by John Hancock, who is actively engaged in making the celebration a truly wonderful experience for all.

Speakers included Hopkinton Board of Selectmen, Todd Cestari, Hopkinton High School Track Team Captain, Nick Giordano, and Rob Friedman, John Hancock’s sponsorship event manager.

Hopkinton school Boston Marathon runners Alan Keller (supporting the Education Foundation) and Gail Welsh (running for Dana Farber) also were introduced.

There was no doubt Elmwood School was in the company of truly special marathon runners who were starting their race on a very happy foot amidst a sea of confetti and hundreds of smiling children!

For video coverage of portions of the Adopt-A-Marathoner program check out the attached links:

http://www.necn.com/searchNECN/search/v/55116160/a-rockstar-welcome-to-boston.htm?q=hopkinton

http://www.necn.com/searchNECN/search/v/55096703/hopkinton-children-welcome-boston-marathon-champs.htm?q=kenyan+runners

Article and photos by Sally Chambers

This HPTA sponsored enrichment program uses theatre to educate and encourage critical thinking.  The show was called “Uprising on King Street:  The Boston Massacre.”

The Boston Massacre was one of the key events leading up to the American Revolution and is a part of the 5th grade curriculum.  Theatre Espresso explored the circumstances that led to the tragedy and recreated the trial of the British troop commander, Captain Preston.

Students acted as jurors, asked questions, engaged in debate and then ultimately voted on the verdict.  The verdict was “not guilty” which was the same conclusion reached during the real trial of Captain Preston in 1770.

The students were completely engaged in what was truly an education in theatre.  If you want to read more about this unique program, please check out their website at:  http://www.theatreespresso.org/.

Article by Beth Herlihy

Read the Elmwood School flyer here.

Hopkins: June 4 – 8 from 8:55 – 3:10

You can purchase books online to support Hopkins School here.

Read the Hopkins School flyer here.

Middle School: May 29 – June 4 from 7:30 – 2

You can purchase books online to support Middle School here.

Read the Middle School flyer here.

Volunteers are needed! If you can help please contact:

For Hopkins:
Allison Cofone

For Middle School:
Kathy Laflash

All HPTA Members, Prospective Members and Teachers are Welcome!

Light refreshments will be provided.

We will welcome the new HPTA Board Members and celebrate the HPTA’s accomplishments, including:

• Recognition of Reflections Entries and Winners
• Recognition of Senior HPTA Scholarship Winners
• Acceptance of a donation from the Colella’s Supermarket/Guida Milk program
• HPTA Year in Review Slide Show

RSVP to Beth D’Alleva secretary@hptaonline.com

See the attached flier.

NEW this Year!
Babysitting by the LEO CLUB.

DATE: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Open to High School seniors to compete.

LOCATION: Cornell’s Field
8:45 AM is the 1st game

Championship game at 5:00 PM

Teams are made up of 10-12 adults (10 min)

$200 entry fee per team. Single Elimination Tourney.

All proceeds to Benefit Hopkinton Public Schools.

Games are 45 minutes or 5 innings long
Tournament Bracket will be posted online by April 21

Click here to register.

Click here for more information.

Purchase raffle tickets to support a great cause and win some great prizes.

Prizes include:

• Private golf and tennis lessons
• Gift certificates to Tri Valley Sports and Abbey Villa Soccer
• Free weeks at a variety of summer camps
• and more!

Click here to see all of the prizes and to get the raffle tickets.

Nine students, representing three schools, and seven grades, submitted the winning entries and an accompanying essay question, “Why is healthy eating important to you?”
Judging by the essay responses, Hopkinton students are on the right track.
Read more…

So far Hopkins room 106 is leading the fourth grade with 1117 tops collected. Fifth grade Room 211 leads with 1415.

Just shy of $800 was raised at Hopkins with the February collection. Mr Martineau will have a book for each member of the top two classes.