Welcome spring with a multi‐media art exploration! This class will explore: 2D Jasper Johns numbers sculpture, Kandinsky modern art watercolor painting and Chagall surrealism oil pastels. Feel free to send your child with an old t‐shirt or smock to wear over school clothes, if desired.
Grades: 4-5
Dates: Tuesdays 4/3 and 4/10 @ 3:10‐4:10pm in the Hopkins Cafeteria
Cost: $70 for two days
Last day to register -March 30, 2012
How to build a bridge structure in less than an hour. This was the test put forth by Techsploration founder, Tom Wahle, for Hopkins 5th graders during the HPTA sponsored techsploration program – Exploring Structures and Technology.
Students were placed in groups of four and five to build bridge structures such as a truss, beam, suspension and arch. These structures then had to pass the “Godzilla Test,” which meant if they withstood the students shaking them, then they were sound.
The class was then challenged to apply what they had learned to build the biggest and tallest bridge. So the races were off, with the winning bridge standing eight towers high!
Tom Wahle is a certified technology education teacher with ten years of classroom teaching experience. He has been travelling extensively to schools throughout New England since 1997. His unique program brings science and technology concepts to real life situations in fun and exciting ways. The fifth-graders had a blast while they explored the world of bridge engineering.
Article by Beth Herlihy and Kelly Asherman
Winter 2012 Extracurricular Catalog – Open the pdf catalog for class titles, dates, costs and descriptions.
Click Here to Register Online for Extracurricular Classes
(Registration Opens at 9:00 pm in the evening on Thursday, December 8.)
Use our online registration system to enroll your children in our popular, affordable and convenient extracurricular classes. Registration is available on a first-come first-served basis at all schools. At the time of online registration you will be able to see how many spots are left in each class. Our system accepts payments by VISA, MasterCard and eCheck.
Technical Support: Amy Ritterbusch extracurricular@hptaonline.com 508.625.0467
December 8-15 – Early Bird Registration Discounted Rates for HPTA Members Only ($15 off each class)
New members are welcome! You can sign up for membership online at the same time you sign up for extracurricular classes, so you won’t miss out on the discount. Please note that during the last session, we received over 260 registrations within the first hour of Early Bird registration. Many classes fill quickly!
Friday, December 16 at 10:00 am – General Registration Begins
All Classes are Full Price (no discounts)
Open to Non-Members and Members
Friday, January 6 – Last Day to Register for Extracurricular Classes
Week of January 17 – Winter Session Classes Begins
On the evening of Wednesday, October 26, 2011, award-winning author Yoko Kawashima Watkins once again gave a very engaging program at the Hopkinton Middle School.
Kawashima is the author of So Far From The Bamboo Grove, the required summer reading assignment for 7th graders. During the first half of the HPTA presentation, she read traditional Japanese children’s stories. The rest of her visit focused on her life during and after the events of Bamboo Grove.
Her stories were both heart-breaking and inspiring, as she interacted with Hopkinton parents, students and community members. Everyone enjoyed her visit and appreciated her involvement in world peace. We hope to see her again next year.
Article by Natalie Harris
Principal Alyson Geary began back Hopkinton High School’s curriculum night on September 22 by discussing the school being ranked second in the state and 95 in the country in Newsweek’s “Best High Schools in America” report.
Parents then attended seven classes, each lasting for about 10 minutes. Teachers gave an overview of the syllabus, their expectations and their efforts on preparing students for the SATs and AP exams.
For many parents, Back to School Night is the one of the few times they have a chance to meet teachers and other parents. As children move on from elementary to middle school to high school, interaction with teachers and other parents tends to decrease.
HPTA representatives hosted a table by the cafeteria and spoke about the various programs it sponsors. HPTA spends $16,900 in enrichment activities, and $2,200 in appreciation events at the high school.
During the evening Nancy Clark, the high school’s AP U.S. History teacher offered poignant words, which resonated with many parents.
She said, “Students learn best when they are confident in their abilities and stress is limited; and when they work in an interactive classroom filled with energy and enthusiasm.”
Article and photos by Anjali Arora
