MAY, 2013
IMPORTANT DATES
May 1 - 7:00 P.M. – PTO Meeting
May 2 - 7:00 P.M. Kindergarten Circus
May 9 - Morton Elementary Field Day –Afternoon
May 14 - 7:00 P.M. –Grade 5 Recognition
May 16 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
August 15– FIRST DAY OF 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR
BULLDOG OF THE WEEK – CAUGHT YOU BEING GOOD
Students who were chosen to go out to lunch at Pizza Hut with Mr. Berens on Tuesday, April 9 were Blake Ochsner, Jacob Deckert and Tyler Smart. On Tuesday, April 16, Tra’von Noble, Jonathan Lopez, and Isaac Garcia enjoyed lunch at Valentino’s with Mrs. Herbek. On Tuesday, April 23, Gracie Dice, Kade Kranjc and Dulce Lopez enjoyed lunch at Runza with Mrs. Henry. On Tuesday, April 30, Riley Morlang, Tyke Harrop, and Taylon Johnson enjoyed lunch at Burger King with Mrs. Connery. Congratulations to all of these students!!
LOST AND FOUND
A large number of items are now in the school Lost and Found. Lost and Found must be claimed by May 17th. Items not claimed will be given to a local agency.
MEAL APPLICATIONS FOR 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR
Parents will receive forms to apply for free or reduced meals for the 2013-2014 school year, this summer. These forms will need to be completed and returned as soon as possible. All children will begin the school year at full price unless an application is received and approved. Generally the approval process takes 4 to 5 days.
TRANSFER REQUEST
Parents of students currently attending Morton Elementary or another school on a transfer should complete a transfer request for the 2013-2014 school year. All current transfers expire at the end of the school year. Transfer requests are being mailed to parents and will need to be returned to the school office.
HASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Students will certainly want to participate in the Hastings Public Library “Dig Into Reading” Summer Reading Program. Contact the Hastings Public Library at 461-2346 to learn more about the program.
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Summer School provides the opportunity for students to enhance and maintain their learning.
Hastings Public Schools summer school programs and athletic clinics will be offered at various school sites and dates/times. This summer program information, schedules and registration forms have been sent home.
If you did not receive this information, copies are available at the school office.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards will be mailed to students the last week of May. Lunch money will need to be paid in full and also all library books will need to be returned before report cards will be mailed.
GAMES FOR INDOOR RECESS
If you have useable games with all of the pieces and game directions and your family is not using those games at home, please consider donating them to one of the Morton Elementary classrooms. Students will use the games when we have indoor recess because of inclement weather. Sometimes games can also be purchased for a small amount at garage sales. Keep your school in mind when cleaning the game cupboard.
SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM
Hastings Public Schools will offer the Summer Lunch Program at no cost (free) to all children 18 years and under. Lunch will be served at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School from 11:00 – 12:30, Monday through Friday beginning May 28, and running through July 26.
Lunch will not be served on July 4th or 5th. In August the lunch program will be held at the Hastings Police Department (the Zone).
If you should have any questions, please call Susan Gracey at 402-984-4546.
CALENDAR 2013-2014
The School District calendar and the Morton Elementary School calendar of activities for 2013-2014 can be found at the District Website www.hastingspublicschools.org.
EXCELLENCE ACADEMICS AWARD FOR TOP GRADUATING SENIORS
The Excellence in Academics recognizes the top female and male graduating seniors (grade point average) who are alumni of a Hastings Public Elementary School.
The 2013 graduating seniors being recognized as alumni of Morton Elementary School are Tuesday Frasier and Danny Rousseau. These individual’s names will be displayed on a plaque at Morton Elementary School. Dr. John Pershing, a past Hastings Public Schools board member, sponsors this award and plaque.
During the summer families with children in school may be moving away from Hastings or new families with school age children may be moving into your neighborhood.
Registrations may be completed by contacting, Hastings Public Schools Student Services secretary, Gerry Larsen at 461-7578.
SCHOOL LUNCH
As of Thursday, May 3 we will only have 9 days that students could be eating lunch/breakfast this school year. Some of the classrooms may be eating a sack/picnic lunch one day before school is out. Any lunch money that is left over will remain in the students account and be counted for next year. Students will not be allowed to charge any meals after MAY 9. If you have questions about your child’s account, please call Mrs. Bumgardner at 402-461-7545.
FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVERS
Morton Elementary School was one of only 12 Jr. Division (Grade 4 – 6) teams in the state chosen to qualify for competition at the Nebraska Future Problem Solvers State Bowl. During competition students had to complete a twelve page written booklet within a two-hour time frame following the steps of the FPS process on a topic given to them at competition. This required a lot of effort for these students. At State Bowl students are also asked to compose and perform a skit based on parts of their booklet. Congratulations to the Morton state qualifying team who received a 4th place ranking:
Ashlyn Ziemba, Hannah Hafer, Brennan Witte, Olivia Willy, Allison Haller, Grace Canady, Arin Pitt, Isabel Shafer, & Emmy Garcia. Ashlyn Ziemba received 1st place for participation on the alternate team competition.
SPEAKER SYSTEM
Students in room 216 have enjoyed having a Red Cat Speaker System in their classroom, which enables them to hear the speaker clearly. This was made possible by a grant through the Hastings Public Schools Foundation.
ESSAY CONTEST
Morton students who participated in the Adams County Family & Community Education Clubs 5th grade essay Contest included:
1st Place –Dulce Lopez; 3rd Place- Clarisa Torres; Honorable mention –Allison Haller
NEBRASKA WRITING PROJECT
The Poetry of Place contest selected two poems from Morton Elementary 5th grade students Tyler Emons & Grace Canady. They have been invited to be read at the State Capital on May 3.
SUMMER BAND AND ORCHESTRA
Summer band and orchestra will be offered from May 20th thru June 14th. Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced band and orchestra will be held at HMS.
Beginning band instruments include: flute, clarinet, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, and baritone. Students going into the 5th grade may sign up for a band instrument.
Beginning string instruments include: violin, viola, & cello. Students going into the 4th grade may sign up for a string instrument.
Students who played a band or string instrument this year may continue in the intermediate classes.
Registration letters have been mailed. Please fill them out and return to the school office ASAP with a check for $70, made out to HPS. Please indicate on the form if your student will be starting in the summer or fall.
HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ASSURING THE ESSENTIAL,
EXPANDING THE POSSIBLE
