HARDY COMES THROUGH FOR FAMILIES IN NEED       

WITH SUCCESSFUL WINTER HAT & GLOVE DRIVE 

Ms. Bax (8th Grade math teacher) reports that Hardy collected over 200 items (hats, gloves, scarves, and socks) to donate to Charlie's Place (men's items) and Martha's Table (women's and children's items) for families in need of winter gear.  Way to go Hardy Hawks!!

middle schools selected by Chancellor Henderson to pilot a gifted and talented program for the 2012-13 school year, using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model ("SEM") designed by Dr. Joseph Renzulli.  

Hardy will receive a full-time gifted and talented teacher to implement the program. Funding will also be provided for professional development for the SEM teacher and for Hardy's current staff  and administration.  In addition, I will be visiting several Howard County schools later this month with DCPS' Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Carey Wright, to observe the SEM program in action.

The major focus of the SEM program is the application of gifted education teaching methods to total school improvement.  SEM provides enriched learning experiences and higher learning standards for all children through a three-step approach: developing talents in all children, providing a broad range of advanced-level enrichment experiences for all students, and providing advanced follow-up opportunities for young people based on their strengths and interests.  SEM programs achieve high levels of student engagement through the development of enjoyable and challenging learning experiences that are constructed around student interests, learning styles, and preferred modes of expression. 

As  I learn more I will be sharing next steps and progress with parents through this newsletter.  Although I am new to Hardy this year, the faculty and staff here have a rich history of integration across subject areas and so I believe SEM will only enhance what already has been occurring.  Perfect timing I believe for Hardy to add another layer of instructional enrichment...thank you Chancellor Henderson and Dr. Wright!

Dear Fellow Hardy Parents:

The first semester grades will come out soon.  This also marks the midway point for our efforts to rebuild a strong parent/faculty team for our students' benefit.  If you have not yet made a contribution or volunteered to help on a PTA project, please do so.  Hopefully the following paragraphs will help you find a target for your treasure or talent.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Palisades Community Fund, we hired a professional website developer who is working with Dr. Mary, faculty members, and our Communications Committee chair to launch a strong school website -- hopefully as soon as next month.  The new website will enable us to keep up with Hardy academics, sports, music, fundraising, and more.   We hope you will regularly visit that communications highway.

As we forecast in our last newsletter, we are pleased to report that 6^th grade parent Michelle Snow has re-established an e-scrip program with Safeway and other retailers.  You will soon receive guidance on how to sign up so your weekly food purchases can benefit Hardy.  This does not add any expense to your purchases -- It is the retailer who donates one or two percent of the purchase to our school.  Talk about easy money!! Noteworthy too, Mr. Chisholm has agreed to perform in a musical fundraiser at Town Hall bar and restaurant in Glover Park, half a mile from Hardy.  You will receive news about that event when details are finalized between a devoted teacher-musician and a generous restaurant owner.  Let's be sure to reward their efforts by attending.

Dr. Mary, our teachers, and the Fundraising Committee are continuing to sort out the top 3 objectives for second-half fundraising.  Recommendations will be received at the February general PTA meeting. That meeting will occur on Valentine' Day, Tuesday, February 14, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. in the school library.  Please give us some love -- your presence at that meeting.  We will also receive reports from our other committees and hear about follow-up with DCPS with respect to the need for athletic fields in the vicinity of Hardy to be more accessible to our teams.

In closing, if you have not done so already, please take a moment to officially join the PTA by filling out a membership form (available at the school office) and sign up for a PTA activity.

With hopes of seeing you soon,  

Your PTA Executive Committee

1/20 - Teacher Record- keeping Day, students dismissed at 12:15 p.m.  

1/31 - Hardy Open House for prospective parents, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.     

2/3 - Professional Development Day for Teachers - No School for Students

2/6 - Parent Conference Day - No School for Students 

2/14 - PTA Meeting,  

8:00 - 9:30 a.m. in the school library. 

mary.stefanus@dc.gov

Loren Brody,

Assistant Principal

loren.brody@dc.gov

Sah Brown,

Assistant Principal

sah.brown@dc.gov