Dear 8th Grade Families,

 

Welcome to our first days of the digital school year! This is a brave new world for all of us and there will be a learning curve, but we are confident that our students will rise to the occasion using the resilience and creativity that they have demonstrated all year. Please have your 8th grader “meet” her advisor every morning at 9AM, starting on Wednesday, April 1. Students can access the Zoom meeting space via an email from their advisors. Our expectation is that all students begin each day by attending morning advisor time, just like when we are on campus.

 

The 8th grade team will streamline our communication with you by sending a weekly update each Friday. Your child is used to using a variety of technology and often looks to myHB on a regular basis for assignments, information, and grades. Being a digital native is helpful! Each student’s My Day page on myHB will be the starting point for all content. Each individual class will have helpful instructions posted on their Bulletin Board.

 

Teachers have regular open office hours during the school day. A schedule will be posted on the 8th Grade Class Page in myHB later today. All teachers will be available for rapid responses via email or video chat from 8:30-9AM and 2:30-3:30PM, as well as one other hour during the day. Like in-school conference periods, these will be times for students to ask questions and receive support.

 

In these early days, we are learning something new every minute! Feedback is welcome and encouraged. We have attached a suggested schedule to help your student plan their day. Each day the advisors will go over a plan with their advisees. Setting up a work space is key. Turning off the phone and focusing during academic work time will be important, as will taking brain breaks and moving their bodies between activities. Think of how many flights of stairs they will NOT be doing! For more information and tips, please visit this link on the HB website, especially the “Creating The Optimal Environment” tab.

 

Thank you for your partnership. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, and suggestions.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nicole Trombetta, 8th Grade Dean

Alex Franceschini (for Lisa Yanofsky)

Jason Habig

Wayne Hatcher

Melissa Nilsen

Renee Van De Motter