Family Newsletter | September 16, 2026
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Dear HES Families,
Next Wednesday, September 23, is our first half day of the year. On these days students are dismissed at 12:15 pm, including PreK and half day Kindergarten students. Students will have the option to get a bagged lunch and then have time to eat this bagged lunch or a lunch from home in their classroom before dismissal. Since students will eat in their classrooms, please ensure that lunches from home are nut free.
We look forward to seeing you for HES Curriculum Night on Thursday, October 1 at 6:00 pm! This year, we are shifting the structure of our Curriculum Night so that parents/guardians can experience HES alongside their children. Please come as a family to visit classrooms and learning spaces, connect with teachers, and get a glimpse into what learning looks and feels like at school!
We will begin the evening together at 6:00 in the gym with a brief welcome and an overview of our school goals for the year, and then families will be invited to visit classrooms and spaces throughout the building. Teachers will be available to connect informally and will have curriculum and classroom information available to share. During the evening, we ask that children stay with their parents or guardians. We also want to be sure that conversations about individual students receive the time and privacy they deserve, so if you have specific questions or concerns about your child, please arrange a separate time to connect with their teacher.
Have a great week!
Rebecca and Hilary
Rebecca Katsh-Singer, Ph.D., Principal
Hilary Sturgis, M.Ed., Assistant Principal
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Upcoming Dates
September 23: Half Day, Dismissal at 12:15 pm
Monday, September 28-Friday, October 2: Book Fair on the Stage
Thursday, October 1: HES Curriculum Night, 6:00-7:00 pm
Tuesday, October 6: Picture Day
Wednesday, October 7: Half Day, Dismissal at 12:15 pm
Monday, October 12: NO SCHOOL
Monday, October 19-Friday, October 23: Grade 5 at Nature's Classroom
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School Announcements
 The district has moved from school-based student and family handbooks to one for the entire district. Please be sure to read through the new handbook and reach out with any questions. It can be found on the Harvard Public Schools website under "for Families" or by clicking HERE.
 The 2026 Book Fair is Coming Soon!
Join us Monday, September 28 - Friday, October 2, 2026 as we partner with The Silver Unicorn Bookstore for the PTO/HES Book Fair!
This year’s fair features 215+ book titles, all published within the past 18 months, carefully selected by our very own amazing HES Literacy Coach Kerry Cusick and by Paul Swyndon, owner of The Silver Unicorn. From hardcover and paperback picture books to easy readers, early chapter books,
middle grade titles, graphic novels, MCBS 2026-2027 selections, nonfiction, and activity
books—there’s something for every young reader!
Parent/Guardian Night on Thursday, October 1, 2026, 6:00 pm, to overlap with Curriculum Night. Proceeds from the PTO/HES Silver Unicorn Book Fair support the teachers and staff of Hildreth Elementary and The Bromfield School.
Interested in volunteering: Fall 2026 Book Fair Signup
Questions? HarvardBookFair@gmail.com
Join us Sunday, September 20th 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Bromfield courts for the PTO Pickleball Tournament! Open to adults of all skill levels (open doubles), kids (10 -12) and teens (13+). Registration closes Labor Day September 7th or when all spots are filled. Grab a partner and sign up today for this fun and casual, round robin into elimination style tournament. In addition to supporting a great cause, bracket winners will take home prizes including swag from our sponsor the Marcus Lewis Racquet Center and eternal bragging rights. Register now at harvardpto.org.
Questions to danakoliver@gmail.com
Raindate: October TBD.
Hildreth School Council Parent Member Openings *(Personal Statements Due Friday, September 18th)*
The PTO is overseeing an election to fill 2 open Parent Representative positions on the Hildreth Elementary School Council beginning this school year. The openings are for a 1-year term and a 3-year term (and eligible for re-election, if applicable). The school council, which functions at the mandate of the state Department of Education, is a representative, school-building-based committee, composed of teachers, parents, and community members and is co-chaired by the school principal and a parent representative. The council meets monthly after school and its purpose is to assist the principal in carrying out specific responsibilities. Learn more HERE.
Eligible candidates will have a student at HES during the 2026-2027 school year. Please be advised that if your student leaves HES during your term then a new representative will be elected for the remainder of the term.
In order to be considered as a candidate, please send a personal statement about yourself, which term you are applying for, and your interest in the position to info@harvardpto.org by Friday, September 18th with the subject "HES School Council." Statements should be no more than 225 words and will be used as ballot statements in the election which will be held (if needed) in late September.
Please consider giving back to the school community by running for these important positions. Contact us at info@harvardpto.org with any questions or to ask about other ways to get involved!
 Join the Harvard Schools PTO!
The PTO is a membership-based volunteer organization for HES and TBS. Our primary goals are to raise money to support the student experience, and create programs in support of our teachers, staff, and community, such as Teacher and Staff Appreciation. With the help of critical annual membership donations, we fund over $25K of teacher and staff-requested grants each school year, for stuff like $1K towards field trips for each grade, library books,scholarships, and much more. Please consider joining or renewing your membership today!
 We still have quite a few families that need to update their child's forms in Powerschool for this school year. These forms ensure that we have accurate information about each child. If you have not done so, please fill out these 4 forms as soon as possible:
Demographic Verification Health Information Update Permissions/Agreements Parent/Guardian/Emergency Contact Verification
Click HERE for directions for accessing and completing these forms. Thank you!
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 Registration is now open for the upcoming Harvard Youth Basketball season! Our programs include opportunities for players of all ages and abilities — from our youngest players just getting started to competitive league play and adaptive basketball.
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Grades 3–6: Registration Deadline: October 10th
- Grades K–2: Registration Deadline: November 14th
- NEW! Preschool/Pre-K Basketball Clinic: Starts September 24th
- SEPAC Adaptive Basketball: Registration Deadline: November 14th
Register today at harvardbasketball.org
Zoning 101 & Town Meeting Preview
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
6:00–7:30 PM (doors open at 5:45 PM for pizza)
Harvard Council on Aging, 16 Lancaster County Road
We'll cover the basics of zoning (setbacks, lot sizes, pre-existing nonconforming rules), a short history of zoning, how it's shaped growth in Harvard, and a plain-English preview of this year's zoning warrant articles. There will be time for resident Q&A with town staff and Planning Board members, plus pizza! Questions: planning@harvard-ma.gov
Celebrations Around the WorldThe Harvard Public Library and Arm in Arm are currently building a year-long exhibit called "Celebrations Around the World," and we want our displays to reflect the real, vibrant cultures of our neighbors. Do you have a piece of your heritage you’d be willing to lend? We are looking for items that spark curiosity in children, such as:
Traditional Clothing: A child’s festive outfit or a beautiful textile. Kitchen Treasures: Specialized cooking tools or unique spice tins. Sound & Music: Small instruments or traditional noisemakers. Holiday Decor: This past year, we have showcased items used for Chuseok, Day of the Dead, Orthodox Easter, Golden Week, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Carnival. We welcome ideas for other holidays and from additional cultures.
All items will be kept in locked display cases. We are also looking for Cultural Ambassadors who might want to share brief stories about their items. Our displays are presented monthly from October 2026 through May 2027. This is a beautiful way to help local children connect with global traditions through real objects they can see up close.
Want your Cultural Celebration on display? Have something to loan the HPL in support of a scheduled display? Please contact Arm in Arm at arminarm.townofharvard@gmail.com
Click HERE to check out all the events at the Harvard Public Library.
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HILDRETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Dr. Rebecca Katsh-Singer, Principal
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| 27 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard MA, 01451 | (978) 456 - 4145 |
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