News

August, 2023

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and getting some time to enjoy the warm weather with your loved ones. We have had a busy season hosting summer school, planning for the new year and rejuvenating so that we are ready to welcome everyone back to school. The first day of school for students entering PK4-Grade 8 is Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

I would like to welcome all of the families that are new to our school this year. You will now become part of a community that treasures its children and works together to ensure that they get a top-notch Montessori education. We have an active Parent/Teacher Organization and School Governance Council and hope that you will make it a priority to get involved.

Enclosed is the Annie Fisher Montessori Magnet School Compact. This compact was created in collaboration with our School Governance Council, Parent Teacher Organization and School Staff. Please read it carefully and return it to the school confirming your commitment to the guidelines.

Upcoming events:

Welcome Event for all PreK3 and PreK4 students – Tuesday, August 22nd, 3:00-4:00 pm. Join us for an hour of fun! Meet other families and enjoy a puppet show, popsicles and face painting.

Meet and Greet for all students – Monday, August 28th, 3:00-3:45 pm. At this event, you will be able to meet your child’s teacher and introduce your child to the classroom environment.

PreK3s: 

If you are a family of a student starting as a PK3, you will receive additional information about the start date for your child.  Fisher Montessori classrooms start only one new Pre-K3 student at a time.  This allows for our full attention to your child’s entry.  New Pre-K3 students DO NOT start on the first day of school.

Plainfield Street is a One-Way Street:

Plainfield Street is a one-way street from 8:00-9:30 a.m. and 3:00-4:30 p.m. to accommodate arrival and dismissal procedures (see attached map). During these times, cars will only be allowed to travel west from Granby Street to Mark Twain Drive. No vehicles will be able to enter Plainfield Street from Mark Twain Drive during morning arrival or afternoon dismissal.

Schedule:

  • The school day is from 8:40 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. for all-day students and 8:40 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. for PK3 students. On half days dismissal is at 12:30 p.m.

  • Students entering PK3 will be contacted by their teacher regarding a start date.

  • Our doors open at 8:30 a.m.  Before care is available for all students and after care is available for students in grades PK4-Grade 8 through the YMCA. Please contact the Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth and Family Center at (860) 241-9622. You can also email Melody Santiago, Director of Child Development at melody.santiago@ghymca.org.

Arrival Procedure:

  • Car Drop Off will be in the driveway near the train tracks. Staff will be outside to direct students to entrances.

  • Late Arrivals— Doors in the drop off area will close at 8:40. Any child arriving after 8:40 a.m. must come in through the entrances on Plainfield Street. After 8:50, students must be signed into school at the main entrance security desk. Late arrivals will be escorted to the AFM main office and/or classroom by a staff member.

  • Buses will arrive in the front loop of the school. Montessori students will enter through the side door to the right of the flagpole.

  • Walkers will also enter through the side door by the Montessori main office.

Dismissal Procedure:

  • Dismissal for PK3 students is at the driveway near the train tracks at 11:40 a.m.

  • Dismissal for PK4-Grade 8 is at the driveway near the train tracks 3:40 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

  • Buses load in the front loop on Plainfield Street.

  • Walkers exit the school through the side door by the Montessori main office.

  • Procedure for Students Leaving Early: Parents must notify the school by 1:30 p.m. that their child will be leaving early. The cutoff time for picking up students early is 2:30. After 2:30, families will have to wait for the regular dismissal time. When picking up early, parents or guardians will check in with security and the child will be escorted to main security desk by a staff member. 

What to bring to school?

  • Water Bottle: Please bring a refillable water bottle for your child.

  • Change of Clothes: Students should have an extra set of clothes in school in case of an emergency.

Uniforms: 

All students are required to wear a navy-blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, pants, skirts or skorts.  Ensure that shoes are comfortable as your child will enjoy the outdoors daily.  Sweaters must be solid navy blue and have no letters, hoods, pictures or characters. 

Bus Transportation:

Bus transportation is available for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. Bus schedules and stops are based on the addresses listed in our student database and transportation criteria.  For Hartford buses please contact the Hartford Transportation Department at 860-695-8547 or https://www.hartfordschools.org/transportation/.  For suburban buses please contact CREC at 860-524-4077 or https://www.crec.org/transportation/.  If you need to update your address and contact information, please do so immediately by calling our school main office at 860 695-3560. 

Breakfast and Lunch:  Free breakfast is available for all students. Free lunch is available for full-day students. All meals are served in the classroom. Lunch menus are posted in ParentSquare monthly.

Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may not be used, heard, or displayed during the school day. These items will be turned in by students each morning, locked in the office for safe keeping, and returned to students at the end of the day.

Communication: We are now using ParentSquare for communication with families. Please click on the link below to find out more. When signing up, be sure to use the same email as you did when registering your child.

https://www.hartfordschools.org/hps-families-get-your-parentsquare-app-today/

Attendance matters!  Stay on track with good attendance. Too many absences – excused or unexcused – can keep your child from succeeding in school and life. How many is too many? 10% of the school’s year – that’s 18 missed days or 2 days a month – can knock students off track.  

Attendance Line: When reporting an absence, late arrival or early pick up call us at 860-695-4397.  In your message please include your child’s name and teacher information.

Thank you for choosing our school. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns.

Welcome back!

Vivian Novo-MacDonald, Principal
Annie Fisher Montessori Magnet School
Email Us Here
Telephone: (860) 695-3561