MISSION
Hamlin Robinson School ignites the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
VISION
The world class educational program at Hamlin Robinson School is a catalyst for students to discover the joy of learning within a rich, comprehensive school experience.
CORE VALUES
Respect | Responsibility | Purpose | Perserverance
FAMILY ASSOCIATION MISSION
The mission of the HRS Family Association (FA) is to promote belonging, participation, education, and awareness for the families attending Hamlin Robinson School. The purpose is to nurture a spirit of involvement and community between the school and its families and help establish and support programs that create an inclusive and welcoming climate.
FAMILY ASSOCIATION GOALS/PURPOSE
The purpose of the HRS Family Association is to promote:
• Belonging: to help build and foster belonging in the school community;
• Participation: to encourage participation, involvement and a commitment to community service within the school;
• Education: to provide a forum for the Hamlin Robinson community to exchange ideas and work together toward the betterment of the school; and
• Awareness: to support the educational program and operations of the school by increasing family awareness of, interest in, and engagement with the school.
MEMBERSHIP
All parents, guardians or family members of current students attending Hamlin Robinson School are participating members of the Family Association, and may attend all association meetings.
NON-DESCRIMINATION POLICY
The FA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or other legally protected status in admission of otherwise qualified students or in providing access to the rights, privileges, programs, or activities generally available to all students and their families.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The FA Chair may be privy to personal/confidential information in the course of performing their duties. This information must always be held in a confidential and professional manner.
DUTIES
Family Association Chair/Co-Chair (Advancement Director):
• Will work with Hamlin Robinson’s advancement director to create an agenda for the monthly meetings.
• Will attend and help facilitate the monthly meetings.
• Will support school-sponsored and social functions.
Class representative:
• Will serve to facilitate open communications between families and the school, providing updates to the Family Association from their level (templates are provided by the advancement director).
• Will serve as informed ambassadors and advocates for HRS.
• Will support school-sponsored functions and class level social activities in order to promote community and belonging.
• Will serve as a resource to new families.
• Will support faculty recognition activities throughout the school year.
Recognizing class reps may be recipients of questions or concerns about the school, the school advancement director serves as the first resource to ensure accurate and informed information is provided. Ideally, among each class, there is one person designated in each of the following positions but working as a grade level team to collaborate as needed:
Communications Ambassador:
• Will send out regular emails to all the families in their level with information about upcoming events, socials, etc.
Social Ambassador:
• Will organize at least three (3) social activities per school year
FA REPRESENTATIVE JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Communications Ambassador (1 per grade level):
• Stay informed by reading Thursday Thoughts and attending monthly FA meetings.
• Through email and in-person as available, promote annual fund campaign and auction.
• Through email, share FA meeting minutes with parents in your grade level.
• Communicate directly with the classroom or grade level teachers to coordinate volunteers.
• Help recruit volunteers.
• Communicate faculty appreciation information to grade level.
Social Ambassador:
• Coordinate (with other grade level Family Reps) socials (virtual or in-person depending on guidelines) – at least one in the fall, winter, and spring. Socials should be held off-campus.
• Socials can be held on professional development days but should not be held on religious holidays.
• Provide information to communications ambassador to communicate social activities to grade level.
TERMS
The term for the class representatives is one (1) year. The open call for volunteers will begin in the spring and continue in August of that school year. Should any one grade level be oversubscribed with volunteers (more than three), volunteers who have already served a term will be offered a shared position. For volunteers interested in a shared position, the chair should be notified. The chair will serve a two-year term and work with the advancement director to recruit a chair-elect in the second half of the year two term.
FINANCES
Class reps and the Families Association co-chair are not expected to fund any social events or gatherings. Level 1-5 will receive $200 annually to support socials Level 6-8 will receive $250 annually to support socials Please submit receipts to the advancement director for reimbursement.
FACULTY/STAFF GIFT GIVING POLICY
For special occasions (such as birthdays or holidays), students may want to give a gift to their teacher or another member of our faculty. We do not wish to discourage these kindnesses. However, in order to support socio-economic diversity and an equal experience for all our students and staff as well we suggest that a handmade card is a nice way of showing appreciation. We discourage families from giving gifts of a “significant” monetary value. Additionally, we discourage the collection of funds to contribute to one class gift. Per the HRS Employee Handbook, faculty and staff are not permitted to accept gifts that are reasonably estimated to be worth in excess of $50.00. For example: A gift certificate to a bookstore with a value less than $50.00 may be accepted; an all-expenses-paid vacation and use of a summer house may not be accepted.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For a variety of reasons, grade level Facebook groups are not allowed.
MEETINGS
Monthly meetings of the Family Association are presided over by the HRS advancement director and the association chair. Agendas are created and circulated in advance. All meetings of the FA are open to the full membership of the association. Meeting dates, times, and links are posted on the parent portal.