If you have been by school lately, you're certainly aware that the renovations have started! Safety fencing has been put up along Sunnycrest Road, the heavy equipment has moved in, and site work has begun in the front of the school. There are many elements to the renovation, and some of the work will continue throughout the school year and into the next summer. Please make sure to read this letter from Mrs. Harlow updating the community on the work being completed this summer, and see our previous posts for more information about what will be included in the renovations. The PTO Board members will work with the building administration to pass along timely and accurate updates throughout the renovation process. We all look forward to the improved facilities for our students that will result from this project! 

Our annual Gertrude Hawk Chocolates fundraiser is underway! Instructions, order forms, and brochures have been distributed to all students. Order forms and online orders that will be delivered to school are due Tuesday, February 27. See the flyer for full details. For online orders, you must set up a fundraiser account here. The Group Code for online orders is 708137. All sale proceeds will go directly to classrooms! Thank you in advance for your support! **Please note that we do not recommend selling door-to-door.**

We hope everyone had a great summer! The new school year is just around the corner. Students in grades K though 8 start on Wednesday, September 6, and pre-K students start on Thursday, September 7. 

For more information about the start of the upcoming school year, including changes in building staff and policies, please review Mrs. Harlow's welcome letter. 

We hope to see many Huntington families at the Orientation and Back-to-School Barbeque on Tuesday, September 5. Orientation sessions are scheduled for 5:00-5:30 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m., with the BBQ from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. You must attend an orientation session to get a ticket for the barbeque. 

Thank you to everyone who attended a meeting or event, participated in a fundraiser, or otherwise supported PTO this year!

A few items to note as we close out the year:
- Check out Mrs. Harlow's year-end letter highlighting the successes at Huntington this year and the goals for next year. 
- School supply lists for next year were distributed with report cards. 
- Mark your calendar for the Back-to-School Barbeque and Orientation on Tuesday, September 5! Orientation sessions are scheduled for 5:00-5:30 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m., with the BBQ from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. You must attend an orientation session to get a ticket for the barbeque.
- School starts for grades K through 8 on Wednesday, September 6, 2017. 

​Have a great summer! 

Building renovations and site work at Huntington are anticipated to start in 2018. A new playground is proposed as part of the renovations. The District's Facilities Department has provided renderings of the proposed playground, which will include a variety of new play structures, benches and shade umbrellas, and new swings. As proposed, the playground will be in a new location, in the rear of the school just beyond the existing parking lot along the western edge of the back field (opposite where it is currently located). The baseball diamond that is currently located in that area will be moved to the east side of the back field under this proposal. The current playground area will likely be converted to an additional parking area. 

Check out the renderings below. You can also view a site plan here (as if you're looking straight down from above). (Note: the Facilities Department has indicated that an additional piece of equipment called "SwayFun," which is accessible to children with disabilities, will be added to the plans.) 

For more information about the proposed building renovations and site work, see our previous blog post. 

 Due to limited response from students, this event has been cancelled. 

Students in grades 5 through 8 are invited to participate in the Student Talent Show. Auditions are required, and are scheduled for May 9, 10, and 11 between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Students must have a signed permission slip to participate in the audition. See the flier for full details and the required permission slip. Performances must be appropriate for young audiences ("G-rated") and no more than 3 minutes long. Students must supply their own music and props. The show will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. All community members are invited to attend! 

As part of the annual school review process, the administration at Huntington School is conducting a parent survey. You can download the survey here. The survey asks questions about parent interactions with school personnel, communications, student services, and school climate. Your feedback is encouraged! Download the survey and return completed surveys to the Main Office. 

A Community Meeting was held at Huntington on March 23 to inform the school community and neighbors about the upcoming renovations at Huntington, which are expected to start in 2018. Representatives from the district's Facilities Department along with the architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, and construction management firms involved in the project gave a presentation and answered questions. The presentation is now available here for review.  

The total project budget is $22.5 million, with a significant amount of that budget to be spent on accessibility improvements (to address compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA) along with safety and security upgrades.

Proposed major changes include:

• new, secure front entry vestibule;
• new elevator;
• bathroom upgrades throughout the building;
• removal of carpet;
• relocation of the playground;
• window replacements; and
• traffic flow changes around the building, including a "bus loop" in the front of the building.

A proposed site plan and renderings of the front of the building are included in the presentation, along with a more detailed list of interior improvements. 

The PTO Executive Board previously submitted comments on the initial proposed plans (originally presented at our January 19 meeting). 

Do you have additional comments or questions about the proposed plans for the building? Please send comments to huntingtonschoolpto@gmail.com and we will share them with the Facilities Department.