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Weekend Update!
Friday January 5th, 2024
Good Afternoon!
Welcome back! I hope you all had a terrific break with your families, possibly celebrating Christmas, Kwanza, and/or a New Year! I hope you and your children feel recharged and inspired to begin the second half of the school year. It was great seeing everyone back in school!
Enjoy the snow this weekend- stay safe and warm!
Please See The Following For Next Week And Beyond!
Crosstown Showdown III !!!
Get ready to rally and soar on Jan 20th as the Hillcrest and Madison Middle School teams collide in an adrenaline-pumping doubleheader on the varsity basketball court at Trumbull High! This isn't just any showdown—it's the Crosstown Showdown, where our boys and girls basketball teams will go head-to-head against their arch rivals in a battle for supremacy.
Here are three ways you can be a part of the action-packed event:
1️⃣ Spirit Wear Alert! Elevate your game day experience by snagging custom spirit wear. Hurry, purchase by 1/8 for delivery before the game on 1/20. Show your team pride! https://salt-n-rays.square.site/ct
Make sure to include your student's first name, last name, and grade, and school when purchasing spirit wear for hassle-free, in-school distribution before the big game
2️⃣ Volunteers & Donations Needed! Want to contribute? We're seeking volunteers and donations to make this event a slam dunk! Your support matters - sign up today or contribute what you can! [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4DABAC22ABF49-47025867-crosstown] 🙌
3️⃣ Ticket Sales Are Live! Don't miss the showdown! Secure your spot by purchasing $5 admission tickets in advance. Witness the electrifying matchups on game day! [https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/f5ef3b5b-960d-429d-be46-fc72fe28c2e1/events/d5e0c1a4-1b8c-43bd-a459-88b8d4467be7 ] 🎟️
🔥 Schedule Alert: The showdown kicks off with Hillcrest taking on Madison's girls at 3 PM. Then, brace yourselves for an intense face-off between Hillcrest and Madison's boys at 4:30 PM!
🔥 Special Guests & Entertainment: Join us for an extraordinary event! First Selectman Vicki Tesoro will be there for the tip-off. The Hillcrest and Madison Orchestra will serenade us with the national anthem, and our very own Mr. Alterman will provide the thrilling play-by-play commentary. Plus, catch all the excitement as the event will be televised on Trumbull TV!
Let's make this showdown legendary! Grab your spirit wear, lend a hand, grab those tickets, and join us for an unforgettable day of basketball action! 🌟🏀
Click on the link above to learn more about Senator Murphy's essay contest!
24-25 Budget Process
Next week our budget discussions begin with the Board of Education. The first meeting is January 9th at 7:00 PM and as always you may attend the meeting in-person or on-line. Below are links to the superintendent's recommended budget which includes an infographic that summarizes the budget request. The budget meetings begin in January with the BOE but then continues to the Board of Finance (March) and Town Council (April) to complete the process. We look forward to your engagement with the budget process for the 2024-2025 school year.
Join Us on LivFree Day: TPS Community LivFree Shirt Fundraiser!
Dear TPS Community, starting on Wednesday, January 3rd, we are launching a fundraiser selling LivFree shirts to support children and families fighting pediatric cancer, with the sale ending on Saturday, January 13th. These shirts symbolize our support, and we encourage everyone to proudly wear them on LivFree Day, February 2nd, to show our collective solidarity. You can purchase a LivFree shirt, available from January 3rd, and help spread the word to make a meaningful impact. Join us in bringing joy to those facing pediatric cancer and wearing your hearts on your sleeves, both figuratively and on LivFree Day. The flyer can be found here.
For volunteering opportunities or more information, please reach out to katrina@livfreetoday.org. Thank you for your support.
iReady Assessment
The Trumbull Public Schools use an independent diagnostic assessment, iReady, to provide data on the growth and needs of our students in numeracy and literacy. All middle school students will take these assessments three times per year. The math iReady has been scheduled to Thursday January 11th. On Wednesday January 17th, all students will take the reading iReady. Please remind your children to bring in earbuds/headphones for this assessment, and to charge their Chromebooks the night before
Valentine's Grams
Valentine's Day is near, and we need your help to spread love! Join us in wrapping, organizing, or delivering gifts at school. Your contribution counts! We're seeking a committee chair and volunteers to orchestrate this love-spreading mission—could you be the heart behind it all? Sign up here: https://hillcrestmspta.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/121800
Next PTA Meeting
Mark your calendars for our upcoming PTA General meeting on Thursday, January 11. Stay tuned for the agenda items!
This exclusive event is for our PTA paid members only. Haven't joined the party yet? Visit https://hillcrestmspta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/9394 to pay your way in.
Yearbook News
Last day to personalize your yearbook with your student’s name is January 26th. You can order online, and for orders over $30, pay in 3 equal installments at no extra charge! .Hillcrest yearbooks can be ordered at http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01090300
Student Spectator Expectations
We are excited that another basketball season is underway! We have been fortunate to have a great deal of attendance at our games, along with some wins to start the season! We would ask that you review this letter with your students to go over our spectator expectations. Thank you!
Save Club Bottle Cap Collection
The S.A.V.E club is collecting white and green bottle caps and tops in order to create a mural. Please put all caps in the box located on the stage in the cafeteria.
What Are We Reading at Hillcrest?
1.“Middle schoolers have always been flustered by mixed messages. But in today’s world of infinite suggestions, we must be even more clear and consistent with what we mean and expect at school.” This is a quote from the article (found here) that the staff read this week. The author, jack Berckemeyer, is an outstanding educator, author, and humorist, that Katie and I had the fortune of meeting and chatting with a few months ago. Enjoy this terrific read!
2. Mrs. Laird and I are currently reading Middle School Superpowers by middle school counselor, Phyllis Fagell. This is a fantastic book, especially for parents of middle schoolers, that provides terrific strategies and talking points as we navigate through these complex and formative years.
Stay Connected with the PTA!
Want to be the first to know when fun student activities are happening? Or where to buy Spiritwear? All PTA information can be found on Membership Toolkit. Sign up today at https://hillcrestmspta.membershiptoolkit.com
Drop Off/Pick Up Procedure
As a reminder, please be cautious of the students who are walking to school as you are driving through our parking lot and campus.
Safety
We strive on a daily basis to provide a safe environment for all students, and to promote safe practices with them as well. We will continue to educate students about what safe behavior looks like and what our expectations are for safe behaviors. We see this as a partnership with our families. I ask that you please remind your children to be kind to each other, to keep their hands to themselves, and that there is never an acceptable time or moment to use slurs of any kind. This article from the American Psychological Association gives families tips on how to potentially address way to have these discussions.
Hillcrest on Social Media!
Did you know that Hillcrest has its own Instagram page and Twitter feed? Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/hillcrestmshawks/. Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/HMSTrumbull/ . This is a great resource for families to get a glimpse of day to day life at Hillcrest!
Volunteer Forms
If you think you may be interested in volunteering at some point this year for a Hillcrest event, please fill out this form and return it to the main office. Thank you!
Bus Tracker
If you are interested in using the Durham Bus tracker app, directions can be found here.
Infinite Campus
Please see this flyer on helpful tips to navigate the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus.
Mr. Bryan Rickert
Email: brickert@trumbullps.org
Website: https://hms.trumbullps.org/
Location: Hillcrest Middle School, Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull, CT, USA
Phone: 203-452-4466
Twitter: @HMSTrumbull