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HMS Connection
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Week of April 3, 2023
HMS News
Greetings from HMS
This week marks the beginning of our MCAS testing for the year, and we would like to remind students and parents of some important things to keep in mind.
First, make sure your Chromebook is charged and ready to go!
Students recently performed a device check in their homerooms and we believe they should be in good shape for testing, but if they’re not charged and here in school, it really doesn’t matter if they work! Please make sure of this for each day of testing.
Second, make sure YOU’RE charged and ready to go!
Get a good night’s rest, eat a healthy breakfast, bring a healthy snack, and come to school ready to work. We want you in the best possible frame of mind when you complete these assessments, and that starts by taking care of yourself.
Finally, be here and be on time!
Testing will begin promptly during A block each day, and students arriving tardy make it difficult to get the testing started. Additionally, students who are absent will need to make up the assessments upon their return and miss more class time. Please try to avoid any unnecessary absences.
While we consider these assessments to be important measures of both the school’s and the individual student’s progress, we also want to remind families to keep them in perspective. We believe our teachers have done an excellent job preparing our students for these exams, and we are sure they will take them seriously and do the best that they can.
World Culture Club
Recently, the World Culture Club gathered to learn about and share elements and traditions of Jewish culture. Sixth grader Hannah Hoch led the activities. Attendees played a game where they hid a matzah, learned how to spin the dreidel, practiced writing in Hebrew, and tried snacks made by Hannah (chocolate-covered matzah), and Madame Weiss (Hamantaschen).
We hope you can join our next meeting!
And Justice for All . . .
HMS 8th Grade U.S. History & Civics classes had a special day last week, learning about their civic duty from real life justice and the Jury Commissioner's Office. The morning classes had the privilege of having Massachusetts Superior Court Justice Katie Rayburn come and speak to them. She shared her educational and professional voyage to get where she is today, as well as shared her experiences on many high profile cases, both as an attorney and justice.
Later in the day, the afternoon classes got to learn everything they ever needed to know to prepare for Jury Duty from the Jury Commissioner's Outreach Program!
Grade Eight DC Trip
Attention all parents of 8th Grade students traveling to Washington DC. An email has been sent including a link to a form for you to complete prior to April 7. This form provides you with necessary trip information as well as provides the trip nurses and admin team with information to ensure the safety of your child on the trip.
The link can also be found here:
https://forms.gle/wdbq6nHnR551e8iG7
In addition, there will be a mandatory meeting for travelers and parents at 7pm on Thursday, April 13 in the Middle School auditorium to go over travel arrangements and last minute details. Please plan to attend.
Grade Eight Civics Week Forms - Local Activities
For those students who will be participating in Civics Week locally, please be sure you have read and completed the forms previously shared regarding the scheduled activities.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Grade Seven Students - Reminder
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) will be administered to all seventh grade students at Hingham Middle School on April 5, 2023 during their World Geography classes. This survey, which is administered every year, is an anonymous questionnaire that asks students a wide variety of questions about health behaviors, including diet, exercise, drug and alcohol use, sex education, mental health, violence and safety. The YRBS is designed by the CDC and is also used by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to collect health data statewide.
The survey is instrumental in shaping health, physical education and counseling curricula and helps the district design programs that meet our students’ unique needs. Data collection is also a requirement when applying for grants that would enable the district to obtain funds to support these important curriculum areas. Survey results help us to monitor the programs that are implemented, and we can compare local results to other districts and the state as a whole.
The YRBS is a voluntary survey in which parents have the right to exempt their child. To preview the survey click on this link: YRBS HMS 2023
If you would like to exempt your child from taking the survey, please submit the request to Mr. Smith no later than April 3, 2023 by emailing dsmith@hinghamschools.org
The Green Team harvested lettuce and basil from the hydroponic system. We made nut-free pesto with the basil by blending it with olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
You Say You Want an "Evolution" . . .
Grade Seven students have been working on their family trees through the study of human evolution. Team Great White Sharks travelled back in time in their studies, while the Barracudas compose portraits of early humans and had a "gallery walk" to learn from each other's work.
Ask your seventh grader to tell you what set each of these groups apart from the others.
Collecting for Catie's Closet EXTENDED!
In addition to supporting Cradles to Crayons, we also have students who are working to support Catie's Closet.
From March 20 through APRIL 6, we invite you to donate clothing and toiletries to a great cause- Catie's Closet. Catie's Closet transforms unused areas inside schools into safe, welcoming spaces where students in grades preK-12 can discreetly shop, free of charge, for clothing, toiletries, and other necessities. Catie's Closet serves schools where 50% of the student body lives in poverty and endures challenges such as homelessness, foster care and refugee transitions, mental and emotional health struggles, and isolation. By providing free, in-school access to clothing and basic necessities, Catie's Closet builds student confidence and improves school attendance. Bins for donating items will be located inside the front doors of HMS. Please click the attached flyer for needed items and more information.
Art from Around the World
Students in Spanish classes explored the ‘Art Beyond Borders’ exhibit in the halls of HMS this week. They enjoyed discussing the different messages including, ‘the universal language is art’, ‘creative spirit is the common bond uniting the human family’, and ‘imagine creating a peaceful future’.
Thank you to Mrs. Goldman and Mrs. Ciocca for bringing this Exhibit to HMS, and thank you to the Hingham Education Foundation for supporting this exhibit through a generous grant.
HMS Program of Studies and Course Selection Reminders - Override Final Notice
As a reminder, course recommendations have been posted for students and parents to review.
The course selection window is now closed
Any HMS student (grades six, seven, and eight) who wishes to override a teacher recommendation MUST complete and submit the Hingham Middle School Parental Request for Recommendation Override form found on our school website under "Resources". This form must be completed by April 6, 2023. You can find the override form for all middle school students by clicking here.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this process.
Learning to Lead
A group of fifteen seventh and eight graders traveled from Hingham to the Essex Agricultural and Technical High School in Danvers to join middle schoolers from across the state for a day long conference entitled "Learning to Lead". The day focused on developing leadership skills and working with others to overcome some fun challenges. With aspiring leaders like these ones, we know that our future is in good hands.
Thanks to the members of the GSA who contributed these delicious treats to our faculty breakfast. We're "lucky" to have great people like this in our school!
Week-at-a-Glance and After School Opportunities
Please take a look at the attached Week-at-a-Glance document to get an idea of what we have to offer next week, as well as our comprehensive list of activities, when they usually occur, and how to obtain additional information about them.
We also want to remind students and families that we provide late buses for students staying after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Please remember to pay your activity fee if your middle-schooler plans to take part in these programs.
We hope to see you after 2:00!!!
Important Dates
MCAS Testing Begins. Please see Dates Above.
April 4 - Term III Ends
April 5 - Term IV Begins
Early Dismissal; 11:00 AM
April 7 - No School (Good Friday)
April 15 - 23 - April Break
Community News
Important MassHealth News
Families who use MassHealth will need to renew their coverage this year, including children. If this pertains to your family, call 1-800-841-2900 or visit masshealthrenew.org to learn more about what steps you need to take.
Downtown Hingham Family Scavenger Hunt Saturday, May 6 from 1-3 PM
This fun, community-building event is open to all Hingham students and their families. We will gather in the St. John’s parking lot at 172 Main Street in Hingham for a 1 pm start to the hunt, prepared by Hingham Historical Society interns. The event will include lunch at Morrell’s BBQ back at the church. Hope to see you there! This event is free, but registration by April 28th is required. See link to register.
Action!
Student Filmmaking Class Open
In this class, students will bring creativity to life in a fun, collaborative and exciting environment. They will learn skills in scriptwriting, storyboard sketching, improvisation and camera skills. Students who have previously participated in our program will be able to expand on their filmmaking skills.
Together they will write, shoot and edit a film in a genre of their choosing and edit their project together using the professional editing software Adobe Premiere.
All projects made in the class will be submitted to the Boston International Kids Film Festival for an opportunity to be selected and screened in November of 2023! For any questions, please contact: Natalia Morgan, Program Coordinator natalia@filmmakerscollab.org
Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
Set Sail with Hingham Maritime
Hingham Maritime Center is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide "Boating For All". Our center allows for youth and adults to enjoy the watersports of rowing and sailing on the protected waters of Hingham Harbor. You don't have to choose sailing or rowing; you could give both a try. For example, our Intro to 420 sailing class 9:45 am-12:15 pm could be followed up with a 1:00pm-2:15pm youth rowing class. Whichever you choose, we can assure you there will be water-based fun involved. Too choppy to row? No wind for sailing? Our new paddleboards will ensure that we can play in even more conditions. Join us this summer and find out for yourself what a joy life on the water can be.
Free Art Program at South Shore Art Center for 7th and 8th Graders Over April Break
The South Shore Art Center in Cohasset is offering a spring art intensive program for seventh and eight graders over the April break, "Me, Myself, and Eve." Students will build skills in drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media to explore the self, their community, and the world around them with professional artists and mentors, and includes a trip to the ICA in Boston. More details and apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvIhSuGfQPvl9gieaTpugkX5MyXOfyWMNI4Thldzlsuz6luw/viewform