May 29, 2020

Dear Middle School Students and Parents,

Thank you for all your hard work and participation these past seven weeks! I know this year did not end the way we had imagined, but flexibility and resilience are two characteristics that can get you through anything!

As a school, we have learned many things about the effectiveness of our Distance Learning Plan. Even though we don’t know exactly what next year will look like if we do need to incorporate distance learning, we will make adjustments that will improve consistency and communication. There will be a district-wide survey sent to parents to gather feedback sometime in early June.

We want to communicate our plan for returning all school materials including textbooks, library books, student netbooks, art supplies, borrowed calculators, etc. You will also be receiving award packets (if earned) and yearbooks (if purchased).

We have three dates and times where we would like all MS and HS families to drive up and return materials. Please select the date and time that work best for you. The dates are:

6/8 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

6/9 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

6/10 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

(If you are unable to make these times, please contact the building principal to set up an appointment)

Material Return Procedure

1. We ask ALL families to enter the North Entrance by the Middle School.

2. If you have MS students, you will stop near the 6th-grade entrance where you will be greeted by MS school staff. Check in the MS books and materials here.

3. Continue to drive to the back of the MS building where you will have an opportunity to stop by the East Entrance and return choir/band materials.

4. If you are not in choir or band, you will continue to the Athletic Entrance of the Middle School where the Technology Department staff will be waiting to collect all MS and HS netbooks.

5. Finally, you will continue to drive to the back of the HS Gym where you will be greeted by HS staff to check in your HS materials.

6. All traffic will exit the parking lots via the South HS drive. I have included a map on the bottom of this page for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Scott Stockwell

HMS Principal

269.793.7407

scotstoc@hpsvikings.org

Unfortunately, we were not able to hold physical gatherings for our normal 8th-Grade Promotion or All A's Ceremonies this year. We are still very proud of the efforts of all our students and believe they deserve their moment to shine.

We are putting together both a Promotion Ceremony Video and an all A's Ceremony Video that we will post to our website the week of June 8th. Students will also receive their award certificates the day they come in to return school materials (See the previous announcement). We will communicate directions on how to view the videos once they are completed.

5/27/2020

Dear HMS Students and Families,

This school year did not end as planned. We were met with a lot of challenges. And yet we know this will not be our last challenge. You are young and if there is one thing I have learned in life, it is that life is full of challenges. From forgetting homework to forgetting to study for tests, health challenges, to leaking roofs, to no WiFi challenges. But we can get through them. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and take a deep breath to refocus on the problem. Sometimes the problems are so big we just have to step back and look around us and think about the things we are thankful for. Gratitude can take a pretty dire situation and give us hope.

Through this time that you have had at home and future challenges that might come, I hope you have given yourself some goals. Goals to accomplish things, like health, strength, learning, and goals for your future. By working on goals, small and big, it makes the challenges go by faster. When this pandemic/stay at home order started I told a colleague that I was going to work on my bench press. And I did, getting my single rep max up to 266 lbs. I also set a goal of riding my bicycle more. Last week I biked 90 miles and I am hoping to get my weekly average over a 100 as the weather gets nicer. I was also able to take a college course to enhance my learning because you should always be learning. So set some goals for yourself.

I have always had this thought that the keys to a happy life are the three R's 1. Religion 2. Reading. 3 exeRcise. 1. Religion - belief, faith, and prayer can get us through any challenge. 2. Reading - Whatever you are going through someone has written about it so learn from them. 3. Exercise - We need exercise to stay strong through difficult challenges.

When we return to school there still might be some challenges, but it will be okay. We can get through them as well. Especially, if we show kindness to those around us. We know that everyone has had a hard couple of months and if we can show kindness to each other when we return I know we can do anything!

I can't wait to see you again!

So Go Forth and Do Great Things!

Mr. Crook

School Counselor

Remember to pick up your student lunches on Tuesday.

***Correction: Meals will be delivered through June 2nd, not June 5th as previously reported***

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. – Watson Township Hall, Hilliards or Salem Township Hall
10:50 – 11:05 a.m. – Topaz Trailer Park
10:55 – 11:10 am. – Hopkins Fire Barn or Sycamore Elementary
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. – Sapphire Estates Trailer Park
11:20 – 11:35 a.m. – Monterey Township Hall

Attention Parents/Guardians/Staff/Students

Submit your photos to be part of the 2019/2020 Yearbook!!

The 2019-2020 HMS yearbook needs your help! If you have any good pictures of
HMS events, please send them in to Mrs. Aleman. We are in need of photos of
sporting events, especially football, soccer, basketball, and volleyball photos. Also,
if you have band or choir photos, please send them in to KathAlem@hpsvikings.org.

To order your yearbook visit:

www.inter-state.com/yearbook

and enter code: 44165J

Have you thought much about what determines whether today is going to be a good day or not? In conversations with friends and family, I have been hearing questions and feelings of uncertainty, fear, scarcity, and competition. Last night as I sat by the fire, I pondered how our outlooks are impacting our interactions, well-being, and sense of self-efficacy. As I sat and watched the smoke rise, and fire crackle, life seemed to pause. My mind stopped racing, my breathing slowed down, and I began to take in the moment. I saw and heard the awe and wonder of nature......

https://open.spotify.com/show/1AnhCCXD35bkQCNLLrYWWT?si=ieRaa0gKTRq3BCD4zoP68Q

Email: stepcaul@hpsvikings.org
Website: hpsvikings.org
Location: 215 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI, USA
Phone: (269) 793-7407
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopkinsMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @hpsmiddleschool

ATTENDANCE

Please call the Middle School office at (269) 793-7407 within 24 hours of your students' absence. You may leave a message on our voicemail system day or night. When reporting illness, please inform the secretary of the type of symptoms your child is experiencing (fever, sore throat, ect.). If your child is absent 2 days or more, you may request homework. If your student is absent only 1 day, homework may be picked up from their teachers the following day. You may also email absences to jennhitc@hpsvikings.org.

PHONE CALLS

Telephones in the office are to be used for illness and emergencies only.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Please report all immunizations that your child has had so we are able to keep our school records up to date. All new students and all 6th graders must be completely up to date on all immunizations. Contact the HMS office if you have any questions.

MEDICATION

ALL medications needing to be dispensed to students must be supplied from home. The school does not provide any type of medication. All prescription medication must be provided in a pharmacy labeled bottle. Tylenol/Aspirin must be brought to the office in an unopened bottle. All students requiring any type of medication must have a medication form completed by their parents and on file in the office.

CHANGES in Phone Numbers, Home Address & E-Mail

Please inform the office any time there are changes in your address or phone numbers. We need to have this information so we can update our records and successfully contact you if needed.

The Hopkins Public School District Board of Education complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, or disability in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Mr. Gary Wood Superintendent of Schools, Hopkins Public Schools, 400 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI 49328 Phone 269-793-7261.