Contact Information
- Orin Wear, Principal: 907-892-9402
- Brian Beaudry, Assist. Principal:907- 892-9403
- Amy Hina, Administrative Assistant: 907-892-9401
- Chloe Palmer, Office Secretary: 907-892-9400
- Adam Gehrke, Safety Resource Officer: 907-892-9400
- Tanya Boehm, Safety & Security Coordinator: 907-892-9485
- Virginia St. John, MS School Nurse: 907-892-9406
- Matt Rush, Counselor: 907-892-9407
- Camile Rusher, Registrar: 907-892-9479
Email: hms@matsuk12.us
Website: www.matsuk12.us/hms
Location: 12501 Hawk Lane, Houston, AK, USA
Phone: 907-892-9400
Principal Wear's Monthly Message
Greetings Houston Middle School Families & Friends,
It's hard to believe that May is already here! Every year at this time, I often reflect on how quickly time passes. This is especially true when I consider working with students at Houston Middle School and my own children at home. I read a phrase several years ago that succinctly characterizes my thoughts and feelings during this reflection, "The days are long, but the years are short." This strikes true even more so as children grow older and they transition to their next grade level. It seems they go from needing us every step of the way in Kindergarten to walking alone across a graduation stage to receive a high school diploma. It's also an important reminder to cherish and enjoy as many moments as we can.
As the school year draws to a close, I'd like to thank the entire staff for their incredible work this year. Every staff member at Houston Middle School does his or her part to make sure that this is a great place for students: that they are safe, well cared for, and have the opportunity to learn each and every day.
Also, I'd like to thank the parents and guardians of our students who truly are their first teachers. Without your support, encouragement, and commitment to education, nothing would get done. Your participation and relentless advocation for what is best for your child are essential to his or her success.
Finally, I'd like to thank all of our students who come to Houston Middle School everyday and keep the fire of public education burning bright. You are the reason we exist in our daily roles as teachers, classroom assistants, custodians, food service staff, secretaries, counselors, and school board members. The educational community is built for you.
Have a great summer everyone! We'll see you all back in August
Principal Orin P. Wear
Barbeque and Field Day Event
Hello HMS families, you are invited to our end of the year BBQ and fun day celebration on May 23rd. We will have lunch and outdoor activities to enjoy. Be looking for an email with a link for a sign-up, if you would like to join us and your student, when we have locked down all the details. We love sending our students and staff off with a “fun day”.
Tanya Boehm
SSC
Houston Middle School
(907) 892-9400
All HMS Sports fees are $50 per sport and can be paid online with your School Pay account, or cash or check made out to Houston Middle School in the front office.
All participation forms and physicals must be electronically signed in Big Teams Student Central to participate in any practices. Please contact your student's coaches with any questions regarding game times, changes, locations and practices.
Sports Scheduled Dates and Times are Subject to Change at any time.
Upcoming Track Meets:
5/17 @ Houston Track
5/21-JV Finals @ Colony High School Track
5/22-V Finals @ Palmer High School Track
Greetings Hawk Families,
The count down has officially started! During these last few weeks of school I will be working primarily on scheduling for next year. We will have two tours from our three feeder schools for 5th graders to come and see their new school and select electives. Those tours will be this Friday May 3rd at 10:30 and Tuesday May 7th at 11:30. Meadow Lakes and Willow will combine for their tour on Friday and Big Lake will be on Tuesday. Parents that have students that don’t go to any of those schools and are planning on attending HMS next year please feel free to join us on those dates. If you cannot make those dates and would like a personal tour please call myself or our registrar (Mrs. Rusher) to set that up.
I will be going into 6th and 7th grade classrooms the last week of school to assist students in selecting elective courses for next year. We are excited to be able to offer a full-time wood shop teacher again this year and will be adding a full-time culinary arts teacher as well. In addition, Mr. Reed will be adding another class to his leadership program making a total of one leadership class per grade level. We also will be getting a new full-time music teacher allowing us to offer beginning and intermediate band, choir, drama and beginning ukelele. Mr. Ames will be adding a Media Skills class next year for our 8th graders in addition to two coding classes for 6th and 7th graders. And of course, we are always super excited about our PE and Outdoor Rec programs that Mr. Swick does a fantastic job with.
If you have an 8th grader and they are interested in getting High School credits over the summer, please see the flyers below for detailed instructions on how to get signed up. Registration opens May 1st.
Matt Rush, LPC
Middle School Counselor grades 6-8
Houston Jr/Sr. High School
(907)-892-9407
Nurse Office News
Planning for next school year:
Medications
All student medications must be picked up by a parent/guardian no later than 2:15pm on Friday, May 24. If your student has medication or inhaler medication stored in the nurse office, Nurse St. John will NOT send them home with the student per MSBSD policy. All medications not picked up will be destroyed prior to the new school year. Please don’t forget!
Also, New Medication Forms must be completed by the parent/guardian and health care provider before each school year. Medication authorization forms expire at the end of each school year. Make sure you make your request to the health care provider before August. Clinics get very busy and may not be able to complete your request if submitted after mid- August. New medication forms must have a start date on or after August 1st, 2024, or say 2024-25 school year to be valid for next school year.
Medication Authorization Forms can be found on the MSBSD website https://www.matsuk12.us/PublicForms
Immunizations
Immunization requirements must be up-to-date before the first day of school attendance in the 2024-25 school year. Summer is a great time to follow up with your child’s primary health care provider, as appointments may be made per your family’s schedule.
Please visit the link for Immunization Requirements for School Compliance
https://www.matsuk12.us/Page/44958
Free Meals for Children
Kids Kupboard will provide free meals during the summer months, beginning May 24. Local pick-up will be announced soon. The current schedule goes through May 23, 2024. Please visit Kids Kupboard website for more locations across Wasilla and Palmer or call (907)357-5439
Virginia St. John, BSN RN - Houston Middle School Nurse
Matanuska -Susitna Borough School District
Ph: 907-892-9406 l Fax: 907-892-9460
Student Chromebooks During Summer
Parent/Guardians,
Students will be taking their chromebooks home over the summer unless they are leaving the Mat-Su Borough School District. If your student will not be returning to a Mat-School school in the fall, please return them to the library the week of May 15th before the last day of school.
Please ensure that your students are using this equipment respectfully and that they are prepared to bring them back to school in August.
- 6th and 7th graders will bring their chromebooks back to the middle school.
- 8th graders will take their chromebooks to the high school.
Parents - There is a goguardian app for parents that you can download to monitor your students. This will allow you to manage chromebooks during the summer months. Look online for the goguardian app for parents.
The lists for Battle of the Books are available in the library. It would be great to start reading over the summer!
Sora is available for summer reading! There are books, audiobooks, magazines, and more!
Don’t let overdue books turn into bills! Help your student return overdue books by checking their library account with them. See the library catalog in Clever. Login with your child’s id number for both the username and password. Please help them return these books!
Adam Ames - Teacher/Librarian Houston Middle School
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Ph: 907-892-9478 | Fax: 907-892-9460
www.matsuk12.us
May Spotlight on Literacy
Family Literacy spotlight for May is: Assessments and how to understand the results
Enclosed this month is a link to support families on their child's assessments they completed this Spring: AKSTAR.
Facts about the assessment: Parent and Family link
As always if you want some ideas and or guidance for increasing your child literacy this is a great resource.
Please feel free to contact Deb Pomelow at Houston Middle 892-9437 for more helpful hints and suggestions.
Deborah Pomelow
Grant Manager/ Literacy Coach
HMS Monday AM 7:15-12:00, Tuesday and Thursday all day
Room 206 907-892-9437
Meadow Lakes Monday PM 12:15-3:00, Wedneday and Friday all day
Room 163 907-352-6182
