The Hive

March 9th

Happy Saturday!

HMS Families,

We know we frequently say this, but the weeks go by so fast! It is hard to believe that we are already into the middle of March. How did that even happen?

We forecasted this week for the 2024-2025 school year. I know there are many questions, please know that we are slowly working our way through emails asking for clarifications. We appreciate your grace and patience as we navigate planning 470+ individual student schedules.

A huge thank you for participating in our coin challenge and a library fundraiser. It was really fun to see the kids get excited about it throughout the week. We are still not sure if we are going to be pied in the face, and believe me, we have been asking!

Please scroll down for some updates from us!

Have the best weekend!

With kindness,

BC & SS

P.S. Every week in our staff newsletter, we talk about our favorite things that happened this week. Here are some pictures of our week highlights.

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Classroom Visits

Mr. Slom participating in the conversation around chemical reactions.

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Boys Basketball Games

We had a program sweep against Canyon Creek this week!

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Band Breakfast Fundraiser

The best serving staff around!

Spring Conferences: EDITED 3/11/24

We have spring conferences coming up onMarch 28th. Just a reminder that we will have regular school days March 25-27th and then a 3 hour early release March 28th & 29th. These will be arena conferences held in our commons/cafeteria on Thursday, March 28th from 12:45-3:45pm and evening conferences will be from 5:00-7:00pm.

We hope you will join us!

Help Support HMS ASB!

Please consider signing up for concessions for any sport and indicate MS ASB as your preferred recipient. We appreciate your support!

CONCESSIONS SIGN UP

Spring Fling

This is SO exciting!!!! Our leadership kids have been putting up posters advertising for the ASB Fundraising Dance, Spring Fling! Spring Fling will be Hawaiian themed. The kids are over the moon excited for this to happen.

The dance will be Friday, April 12th from 5:00-7:00pm. We will have very strict behavior expectations in order to participate in this experience. We will start communicating those out to students as the dance gets closer. Tickets will go on sale the week before spring break! Details of ticket sales will come from our leadership team.

I always try to be transparent and clear in our communications around all things. Our students and our community is so important to me. I have tried to be as visible and present at as many activities as I can before and after school and on the weekends. Sometimes, scheduling conflicts occur. I do want to let you all know that I will not be able to attend this dance. Don't worry! Mr. Slom will be here, holding down the festivities! My oldest daughter's sorority is hosting a "Ladies We Love" weekend at the University of Montana and she has invited me to attend. As I know all of you can relate, this is an event I really would like to attend.

Comprehensive Sexual Health Education

I sent this out in an email on Friday, March 1st, but I wanted to share this again. I will continue to share this out throughout the next newsletters as well. Some of you have already sent in the opt out forms. If you do not get a confirmation email from myself or Jennifer Sawyer that we have received the form, please know that we did not get the form. Sometimes emails go to our spam folders and get lost, even though we try and check them frequently.

Senate Bill 5395, requires all Washington public schools provide comprehensive sexual health education (CSHE) instruction that meets state standards. The bill defines comprehensive sexual health education as recurring instruction in human development and reproduction that is age-appropriate and inclusive of all students.

As has always been the case, parents and guardians have the right to opt their children out of sexual health education instruction at any time. This is your decision, and I encourage you to make the best decision for you and your family.

The HSD school board, with community and educator input, adopted G-W Essential Health Skills and the Human Sexuality Accompanying textbook in grades 6-12. This is what we use at HMS to teach CSHE. Our unit will run April 8th-April 12th. I have attached a document that contains the opt-out waiver, as well as a detailed outline of the topics covered throughout the lessons. You are welcome to email jennifer.sawyer@hocksd.org if you would like to review or preview any of the materials. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns around CSHE.

pdf

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HMS Sexual Health Waiver_Scope 2024.pdf

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Athletic Director's Corner

Boys Basketball

We will be having our end of season awards ceremony on Tuesday March 12th beginning at 4 pm in the main gym. We hope that you and your entire family can join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our individual athletes, coaches, and teams this season.

Schedule for Monday

March 11th AWAY @ Mt. Solo Middle School - 5300 Mt Solo Rd, Longview, WA 98632

Bus is scheduled to leave HMS @ 1:50 - There is NO return bus

3:30 pm - 7th Grade

4:30 pm - 8th Grade

5:30 pm - Blended

Knowledge Bowl

Thursday 3/14 AWAY @ Castle Rock

Bus is scheduled to leave HMS @ 2:45

Co-Ed Spring Track

Track season is starting soon! Currently we have 53 athletes signed up to participate. Please make sure you sign up and are cleared in Final Forms. We will share more details before spring break!

Thank you,
Sid Slom

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PWT See's Candy Fundraiser

It’s not too early to start thinking Spring or Easter candy!

Our Spring See’s Candy Fundraiser started TODAY and will run through March 15th. You can purchase your See’s Candy today and have it shipped directly to your home or to another address if you want to surprise a friend or family member.

Support Hockinson PWT and order today-March 15th!

Link to Purchase: https://www.yumraising.com/secure/hockinsonp_hockinson_pwt18/RebMon7200/candy

Don’t forget to share the storefront link with family and friends so they can order too!

Chromebook Information

This is a friendly reminder that it is important for students to keep the protective cases on their school issued Chromebooks to protect them from accidental damage. If you opted into the Hockinson Assurance Program at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, and your student's Chromebook is damaged while any part of the case is off, the cost of repair will not be covered by your assurance as is stated in the exclusions section of the assurance form.

Here is the Hockinson Assurance Program form if you would like to take a closer look at what it offers, including coverage and exclusions. If you opted out of the assurance program at the beginning of the year and would like to have assurance coverage, you can opt-in at any time after your student's Chromebook has been inspected for damage. A paper form can be sent home with your student, or you can make an online payment through InTouch, the HSD payment portal.