HMS Connection
Week of October 2, 2023
HMS News
Greetings from HMS!
Hingham Middle School is excited to share that we will be expanding our work in social-emotional learning as, this week, students and teachers at HMS begin our use of the Second Step curriculum for the school year.
Throughout the year, school counselors, classroom teachers, and building administrators will all work together in order to deliver lessons designed to help students with skills like goal setting, problem solving, conflict resolution, and responding to bullying.
During our second year of implementation, we hope to double the number of lessons delivered and expand the skills and supports that students can draw on when faced with challenging situations. This is just one of the many ways that we work to foster our students' social-emotional growth during the time that we have them with us.
HMS Unified Sports
New this year, HMS will be participating in the Special Olympics Unified Sports program!
For our initial activity, during the month of October we will be learning about, practicing, and playing Bocce! Most practices and games will be held on Thursdays in October, with the exception of October 12 (that practice will be on Tuesday, October 10).
The Unified Sports program pairs athletes and partners in order to provide opportunities for all students to experience the benefits of being part of team and friendly competition, while building a stronger school community for all.
For more information on the program and how you can get involved, please contact Mrs. Giordani (cgiordani@hinghamschools.org) or Ms. Baxter (abaxter@hinghamschools.org)
Budding Artists
This week sixth grade band and orchestra students have been developing their music theory and ear training skills. Band students have been learning how to count and perform sixteenth note rhythms, while orchestra students have been learning to listen for high and low pitches and play simple melodies by ear.
Meanwhile, in sixth grade art, students have been learning color blending techniques through their summer memory projects.
HMS is proud of the many ways and opportunities that our students have to share their creativity!
Stay Informed!
Want to have all school events downloaded to your phone?
Click this link to find step-by-step instructions on how to subscribe to calendars. Get started at hinghamschools.org/calendar.
We have also introduced an Athletics Calendar and Fine Arts Calendar. You can subscribe to these in the same way as the schools by going to hinghamschools.org/calendar.
Looking for something to do after school? Try Lego Robotics!
In the center are our students who helped organize the kits in order to be ready for our younger engineers. We thank them for their help!
Aspen Reminder
IMPORTANT: Families, please take a moment as soon as possible to complete important beginning of year documents via the Aspen Family Portal. These documents include the following:
Review of Contact Information
School Handbook Acknowledgement
Technology Acceptable Use
Student Photo Release Opt Out
Release of Student Data Notice
Find instructions for the "Parent Permission Workflow" HERE. If you need help with Aspen Family login, please email aspenhelp@hinghamschools.org
Order in the Court!
Mrs. Driscoll’s eighth grade classes are participating in mock trials during which they will try British soldiers for their actions on March 5,1770. This exercise helps middle schoolers in understanding and evaluating the multiple points of view that must be taken into account when studying history.
Picture This!
Students in some of Mrs. Sullivan’s Grade Eight English classes created illustrations of the tree from the novel A Separate Peace in order to demonstrate the different perspectives of the narrator.
Ask your eighth grader if they can explain the significance of this tree in John Knowles' classic novel!
Wondering what's going on at HMS each day?
Prepare for Adventure!!!
The first HMS Adventure Club trip of the 2023 - 2024 school year is . . . Lookout Farm for Apple Picking and a Corn Maze on Thursday, October 12th after school from 2-6pm!
Space is limited to the first 30 students who sign up, but it's open to all students in grades six, seven, and eight! In order to attend, you must bring in the permission slip and fee DIRECTLY to Mrs. Duncan (Room 217 - 7th grade science) or Mrs. Giordani (Room 206)
We hope you'll be able to join us for this after school adventure!
Permission slips, trip announcements, and more can be found on our website: https://sduncan756.wixsite.com/hms-adventure-club/blank-1
Some of our amazing eighth grade science students perform tests on solid materials. They tested and measured how different levels of force affects how much an object will deform or break. This lab is part of our new unit on Collisions.
What's In a Name? Help Name the New Elementary School Building
The new elementary school that will replace the current Foster School is set to open next fall. We are excited to see the building continue to take shape as construction is well underway. At this time, we are welcoming the community to share their suggestions for names of the new building.
We will complete two rounds of surveys. The first survey collects suggested names. The results will be shared with the school committee later this fall. After narrowing the names, we will provide the community with an additional opportunity to provide feedback on a narrowed list of names.
Once a name has been identified, the school committee submits a warrant article to the Selectboard to be considered for a vote at the Spring Town Meeting. Town bylaw states that naming a municipal building requires approval by Town Meeting.
The survey will be open through the end of October. See link: hinghamschools.org/survey
Thank you for your participation in this exciting process!
Grade Eight Washington DC Trip
Grade eight parents and students, please join us on October 2nd at 7:00 PM in the HMS auditorium for an informational meeting regarding this year's trip to DC. This meeting is designed to answer questions related to our trip planned from May 1 through May 3.
On hand will be a representative from Grand Classroom, school administrators, and the Grade Eight Class Advisors.
Please plan to attend.
Coming Events
Save the Date
October 2 - Grade Eight Washington DC Trip Info Meeting, 7:00 PM
October 4 - Early Release, Dismissal 11:00 AM
October 9 - No School
October 19 - Picture Re-Takes. 2:00
October 20 - PTO Grade Six Fall Festival, 2:00
PTO Grade Eight Bonfire 7:00
October 27 - PTO Grade Seven Halloween Social 7:00
Wondering what's going on after school next week? Check out our Week-at-a-Glance
PTO News
HMS PTO Meeting
Dues
A big thank you to everyone who has paid their dues. We have collected $13,348 to date, which is a fantastic amount to have collected within the first three weeks of school! If you would like to contribute, dues are $45 per family and can be paid via Venmo @HMSPTO-1103. Cash and checks (made payable to HMS PTO) can also be sent to the school main office. It is worth noting that the PTO does not conduct fundraising activities throughout the year. Dues are our sole source of funds that we use to support events such as staff appreciation activities, cultural enrichment programs, and mini grants.
Grade Fall Parties
We are excited to be hosting fall parties for each grade next month (details below). You must register and pay for your child ahead of time. Payments can be made via Venmo @HMSPTO-1103 or by sending cash/checks (made payable to HMS PTO) to the school main office. Please note your child's name with your payment.
6th Grade Fall Festival
Friday, October 20th, 2:00-3:30pm
Hingham Middle School
$15 per student
Volunteer and donate items here
7th Grade Halloween Party
Friday, October 27th, 7:00-8:30pm
Hingham Middle School
$20 per student
Volunteer and donate items here
8th Grade Bonfire
Friday, October 20th, 7:00-8:30pm
Plymouth River School
$25 per student
Volunteer and donate items here
SEPAC Liaison Open Position
We are looking for a representative for SEPAC on the HMS PTO. It should be the parent/guardian of a student on an IEP or 504 who receives special education services.
The SEPAC liaison is a member of the PTO whose primary role is to attend PTO meetings and relay relevant special education information between the PTO and the SEPAC board. There is also some collaboration with SEPAC liaisons from other schools. It's a great opportunity to advocate for students and meet new people across town.
Please reach out to HinghamSepac@gmail.com if you are interested or have questions.
Congrats to Dawn Murray, our new HMS School Council Parent Representative!
Community News
Play it Safe! Hingham’s West Nile Virus Risk Level is now Moderate
The following information is shared from the town of Hingham Board of Health:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has determined Hingham’s Risk Level for West Nile Virus (WNV) is Moderate. According to the DPH, this risk level means infection with WNV is likely or has already occurred.
Prevent WNV infection by taking the following actions:
Be prepared: Know your risk -check this page regularly, repair screens, clean up to get rid of mosquito breeding sites, be aware of stagnant water on private property (e.g. unused swimming pools) and consult the local board of health.
Wear long sleeves and long pants from dusk to dawn when the weather permits.
Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens.
Wear mosquito repellent when outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn.
Dump standing water twice weekly.
For more detail, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update
Eyeglass Donations
Please consider donating older, used glasses to the Lions Club.
Starting next week, you can drop your old eyeglasses in labeled box in the front entryway of HMS. All donated glasses are taken to the New England College of Optometry in Boston where they are cleaned, and repaired. Then they will be donated domestically and internationally by VOSH International (Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity) to people in need in conjunction with much needed eye examinations and eye care.
Water Bottles in Schools
The Select Board, in the spring of 2023, adopted a town-wide policy that restricted the procurement, sale, and distribution of single-use plastic water bottles as of September 1 in the schools and municipal buildings. Beginning for the 2023-2024 school year, the school’s Food Services will no longer sell single-use plastic water bottles. As we start the school year, students are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles to school that can be filled out at a water bubbler or a water-filling station. Facilities staff have been working to ensure all of the schools water bubblers and water filling stations are operational for the start of the school year.
Hingham Youth Wrestling, K-8th Grade
Learn how to wrestle, build strength, flexibility and balance, and most of all have fun.
No experience necessary, anyone can join.
Sessions start Nov. 29th - March, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and occasional Fridays from 5:30-7:00pm (K-3th Grade, 5:30PM-6:30PM and 4th -8th Grade, 5:30PM-7:00PM) at the HHS Wrestling Room.
If there are questions, please contact Ben Nastou at bennastou@gmail.com or Chris Papavasiliou at papaveev@gmail.com.
A Message from the Hingham Unity Council
We want to hear from you!
Join us for our Community Night Out!
Thursday, October 5, 7:30-9:30 at the Hingham Community Center
What are you most concerned about in our community? How can we make Hingham more welcoming to all? Come join us, enjoy some light snacks and libations, and share your thoughts about our community to shape our future programming.
Free and open to ALL who live, work, study, worship or otherwise have a connection to Hingham but please register so we can plan accordingly: https://hinghamunity.org/event/community-check-in/