![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/moderneducation07.8a42366b.jpg)
![Logo](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/c321/thumb-9a54557b4f7e7b88974777ea943ee556.jpeg)
![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/moderneducation07.3984bfb4.jpg)
Eagle Eye
HVMS E-Newsletter
HVMS Update - 4/8/2024
Hello, HVMS Family!
Thank you,
Hidden Valley Middle School
Helping Students Find Their Wings Since 1972
Our mission at Hidden Valley Middle School is to cultivate knowledge, to promote civic responsibility, to provide opportunities for the exploration of interests and abilities, to foster positive attitudes, and to develop essential skills necessary for all students to become productive citizens capable of thriving in the dynamic world of the twenty-first century.
Message from the Principal
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”
- Plutarch
While we certainly hope that your students are filling their minds with information every day, our bigger picture goal is to spark a passion for learning in students and provide them with the skills they need to be successful in whatever they choose to pursue in the future. We strive to help students become Opportunity Ready by developing skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and citizenship.
While we see these skills in the school setting daily, we also know that our students are involved in activities outside of school in which they demonstrate these skills. If you have any photos of your students applying their Opportunity Ready skills in an activity outside of school, please email them to me (cbenson@rcps.us) to be included in a future newsletter!
Dr. Christopher Benson
Principal
SCHOOL INFORMATION
SOL Testing Dates
- April 30: Reading 6-8 SOL
- May 2: Math 6-8 SOL, Algebra, and Geometry
- May 7: Science 8 SOL
- May 9: Civics 8 SOL
- May 10: IRW (8th grade writing SOL)
- Some students will test on alternate days, and you will be contacted with those dates by the end of April if that is the case for your student.
Students should be well rested before their SOL test and eat a good breakfast. Please have students bring a charged laptop and charger with them to school. Students should not have stickers, sticky notes, or writing on their laptops. If you have trouble with the removal, please have your students visit the Laptop Depot at school for help.
We encourage good attendance on scheduled test days. Make-up testing causes students to miss some of their last few classes. We want them to be able to wrap up grades and enjoy end-of-year class activities and projects instead of doing make-up tests!
HVMS/HVHS Jazz Band Dinner
Hidden Valley Middle School Jazz Band will perform at the annual HVHS Spaghetti and Beatballs Dinner. This fundraiser supports the HVHS band program. If you are interested in attending to support students and enjoy some pasta, the event starts at 6:00 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $12 at the door.
8th Grade Dance
The SCA is hosting an 8th Grade Dance this year on Friday, May 10 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale the week of May 6, and we hope all of our HVMS 8th graders can attend!
CELEBRATIONS
Eagles of the Month
HVMS has begun recognizing eight students from each grade level each month to be our Eagles of the Month. Hidden Valley Middle School Eagles of the Month display outstanding behavior both inside and outside the classroom by consistently meeting HVMS SOAR expectations of being safe, organized, accountable, and respectful. Eagles of the Month demonstrate opportunity ready skills including communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and citizenship. These students exhibit a positive attitude toward their peers, school, and community, and they maintain a focus on continuous improvement.
Our Eagles of the Month for March are listed below!
Caught SOARing
The students below have been awarded a SOAR card for being safe, organized, accountable, and/or respectful in the building. Thank you for your positive contributions to Hidden Valley Middle School!
A Honor Roll - 3rd Quarter 2023-2024
Congratulations to the following students who received all A's for the 3rd 9 Weeks!
6th Grade
Andrew I. Abudan
John L. Anderson
Elijah R. Arthur
Romello N. Avis
Kerem Aydogan
Trent W. Bassett
Timothy J. Bayer
Peyton G. Boyd
Chandler R. Burke
Mason T. Byers
Brantley Canada
Abigail L. Craft
Laura G. Croft
Lennox P. Cutright
Isabella Louise S. Dela Cruz
Jenna R. Dillon
Asher A. Foutz
Willa R. Furcron
Alexander S. Gilbert
Logan S. Haley
Gavin A. Henk
Morgan A. Houchins
Tvisha B. Jha
Conan L. Jones
Emma M. Jones
Charlotte S. Kadela
Isabelle M. Kadela
Lyric A. Kelly
Hadley M. Krause
Emerson L. Mast
Berkeley A. McFarland
Anna R. Moores
Thomas M. Nguyen
Ellie A. O'Brien
Hara Oh
Avery G. Patterson
Josephine O. Pears
Samuel A. Peevey
Ella L. Poff
Charlotte P. Price
Lyla B. Remines
Owen B. Richardson
Amelie S. Rosado Lopez
Harper N. Rowan
Lily K. Rubiano
Trista E. Rucker
Susannah R. Schroeck
Malcolm A. Simmons
Ariel E. Smith
Donald G. IV Smith
Madison J. Smith
Charles D. Speck
Lucas J. Strom
Temperance L. Tyree
Ayden L. Wade
Liam C. Walker
Rilynn E. Weatherford
Garrett J. Whitt
Isabella D. Xia
7th Grade
Megan L. Austin
Maryam H. Aziz
Jacob T. Barton
Claire E. Bishop
Tanner J. Bishop
Alex L. Bitton
Anabelle M. Canfield
Xavier I. Charles
Owen W. Crawley
Owen R. Cummings
Siri Varshini Devupalli
Chloe G. Dowdy
Erin O. Downes
Sicily D. Fender
Sofia R. Fusco
Claire M. Gardner
Madelyn E. Gillespie
Lilah B. Harding
Erika L. Hashimura
Liliana E. Hasis
Lincoln R. Havens
Ryan N. Havens
Jake B. Hayes
Charlotte M. Hedges
Henry J. Hopkins
Makenzie P. Jones
Amelia E. Karolyi
Katherine S. Karolyi
Mae L. Kochenderfer
Eliza J. Lubeck
Elena S. Martin
Seth G. Miller
Jay C. Moreno
Kevin W. Morsink
Katelyn N. Nieminen
Seth C. Norris
Madeline A. Orange
Thomas Y. Pan
Rudra N. Patil
Emery P. Scutellaro
Abigail L. Sedgwick
Sohini Singh
Lilly E. Smith
Katherine E. Sollinger
Caleb J. Sullivan
Eleri N. Tarran
Hope A. Thomas
Natalie F. Thorell
Atticus R. Tyree
Eleanor D. Underwood
Mason R. Vaughan
Avery R. Weaver
8th Grade
Hasti Aghdasi
Vesa Bajrami
Erin L. Baxley
Mary G. Bayer
Yehor Belko
Zara C. Bhowansingh
Abigail L. Boothe
Aleksandar T. Bratic
Emma R. Carter
Kemper M. Christiansen
Annabelle P. Combs
Matvey M. Deryabin
Peiton D. Donahue
Adriana M. Donodeo
Andrew W. Draper
Tre J. Dunleavy
Kaitlyn J. Henk
Charlotte A. Hieber
Emma R. Holmes
Madelyn I. Hurd
Mia L. Jolley
Misri K. Karia
Uzma Khan
Madison C. Knowles
Cameron R. Landis
Nikita S. Larin
Emery M. Luoma
Aspen B. McFarland
Maddison S. McGarry
Mary T. Mercure
John A. Mill
Jaidyn A. Musolff
Nolan T. Nguyen
Claire E. Nieminen
Mason J. Palmer
Geet N. Patel
Leila V. Pineda
Omega O. Princely
Sara L. Settle
Isley F. Shepard
Hannah E. Stamps
Noah K. Stewart
Katherine N. Walsh
Megan E. White
A/B Honor Roll - 3rd Quarter 2023-2024
Congratulations to the following students who received all A's and B's for the 3rd 9 Weeks!
6th Grade
Peyton D. Adams
Bentley C. Austin
Zain H. Aziz
Mal Bajrami
Aryana V. Bhagat
Cynthia D. Bonilla
Harrison M. ChurchMadison A. Cojocariu-Graczyk
Tyler R. DeHart
Elizabeth M. Devereaux
Ashley N. Diaz
Kenneth Diaz
Emmett L. Divers
Ajla Divovic
Tyson W. Dorlini
Lillee A. Douglas
Stella G. Duncan
Adalyn B. Eborall
Christy M. Farag
Victoria L. Foos
Mia L. French
Tyler L. Frewin
Emmett C. Gerner
Adahy R. Graley
Lilly N. Hayes
Layan M. Hendi
Jaden E. House
Taylor L. Hyers
Janine K. Irizarry
Annaleigh G. James
Kynlee R. Jones
Savreen Kaur
Charles G. II Kepley
Abigail R. Kinzie
Madelyn Lecas
Taym M. Madhoun
Carter R. Massie
Sawyer J. McClure
Avery L. McFarland
Elianna K. Morris
Margaret C. Owen
Frederick J. Owens
Kennedy J. Perkins
Leah E. Perzan
Avery J. Plott
Lila B. Powel
Mera M. Powel
Eva M. Puckett
Leighton K. Rorer
Ella C. Ross
Jetsemani Sanchez Miramontes
Savannah E. Scott
Bailey S. Spencer
Avery L. Stokes
Liza G. Szechenyi
Peyton R. Tarr
Sylas D. Tronstad
Marlee J. Vaughan
Jordynn I. Vest
Dainelis M. Vigo Colon
Lily R. Walker
Andrew N. White
Jayce T. White
Chelsea L. Witcher
7th Grade
Remington P. Arthur
Anasofia Betancourt Cuellar
Alesha A. Bratton
Audrey G. Budnick
Isaiah N. Bush
Jordan K. Carr
Alexander L. Carter
Andreana S. Charitable
Addison B. Chase
Samuel Claros Hortua
Liam P. Copus
Cesar A. Cubas
Luke M. Driscoll
Atticus H. Fraim
Elizabeth E. Gallagher
Dillon M. Godfrey
Aditi Gupta
Donya Hafizullah
Ava V. Hammond
Tate A. Hostetler
Kaybree S. Howell
Shannon M. Howell
Sophey F. Howell
Chloie J. Hutchinson
Caroline W. Jarrard
Carly G. Johnston
William C. Jones
Dante P. Keck
Cayden T. Landrum
Genesis S. Lemus Martinez
Max B. Lilly
Nathan G. Lovell
Logan E. Luoma
Tamara M. Madhoun
Sawyer R. Marks
Oziel Martinez-Ramos
Matthew H. McIlwraith
Easton H. McLain
Joey L. Merlino
Eva C. Munoz
Collin M. Murray
Eli S. Orange
Chloe-Ann E. Owens
Isha A. Patel
Reese A. Pinson
Matthew R. Privitera
Amelia C. Raring
Kensingtyn A. Raymond
Mikayla G. Ryan
Nikko R. Sanchez
Valeria Saucedo-Sifuentes
Barry J. Slade, Jr.
Josue M. Smales
Jackson A. Smith
Sarah E. Smith
Josephine F. Spring
Jackson C. Swank
Graham E. Tokarsky
Selah G. Tronstad
Marshall E. Webb
Cornelius C. Woodard
Knox P. Yost
8th Grade
Jillian K. Adkins
Thomas D. Bandy
Caroline A. Bass
Anaya A. Bharucha
Allison J. Blake
Tyler J. Brislin
Evan A. Brown
Cullen A. Burke
Chase J. Frewin
Nathalia I. Garcia-Peguero
Lia E. Hernandez Garcia
James P. III Hill
Benjamin R. Hirsch
Dylan Z. Holloway
Ella J. Houchins
Chance G. Ison
Addison O. Johnson
Joshika Karthik
Leisel A. Katerba
John D. Kinzie
Cabyll A. Lindstrom
Kendall A. Link
Holli C. Livaudais
Emiliano Lopez Martinez
Briana S. Macias
Sawyer A. Mast
Emma M. McCarty
Slade T. McClure
Mila M. McDonough
Jaiden A. Moreno
Molly E. Morgan
Lucas S. Murariu
Dylan Y. Ortiz
Bailey R. Overstreet
Gabrielle T. Panton
Cadence E. Passeretti
Isabella G. Peterson
Lincoln C. Pinson
Sarah J. Polakowski
Zoee K. Pruitt
Matthew J. Racz
William H. Reynolds
Nikolai W. Rhodes
Leah N. Rice
Lillian M. Richardson
Julie M. Sherrill
Mickela N. Stewart
Camden J. Tarr
Payton R. Tingler
Sophie V. Tribble
Nathaniel D. Viar
Garrett F. Waters
Ashton G. Woodson
Kanario J. Young
INSTRUCTION
Technology Class
Katie Walsh demonstrated critical thinking and creativity when she made this tic-tac-toe game using the CNC router, 3D printer, and resin for her game creation project - awesome work, Katie!
Aiden Milliner also demonstrated creativity and critical thinking when he designed and built this chess board during STEAM class - great job, Aiden!
English Titanic Unit
Mrs. Stiles and Ms. Woods worked through a unit centered on the Titanic in English 6. As students learned and completed activities that involved communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, they earned "money" to go toward purchasing materials that could be used to construct a ship. These ships were then placed in water, and then they were exposed to "rain" (water from a watering can), "snow" (flour), and "hail" (ice). Finally, the ships were loaded with "cargo" (coins) until there was one ship left standing. In block 2, Brandon Cooley and Emmet Gerner's ship was the last one standing!
STEM Day
On Saturday, April 13, Virginia Western Community College is hosting a STEM Day from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. There will be free food and activities for all families interested in attending!
HVMS Spring Band Concert - April 23
HVMS Spring Choir Concert - May 1
RCPS Online Academy Summer Courses (rising 9th grade students)
The Roanoke County Public Schools Online Academy is offering a small number of high school classes to rising 9th grade students this summer. Students must meet the prerequisite requirement for the course they're interested in taking. Students may take up to two classes this summer.
Courses begin June 3rd and run through July 12th. All courses require a face-to-face final assessment or an End-Of-Course SOL test. The assessments dates are currently set for July 10th, 11th and 12th.
There is a $400 fee for each course and payment must be made prior to registering your child for the course(s). Payments should be submitted to the HVMS bookkeeper (Mrs. Hinchee), and the course names should be listed in the memo line of the check. Once payment has been received, your child's school counselor will enroll them in the course. Refunds are not available after the course has begun. Additionally, if your child would like to repeat their current world language class, they may repeat it online with the requirement of some synchronous online instruction at no cost.
Students registering for these classes will be allowed to keep their school-issued laptop for the duration of the class.
Please contact your child's school counselor for more information!
Thank you,
Melinda Farley
(Students with last names A - K)
Maggie Long
(Students with last names L - Z)
Just-in-Time Tutoring
Just-in-time tutoring provides students in grades 6-12 with an immediate online live tutor 24 hours per day/7 days per week. If a student is struggling with independent work, they can get immediate help to get them “unstuck,” even if they are at home late at night.
In addition to covering multiple subjects, just-in-time tutoring provides online help via chat and voice. Tutor.com also provides paper proofreading (12-hour turnaround time) and industry-leading Princeton Review ACT/SAT prep courses and materials. This levels the field for students who don’t have the same amount of parent support or financial resources at home.
Attendance Matters!
HVMS PTSO
Our PTSO is instrumental in providing support to our entire school community, and the success of the program depends on you! Dues are $5 per individual who is joining. 100% of our membership fees go directly to supporting our school.
Parents, students, teachers, and more are ALL welcome to join HVMS PTSO! Together we can make a difference: Join here!
Please click below to learn more about our HVMS PTSO:
Faculty/Staff Lunch
The PTSO has let us know that they will be providing all faculty/staff with a hot dog lunch on our next early release day (April 17). Thank you to our wonderful PTSO for all you do!
Appreciation Goodies
The PTSO will be putting together bags full of goodies for the teachers/staff at the end of the month. Please consider contributing by signing up below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0444A8A828A0FA7-48950902-hvms#/
All items should be dropped off at HVMS by Monday, April 29.
Join Today!
TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Technology Issues
SCHOOL SAFETY
SpeakUp
We encourage students to speak up to report bullying and other concerns. SpeakUp is a program where students can send a confidential email, text or phone call to share concerns about a classmate or school safety. Students can send an email to speakup@student.rcps.us, or they can call or text 540-595-0706. All reports are anonymous and will be quickly acted upon. Once a report is sent, school administrators are notified and resources can be deployed depending on the nature of the report.
ATHLETICS
VHSL Sports Physicals
All students interested in participating in HVMS athletic open gyms, practices, or tryouts must have a valid VHSL physical on file with the HVMS athletic director. VHSL physicals dated after May 1, 2023 are valid through June 30, 2024. Starting July 1, 2024, all athletes must have a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2024 to continue participating in HVMS athletics. Additionally, all students must have health insurance if they want to participate.
Spring Sports Schedules
Please consider attending our spring sporting events! Admission to athletic events is $5 for adults and $2 for school-age students. These funds are used to help offset the cost for officials, transportation to away games, and team equipment.
Spring Sports Today (Monday, April 8)
Cheerleading
Hidden Valley Middle School open gym and tryout dates are scheduled! Athletes interested in attending an open gym or trying out for the 2024 HVMS Cheerleading team must have a valid VHSL physical on file with the HVMS athletic director.
Football
Hidden Valley Middle School will host several open fields in May. Athletes interested in participating in football during the 2024 season should attend! For questions, please contact Coach Phelps at dphelps@rcps.us.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 8 - 12
Monday, April 8: Spring Picture Day
Tuesday, April 9: Mock Trial (at Roanoke County Courthouse - 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, April 11: HVMS/HVHS Jazz Dinner (at HVHS - 6:00 p.m.)
Looking Ahead
Thursday, April 18: 6th Grade Field Trip
Friday, April 19: 4th 9 Weeks Midpoint
Tuesday, April 23: Band Concert (at HVHS - 7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, May 1: Choir Concert (at HVHS - 7:00 p.m.)
Friday, May 10: 8th Grade Dance (7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)
Monday, May 20: 8th Grade Awards/Promotion Ceremony (9:00 a.m.)
Tuesday, May 21:
- 8th Grade Field Trip (Group 1)
- 3-hour Early Dismissal
Wednesday, May 22:
- 8th Grade Field Trip (Group 2)
- 3-hour Early Dismissal
Thursday, May 23:
- 8th Grade Field Day
- Last Day of School (3-hour early dismissal)
HELPFUL LINKS
ABOUT US
Website: http://www.rcps.us/hvms
Location: 4902 Hidden Valley School Road, Roanoke, VA, USA
Phone: (540) 772-7570
Facebook: facebook.com/HVMSConnect/