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HMS Connection
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Week of May 15, 2023
HMS News
Greetings from HMS!
HMS would like to extend a well earned "congratulations to our very own Office Rob Ramsey!
This past week the Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officer Association recognized something that we've know for a long time around here . . . Officer Ramsey is the best School Resource Officer around! At their conference last week, he was named "School Resource Officer of the Year"!
Hingham Middle School is very fortunate to have had Officer Ramsey serve as our SRO and provide DARE instruction to our students for the last 18 years. During that time, he has taught thousands of students and built invaluable relationships with our kids and families.
Combining a big sense of humor with an even bigger heart, Officer Ramsey sends the message to all that have the privilege of working with him that he cares about their safety, happiness, and success, now and in the future.
Thanks, Officer Ramsey, and congratulations!
The eighth Grade students have begun their last unit of the year; the Civics Action Project!
This project will culminate in Civics Day Presentations on June 14 here at Hingham Middle School.
Students will be choosing, in their working groups, an issue in the community that they want to address and will work to find solutions and improvements.
Our eighth graders will be reaching out to community leaders, experts, and families for advice and assistance. making tis an authentic and action-oriented experience.
We are hopeful that this will be the beginning of lifelong community engagement.
Green Team Makes HMS More Beautiful While Helping Our Environment!
The HMS Green Team has been hard at work planting flower seeds and blooms! Not only do these flowers add a pop of color to the community, but they also provide a habitat for important pollinators like bees and butterflies. We hope everyone can enjoy the beautiful flowers as they enter school each morning.
Movin' On Up!
Hingham High School counselors are hosting the Class of 2027 for a first-time event: Ninth Grade Move Up Day!
The Class of 2027 will have the opportunity to tour HHS, hear from upperclassmen about the daily life of a high school student, and have their questions answered. The ninth grade move up day is June 8th, 9:30 - 12:30 at HHS.
Lunch will be provided.
We are looking forward to what we are sure will be a great day!
Aspen Family Portal is Now Open - Sign In and Check it Out!
Families, please check your email from Wednesday, May 3rd, for the username and password that will allow you to access the Aspen family portal. Please take a moment to try to login.
A reminder that the portal allows families to monitor their student's progress and see their student information. If you did not receive the email, you can email aspenhelp@hinghamschools.org.
Reminder to Grade Seven Parents and Caregivers - SBIRT Screening to Take Place at HMS
This message was sent home in an earlier email.
This only applies to grade seven students.
In March 2016, Governor Baker signed into law a set of rules designed to combat the opioid addiction crisis. One of the requirements of the law is that each school district implements a tool to screen pupils for substance use disorders. The legislation can be found at:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2016/Chapter52 (see sections 15, 63, 64, 66).
Hingham Public Schools will implement the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) screening process, an evidence-based screening to promote prevention and identify early risk for substance use in adolescents.
We will screen 7th-grade students during Gym, Health class, or Directed Study during the weeks of 5/15 and 5/30..
Student screening sessions will be brief (approximately 5 minutes) and are confidential. Screenings will be conducted privately in one-on-one sessions with the nurse or guidance counselor. We will utilize the CRAFFT II screening tool, which is the Department of Public Health's recommended substance tool and is enclosed for your review. Please refer to www.masbirt.org for further information and resources.
The CRAFFT 2.1+N Questionnaire - SBIRT in Schools.
Students who report that they are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced. The screener will provide brief feedback to any student who reports using substances or who is at risk for future substance use. Results of the screening are confidential and will not be included in your student’s school record, nor will the results be shared with parents or any school staff without written consent from the student. A summary of data, not individual results, will be shared with the Department of Public Health, at their request. If the screener feels there is a potential for your child to engage in risky behavior in the immediate future or a risk to your child’s safety, a referral will be referred to the appropriate HMS counseling staff for further evaluation. Educational materials will be provided for students.
As with any school screening, you have the right to opt your child out of this screening. Please email sbirtoptoutgr7@hinghamschools.org by Friday, May 12th, if you do not want your child to participate in this screening. Additionally, screening is voluntary; students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions.
Together, schools and families can make a difference for the youth in Hingham. We encourage all parents/guardians to talk with their children about substance use.
Sincerely,
Derek Smith
Principal
Hingham Middle School
Elizabeth Taylor, RN
Jamie von Freymann, RN
School Nurses
Week-at-a-Glance and After School Opportunities
Please take a look at the attached Week-at-a-Glance document to get an idea of what we have to offer next week, as well as our comprehensive list of activities, when they usually occur, and how to obtain additional information about them.
We also want to remind students and families that we provide late buses for students staying after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Please remember to pay your activity fee if your middle-schooler plans to take part in these programs.
We hope to see you after 2:00!!!
Important Dates
MCAS Testing Continues. Please see Dates Above.
May 17 - Chorus Concert at HMS, 7:00 PM
May 23 - Orchestra Concert at HMS, 7:00 PM
May 25 - Band Concert at HMS, 7:00 PM
May 26 - Early Release for HMS, 10:30 Dismissal
Please click the links below to select your lunch choice and sign-up as a volunteer!
8th Grade End of Year Celebration- Google Form (Wahlburgers lunch option/donation):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeyeFKH5W4ZrSo6CqPe3BymvP62K1nyrT2FwCDOf7v1VGEoA/viewform8th Grade Field Day sign up:
PTO News
Help Wanted!
The HMS PTO is looking for help!
The current board is composed of parents of students who will be moving on to high school come next fall, so we are in need of new leadership!
We are looking for three to four volunteers to fill out the board as we already have a PTO Treasurer for next year. Volunteers help with fall grade level events and oversee chairs for staff appreciation and mini-grants.
It’s a fun, but not large commitment and a great way to get involved at the middle school.
Please consider taking on one of these important positions.
Anyone interested can contact Kate Newth at katenewth@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support!
Community News
Starry Night Celebration
All HMS 8th graders are invited to attend The Starry Night, Class of 2027 Social. Our kids deserve to celebrate and be celebrated! The evening will include a DJ, 360 degree photo booth, snacks, games, fun and more! This is a casual event and everyone should feel welcome.
No bags, outside food or drink, including water bottles, will be permitted. If your child has an epi pen or other medical need, please email Rose Byrne (rosemarybyrnenp@gmail.com). Rose is an 8th grade mom, nurse practitioner and member of the Board of Health, and she will be onsite.
THIS IS A PARENT-SPONSORED EVENT AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH HINGHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED AND PAID PRIOR TO THE EVENT.
Please register your student using the QR code below or the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FTLzEtM8j0ZMpilcraXxstcCZVFoH4v7GJyJ0Xge0z0/edit
If the cost associated with this event presents a financial hardship,please indicate that on the Google form.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Please help us out by volunteering to work at this event. Thank you!
Hull Lifesaving Museum Offers Summer Programs
The Hull Lifesaving museum is excited to announce two summer programs for kids.
The Adventure program for children 5-11 is a program that has been running successfully for a number of years. Detailed outlines of the program is attached.
The Explorers’ program for youth 12-16, is a new program for this age-group/demographic. Detailed outlines of the program is attached.
Summer Adventure Program - Summer 2023
July 11 - August 24, 2023
Tuesday - Thursday
9:30 am - 12:30 pm (Morning Program)
9:30 am - 2:30 pm (Extended Day)
Hull Lifesaving Museum
The Summer Adventure Program offers seven weeks of discovery and exploration with a different theme each week for children ages 5-11. Each week includes hands-on activities, outdoor exploration, and a fun mix of history, science, and arts. NOTE: Due to the success of last year's program, we are once again offering an optional extended 2 hours to give parents a little longer break and to let the children have some less structured play time. For information, please contact Mike McGurl at 781-925-5433 or email info@hulllifesavingmuseum.org.
Summer Explorers Program - Summer 2023
July 11 - August 24, 2023
Tuesday - Thursday
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Windmill Point Boathouse, 185 Main St., Hull, MA
The museum's Summer Explorer Program is a new, exciting and engaging opportunity for young people ages 12-16 to learn about the natural and cultural history of Boston Harbor while developing maritime skills.
This 7- week program offers a different area of focus each week with all programming originating at our HLM Windmill Point Boathouse including our fleet of open water rowing vessels, the boathouse, the harbor and harbor islands. Areas of focus include: safety on the water, rowing and commanding (coxing) open water rowing craft, operating outboard powered boats, harbor piloting and navigation, marine environment, boat maintenance and boat building, while making connections to each other, to our past and to our future.
For information, please call 781-925-5433.
https://www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org/PDFs/Summer Adventure 2023 Flyer.pdf
https://www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org/PDFs/Summer Explorers brief synopsis mgm.pdf