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Weekend Update!
Friday January 19th, 2024
Good Evening!
A snow day, a delayed opening, iReady, spirit week, and a pep rally: this week had it all! We hope your children enjoyed all the activities of our unique week of school! Congratulations on making it through the halfway point of the 23-24 school year! We look forward to a fun event tomorrow afternoon at the Crosstown Showdown! Stay warm this weekend!
Please See The Following For Next Week And Beyond!
Spirit Week Success!
Spirit week was a big hit! From wearing our favorite jerseys, to sporting our favorite Stanley cup, to a great pep rally, it was a week to remember!
Crosstown Showdown III !!!
Get ready to rally and soar on Jan 20th as the Hillcrest and Madison Middle School teams collide in an adrenaline-pumping doubleheader on the varsity basketball court at Trumbull High! This isn't just any showdown—it's the Crosstown Showdown, where our boys and girls basketball teams will go head-to-head against their arch rivals in a battle for supremacy.
Here are three ways you can be a part of the action-packed event:
1️⃣ Spirit Wear Alert! Elevate your game day experience by snagging custom spirit wear. Hurry, purchase by 1/8 for delivery before the game on 1/20. Show your team pride! https://salt-n-rays.square.site/ct
Make sure to include your student's first name, last name, and grade, and school when purchasing spirit wear for hassle-free, in-school distribution before the big game
2️⃣ Volunteers & Donations Needed! Want to contribute? We're seeking volunteers and donations to make this event a slam dunk! Your support matters - sign up today or contribute what you can! [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4DABAC22ABF49-47025867-crosstown] 🙌
3️⃣ Ticket Sales Are Live! Don't miss the showdown! Secure your spot by purchasing $5 admission tickets in advance. Witness the electrifying matchups on game day! [https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/f5ef3b5b-960d-429d-be46-fc72fe28c2e1/events/d5e0c1a4-1b8c-43bd-a459-88b8d4467be7 ] 🎟️
🔥 Schedule Alert: The showdown kicks off with Hillcrest taking on Madison's girls at 3 PM. Then, brace yourselves for an intense face-off between Hillcrest and Madison's boys at 4:30 PM!
🔥 Special Guests & Entertainment: Join us for an extraordinary event! First Selectman Vicki Tesoro will be there for the tip-off. The Hillcrest and Madison Orchestra will serenade us with the national anthem, and our very own Mr. Alterman will provide the thrilling play-by-play commentary. Plus, catch all the excitement as the event will be televised on Trumbull TV!
Let's make this showdown legendary! Grab your spirit wear, lend a hand, grab those tickets, and join us for an unforgettable day of basketball action! 🌟🏀
A message from the Trumbull Nursing Department
This note is to provide you information about an increase in the number of reported cases of flu. In an effort to prevent spread of flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu-like symptoms (see link). Flu Symptoms & Diagnosis | CDC
Influenza is the most contagious during the first 48 hours. Often when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin), it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding whether or not to bring them to school. As a rule of thumb, your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities in order to remain in or return to school. Staying home when sick will help minimize the spread of infections and viruses.
While the timing of flu season is unpredictable, seasonal flu activity most commonly peaks between December and February, but can last as late as May. CDC does recommend the flu vaccine for all individuals 6 months and older.
Thank you in advance for helping this school year be as healthy as possible. Please see links to the resources with important information below:
Is It a Cold, the Flu, or COVID-19? (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth
Spring Season of Esports!
If you are interested in trying out for the Spring Season of Esports please complete this Google Form. We will be playing Rocket League on Mondays starting February 26th and will be participating in the Middle School Esports League. If your child fills out the form we will contact them about upcoming dates for tryouts. Tryouts will occur in the end of January and early February.
New Hillcrest Gear
Grab your exclusive die-cut vinyl stickers now before supplies run out! Display your hawk pride with these high-quality, custom-designed stickers. Each sticker is precision-cut for a unique look, perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. They are UV resistant and adhere seamlessly to various surfaces.
Purchase online and pick up in the main office or have items delivered in school. For delivery, you MUST enter first, last name and grade/faculty.
To purchase, click here: Click Here
THS Winter Guard Preview Show
The Trumbull High School Winter Guard preview show will be on Saturday 1/27 in the THS gym at 7PM. Spectators can watch the show, meet the team, and learn how to spin a flag. This is a free event!
24-25 Budget Process
Next week our budget discussions begin with the Board of Education. The first meeting is January 9th at 7:00 PM and as always you may attend the meeting in-person or on-line. Below are links to the superintendent's recommended budget which includes an infographic that summarizes the budget request. The budget meetings begin in January with the BOE but then continues to the Board of Finance (March) and Town Council (April) to complete the process. We look forward to your engagement with the budget process for the 2024-2025 school year.
Valentine's Grams
Valentine's Day is near, and we need your help to spread love! Join us in wrapping, organizing, or delivering gifts at school. Your contribution counts! We're seeking a committee chair and volunteers to orchestrate this love-spreading mission—could you be the heart behind it all? Sign up here: https://hillcrestmspta.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/121800
Yearbook News
Last day to personalize your yearbook with your student’s name is January 26th. You can order online, and for orders over $30, pay in 3 equal installments at no extra charge! .Hillcrest yearbooks can be ordered at http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01090300
Student Spectator Expectations
We are excited that another basketball season is underway! We have been fortunate to have a great deal of attendance at our games, along with some wins to start the season! We would ask that you review this letter with your students to go over our spectator expectations. Thank you!
Save Club Bottle Cap Collection
The S.A.V.E club is collecting white and green bottle caps and tops in order to create a mural. Please put all caps in the box located on the stage in the cafeteria.
What Are We Reading at Hillcrest?
1.This week our staff read this article which shared strategies on how to help students learn and retain more information.
2. Mrs. Laird and I are currently reading Middle School Superpowers by middle school counselor, Phyllis Fagell. This is a fantastic book, especially for parents of middle schoolers, that provides terrific strategies and talking points as we navigate through these complex and formative years.
Stay Connected with the PTA!
Want to be the first to know when fun student activities are happening? Or where to buy Spiritwear? All PTA information can be found on Membership Toolkit. Sign up today at https://hillcrestmspta.membershiptoolkit.com
Drop Off/Pick Up Procedure
As a reminder, please be cautious of the students who are walking to school as you are driving through our parking lot and campus.
Safety
We strive on a daily basis to provide a safe environment for all students, and to promote safe practices with them as well. We will continue to educate students about what safe behavior looks like and what our expectations are for safe behaviors. We see this as a partnership with our families. I ask that you please remind your children to be kind to each other, to keep their hands to themselves, and that there is never an acceptable time or moment to use slurs of any kind. This article from the American Psychological Association gives families tips on how to potentially address way to have these discussions.
Hillcrest on Social Media!
Did you know that Hillcrest has its own Instagram page and Twitter feed? Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/hillcrestmshawks/. Follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/HMSTrumbull/ . This is a great resource for families to get a glimpse of day to day life at Hillcrest!
Volunteer Forms
If you think you may be interested in volunteering at some point this year for a Hillcrest event, please fill out this form and return it to the main office. Thank you!
Bus Tracker
If you are interested in using the Durham Bus tracker app, directions can be found here.
Infinite Campus
Please see this flyer on helpful tips to navigate the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus.
Mr. Bryan Rickert
Email: brickert@trumbullps.org
Website: https://hms.trumbullps.org/
Location: Hillcrest Middle School, Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull, CT, USA
Phone: 203-452-4466
Twitter: @HMSTrumbull