August 18, 2021

Dear Parents,

Today the Allegan County Health Department issued an order (attached) stating that all education institutions and all persons in educational settings grades K-6 will be required to wear masks while indoors. This applies to all persons, regardless of vaccination status.

Additional details to comply with this order are being developed and will be communicated at the building level.

Although this varies from our intended plan, the district must comply with this mandate.

Gary Wood, Superintendent
Hopkins Public Schools
(269) 793-7261

Netbooks will be issued to each student on Thursday, August 26th.

Picture Day is Friday, August 27th, 2021.

Pre-Order by visiting https://inter-state.com/Home (use School Code 59448CA) or print the order form by downloading the flyer below.

Paper Forms will also be available in the School Office.

Dear Families,

We are so grateful you are a part of the school community this year.

One of the aims at our school is to equip young people for all the realities of today’s world. With that in mind, we have partnered with CharacterStrong - an organization that provides training for educators and social & emotional learning curriculum for students. Their work in grades 6-12 focus on 3 main outcomes: increasing a sense of belonging for all students, improving skills that support student well-being, and deepening student engagement in their academics, in their school, and in their community.

Here’s what the data tells us:

• A sense of belonging in school is one of the most important conditions for learning and a fundamental support for social and emotional well-being. Nearly ⅓ of all students report a weak sense of belonging in their schools. Roughly half of 6th - 12th grade students say they don’t enjoy coming to school most of the time.
• Mental health challenges for teens have been increasing and 7 out of 10 teens in the U.S. (between 13 and 17 years old) have named anxiety or depression as a major problem among their peers.
• Student engagement drives learning and supports school success.

This curriculum was created to support school communities as they engage in the work of preparing young people to thrive in the 21st century. The research (https://casel.org/impact/)

supports the effectiveness of social & emotional learning in schools to increase student’s academic success and college & career readiness. The lessons focus on developing skills and mindsets around building positive habits, understanding our emotions, and increasing empathy for people and communities who have lived different lives than us. The curriculum helps students think about things they want to improve in their school, their relationships, and their world and then provides tools for them to work individually and in teams to close the gaps they’ve identified.

One of the key parts of nearly every lesson is the “CharacterDare” for Middle School students and the “To Be List” for High School students. These are invitations near the end of most lessons to put the content that they are learning into action in the real world. If you ever want to play an active role in the CharacterStrong curricula, simply ask your student about the most recent CharacterDare or To Be List challenge. Maybe they’ll invite you to try one yourself!

To learn more about CharacterStrong, check out https://characterstrong.com/ to discover other resources for students and families.

Looking forward to a great year!

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We would like to offer your student the opportunity to participate in a program at Hopkins Middle School called “Hand2Hand”. This program helps provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden. The first backpack is set to be delivered on September 24, 2021.

Here’s how Hand2Hand will work: At the end of the week students who are signed up for the program will receive a minimum of 10 food items in a black school logo drawstring bag that will be provided at the first week of participation. These food items will be a combination of breakfast, snacks, lunch and/or dinner items. While the food items are meant for the student, they can be shared among the family as well. (Please note: if your student or another family member has food allergies it will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check the contents of the backpack each week to ensure the food doesn’t contain ingredients which could cause an allergic reaction).

There is no cost to participate! If you sign your student up to receive Hand2Hand, they will continue to receive the weekly bags each week they are at Hopkins Middle School. However, if down the road you no longer need the assistance, simply write a note expressing your desire to discontinue receiving Hand2Hand bags and give this note to the school office. This opportunity is being provided by LifeChange Community Church. To learn more about Hand2Hand, please visit their website: http://h2hkids.org.

If you feel your student would benefit from this opportunity, please complete the response form at the bottom of this letter and return it to your student’s teacher by September 20.2021 and we will make sure that your student’s name is then added to the list. Your response will be kept confidential.

Sincerely,

Scott Stockwell

Hopkins Middle School

Dear Parent or Guardian:

We are pleased to inform you that HOPKINS PUBLIC SCHOOLS will be participating in the Seamless Summer Option as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the School Year 2021-2022.

The GREAT NEWS is that ALL students enrolled at our school can receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at NO CHARGE to your household each day.

We still need your household to fill out and sign the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application. This information is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc.

These supplemental programs have the potential to offer supports and services for our students including, but not limited to:

• Instructional supports (staff, supplies & materials, etc.)
• Non-instructional services (counseling, social work, health services, etc.)
• Professional Learning for staff
• Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities
• Technology
• Pandemic-EBT

We are asking that you please complete and submit it as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our school is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the application submitted is confidential. Without your assistance in completing and returning the attached application, our school cannot maximize the use of available State and Federal funds.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us at 269-793-7286 X4530

Sincerely,

Rhonda Sapp, Food Service Director

Hopkins Public Schools

rhonsapp@hpsvikings.org

Experience the Excitement of FFA!

Join us for an ice cream social and kick-off meeting Monday, September 27th at 5:30 pm in Room 1104 at the High School (South end of the HS - You may enter through the Greenhouse)

Come see what we are all about!

Open to grades 7-12

August 18, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians of Sixth Grade Students:

Welcome to Hopkins Middle School and the Sixth Grade Team! We hope you and your student experience a smooth transition to sixth grade. One of the things sixth graders are most looking forward to, as they start middle school, is sixth-grade camp. Due to COVID-19 restrictions during the 2020/2021 school year, we were unable to offer the camp experience to sixth graders last year. However, we are excited to announce it has been successfully reinstated as a part of the sixth-grade curriculum for this school year.

Hopkins Middle School sixth-graders will attend the Outdoor Education Center from Tuesday, October 19 to Thursday, October 21. This year our camp experience will be a DAY CAMP experience. Half of the sixth-grade students will attend camp Tuesday, October 19, while the other half will remain at Hopkins Middle School for a day of learning. On Wednesday, October 20, the other half of the students will attend camp, and the other half will stay back. Then ALL sixth graders will attend the OEC on Thursday, October 21.

The cost for the day camp experience is $120.00. $100 covers the OEC cost and $20 covers the busing of students to and from camp. All students will need to have a sack lunch. Sack lunches will be available from the HMS cafeteria at no charge. Students may also bring their own sack lunch from home. We will provide water bottles for students, as well as a snack.

More information will be forthcoming once school starts. The purpose of this communication is to inform you of the dates and the cost. In the next few weeks, please look for the registration and medication forms to be sent home. Please be aware of their due dates. Any concerns or questions can be directed to the sixth-grade team or the building principal.

Thanks so much for your interest, support, and understanding. Let's make this a truly memorable year!

The Sixth Grade Team

Mrs. Aleman

Mr. Barry

Mr. Rynsburger

Ms. Weick

Electronic Devices – Devices such as used for listening to music, recording, laser pointers, and other electronic devices are not permitted to be used in the classroom without permission from the teacher or administrator. Such items will be confiscated.

Cell phones are to be turned off and kept in their lockers during the school day. Cell phones that are used during the school day will be confiscated and must be picked up by a parent.

If a student needs to contact a parent/guardian, they can go to the office to either use their cell phone or call from the office phone. If a parent needs to reach a student, they can leave a message for their student with the office.

Email: stepcaul@hpsvikings.org
Website: hpsvikings.org
Location: Hopkins Middle School, 215 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI, USA
Phone: (269) 793-7407
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopkinsMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @hpsmiddleschool

ATTENDANCE

Please call the Middle School office at (269) 793-7407 within 24 hours of your students' absence. You may leave a message on our voicemail system day or night. When reporting illness, please inform the secretary of the type of symptoms your child is experiencing (fever, sore throat, ect.). If your child is absent 2 days or more, you may request homework. If your student is absent only 1 day, homework may be picked up from their teachers the following day. You may also email absences to jennhitc@hpsvikings.org.

PHONE CALLS

Telephones in the office are to be used for illness and emergencies only.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Please report all immunizations that your child has had so we are able to keep our school records up to date. All new students and all 6th graders must be completely up to date on all immunizations. Contact the HMS office if you have any questions.

MEDICATION

ALL medications needing to be dispensed to students must be supplied from home. The school does not provide any type of medication. All prescription medication must be provided in a pharmacy labeled bottle. Tylenol/Aspirin must be brought to the office in an unopened bottle. All students requiring any type of medication must have a medication form completed by their parents and on file in the office.

CHANGES in Phone Numbers, Home Address & E-Mail

Please inform the office any time there are changes in your address or phone numbers. We need to have this information so we can update our records and successfully contact you if needed.

The Hopkins Public School District Board of Education complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, or disability in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Mr. Gary Wood Superintendent of Schools, Hopkins Public Schools, 400 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI 49328 Phone 269-793-7261.

The Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, age (except as authorized by law), religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, (collectively, "Protected Classes") that are protected by Federal civil rights laws in its programs and activities.

ADMINISTRATION: E-mail Address

Scott Stockwell, Principal scotstoc@hpsvikings.org

Pat O’Dell, Assistant Principal patrodel@hpsvikings.org

Todd Crook, Counselor toddcroo@hpsvikings.org

Tamara Johnston, Counselor tamajohn@hpsvikings.org

Jennifer Hitchcock, Secretary jennhitc@hpsvikings.org

Stephanie Caulder, SRC Coordinator stepcaul@hpsvikings.org

STAFF:

Aleman, Kathleen kathalem@hpsvikings.org

Barry, Joseph josebarr@hpsvikings.org

Byville, Suzanne suzabyvi@hpsvikings.org

Dana, Katie kathdana@hpsvikings.org

Dudick, Nikole nikodudi@hpsvikings.org

Dykstra, Krystal krysdyks@hpsvikings.org

Fisher, Mark markfish@hpsvikings.org

Megan Barg meganbarg@hpsvikings.org

Hazen, Rick rickhaze@hpsvikings.org

Irwin, Julie juliirwi@hpsvikings.org

Kerber, Brian briakerb@hpsvikings.org

Klumpp, Molly mollklum@hpsvikings.org

Kok, Wendy wendkok@hpsvikings.org

Oaster, Jacob jacooast@hpsvikings.org

Osborne, Craig craiosbo@hpsvikings.org

Kim Powell kimpowe@hpsvikings.org

Reszka, Richard richresz@hpsvikings.org

Rynsburger, T.J. tjryns@hpsvikings.org

Schoonveld, Missy missscho@hpsvikings.org

Scudder, Mack mackscud@hpsvikings.org

Smith, Julie julismit@hpsvikings.org

Tomaszewski, Katelyn katetoma@hpsvikings.org

VerMerris, Steve stevverm@hpsvikings.org

Weibel, Alexis alexweib@hpsvikings.org

Weick, Pat patweic@hpsvikings.org

Tara Lutz-Wilkens taralutz@hpsvikings.org

Williams, Jessica jesswill@hpsvikings.org