May 12, 2023
Dear HMS Parents and Guardians,
We hope this update finds you well. May is humming right along here at HMS! Tom and I enjoyed supporting our students in their spring concerts this past week. Our 6th grade band and chorus hosted concerts this past Tuesday, and our 7th and 8th grade band and chorus hosted concerts this past Wednesday. Pictured above is our 6th grade band. Pictured below are the HMS 8th graders in chorus who will be joining YHS performances moving forward. While we are sad to see our 8th graders go, we are confident that they will do great things at YHS and beyond!
In this update you will find information about the following topics:
HMS Career Day - Thank you!
Day of Welcome - Spring Edition
Poetry Kabaam!
HMS School Dance
Dates to Date
HMS Update #19 will be sent on May 26, 2023. Please continue to reach out with any questions.
With Gratitude,
Mandy Lewis and Tom McDowell
HMS Administrative Team
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HMS Career Day - Thank you!
We hosted an awesome Career Day last Friday, and we are incredibly grateful for the number of professionals who took time out of their day to visit with students and share their journeys with us. We are in the process of gathering student feedback to expand on our options as we plan for next year. Thank you again for all of your support!
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Day of Welcome - Spring Edition
The HMS Civil Rights Team hosted a spring Day of Welcome to emphasize the importance of an inclusive school community! Many of our CRT members stood in front of our school dancing to music while welcoming all members of the HMS community. HMS CRT continues to help us strive to be as inclusive as possible!
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Poetry Kabaam!
We hosted our annual Poetry Kabaam! yesterday in the HMS Library. Students signed up to share an original poem or their favorite poem. Charlotte Agell, the creator of this tradition and recently retired HMS educator, joined in the poetry celebration with us. The audience used white boards to share positive thoughts after each poem was shared. It was a beautiful celebration of all things poetry!
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HMS Dance: May 25
Student Leadership Team is excited to share that HMS will be hosting one more dance this year! On Thursday, May 25, all HMS students are invited to join in the fun from 6:30-8pm. DJ Huzzy will be joining us again to keep the music playing, and we hope to highlight another student performance. While we recognize that hosting a dance on a Thursday night is not ideal, due to the number of conflicts during the spring, the limited availability of DJ Huzzy, and the 3-day weekend that follows, May 25 was the best option for us. We will be sure to dismiss students promptly at 8pm, and at least we will not have to worry about the frigid temperatures that stalled our dismissal this past winter. We will emphasize the same student expectations for this upcoming dance:
-Students attending the dance must arrive within 15 minutes of the start time. The dance on May 25th starts at 6:30 pm, and all students attending must arrive by 6:45pm, unless prior arrangements have been made.
-To keep students safe, they will stay until the dance is over and be picked up by an adult or adult designee. If a student needs to be picked up before the end of the dance, a parental note and $administrative permission is needed.
-All HMS student behavior expectations apply to the dance. Cell phone use is not permitted. The purpose is for students to socialize in person with those who are at the dance. Students are encouraged to leave their cell phones at home. If a student needs to keep a cell phone with them, the phone must remain in their coat pocket.
-Students will have no need for backpacks or water bottles. Please leave these at home. Cups for water will be provided.
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Dates to Date
May 25: HMS Dance 6:30-8pm
June 15: Last day of school (half day)