For the Week of 10/2 - 10/5

A Message from Dr. Clapp
Classroom Peeks
Happenings
Get involved!
Community Clicks
and Upcoming Events

“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare.”

~ Maya Angelou

Dear HKMS Families,

Today I had the privilege of leading off our intra-district professional learning EdCamp with John Read Middle School. My keynote speech was about intellectual risk taking (IRT). IRT is not only about exposing students to challenging tasks and complex higher-order thinking, but is also, and more importantly, about creating a learning environment that exudes belonging, acceptance, and love. For a young adolescent to stand up in front of their peers and demonstrate their athletic abilities, answer a question on the board, or to be incorrect and try again, requires a loving and caring learning environment. I was able to go through many of the characteristics of classrooms that regularly demonstrate the capacity for IRT to occur. I ended my presentation by taking my own IRT and demonstrating my very limited (and slightly embarrassing) guitar skills, only to be picked up by our amazing staff band, Raising' Helen. This, hopefully demonstrated how something as supportive as utilizing group work can make taking an IRT possible.

In this edition you will see students and teachers taking intellectual risks in all sorts of tasks, assessments, and projects. Check out the experimental design work in grade 6, global population demographics investigations in grade 7, PSATs in grade 8, and amazing pumpkin artwork, engineering, and national fitness test going on in FPAs! Don't miss out on the Happenings section which has lots of pictures of the walk to school day as well as our EdCamp, an alternative high school presentations, and of course all of our extracurriculars (open gym was just added!)

I hope everyone is enjoying a nice long holiday weekend. We can't wait to do it all again next week!

Wishing all the very best

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

A glimpse inside of the terrific teaching and learning going on this week at HKMS!

Grade 6

Mrs. Maggi's scientists are applying their knowledge of experimental design to explain the concept of osmosis. They used water and several other types of solvents in an attempt to equalize the molecules inside and outside of the gummy bear.

Mrs. Brodeur's mathematicians are studying surface area using manipulatives and challenge problems from our new math program, Desmos.

Grade 7

Mrs. Rose's social scientists are comparing global population demographics.

Mrs. Caldara's mathematicians applied their scale drawing knowledge to real-life problems in preparation for their upcoming test.

Grade 8

PSAT Time!

Grade 8 students took the PSAT 8/9 this week. Mr. Macaluso helped acclimate students to the digital form of assessment with a digital readiness check, an online practice test test, and most importantly, tips for time management, stress management and mindset.

"Hear ye, hear ye! Parliament, in its infinite and beneficent wisdom, hath decreed a new tax. All students wearing hoodies are hereby commanded to pay a tax of three skittles to be collected immediately by the duly appointed officers of the crown. God save our gracious King!"

Mr. D'Agostino's 8th grade social scientists ran a taxation without Representation simulation in class and it was very eye opening!

FPAs

The Trimester 1 Tall Tower Challenge in PLTW!

Students apply the tenants of engineering to design a tower that can hold weight!

Working our ab muscles and doing the National Fitness Test for curl ups!

Check out the amazing fall-themed artwork completed by Mrs. G's artists that is now brightening the entrance way to our media center!

Events, activites, and other occurrences that happened at HKMS this week outside of the classroom.

National Walk/Bike/Roll to school day was a HUGE success at HKMS! It was a beautiful fall morning as more than 112 students took in some fresh air as they hit the snake path and walked to school with friends and family.