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Dear HKMS Families,

November may be my favorite month of the year.  Yes, it was the month our daughter joined us all on this march around the sun but I also love the crisp cool mornings, the warm autumn sun, the foliage, and those occasional light dustings of snow.  With warm fires on cold nights, great sports to entertain us, and the greatest of holidays, Thanksgiving, capping off the month, November is a gem! Additionally, the unofficial theme of November is gratitude. Gratitude is unique among human emotions. According to renowned social scientists Jesse Walker and Amit Kumar (2016): 

The experience of gratitude leads to all sorts of positive outcomes. ...gratitude increases well-being, reduces visits to the doctor, enhances feelings of social connection, and improves sleep quality. Other research has shown that gratitude is associated with lowered depression, decreased envy, an increased sense of meaning in life, higher positive affect and life satisfaction, and an increased ability to delay gratification.

If you are or ever have been a runner, a cyclist, or a paddler you know the feeling of having the "the wind in your face" or "the wind at your back."  When I ride my bike into the wind, it's just about all I think about and how I cannot wait to turn around to have the wind at my back. When I do turn around, I appreciate the wind at my back, for about three seconds, then I forget about it and ride on. In our daily lives we tend to focus on the various "winds in our faces." From traffic and daily chores to financial and relationships stressors, we can all identify these "winds" at any point in our day.  But how often do we stop to identify the "wind at our backs?" The aspect of our lives that propel us forward, give us support, makes us better, more efficient, and provide a boost of energy that we hardly ever notice.  When we do notice those winds on our back, we are tapping into the benefits of gratitude, which make us happier and healthier. I can think of few other self-care practices that so impact our own well-being than the act of sharing our gratitude to others.  This month at HKMS we will be focusing on gratitude and practicing the act of giving thanks in a variety of ways.  

Next week's Veteran's Day celebration will be a chance for the whole school to learn and give our appreciation to twelve veterans who will be at school on Wednesday.  After a brief recognition ceremony, student will rotate through a special schedule giving them close access to different veterans who will share their military experiences and the benefits they enjoyed from their time of service.  These will be powerful opportunities for students to learn about the great sacrifices our service men and women have provided to all of us and to express their appreciation for that service.  As the month rolls on, we will hold our annual  "gratitude assembly" which provides students and staff a moment of reflection about those things we are grateful for and an opportunity to share that gratitude with the entire school. 

Every morning as I enter the school, I reflect and appreciate the community I have the fortune to learn alongside. As I exit the building every afternoon, I try put aside any wind that was in my face that day, and to remember all those who made the day a success. The hardworking students, dedicated staff, and supportive parents all provide me with the wind at my back for which I am truly grateful. Thank you all!  I am also grateful for another wonderful week of amazing middle school teaching and learning, which is bursting in this week's newsletter! Be sure to check it out below or check out our podcast version which is linked above this message. 

I hope everyone has a weekend with less wind in your face and more at your back.  

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

Grade 7

What a great way to celebrate Halloween with Mr. Rogers' writers sharing their spooky stories!

Grade 8

FPAs

Health students participated in a debate about whether or not cellphones should be allowed in the classroom.

American Mathematics Competition 

Halloween at HKMS