For the Week of  11/13 - 11/17

“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness of people.”
- Roy T. Bennett

Dear HKMS Families,

I am going to highlight a few wonderful things going on at HKMS this time of year.   Next Wednesday we will hold our annual gratitude  assembly.  Our gratitude assembly is unlike anything I have experienced or heard of at other middle schools. In a school wide gathering, students and staff make expressions of gratitude, we explore the science and the benefits of gratitude, and our staff band Raisin' Helen gets everyone in the best of moods with songs like Sweet Home Helen Keller.  From the assembly, students go into their advisory groups and decorate classroom doors in the themes of...gratitude!  It is a super inspiring kick off to the holiday season.  Look for lots of pictures and videos in next week's newsletter. 

Our 8th grade math teacher, Mr. Crawford is doing something really cool in the spirit of gratitude.  Copied below is the letter he sent to 8th grade parents that explains the project.

Hi 8th Grade Math Parents,

In an effort to promote civic responsibility, I devoted a portion of today's math lessons to the concept of micro-financing.  Specifically, I shared a website called Kiva.org and showed students how it is possible to help finance a small loan for a recipient as far away as the other side of the World.  Since 2008, I have contributed financially to help fund loans for 25 recipients around the world.  Each recipient was chosen by my students.  This year, I will help fund two loans (one chosen by Math 8 students, one chosen by Algebra students).  

While this experience allows students to learn about financial concepts (Real World Math), it is also meant to teach them how a small act can have a huge impact on others.  If you have a chance, please talk with your son/daughter and see if they can explain how micro-financing works and check out www.kiva.org.  If you'd like, check out my Kiva portfolio page:  https://www.kiva.org/lender/richard9435

: ) Mr. Crawford


To me this is exactly the kind of middle school activity that promotes excellence in students learning, helps develop the "whole child", makes a positive impact on the world, and builds a stronger sense of community.  In a time where it seems like the news is full of huge negative events that middle schoolers can do little about, this teaches students they can actually make the world a better place.  I applaud Mr. Crawford and his students for this effort!

As we head into Thanksgiving week, we also approach the end of the first trimester! It's hard to believe we are wrapping up the first 1/3 of the school year!  T1 grades will close on Thursday 11/30.  Please be sure to sit with your child(ren) to review their grades in PowerSchool (parent portal link is here).  No one likes surprises, especially when there is still time to make corrections, improve grades, and more importantly, create a deeper and lasting understanding of the curricula.  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

Gratefully yours,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

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

Grade 6

Sixth grade Spanish students have designed their dream bedrooms and labeled all items in the target language.  They have made videos using the program WE Video describing these rooms.  They will get the chance to share these videos with their peers soon.

Mr. Bernardi's young historians are investigating the social structures, politics, and cultures of the Ancient Mesoamerican Empires! 

Grade 7

5 Hunger Amara_Leah.mp4
5 Poverty Jane_Gabby.mp4

Seventh graders have designed and produced incredibly informative and moving public services announcements about issues facing our world today.

6 Climate Change WT/BH/MP.mp4

The benefits of listening to a book being read have been found to be substantial in the development of fluent and sophisticated readers.  In Mr. Rogers class, students are listening to Freak the Mighty as they take notes.  Note taking from an audio source (book, lecture, film, etc.) is also a valuable strategy for recalling details and organizing concepts.

In this Desmos lesson, Mrs. Caldara's mathematicians are solving problems that will help construct a robot.  Any miscaluation will result in a dysfunctional build! What a great "real world" application of ratios, fractions, and various mathematical operations. 

Grade 8

Not many teachers release full control to their students to run their class.  With Mr. D not feeling 100%, he asked the class to pick two leaders to lead a great discussion on the benefits of a federal government, a debate our founding fathers had as they wrote our Constitution.  The students developed a robust list of ideas and refined them down to the the most important.  

It's readers theater time in 8th grade ILA.  

Students are creating readers theater scenes from their dystopian novel book club texts.  While performing, they must select a digital background for their scenery connected to their scene.  These performances will be recorded.  The students will view their performance video and self-assess their work. 

FPAs

angry birds 2.mp4
Angry Birds 1.mp4

Who needs video games when PE makes Angry Birds come alive in PE this week?! 

Students in PLTW are designing, building, and testing their VEX Clawbots!  In the end, these bots will be remote controlled and able to pick up materials, move the material and place it in a new location. 

Mrs. G's art students have brightened the walls of Mrs. Grega's office with this awesome poster!!

While we are talking about art class....

Cooking with the Kids!
-by Dana Aponte, ILA Specialist

Looking for something fun to do with your children to foster learning? Try something as simple as cooking with your kids, instead of for them. You could even create cooking challenges as a family. Everyone can take turns choosing recipes, and you can work together to prepare the meal. The benefits span across multiple disciplines and can be fun at the same time. Students will utilize their math skills when measuring, understanding ratios, and adjusting recipe quantities, while in a real-world context is always beneficial. Also, cooking introduces students to basic scientific principles like the transformation of ingredients during heating, chemical reactions, the role of various components in a recipe and how they can change the outcome. Furthermore, students are learning to read, understand, and interpret text. Students' abilities to follow directions and to be able to follow a sequence can be utilized throughout their learning both in and out of school. Finally, cooking together builds teamwork and communication skills, which many teens need to continually practice with. Family members learn to coordinate tasks, problem solve, express ideas, and work together towards a common goal. Help foster your child's learning and creativity while also accomplishing everyday tasks. 

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

Introducing The Den! 

The HKMS Morning Announcements

It was a great first week of live video announcements as we launched The Den Morning Newscast. Special thanks to our student announcers and producer/director Mrs. Gale!

Last year all current 7th and 8th graders received Easton Public Library Cards on their spring visit.  We wanted to be sure all our students have access to this wonderful resource!  If you are a "new" to Easton family or a 6th grade family, please fill out the form above and we will arrange for your child to receive their card in the next few days! 

At our faculty meeting on Thursday, teachers discussed and synthesized the first 6 chapters of Smart But Scattered Teens using a "Jigsaw" collaborative activity.  

Extra-Curricular Activities

Below are all the planned clubs and activities we will be offering this year.  

CLICK ON THE CHART BELOW TO OPEN THE FULL DOC. 

As each activities start date approaches, we will publish flyers of each club with more details below. 

HKMS Extracurricular Offerings for 23-24

(Note: dates and times are subject to change)

Newspaper Club flyer
Green Playful Chalk Board School Bazaar Flyer.pdf

Please fill out the HW Club form linked here prior to Thursday

Pics from our Extra Curriculars!

See images below of the track club practicing hurdles and the garden club harvesting seeds for next year and as a fundraiser! (Seed packets will be on sale at the pancake breakfast!)

Dolecki as a low hurdle.MOV
HKMS Extra Help Information 23-24

HKMS Ski Club is Back!

Registration information: https://www.eastonctpto.com/ski-club 

PLEASE NOTE: families must be PTO members for their student to participate. All the necessary links are on the PTO website ski club page (link above) Deadline to register is 11/22/23!

Easton Public Library Events

@helen_keller_middle_school

@hkmsmediacenter