For the Week of 11/6 - 11/10

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

Dear HKMS Families,

This past Wednesday, we had a real treat at school as 15 veterans spent the morning with us as part of our Veterans Day celebration. Service members from our local VFW 10059 along with service members of our Keller Family were on hand to hear each of our musical ensembles perform patriotic songs. You have to check out the happenings section with all the pictures of these heroes meeting with our students. I am grateful for the time and effort our veterans put into the visit this week, it was truly inspirational!

Instead of listening to our lovely podcast voices your assignment this week is to listen to the podcast linked just below this message. It comes from the American Middle Level Educators (AMLE) association, a great organization dedicated to all things middle school. AMLE produces a podcast called "Middle School Walk-and Talk" of which I have listed to nearly every episode. The episode linked below (which you can also find anywhere you find podcasts) is titled This is So Awkward - Seeing the Humanity in Puberty featuring the authors of the upcoming book with the same title. They are pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson and middle school counselor Vanessa Kroll Bennett. I thought I knew a a lot about puberty, but some recent studies are confirming some of the suspicions many educators have suspected for the last few years, like puberty is starting up to three years younger (girls around age 7-8, boys around 9-10)! There are so many NEW fascinating findings presented in this episode that all of our kids are going through right now, it is really one not to be missed!

On behalf of the entire HKMS community, I want to send out our deep appreciation for all out there who have served in the military and their families. Thank you for all you sacrificed to protect our nation and way of life.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

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 gathering data to answer the driving question, "How do containers keep stuff from warming up or cooling down?"

Mrs. Burke's readers and writers are busy with many activities to strengthen their skills such as finding examples of figurative language in their personal choice books, making flash cards of figurative language terms and working on their personalized activities in IXL.

Grade 7

Students in Mrs. Caldara's math 7 course prepared for their upcoming mid-unit assessment on circles and circumference this week using an interactive program called Gimkit.

It's "show what you know" time in 7th grade science! Students were assessed on their understanding of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. You do know why plants use photosynthesis? So they can have a light snack!

Grade 8

Its a linear functions scavenger hunt in Mr. Crawford's classes this week! This station activity is called He Said, She Said. For each problem, there are two responses presented. Students need to record which response is incorrect and why as well as which response is correct and why.

CRASH! Mr. Mac's scientists have designed physics experiments using Pasco cart collide. Students develop all the variables from track design to car weight, then predict what will happen, observe, measure and conclude! You have to check out these collision videos!

FPAs

In PLTW, students are using Auto-Cad designing tools to create 3D cylinders and other prisms.

Mrs. G.'s artists are learning and applying many different water color techniques. Check out what they have added to their art portfolios!

While we are talking about art class....

by Bailey Keehan, our amazing school social worker

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” -Winston Churchill

The students at HKMS are getting into the season of giving! We are kicking off next week with World Kindness Day on Monday, November 13th by giving a little kindness within the HKMS community. Outside of the counseling suite, students can find the Kindness Wall where they are able to contribute or select a message of kindness.

The giving does not stop there! The Peer Leadership Club has organized a food drive all next week to support a local food bank (please be on the lookout for the flyer for more information!). Students can drop off their non-perishable donations outside the counseling offices starting Monday.

We are looking forward to seeing the students experience the joy of giving back to their community!

The counseling department wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

The HKMS Kindness Wall!

Courtesy of the HKMS Counseling Team

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

A Veteran's Day Program at HKMS

Students and staff were honored with visits from 15 real American heroes on Wednesday. Members from our local VFW 10059 along with members of our Keller Family (Lieutenant, J. G., Paul D’Agostino and Petty Officer First Class Kevin Rogers) and our extended Family (Mrs. Caldera's brother in law, and one of our student's grandfather) were on hand to hear each of our musical ensembles perform patriotic songs. All student then rotated through stations hearing from four different veterans about their experiences and the benefits of service. We send our deep appreciation for all who have served our country!

The HKMS School Climate Advisory Committee

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)

The Keller Courier WANTS YOU

Newspaper Club flyer

Green Playful Chalk Board School Bazaar Flyer.pdf

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

Join the HKMS Garden Club!.pdf

HKMS Extra Help Information 23-24

Holiday pop up shop for spirit wear: https://eastonpto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/262943 Deadline to order is 11/14 ** image attached as well

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!