For the Week of 1/17 - 1/19

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

Dear HKMS Families,

Congratulations to Mrs. Gidley and the entire Keller Chorus and Select Choir who held a wonderful concert at SSES Wednesday night. Check out this FPA section of this week’s Classroom Peeks for lots of pictures and videos. As a former social studies teacher, my students took all their tests within the sanctity of a quiet and controlled classroom. I am always so impressed with how well our performing groups perform on their major assessment in front of a huge audience! Bravo to all our singers! Next week we have another opportunity to hear how much our budding musicians have learned, as the instrumental concert will be Wednesday at HKMS (6:00 p.m. sharp).

This coming week marks the half-way point in Trimester 2 and the 2023-24 school year! On Thursday we will have our 90th day of school, which is further evidence that time flies. If experience holds true, the spring will slip by even faster! The midway point in T2 means lots of grades will be posted as we close marks on “P2” (progress report for this interim period).

While it was more like a half-week, this week's newsletter is 100% full of all great middle school teaching and learning. I hope you all find a cozy spot this weekend to check out the rest of this newsletter (and maybe check on your child's P2 grades too).

Wishing you and your family 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

In French class students are creating personal profiles that include their favorite types of animals from around the world.

If you have a 6th grader, you have to check out their science notebooks! Much in line with all of NGSS, students essentially create their own "textbook" from materials, experiences, photos, and reports!

Grade 7

Mrs. Rose's social scientists are grouping up to compare and contrast the dynasties of Ancient China.

Mr. Roger's' readers are using the BHH (book, head, heart) strategy, which helps them document both what they are thinking and feeling as they read!

Grade 8

In science class our young engineers have completed and are testing their newly constructed "air cannons." Now they just have to work on their aim!

Electives, Prerequisites, GPA, Pathways..? Worry not, Mrs. Burnham is offering all 8th graders a very informative scheduling workshop prior to class selection day next week.

FPAs

A Choral Concert to Remember!

IMG_2227.MOV

America The Beautiful

IMG_2238.MOV

Twist and Shout Mashup

IMG_2229.MOV

Love Song

Climb Higher.MOV

Climb Higher

In 7th grade PLTW students are doing an introduction to spreadsheets and creating pixel art pictures as students learn how to resize columns and become familiar with how to use spreadsheets. Here are some cool pixel art student examples

Executive Functioning Skills
Dominika Pellegrini, HKMS School Psychologist

This school year, the staff and parents of HKMS have been reading the book "Smart but Scattered Teens" which delves into the understanding of the teen brain, highlighting several important aspects for parents to be aware of around executive functioning skills. Below are some key highlights from the book.

Frontal Lobe Development: The frontal lobes are responsible for executive functions such as planning, organizing, and decision-making, This area of the brain is still developing during the teenage years and continues into the early 20s. As a result, teens may struggle with tasks that require these executive skills.
Emotional Intensity: The book emphasizes that the teen brain is often characterized by heightened emotional intensity. This can impact decision-making and impulse control. The decrease in dopamine results in mood changes and problems with emotional control, while the decrease in serotonin results in a decrease in impulse control.
Risk-Taking Behavior: Due to the ongoing development of the frontal lobes, teens may engage in more risk-taking behavior. This is attributed to a combination of factors, including a desire for independence and the influence of peer relationships. Often teens do not understand the long term impact of their choices.
Reward Sensitivity: The teenage brain is particularly sensitive to rewards, which can influence motivation and behavior. Understanding how rewards and consequences impact a teen's decision-making process is essential for effective parenting.
Sleep Patterns: The book addresses the importance of sleep in the context of teen brain development. Adolescents often experience changes in sleep patterns, with a tendency to stay up later and struggle with early morning awakenings. Melatonin levels are shown to decrease in adolescence resulting in the need for more sleep. Adequate sleep is crucial for cognitive functions and emotional well-being.
Social Influence: The teenage brain is highly influenced by social interactions and peer relationships. Parents should be aware of the impact that friendships and peer pressure can have on a teen's choices and behaviors.
Plasticity and Learning: Despite the challenges, the teen brain is still highly plastic, meaning it has the ability to adapt and learn. This is a critical period for acquiring new skills, both academically and in terms of life skills.
Parent/Guardian-Teen Communication: Understanding the cognitive and emotional processes of the teen brain is essential for effective communication. The book provides insights into how parents can communicate with their teens in a way that fosters understanding and cooperation.
Self-Regulation Challenges: Teens may struggle with self-regulation, particularly in stressful situations. The book offers strategies for helping teens develop better self-regulation skills.
Individual Differences: It's important to recognize that there are individual differences in teen brain development. Each teen is unique, and parents should be attuned to the specific needs and challenges of their own child.

By being aware of these aspects of the teen brain, parents can approach their interactions with understanding and tailor their parenting strategies to support their teen's development effectively. The goal is to foster a balance between providing guidance and allowing for the autonomy necessary for a teen's growth.

For more tangible resources to better understand your teen’s executive functioning skills, utilizing the executive skills questionnaire found in the book would be a helpful start to better understanding your teen’s skills as well as looking at your own to see how well the two match up.