Dear HKMS Families,

What a start to 2022!  A minimum day to adjust our mitigation strategies, an ice storm that turned two delays into a cancellation, and a snow day! Despite all the disruptions we had two-and-a-half days of top-notch teaching and learning.  Check out the "classroom peeks'' section to see some cozy hot cocoa mugs, a great pun, and even the quadratic equation!  

We were fortunate to add two new staff members over winter break. Mr. Virgil Procaccini Jr. is our new School Security Officer (SSO).  In addition to being born and raised in Easton (and an HKMS graduate of 1977, and JBHS in 1981), he went on to serve in Easton PD, and the CT State Police Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.  After retiring from police work Officer Proccaccini went on to serve as an SSO in a few other school districts.   Mrs. Mary Burke rejoined the HKMS staff as a cafeteria supervisor this week.  Having raised her children in Easton and sending them through ER9 school, she stepped up last year to fill in the challenging but vital role of cafeteria annex (AKA the library learning  commons) supervisor.  Her return could not have been better timed as we had to return the library to its "second cafeteria" duties this week.  Both of them are very welcomed additions to the HKMS family.  See their pictures in the HKMS happenings session of this newsletter.  

Besides moving 60 desks into the library, a number of facilities \projects were accomplished over break.  All air filters in our HVAC system were replaced.  We (finally) had our new stair treads installed (ordered in June 2021). And every surface was deep-cleaned thanks to our amazing custodial staff led by Mr. Alan Zingaro.

This week the PTO and I held an informative "Transition to Joel Barlow High School" coffee on Wednesday night with Mrs. Paula Panos (JBHS Counselor) and Mrs. Sara Terry (HKMS Counselor) who are leading the process on both ends.  The process is both very logical and fairly complex.  JBHS has excellent interactive course progressions and elective offerings website. You can find all of this important information and links in a letter from Mrs. Terry summarizing all the steps and events in the process linked below. 

While we may be off to a bit of an intermittent start, we are off the block in 2022. There is nothing we can't do!

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

360 Sport Hill Rd, Easton, CT 06612

(203) 268-8651

sclapp@er9.org

All of the wonderful activities, events, and learning going on around HKMS this week (and beyond!). 

What better way to clean out some closet space for those new holiday gifts? Eighth Grade Government is organizing a "gently used" clothing, shoes, and textile drive to benefit Big Brother & Big Sisters of South Western Connecticut.  NEXT WEEK!

Above is Mrs. Terry's letter to grade eight parents about the high school transition.  Even if your child is in sixth or seventh grade, this is a great summation of the transition process! 

Come join Mr. Breyer in the gym after school and have fun with friends. The primary focus of this club is providing students an outlet for fun exercise, comradery, and good sportsmanship. We will work on improving skills including bumping, setting, and serving through fun drills and small side games. Whether you have little experience, on a team or want to participate in high school, this is the club for you! More info and parent form are linked here.

Cafeteria Annex or Library? For now, both!  By adding more than 60 desks, we can ensure students are all more the 6' apart and facing the same direction while their masks are off.  Ideal? No.   Safe? Yes.