For the Week of 2/27 - 3/3

Dear HKMS families,

Whatever your plans are for this weekend, I implore you to get over to see our school musical "13" with your kids.  Opening night was an amazing display of a community coming together and giving a brief moment for our students to really shine.  As I have heard her say many times, "theater is the ultimate team sport" (Director Christy McIntosh-Newsom) and that teamwork was on display last night.  With students running the lights, creating and changing the scenery, designing the playbill and promotion materials, helping with costume changes, and acting in multiple roles while working alongside numerous parent volunteers, from the PTO, to our staff producers, Dr. Baca and Mrs. Lazor, they all brought it together for a dazzling performance!  You won't get a better bang for your entertainment buck this weekend.  Check out the happenings section for pictures and ways to buy tickets in advance or at the door. 


I would like to send a special "shout out" to Penny Jacobus, parent of two of our eighth graders who has been a steadfast volunteer for the musical this and last year. Penny gives of her time, sweat, and resources without hesitation.  She is a professional lighting designer, who regularly works on Broadway, and has been here assisting the students in making the scenery, teaching them to work the lighting board, and helping to design costumes! She is a kind, dedicated and caring adult who has really connected with our students.  We are truly lucky to have such a valuable human who our students can look up to and learn from at every practice, rehearsal, and performance! Thank you Penny!


Below you will find a collection of pure middle school joy, full of hard work, terrific displays of teaching, learning, cooperation, and individual accomplishments!


I hope you enjoy this newsletter and your weekend as well! 


Sincerely,

Steve Clapp

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

Find your strength, build upon it, and share it!

Grade 6

Mrs. Burke's young writers are reading passages and categorizing them by text structures.

Our youngest historians are learning how the words from the past still apply to our lives today.

Grade 7

Mrs. Rose's social scientists are teaching lessons to their classmates about their research topics this week.  This group shared all about the history of playing cards linking back to the ancient dynasties of China.  

Ms. Mancini and Ms. Stiebeling are challenging students to use proportions to solve percent problems! 

Dr. Baca's scientists are composing an original song that explains tectonic plates.  What a great crossover between the science and music curricula!

Grade 8

Students in Mr. D'Agostino's social studies classes are presenting their culminating projects.  They have spent time these past few weeks grappling with the complicated events of Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion.  Their projects challenged them to synthesize the many perspectives, viewpoints and experiences of this time and reflect on the essential question, "Does might make right?"

8th grade scientists are organizing their own animal classification system.  They must justify and explain their thinking using guiding questions such as "What is the trait you are using as the foundation for your grouping?" and "How is that trait unique to that group of organisms?"

FPA

You can't spell HEART without ART! Mrs. G is making sure the love is always in the Art room!

Mr. Breyer's PE students are playing games that teach them the fundamentals of basketball and sharpen their playing skills.  Ask your 7th graders about b-ball pirates and sharp shooter.

I am Enough!

Seventh grade health students wrote oringial poems entitled, "I Am Enough!"  They highlighted their amazing character traits and all of the good they bring to the world!

Mrs. Burnham is back! I am so happy to be back at Helen Keller Middle School. I was here last year filling in for Mrs. Terry and Mr. Sather when they were out on leave. It is great to see so many familiar faces again.  I met the 6th graders during ELT last week and I was in Mrs. Tiani's Health class teaching a guidance lesson on Empathy, Stereotypes & Healthy Relationships. I am also really enjoying meeting students during their lunch time for lunch groups. I have a middle schooler at home so I can relate to the parents' perspective navigating the middle school experience! Everyone at HKMS has been so kind and welcoming & it is so wonderful to hear the students express so much concern for Mrs. Terry. Feel free to e-mail me at kburnham@er9.org if you have any questions or concerns.  

Good Luck Nathaniel!

This weekend our school spelling bee champion is competing for the state spelling bee title. We're all cheering for you Nathaniel!!  Show 'em them that Keller pride!!! 

Hawaiian Party Permission Slip

Aloha! 

The HKMS Student Government

Hawaiian Party is Coming!

Friday, March 10th after school until 5:30 pm

$10 Ticket includes a slice of Pizza and an Ice Cream 

Permission slip (linked to the left) must be completed

Music, food, basketball, and other fun activates are planned!

"13!" The HKMS musical is HERE!!!

Tonight! (Curtain at 6:00pm sharp)

Tomorrow! (Matinee at 2:30pm sharp)

Tickets are for sale at the door :

Doors open for seating 30 minutes prior to each performance.

(Please plan for a few minutes of processing time when you arrive)

Tri-District Concert

This year's Tri-District Concert will take place on Thursday, March 23rd at Joel Barlow High School.  The concert features groups from all of the ER9 schools, and is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our K-12 music program.  HKMS students in Jazz Band and 6th, 7th and 8th grade Chorus will be performing this year.  Chorus families, please take a moment to fill out the following Google Form (to the left) so that Mrs. Gidley knows which students are able to attend. 

Attention all 8th Graders!!

The 9th grade class council of Joel Barlow High School is hosting an 8th and 9th grade dance on March 31st!!

From our Friends at the Easton Public Library...

Garden Club Update! 

Mrs. Rose and her student gardeners will be creating a "pollinator pathway" garden with the assistance of Christine Cook and Jean Puchalski (pictured above) from the Easton Garden Club.  Students have conducted soil tests and this week we mapped out the garden site (see the flags above).  We could always use more gardeners!  If your child is interested, the garden club will start up at the end of March.  Stay tuned for more details!

School Spiritwear Store!

https://stapleskellerspiritwear.com/

Keller Educational Discussions

Do you have an area of expertise middle schoolers can learn from? Do you like sharing? We want you to give a KED-Talk! Click here for more information and to sign up!

@HKMS_easton 

@helen_keller_middle_school

@hkmsmediacenter