For the week of 3/21 - 3/25

A message from Dr. Clapp
Classroom "Peeks"
Diversity Discussion
Counselor's Corner
Drive to Thrive!
HKMS "Happenings"
Ways to get involved at HKMS!
and...Upcoming Events!

Dear HKMS Families,

We are in the midst of some of the most exciting planning of the entire year, the culminating events that celebrate this year, and for our 8th-graders their Easton Public School education! We are still nailing down the details but please save the dates for the following:

The Grade 8 Celebration Trip will be with JRMS 8th-graders - 6/15
The Grade 8 Closing Ceremony will be 6/17 at 6:00 PM
The Grade 8 Twilight Picnic Party 6/20 from 5:30-8:30 PM
The HKMS Field Day 6/21 at the ECC (for grades 6-8)

More details will be coming over the next few weeks. We are also planning special events for the 6th and 7th-graders as well!

As a community, we have much to celebrate as we turn the calendar from March and open the third trimester. The tremendous efforts across our entire community in raising over $6,000 for Mikey's Way have been a rallying point for students, teachers, staff, and parents. We are best as a species when we are committing acts of kindness for others, and Mikey's Madness is proof! Be sure to check out the happenings section below for updates on our final week of events!

The students have once again demonstrated tremendous growth over the course of the second trimester. As you review their report cards I recommend prompting your discussions with some of the following questions: How do you feel about your grades? Are you surprised by anything? What do you love now that you never even knew about before this trimester? What have you learned about yourself as a learner and student? What teacher comment means the most to you? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the year? Rather than looking at these grades as a destination, it is important to look at them as mile markers on the journey to be life-long learners. Keep the conversations going by checking out the classroom peeks section for updates across grades and content areas.

Although the spring is young and the mornings still chilly, the afternoons are long and the early signs of spring are emerging. This time of year in our beautiful town is my favorite for the hopes and dreams of vernal rebirth. I hope you have a chance to enjoy some outside time this weekend, doing winter clean-up, preparing your garden for plantings, or enjoying a walk on the trails.

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

360 Sport Hill Rd, Easton, CT 06612

(203) 268-8651

sclapp@er9.org

Grade 6 Peeks

The creative juices are flowing in 6th grade ILA classes! Students designed projects demonstrating their new learning and the central idea of the non fiction text they chose to read. They were also challenged to support their thinking about the central idea with evidence from the text.

Students in Mr. D'Agostino's social studies classes are about to jump into the unit on Ancient Greece. To get in the right mindset, they are grappling with some philosophical conundrums this week.

Spanish students went on a "time hunt" and tried to figure out the times on some secret clocks.

Grade 7 Peeks

The seventh grade French class headed to the media center this week to play a game like Bananagrams with partners to practice their market vocabulary in the target language.

Students in Mr. Rogers' 7th grade ILA classes are responding to their reading imaginatively! They are creating "one pagers" representing their current thinking about the book they are reading for their social issues book clubs. They are bringing their thinking to life with images! There is some serious artistic talent in this group!

Grade 8 Peeks

From Mrs. Lapane's room --working together to guess the riddle of the day from the morning announcements.

Students in Mr. Walsh’s eighth grade social studies class are engaged in an end of unit “chalk talk” to review the main standards and essential questions concerning the Industrial Revolution.

When are we ever going to need this in real life??? Mr. Ackley's students are learning first hand the many applications of their math skills in real life. Today they stepped into the shoes of an entrepreneur who was tracking her rise in social media followers after the release of her promotional campaign.

Social Studies classes construct the concept of protest and discuss what makes a protest successful by exploring several historical protests.

REMINDER!

FPA Peeks

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PE Students are having fun with their choice basketball activities!

Students in Mrs. Gidley's orchestra class are hard at work preparing a new piece for a spring performance!

It's a new trimester! A new group of art students are warming up their artistic muscles by creating different fonts with their names.

Ramadan

During the Islamic holy month that begins next Friday, we want to reach out to our families who are observing the holiday with ways we can support your children at school. We are happy to offer an alternative location to spend the lunch time, accommodations for physical education as well as private locations for prayer. We know that each family's traditions may differ. Please reach out to Dr. Clapp or Mrs. Mohr if there is anything we can put into place for the month to help your child feel supported at school.

Take a Walk in my Shoes

The past couple of weeks, students explored the meaning of empathy. Empathy (the ability to feel how others are feeling) is often mistaken for sympathy (the ability to understand how others are feeling) and compassion (the ability to alleviate the discomfort someone is feeling). Students had the opportunity to discuss the notion that the more connected we are, the more likely we will show empathy towards one another. As we all know, life is not full of sunshine and rainbows, but being able to reflect and take responsibility for our actions is the key to improving empathy.

Sixth grade students created a map of their own island (ah, the peaceful sound of the waves crashing on the beach). Each student came up with five rules for their island. How do you want your island to run and operate? What rules are most important? We generalized this into our everyday lives of school rules and community rules. What happens if we break these rules? How can we help improve our school climate by following rules? What does empathy have to do with all of this?

Seventh and Eighth grade students viewed a short clip of Tangled's "I Have a Dream" where we guessed what the character's dreams were. Then, after viewing, we realized we were guessing what their dreams were based solely off of their appearance and not for who they truly were. There were some funny guesses, I must say! However, we came to the conclusion that we cannot base a book off of its cover, and we need to better connect with those who we do not know to increase empathetic responses towards one another. This is highlighted as a life skill, rather than a skill to just practice right now.

Empathy is a life skill that will evolve as time goes on. Want to read more about the correlation between Empathy and Emotional Literacy? Read here!.

Parent/Guardian Questionnaire:

The Counseling Team is requesting your input in regards to hosting a potential career fair for the 2022/2023 school year! Please fill out this short questionnaire linked HERE.

At HKMS we believe all students should be thriving whether performing below, at, or above grade-level standards. This section will highlight just one of the ways we support learners and/or extend their thinking.

Students are grouped in book clubs at their individual reading levels, which allows each student to be challenged, while also being supported.

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

New Clubs Starting!!

Click on the flyer above for more information and the permission slip.

MIKEY'S MADNESS at HKMS

The Mikey's Madness Coffee & Snack Cart was a huge success!!

Nick meeting Mr. and Mrs. Friedman (Mikey's parents), telling them about the coffee cart he helped organize to raise money for Mikey's Way!

We are blowing our goal OUT OF THE WATER!!!!

Our total for this week is.....drum roll please.....

$6337.75

Fundraising Update Week 4

Bracelet Sales this Week - Cash: $270

Mikey's Madness Scavenger Hunt: $95

Mikey's Madness Coffee Cart (Cash): $81.75

Kids Baking Challenge - Entry Fees: $180

Virtual Talent Show- Entry Fees: $30

Contributions via Mikey's Way Venmo: $169

Mikey’s Madness at HKMS

Week 4 Update

5 K for Mikey’s Way!!!

What's coming up?

A Kids Baking Challenge - March 28th after school! Participant sign-ups happening now!
- Students can come watch the baking challenge. Tickets are $3. Students can bring their money to Mrs. Aponte for a ticket.
- The Baking Challenge will be Monday, March 28th 3pm -5pm
Virtual Talent Show: See the flyer above! Email submissions to Mrs. Aponte at daponte@er9.org
The Mikey's Madness Scavenger Hunt - Run by Mr. D'Agostino's Homeroom. Check out the flyer above for more info.

Keller Educational Discussions

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

Have some gently used games getting little play?

The PTO is organizing a new game closet for students to sign out on days we cannot get out for an active mask break due to poor weather. Please send an email to eastonctpto.hkms@gmail.com if you like to donate.