Dear HKMS Families,

On April 8, 2024 the Eastern United States and especially New England will have the rare opportunity to experience a near total solar eclipse. The eclipse will start in Easton at about 2:12 p.m., will peak at 3:25 p.m. (with 92% coverage), and be over at 4:37 p.m.

In preparation of this rare celestial event, our science classes will be teaching all students about this phenomena, how scientists use this event to learn more about our place in the universe, and of course the appropriate safety measures we take when viewing an eclipse.  Classes will be making pinhole viewers and experimenting with other techniques to experience the event.

In addition, the district is providing every student and staff member with a set of Eclipse Viewing Glasses (see pic below).  Only with eclipse safety glasses will it be safe to look directly at the eclipse when it is occurring (even when the eclipse is at its maximum).   

Weather depending, all HKMS students and staff will be going out to view the eclipse at about 2:30 - until the end of the school day.  At the end of the day, two things will be happening concurrently. 

1. 1. 1. 1.  We will run our regular dismissal (for both buses and pick ups), and

         2.  We will run an afterschool  “Eclipse Viewing Party” for all students and families who want to stay through the peak.    

At the viewing party the PTO will be providing snacks and water, staff will stay on hand to “chaperone” the duration, and science teachers will continue to explain this amazing experience!  If your HKMS child would like to stay for the viewing party, please sign up on the form below.  We are also inviting you and your other children to join us! If your HKMS child, other children, and/or you would like to attend, please complete the “HKMS Eclipse Viewing Party RSVP” form linked here (and in the "get involved" section).  Please know that we cannot care for or supervise non-HKMS students or provide additional eclipse sunglasses. Parents will need to attend and supervise any non-HKMS children.

In other news, this week we launched a New HKMS Logo Contest! Each of the schools in the district are getting the chance to work with a professional graphic designer to update our logos and other branding elements.  I believe our students and staff may be able to come up with a great new design concept.  All concepts must be submitted through a form on the New HKMS Logo Website by 5/10/24. We will whittle the submissions down to a top 4 that will be voted on by the students and staff to determine our new logo! Check out the New HKMS Logo website linked here (and in the "Get involved" section of the s newsletter) for more information. 

One final note...with all the events being scheduled for the spring, we decided to compile a "monthly calendar" of May and June events at HKMS.  Its pretty packed already! You can find a copy of it in the "upcoming events" section below.  There are more dates coming up all the time, and this document will be updated accordingly.  We will also continue to highlight approaching events, as we have all year, in this section as well. 

As you can see in this edition of the newsletter we are busy, busy, busy! I hope this holiday weekend is one full of rest, relaxation, and fun gatherings of family and friends.  Wishing everyone celebrating a Joyful Ramadan and a Happy Easter. 

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.