Dear HKMS Families,

If you did not get a chance to read Dr. McKinnon's message to the ER9 community about school climate concerns, I urge you to stop reading this newsletter (for a moment) and read his message linked here.  As our children become more exposed to the world at large, be it through social media, the news, or as a natural part of the maturation process, they will be exposed to more hurtful, toxic, and damaging types of speech.  As a middle school educator for 26 years, shocking language is not really a "new" part of my work with young adolescents.  It used to be cursing and mild teasing were the bane of the middle school teacher, but today the speech is much more intense, targeted, and derogatory.  Our school climate committee was already planning an advisory lesson on the power of our words (both positive and negative), and that seems even poignant now. No matter how well done this lesson is, we need your help at home. There are 8,760 hours in a year and 1,170 of those hours are spent at school.  In order to move the needle, please open up conversations with your youngsters about the power of their words.  

The Smarter Balanced Assessment (or SBA) is coming up in May.  SBA is our state required end-of-year test administered to all third-eighth graders annually.  These tests measure the growth of our children in the related Common Core Standards in reading, mathematics and science.   Please see our SBA parent and staff letter linked here for more information about the importance of these tests and how we use the results. I want thank Mrs. Gale (our library media specialist) and Mrs. Mohr for coming up with a creative schedule for SBAs this year, reducing the number of testing days from over twenty days to just nine days (note: an individual student will only test three times). 

Some new student offerings started this week and are coming up soon.  The ultimate frisbee club had its first meeting Wednesday and will meet for the next two months.  Please see the happenings section for the flyer and permission slip.  Over at the Easton Public Library, they are hosting an intro to Dungeons & Dragons. As a former D&D role player myself, I love the creative interplay, storytelling and problem solving required for this game.  If your child loves the "high middle ages" (knights, monsters, etc.), mythology, and role playing games, D&D may be a great screen-free activity for them to start. 

This week we offered out appreciation for two essential roles in our schools, our paraeducators and our assistant principal.  Interestingly these roles are both appreciated in the same week, as there is some essential overlap.  Both roles are supportive by nature, they need strong, intelligent, kind, and hard working individuals.  Both make things happen, often at the behest of “those in charge.” To be a para or AP means having to work closely with students who have behavioral challenges, they run around the school following a seemingly chaotic schedule.  The day is not theirs, they are expected to jump in where needed at moments notice, to be a substitute, a technician, a lunch buddy, or a disciplinarian. They are trusted adults to countless of our students and thrive by helping others to succeed. Today, please take a moment to show your appreciation for our incredible paras and our amazing assistant principal. 

Speaking of amazing, it was another amazing week of teaching and learning at Keller. Don't take my word for it, check it all out below! 

Wishing you a terrific weekend and Go Huskies!!

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.