Dear Helen Keller Middle School Families, 

It's that transition time of the year! We have been meeting with the grade 5 teachers and staff, getting ready for our incoming students as well as holding internal meetings so we can create the perfect experience for students as they "rise" to the next grade.  If you have any requests for next year, now is the time to let us know.  

Throughout the classes and hallways, I am noticing students maturing into their best selves.  The academic and performing expectations are at a year-long high.  Music classes are priming themselves for the year-end concerts (see dates below). Standardized testing is upon us which ramps up everyone's focus and drive to do their best and show their growth. This translates to all classes and even social interactions.  If you think your 6th-grader suddenly seems like a 7th-grader, you're right, we are seeing it too!  As you enjoy the various segments of the newsletter, look for the heightened expectations from PE class students designing their own sports and teaching their peers, crazy tongue twisters to improve vocal accuracy (chorus), social issues book clubs (ILA in 7th),  conduction, convection, and radiation labs (6th-science) and preparing for the PSATs (grade 8). 

Next week is a big one around here as we turn our appreciation to our teachers and staff.  If our students are the lifeblood of the school, then our teachers and staff are the heart.  The heart is a muscle that pushes the blood to where it has to go, even if it does not want to go there.  It adjusts its speed and pressure as needed for the body to accomplish tasks.  The heart breaks when disappointed and fills with joy during times of celebration.  Teachers and school staff do all of this as well.  They are masterful at challenging students to reach outside their comfort zones and achieve personal growth.  They are filled with pride and happiness when a child lights up with new understandings.  Join me in appreciating them next week.  A quick note, nothing more than a simple thank you for what they do every day, will fill their hearts!  

Next week is also the town budget vote (Tuesday 5/3).  One of the few examples of true direct democracy in the world is when these few New England communities directly vote town budgets up or down.  It is an awesome, exciting, and inspiring responsibility.   While it would not be appropriate for me to advocate voting to support the budget or not.  I feel obligated to compel you to actually go and vote! If for no other reason than to set a good example for your child(ren).  In fact, bring them to the polls with you, it is great for them to see democracy in action and will instill this responsibility and expectation of their future community as they grow up.  The annual "spring fling" featuring the HKMS vs SSES staff softball game will be going on at SSES starting at 4:15pm on the afternoon of the vote. I would love to see you and your family there to root for the Cougars to win, or at least not get injured!  :)

One final note for next week. We will be having students bring their Chromebooks and chargers back to school next Friday and they will remain in school through the duration of the Smarter Balanced testing window.  Each homeroom will set up a charging station during our testing window, and student Chromebooks will be left in school overnight. We will send an additional reminder or two next week.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter and have a great weekend!

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

360 Sport Hill Rd, Easton, CT 06612

(203) 268-8651

sclapp@er9.org

Pictured here is The HKMS "delta team" which is made up of our literacy specialists (Mrs. Aponte and Mrs. Hoffman), the math specialist (Mrs. Dunkerton), our academic counselor (Mr. Sather), and administrators (Dr. Clapp and Mrs. Mohr - not pictured) at this week's data review meeting.  The delta team meets every 6-weeks to review a cycle of data and analyze the "big picture."  They look at units of instruction, interventions, and assessments as well as the social and emotional well-being of students.  Every child's data is systematically reviewed, from classroom grades and standardized assessments to attendance rates.  The process helps identify students who are suddenly struggling, making steady progress, or slowly falling behind.  The team then deploys resources to help support students and help "close any gaps" that are evident or emerging. 

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