Week of 5/5 - 5/9
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A Message from Dr. Clapp
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Dear HKMS Families,
What is the point of school? This week, Mrs. Mohr began to lead seminars with the 7th grade ELT groups to talk about this exact question. She began each session recognizing that we have all asked this question in our lives. What is the point of this project? Why do I have to do this homework? What do my teachers even care of I get to class on time? When will I ever need to know the parts of a cell? Why do they make me clean out my locker? These are all valid questions for an adolescent. This week, Mrs. Mohr wanted to share a new way of thinking about these questions that just might help with motivation. She asked students to close their eyes and think about their dream future. She didn't focus on what job they wanted, but rather on where they pictured themselves living, who they see themselves surrounded by, what hobbies they want to have and what things they want to do in their free time. They talked about wanting boats, traveling the world, having big families and even owning lots of animals. From there, they worked their way backwards to understanding the hard work and people skills it requires to achieve that level of financial stability. Achieving dreams, no matter what they are, requires hard work. That is the point of school! "Discipline is the ability to make yourself do something you don't want to do, in order to get a result you really want to get." Mrs. Mohr displayed this quote from Andy Andrews asking students to share what are things about school and schoolwork that they don't want to do. As you can imagine, they had no problem coming up with this list! Then she asked them, "Then what if school projects, activities and rules are not about just learning the actual topics? What if all of those rubrics, deadlines and challenges are to help you learn how to do hard things, even when you don't want to? If the adults in your life who love you and care about you know the amount of hard work and discipline it takes to achieve dreams, perhaps all of these things like chores, high expectations, two tests on the same day, practicing an instrument, etc. are actually purposefully added to your lives to help you build the muscles and will power to be the human who can do the hard things, even when they don't want to." For once, it was very quiet in a room full of 7th graders. And in that moment of raptured attention, Mrs. Mohr asked students to close their eyes and picture the future of their dreams, she explained that a future like that is achievable for those who show the world every day through their words and actions that they are someone of integrity, grit and discipline. Every assignment that has your name on it represents who you are and how much you care, every single one, from the easy Spanish worksheet to a math final exam. They all matter because they all carry your name. Your ability to arrive to school and classes on time shows others your respect for their time. Showing respect earns respect in return. Having the emotional control to meet someone's anger with a deep breath and an attempt to understand them, is a skill that will change your life in a million ways for the better. It's the ability to see beyond an assignment or a rule for it's superficial meaning and realize the strength and life skills each one of them are building for us to have that future we see when we close out eyes. It's simple really, be willing to do the hard things, and do them with excellence.
This week I had the honor getting back into the classroom as the grade 7 social studies teacher. It has been over a dozen years since being a social studies teacher over at JRMS. Jumping back into teaching felt just like riding a bike again, including how sore my body is after crouching beside students and working on the floor with them. I am super impressed with the level of thinking students demonstrated through the week, their kindness and flexibility to a new teacher was heartwarming. We tackled a very challenging topic, the Rwandan Genocide. Students proposed and agreed to a set of "working conditions" which provided for a wonderful muti-group interdependent activity called a jigsaw (each student developed their own piece of the puzzle, when all together completes a fill picture). It was an honor and a privilege to get to work so closely and for an extended time with the whole grade level. I want to thank Mrs. Mohr for taking on all of the day-to-day occurrences that popped up while I was in the classroom. Just more evidence that she is the best of the best!
Looks like all the outside games will be cancelled tonight. So your free to come here for the 39th annual 8th grade pasta dinner! A great dinner and good time for just $10, sounds like a great kickoff to the weekend. I hope to see all of you here tonight between 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Steve Clapp, Ed.D.
An Updated End-Of Year Events Guide
An Updated End-Of Year Events Guide
This now includes our newly added 7th grade field trip!
Grade Six
On Monday, May 5th sixth grade students all had the opportunity to Zoom with Alex Branton, a meteorologist stationed at Mt. Washington Observatory in New Hampshire. Prior to the Zoom, the students reviewed what they had learned during the Weather Unit. Alex spoke to the students regarding what a meteorologist does, the instruments she uses and the applications of the data she collected. At the end of the Zoom, Alex had the students ask questions about what being a meteorologist is like, what life is like at the observatory as well as what type of weather she has encountered. This was the result of a great collaboration between our new school counselor Mr. Vale and our awesome 6th grade science teacher Mrs. Piacente.
Mrs. Gale, our library media specialist, spent time in the 6th grade ILA classes this week teaching students how to use the data bases in the library to do research.
Grade Seven
There was a guest teacher in 7th grade social studies this week, DR. CLAPP! Classes covered the Rwandan Genocide as students looked through the lense of the Pyramid of Hate and applied the "10 Steps to Genocide." Students worked in interdependent groups called a "jigsaw strategy" as the dove into challenging content.
Seventh grade French students are playing the human version of the board game Guess Who?
Grade Eight
In Social Studies, 8th graders have reached the end of the Civil War. Students are roleplaying as families of freedmen who are trying to find their way in the turmoil that followed the war. They face the same difficult decisions millions of newly freed people had to make in a country trying to put itself back together during the early days of the Reconstruction period.
8th grade science students completed a rotation review of earth's rotation, the seasons based on latitude (distance above or below the equator), and phases of the moon as seen from earth to further enrich their understanding of earth in space. Students have studied solstices, equinoxes, and both solar and lunar eclipses prior to this lesson.
FPA
Eighth grade art students are adding multiple pieces to their portfolios are they are in the final weeks of middle school art.
In Health class this week, our 6th graders explored a variety of articles on nutrition and exercise through independent reading and annotation. After diving into the material, they teamed up in groups to discuss and identify the key takeaways from each article. Now, they’re using those insights to create informative and engaging posters to present to the class!
It is so cool that 8th graders in PLTW build these vehicles, program them, test them, then collaborate with other groups to troubleshoot their coding and structural issues.
Monday Morning Meeting
This week's student newscast, The Den!
This week's student newscast, The Den!
Click here or on The Den image!
JBHS Athletics Info Sessions for 8th Graders
JBHS Athletics Info Sessions for 8th Graders
A big thank you to the large crew of JBHS athletes who came to Keller this week and ran info sessions about various sports teams for our 8th graders.
CELEBRATE YOUR 8TH GRADER
ORDER GRADUATION LAWN SIGNS
The end of the school year is quickly approaching!
Honor your 8th grader by purchasing a lawn sign.
Select whether to include your child's name, picture or both.
You can also select a non-personalized sign.
Order deadline is May 18th and will not be extended.
Signs will be displayed at the HKMS field for the closing ceremony.
Families can take them home following the ceremony.
Link to order: https://eastonpto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/328053
Easton SEPTA
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
Tuesday, June 3rd at 8 pm Full SEPTA Meeting (Zoom)
Teen Summer Volunteer Orientation
6/3 at 3:30 pm & 6/5 at 5:00 pm
Interested in volunteering at the library this summer? Join one of our Teen Summer Volunteer Orientation sessions to learn about the program, expectations, and how you can make a difference! These required sessions will cover everything you need to know before getting started, including schedules, responsibilities, and tips for success. Open to teens entering grades 7–12.
To register, complete the Summer Volunteer Application.
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