• Welcome Message from Dr. Clapp

• Classroom Peeks

• HKMS Happenings

• Ways to get Involved

• and...Upcoming Events!

"We believe that out of the public school grows the greatness of a nation." 

Mark Twain, 1900

Dear HKMS Families,

Happy educator appreciation week! The PTO and many volunteers made this week of appreciation a spectacular success.  From breakfast and lunch, to massages, snacks, affirming messages, and decorations, the whole week they provided the encouragement needed to finish the year off strong. The timing of this week’s appreciation could not have been better as there are so many obligations pulling teachers in multiple directions this time of year.   If you have not seen the hilarious parody “Welcome to Maycember” by the Holderness Family, please check it out here.  Like all humor there is a lot of truth in their observations, as May features so many important culminating events, and the pressure to pull it off perfectly is real (and unrealistic).

Currently teachers are finishing their year-long goal work and reflections, preparing the final units of the year and final exams, administering state tests, dealing with schedule upheavals (to accommodate testing), learning about next year's incoming students, making end of year budget adjustments, and so many have all the additional pressure of parenting too! They chaperone dances and field trips, keep up on the latest research and insights into teaching, and deal with the inevitable friendship issues   As I have heard Mrs. Mohr says many times, “teaching is an amazing profession because what you do matters… AND…teaching is a very difficult profession because what you do matters.” 

As you will see in the newsletter below there are so many exciting projects coming together here at HKMS.  We have our 6th graders observing incubated chicken eggs rapidly advancing through their developmental phases (chicks could be here next week), 8th graders finishing To Kill a Mockingbird, final preparations of our various concerts, and our Garden Club even broke ground this week with the new and improved HKMS Pollinator Garden.  You can see all of these terrific opportunities in this week's newsletter and lots more! 

Whether you are a school employee or not, you too are a teacher!  Since parents are their child's first and most important teacher, and this is still teacher appreciation week, why not take a night off from cooking, cleaning, and serving and come over to HKMS for the triumphant return of The HKMS Spaghetti Dinner and Art Show (tonight 5:00 - 7:00).  

I hope to see you all there!

Sincerely,

Steve Clapp

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

Find your strength, build upon it, and share it!

Grade 6

Grade 7

In French class students are working with friends to define new vocabulary words!

Grade 8

T3 Art students are learning all about weaving as they create yarn art!

The weather is perfect for capture the flag in PE!

Mr. Dolecki's band class had some adorable visitors this week from the ECC Playtots Preschool.  It's never too early to learn about the joys of music!