Dear HKMS Families,

As Mrs. Mohr and I predicted at the open house in the fall, there were bumps in the road this year, but "a smooth sea never made for a skilled sailor" (FDR, 1938).  Those bumps in the road make for a more developed, determined, and empathetic human being. While it does not seem like it at the time, these experiences are often the most important in a young persons life and have a huge impact on their future.  I want to thank and congratulate all parents and students for successfully navigating all the bumps during one of the most challenging eras of childhood. 

It is time for your next challenge, lets keep them off social media and phones this summer!  I am putting the "Phone Free Friday" challenge out to our whole community.  Author of the The Anxious Generation, Dr. John Haidt, and his research team are challenging all Gen Zers to drop their phone on Fridays this summer, and I hope the entire HKMS community (staff, parents, students) join in the fun of reconnecting with our non-digital lives! I put the sign up for Phone Free Fridays  below this message along side a powerful video of teens asking to have space from their phones.  The sign up offers some motivational messages, reminders, and tips for breaking our phone addiction.  Even if you don't officially sign up,  it would be nice family challenge to take on this summer! I have signed up myself, and hope you do as well! Don't forget their other summer work for reading and math.   Summer reading and summer math assignments are also detailed in the "happenings" section below. 

I want to congratulate one student who stands out among all the rest this year.  Seventh-grader Kaitlyn had 100% perfect attendance for this school year.  She also had perfect attendance last year! For 360 days, she was never late, did not get dismissed early even once, and was never absent! Just a remarkable accomplishment that few even come close to achieving.  She sets herself up well for future achievement, as there is no more accurate a predictor of success, both in and outside of school, than attendance.  Congratulations and keep it going, Kaitlyn!

It has been a wonderful year and one not to forget and the last week and a half was a microcosm of the year. Our moving up ceremony was a celebration of all our 8th-graders, field day was a blast of joy, and classes kept on teaching and learning right through the end of the day Monday.  This final edition of the 2023-24 school year includes the JBHS seniors parading through Keller a few day before they graduated, field trips, a frog dissection, TED-style talks, an amazing in-school concert, an update from our school climate committee, and a wonderful tribute to our retiring legend, Mrs. Linda Maggi.  Along with Mrs. Maggi,  our technology assistant Mrs. Lisa Mellon is also retiring. Mr. John Macaluso and Mr. Nick Willett are moving onto other opportunities, and our intern Ms. Clair DeMaso will be setting up her new classroom in NYC this fall.  We wish all out our departing staff all the best in their endeavors.  They will forever be part of the Keller family, and I hope they bring a piece of this special place to their new landing spots.  Check it all out in this final edition of the HKMS Family Newsletter for the 2023-24 school year. 

I will be sending out a midsummer message to check in and provide a few reminders (e.g., physicals for grade seven students, summer reading and math assignments, open house events, etc.). If anything comes up over the summer, we will be here to help.  Mrs. Mohr, Mrs. Cahalan, Mrs. Rudy, the whole custodial crew, and I will be taking some vacation time, but will also be here throughout the entire summer. (just give us an extra day or two to get back to you as we are also hoping to "unplug and recharge").  I wish you all a wonderful break from the routines of the school year while enjoying more time with your amazing children.  

Sincerely,

Steve Clapp, Ed.D.

The MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA of AWESOMENESS!

No school, anywhere does this, and it lives up to its name! Each musical group takes turns performing for each other while sitting in a giant ellipse.  No passive audience here, everyone is active and involved, even general music plays a song or two! 

June SEPTA Newsletter is here!