Dear HKMS Families,

This week Mrs. Mohr and I booked ourselves into every HKMS classroom to conduct instructional rounds. Like the practice of medical rounds, instructional rounds are one way administrators calibrate their thinking, coordinate their efforts, and assess how a school is doing. Usually, rounds look at a problem of practice or through a lens.  This week our focus was the “learning environment”  teachers have created.  The learning environment includes everything from relationships cultivated and student behaviors, to intellectual risk-taking, expectations, and routines established.  As you will see in the class peeks section below, the teachers have done a wonderful job creating positive learning environments that are responsive and respectful spaces for our students to learn.  In addition, we could not help but think how wonderful it would be to be an HKMS student his week, learning about some amazing topics and applying new skills.  Here is a quick sample, students were:

• learning about cancer sniffing dogs, 

• timelining the creation of the universe, 

• translating complex sentences in a competitive and cooperative game, 

• painting with yarn, 

• working in book clubs across disciplines, 

• simulating the impact of living under authoritarian power, and 

• 8th-graders even took the PSATs! What a week!

Looking ahead, next week we have a few noteworthy events.  Tuesday is walk/ride/roll to school day (rain date is 10/12).  Even if you live outside walking distance, please consider either dropping your child off on Ridgedale Rd. (we’ll have  a drop-off spot there) or parking at Jesse Lee Church (thank you JLC!) and joining the walk.  Easton Police and HKMS staff will be out there supervising and making sure everyone is safe and having fun.  On Wednesday there is no school in observance of Yom Kippur, and on Thursday 6th-graders will have an all-day Nature’s Classroom Experience right here on campus!

Looks like the weekend may be a bit soggy, I hope all the games and outdoor events still get in.  Regardless, and most importantly, I hope you get more quality family time this weekend because that's what our young adolescents really need.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Steven Clapp, Ed.D.

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

360 Sport Hill Rd, Easton, CT 06612

(203) 268-8651

sclapp@er9.org  

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The Easton, Redding, and Region 9 School Districts acknowledge the uniqueness and varied experiences of all students, staff, families, and community members, as well as the uniqueness and experiences of people in our state, country, and the world. The HKMS  "Diversity Discussion" is intended to open up conversations with your middle schooler about issues of diversity!

At HKMS we believe all students should be thriving whether performing below, at, or above grade-level standards.  This section will highlight just one of the ways we support learners and/or extend their thinking.