Kindness, Connections, and Community at HMS

• HMS Students, Families, and Staff commit to a culture that honors acts of kindness, empathy, and respect. A culture where everyone feels valued.

• HMS will prioritize building meaningful relationships among students, staff, and families through open and frequent communication and collaboration.  

• Students, staff, and parents will work as partners to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone contributes to our collective success and sense of belonging.

• Action Steps for Increasing Instances of KINDNESS (to self and others)

  • “First Week Kids” - Students who stayed on staff member’s minds over the summer - academically, behaviorally, or both. Admin to meet with students identified by staff during the first week to:

    1. Reinforce our belief in their potential

    2. Emphasize a fresh start with new opportunities

    3. Show them we know they can be kind, hardworking students

    4. Build early positive relationships before challenges arise

  • Kindness Cards 

    1. Art Club students design Kindness Postcards

    2. Staff receive time during each staff meeting to select 5 students to write positive postcards to, focusing on character traits in addition to academics

    3. Each HMS student receives at least one postcard during the school year

    4. Office staff prints one address label per student to ensure every single student is connected to by at least one staff member

  • 8th/6th Grade Partners - In an effort to establish a school culture that fosters positive role models, pair specific 6th graders with specific 8th graders to support their transition to HMS. Ideas for support include:

    1. Managing lockers and finding dismissal buses home

    2. Joining clubs

    3. General school navigation

  • 8th grade partners check in during their study halls (students without band, orchestra, or labs). All 8th graders are considered potential partners, including general education and special education students (12:1, ICT, SC).

• Action Steps for Increasing Instances of Positive CONNECTIONS (staff to student, student to student, staff to staff)

  • Potential Expansion of Connected Activities:

    1. Connected Culinary

    2. Connected Community Service

    3. Connected Bulldog Cafe

  • Additional Inclusion Opportunities

    1. 8th grade partners assist teachers/students in adaptive art/tech classes

    2. Addition of Small Engine Repair Club

    3. Expansion of Recycling Club

    4. Begin a female-based version of Goodfellas Club that pairs 8th grade female students with Hamburg High School female students to serve as long-term role models and support systems as HMS students transition to HHS

  • Increase Staff Connecting to Students and Families

    1. Positive postcards focusing on character in addition to academics (see KINDNESS section)

    2. Positive emails highlighting character traits alongside academic achievements

    3. Positive phone calls emphasizing character development and academic progress

• Action Steps for Increasing the Feeling of COMMUNITY at Hamburg Middle School

  • Bulldog HQ Wednesday Initiative: Building wide schedule with 20 minutes every Wednesday to:

    1. Join students for grade-level family meetings

    2. Engage in Community Circles

    3. Establish positive habits such as checking email/grades

    4. Participate in other activities provided by building administration

  • Family Engagement Initiatives - Steps to bring families into HMS with greater frequency:

    1. One in-school event per grade level:

       1. 6th Grade: Living Wax Museum

       2. 7th Grade: A Long Walk to Water Presentations

       3. 8th Grade: Shark Tank with UB Incubator Staff                                                               

    2. Live stream all events and speakers for families unable to attend in person

• Quantitative Data Sources

  1. Academic and Behavioral Metrics

     • Discipline referrals 

     • Suspension rates

     • Attendance rates 

     • Academic performance indicators 

     • Tardiness rates

     • Nurse visits

  2. Participation and Engagement Metrics

     • Club and activity participation rates 

     • Event attendance 

     • 8th/6th partner program participation 

     • Kindness Card distribution

     • Dawg HQ: Staff Feedback

• Qualitative Data Sources

  1. Survey and Feedback Tools

     • Student climate surveys

     • Staff climate surveys 

     • Family survey

  2. Observational Evidence

     • Hallway behavior observations 

     • Lunch 

     • Event documentation