The Middle School Messenger
Hamilton Township Middle School - November 2022
🦃 Principal's Note:
We are thrilled to bring this newsletter to the family at HMS! Once a month, our creative and hard-working staff will be capturing many of the great things happening in our school and sharing them on these pages with you.
We are hoping to highlight as much of the building as possible, including classrooms, athletic activities, performances, club meetings, and any other goings on that may be of interest to you. In addition, we will try to keep you up to date on what is going on in the different courses throughout the MS!
Please don't hesitate to offer up suggestions to help us keep you better informed! Thanks for reading and GO RANGERS!
Jeff Endres, Principal
🦃 Around the Building:
Keep an eye on ProgressBook for the second round of progress reports! The halfway point of the quarter is coming soon and the best thing you can do is stay up to date.
Halloween dance a "MONSTER" success
The Staff of HMS put on the first annual Halloween Dance for all 7th and 8th grade students. There was a costume contest, fun prizes, and all the spooky snacks you could enjoy. We look forward to making this an annual holiday tradition.
NJHS brings their greatest show to "Trunk or Treat" for HT youth
On October 18th the students of the National Junior Honor Society brought the circus to the 3rd annual "trunk or treat," happening right here within the Hamilton Academic Campus. Students and staff passed out candy to young rangers all night long! Despite the frigid temperatures, it was all smiles from HMS students and staff!
Football wins MSL championship
HMS's "white" squad came home this season with the Mid-State League Championship after a win over rival school Bloom Carroll to close their schedule. This is the Rangers first title since 2018. Both Ranger Squads finished the season with an overall record of 6-1, with the White team going a perfect 5-0 in league play.
Vision screenings completed
The required vision screenings for 7th graders were completed November 2nd and 3rd by Nurse Snider. A letter was sent home with your student if they did not pass. Be on the lookout!
HMS HERO Closet finds new home
Due to the overwhelming number of contributions and donations, the HMS HERO Closet found a new home this month, finding a place on the stage in the school cafeteria. Would like to donate? Reach out to Mr. Freshkorn and Ms. Berry at cfreshkorn@hlsd.org and jberry@hlsd.org!
NJHS staying warm at Trunk or Treat!
Rangers celebrating a home victory.
We love our student council and their awesome messages of encouragment!
🦃 Hallway Happenings and Classroom Updates
Make sure you are checking ProgressBook to stay up to date on grades, assignments, and teacher feedback!
🦃 H-M-S! Rangers, let's hear it!
Important Dates:
Boys Basketball
11/28: Vs. Teays Valley East MS (5:00 pm)
12/01: @ Bloom Carroll MS (5:00 pm)
12/03: @ Circleville MS (10:00 AM)
Girls Basketball:
11/21: Vs. Teays Valley West MS (5:00 pm)
11/23: @ G.D. McDowell Exchange Jr. High (5:00 pm)
11/28: @ Teays Valley East MS (5:00 pm)
12/01: Vs. Bloom Carroll MS (5:00 pm)
12/03: Vs. Circleville MS (10:00 am)
Wrestling
12/03: Chieftain Wrestling Invitational @ Logan HS (10:00 am)
🦃 Staff Member of the Month: Mrs. Eckenrode
1. This is your first year at the middle school, but you have been at HT for a while. What made you want to make the switch?
I am so grateful to be at Hamilton Middle School! While I loved my time at HIS, I was so excited to be given this opportunity to teach Career Exploration. After spending my entire teaching career thus far teaching ELA, this change in content has been so refreshing!
2. You're teaching career exploration for the 8th grade. What is the one thing you hope your students take away from your course before they move on to the High School?
My primary goal in teaching career exploration is to bring about awareness. I want students to be aware of all the possible avenues they can take to have a successful future. This journey is not going to look the same for everyone, and I want them to know that is okay! A successful future is not defined by a career in which you make lots and lots of money, it's defined by your positive contributions to yourself, your family, your community, and society.
3. Teaching isn't everything we do around here. What do you like to do for fun in your free time?
Fun for me is anytime I get to spend with my family! I have 3 kids who are all very active, so I spend most of my free time cheering them on from the sideline of a soccer, football, basketball, softball or baseball game. Staying fit and healthy is also very important to me and so I like to run, paddleboard, practice yoga, coach basketball and workout whenever I get the chance.
4. What is the best Halloween candy out there?
3 Musketeers and vanilla tootsie rolls!!!
🔦 Student Spotlight: Audrey Hicks, member of the AAA Blue Jackets!
1. It isn't every day we see a hockey player roaming the halls. What helped you get into the sport?
When I was little my sister wanted to play, she started playing about when she was 7 so a year or so later my parents wanted me to try it, I started when I was 6. It took me a while to get used to but after a season or so I fell in love. The sport became my life, there were games every weekend and practices every week and I remember being so excited for every shift!!
2. In your opinion, what is the toughest position in hockey to play?
I would love to say defense because it's my position, but I have to give it to my goalies. Being a goalie is definitely the hardest position, there are always people fighting in front of you trying to smack you to get the puck in. I have seen them make incredible saves that I know the rest of us could not get even on a whim. I sincerely believe with all of my heart that being a goalie is the hardest position in hockey. Nonetheless, the goalies do everything they can to be the best for us and that is why I love them so much.
3. What lessons have you learned in hockey that help you in your everyday life?
"Why not us?" These three words mean the world to me. They helped my team win our first game of the season and they always help me in real life. They make me think about any goal I want and how to achieve it. I have worked so hard to get on this team, and I really think that if I could've made this team, with all of these amazing girls who have quickly become my best friends, then I can really do anything. So why not us, why can't we be the best on the ice, in the rink. Why can't we be the champions, why can't we come out on top. It all comes down to that.