HMS January Newsletter
2020
Holly Middle School
Haley Street, Assistant Principal
Mark Mattingly, Counselor (A-L)
Kristin Godoshian, Counselor (M-Z)
Phone: (248) 328-3400
Attendance Number: (248) 328-3426
Fax: (248) 328-3404
Parent Teacher Conferences
Our 2nd set of conferences are designed to be student led. When you arrive your child will have the opportunity to present their data notebooks showing some of their accomplishments this trimester. You will then have an opportunity to visit your child's teachers in a traditional conference format. For student led conferences, teachers will be located in their classrooms which will give you an opportunity to see your child's learning environment. We will have building maps available and student leaders to point everyone in the right direction!!
Please bring in your Headphones!!
HMS Student Agreements
HMS Students will see our student agreements throughout the building as reminders to always:
- Act with civility and respect toward myself, my classmates and adults.
- Accept responsibility for my choices, my actions, my responses and my learning.
- Maintain a safe and clean school environment
- Give my personal best effort
Restorative Practices: Reconciliation
When disagreements and conflict inevitably arise in any aspect of our lives, restorative practices assist us as we work towards finding a sustainable resolution. An inherently restorative version of conflict resolution is known as reconciliation. The process of reconciliation is hinged upon developing a “working trust” between parties, transformation of relationships, and the mutual development of an agreement that addresses and affirms the needs of all parties involved (Kelman, 2004). As opposed to a resolution where only an agreement is prescribed to ensure conflict resolution, reconciliation is used to re-establish shared humanity, affirm identity, and implement sustainable peace that is not solely dependent upon a written or verbal agreement, but rather relationships.
For true reconciliation to take place the following objectives must be achieved by all parties: (1) acknowledging shared humanity, (2) establishing shared values, (3) empathetic understanding, (4) acknowledgement of responsibility, and (5) cooperation. Over the next few months we will walk through an understanding of each of these objectives of reconciliation and how we can live them out. All in all, through conflict resolution founded in respect and dignity, reconciliation creates a lasting peace and understanding that transforms.
LEADER IN ME HABIT OF THE MONTH - Think Win-Win!!
Think Win-Win isn't about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.
Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying.
A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:
- Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments
- Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others
- Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone
This month's habit is centered around working with others. The idea behind a win-win is not focused on "giving in" to make someone else happy, it's about working together to find a different solution that moves all of us forward toward accomplishing a goal. This is the essence of true collaboration for mutual benefit. Have you seen this trait in your child? Could they use it with a sibling or a friend? Ask them how they've used "Win-Win" in their life!
The HMS Talent Show is coming up!!
Parents are welcome to attend and there is no cost!! Please sign in at the front office when you arrive.
When is your child too sick for school?
SIGN OUT OPTION
We are working to limit the number of interruptions to the classrooms and your student's learning time. Please assist us by making appointments either before or after school. If the need arises for an appointment during school hours, please follow one of the two ways to pick-up your student.
- Option 1 - Send a note in with your student on the day of the appointment and have them bring it to the office with the time you are picking them up. Please include your signature. We will give your student a pass to come to the office 5 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. You will need to come into the office to sign your student out. Always bring your ID. If you have not arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled time written on the note your student will be sent back to class. Then you will have to wait for us to call them back down to the office upon your arrival. It is the student's responsibility to turn in the note to the office and the pass to the teacher and to leave at the appropriate time.
- Option 2 - Come into the office with your ID and we will call for your student to come down ready to leave for an appointment. Please be patient, this can take some time depending on which class your student is in, especially if it's lunch time or the end of the day. The best option to avoid a long wait is to use Option 1. Send a note in the morning with your student.
- Please note that calling the office to have your child meet you outside will not be allowed. Also, please do not text or call your student to come to the office for an appointment. As our school policy states students are not allowed cell phone usage during the school day. This also includes your student calling/texting a parent from their cell phone when they are sick. Students need to come to the main office to make phone calls home if they are needing to go home due to illness.
Phone messages
Parents please be Proactive with your children by discussing after school arrangements, appointments, and after school transportation prior to their school day. We are trying to limit the number of interruptions to your students day for messages and changed plans. While we understand that emergencies come up and plans can change, the daily messages that come through the office can often times be pre-planned at home prior to school. Having a plan in place and adhering to it can eliminate any anxiety the student my feel in not knowing what to expect at the end of the day.
Also, if your child is going to be absent for the full day, remember to call them in on the automated attendance line at 248-328-3426. This number can be accessed anytime and is the only way your students absence will be recorded. It is also the most efficient to call that number directly.
"Do Good December"
HMS Student's C.A.R.E
HMS is continuing a student initiative called C.A.R.E. (Civility And Respect Everywhere). We will be acknowledging students each week from all three grades who demonstrate CIVILITY and RESPECT in our hallways, classrooms and cafeteria. We will be on the lookout for politeness, thoughtfulness and courtesy in student's behavior and speech to each other.
10th Annual HMS Career Day!!
Sign Up for NHS Tutoring!!
Holly High School students from the National Honor Society are offering after-school tutoring sessions on Thursdays. Tutoring sessions are held from 2:45 - 3:45. Any student who wants to participate in tutoring will need to sign up in the Student Office prior to each session. If you have any questions please contact your child's counselor.
HMS Clothes Closet
Ski Club
Ski Club is scheduled for Tuesday's. However, please listen for announcements and track the weather in case we have to cancel. Students can use their discounted tickets on any weeknight but Tuesday's are when the HMS Ski Club will provide busing to Mt. Holly and be officially "hitting the slopes"!!
Ms. Kenwell
HMS Athletics
For the latest information about all of our MS Sports, please check our athletic site!
How to request a meeting with a Teacher or Administrator
Please follow these steps if you are seeking to set up a meeting with staff at HMS:
- Contact the person you are seeking a meeting with via email/phone (you can also reach out directly to your child's counselor)
- Set up a mutually agreed upon time
- When arriving for your meeting, check in at the main office and the staff member will meet you there.
By following these steps we look to reduce the instances of families showing up to see a staff member only to find out that the staff member is not available to meet. Additionally, for the safety of our students all visitors must report to the main office to check in and should never directly go to a classroom to meet with a staff member.
Parent Lighthouse Team
Morning Drop-Off...
If you are dropping off students in the morning please pull all the way up in between the "Drop Off" signs. We can fit 3 cars in front of the crosswalk, then have those 3 cars and the 3 cars behind the crosswalk let students out. After students exit the next "pod" of 6 pulls up and follows suit!!
Thanks for your help in making this a safe and efficient process!!
Remember students may enter the building at 7:15am
Afternoon Pick-Up
Also, if you are using the parking lot to pick-up students at the end of the day instead of the car line due to loading large items (instruments, projects, sports gear, etc.), Please park in a designated spot. We have seen an increase in cars parked/stopped in various areas which creates an unsafe situation for our students.
Thanks for your help in making this a safe and efficient process for all!!
Free Breakfast!!
Calendar of Events
1/10 -PJ Day
1/13 - PLT Meeting 5:30pm
1/17 - Math Diagnostic Test (all students)
1/17 - Half Day ( Students and Staff )
1/20 - No School MLK Day
1/23- Student led Parent Teacher Conferences (4pm - 7pm)
2/3 - PLT Meeting 5:30pm
2/7 - Jamfest
Follow HMS on Social Media
Website: http://www.hask12.org/schools/holly-middle-school/
Location: 14470 North Holly Road, Holly, MI, United States
Phone: 248 328-3400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holly-Middle-School-Sherman-Campus/634705656664993
Twitter: @HMSBronchos