HMS Connection

A Message from Mr. Smith

Greetings from HMS!

Thank you for taking the time to look over this week's Connection.

As we approach the halfway point of the school year, now is an excellent time to check in with your middle-schooler and see how they are feeling about how things are going. Grades do not always tell the whole story. Ask about the workload, the classwork, and what they might want to change for the second half of the year. Middle school is as much about learning what works for each individual student as it is about the material covered through instruction. Remember that our children are still learning how they learn!

We hope you can join us this Thursday morning for Coffee and Conversation and our January PTO meeting. Both will take place in the HMS cafeteria and will begin at 7:45 AM.

Technology Survey Reminder

Many thanks to the nearly 300 families who have responded to the HPS technology surveys. If you have not yet had a chance to complete, we welcome your input!

Elementary Technology Survey: https://surveymonkey.com/r/6JLL77C

Secondary Technology Survey: https://surveymonkey.com/r/KTKYVXH

Parent Presentation - Dr. Nadja Reilly

Please be reminded about this very important presentation for parents and caregivers.

On January 17th, at 7:00 pm in the Hingham High School Auditorium you are invited to come hear Clinical Psychologist and author Dr. Nadja Reilly present: How to Handle Anxiety, Depression & Your Kids. Dr. Reilly will cover general topics about anxiety/depression/self harm, what to look for, coping mechanisms, and grief and loss. She will also discuss how to talk to children about these issues and answer questions from the audience.

Heather Rodriguez, Director of HPS School Counseling, will be on hand to cover our new partnership with Care Solace, and discuss services offered in Hingham Public Schools.

This presentation is being Sponsored by SEPAC & HPS PTO’s and we hope you can join us for this very important evening.

Program of Studies Night

Mark your calendar for the annual “HHS Program of Studies Night” on Monday 2/13 at 7 PM. After introductory remarks about course selection in the auditorium, parents will have an opportunity to meet with department directors and coordinators in the school cafeteria. Student volunteers will provide building tours for any interested parents.

A similar program will be planned for parents of current sixth and seventh grade students at HMS, so stay tuned!

Water for South Sudan

Six years ago, students at Hingham Middle School were inspired by a book. After the school read, A Long Walk to Water (our first One Book, One School selection), students and families were inspired to raise money to help a place in the world where water is scarce, South Sudan. Through their creative ideas and efforts, they raised enough money for the organization, Water For South Sudan, to build a well to bring fresh water to people who desperately need it. Those ambitious students are now seniors in high school. The current seventh graders started working on this last year, and the class of 2029 will continue in this tradition, with the hope of funding another well. We are selling student-designed stickers to support this cause ($5 each), and there is a donation page set up on the website for the annual "Iron Giraffe Challenge." Click this link to learn more. Thank you for helping students at Hingham Middle School change lives.

January 16 - No School: Martin Luther King Day

January 17 - Parent Presentation: How to Handle Depression, Anxiety and Your Kids, Hingham High School, 7:00 PM

January 19 - Coffee and Conversation with the Principal: 7:45 AM in the HMS Cafeteria

HMS PTO Meeting: 8:30 HMS Cafeteria

January 23 - HMS School Council Meeting: 2:30, Administrative Conference room

January 24 - Term II Ends

Week-at-a-Glance and After School Opportunities

Please take a look at the attached Week-at-a-Glance document to get an idea of what we have to offer next week, as well as our comprehensive list of activities, when they usually occur, and how to obtain additional information about them.

We also want to remind students and families that we provide late buses for students staying after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Please remember to pay your activity fee if your middle-schooler plans to take part in these programs.

We hope to see you after 2:00!!!

Internet Safety

The United States Attorney's Office is hosting a virtual Internet safety presentation for parents the evening of Wednesday, January 18th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. The presentation, entitled Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online. We will be covering the following topics:

• Social Media 101 & Digital Footprint
• Cyberbullying
• Sexting
• Gaming
• Victim Support
• Protecting Against Online Predation

Who should attend: Parents, guardians, local police departments, school administrators, youth program leaders and anyone who would like to learn how to keep children safe from online dangers.

The presentation is free. Registration is required. The link to register is included on the attached flyer and is also included here:

REGISTRATION DETAILS
Please register at the following link: (via Chrome browser))
Event address for attendees: https://usao.webex.com/usao/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec3d8ccd61ccdd26ee39d8c6ffd5c57aa


Password: PSC1
Questions or difficulty registering? Please contact
Karen Legace @ USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

Karen Legace
Project Safe Childhood Program Specialist
Office of Public Affairs and External Engagement
United States Attorney's Office
Phone: (413) 785-0329
Email: karen.legace@usdoj.gov