Hopkins Middle School Newsletter
December 4th, 2020
Students and Parents,
It is important to have a plan in place IF we are asked to go fully remote at any point this year. This communication is an attempt to share the plan with staff, students, and parents to make for a smooth and successful transition. As of this newsletter, this is just planning and we will continue the Hybrid Learning Model (In-Person) until otherwise notified.
If we find ourselves in a fully-remote situation, students will need to continue to log into their Google Classrooms Daily to watch asynchronous (not live) instructional videos created by their classroom teachers. Daily means five days a week, Monday through Friday. There will be links to assignments each day in each teacher’s Google Classroom.
Teachers will continue to provide a tentative weekly schedule each Monday morning. After that, please be sure to check the Google Classroom daily, because the tentative schedule may change based on student progress throughout the week.
As an additional resource, we will provide mandatory synchronous (live) check-ins based on cohorts. These will be Google Meets or Zoom Meetings split into 30-minute increments beginning at 9:00 am and provide a chance for each student to connect live with their classroom teachers. This requirement for students to briefly check-in within the 30-minute window will provide an opportunity for them to ask questions. Please be aware that the instruction will still be in the form of an asynchronous video posted to the teacher’s Google Classroom. The Mandatory Synchronous Check-in Times are listed below:
If we have to move to a completely remote setting, the state requires each student to complete 2 two-way interactions per week to be considered “in attendance”. Please help encourage your students to interact with their teachers throughout the week. This interaction can be in the form of a reply to an email, successfully turning in their homework, participating in a google meet or Zoom meeting, or touching base via a phone call with their teacher. Each student’s first-hour teacher will be responsible for logging the minimum of 2 two-way interactions each week.
Finally, for those who do not have reliable internet at home, we will open the cafeteria as a place for students to connect to the internet and finish assignments. Times will be communicated if we have to go fully remote. Please reach out to me via email if you have questions about accessing the internet.
Please remember, this year’s fully remote will look much different than last year. Grades are counting, instruction is recorded and available daily, and there will be mandatory synchronous check-ins. The key to success will be communicating with the classroom teachers and maintaining a “school routine” at home each day.
Sincerely,
Scott Stockwell
HMS Principal
Holiday Lights Extravaganza
We are excited to announce our First Ever Holiday Lights Contest.
Please click on the link below for more details.
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Please note our Hopkins bus stop times may shift slightly due to the High School students being remote learners until December 8. It will not be uncommon for stop times to be adjusted by 10-15 minutes. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. If you have questions about your stop please call the Transportation Department at (269) 793-7121.
Counselor's Corner
Want to feel happier? Try gratitude, it really works!. These 2 two-minute videos will tell you how.
How can we do gratitude?
1. Write down 5 unusual things that happened that day. If you have a notebook handy, you can look back later and get a huge smile!
2. Share what wonderful things happened today at dinner time with your family.
3. Say thank you right when something great happens. Live in the moment!
Take Home Lunches
Note: There are 2 separate forms, one for those currently receiving In-person instruction and one for those currently 100% online. Please use the correct form.
Ski club passes
Bittersweet Ski Club passes for Adults & Students are now available.
If you would like your pass before winter break, please turn in your forms and payment by Thursday, December 10.
Forms are available at all school offices.
Hopkins Middle School
Email: stepcaul@hpsvikings.org
Website: hpsvikings.org
Location: 215 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI, USA
Phone: (269) 793-7407
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopkinsMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @hpsmiddleschool
Office Business
ATTENDANCE
Please call the Middle School office at (269) 793-7407 within 24 hours of your students' absence. You may leave a message on our voicemail system day or night. When reporting illness, please inform the secretary of the type of symptoms your child is experiencing (fever, sore throat, ect.). If your child is absent 2 days or more, you may request homework. If your student is absent only 1 day, homework may be picked up from their teachers the following day. You may also email absences to jennhitc@hpsvikings.org.
PHONE CALLS
Telephones in the office are to be used for illness and emergencies only.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Please report all immunizations that your child has had so we are able to keep our school records up to date. All new students and all 6th graders must be completely up to date on all immunizations. Contact the HMS office if you have any questions.
MEDICATION
ALL medications needing to be dispensed to students must be supplied from home. The school does not provide any type of medication. All prescription medication must be provided in a pharmacy labeled bottle. Tylenol/Aspirin must be brought to the office in an unopened bottle. All students requiring any type of medication must have a medication form completed by their parents and on file in the office.
CHANGES in Phone Numbers, Home Address & E-Mail
Please inform the office any time there are changes in your address or phone numbers. We need to have this information so we can update our records and successfully contact you if needed.
The Hopkins Public School District Board of Education complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, or disability in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Mr. Gary Wood Superintendent of Schools, Hopkins Public Schools, 400 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI 49328 Phone 269-793-7261.
Hopkins Middle School Contact Information
ADMINISTRATION: E-mail Address
Scott Stockwell, Principal scotstoc@hpsvikings.org
Pat O’Dell, Dean of Students patrodel@hpsvikings.org
Todd Crook, Counselor toddcroo@hpsvikings.org
Tamara Johnston, Counselor tamajohn@hpsvikings.org
Jennifer Hitchcock, Secretary jennhitc@hpsvikings.org
Jennifer Johnston, Social Worker jennjohn@hpsvikings.org
Stephanie Caulder SRC Coordinator stepcaul@hpsvikings.org
STAFF:
Aleman, Kathleen kathalem@hpsvikings.org
Barry, Joseph josebarr@hpsvikings.org
Bisbee, Kailee kailbisb@hpsvikings.org
Byville, Suzanne suzabyvi@hpsvikings.org
Dana, Katie kathdana@hpsvikings.org
Dykstra, Krystal krysdyks@hpsvikings.org
Fisher, Mark markfish@hpsvikings.org
Megan Barg meganbarg@hpsvikings.org
Hazen, Rick rickhaze@hpsvikings.org
Irwin, Julie juliirwi@hpsvikings.org
Kerber, Brian briakerb@hpsvikings.org
Klumpp, Molly mollklum@hpsvikings.org
Kok, Wendy wendkok@hpsvikings.org
Oaster, Jacob jacooast@hpsvikings.org
Osborne, Craig craiosbo@hpsvikings.org
Reszka, Richard richresz@hpsvikings.org
Rynsburger, T.J. tjryns@hpsvikings.org
Schoonveld, Missy missscho@hpsvikings.org
Scudder, Mack mackscud@hpsvikings.org
Smith, Julie julismit@hpsvikings.org
Tomaszewski, Katelyn katetoma@hpsvikings.org
VerMerris, Steve stevverm@hpsvikings.org
Weibel, Alexis alexweib@hpsvikings.org
Weick, Pat patweic@hpsvikings.org
Williams, Jessica jesswill@hpsvikings.org