Hopkins Middle School Newsletter
August 21st, 2020
Students and Families,
School is less than a week away! Whether you are going to be with us in the building or with us remotely, we are looking forward to being together again.
As of Friday morning, 160 middle school families have already completed their online orientation. Thank you! There are important documents and signatures required before we can get the year rolling with your student. Specifically, the COVID-19 School Health Screening Agreement, and the Technology Acceptable Use Form. If you haven’t already completed the orientation, please do so by Monday, August 24. To complete the orientation, click HERE.
Thank you all for reaching out with your questions. I’m trying to answer in a timely manner. One of the common questions that I would like to address is how remote learning will look this year. While we are in phase 4, we still have the opportunity to meet face to face. Because we wanted to prioritize the recommended six feet of space between students, we had to move to an A/B day. This move essentially puts us in “remote mode” for teaching and learning due to the fact that students will be home three days in a given week. That means that ALL students, A-Day, B-Day, and 100% Remote, will be getting their instruction and assignments via google classroom.
The example is this: on Monday, Mr. Stockwell is teaching a lesson on quantum physics (purely fictional), All A-Day students will be in the classroom but the bulk of the instruction will be recorded and available on my Google Classroom. The expectation is that B-Day students and Remote students will watch the video on Monday at home, ask questions through the google classroom and have the same due date for the assignment as the A-Day students. Students at home do not need to be online at any specific time, although I may offer a live opportunity to connect. On Tuesday, I will be checking in with B-day students in person, and we are moving on to the next topic. A-Day and Remote students will be expected to engage with the new content at home and have the same due date as the B-day students. This pattern will repeat.
By using this model of instruction, we will be able to get through the proper amount of content for this year. The content will be as close to a normal year as possible. We will also be in a better position to seamlessly transition between phase 4 and phase 3 if we end up having to go back to a pure remote environment.
Right now, our staff is busy preparing classrooms and content for all students. I’m so impressed with the amount of thought and energy our staff and teachers have been putting into this transition. From the physical building and furniture in rooms to the virtual classrooms our students are about to experience, everyone is doing their part. Thank you, staff!
I also want to thank parents and students for being flexible with our teaching and learning model for this year. I acknowledge the difficulty it has been for some families to find childcare for the A/B schedule. It really does take a village, and in my opinion, there is no better village than Hopkins!
Finally, I want to ask that we take a moment to prioritize our goals for this return to school next week. I believe there are many students, staff, and parents who may be nervous about getting back together. I also believe there are many who are less nervous and expect to jump right back in. We are living in a time where perspectives and expectations can be from one end of the spectrum to the other. And that is ok! I believe that if we put our efforts into taking care of each other’s physical and emotional safety first, wherever that may be, we will be able to better educate our students over the course of the entire year. We need to look at this year as one-step-at-a-time. Our next step is physically getting back together and becoming comfortable with new safety procedures and classroom expectations. This is our goal for the first week or two of school. After that, it will be possible to make education and the growth of your student the priority.
Thank you for all the support you have given. Please continue to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have about the start of this school year.
Sincerely,
Scott Stockwell
HMS Principal
If you have not already done so, please click on the Orientation Link below and complete the Google Forms. Please plan to spend about an hour reviewing the material with your student.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ug605NdPSSKA1TS6wUts9kwbKDmMWZotID3iMqHsJZE/edit
School Pictures
PICTURE DAY
Group A - Thursday, August 27th
Group B - Friday, August 28th
Attention: 8th Grade Parents/Guardians
Below is the 8th Grade Art Parent/Guardian letter with information regarding this year’s art class organization, supply kits, and procedures.
Thanks and take care, Ms. Dana
YES--Choir will happen in Hopkins for the 2020-2021 School:
There will be some differences, new safety precautions, and creative idea storming throughout the year to help us achieve this, but we are going to offer choir for Middle School and High School students. Mr. Oaster has been working very hard to create a safe classroom environment for everyone. There will be options and accommodations for those students with special circumstances and we are hoping to see you back with us again, or joining us for the first time, this school year (whether that is virtual or in-person).
If you need help with "making it fit" in your schedule this year---please reach out to Mr. Oaster or your school counselor for help.
Hopkins Vocal Music will be using the following preventative measures during Phase 4 of our "Return to In-person Learning" Hybrid System during the 2020-2021 school year.
1. No student or adult will be singing indoors without masks on and worn the proper way at least during Phase 4
2. Outdoor singing will be attempted/utilized when possible (but is deeply restrictive due to materials & equipment needs that are limited when not in the physical classroom).
3. Beginning mid September, Mr. Oaster will be utilizing the school's choir budget to purchase "singers masks" for at least H.S. students--examples are available to preview in the choir room.
4. Air ventilation will be a "room focus"--When weather permits, windows and doors will be open to promote air circulation and fans will be used to help draw OUT room air whenever possible.
5. Social distancing will be a "room focus" and students will be spaced out at least 6 feet apart, more if class sizes are kept low.
6. Other Vocal Music Department Hygiene Protocols & Classroom Guidelines for this year:
- a. frequent handwashing will be heavily encouraged
- b. Hand sanitizer will be provided at the entrance of the Choir Room. Students will be required to use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the room
- c. The wearing of masks consistently (the proper way), by all people that enter the classroom environment or participate in VM Dept. activities
- d. Proper hygiene practices (sneezing and coughing into elbows...etc.) will be strictly enforced in Vocal Music Classes
7. Students will have assigned seats and seating areas will be disinfected between each class
I look forward to seeing you all very soon.
Mr. O.
A Letter from the Superintendent
A Letter from the Superintendent was e-mailed to all parents on August 13th. If you did not receive this information, please update your School Messenger account and contact your building principal.
Dear Hopkins Public Schools Families:
On Monday, August 10th, the Hopkins Public Schools Board of Education approved our COVID-19 Preparedness & Response Plan. Over the past few days, our administrators have been putting together a summary of the plan for each school building in the district. These plans will be posted with our Return to School documents on our website. Use the following link. https://www.hpsvikings.org/our-district/district-covid-19-information/
These individual school plans will help answer many of the questions you have regarding how schools will look when students return in just a few short weeks.
If you have not received an informational letter from your child’s principal, it will be coming in the next few days. The letter will contain information on open houses, student drop offs and pickups, safety protocols and more.
If you have not made a decision on the instructional model, we are assuming your child will be in the A/B cohorts. If that assumption is not correct, please contact the appropriate school office by Friday, August 21, 2020. If you are considering the Virtual Academy of Allegan County (VAAC), you will need to register by Friday, August 14, 2020. Here is a link to their website - https://www.alleganaesa.org/VAAC
We will be changing August 28 to a half day for Cohort B. This change has been made to match the half day for Cohort A on August 27. This change will be beneficial to both students and staff in the following ways:
Prioritizing the focus on relationship building
Familiarizing everyone with new safety procedures and building protocols
All students will receive their technology devices that they will use on a daily basis
We apologize for this inconvenience, however this will allow students and staff to be fully prepared for the delivery of content whether in-person or remote, starting on Monday, August 31.
Yours in Education,
Gary Wood, Superintendent
School Messenger
School Messenger is one of the many platforms we use to communicate with our parents, staff and students. Information ranging from school closures and emergency's to parent-teacher conferences or changes in schedules can be shared instantly using School Messenger. You can choose to be contacted via phone, e-mail or both. Update your School Messenger account today to receive all communications from school.
If you would like to receive non-emergency reminders/phone calls from the school you MUST opt-in. You can watch a how-to video or get started with the links below:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/173531877
https://go.schoolmessenger.com/#/learn
Thank you for your assistance and cooperation,
HMS Staff
Transportation Informational Open House!
Hopkins Buses will be at:
Sycamore Elementary Bus Loop 8/24/20 4pm-6pm
Hopkins Elementary Bus Loop – 8/25/20 4pm-6pm
Please Join us for:
· Transportation information
· Bus procedure information
· Safety and Sanitization information
· Students new to busing can take a short ride
around the block on a bus
We are providing this time as an option for families that
may have questions about busing. Young students who have never ridden
A bus can have a first experience on a bus ride. We will be available for questions
in an outdoor space, we look forward to seeing you soon.
Transportation Postcards will not be mailed this year, you will be receiving a call from
your driver early next week with your bus numbers and times. If you do not receive bus
Information, or have any questions please call the
Transportation Department at (269)793-7121
Mailing List
Due to our unconventional school year, I am not removing 8th grade parent e-mail addresses from our mailing list. If you find that this Newsletter is no longer beneficial to you, please feel free to unsubscribe. You won't hurt my feelings, I promise. However, if you're like me and feel the need to receive All the Information, then continue to hang out with us for awhile.
If you are currently not on our mailing list and would like to be, please complete the form below.
Thank you,
Mrs. Caulder
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.