Hopkins Middle School Newsletter
March 20th, 2020
A Note from Mr. Wood
Dear Hopkins Public Schools Community,
Although there are still many unanswered questions, I would like to provide you with updated information concerning our school closure.
What we know:
- Schools will remain closed through the end of spring break. As of now, students are expected to return to school on April 13. However, this may very well change.
- All events, meetings, practices and programs have been canceled or postponed until further notice.
- Custodians have wrapped up the deep cleaning of all buildings. They will return to work during spring break for additional cleaning and preparation of students returning.
What we don’t know
- How the state will be dealing with the missed days of instruction – The legislature left yesterday without addressing whether these instructional days/hours will be forgiven. I will not speculate on why this was left undone, but it prolongs the uncertainty for all of the school districts in Michigan.
- What will happen with state assessments and the 3rd Grade Reading law? – Yesterday, State Superintendent Dr. Rice and State Board of Education President Casandra Ulbrich wrote a letter to Secretary DeVos asking for federally mandated state testing to be waived this year. Dr. Rice also intends to work with our state legislators to waive the requirements in state law.
Providing for our students
- Free meals are available for pickup at 5 locations within our district on Tuesdays & Fridays. Special delivery options are also available. It is our intent to provide 14 meals per week for those that have a need. More information can be found at this link - https://www.hpsvikings.org/our-district/student-meal-offerings-communication/
- Unless we can ensure that all students have equitable access to quality learning opportunities, the MDE does not recommend we pursue a full transition to online learning.
- Many of our teachers have provided educational resources for our students. A document containing many of these resources and links is now available on our website. These are enrichment activities that will not be graded. This document can be accessed at the following link: https://www.hpsvikings.org/our-district/home-instruction-resources/
Other Information
- Secretaries will be in the offices of each school building on March 23 & 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- The business office will be open Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your patience and support during this unique and challenging situation.
Yours in Education,
Gary Wood
Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent
FREE Lunches
MEALS DISTRIBUTION UPDATE – PLEASE READ
Dear Hopkins Public Schools Parents,
Last week we sent out an email asking you to sign up to receive meals for your children if you wished. We had requests for 140 meals. Only 73 meals were picked up at one of the ten locations available throughout the district. We tried, we learned, and now we are adjusting in order to improve this process. To improve efficiency, we will be providing pickup locations and times as shown below.
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. – Watson Township Hall, Hilliards or Salem Township Hall
10:50 – 11:05 a.m. – Topaz Trailer Park
10:55 – 11:10 am. – Hopkins Fire Barn or Sycamore Elementary
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. – Sapphire Estates Trailer Park
11:20 – 11:35 a.m. – Monterey Township Hall
These meals are FREE to all children aged 18 and under (26 and under in Special Education). Each meal package will provide meals for multiple days. We are asking that you PLEASE COMPLETE THE ATTACHED FORM (EVEN IF YOU DID SO BEFORE) to aid our planning the number of meals to prepare. If you are unable to pick up meals at the times listed, still complete the form and we will make other arrangements to get you the meals.
Please Note that some of the locations on the form are no longer available!
https://forms.gle/PF1ZaLbrraEw1qs56
Yours in Education,
Gary Wood
Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent
Healthy Classroom Supply Drive!!
Postponed until we return to school.
Our Middle School Office and Classrooms are in need of:
- Kleenex
- Hand Sanitizer
- Gallon Size Ziploc Bags
- Clorox Wipes
- Band-Aids
The cold and flu season has been hard on us.
Donations from the list above would be greatly appreciated.
These items will still be very necessary when we return. Donations can be delivered when the secretaries are in the building. Secretaries will be in the offices of each school building on March 23 & 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Viking Voice Podcast
Mr. Scudder and Mrs. Weibel are teaming up to bring you the highlights of our hiatus! Shout out to Rollins for composing our awesome theme song!
Tune in and send us your stories! Don't forget the challenges we have for you:
1. Original Memes - Send us your best work!
2. Homemade Game - What games can you come up with using common household items?
Submit your entries through email or Instagram! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hmsvikingvoice/message
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BkWjQH58zzlsSdKDlaCru?si=VxO9YF_6TROo_u9i1fbbTA <----Spotify Link
Photo Contest
Ms. Dana is once again hosting a Hopkins Middle School Photo Contest.
2020 HMS Photo Contest
Attention all HMS Students:
Are you locked up in isolation and bored at home during the shutdown? Fear not, HMS is here for you! The HMS photo contest is back and open to all HMS students.
Photo Contest Theme: My Home
Please send your best digital photographs of what “Home” means to you. Photographic examples of this theme could include, but are not limited to:
-Interesting angles of the inside or outside of your home
-The objects, people, and pets that exist in your home
-Your favorite things to do at home
-How you are feeling at home during the shutdown (mood: lonely, isolated, happy, joyful, etc.)
-Hopkins hometown pride
Contest Rules: Take your best digital photographs! You should focus on making sure your photo has good lighting, good use of space and composition, interesting perspectives and angles, crisp/clear color/value, and clear definition (no grainy or fuzzy images).
Your photo must be an original photo taken this year, and you must take the image yourself. No old photos or internet images will be accepted. Photos should be taken with a camera or phone, and must depict high quality/resolution.
2 photo submissions per student only.
Please send your digital photo files to Ms. Dana at kathdana@hpsvikings.org
Photo deadline is April 30th.
Top 10 finalists will be announced and displayed at HMS on May 8th.
Top 3 winners will be announced on May 15th.
1st prize- $50 gift card of your choice
2nd prize-$30 gift card of your choice
3rd prize-$20 gift card of your choice
A note from Mr. Barry
ATTENTION 6TH GRADE STUDENTS: Math Update
For all students, I will be making available assignments on Big Ideas Math. While I can't require these assignments, it would be very helpful to keep your brains active. The Khan Academy will have lessons that may help you out, too. I will also allow more than one "check answer" to help you out.
The specific guidelines for Regular math and Advanced math are as follows:
REGULAR MATH: Big Ideas Math has an online textbook that can help you make sense of unfamiliar lessons. The assignments that I will set up cover some review content from Chapter 7 and goes through Chapter 8. For the Chapter 8 lessons it's very smart to show your work. Few students can do these questions in their heads, so get some paper and pencil out.
ADVANCED MATH: Chapter 12 has a lot of number crunching in it. You should show your work on these assignments, not for me but for your own understanding. Chapter 13 will take some effort, too. Please show your work.
See you soon,
Mr. Barry
6th Grade Math
Hello from Mrs. Klumpp
78'ers Baseball
Middle School Track: Postponed until further notice:
- The meeting will be postponed.
Please direct questions to Mr. Barry (josebarr@hpsvikings.org)
or Mr. Moerdyke (philmoer@hpsvikings.org)
You must have a completed obligation card.
Summer Sports Camps
For more information contact the Athletic Department.
HYSO Summer Ball Registration
HYSO is now accepting registration forms for Summer Ball until March 22nd.
For more information e-mail: hopkinssummerball@gmail.com, visit their Facebook page or contact Katy Price (269)-838-0420.
https://www.facebook.com/HOPKINS-HYSO-SUMMERBALL-284666796442/?tn-str=k*F
Fine Arts
Attention: Spring Fling Postponed
Spring Fling Dinner and Silent Auction
Postponed
Tickets available in the MS Office
$20. Each or $125 per Table
Limited Seating
For More Information: jesswill@hpsvikings.org
Cinderella
A letter from Mrs. DuChene:
It is with great sadness that I announce our musical is cancelled. I've been in contact with Mr. Wood and Mr. Szczepanski and they both say this is the right decision based on the newest CDC guideline of prohibiting gatherings of 50+ people for the next 8 weeks.
The following message is from Mr. Wood:
"I spoke to Ken this morning and we both agree this is the right decision. It is unfortunate, but the most important thing right now is the health and safety of our community. Thanks for all of the work that was put into the musical so far. Even though there will be no finished product this time, the kids still learned valuable lessons by participating in the tryouts and rehearsals. They will remember that."
All monies will be reimbursed as quickly as possible.
I miss seeing all of you greatly. Take care of each other during this unprecedented time.
Love you all, Mrs. DuChene
PARTNERS
May 5
June 2 (Tentative)Contact Mr. Stockwell for more information. scotstoc@hpsvikings.org
Hopkins Middle School Counseling Department
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
No School through Spring Break.
All students should return on April 13th
April 21 - Parent-Teacher Conference 4:00-7:00
April 24 - 1/2 Day
May 1 - Blue Man Group Concert (M.S. Choir Students Only)
May 8 - All A’s CeremonyJune 3 - 8th Grade Graduation
June 4 and 5 - ½ Days
June 5 - Last day of school
Additional Information and Important Links
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.