HDMS Newsletter
October 2022
Dates to Remember
October 20: Early Release/Parent-Teacher Conferences- 1:30-6:30 PM
October 21: 6th Grade ABC Day and Animal Adventures
October 28: Junk to Funk Performance and Passion Project Exhibit
November 3: Ryan's Story Parent Presentation- 6:00 PM
November 4: Ryan's Story Student Presentation- 8:30 AM
November 8: Election Day- Grade Level Field Trips
November 11th: Veterans Day- No School
November 24-26: Thanksgiving Recess- No School
Greetings from HDMS!
The 2022-20223 school year is off to a great start! This was the first time in three years that we were able to host an all school assembly on the first day of school! This is such a great way to kick-off the school year with the staff and students. Grade level teams conducted team building activities with their students for the majority of the first day of school. October is the time of year that reminds us how fortunate we are to live in New Hampshire with all the fall colors and activities! This is also a busy month at HDMS. We are looking forward to student led conferences on Thursday, October 20. Students are working on their portfolio presentations for their conference. The list of HDMS activities are included in this newsletter.
Take care,
HDMS Administration
What's Happening
- 6th grade students visited Fuller Public Library on Monday, September 26th. They took a tour of the library, learned about the history of the building, and had an opportunity to check out books. Altogether, 42 students received their very own library card.
- 6th grade held their first Hillcat Paw celebration of the school year, which involved students cashing in their paw prints for fun prizes, such as homework passes, express passes for the lunchline, and an outdoor ice cream sundae/dance party.
- Student advisory committee has started back up and meets weekly. We will be selling popcorn, during snack, on Thursdays for $1.00. The committee is also planning on hosting a Veteran's Day Breakfast for the community. Please be on the lookout for more information on how to join the breakfast in the coming weeks.
- The first dance will be November 4th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, admission is 6.00, there will be food and beverages available to purchase. This will be the Halloween Dance! Students are encouraged to dress up, but no masks, and clothing still follows school dress code guidelines.
- 7th grade Music students began learning to play the piano and conducted research on a famous artist or band.
- 6th grade Music students explored the components of music, learned to play the piano, and analyzed their favorite song.
- Band: We've added 20 students to our ranks! We've explored the first five notes and are starting to learn music for our January concert. Students are ENCOURAGED to come to after school lessons in the music room. These occur on most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. They run until 3:10pm and students can get a pass to take the Elementary bus home.
- 6th grade Technology Education students started working on measurement and reviewed the different increments of an inch. Students are now designing and trying to build a perfect cube out of a 4” x 24” piece of ½” thick plywood.
- In the 8th grade we hold bi-monthly “house meetings" where all students gather to discuss relevant issues, play games, and celebrate success. Starting in October, students will also be able to nominate a peer for recognition. Mr. Silverman’s advisory is currently the reigning tug-o-war champion. Ask your student about our exciting game of “Captains Calling.”
- 8th grade Technology Education students began working on improving their skills to be able to measure more accurately. Using these skills they have been designing and building a popsicle stick bridge that has to hold 50lbs, while spanning 50 centimeters.
- 7th grade Technology Education students began studying the concept of Work, applying a force to move something and then did a series of activities, using different levers and an inclined plane.
- 8th Grade Makerspace Class is off and running with many individualized projects. Students are enjoying projects such as coding, graphic design, jewelry making, 3D cardboard creatures, mini golf course, and learning how to use the Cricut Smart Cutting Machine.
Mrs. Bearor’s 8th grade Advisory celebrated a successful week with a pancake breakfast. Chefs John and William tried their hand at the griddle.
From the Health Office
Hillcat families please remember to log onto SNAP to update the guardian portal. Give permission for nurses to give medication to your student or update student health records including immunizations. The PDF with instructions on how to access the SNAP student health portal is attached to this newsletter.
The Student Flu clinic will be on November 2nd at the middle school. Students need to have a signed consent form in order to receive a flu vaccine in school. Please fill out the consent form and send it back to school.
Staff flu clinic and Covid booster clinic will be October 27 at 2:30 in the middle school. Please sign up on the google sheet shared with you from the health office.
MTSS-B at HDMS
HDMS has joined schools across the state in implementing a multi-tiered system of support to address student emotional, social and behavioral needs. The MTSS-B system involves three "tiers" of support, which together provide a wide range of intervention to help students, families and staff members, to help all students acquire the skills they need in order to be ready to learn. In each newsletter, we will highlight one feature of our MTSS-B. For more information about MTSS-B in our school district, please visit our website
https://sites.google.com/hdsd.org/sau34mtss-b/all-about-mtss-b.
More information can also be found through the NH Department of Education, at https://www.education.nh.gov/who-we-are/division-of-learner-support/bureau-of-student-wellness/office-of-social-and-emotional-wellness/mtssb.
The HDMS Library Media Center had a successful Scholastic Book Fair in September with the proceeds of $800 worth of books going to our students and the library collection!
As part of the PAWS Curriculum, 8th grade has been enjoying grade level house meetings and team building activities in the gym.