Hopkins Middle School Newsletter
April 17th, 2020
From Mr. Stockwell
Hello Hopkins Students and Parents,
I wanted to send a quick reminder that our Distance Learning Plan begins for all students on Monday, April 20th. All teachers have created Google Classrooms. Students have been emailed Google Classroom codes and should join the classes by Monday. For those without internet access, paper packets have been developed and will be mailed to your home. Mailings from the Middle School are for Middle School Students only. Other buildings have different plans on how to distribute their packets. Please see those building plans for more information. Keep in mind, this is new for all of us, so patience and flexibility will go a long way.
Last Wednesday, our district posted each building's Distance Learning Plan to the www.hpsvikings.org website. The plan contains all the details you will need for a successful experience. We have attached it below for your convenience. If you have any questions about the plan for the remaining seven weeks of the year, please reach out to the Principal, Scott Stockwell, at scotstoc@hpsvikings.org.
Thank you!
I would like to thank everyone for their patience and kindness during the locker pick up this week! I'd also like to thank Mrs. Caulder, Mrs. Hitchcock, Mrs. Schoonveld, and Mr. O'Dell for going above and beyond. Almost all items have been picked up!
There will be two final pick-up days next week at the High School only. All Middle School belongings will be transferred to the High School. Please drive up to the back of the High School gym, east entrance and an attendant will direct you to the right place. The dates and times are below.
Monday 4/20 and Tuesday 4/21
1-3 PM and 5-7 PM
Financial Resources in Difficult Times
Many people have filed for unemployment with the state and some are not eligible for unemployment and need some assistance. To file for help from the state
of Michigan visit their website at: www.michigan.gov/mibridges. It is easy to apply for services and find resources. You can find benefits, explore resources near you, and manage your case. Through this site you may access multiple programs including health care coverage, food assistance, cash assistance, child development & care, and state emergency relief for housing and utilities. Even if you qualify for unemployment benefits you may want to apply for health care benefits through the state.
Project Hope, in Dorr, is a Community Partner and trained to assist you if you need extra help using mibridges. If you do not have access to a computer/device then you can call Project Hope and use their wifi and they will assist you. The phone number for Project Hope is (616) 681-4673. You need an appointment to be seen at Project Hope so please don't drop by without calling first.
The United Methodist Church in downtown Hopkins offers help through their food pantry on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m .and from 5:00 pm. to 7:00 pm. If you would like to donate to their food pantry, they would like any kind of cereal, canned fruit, canned vegetables and pasta.
Project Hope has a food pantry in Dorr and offers assistance to those in need. If you are not in need and would like to donate, they are asking for cash assistance. At this time their thrift store is closed and they are not accepting donations for their store.
The Multi Agency Collaborative Council (MACC) leadership team has put together one website location for the community to access resources during the outbreak (food, housing help, medical, unemployment, etc.) - FeedtheNeedAllegan.com
Free Lunches
Remember to pick up your student lunches on Tuesday and Friday!
***Meals will be delivered through June 5th***
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
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
Educational Resources
The attached document has been made available to the entire district. It contains many resources for education assistance as well as Counseling Resources.
Looking to keep your Hopkins student in an educational routine? Try the following:
1. Begin by having them check their email or google classroom (if applicable). Many of our teachers are using this as their primary method of communication.
2. Schedule times throughout the day where students are reading or using technology for educational practice. This document has a plethora of resources. Try one or two a day and see which ones your student enjoys most!
3. Encourage your students to journal every day. This will help students practice writing, process thoughts and emotions they may be having during this period of shutdown, and could potentially create opportunities for family discussion!
The attached chart shows a variety of Instructional Resources that parents can use during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Please use these resources to support the continued learning for all of our students. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bSacYQEMYsO9qAMBmtd4uT6qDRtQYCHw4Pl8hVNSP9U/edit?usp=sharing
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.