HMS Connection
Week of November 6, 2023
HMS News
Greetings from HMS!
On Wednesday, November 1, the faculty and students participated in lessons and activities related to our most recent One Book, One School selection, Linked, by Gordon Korman. Classes had the opportunity to further their understanding of the themes central to the book and make some personal connections with what they had read.
The day culminated with a presentation from Holocaust survivor, Marion Blumenthal Lazan. For over an hour the entire school heard Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan's story of survival, perseverance, hope, and triumph. Her message to our school community was to always choose kindness, and to treat each other with care and respect.
Thank you to our One Book, One School committee, led by Mrs. Melissa Goldman and Mrs. Lauren Ciocca, for planning such an incredible event, and to the very generous HMS PTO for funding Mrs. Blumenthal Lazan's presentation.
HMS is Here to Help!
We understand that making ends meet can be difficult for some families in our HPS community. Therefore, we want to let you know that there are individuals in each of our schools who are ready to provide information and assistance. Resources may be available to help families in times of financial need, or other challenging situations. Our particular area of outreach at this time is for food support for the upcoming holidays.
Please don’t hesitate to contact an administrator, the school nurse, or counseling personnel in your
child's school if you are in need of food support for the holidays. Rest assured that your request will be managed in a way that respects your rights for confidentiality.
A Lesson in Civics
This past Friday, grade eight Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Driscoll, and special educator, Mrs. Veneto, traveled to East Elementary School with a group of middle schoolers in order to work with grade three students. Students and teachers from both schools worked together in preparation for the upcoming Veteran's Day celebrations at HMS and East. Our eighth graders spoke to the elementary school group about the importance of service, the role our veterans play in preserving freedom, and how we can thank them for what they do, and helped them craft messages of thanks to be presented to the men and women who serve our nation.
Great job to all!
Grade Six News
Attention grade six students and families!
We are currently selling "Class of 2030" T-shirts for our sixth graders this year.
The T-shirts are $20 (payable by cash or check payable to "TOWN OF HINGHAM"). We are asking each student to purchase a shirt as part of this grade-wide initiative. Funds raised through this sale help to support our class activities this year and beyond.
If purchasing a shirt is currently an economic hardship for your family, please reach out to an HMS staff member that you feel comfortable approaching, and we will ensure your child receives a shirt.
Use the following Google Form to order the T-shirt:
2023-24 Sixth Grade T-shirt Order Form
Thank you!
Grade Seven and Eight students are wrapping up their work for the quarter with Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Human Development. The focus was on Stage 5: Identity vs Role Confusion. Students also created "Who Am I?" collages to go along with this work.
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Important! Please Be Sure to Complete these Aspen Workflows As Soon As Possible!
Please log in to the Aspen Family Portal and proceed through the parent permissions workflow.
Find instructions for the workflow HERE.
If you have not set up your account or need help, please email aspenhelp@hinghamschools.org.
Bullying Intervention Plan and Task Force
Our school district is committed to providing all students with a safe learning environment that is free from bullying and cyberbullying. This commitment is an integral part of our comprehensive efforts to promote learning and to prevent and eliminate all forms of bullying and other harmful and disruptive behavior that can impede the learning process.
Below you will find links to our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan as well as an Anonymous Bullying Reporting Form.
Along those lines, HPS will be convening a district task force, consisting of administrators, staff, and community members, to review and refine our bullying plan and procedures. If you are interested in serving as a community member on the task face, please complete the attached Google form by Wednesday, November 15th.
Thank you!
Wondering what's going on at HMS each day?
Adventure Club Update
Our next trip is to Starland in Hanover on Thursday, November 9th from 2:00 - 5:30 pm. Permission slips can be found on our website: https://sduncan756.wixsite.com/hms-adventure-club/blank-1
The first 30 students to bring in the permission slip and fee DIRECTLY to Mrs. Duncan (217 - 7th grade) or Mrs. Giordani (206) will be able to join us!
Coming Events
Save the Date
- November 9 - Veteran's Day Ceremony and Breakfast
- Adventure Club Trip to Starland
- November 10 - Veteran's Day Observed: No School
PTO News
Annual Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway
In this upcoming season of giving thanks, the PTO would like to extend our thanks to our dedicated and hard-working HMS staff with a Thanksgiving pie for each staff member. That is approximately 150 pies (!!!), and we need your help! While you are baking or purchasing your Thanksgiving pies, please consider baking or purchasing an extra pie to give to a deserving HMS teacher or staff member.
Don’t have time to bake or pick up a pie? We’ve got you covered! This year, we’ve added a Venmo option. You can Venmo $15 to @HMSPTO-1103 by Sunday, November 12th and we will pick one up for you!
Please use our sign-up link below, choose your pie, then deliver it to the addresses on the signup genius between Saturday, November 18th and Monday, November 20th.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0948A4AB28A0FD0-45579864-thanksgiving
Pies should be in disposable packaging with a use by date 11/24/23, clearly labeled, and should not need to be refrigerated. If you need to make other drop off arrangements, please contact Molly Richards at mrichards0614@gmail.com.
Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us! Thanks in advance!
Molly Richards (mrichards0614@gmail.com)
Amanda Joseph (apvreeland@yahoo.com)
SEPAC Liaison Open Position
We are still in need of a parent/caregiver to be a liaison between the PTO and SEPAC boards. Ideally, the person would have working knowledge of special education (e.g., have a child on an IEP or 504 or who receives special education services). However, any parent/caregiver with a keen interest in the provision of special education within Hingham schools is encouraged to step forward and take on this liaison role.
This is a light-touch role with a time commitment of about an hour each month. While there is no requirement to attend PTO or SEPAC meetings, the liaison is a valued member of both boards and plays a key role in relaying relevant special education information between the HMS PTO and SEPAC boards. It's a great opportunity to advocate for our students and engage with SEPAC liaisons from other Hingham schools.
Please reach out to HinghamSepac@gmail.com if you are interested or have questions.
Next PTO Meeting
Our next PTO meeting will be held via Zoom (details to follow) on Thursday, November 16th, 7-8pm. All are welcome to attend. We hope to see you there!
Community News
Lincoln Day Essay Contest
Dear Hingham Middle Schoolers,
Greetings from the Hingham Historical Society!
We are excited to invite you to participate in the Society's Annual 2023 Lincoln Day Essay Contest. This contest is a wonderful opportunity to dig deeper into the history that shaped our country and the town of Hingham. Once submitted, a committee will read through all of the essays and
determine three finalists. The 1st place essay will receive $100, 2nd place $75, and 3rd
place $50. All essay participants will be invited to be a part of, and receive recognition
at, Hingham's Annual Lincoln Day Commemoration Ceremonies in February.
Details about the contest can be found in the attached flyer.