HMS Hiller Heads-Up
All the news from Hopkinton Middle School
Message from the HMS Office
Dear Families,
Recent disruptions to the learning environment at HMS have been caused by students' online behavior. These events have been hurtful and certainly had an impact on our school community. One of these disruptions involved the use of AI (Artificial intelligence). AI is continuing to develop at a rapid pace and we feel it is important for you to know how AI is being used and how it is impacting our students. A helpful article can be found here at healthychildren.org.
We also want to share a website that may be helpful as you decide what apps to have installed on your student's cell phone. Common sense media is a good resource, allowing you to type in the name of an app, movie, or show and look at reviews from parents and a description of content. It also provides an overview of parental controls available for apps you may be considering to install on your student's device or phone.
Thank you for your continued partnership,
HMS Administration
Rotation Cycle - Week of March 11
- Day 1: Monday, March 11
- Day 2: Tuesday, March 12
- Day 3: Wednesday, March 13
- Day 4: Thursday, March 14
- Day 5: Friday, March 15 - Early Release
Important Upcoming Dates
March 15
Ensemble Rehearsal at school (please make sure students have instruments)
March 18
Grade 6 Band and Orchestra Concert 7:00-9:00
March 19
Grade 7 Band and Orchestra Concert 6:30-8:00
Grade 8 Brand and Orchestra 8:00-9:00
March 20
Grade 6-8 Choral Concert 7:00-9:00
March 21
Concert Snow Date
March 22
Grade 7 STUCO Event
March 29
No School - Good Friday
HMS 7th Grade March Madness Party!
7th Grade Families,
Save the Date!
- When: Friday, March 22nd, 2024
- Where: HMS Cafeteria and Brown Gym
- Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Activities Include:
- Music
- A Movie
- Basketball-Themed Activities and Games
- Light Snacks
- And the highlight of the night, a March Madness style basketball tournament!
Admission: Admission is free!
Important: Digital Permission Form
For your child to join in the fun, please ensure the digital permission form is completed before 5 PM on March 21st (note: this is the day before the event. The form will be locked after that time).
A Gentle Reminder:
This event is exclusively for 7th-grade HMS students. Students do not need to participate in the tournament to attend! There will be activities and chances to spectate the tournament available for students not playing.
We're looking forward to an exciting evening and hope to see your 7th grader there!
Please contact Mrs. Walcott (awalcott@hopkinton.k12.ma.us)
or
Ms. Abate (rabate@hopkinton.k12.ma.us) with any questions.
March 2024 SEPAC Events
MARCH 2024 SEPAC EVENTS:
What’s Up With The New IEP - Webinar
When: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7PM
DSS Abby Hanscom will present the new, completely revised, IEP document. Link to be posted on www.hopkinton-sepac.org.
Hopkinton SEPAC Coffee with an Advocate
Hopkinton SEPAC is hosting a coffee hour for parents and care partners of special needs students. We have invited an advocate to answer any questions related to special education. Come to our advocate Q & A session, meet other special needs parents, and learn more about Hopkinton SEPAC. We will be serving coffee and donuts.
When: Monday, March 18, 2024 at 10AM
Where: Hopkinton Public Library, Betty Strong Room (Large Event Room)
2024 Women in STEM Conference - Middle School Girls
On behalf of the Northborough Junior Women's Club, we are excited to inform you that the 2024 Women in STEM Conference for middle school girls registration is open! This conference historically fills to capacity VERY quickly and there is always a waiting list.
On March 23,2024, the Northborough Junior Women’s Club will be hosting the 16th Women in STEM Conference for middle school girls. This free conference, open to all 5th to 8th grade girls from Northborough and beyond, seeks to actively engage and empower pre-adolescent girls in STEM workshops presented by dynamic women role models working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
Please see this registration form for more details:
2024 NJWC Women in STEM Conference Registration
Here is a short (<1min) video of last year's conference STEM 2023 THANK YOU VIDEO LINK
Stopfinder App
Does your student ride the bus? Are you using the Stopfinder app? StopFinder is an excellent tool for families. It has the ability to track the bus and alert you when the bus has entered a zone, allowing you to plan more efficiently. With Stopfinder, you will be able to set Geoalerts, which will give you a notification when the bus approaches your location. More information can be found in the latest Transportation Newsletter.
For those who still need to sign up for the StopFinder App, the Transportation Department just sent out another invitation link. Make sure to sign up today!
HPTO 30th Anniversary Fundraising Night
Join us on April 6th at 730pm for an evening of fun and fundraising as we celebrate 30 years as one of the only PTOs in the state that supports grades prek-12th. This casual and incredibly fun 90s-themed night will include a live band, drinks, a silent auction and so much more. Come out for an evening to support the schools and have fun with friends. Ticket information is below. Limited tickets available. We hope to see you there!
Please click the following link to purchase tickets and help support our school community today!
https://hopkintonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/74387462
The HPTO has donated $2 million to our Hopkinton Schools in the last 30 years. Last year alone, HPTO funded the following:
Potato Hill Poetry: Andrew Green
Michael Lafosse Origamido
Discovery Museum
Staff Appreciation
Library Chairs
Recess Supplies
Extracurricular Classes
Nature’s Classroom
Michael Lefosse Origami
Understanding our Differences
Community Farm Field Trip
Traveling Science
Memory Book
Mental Health Collaborative program for students
Jon Mattleman presentation for parents "The Secret Lives of Teens and Tweens."
Boston Theatre Company Shakespeare program for 8th Grade
Dr "The Machine" Jesse Green performance for 6, 7 & 8th grade
Combating Hate & Prejudice presentation for students
8th Grade Promotion Breakfast
Ice cream truck for Freshmen Orientation
Senior transition day in fall and spring
Submission fee for the Scholastic Art Awards
Funding for the Principal Art Awards
Funding for the HopArts Magazine and the Art Show postcards
Student of the Month gift cards
Mental Health Speaker
Science Fair materials and prizes
RAD Program support - shirts and pizza
Business Professionals of America registration and materials
Submission fee for the Scholastic Writing Awards
Marginal Magazine printing
Boys and Girls State admission fee
Robotics Club supplies and competition expenses
Unite Program mentor t-shirts
Underclassmen award breakfast
Art/BTE Field Trip to NYC Museums
Refreshments for counseling parent coffee sessions
and more.
Hopkins School Project
We invite you to check out this website for more information on the Hopkins Addition project. This website contains information such as. and frequently asked questions. An email has been created for questions not answered on the website: hopkins-project@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.
MCAS Dates
- ELA - April 2 - 3
- Math - April 30 - May 1
- STE (grade 8 only) - May 15 - 16
- Civics (grade 8 only) - May 29 - 30