Hawks Nest #7 May 29, 2020
Brought to you by Hillview ASB, HawkTalk, & Mr. Darmanin
Sprinting towards the FINISH LINE with HawkTalk and more!
8th-Grade Awards and Grad News!
Plans for Celebrating Grad Week 2020
Monday, June 8 - Friday, June 12
Graduation Package Pick-up (Mandatory)
Monday, June 8
All families must complete the form here to help us with the pick-up plan on June 8.
8th-Grade Awards Online Zoom Event
Monday, June 8, 2:30 - 4:00 pm by invitation only
Each year Hillview honors it's 8th-grade students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in our core academic subjects, physical education, and elective programs. There will be other special recognitions during this event, such as Block H, Biliteracy Attainment, and Faculty Awards.
MPCSD and Hillview Middle School Celebrate your Graduate
Friday, June 12
The celebration will include a “drive-through” style recognition, academy by academy. Your graduate will receive their diploma from Mr. Haug. Decorate your vehicles creatively to make the celebration memorable and special.
8th-Grade Digital Memory Book
Your family will be able to upload photos and fill in information about your student's Hillview memories through this platform. Soon we will distribute a link to access the digital book.
Details here in Mr. Haug's letter to the 8th-grade families.
And now...a quick skit from the newly elected 2020-2021 ASB
iPad and Materials Collection Wednesday, June 10
Due to shelter in place we will be collecting iPad equipment and materials differently this year and not from everyone. If you are a returning student next year, you will keep all your items over the summer and will be provided additional information on returns at a later date.
8th-grade students and non-returning students will need to return all school property or pay the associated fee if you have lost or damaged the items on Wednesday, June 10.
This includes:
- iPad, iPad cable, charging block and case
- Textbooks - Math, Science, Social Studies, French, Spanish
- English language novels
- Library books
- Music books and borrowed instruments
- Cameras for Mr. Darmanin
- Any other items that your student borrowed from Hillview or the District
Drop off will be done via the Hilliview car line. Please DO NOT get out of your car, a staff member will greet you at the curb. To help reduce traffic and speed up throughput, we ask that students come to drop off in the following order:
- June 10, 9:30 - 12:00 Student Last Names A - J
- June 10, 1:00 - 3:30 Student Last Names K - Z
Be on the lookout for additional information and details being sent to student’s homes. Questions? Contact Monica Bosch here.
Purchase a Yearbook and have it shipped directly to you!
Order until June 10
Order a 2020 Yearbook! online and now with the option of having the yearbook mailed directly to your home for an additional $8.00 (to cover shipping costs and packaging supplies).
If you have NOT purchased a yearbook yet go here, and use school code 10070. Select "Yearbook shipped home" ($53) or "Yearbook shipped to school" ($45).
If you HAVE purchased a yearbook previously and would like to pay the additional $8 to ship home, go here to and use code 10070. Select "$8 shipping to home." Change the quantity to the number of books you previously ordered. For example, if you bought a book for your 6th-grade student and also one for your 8th-grade student, change the quantity to 2.
Not sure if you bought a yearbook already? There are 3 ways to check:
- If your child bought the ASB sticker at the beginning of the year, the book was included in that package
- If you think you bought your book online in January or February, you should have a confirmation email. You can also go here, use school code 10070, and click the button "Find existing order."
- If you're still not sure, email our HJ rep, Michele Paolini here include your student's name, grade, and school.
Books are currently planned to be available the week of August 10.
Despite the challenges of the year, our students put together a wonderful book full of memories. This will truly be a keepsake for years to come.
6th & 7th Graders: Get your Block H points turned in!
6th/7th Graders: You have until the end of the school year to submit since your points will carry over to next school year.
It's that time of year! End of the year means it's time to tally up our Block H points and make sure yours get counted. Use the easy to follow Google Form (also found in your Hawks Nest Google Classroom) and follow the instructions to get counted! 8th graders, you have two parts...one for the tally, and another for the application.
The Purpose of Hillview’s Block H Award
The Block H award encourages and recognizes commitment to school involvement and community service.
What is a “Block H Point”?
Points are how we measure your service and involvement. For service activities, including community service outside Hillview, you earn about 3 points per hour of service. For school involvement, we use a fixed point system per activity to encourage and recognize involvement.It's best not to "count" your points and instead just focus on getting involved and volunteering! We've never met a student who got their Block H by asking how many points they had! Fill out the form and follow the steps.
Counselor's Corner: Your Mental Health is Important!
May is Mental Health Awareness month and now, more than ever, it is critical to check on your own mental health. Did you know that stress, anxiety and all those negative emotions you may be feeling are completely normal? Especially during a time of crisis. Mental health can be a scary topic to talk about, but we’ve learned that being open about mental health can make all the difference. Remember, it's okay to not feel okay, but it's also okay to ask for help.
So what are some we can help stay mentally healthy while sheltering in place? Exercise proves to be an excellent way to keep kids not only physically healthy, but also helps with mental wellbeing. The endorphins can make you feel happier and more hopeful! Below are a few activities we encourage you to do while sheltering in place.
Keep active
Journaling or making art
Take a break when you need it
Talk with a trusted friend
Listen to music
Meditate (there are free apps to help! Calm, Insight Timer and Headspace)
History in the Making-- Delayed by Weather by Hanna H
History in the Making-- Delayed by Weather by Hanna H
On Wednesday, May 27th in the afternoon, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was going to launch,
being the first American manned mission in almost a decade. Unfortunately, it was delayed until this Saturday, at 3:22 pm ET because the weather proved cloudy, and therefore unsafe for the occupants, astronauts Bob Benkhen and Doug Hurley. Earlier that day, it was predicted that there would be a 50/50% chance that the weather would allow them to launch. Twenty minutes before the scheduled takeoff, the outcome was still uncertain. However, SpaceX and NASA determined that there was just too high of a risk of rain or electric storm clouds, which would negatively interact with the rocket.
Despite the disappointment many people felt upon the postponement, it was clearly the
right decision. The safety of these two astronauts comes first, of course. Furthermore, having almost a full rehearsal has prepared the crew even more for the final launch. They have additional confidence that everything will go smoothly (as it did in the first attempt) and learned a great deal in the process. It may not have gone as they-- we-- had hoped, but Saturday will bring a second chance to make history.
Gardening at Home and Why California Natives Are the Best to Plant By: Izabel Sharp
We’ve all been at home for a while now, and are pretty tired of seeing the same old plants when we look out the window. It seems like the perfect time to make some adjustments, not to mention that everyone is also looking for a new hobby! To tie it all together, it’s time to start gardening! Picking up this new interest is great because it gets you to spend more time outdoors, in the fresh air and it makes your garden even more beautiful! This might seem like a very complicated or large task, but depending on the plants you get, the skill level required can include even those who’ve never touched a shovel.
To move on, you are obviously going to need some plants to start enhancing the outdoor space. However, not just any plants will do! There are thousands of varieties of vegetation to choose from, but ecologists strongly advise that you decide on those native to the area. Around the Bay Area we have the Blue-Eyed Grass, California lilacs, the Coffeeberry, Manzanitas, Monkey Flowers, and the Pink-Flowering Currant to name a few. The reason that these native species and others in the area are so great for gardening is because they are relatively low maintenance. They require much less water, little to no fertilizer, rare pruning, and no pesticides because they are so well adapted to nearby diseases and insects. If that’s not enough, they are also very inviting to wildlife and are favorites of many birds, bees, and friendly insects like butterflies. It’s great now, it’s easy, it’s beautiful, it’s time to get gardening!!
Go here to get some California Natives! :
https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=gardening&find_loc=Menlo+Park%2C+CA+94025
How to Build the Ultimate Burger by Mia Kilburn
With the Fourth of July coming down the road, it’s probably best to start practicing our burger-making skills. There is so much that comes with making the perfect burger. A golden bun, perfectly cooked meat, the right amount of relish, that can just be so hard to perfect. Here are a couple burger recipes you won’t be able to stop yourself from making!
Worcestershire-Glazed Burgers:
Ingredients: Canola Oil for grill grates, 2 ½ lb ground beef, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, 3 tbsp worcestershire sauce, 8 hamburger buns, cheese, lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, and pickles (for serving).
Directions:
Set up grill for direct cooking and heat to medium-high. Once hot, clean and lightly oil grates with oil.
Gently shape beef into 8 balls, then flatten into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Using your thumb, make a shallow (1 1/2-inch-wide) indent in the top of each patty. Season with salt and pepper.
Grill patties, indent sides up, until browned and patties easily lift from the grates, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and grill, basting with Worcestershire, to desired doneness, 3 to 4 minutes more for medium.
Serve burgers on buns with cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes alongside.
Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Balsamic Onion Burger:
Ingredients: ½ medium red onion, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, kosher salt, pepper, 1 ½ lb lean ground sirloin, 4 oz blue cheese, 4 brioche hamburger buns, lettuce, tomato, cooked bacon slices.
Directions:
In a small bowl, toss together the onion, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Let sit, tossing occasionally, until ready to use.
Heat grill to medium-high. Gently form the beef into 4 balls. (Don't overwork the meat — this can result in a tough, dry burger.) Flatten each ball into a 3/4-inch- thick patty. Using your thumb, make a shallow 1 1/2-inch-wide indent in the top of each patty. Season the patties with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
Place the patties on the grill, indent facing up, and cook until the burgers release easily from the grill, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook to desired doneness, 3 to 4 minutes more for medium. During the last 2 minutes, top with the blue cheese and grill, covered, until gooey.
If desired, grill the buns until lightly toasted. Serve the burgers on buns and top with the balsamic onions, lettuce, tomato, and bacon, if desired.
Amazon Alexa Games by Lucy H.
Amazon Alexa Games
Following up on my Family Board Games article, these are games that you can play with an Amazon Alexa if you have one.
Quiz Games
Harry Potter Quiz
Compete against players all around the world and test your Harry Potter knowledge. An interesting thing about this game is that Amazon got special speakers and sounds to help create the “Harry Potter” atmosphere.
Song Quiz
Choose a musical decade and compete against your family to see who can win the most points!
Adventure/Choose Your Own Adventure Games
Magic Door
This game also has special sound effects and speakers to help create a magical wonderland aesthetic. Tell Alexa where to go and embark on a magical quest full of magical creatures, enchanted objects, and the occasional creepy noise.
The Dark Citadel
Similar to Dungeons and Dragons, make decisions based off of descriptions Alexa reads out. For Example, decide where to go, who to fight, and the best way to stay alive. What’s interesting about this is that Alexa plays out excerpts of the music from Game of Thrones to help build the adventurous atmosphere.
Kid Games
Silly Things
Alexa reads out prompts like act like a zombie or pretend you’re in an invisible box. It is designed to get small kids moving and to have a little fun while they’re at it.
Animal Game
Come up with an animal and Alexa will ask 20 questions and figure out what it is.
Making Granola by Olivia M.
During Quarantine, things can get a bit boring. If you feel as we are nearing the 3 month
mark of quarantine, there is almost nothing to do, we have a solution for you! One thing I havebeen enjoying doing to fill time and have a delicious snack is making granola! Cooking is an easy way to pass time and have fun in the kitchen!
One benefit to making granola, is that there are multiple ways to eat it, and you can store it
for up to 2 months! I have enjoyed making açaí bowls in my spare time using frozen smoothie packets from Target, adding crunch and flavor with granola! Not only that, but I have enjoyed eating it with milk and even by itself. You can even customize your granola by adding chocolate chips, your favorite nuts, and even raisins! So if you are looking for a fun activity to do during your quarantine, try out this delicious, quick, and easy granola recipe!
Hillview Museum Challenge - Deadline: May 29th
The Getty Art Museum in LA had a contest and people re-created famous paintings by dressing up like the people in the paintings and photographed themselves. If this sounds like fun to you, then participate in the Hillview Museum Challenge!
Choose a painting or sculpture that you want to portray through photography, take a screenshot of it and note the artist and title. Try looking at the padlet linked below made by a Laurel art teacher. You will need to include the original when posting your photo. Take the photo using your iPad camera or another camera. Try to replicate the colors in the background of the painting and try to dress like the people in the painting. Feel free to enlist family members in the task. Be creative! Also, feel free to try a more abstract painting that might require no people. Do not edit the photo unless you need to crop it. Some tips to keep in mind when recreating an art piece: Make a face, strike a pose. If you’re interested in re-creating a portrait or group scene, pay attention to the facial expressions—they really make it. For a family activity, look for a domestic or dinner scene. Pay attention to lighting. Try to imagine where the light in the artwork is coming from, and orient your composition so a window or lamp is casting similar light onto the scene. In bright daylight, windows offer a blue-tinged light, while most lamps cast a warmer light. Look at Ms. Kogan's examples for inspiration! Padlet of painting ideas: https://padlet.com/cgiacomozzi/aqtwrmbp6p9z
***Ms. Kogan wants to make a password protected padlet of all of the photographs from Hillview. If you do not want to be included, please let her know via email.**
If you take an art class and have already done this project, you are automatically entered in the contest! There will be prizes for different categories and a panel of judges. Art prizes will be delivered next year.
Email re-creation photos to Ms. Kogan along with the original masterpiece (artist and title noted) to akogan@mpcsd.org
Hawks Celebrating Birthdays This Week!
Relive the Talent Show! (In the details are shortcuts to Acts, Celebrities, and Staff Skit!)
Contact the Hawks Nest Team!
Email: bdarmanin@mpcsd.org
Website: hillviewasb.com
Location: hillviewtv.com