The Hawks' Nest
Hamilton Elementary Middle School-- Weekly Staff Newsletter
January 29, 2024
IMPRINTS ON THE HEART- SY 2023-2024
HEMS Mission: At Hamilton Elementary Middle School, the student is at the center of our work and the guide to our purpose. We provide students with equity of access to enriching educational experiences to ignite a sense of wonder as they explore their limitless potential. We foster an environment that values social-emotional learning, arts integration, STEM education, and academic rigor. HEARTwork is HAWKwork
Principal's Message
Greetings Hamilton Staff,
“I want my quarterbacks to be ‘quarterbacky.’ And to me, Lamar Jackson’s just a great athlete..." That was a quote by radio host, Monse Bolanos of Fox Sports. Many were offended by her statement and many defended her statement. My goal in discussing this matter is not to elicit a debate on where you stand on the matter but rather raise the deeper questions to our consciousness. Why is society still so fixated on putting individuals in boxes? I would suggest this is done in a huge part to categorize people into hierarchies. These hierarchies are often classified by race, gender, class, ability, etc,.
Let's get a bit more proximate and lean into our inclusion work at our school. Many people had their ideas of what a "self-contained" student looked like and what a "general education- grade level" student looked like in the beginning. Let's go a bit further. Many of us have an idea in our mind of what an "honors' ' student and "grade level" student look like. We may have certain characteristics or attributes in our mind when describing students in each category. If a student does not fit into that box in our minds of belonging in inclusion or honors, but is provided with that access and or opportunity, how does that live within us? Many of our students with IEP services can and should receive services in a fully inclusive classroom but they will require and are entitled to accommodation and modifications. What if we don’t fully understand or believe that they belong there? How does that live within us? A student may be oppositional defiant exhibiting challenging behaviors such as hostility, aggression, unkindness, work avoidance and defiance towards teachers/staff. Does the way the student show up and their abilities reinforce the notions that they didn’t belong anyway or do you see their belonging as a right not a privilege? You see, depending on how you honestly answer that question determines so much and our students pay the price.
Some members of our school community attended an equity PD on Friday that was facilitated by Dr. Lisa Williams. She stated, “It is a waste of energy to be frustrated with conditions that we are not actively working to change!” The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different outcome; Or are we actually okay with the outcomes? Sometimes it starts with raising our own consciousness.
(HEART)work is (HAWK)work
Much love and respect,
Proud Principal Pouncey
This Week's Highlights
Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Annual Black History Month Art Contest. Please share with your students, faculty and/or staff as we celebrate Black History Month by showcasing the amazing talent at your school. Please see the flyer here for all of the information including last date of submission and more.
Hamilton Internal Letter of Intent
It's that time when we began contemplating our plans for next school year. I love the commitment and dedication of our staff and hope that you will continue to make Hamilton your school home. With that being said, we also respect that everything has it's season and will support our staff either way. We do need all staff members to complete the Hamilton Internal Letter of Intent Form. This will help us to make decisions on staffing next school year. Our students deserve the best staff and the sooner we know our staffing needs the better we can prepare for our students. We thank you for your understanding and attention to this matter. Please complete by Friday, February 2, 2024.
HEMS Internal Intent Form Link: https://forms.gle/mFakdNX7dEo8uQff7
Attendance Matters
Our goal is to have staff and student attendance at 95% or higher. We met our goal this past week for staff but did not meet our goal for students.
Staff attendance rate for the week of 1/22-- 96%
Student attendance rate for the week of 1/22--- 95.35%
Shout out to our K, 6th, 7th and 8th grade for meeting or exceeding our attendance goals last week! !
Pre-K ------------------- 91.25%
K ------------------------- 95.26%
1-------------------------- 92.16%
2 ------------------------- 94.94%
3 ------------------------- 92.90%
4 ------------------------- 93.66%
5 ------------------------- 94.44%
6 --------------------------98.49%
7 ------------------------- 96.29%
8 ------------------------ 97.87%
Upcoming Dates:
Feb 5- February Staff Meeting
Feb 12 - February ILT Meeting
Feb 15 - Community Budget Meeting
Feb 16- School closed- Wellness day for staff
Feb 19 - School Closed- President's Day
Please see school calendar on website for detailed calendar of events.
Mrs. Muhammad's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
No updates this week.
Mrs. Randall's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Q3 Progress Report window:
Originally the window opened on 2/9/2024 and closed on 2/20/2024. It should have been 5 school days so we are adjusting the window to open on 2/12/2024 and to still close on 2/20/2024.
The yearbook order forms went home with students in prek- 7th grade students on Thursday, January 18th or Monday, January 22nd. Please remind students to order their yearbook. ALL students will be featured in the yearbook and we even have some cool snow day pics that will be featured from our first snow day!
Ensure that you have an objective posted on your board each day. Some objectives are days old and/or an objective is not posted at all. Please do not forget to update your boards each day.
Mrs. Proctor's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Testing: Please prioritize completion of all Amplify & i-Ready testing. This is our Final week of the MOY assessment window.
Our current Completion Rates are:
Amplify Grades K thru 5 ELA: 89%
i-Ready Grades 6 thru 8 ELA: 83%
i-Ready Grades K thru 8 Math: 92%
Devices:
Please ensure that your testing dates are listed on the calendar so that computers are ready and available on the morningof testing.
Monitor device usage to ensure that devices are returned in the condition that they were received, including headphones. This supports the availability of testing equipment when needed.
Please return devices by 2 PM.
Middle School Reminders: Teachers please allow only one student out of rhe classroom at a time. We want to deter students from congregating in the restrooms. Please enforce the 15 minute rule. Student should not be permitted outbof the classroom during the first and last 15 minutes of each class period.
Mrs. Wilson's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Announcements:
Special Education Resource Teachers’ Collaboration Documents are due on Wednesday, January 31,2024 by 2:10P.M. Please Submit to Mrs. Wilson.
Mentor- Mentee Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday, February 26, 2024 Location: Ms. Knutson’s Room Time: 2:00 - 3:0Mrs. Briscoe's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Announcements:
As a reminder, community circles are to be held at minimum once per week during the homeroom/advisory time from 7:30-8:00am. This is a requirement for grades 3-8.
Mrs. Wieczorek's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Announcements:
Elementary literacy teachers have tested 91% of our 433 students in Amplify! This is a huge accomplishment since these tests are given 1:1 and include multiple subtests! If there are remaining students who need to have Amplify MOY completed, the tests should be done as soon as possible. We will be developing the updated TAPs plans during content on Tuesday.
Any students who have not finished iReady must complete their makeups this week. I can hold a few students in my room who need a quieter testing environment. 98% of sixth graders have finished their iReady reading, 95% of seventh graders have finished their iReady reading and 50% of eighth graders have finished their iReady reading.
Mr. Carter's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Announcements:
Tutoring will resume at normal times this week. I will send an email with schedule and participants. Thank you again to the resource team.
Please read weekly newsletter for important updates on our MCAP prep.
Mr. Hartman's Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Announcements:
Science Conent Meeting times have changed for several grade levels. Please make sure to be on time for planning and to bring the current teacher's edition and student hand-out binder.
This Week's Science Content Meetings:
Monday: 2nd Grade 1:20
Tuesday: 4th/5th 8:45
Wednesday: 7th: 10:00, 6th 11:00
Thursday: 3rd: 9:40; Kindergarten: 11:35 - 12:20 8th:12:30
Finally, if you have any students who have not finished the Unit Assessments given over the past two weeks, please have them complete tests on Monday.
Mrs. Knutson GAL and SLP Weekly Announcements and Updates.
No updates this week.
Hospitality Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Announcements:
Please be on the lookout for a mid year survey that will be coming out in the upcoming week or two. This survey will be used as a check in to hear about your feelings on this school year as we just crossed the mid way point. :)
If you missed the stationary drink cart on Thursday please let Ms. McDonnell know.
Our January raffle winner is… drum roll…. Mrs. E. Johnson!! Congratulations and please come see Ms. McDonnell for your gift card.
Community School Weekly Announcements and Updates.
Elem. Social Studies, SPED, ESOL and Technology Weekly Announcements and Updates.
No updates this week.
Shoutouts From HEMS Leadership
- Ms. Darden for subbing Ms. Gray’s 6th grade PE class this entire week!
- Ms. Salvatore, Ms. Rodgers, Ms. Holley, Ms.Frain, Mrs.Dickey, Mrs. Bease,
- Ms. McDonnell and Ms. Clingenpeel for helping Mrs.Randall with a prek student who had trouble following directions.
- Mrs. Pohle & Mrs. Airth for supporting with middle school test completion.
- Ms. Jas, Ms. Rogers, and Mrs. Darden for their support and flexibility during staff absences.
- Thank you Mrs. Knutson for enhancing recess for our 1st and 2nd graders by providing additional support from our middle school students.
- Ms. Burton, Ms. Airth, Ms. Rodgers, Mr. Hartman, Mr. Sterling, and Mr. Mo for their collaboration on solutions for better behavior during 7th grade lunch and recess.
- Ms. Redman for her helping on sorting snacks for the end-of-month incentive.
- Mr. Carter, Ms. Van Wert, Ms. Redman, Ms. Pohle, Ms. Young-Bedford, Mr. Elleby, Ms. Airth, Ms. Hughes, Ms. Ruff, Ms. Pouncey, Ms. Muhammad, Ms. Frain and Ms. Knutson for your engagement in the equity PD session on Friday.
- Ms. Carpenter/Frain, Ms. Kane/Simon, Ms. Ruff, Ms. Washington, Ms. Lorquet, Ms. Rimback, Ms. Riga, Ms. Smith (402), and Ms. Brockington (501, 502, 503) for meeting the goal of testing 100% of students in Amplify!
- Ms. Bedford for the delicious Wellness Wednesday treat!
- Ms. Sturdavant, Ms. Jas and Ms. Crissy for their hard work with getting the 8th graders started on their iReady reading testing this week.
- Ms. Simon for helping assess learners in 101.
- Ms. Taylor, Ms. Griffin, and Ms. Johnson for piloting our Edcite quizzes this week.
- Ms. Storke for 86 percent of learners being proficient in 602.
- Ferri for agreeing to host an intro-to-mini-golf lesson for our kindergarten students so they can build background knowledge for the quarter 3 science unit.
- Ms. Clingenpeel for organizing an awesome field trip to Great Kids Farm where students learned about our food system from seed to table to trash can. It was a great experience for all!
- Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Ichikawa and Mr. Hartman for helping me carry up book fair boxes after school hours! 🙂
- Mrs. Harris for always being a helping hand - it is so appreciated!
- Mrs. Fitts for helping to get volunteers for the book fair.
- Mrs. Watson for hosting this month’s drink cart!
- Mrs. Bedford for sharing her culinary talents with us all on Wellness Wednesday!
School Performance Plan 23/24 Goals
Literacy
MCAP ELA Proficiency (Achievement) Annual Target for School Year 23/24 --40%. Note: (SY 22/23 36%)
Graduation
BY EOY SY23-24, 71 % of K- 5 students will perform at or above benchmark. Note: (SY 22/23 61%)
BY EOY SY23-24, 6.2 % or less of 6- 8 students will have GPA less than 2.0. Note: (SY 22/23 6.9%)
Math
MCAP Math Proficiency (Achievement) Annual Target for School Year 23/24 --21%. Note: (SY 22/23 16.5%)
MCAP Math Avg. Performance Level Growth for School Year 23/24 --2.10. Note: (SY 22/23 1.8)
Science
22-23 SY: 5th grade= 12% to 22% for 23-24, 10% gains 2 years after.
22-23 SY: 8th grade= 16% to 26% for 23-24, 10% gains 2 years after
Attendance/Wholeness
For SY23-24, the % of students chronically absent at EOY will be 25% or lower. Note: (SY 22/23 29%)
Deliverables
- Arrival time 7: 15 a.m. daily.
- Staff on duty until 2: 20 p.m. daily.
- Pick-up students on-time from recess and resource classes.
- All teachers should be utilizing Class Dojo.
- All teachers should be utilizing 2nd step lessons.
- Lesson plan uploaded in HEMS GC ( Please see Mrs. Randall if you are new and need assistance with this task).
- Each teacher must have a Google Classroom.
- Check your e-mail daily.
- Attendance is to be taken daily in Infinite Campus by 9:15 a.m. We must have 100% of our attendance submitted on time daily.
District Updates and Resources for Staff/Students
MCAP Data Link Project- Teacher Stipends Available
The Academics Office is seeking teachers in Math, ELA and/or Science to support the selection and entry of MCAP released items into Data Link with the goal of increasing student exposure to MCAP-like testing experiences. Teachers will be provided a stipend to support the following:
- Research and identify MCAP-like released items for Math (3-8 & Algebra 1), ELA (3-8), or Science (3, 4, & 6).
- Upload identified items into Data Link
- Share resources for instructional next steps based on student responses
Interested teachers, with Data Link experience, should complete this form by January 12, 2023. Selection notification to be shared on January 16, 2023 via email. Teachers can expect the project to be about 20 hours at a rate of $51.13 per hour. For questions, please contact Heather Nolan at (knolan@bcps.k12.md.us).
Professional Learning for Early Career Teachers (ECTs)
Systemic PD catalog: ECTs now have access to systemic PD that is geared towards their specific needs. On systemic days, please encourage your ECTs to look for the ECTI icon in the catalog when registering for professional learning experiences.
Induction sessions on Systemic PD days: We hosted over 100 Early Career Teachers during the afternoon session of our last systemic day on November 17, 2023, and intend to welcome similar sized groups in January 2024, March 2024, and May 2024. The afternoon systemic PD experience is by invitation only and is geared toward ECTs who did not attend NTSI in 2022 or 2023.
Saturday Professional Learning opportunity for ECTs: a six-session course will be piloted in January - June 2024. ECTs who attend and actively participate in the synchronous sessions will receive a stipend at the current rate ($40.90). Topics: Identity & Self-awareness, Classroom Foundations, Standards, Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, Instructional Practice & Evaluation, Support Networks & Development.
Professional Learning for School-Based Mentors
Beginning in January 2024, SBMs can join a series of Professional Learning sessions “Foundations in Mentoring”. This course is geared towards mentors with 0-2 years of mentoring experience with ECTs; however, all mentors are welcome. SBMs who attend and actively participate in the synchronous sessions will receive a stipend at the current rate ($40.90). Schedule:
- January 16, 2024 (synchronous virtual session) and January 18, 2024 (office hours and asynchronous assignments)
- January 30, 2024 (synchronous virtual session) and February 1, 2024 (office hours and asynchronous assignments)
- February 13, 2024 (synchronous virtual session) and February 15, 2024 (office hours and asynchronous assignments)
- February 27, 2024 (synchronous virtual session) and February 29, 2024 (office hours and asynchronous assignments)
- March 11, 2024 (synchronous virtual session) and March 13, 2024 (office hours and asynchronous assignments)
- April 2, 2024 (synchronous virtual session) and April 4, 2024 (office hours and asynchronous assignments)
For questions please reach out to Coach Shay (stwilliams@bcps.k12.md.us)
Career Ready Friday
Please join the Career Readiness – Work-Based Learning team as we explore the various career clusters through our Career Ready Friday program. Career Ready Friday is an interactive curriculum-based program that offers students in grades K-8 an opportunity to explore careers, hear from industry leaders, and discover the Career pathways available to them at City Schools. For more information please contact Celina Acham at (caacham@bcps.k12.md.us) for more details.
Virtue of the Month -January- Empathy
What is Empathy? The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another
Why is Empathy Important? Having empathy enables us to build those social connections. To feel connected to others is hugely important for our optimal wellbeing. It is the very basis of human relationships and helps us to feel valued, loved, and cared for.
Hamilton Elementary Middle School
Email: npouncey@bcps.k12.md.us
Website: https://www.hamiltonelementarymiddle.org/
Location: Hamilton Elementary/Middle School, Old Harford Road, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 410-396-6375