HMS December Newsletter
2019
Holly Middle School
Haley Street, Assistant Principal
Mark Mattingly, Counselor (A-L)
Kristin Godoshian, Counselor (M-Z)
Phone: (248) 328-3400
Attendance Number: (248) 328-3426
Fax: (248) 328-3404
Vaping Resource for Middle School Parents
Career Day is Friday, Dec. 6th!!
Sign Up for NHS Tutoring!!
LEADER IN ME HABIT OF THE MONTH - "Put First Things First"
I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.
This month's habit is all about priorities! Last month we talked about "Beginning with the End in Mind" - having a goal. This month it's about helping ourselves get there. Have I identified what is most important for me to reach my goals? Am I setting myself up for success or am I allowing myself to follow a path towards failure? If I want to improve my grades, what am I doing to get there? If your child has talked to you about their goals, ask them if they are "putting first things first"!
The Power of Communication: Speaking
Last month we discussed the importance of communication in relationships, specifically the impact of empathic listening. This month we will discuss the influence of language and speaking on communication. Indirectly and unintentionally oftentimes the ways in which we communicate with one another can cause hurt and harm. Through nonviolent communication (NVC) we can avoid these linguistic barriers and maintain a consistently empathetic and honest disposition without causing hurt and harm.
One method of NVC is affective language, or personalized language in response to relational disagreements or issues. Instead of making statements or analysis directed at the other individual (e.g. “YOU make me feel bad.”), we instead reflect the impact of the situation back onto ourselves (e.g. “I’M really frustrated by OUR relationship right now.”). The slightest linguistic shift can transform any difficult conversation from an accusatory barrage into collaborative problem solving. In this way we are still able to communicate our feelings and needs effectively while avoiding accusation, assumptions, and diagnoses that could detrimentally impact the other individual’s willingness to communicate.
How to request a meeting with a Teacher or Administrator
Please follow these steps if you are seeking to set up a meeting with staff at HMS:
- Contact the person you are seeking a meeting with via email/phone (you can also reach out directly to your child's counselor)
- Set up a mutually agreed upon time
- When arriving for your meeting, check in at the main office and the staff member will meet you there.
By following these steps we look to reduce the instances of families showing up to see a staff member only to find out that the staff member is not available to meet. Additionally, for the safety of our students all visitors must report to the main office to check in and should never directly go to a classroom to meet with a staff member.
HMS Students in Action!!
Clothes Closet
If your child is in need of some extra articles of clothing, we have a "Clothes Closet" here in the office of gently used clothing for them to have. Just contact your child's counselor. This is very discreet and confidential.
Ski Club!!
Ski Club is scheduled to begin on December 3rd. Students can use their discounted tickets on any weeknight, however, Tuesday's are when the HMS Ski Club will provide busing to Mt. Holly. Please listen for announcements and track the weather in case we have to cancel. Please fill out the permission slip and turn in to one of the people below.
Boys Basketball Info.
There will be a meeting on Dec 4th for all that are interested in Mr. Gillespie's room at 7:25am.
In order to tryout, you will need a physical on file in the MS office prior to tryouts on Jan 6th. The physical needs to be on an MHSAA form and you will need to register on Final Forms which can be accessed through the Athletic Website.
Any questions please contact Coach Gillespie or Coach Weisdorfer
NEW SIGN OUT OPTION
We are working to limit the number of interruptions to the classrooms and your student's learning time. Please assist us by making appointments either before or after school. If the need arises for an appointment during school hours, please follow one of the two ways to pick-up your student.
- Option 1 - Send a note in with your student on the day of the appointment and have them bring it to the office with the time you are picking them up. Please include your signature. We will give your student a pass to come to the office 5 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. You will need to come into the office to sign your student out. Always bring your ID. If you have not arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled time written on the note your student will be sent back to class. Then you will have to wait for us to call them back down to the office upon your arrival. It is the student's responsibility to turn in the note to the office and the pass to the teacher and to leave at the appropriate time.
- Option 2 - Come into the office with your ID and we will call for your student to come down ready to leave for an appointment. Please be patient, this can take some time depending on which class your student is in, especially if it's lunch time or the end of the day. The best option to avoid a long wait is to use Option 1. Send a note in the morning with your student.
- Please note that calling the office to have your child meet you outside will not be allowed. Also, please do not text or call your student to come to the office for an appointment. As our school policy states students are not allowed cell phone usage during the school day. This also includes your student calling/texting a parent from their cell phone when they are sick. Students need to come to the main office to make phone calls home if they are needing to go home due to illness.
Phone messages
Parents please be Proactive with your children by discussing after school arrangements, appointments, and after school transportation prior to their school day. We are trying to limit the number of interruptions to your students day for messages and changed plans. While we understand that emergencies come up and plans can change, the daily messages that come through the office can often times be pre-planned at home prior to school. Having a plan in place and adhering to it can eliminate any anxiety the student my feel in not knowing what to expect at the end of the day.
Also, if your child is going to be absent for the full day, remember to call them in on the automated attendance line at 248-328-3426. This number can be accessed anytime and is the only way your students absence will be recorded. It is also the most efficient to call that number directly.
HMS Student's C.A.R.E
HMS is continuing a student initiative called C.A.R.E. (Civility And Respect Everywhere). We will be acknowledging students each week from all three grades who demonstrate CIVILITY and RESPECT in our hallways, classrooms and cafeteria. We will be on the lookout for politeness, thoughtfulness and courtesy in student's behavior and speech to each other.
Parent Lighthouse Team
Lost and Found
Free Breakfast!!
Morning Drop-Off
If you are dropping off students in the morning please pull all the way up in between the "Drop Off" signs. Our plan is to have cars let students out in "pods" of 6. We'd like to fit 3 cars in front of the crosswalk, then have those 3 cars and the 3 cars behind the crosswalk let students out. After students exit the next "pod" of 6 pulls up and follows suit!!
Thanks for your help in making this a safe and efficient process!!
Remember students may enter the building at 7:15am
Afternoon Pick-Up
Also, if you are using the parking lot to pick-up students at the end of the day instead of the car line due to loading large items (instruments, projects, sports gear, etc.), Please park in a designated spot. We have seen an increase in cars parked/stopped in various areas which creates an unsafe situation for our students.
Thanks for your help in making this a safe and efficient process for all!!
IMPORTANT DATES
11/25 - Start of Tri 2
12/2 - PLT Meeting in the HMS Teachers Lounge @ 5:30pm
12/5 - Winter Band Concert
12/6 - Half-Day students, Full Day Staff
12/6 - Career Day
12/13 - Jamfest
12/13 - Hat Day- $1 to wear your hat all day long!!
12/19 - Choir Concert
12/23 - 1/3 - Winter Break
1/6 - School Resumes
1/6- 1/10 - Vision Screening 7th gr.
Follow HMS on Social Media
Website: hask12.org
Location: 14470 Holly Road, Holly, MI, United States
Phone: (248)328-3400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Holly-Middle-School-Sherman-Campus-634705656664993/
Twitter: @HMSBronchos