HAWK'S NEST
Newsletter, November 2021
Routine is a Good Thing
Greetings HMS Families,
It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has passed and we are just short of four weeks before Holiday Break. This is no doubt, a busy time for all. Our girls basketball team is in full swing with impressive standings, while our vocal and band classes are preparing for evening concerts in December. We hope to see you supporting our students at all of our school activities and are appreciative for the many community partnerships present in our school.
Students and teachers alike are reporting this familiar feeling of 'routine.' Research tells us that daily routines help create and maintain healthy habits, improve interpersonal relationships, enhance mental health, cope with change, increase productivity, and overall, provide fun. Routine is predictable and consistent. Routine coupled with structure helps to create an effective learning environment for all.
As I reflect on classroom observations since August, I am proud of our building educators steadily focused on being intentional in all aspects of instruction--planning, implementing, assessing and evaluating. Our teachers are providing meaningful and relevant learning experiences targeting student growth with instructional goals at the forefront. Students are actively engaged in the process of learning and are growing in their academic and leadership skills. Rigor and relevance remain at the center of our building goals along with tiered intervention targeting specific skills based on student need. Teachers understand the unique set of skills that all of their students possess and work to discover individual strengths in order to provide personalized learning approaches when possible.
Routine is familiar. Routine produces healthy outcomes. Let us all strive to find our routine...one that is meaningful, productive and goal-oriented.
As always, we are proud of our students and remain committed to providing a strong, quality education. #HMSSTRONG
Sincerely,
Kyley Gatz, Principal
HMS Excited by Student Success
December Dates to Remember:
*12-3: School Spelling Bee, 10:00 a.m. (for those qualifying)
*12-3: HMS GBB vs. Jeff West @ Home, 4:30 p.m.
*12-6: HMS GBB vs. Perry @ Home, 4:30 p.m.
*12-8: HMS BBB practice begins, 3:30 p.m.
*12-9: HMS BBB Parent Meeting, 5:45 p.m.
*12-9: 5th/6th Gr. Game Night, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
*12-16: HMS Vocal Concert, 7:00 p.m.
*12-20: HMS Band Concert, 7:00 p.m.
*12-21: End of Semester
*12-22--1-4: Winter Break for Students
1st Quarter Student Recognition Event
Eligible HMS students attended a fun outing to Mulberry Pumpkin Patch, where they were able to play laser tag, visit animals, paddle boat with friends and engage in many other fun activities. In order to be eligible for this event, students must have:
*Earned a 70% or higher in all classes
*Demonstrated school-appropriate behavior by receiving no discipline referrals.
Our 2nd Quarter Student Recognition Event will be held at Arrow Twin Theater in January.
Please encourage your student(s) to strive for excellence! If you are interested in contributing to our quarterly events, please contact Mrs. Gatz at kgatz@usd415.org.
TeamMates
TeamMates school-based mentoring offers all students the opportunity to have a caring adult present in their lives. TeamMates mentors show up each week for a minimum of thirty minutes and take a strengths-based approach in working with their mentees. All mentoring is facilitated at school in a safe environment. Mentors apply, run through a background check and are trained before being matched with a student. Students interested in becoming a mentee should take home the initial form and ask their guardian to complete the necessary information. The form must be returned to HMS before moving forward in the process. Upon approval, our TeamMates community members make at least a three year commitment to mentoring.
As previously notes, TeamMates is a winning team for everyone. All students are welcome to apply for the mentoring program. As students engage in the mentoring process for a minimum of three years, they become eligible for scholarships upon entrance into a post-secondary institution. TeamMates and Hiawatha Middle School are committed to the growth of our students and recognize that one consistent, caring adult who chooses to 'show up' each week significantly increases the opportunity for not only student success, but life success.
If you are interested in becoming a school-based mentor or desire for your student to sign up, we would love to visit with you.
For more information regarding TeamMates, visit the link below.
Update from the HMS Music Department
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Vocal and Band concerts. Our Vocal concert will fall on December 16th, while Band is scheduled for December 20th. We ask that students are nicely dressed and are reminded of concert etiquette. Students have been working extremely hard to prepare for these evenings and are excited to showcase their musical skills and talents. All family and friends are welcome to attend. We hope to see you there!
Snapshot of the Fall Athletic Season League Results
Congrats to our HMS teams:
*Cross Country--League Champion: Pauly Rockey
*7th Gr. Volleyball--Overall record of 8-3; placing 2nd @ League Tournament
*8th Gr. Volleyball--Overall record of 8-3; placing 3rd @ League Tournament
*7th Gr. Football--2-3; Tied for 4th in the League
*8th Gr. Football--1-6; Placed 7th in the League
HMS Football @ Riverside
7th Grade Volleyball: 2nd Place in League Tournament
8th Grade Volleyball: 3rd Place in League Tournament
7th Gr. Cross Country League Champion, Pauly Rockey
After School Program
Nurse News
Please continue to send water bottles with your students daily, as hydration is essential to your student's success. We have three water bottle filling stations in the school, as there are no water fountains functioning at this time. If I can ever be of assistance to you, please let me know.
Erin Winger, RN
USD 415 District Registered Nurse
6th Grade ELA: Book Creations & Reading to HES Students
7th/8th Grade Dance
HMS Staff Receive USD 415 Board Recognition
Mrs. Hill, 5th Grade Math Teacher
Mrs. Krauter, School Counselor
The mission of Hiawatha Middle School is to provide all students with life-long learning skills and opportunities for academic, personal, and social growth in a safe and orderly environment. The educational program is designed to enable students to become productive citizens in an ever-changing society.
Mrs. Kyley Gatz, Principal
Email: kgatz@usd415.org
Website: http://www.hiawathaschools.org/
Location: 307 South Morrill Avenue, Hiawatha, KS, USA
Phone: 785-742-4172