HMS UPDATE
March Newsletter
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
To the HMS Community,
After this past March, warm weather, blue skies, and ocean waves may seem like they will never come. Hopefully, the nor'easters, polar vortexes, bomb cyclones and blizzards are behind us. As a result of the recent spate of school cancellations and having far exceeded our allotted snow days, the last day of school is now Friday, June 29th. As per Dr. Rossi's letter to the community the entire last week of June, as well as the Thursday and Friday prior, will be early dismissal days for all schools.
The spring months at HMS typically move quickly with many events and activities. Perhaps one of my favorites, the annual 4th Grade Spaghetti Dinner, is coming up in April and is an opportunity for the whole family to share a great meal with good company and outstanding service (the 4th graders are the waitstaff!).
This year we had over 170 5th graders participate in the TREP$ program. The culminating activity of this program is the Marketplace Night. Spread over two nights (April 10 and 11) to accommodate the size of our group, and hosted at Sparta Middle School, this is a wonderful opportunity to see our students truly own their learning by selling products using a business plan designed during the TREP$ workshops.
Wishing the HMS community a safe and restful Spring Break!
Proudly,
Mr. Layman
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS AT HMS
March
27- Future Chef Competition
27- Trimester 2 Report Cards Posted
30- Spring Break begins
April
9- Welcome Back!
10,11- TREP$ Marketplace @ SMS
20- 4th Grade Spaghetti Dinner
24- HMS Band Concert
25,26- Spring Explorations Begins! (details coming soon)
On PARCC
For more information about the PARCC test including practice assessments. Please go to this link.
What is the future of PARCC? NJ's new governor and education commissioner are looking into the state's options in regards to the assessment. While it is possible that this may be the last year of PARCC, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced NCLB, requires annual testing in grades 3-8 (less frequent testing 9-12).
What is that new test? How will it measure student progress? How will it address the NJSLS (New Jersey Student Learning Standards) and how will that impact curriculum development? How will it effect teacher and administrator evaluation scores? How long will it be? Clearly, there are a lot of questions to answer in less than a year.
Vaping Presentation
1. Vapes, Juuls, E-cigs, whatever they are called- none of them contain water.
2. 99% of them contain nicotine.
3. Neither the devices or the liquids that are put in the devices are regulated. Most contain many harmful chemicals, but companies do not need to report it since they are not federally regulated.
4. One pod (what the liquid is in) can contain as much nicotine as 1 pack of cigarettes. It is not uncommon for teens to use multiple pods on one weekend night.
Missed the presentation? Here is a video version. I would say it is required viewing for any parent with a child in, or soon to be, in middle school or higher.
UPDATE: Time Magazine Article
4th Grade Math Homework Help
Introducing Ms. Faisca!
1.What/who inspired you to become a teacher?
My 8th grade ELA teacher inspired me to become a teacher. Every day, she would have her students stand up and repeat after her: “I am great, and I am capable!” I knew that I wanted to be a teacher to inspire my students to believe in themselves and achieve their goals.
2. What do you enjoy doing outside of school?
Outside of school, I enjoy reading books by my favorite author, Colleen Hoover. I also enjoy working out at the gym with my best friend! Working out with a friend makes exercising more challenging and fun.
3. How has the HMS community supported your growth as a new teacher?
The HMS community has supported my growth as a new teacher in so many ways! From the positive notes and words of encouragement to the sharing of resources that have worked for their students, all teachers have welcomed me with open arms. The students and teachers at HMS have demonstrated the true meaning of “be kind,” and everyone has helped me gain confidence as a new teacher.
4. If you could have your students read one book...what would it be?
If I could have my students read one book, I would have them read Bridge to Terabithia. It is an enchanting story that demonstrates the true meaning of friendship and perseverance.
5. What is the craziest, silliest, or worst job you ever had?
As a senior in high school, I worked as an ice cream server at Rita’s! I learned how to make the different flavored ices and make the different desserts. The problem was that when the line of customers would slow down, I would reward myself with a small cup of vanilla custard and crushed Oreos. Let’s just say that those small cups added up, and I was having too much sugar!
6. You have been given a plane ticket to go anywhere in the world. Where would you go and why?
If I was given a plane ticket to go anywhere in the world, I would go to Medellin, Colombia to visit my mother’s family that I haven’t seen in 11 years! I would be able to visit my 94-year-old grandmother and spend time with my cousins and their children!
Thank you, Ms. Faisca!
Sophie to Oklahoma
You can read more about Sophie, here.
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CAMP INVENTION @ SMS
HMS PHOTO ALBUM
PI DAY
LIVE WITH THE OMAHA ZOO
TEACHERS VS. STUDENTS FLOOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
origami explorations
reading challenge
Brain Awareness Week at HMS
HMS Arts Night
SPARTA COMMUNITY FLYERS
PREVIOUS GENESIS E-Mails
HMS REMIND TEXT MESSAGES
Do you have the STPS Blackboard app?
Here are some Blackboard/STPS App resources:
How to...?
All guides and tutorials for the app and website can be found here:
https://www.sparta.org/domain/106
Basic Steps for Installing the App:
1. Download the app (instructions here). You want the app with the Spartan Logo.
2. Once in the app, swipe and click the "student info" icon. Type in your login and pw referenced above. Once logged in, you should see icons for any of your children that attend STPS.
Helen Morgan School
Email: doug.layman@sparta.org
Website: www.sparta.org
Location: Sparta, NJ
Phone: 973.729.5770
Twitter: @bulldogblasts