Hopkins Middle School Newsletter
August 28th, 2020
Welcome Back! Students and Parents,
It was great having students back in the building this week! Students, you did an awesome job with the new spacing, mask, and cleaning requirements. Thank you!
I know it seemed a little different, but the new procedures allow us to provide a safe environment for learning to happen.
Speaking of procedures, I wanted to clarify some key points to our plan this fall.
First, for the remote students and families. You had the opportunity to pick up netbooks this week. There are still a few in the office, so if you haven’t picked up youur student’s computer, please call and set up a time to do that. Pure remote students should be checking their student email accounts for invitations to their teacher’s google classrooms. Many of the teachers have already emailed you an invitation code. The latest you will receive them will be next Monday, 8/31. Our goal for you is to have you successfully signed up by Monday. Yesterday and today were procedural days for the students who met in person. All content, for all in-person and remote students, will begin on Monday. If you are missing codes by Monday afternoon, please reach out to the school.
Here is a tutorial video on how to sign up for google classroom, and a basic overview of what it will look like (Thanks Mr. Oaster!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88idNZxeZbo
Parents, we will be sending you an invite for google classroom updates by the end of next week.
The expectation for assignments will be the same for pure remote students and those on A/B day schedules. Beginning Monday, students will start seeing their first assignments. All students will be getting the same direction and assignments. Remote learners are not required to be online at any specific time, although many teachers will offer synchronous learning opportunities (zoom or google meet) in addition to posting the necessary assignments and instruction. Remote students should plan on about 50 minutes of engagement per class when they are at home.
Next, all fully remote students will be assigned a mentor from the building. That mentor is Mrs. Caulder. She will be reaching out each week to check-in with students. The plan, for now, is to
have those contacts happen on Wednesdays each week. This contact will be in addition to the regular contact and conversations with classroom teachers.
I also wanted to share information on why the decision was made to split the A/B days into M/Th and T/F. In our original return to school plan, we communicated that students would be in the building on M, T, Th, and Friday and Wednesdays would be set aside for remote learning collaboration and deep cleaning. I believe the deep cleaning Wednesdays was a bit of an over-sell. While custodial staff will be able to get the rooms visibly more cleaned on Wednesdays, the disinfectant we use to ensure safety is being used on tabletops and chairs after every class period every day. The last reason we decided to have this split instead of the M/T and Th/F split is the access to the internet. By having time with both cohorts before the Wednesday remote day, we are ensuring all students have the opportunity to download needed materials for their next two days at home. Then, the pattern is repeated again on Th/F for the weekend.
Finally, I wanted to send out a quick reminder that we need the student medical update form returned to the building next week. This was the form that was included in the mailing last week about orientation. Please have your student bring that to school on Monday or Tuesday.
Thanks again for a great start to this school year. Be on the lookout for those google classroom codes!
Sincerely,
Scott Stockwell HMS Principal
School Messenger
School Messenger is one of the many platforms we use to communicate with our parents, staff and students. Information ranging from school closures and emergency's to parent-teacher conferences or changes in schedules can be shared instantly using School Messenger. You can choose to be contacted via phone, e-mail or both. Update your School Messenger account today to receive all communications from school.
If you would like to receive non-emergency reminders/phone calls from the school you MUST opt-in. You can watch a how-to video or get started with the links below:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/173531877
https://go.schoolmessenger.com/#/learn
Thank you for your assistance and cooperation,
HMS Staff
Hopkins Middle School
Email: stepcaul@hpsvikings.org
Website: hpsvikings.org
Location: 215 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI, USA
Phone: (269) 793-7407
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopkinsMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @hpsmiddleschool
Office Business
ATTENDANCE
Please call the Middle School office at (269) 793-7407 within 24 hours of your students' absence. You may leave a message on our voicemail system day or night. When reporting illness, please inform the secretary of the type of symptoms your child is experiencing (fever, sore throat, ect.). If your child is absent 2 days or more, you may request homework. If your student is absent only 1 day, homework may be picked up from their teachers the following day. You may also email absences to jennhitc@hpsvikings.org.
PHONE CALLS
Telephones in the office are to be used for illness and emergencies only.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Please report all immunizations that your child has had so we are able to keep our school records up to date. All new students and all 6th graders must be completely up to date on all immunizations. Contact the HMS office if you have any questions.
MEDICATION
ALL medications needing to be dispensed to students must be supplied from home. The school does not provide any type of medication. All prescription medication must be provided in a pharmacy labeled bottle. Tylenol/Aspirin must be brought to the office in an unopened bottle. All students requiring any type of medication must have a medication form completed by their parents and on file in the office.
CHANGES in Phone Numbers, Home Address & E-Mail
Please inform the office any time there are changes in your address or phone numbers. We need to have this information so we can update our records and successfully contact you if needed.
The Hopkins Public School District Board of Education complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status, height, weight, or disability in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Mr. Gary Wood Superintendent of Schools, Hopkins Public Schools, 400 Clark Street, Hopkins, MI 49328 Phone 269-793-7261.