The HMS Family Digest
#InYourCorner #PodiumProud
"I am a Harpeth Middle Champion. I know what I stand for. I will never give up!"
We are in our Testing Era and we are ready for it!!
Hello HMS Champions!
We had a great first week of testing! Let's rock it out again- JUST DO YOUR BEST!
Dr. Fowler and A.P. Layne
THIS WEEK! Bring a water bottle to refill! WRITE YOUR NAME ON ALL BELONGINGS.
Monday, 4/22: TCAP! Earth Day! Yoga3-4pm! Craft club 3-4pm! Home Baseball 6pm!
Tuesday, 4/23: TCAP! P.7 Bible Study 3-4pm! Home soccer- 8th grade night!
Wednesday, 4/24: TCAP! Unified Club 7:15am! Happy Assistants Day!
Thursday, 4/25: TCAP! LEGO/CHESS CLUB 3-4PM! FCA will not meet this week due to testing. Our LAST meeting will be Thursday, May 2! If you are an 8th grader, you will be our special guests! So please come if you can!
Friday, 4/26: Art club 7:15am! FOOD DAY!
Thank you, Counselors!
Students of the Week!
We are ready for it!
PLEASE READ!
Mrs. Priscilla at the front desk will be out for maternity leave starting next week; we want to remind parents to be patient with the staff members that are filling in, as they may be different day to day. When picking up students for early dismissal you do need to come to the front door and ring the bell, you will be asked a security question and then we will call the student up and send them out for you. A call 5 to 10 minutes prior is appreciated, but not necessary. Only guardians who have an appointment or are bringing medicine will be allowed inside of the building. A staff member will come out to grab any items being dropped off for students. Feel free to reach out with any questions and as always, we appreciate our HMS Families so much!
Congrats to the Jazz Band for playing at Trevecca on Saturday!
It was an amazing band/choir concert! More pictures on Facebook!
Thank you to everyone who supported our fern fundraiser!
Xavior- Top fern seller!
Levi- 2nd top seller!
Jaycie- 3rd top seller!
FYI- salad bar on May 2nd!
Soccer fans! Come on out Tuesday night for 8th grade night!
Boys Soccer Pancake breakfast was a hit!
Captain Katie & First Mate Leah with Dr. Fowler!
TCAP DATES!
Rewards are coming for those with perfect attendance, folks who take their time, and DO THEIR BEST! This is our Testing Era and we are not stressing...#AreYouReadyForIt ? YES, WE ARE!
Track is prepping for sub sectionals on the 30th of April!
Happy National Librarian Day, Mrs. Carlton! We know how much you love your picture taken! HA!
Good luck tomorrow night, Baseball!
Run or walk for a good cause on May 4th!!
BOX TOPS!
This is an easy and free way to earn extra money for our school!” Here is the link to get the app! Thank you! https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/
Girl Soccer update!
A note from Mrs. Carlton:
Library News
You still have time to enter the drawing for the Starbucks gift card! Come to the library to get a coffee cup and rate your favorite Starbook, so you can be entered in the drawing.
Also, don't forget to enter the drawing for a copy of the book Ode to A Nobody by Caroline Brooks Dubois. This author will be visiting HMS on May 7 and will be signing copies of her book. You may purchase a copy of her book on Amazon. https://a.co/d/cZLXaUP
Greenhouse Wishlist
We would love to have more succulents or cuttings, plants, and clay pots.
Our students are AMAZING!
6th-8th graders can stay after on Thursday 3:30-5pm for flag throwing!
Howell's HMS Masters Tournament was very timely and so much fun!
Our Unified athletes were honored at the Board Meeting!
Cheatham Co. School District is accredited!
Our students are actually writing books! WOW!
Parent Posse made cool bracelets to celebrate HMS spirit and sports! $5
FYI!
We love our cafeteria rockstars!
We are in your corner! Love, A.P. Layne and Dr. Fowler!
8th grade parents & students...8th grade formal is around the corner! YAY!
Want to donate to the hardware store but do not know what to donate??? Here you go!
THE COUNSELOR's CORNER:
We have an online form (below) that students and parents can use if they want to request an appointment time to see any of us. (if they either don't feel comfortable asking verbally or can't catch one of us when they need to).
https://forms.office.com/r/9VZXiiWUcm
LOVE, Ms. Brandi and Mrs. Callie
A note from Parent Posse
You can always reach out to hmsparentposse@gmail.com to keep up to date with the latest updates. ALSO, if you want to support the staff fund, buy a bracelet made by the Parent Posse in the front office for $5!
-Captain Katie Jones, Co-captain Brandi Edwards, and First Mate Leah McMahon
Adults to celebrate!
April BOE Employee of the Month!
Mrs. Priscilla Schussler is our super front desk secretary! She is kind, calm, collected, and helps us keep everyone safe and organized! She always has a smile on her face and is full of positivity! Thank you for everything you do for us, Mrs. Priscilla! We will miss you while you are on maternity leave!
April AK Lube & Auto Parent of the Month!
April Thornton's Teacher of the Month!
23-24 Calendar! Semester 2! LANDING THE PLANE!
April 15-26-TN Ready Testing window!
April 24- Parent Posse Lunch for staff!
April 24- Administrative & Special Edu Assistants DAY! Thx for all you do!
April 26-FOOD DAY!
April 29/30- Aims Web testing
May 1-2- Math EOC
May 1- 7th grade Burns Park Day
May 2- 6th grade Burns Park Day
May 3- Special Olympics!
May 4- Quest for Recovery 5k at HMS!
May 6- Choir/Band Elementary tour and lunch at Burns Park
May 6-10- Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week! HMS is the BEST!
May 7- Civics Bee
May 7 – Author Visit – Caroline Brooks DuBois-8:00-8:30 5/6thgrade with 8:30-8:45 book signing time. 8:50-9:20 7/8thgrade with 9:20-9:30 book signing time. In the gym.
May 8- National Nurse Appreciation Day! Thx Nurse Debbie!
May 8- STEAM Challenge
May 8- Sock Hop Parade
May 9- History in the Halls of Harpeth! 6pm! Free hot dogs!
May 13- 8th grade Burns Park Day
May 14- NHS FIELD DAY at HMS! & FOOD DAY!
May 14- Girls soccer parent meeting 6pm
May 15- 8th grade tour at HHS during the day!
May 15- 5th grade Burns Park Day
May 15-4th 9wks Academic Growth rewards!
May 16- Unified basketball game!
May 16- Girl Soccer tryouts 5:30-7:30pm on the football field
May 16-4th grade tours at HMS by KSES 8:30 and PFAMS 9:00!
May 17- HHS Senior Walk
May 17- 4th 9 wk PBIS Reward Day!
May 17-8th grade formal
May 20- PJ's, Popcorn, movie for TCAP effort! Possible family kickball game, 6pm!
May 20- Daycare Graduation 6pm
May 21- Ceremony Day/8th grade ceremony at 6pm- HHS Graduation set up on field
May 23- Admin/Staff Day- No Students-HHS Graduation 7pm
May 23- Parent Posse Lunch for staff!
May 24- Report card day!
Automotive class connected with STEAM to make their lego cars move!!!!
Way to represent in the hockey rink, Charlie!
Did you know HMS offers all of these Exploratory CTE classes?
WE LOVE SRO BELL! S/o to Student Council for making a great video!
Sustainability class picked up trash last week!
The HMS Student Council rocks!
We hit some year milestones in education at HMS!
Info that stays in the newsletter all year:
Support our woodworking program AND buy a great gift for someone!
Cash, check, Revtrak! Email charles.morehead@ccstn.org w/ questions!
Year round Swag Store! Revtrak is open!
https://cheathamcountyschools.revtrak.net/hms/hms-swag-sale/#/list
Our school website!
NEW COUNTY PROTOCOL FOR SPORTING EVENTS-SPECIFIC TO HMS
2. NO OPEN CONTAINERS (EX: STANLEYS, HYDROFLASKS)
YOU CAN BRING UNOPENED BOTTLES (EX: WATER, GATORADE, SOFT DRINKS).
OTHER SCHOOLS MIGHT SAY NO FOOD OR DRINK, BUT WE REALIZE WE DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE A CONCESSION STAND AVAILABLE.
3. NO COMING AND GOING-NO RE-ENTRY.
4. MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND YOUNGER MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
5. STILL, NO ALCOHOL, DRUGS, SMOKING, VAPING.
6. STILL, ONLY SERVICE DOGS ALLOWED. EVEN IF SPORTING EVENTS ARE OUTSIDE.
EMAIL audra.fowler@ccstn.org if you are still having issues. Thanks.
Reminder-CAR RIDERS:
Cheatham Achievers!
Our Student Handbook!
Year round Invest in your Child and Staff Account!
Our "Invest In Your Child" account supports our General fund to pay for HMS' monthly supplies, positive incentives for the kiddos, OR you can donate to the staff fund, just write "staff."
https://cheathamcountyschools.revtrak.net/hms/hms-invest-in-your-child/#/v/HMSinvestinyourchild
Stay up to date on HMS Sports! See our Athletic Facebook page!
Shop at Publix? Did you know every time you shop there, a portion of your purchase could go back to the school?!
For Publix:
- Join Club Publix and log into your account at publix.com
- In your ClubPublix profile, select My Publix Partner to choose Harpeth Middle School.
- Pay with the Publix app or enter your phone number at checkout and Publix will donate a portion of your eligible purchase to our school!
- See how much our school has earned and learn more at publix.com/partners
Safety!
Safety Policy update:
·If you come to the school during school hours, you will be asked to show your ID to the camera at the door and be prepared to answer these questions:
o What is your first and last name?
o What is the purpose of your visit?
o What is the student’s first and last name?
· If you are checking your child out of school, you will be asked to wait outside while we bring your child to you.
•If you would like to have a meeting with a teacher or administration, please call or email ahead of time to set up a meeting.
· Families are still welcome to have lunch with students. We ask that you let our front office know that you are coming beforehand and that you do not show up unexpectedly. We cannot let visitors eat with students in the cafeteria unless you let us know to be expecting you. You are welcome to call the morning you plan on visiting to give us a heads up.
· We also ask that you let our front office know if you are having something delivered to your child. We will not accept deliveries that we do not know about beforehand.
Safety reminders:
FOOD!
Get the lunch app to see what we are having every day!
Eating with your student!
Interested in paying for other students' lunch? Here is the link for the Pay It Forward account. Revtrak opens in August.
Revtrak will open in August.
BOX TOPS! No longer clipping; now scanning!
SCAN: If you see this label, do not send it to school. Use the new Box Tops app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online.
Academics!
How to find the link on our website to the standards!
Info on RTI!
Below is the Classlink page that takes you to Schoology.
Random!
A reminder about searching:
REMINDER for upcoming 7th graders from Nurse Debbie!
Become a sub!
Looking for a way to help our school? Become a substitute teacher through ESS!
ESS Benefits include:
- Be on your child’s schedule and present in their school
- Free entry to sporting events in Cheatham County with proof of ESS badge
- Eligible for local discounts as part of the Cheatham Advantage Program
- Eligible for nationwide discounts as part of ESS Discount Program
- Eligible for Medical and Dental Benefits
You only need 4 free days per month to sub or we have positions available daily if you prefer full time work.
You will need to complete the application here: https://jobs.willsubplus.com/
Contact Carly Moore with any questions. cmoore@ess.com 615.210.3621
HMS stance on grading and feedback:
At HMS we believe grades are used for communication about where our students are with their learning. Our teachers give feedback which is vital and often more beneficial than an actual "number grade" because this guides students to understand what they are learning or not.
We are at the perfect time to continue to shift our numerical grade focused culture (which sends students into anxiety stricken panic attacks at times) into one that is more determined for students to LEARN the content. A numerical grade should reflect this learning and help students realize where they are with learning the standards, but often it deters them from trying to learn the content because so much pressure is riding on what grade they received.
However, please note, in the process of learning, there is a struggle and students make mistakes. They won't always master the standard immediately. This is okay! Mistakes are literal proof that a child is learning. This is why teachers reteach and retest. Did you know that when direct feedback is given to a student versus a 65 (or any number) on their paper, research shows that students (adults included) are more motivated to go back, correct, and learn the concept? Not only that, the students RETAIN the information.
All of that to say, our progress reports have numerical grades but also have written feedback on where your student is for right now in their learning. Class assignments this entire school year could have more feedback and less numerical grades as well. As a parent, you will know more about where your child is in their learning. We ask that you help us in this shift and when you talk with your students about school, ask "what are you learning?" instead of "what are your grades?" Somehow, we have a huge disconnect in our culture, not just here at HMS, that many students just want a grade, rather than to learn something. This will not serve our students well going forward, nor will it help our society.
Here at HMS, a numerical grade should represent the level of learning; it's for communication.
If all of this is clear as mud, just let me know and we will talk :)
Dr. A.W. Fowler
New student registration!
ALSO, if your student is coming from Pegram or Kingston Elementary, they are NOT NEW and DO NOT need to register. ;)
Stay in Touch!
Twitter: @HMSIndians
Facebook: HMSIndians
https://www.harpethmiddleccs.net/
FAX #: 615.952.4723
Email: audra.fowler@ccstn.org
Website: https://www.harpethmiddleccs.net/
Location: 170 Harpeth View Trail, Kingston Springs, TN, USA
Phone: 615-952-2293
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HMSINDIANS/
Twitter: @hmsindians