Hampstead Middle School
February 2018
Important Dates
Feb. 13th-Winter Sports Award Night. 6:30 pm. SlideShow begins at 6:15 pm.
Feb. 19th-Early Release. Students dismissed at 12:00 pm.
Feb. 19th-Jazz Choir Coffee House. 6:30-8:30 pm.
Feb. 22nd-Student/Faculty Basketball Game. 6:30 pm at HMS.
Feb. 21st-HMS STEAM Night. 5:30-7:30 pm.
Feb. 26th-March 3rd. WINTER BREAK
* iReady Mid-year student reports will be mailed home the week of Feb. 12th.
For complete details please visit this link:
STEAM Night Information
STEAM Information
Music Department Updates
The Addams Family Musical is going extremely well. The shows are scheduled for March 22nd and 23rd at 7pm and March 24th at noon.
There are 90 students involved in the production -- 60 students in the cast along with 30 scenery/prop/sound/lighting/fr
On Saturday, January 27th, the 8th Grade Chorus attended the annual UNH Choral Gala under the direction of Professor David Ripley. The students prepared truly challenging repertoire prior to attending and spent the day in rehearsals with area high school singers and the UNH Concert Choir. Students toured the UNH campus, ate lunch and dinner at the dining facility, and performed a culminating concert for parents in the UNH theater. Congrats to the 8th-grade students for a wonderful day of enrichment and kudos to Mr. Fisher and the chaperones for planning another fabulous opportunity.
The HMS Select Octet is participating in the New Hampshire Music Educators Association's Solo and Ensemble Festival at UNH on Saturday, February 10th. This a cappella chamber ensemble will perform three pieces for adjudication in the Johnson Theater of the Paul Creative Arts Center. Best of luck to the Octet Members -- Maggie Berrigan, Olivia Dery, Megan Howard, Jake Hutchings, Ryan McMahon, Evelyn Morin, Zoe Sternberg, and Coriander Wintle-Newell.
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Six HMS students were selected for the New Hampshire Music Educators Association's Elementary Honors Choir for grades 4 through 6. These students will represent Hampstead up in Concord on Friday, April 16th to work with some of the top singers in the state as well as renowned music educators and conductors.
Avery Barcelos -- Grade 5
Hannah Bernard -- Grade 6
Sophie Hodge -- Grade 6
Landon Sprague -- Grade 6
Jonathan Uber -- Grade 6
Cameron Riley -- Grade 6
Pinkerton Counselors Visit
On February 20th Pinkerton Counselors from the Freshman Academy will be on hand to meet with our 8th-grade students. Each student will have the opportunity to meet with and discuss their individual course selections for freshman year. This is a great opportunity to discuss Pinkerton questions or concerns with PA staff. Counselors will be at HMS from 8AM-12PM.
Intramural Volleyball
The Hampstead Hawks co-ed intramural volleyball teams are made up of students from grades 7 and 8. It is a no cut, intramural club sport. This means that anyone who is interested, has parent permission, and an updated physical, can participate. For some players, it is their first time playing on a team that represents their school.
The teams travel to the towns of Windham, Hooksett, Pelham & Milford for games.
Practices run from 2:45PM- 4PM, with an expected parent pick-up time of 4 PM. Game times vary, depending on location.
Intramural Volleyball will be hosted by Coach Mailloux & Coach Arroyo.
From the Nurse.......
The strain of flu this year is more severe than in past years. I want to encourage you to get a flu shot if you have not gotten one. Convenient MD gives flu shots for free and no appointment is necessary. Check out their website for locations nearest to you. It’s not too late. The flu season continues through March.
If your child is sick, please keep him or her home from school so it does not spread to other children. Wash your hands often.
Cold or Flu?
COLD
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FLU
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Gradual onset of symptoms
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Sudden onset of symptoms
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No fever
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High fever
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Slight body aches
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Often severe body aches
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Headache uncommon
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Headache common
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Runny nose, sneezing
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Sometimes runny nose, no sneezing
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Sore throat common
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Sore throat uncommon
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Hacking cough
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Dry cough
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1. Students should not bring their charger to school unless directed by the technology staff (usually because they are returning their device). Teachers should not be allowing students to charge their device in their classrooms.
- Transporting the charger increases the risk of theft and/or damage.
- Plugging the device into classroom outlets can create tripping hazards and could violate fire codes.
- Keeping the charger at home in a consistent place reduces the chances of theft and loss.
- The technology department has loaner Chromebooks for times when the CB needs to be charged.
2. Students who take Chromebooks home should be utilizing the sleeve that was issued to them.
3. Students should not put stickers on their Chromebooks.
- Until given school board approval, the device belongs to the district and may be redistributed to another student at any time.
- Stickers leave residue and require extra handling when transferring ownership.
4. Students should not loan their Chromebook or charger to anyone else.
- Loaning devices to other students puts their device at risk.
- The technology department provides loaner devices for students who have left their devices at home.
Lost and Found
Parents, please have your child check the lost and found in the main hallway. All unclaimed items will be donated on February 22nd.
CyberSafety 101
In today's fast-paced cyber world, knowing what our children are doing is becoming more and more difficult. Technology changes faster than we can fathom. Good news, parents! We do not have to keep up with how to use these social media sites and apps. What we do need to do is be aware of what apps our kids are using and how we can monitor what they are doing on those apps. It just takes one click to make a picture or a video go viral.... we must educate our children on the positives and negatives on social media while at the same time monitoring how they use the apps and what they post.
We have provided some safety tips for you, we also have a few links that talk about some common apps that we see our students using. This is not the end of the list it could go on for pages. Talk with your child, monitor their devices, and be present in their cyber lives. Let them know that you are aware of what they are using and how they are using it. These conversations with your child could make all the difference!
- Educate yourself first about the devices your children are using and the social media platforms they are accessing.
- Be a role model for proper, in real life and online, model responsible behavior for your child.
- Rules, rules, and more rules! Set firm limits on how much time your children are allowed to spend online, which devices they can use, where they are allowed to use them, and the consequences they will face if any of the rules are broken. Write it down, post it somewhere and enforce both the rules and consequences!
- Make sure you have all passwords to social networking websites, and that your children know what to do if there is a problem.
- If your child has an app, get the same app and make sure you follow your child on that app.
- Place computers in a central area of the home. Do not allow computers or other electronic devices to be used in bedrooms.
- Monitor cell phone usage directly through the carrier or using third-party software. (There are lots of them for a few dollars a month).
- Be blunt, but age-appropriate, about the consequences of some types of online behavior.
Quarter 2 Hawk Awards
The following students received our Hawk Award for demonstrating respect, responsibility, and relationships during Quarter two.
Fifth Grade: Connor Schuler, Reagan Bailey, Jefferson Morales
Sixth Grade: Nolan Matuszak and Lauren Bussiere, Joshua Jones
Seventh Grade: Anthony Leblanc and Mary (Emmy) Doucette, Sammy Boucher
Eighth Grade: Kyra Trudell, Jack Laroux, Katherine Lavoie
Congratulations to our girl's basketball B-team the winners of the state finals this year. Thanks for making us proud and your hard work and sportsmanship this year!
Best of luck to our cheerleaders who will be competing in the Tri-County Spirit competition this weekend!
Library Musings
Library Musings Gr. 5: Video Conference with UNH Professor Dr. Golomski Global Read Aloud learning opportunities continue as students interact with global experts such as Dr. Golomski of UNH. Library Media Specialist, Diane Connors, invited Dr. Golomski to provide an interactive overview of Africa to broaden student understanding of this geographical and culturally rich continent. Students posed several questions that Dr. Golomski answered. In addition, Mrs. Connors will be meeting with interested students as many are eager to raise money towards funding a well that will provide fresh water to an African community.
