January 2017
HMS Principal’s Newsletter
Thank you to all of our families and students who attended the SCREENAGERS film viewing on January 4th. A special thank you to the PTSA for generously donating to make this great resource free to our Hampstead families. We had over a hundred attendees! Please find additional resources here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Yh_PeYZY5GbgvOmO26peSFMI9NPOIE-wLg0N_8DHtD8/edit#slide=id.p
Congratulations to Ethan Charles, seventh grade HMS National Geography Bee winner! We are very proud of you!
First Aid Kit Know How
Where should I store my first aid kit?
You don't want to go searching for supplies when there's a minor accident to tend to. Your kit should be easy to find. But it should be kept in a high, childproof cabinet. Keep one full sized kit in a central spot at home, such as your kitchen or bathroom. Then put a smaller kit in your car or purse for when you're on the road.
How often should I check my first aid kit?
Once a year. Discard expired items and replace items you have used. Do the same thing with your "medicine cabinet".
How do I care for a minor cut or abrasion?
- Wash your hands with soap and water so that you don't get bacteria into the cut and cause an infection. If you're travelling, use a hand sanitizer. Put on gloves if caring for a stranger
- Stop the bleeding. Put pressure on the cut with a gauze or clean cloth and elevate the extremity if possible. Keep the pressure on for a few minutes.
- Clean the wound. Rinse cut under cool water and then wash out cut. DO NOT use hydrogen peroxide to clean or disinfect a cut; it actually causes more harm than good and slows the healing process. The only reason I keep a bottle at home is to get blood out of clothing.
- Remove any dirt or debris. Use a pair of tweezers cleaned with alcohol to gently pick out any dirt, grass, or glass in the cut.
Do I have to put a bandage on a cut?
Not always, some cuts heal quicker if left uncovered to stay dry. If the cut is on a part of the body that might get dirty or rub against clothes, put a bandage on to protect it. Change the bandage every day or whenever it gets wet or dirty.
Congratulations to the following students for their acceptance into the New Hampshire Honors Choral Festival on March 31st, 2017 -- Evelyn Morin, Megan Howard, Zoe Sternberg, Kaileigh McMeniman, Jake Hutchings, and Jonathan Uber. These HMS students will join 74 other students from over twenty New Hampshire elementary and middle schools to form the Festival Honors Chorus. Students will spend the morning and afternoon working with renowned conductors and collaborative pianists, which will follow with a final concert for family and friends at 4:00pm. Tickets will be available at the door. The festival takes place at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, New Hampshire. Bravo and Good Luck!!!
8th Grade Chorus students are working hard to prepare for the University of New Hampshire Choral Gala held on January 28th, 2017. This all-day festival and concert provides middle school and high schools students the opportunity to learn, prepare, rehearse, and perform rigorous choral repertoire alongside the university students and renowned conductor, Dr. William Kempster. Students will tour the campus, eat two meals at the dining halls, and rehearse in UNH's Paul Creative Arts Center. The evening concert takes place at 7:00pm in the Johnson Theater. It is free and open to the public.
The Little Mermaid Jr cast and directors have been working very hard to prepare a wonderful production.
In this featured photo, Ariel (Ella Burroughs), Sebastian (Ryan McMahon), Flounder (Isabella Charlebois), and Flotsam (Leena Collier) are preparing choreography for a major musical number in the show. This year's cast has been fortunate to work with Mrs. Jenna McMahon. Mrs. McMahon teaches Dance at Granite Starts Arts Academy. We are so lucky to have her on our team this year!!
This year's musical dates are as follows:
Thursday, March 23rd -- 7pm
Friday, March 24th -- 7pm
Hampstead Robotics
Training session 3: Jan. 26th & 27th 3-5 pm Mind-storm Vehicle- NXT programming Rm. 121 Open to all 5-8th grade students.
Training session 4: Feb. 9th & 10th 3-5 pm NXT programming- Sensors and line following Rm. 121 Open to all 5-8th grade students. You must complete programming session 4 or 5 to move on to session 6.
Training session 5: March Only Open to returning robotics students who completed NXT programming session 4 or 5. ch. 9th & 10th 3-5 pm NXT programming- tools/ attachments - build Lego claw Rm. 121 Open to all 5-8th grade students. Students must complete NXT programming session 4 or 5 to move on to session 6.
Training session 6: April. 6th & 7th 3-5 pm Gear Challenge/ Obstacal course Rm. 121 Only Open to returning robotics students who completed NXT programming session 4 or 5.
Training session 7: May 11th & 12th 3-5 pm Tug of War Challenge! Rm. 121 Only Open to returning robotics students who completed session 6.
We have been very busy in Family Consumer Science this quarter. In sixth grade we have focused on hydration, healthy snacks, and now wellness. In 8th grade our focus has been on Careers with a few food labs mixed in. We successfully held two wonderful events to highlight some of what we have learned this quarter.
Right before the holiday break we held our first Rice Crispy Crisp Off. Students were challenged to find ways to alter or enhance the original Rice Crispy recipe. They came up with some great treats. The staff was invited to sample their creations and the reviews were very positive.
On January 11th and 12th we held our first Career Meet and Greet to culminate our focus on careers. We had 15 professionals visit HMS to talk with our students. The students asked questions, took notes and gained some further insight about their possible career choice. The students also planned, prepared and served some delicious food to our guests. It was truly a wonderful experience for all that were involved. I look forward to repeating this again 3rd quarter with the next group of 8th graders.
A special thank you to all our HMS community of professionals who helped to make this day a huge success.
Nurse -
Caroline Megan
Darlene Quigley
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Carpenter -
Wayne Dinsmore
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Psychologist -
Dan Lawlor
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Orthodontist -
Celeste Schmidt
(Dr. Hollland’s office)
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Real Estate Agent - Marci Francis (KW Coastal Reality)
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Engineer -
Stephen Quigley
Peter Megan
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Pilot -
Brian Cardoza
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Interior Designer -
Kelly Murphy
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Novelist -
Jon Edmonson
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Architect -
Mike Hall
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Crime Scene Investigator -
Tracy Flaherty
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Mechanic -
Carmine Costa
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Risk Analyst
Mark DiNola
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Teacher -
Jenn Howard
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STEAM FAMILY NIGHT
Hampstead Middle School ~ Tues. Feb. 21st ~ 5:30-7:30 pm
Attention Parents, Family, Community Members, and Local Business Owners! As part of our STEAM Family Night, being held on Tues. Feb. 21st at Hampstead Middle School, we are having a STEAM Career Showcase.
This STEAM Career Showcase will be a 1 hour, gallery-styled portion of our STEAM Night and will allow students and parents to go from table to table, learning about different STEAM-related careers! Parents, Community Members, and Local Business Owners may set-up booths with information and visuals, as well as showcase various aspects about their careers, including hands-on activities.
If you have a STEAM-related career or business and would like to participate, please contact Heather Mailloux at maillouxh@hampsteadschools.net.
In order for this event to be a success, WE NEED YOU!
Hampstead Library's upcoming middle school programs:
Candy Sushi-- February 2nd 6pm-7pm
Unleash your inner chef as we create mock sushi using rice krispie treats and colorful candy. Each chef will have half an hour to create their dish before voting to determine whose cuisine will reign supreme. Sign ups are required and spaces are limited, so call, e-mail, or stop by the library to reserve your spot.
Silent Library-- March 2nd 6pm-7pm
Shhhhhh! This is a library! You're supposed to be quiet! But can you stay silent while competing in hair-raising, stomach-churning and nail-biting challenges? Test your stoicism and see which team can stay quietest no matter what's thrown at them. Advanced sign up is required for this event, so be sure to reserve your spot.
8th Grade News
HMS will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Thursday February 2nd. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common measure of student achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public. Our students will be assessed in the areas of math & reading.
45th Presidential Inauguration, Washington D.C.
Pinkerton Academy Information!- For 8th Grade Students and Parents
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
In follow-up to Pinkerton Academy Career & Technical Education department’s Career Awareness Night, tours of the CTE facilities for parents and students will be offered at 5:00pm and 6:30 pm on
*Wednesday, January 4 and Tuesday, January 24. We ask that families preregister either by going to this direct link https://goo.gl/forms/dWtDaPfB09pGNdJp1 or going to
We look forward to meeting you and answering additional questions about our CTE courses and programs. Should you *have questions, please call 437-5200, ext. 1172.
* Mid-January – Mr. Mailloux to meet with students to review and distribute Course Catalogs and Course Selection Worksheets
*January 9, 6:30-8:00 PM – Preview Night for 8th grade parents and students (Snow date is January 17)
*January 23 – Information Day open house for all 8th grade students
*February 1, 5:30-8:00 PM – Course Night (Snow date is February 8)
*August 8 – Field Day
Helpful Parent Information
Cyber-bullying is a topic of current interest for middle school parents. We see reports in the press too frequently of the tragic effects of this phenomenon. Although there is no sure way that parents can minimize the risk of their children being either victim or bully, it does make sense for parents to join educators in being informed on this important issue.
Links to Anti-bullying information
Cyberbullying Research Center http://cyberbullying.us/index.php
Stop Cyberbullying Now http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/cyber-bullying.aspx
That’s Not Cool http://www.thatsnotcool.com/
