The Learning Place

The money and permission slip for this trip will be taken up today and tomorrow ONLY. This is the 8th grade end of the year field trip. The cost is $45 and must be paid before 8:30 on Friday, May 18th. We will leave from the front of the middle school promptly at 8:00 AM on May 29th . Students may wear shorts and bathing suits for the water park. Parents, please use modesty as your guideline for what they wear. We will return to the middle school that night at 8:00 PM. Please be here to pick your child up.

I hear the screams of joy as students run outside to enjoy their Reward Field Day. I am looking at over 1400 booklets that will have to be boxed. Testing is officially over with the exception of a few make-up exams. It was a long week, but the students endured. I have to say that the students did a great job overall! I was proud of their endurance. Results will be out in the fall, and I will be anxious to see how we performed.

On another good note, that means there is only 8 more days of school left.

Eighth grade parents, the Kings lsland letter went home Friday. If your child qualified, they received the letter. Money and permission slip is due this Wednesday through Friday. No exceptions.

Monday starts KPREP testing for HCMS. It is very important that all students have a restful weekend and that they attend every day next week. Students brought home a letter last Friday that needs to be turned in by this Friday. Please make sure that if you have not turned it in that you do so by tomorrow.

Today was Flip Flop Day and all the students did a great job. Tomorrow is “Put on your thinking cap” day and all students can wear hats.

On top of today being a DANCE DAY and it being the LAST dance of the year, I am sending home with each child several IMPORTANT pieces of information. The following will be coming home with them today:

1) Good Faith Effort letter with Testing Reward List
2) A PARENT brochure to understanding accountability
3) A PARENT brochure about testing

The two brochures look almost identical, but they are two separate pieces of information.

Nest week, I will be posting REWARD information on my BLOG. It will be something to look forward to for Monday.

The State Assessment window is quickly approaching and we are all trying to get the students focused on the end product – GREAT RESULTS! Having missed very little school this year has helped us tremendously. With so many new changes in the curriculum we are very fortunate to have been in school.

Testing will begin on Monday, May 7th and we will test every day until Friday, May 11th. Students will be testing in the morning with afternoon classes. Please make every effort to NOT shedule dentist or doctor appointments during those days if at all possible. It is very important for all kids to be tested together.

After testing there will be two weeks of school, which will include 8th grade dance and luau and awards programs. The 8th grade Kings Island trip will be taken the Tuesday AFTER school has let out on May 29th. Please be aware of this. This date was scheduled at the BEGINNING of winter before we DID NOT miss any days:( HA! Letters will be going out soon.

The HCMS New Anti-Bullying Club is having a kick-off meeting on April 18th in the HCMS Library from 3:15 – 4:00. There will be pizza, music, drinks and fun. Come see what this new club is all about and have a good time learning. Please contact Robin Glascock at the middle school for more information. Everyone is WELCOME!

This week is quickly becoming a busy, hectic week for all at HCMS. The Chior will be traveling to Lexington tomorrow for their state assessment performance. I wish them the best of luck, but honestly, they sound beautiful.
Next in line, is Curriculum meeting with the department heads to look at budget and what we would like to offer students next year.
And rounding out the week will be the Speech Team traveling to UK for the KHSSL State Speech tournament. We wish the team “Good Luck” also or should I say, “Break a Leg!” Either way, may the Gift of Gab help them bring home a couple of state champions.
After this week, there will be one week left before Spring Break! Then the next big ticket item is yearly assessments! YES!! More information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the week of May 7-11.

Parents and visitors, I am happy to announce that there will be a new club at HCMS that is designed to help students cope with bullying issues. The club is called the ABC Club (the Anti Bullying Club) and it’s focus is to equip students with the coping skills necessary to overcome the harmful effects of bullying. Please consider coming to the Parent Volunteer Organization meeting on Thursday night at 6:00 in the middle school library to find out more information. This club will be for EVERYONE. We want students to have a “feel safe” environment where they can learn how to deal with issues surrounding bullying.

If you have any questions, please contact me at the middle school or Kelli Callahan Burrier. Kick-off meeting will be after Spring Break. Look for that information on my BLOG.

I am so very proud to announce that with the help of a very enthusiastice parent, along with wonderful staff members (Mr. Walker, Mr. Newcomb, and Mrs. Childers), HCMS will soon have a club that will help students dealing with bullying issues. There will be a kick off meeting the week after spring break. Watch carefully for announcements. The new club at HCMS will be called the ABC Club – Anti-Bullying CLub. It will be open to EVERYONE and it will focus on teaching students how to deal with bullying issues, as well as, what you should do if you are being bullied. Our hopes is that this club will reach and touch the pulse of our community so that our children can learn in a bully free zone. If you are interested in helping out, please get in contact with me at the middle school. Kelli Burrier is the parent heading up the charge, and we have been blessed to have such a go-getter to help develop this club.

After missing Monday due to snow, many teachers are playing catchup because this is the last week of the 3rd nine week grading period. Many teachers have been giving their comprehensive exams and students should be preparing for them. The end of the 3rd nine weeks is this Friday.

Reports cards will go home March 19th.