Harwood Middle School Update, January 18, 2019

Harwood Middle School Update, January 18, 2019

Meet our runner up participant Eamon Knight
And HUMS School Champion 
GeoBee Geographer Beckett Kahn
Congratulations! 
Curious about the final question - see if you can answer it? 
Iceland's largest city is located on Faxafloi Bay, (Faxa Bay) and is heated by hot springsName the city..?  

Our 7th-grade Ethnographer's debuted their community interviews this past Tuesday for
the whole 7th grade, as well as some family members.  It was a powerful
presentation of voice and visuals to honor and connect with  the histories of
important community members 

HUMS Artists display their amazing works at the recent
Harwood Art Show.  Be amazed by their talents and efforts!   Pictured here is only a sample of their work.  Curious about what your students did - ask them how it went? 

CALENDAR UPDATE

January 2019

January 21	Martin Luther King Day No School
January 22	School In-service No School

FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE: FLU VS. COLD       Influenza (also known as flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly.  There have been reported cases of flu in our area. In addition to the treatments that your doctor will recommend for the flu, we encourage everyone to keep practicing the following protocols to help keep us all as healthy as possible:  While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu. Stay home until you are better. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever (>100F)  is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.   References:    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018, September 18). Flu Symptoms and Complications. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018, December 10). Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/treatment.htm Community Announcements Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities. A Seventh and Eighth Grade Dance will be held next Friday, January 25th, at CBMS.  $10 admission at the door. Thanks in advance to parents for not dropping students off early and for picking them up promptly at 9:00!  CBMS/HUMS staff The Hungry Heart   A screening and conversation about opioid addiction in our community, Sunday, January 29th, 6pm, at the Big Picture Theater. Join the Mad River Valley Libraries for a screening of "The Hungry Heart", a documentary by Bess O'Brien that shares the often hidden world of prescription drug addiction and recovery. Primarily shot in Franklin County, Vermont, the film takes an intimate and powerful look at those who have been swept into the downward spiral of addiction and highlights the struggles and hopes of recovering addicts and their quest for a better future. Matt Whalen from the Vermont Department of Health will also be on hand to help facilitate a discussion of the opioid crisis and how it manifests in our community. Light refreshments will be served, and the event is free and open to all. Generously sponsored by the Big Picture Theater, MRV Libraries, Capstone Community Action, and the MRV Community Fund.

Harwood Middle School Update, January 11, 2019

Harwood Middle School Update,  January 11, 2018

This week, all HUMS musicians met with a local composer, Matt LaRocca, to make connections between what we feel and experience in our lives and the music we hear. Both Matt and another VT composer, Erik Nielsen, will be artists in residence in the music department this year to mentor students as they compose their own pieces of music.

HUMS connects with the importance of the environment through a hands-on opportunity. 
7th-grade HUMS scientist learn about the Trout in the Classroom Program
from Jeremy Whalen, a Vermont biologist, who delivered our school's Brook Trout eggs.  We hope to release the grown trout towards the end of the school year.  

NOTES FROM OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE

Important Message for 8th Grade Families

We are just about at the mid-point of the school year and 9th-grade planning is right around the corner! I'm thrilled to hear that many students are thinking about high school and getting ready to take the next step. The transition committee is getting together and will share a timeline in the next few weeks of what to expect around course registration, opportunities and all of the other details associated with getting ready for 9th grade. Stay tuned!
Also, if any students are applying to private school for high school, please have them set up a meeting time with Jen at jdreimiller@wwsu.org.

Parent Career Fair Help: Wednesday, April 3
Part of planning for high school is getting students forward thinking. We would love your help in exposing students to a range of career opportunities. Here is the link to some details regarding this event Career Fair 2019
Sign up to participate here

Dear HUMS 8th grade  Parent or Guardian:

Harwood Union will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on January 28. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of 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.

Your child may take an assessment in mathematics or reading. In addition to subject-area questions, NAEP survey questionnaires are voluntarily completed by students. The questionnaires provide valuable information about participating students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. As part of the 2019 National Indian Education Study, American Indian and Alaska Native students may receive additional questions tailored to their educational experiences and their opportunities to learn about their culture and traditions. More information about NAEP survey questionnaires is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “What Questions Are on the Test?” The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students, including transition time and directions. 

The information collected is used for statistical purposes only. 

• Your child’s grades will not be affected. 
• Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may skip any question. 
• While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify Liz Hepp in writing by January 10th.

There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do his or her best. A brochure that explains what participation in NAEP means for you and your child is available at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. Contact Liz Hepp at 882-1127 or at lhepp@wwsu.org if you have any questions.

We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that Harwood’s students will show what our nation’s students know and can do.

Sincerely,

Duane Pierson

CALENDAR UPDATE

January 2019

January 21	Martin Luther King Day No School
January 22	School In-service No School

Harwood Middle School Update, January 4, 2019

Harwood Middle School Update, January 4, 2019

Curious 8th Grade geographers preparing for the GEO Bee scheduled for
February 21st at Harwood Union Middle.  

7th Grade Scientist participating in a classroom competition about
identifying ECO systems. Great to get them active after a long
Winter Break 

Nothing better than coming back from vacation to build a country. 
7th-grade Political Engineers creating a new world in 2019.  

Important Message for 8th Grade Families

We are just about at the mid-point of the school year and 9th-grade planning is right around the corner! I'm thrilled to hear that many students are thinking about high school and getting ready to take the next step. The transition committee is getting together and will share a timeline in the next few weeks of what to expect around course registration, opportunities and all of the other details associated with getting ready for 9th grade. Stay tuned!
Also, if any students are applying to private school for high school, please have them set up a meeting time with Jen at jdreimiller@wwsu.org.

SUBJECT: HUUSD School Board Meeting Update - Dec 19, 2018

Dear members of our six town community,

Below please find the votes and key agenda items from the HUUSD board meeting on December 19, 2018.

-Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda for December 19, 2018:  Approve past meeting minutes; Accept board warrants totaling $244,698.85.

-Approved updating the budget based on additional information received from our administrative team.- Approved amending the condition of our early retirement incentive from requiring 20 years of district teaching for retirement to requiring 15 years of teaching for retirement.- Approved directing the superintendent and administrative team to return to the original project budget after a discussion around 3 cent cut option fully explored.- Passed a resolution acknowledging the board’s strong desire to focus on our district’s asset management and all allocation in the next 12 months to more proactively engage in budget planning for next year.  - Approved the creation of “Board Buddies” for student council representatives. (Welcome, students!)-Approved distributing “Join the HUUSD board" FAQs for distribution.-Approved revised communications structure and process.-Approved Community Engagement/Creative Discourse report, including 1) accepting the report,2) approving distribution, and 3) sending policy through a process for fast-tracked adoption.

Our next HUUSD board meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 9th at the HUHS library.  

Please note this meeting follows our recently adopted HUUSD board agenda format, with the first hour spent with committees meeting individually from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.  The full board will come back together at 7:00 pm.

Please visit wwsu.org for board packets, agendas, and minutes - and to find the link to watch board meetings. The direct link to watch this and past meetings is: https://mrvtv.com/category/school-board-meetings/

Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Respectfully,

The HUUSD Board

Christine Sullivan (Waitsfield)  *Chair, Caitlin Hollister (Waterbury)  *Vice Chair, Alycia Biondo (Warren), Jill Ellis (Fayston), Gabe Gilman (Moretown), Linda Hazard (Moretown), Garett MacCurtain (Duxbury), Maureen McCracken (Waterbury), Theresa Membrino (Fayston), Melissa Phillips (Waterbury), Torrey Smith (Duxbury), Alexandra Thomsen  (Waterbury), Rosemarie White (Warren), Rob Williams (Waitsfield)

Parents, Guardians, and Interview Subjects,
Join us at the Ethnography Celebration Tuesday, January 15th from 10am to Noon!
Students will be sharing their ethnographic project results, and you will learn a lot
about your home in the Vermont Community! We will have coffee and breakfast snacks
for adult visitors and you are welcome to join your child for lunch at noon.
Lunch is $4.50 for adults
If you plan to attend, please RSVP with Liz Hepp at 882-1127 or lhepp@wwsu.org
Or email questions to Nick Gordon (ngordon@wwsu.org) or Jon Potts
(jpotts@wwsu.org)

Parent Career Fair Help: Wednesday, April 3
Part of planning for high school is getting students forward thinking. We would love your help in exposing students to a range of career opportunities. Here is the link to some details regarding this event Career Fair 2019
Sign up to participate here