Harwood Middle School Update, February 14, 2020

Caring About Kindness
HUMS students arrived to a school filled with their names on
hearts placed around the school.  A giant poster
reminded everyone why kindness is essential
in creating a safe and caring community for everyone (it was a great way
to celebrate Valentine's Day as well) 

 

Harwood Union middle school students have had unique opportunities this year as a result of a Farm-to-School grant received from Vermont FEED. The goal of this grant was to create permanent systems within the building to advance connections between the classroom, the community, and the cafeteria. This grant has afforded money to support a variety of resources and activities around local food and nutrition.  In October, students participated in a school-wide harvest fest. Students pressed cider, decorated locally grown pumpkins, baked with locally-sourced goods, and a host of other STEM-based activities. Middle school students have also taste tested the “Food of the month” during lunch. Taste tests have included beet baba ganoush, beet hummus, winter squash muffins, kale salad, and beef meatballs versus the “Impossible Burger” meatballs.

Students in the Developing Sustainable Habits (DSH) class have  connected cafeteria taste tests with classroom learning by preparing the food served during the taste test and considering the impact of local foods on economic systems.  

Middle school students have had experiences with local farms by taking field trips to Harwood’s neighboring farm at the Living Tree Alliance in Moretown.  These experiences are rich in opportunity to discuss students’ understanding of the cultural, economic, social, and environmental implications of local food systems.  Thanks to the dedicated work of the Farm-to-School Committee at Harwood, spearheaded by teacher Paul Kramer, middle school teachers are designing further opportunities that connect students with the farm at Living Tree Alliance for more educational opportunities this spring!

POETRY SLAM WORKSHOP 2020

This week marked the official 8th Grade Poetry Unit kick-off with a Poetry Slam Workshop!   Vermont Poetry Slam Master Geof Hewitt, conducted the workshop which culminated in an in-class  Poetry Slam competition with students. Geof is a poetry slam "guru" who conducts poetry slam functions around the state of Vermont, and who has several anthologies of his own poetic works as well - including his latest anthology, “Affordable Poems, Alternative Facts” which was published this month!  Geof has worked with HUMS to develop and refine the workshop over the years, and this year Geof was impressed by the creativity and engagement of our 8th graders!

                                                      

Middle School Spring Sports sign-ups are open! In the Spring, at Harwood, we will be offering MS Softball, MS Baseball, and MS Track & Field. These options are open to anyone in grades 7 and 8. 

The Preseason Meeting, where Students and Parents can meet their Spring Sports coaches, will be held on March 12th in the Harwood Auditorium.

Please sign-up ASAP at this link: MS Spring Sports Sign-Ups.

HUMS connecting during ELO times in
our sunny and warm space.  

Connecting and Caring about our Community
8th graders experienced a restorative circle simulation
during one of their core classes this past week to understand
how one works, why they are important and what
roles each play.  

Subject: HUUSD Board Meeting Recap 2/12

Dear members of our six town community,

At our last meeting on February 12, 2020, of the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board: 

Teacher representatives of the Harwood Union Education Association presented on some possible impacts of the proposed budget on Academic Programs and answered questions from board members. 

The board discussed protocols regarding media/public events and/or written communications of both individual board members and the full board.

The first reading of the policy packet occured.

The Board took action on the four (4) items below:

Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda: Approve: Minutes of 1/22/2020; Accept: Vouchers 1177, 1187 and 1189 equaling $592,258.02

Approved: To direct administration to support the Board's public statement from 1/25 that a collaborative transitional team including staff will be convened and meet regularly to discuss staffing issues. 

Approved: To add to the 2/19/20 agenda the consideration of a motion  regarding a collaborative staff- admin committee that is tasked with reviewing cost-saving alternatives to cutting student-facing positions after town meeting on March 3, 2020.

Approved: To confirm the recommendation of the Superintendent on behalf of the Harwood Principal hiring committee to negotiate contracts to hire Megan McDonough and Laurie Greenberg.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 19th at 6:00 pm in the Harwood Union School library. Please visit https://huusd.org/huusd-board to confirm time and place of meetings. 

You’ll also find all board and committee agendas, packets and minutes, and the link to board meeting videos. The direct link to watch this and other recent meetings is: https://mrvtv.com/category/school-board-meetings/. An archive of older meetings can be found here: https://archive.org/search.php?query=Harwood+Unified+Union+School+Board&sort=-date 

Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Respectfully,

The HUUSD Board

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. The Future of Snow:  6pm, 2/22/20, at the Gate House Lodge. Sugarbush will host an open forum to discuss climate change and related issues facing the snow sport industry.  Win Smith will moderate a discussion along with other climate thought leaders: David Perry from Alterra Mountain, Heather Furman from The Nature Conservancy, Cameron Wake from NH Sustainable Institute and Aaron Rice a Ski Touring World Record Holder. This event is free and open to the public.   Parents are welcome to register their kids for the Kid’s Pizza & Movie Night to be held at the same time.

Harwood Middle School update, February 2, 2020

7th graders ecologist investigated carrying capacity by playing a game to simulate how available resources impacts a bear population

PE students are going snowshoeing this coming  week
every day except Tuesday (unless they are doing this for ELOx)
 so students should bring their winter gear in. 

We will provide the snowshoes but students need to be

 prepared to go outside with proper winter clothes.

Thanks!

Katie and Bill

HU PE Dept.

HUMS students taking a break in the hallway.  Cirque du HUMS!  

Dear HUMS Families: It is hard to believe that January has ended and we are heading into our second month of 2020.    I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about next year and the changes that are underway in our district and here at HUMS. As you likely already know, the HUUSD School Board has made the decision to merge our 2 middle schools. All 7th and 8th graders as well as the 5th and 6th graders from Moretown will be attending the Crossett Brook Middle School.  While this change presents lots of questions from all, it is important to remember that change can be a good thing and can bring with it lots of opportunity. Many details need to be worked out over the coming months and these decisions will be made with lots of input from our staff as well as from students as it pertains how best to combine our two great schools.  Next year, Tom Drake will be returning from his current post at the Warren School and will be joined by myself to become Co-Principals of the newly formed middle school. As the transition process unfolds relevant information will be shared with families, our students and community members.   Please let me know if you have any questions.    Duane Pierson HUMS

HUUSD Board Meeting Recap 1/22

Dear members of our six town community,

At our last meeting on January 22, 2020, of the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board: 

The Student Representatives shared their monthly report;

Michelle Baker, Director of Finance & Operations, gave a brief presentation on options for funds for the lease and installation of the annex at Crossett Brook Middle School and on the warnings for Town Meeting Day; and

Nicole Mace, Esq. explained and answered questions from board members regarding the two petitions to amend the HUUSD Articles of Agreement that were submitted to the board.

  

The Board took action on the six (6) items below:

Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda: Approve: Minutes of 1/15/2020; Accept: Voucher 1175 equaling $90,652.55.

Approved payment of each town’s election expenses for June 9, 2020 bond vote.  

Amended last week’s motion to reflect the addition of the cost of the annex: adopt Budget #5 with a total expenditure of $39,772,342 for fiscal year 2021 which would include combining all 7th and 8th graders at Crossett Brook Middle School and moving Moretown Elementary’s 5th and 6th graders to Crossett Brook Middle School (or IDC).

Rejected the petitioned article calling for voter approval of school configuration because the school board, not the electorate, has the authority to make policy and to decide how the buildings within their district will be used and managed.

Rejected the petitioned article calling for voter approval of school closures because the petitioned article includes a very broad definition of school closure that would grant the electorate authority to dictate matters that are clearly within the board’s authority to decide, namely grade configuration and the use of school classrooms and buildings.

Approved the warning for the Board’s Annual Meeting and articles for Town Meeting Day as drafted and presented by Finance Director Michelle Baker at the 1/22/20 meeting.

Further communication about the budget and petition decisions will be coming from the Board within the next week. 

Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 12th at 6:00 pm in the Harwood Union School library. Please visit https://huusd.org/huusd-board to confirm time and place of meetings. You’ll also find all board and committee agendas, packets and minutes, and the link to board meeting videos. Thank you for your continued support and engagement

Respectfully,   The HUUSD Board

Dear HUMS Families:

It is hard to believe that January has ended and we are heading into our second month of 2020.    I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about next year and the changes that are underway in our district and here at HUMS. As you likely already know, the HUUSD School Board has made the decision to merge our 2 middle schools. All 7th and 8th graders as well as the 5th and 6th graders from Moretown will be attending the Crossett Brook Middle School.  While this change presents lots of questions from all, it is important to remember that change can be a good thing and can bring with it lots of opportunity. Many details need to be worked out over the coming months and these decisions will be made with lots of input from our staff as well as from students as it pertains how best to combine our two great schools.  Next year, Tom Drake will be returning from his current post at the Warren School and will be joined by myself to become Co-Principals of the newly formed middle school. As the transition process unfolds relevant information will be shared with families, our students and community members.  

Please let me know if you have any questions.   

Duane Pierson

HUMS 

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.


MECA Children's Clothes Swap: February 8, 10-12, at Moretown School.  Bring your child's outgrown clothing or shop for new-to-you gear at the MECA Children's Clothing swap.  They are looking for infant through 6th grade clothing sizes in good condition that can be swapped on the day of the event.  Bring your children's old clothing, pay a $5 entry fee and fill a bag of new clothing for your child.  You need not have clothes to swap. Just pay the entry fee and fill a bag full of clothes.  Here is a list of what to bring to trade(warm clothing for ages infant-6th grade): long sleeves and long sleeve onesies for babies, long johns, warm socks, boots, hats, gloves, jackets, sweaters, snow pants, and sneakers.