HMS Parent Update

Mr. Downey has jumped right into our 6th grade team. He is willing to help out with anything. He has also done a great job of making connections with the students. He consistently tries his best at everything thrown his way. Keep up the great work!

Ms. Wyslak has seamlessly transitioned into the 6th grade team. She has brought her ideas to the table and is a hard worker. She is dedicated to making sure students are held to high standards, and know that they are cared for. Keep up the great work!

School Portrait day will be held on September 15, 2026. Pictures will take place during PE/Health. Afterwards, you’ll be able to view your images, order packages and select your image for your yearbook (please remember to do so before it’s selected for you), all orders will be delivered to your home. Please see the 2026 Picture Day Flyer from VIP for more information.

Please refrain from sending your student to school with food(full sized bags), snacks, candy and gum to be shared. This causes disruption in the hallways and classrooms, creates unwanted messes in our school and can be an issue for students with food allergies. Additionally, food and drink (other than water) are not permitted in classrooms. Students should not be storing snacks, full size snack bags, candy, gum, drinks, empty cans/drinks in lockers. This can lead to mice and bugs. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping HMS a clean space where our students can simply focus on learning.

Greetings HMS Parents & Guardians! This week we come to you with a coping strategy that can help students improve focus & concentration, lower stress levels, improve their ability to manage emotions, and lower levels of anxiety or depression. Mindfulness! Encourage your student to focus on the present moment. This practice can decrease brain activity in the part of our brain that controls stress allowing students to avoid the worry loop and respond to stressful events calmly.

Activities to try:

• 5-4-3-2-1: Try to notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

• Noticing Your Thoughts: Sit for one minute. Notice all of your thoughts. Do not

try to change your thoughts, just try to notice them.

• Body Scan: Pay attention to the parts of your body individually and see what you can notice about how they feel. Start with your feet and move upward.

• Find The Rainbow: Look around the room and find one thing for each color of the rainbow.

This message is to notify you that Hampshire Middle School will conduct a lockdown drill and a fire drill the week of September 21, 2026.

The fire drill will be on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 and be conducted with the Hampshire Fire Department.

During the fire drill, students and staff will practice the protective actions they would take should a fire occur on the school campus. The upcoming drill is an important part of our emergency preparedness plan, helping students and staff practice safe evacuation procedures.

The lockdown drill will be on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

During the lockdown drill, students and staff will practice the protective actions they would take should a lockdown occur on the school campus. The upcoming drill is an important part of our emergency preparedness plan, helping students and staff practice safety procedures relevant to a lockdown.

Our schools regularly conduct such drills to prepare everyone for potential emergencies.

Should you have any questions about the scheduled fire or lockdown drill please contact our school’s main office at 847-792-3200.

• At HMS we support all students in following our schoolwide expectations and we implement strategies from the PBIS program (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support). Students will be exposed to a variety of “Whippur Way Lessons” throughout the school year so we can all follow our PAWS

• As a reminder - Physical contact of any kind will not be tolerated. Even "playing" or horseplay. All create a disruption to our learning environment

• This Frifday, 9/18 will be a Whippur Store. Our PVC will facilitate this exciting event during lunch periods where students can use their Whippur Bucks

• Ask your student how they have earned Whippur Bucks and how they intend to spend them. Items or experiences?

Game times are 4:45pm (Frosh) and 7:00pm (Varsity)

We are excited for high school athletic events. Attendance at these events is a fantastic opportunity for our students to become familiar and involved with their future high school.

As a reminder, elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult to attend high school athletic events. Middle school students will also need to have their school ID in order to get into the game. Additionally, D300 middle school behavior policies and expectations extend from the school day into the athletic event. Lastly, we ask that parents comply and reinforce these policies along with the additional athletic events rules below:

• To enter the game, an adult must accompany all elementary and middle school students.

• All Middle school students need to have their school ID to enter the game.

• All D300 behavior policies and expectations extend from the elementary and middle school day into the athletic event.

• Students will not be allowed to leave the stadium and return.

• For students attending games at Jacobs High School, students will need to remain seated on the hill.

• Supervisors, Administration, and Deans will be pulling students who are not complying with this rule and calling a parent or guardian.

• Repeat offenders will be asked to leave and run the risk of not being allowed back.

The following items are restricted from being brought into an athletic event:

• No weapons

• No alcoholic beverages and controlled substances

• No tobacco products in any form

• No outside food or drink may be brought into the stadium.

• No backpacks are allowed in the stadium; all bags are subject to search

• No frisbees, balls, whistles, etc.

• No confetti, balloons, or similar items requiring detailed clean-up

• No cannons, train horns, air horns, long trumpet horns, noise makers, etc.

• No sound systems, e.g., megaphone

We thank you in advance for your cooperation, and we are excited to see everyone at the next home game!

Ticket Information:Fox Valley Conference is using digital ticketing by GoFan for athletic events. You can purchase tickets by downloading the “GoFan'' app or purchase tickets on your school’s website. All major credit cards are accepted, along with Apple Pay and Google Pay at the gates or online. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets online prior to arriving at the facility. Please do not redeem your tickets until you reach a ticket taker. Signage will be set up at the venue to help fans navigate an online purchase quickly and easily.

1. Go to www.gofan.co

2. Search “School Name”

3. Select Event

Pricing will be as follows:

$6 - Adults

$4 - Students w/ID (Grade 7-12)

$3 - Children under 5 and Senior Citizens

Maintaining a safe and respectful environment on the school bus is a shared responsibility between the school, students, and parents. During the first week of school, all students participated in learning about Bus Behavior Expectations during Advisory through a Whippur Way Lesson. To help ensure a smooth commute for everyone, please take time to talk with your child about safe bus behavior and the importance of driver safety focus. The bus is an extension of the day and all D300 and HMS behavior expectations and policies are applicable.

Student Expectations
Follow Directions: Listen to and promptly follow all instructions from the bus driver and monitors.

Stay Seated: Remain seated in your designated seat, facing forward, for the duration of the trip. Do not stand up or switch seats while the vehicle is in motion.

Maintain Quiet Voices: Use indoor/conversational volume to avoid distracting the driver. Portable speakers are not permitted on the bus.

Keep Space Clear: Keep hands, feet, and personal belongings inside the windows and out of the center aisle.

Show Respect: Treat fellow passengers with kindness; physical roughhousing, bullying, or inappropriate language will not be tolerated.

No Food or Drink: Eating or drinking on the bus is prohibited for safety and cleanliness.