HMS Parent Newsletter

HMS Families:

Thank you to the HMS families who completed our recent parent survey. We greatly appreciate your feedback on what is working well and where we can improve as a school community. We take your thoughts and opinions seriously and have used your feedback to help us to plan for the coming semester. Below, I have summarized some key findings from our survey and our HMS response to the concerns that were shared. We are hopeful that the changes we have planned will help to make your family's experience at HMS even better in the coming term.

Our survey shows that most HMS families feel that their children have positive relationships with their teachers, are happy with their child's academic experience, and feel that school communication, safety, and school logistics meet their needs. Our parent survey indicated three areas of concern: parent-teacher communication, feedback on academic progress, and safety concerns regarding masks and vaccinations. Our plans to address these concerns are:

Parent-Teacher Communication

It is our goal to build and foster positive working relationships with families to support student learning. An important part of building these relationships is frequent, timely, and informative parent-teacher communication, and we are committed to improving in this area. To help bolster our parent-teacher relationships, teachers will respond to all email and phone communications within 1 business day. We also heard from families that parent-teacher conferences are an important way for families to connect to school. Our spring parent-teacher conferences will be reformatted and offer every family a chance to schedule time to speak with their child's teachers.

Feedback on Academic Performance

We heard from families that in order to support their child at home, they need more information on their child's progress in their classes. Our staff will ensure that Schoology grading is updated on a weekly basis so that parents have timely information on their child's academic information. We will also provide more detailed information about your child's progress by sending out progress reports every 6 weeks. These progress reports will show grades for all classes.

Masks and Vaccinations

Many families stated that they feel that HSD needs to do more to ensure mask-wearing and vaccinations. Many others shared that they would like HSD not to have mask wearing and do not agree with vaccinations. We know that this is an area in which many families have strong feelings and opinions. We thank you for sharing your perspectives with us. HSD and HMS follow policies created by the Washington Department of Health and Clark County Health Department. As a school, we do not have the authority to change these policies. We will continue to keep families updated on any changes to the DOH and CCPH guidelines.

Again, we'd like to thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Parents and families are the backbone of our community and we value your thoughts on how we can improve the HMS experience. Thank you for your ongoing support of the students and staff of HMS! We are all grateful to be a part of this amazing community!

~ Meredith

meredith.gannon@hocksd.org

As we reached the halfway point in the school year, we have noticed that many students are in need of some new school supplies. Many of our teachers are reporting that students are coming to class without paper, pencils, colored pencils, and glue sticks. Please check in with your student to see if they have their needed supplies in their backpacks. If your family needs help in obtaining school supplies, please let us know and we will be happy to provide them.

Also, please remind your student to bring their water bottle daily. Our water bottle filling stations are open, but drinking fountains remain closed.

Semester 1 report cards for all HMS students will be arriving in your mailboxes some time next week. Report cards were mailed today. If you have any questions about your child's report card please give us a call.

Congratulations to Logan Armstrong, Emma Boehi, Levi Brown, Carter Castle and Ava Linton for their participation in the LCRMEA Honor Band 2/13. Students from all Southwest Washington Middle Schools rehearsed together Friday evening and all day Saturday with a performance Saturday evening. The concert can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/evergreenschools

Thanks for all your hard work and dedication. Way to represent HMS! GO BAND!

Our next HMS School Spirit Week is Feb. 14 - 17. Here are our Spirit Days:

Monday, February 14: Valentine Color War (sixth grade wear pink, seventh grade wear white, eighth grade wear red)

Tuesday, February 15: Crazy Hair Day

Wednesday, February 16: Mismatch Day

Thursday, February 17: Country v. Fancy (wear country themes or dress up clothes)

There is no school on Friday, February 18 due to the Presidents' Day holiday.

Hockinson is a great place to work and we are currently looking for certified and classified substitutes.

If you are a teacher already, we are very interested in talking to you about getting your application reviewed as quickly as possible. If you hold a Bachelor’s Degree and are interested in obtaining an Emergency Substitute Certificate to cover teachers please email Julie.dobbins@hocksd.org. There is a process we can enter into with the state that takes a little bit of time, but it would allow you to serve as a teacher.

Not interested in being a teacher, but want to help? We have a significant need for classified substitutes as well. These subs cover our general duty aides at recess/lunch, para-educators in classrooms, secretaries, security, and custodial staff. Basic requirement is a high school diploma or GED.

Rates:

Fully Certificated Substitute Teachers: $173.00/day $108.00/half day

Emergency Certificated Substitute Teachers: $163.00/day $101.00 half day

Classified Substitute (Various/non-custodial): $16.00/hour

Custodial Substitutes: $18.00/hour

Fees:

Fingerprinting: $82.00 Payable to ESD112

Emergency Sub Application: $63.00 Payable to OSPI

To begin the application process please visit our website www.hocksd.org and click on the employment icon. This will take you to a module in our system called “Fast Track”. Here you will create a user profile and apply for the appropriate position. If you are applying for “Emergency Cert Sub” please apply for the certificated substitute. It will require you to upload a certificate – here you can override by uploading a letter simply stating “I wish to apply for Emergency Cert Sub”.

February 14 - 17: Spirit Week

February 14: Girl's STEM Starts

February 17: Math Counts Competition

February 16: Final Day to Purchase a Yearbook

February 18 - 21: Presidents' Day Break

February 18 & 21: No School - Presidents' Day

March 1: Start of Women's History Month

March 7 - 11: Classified Employee Appreciation Week

March 7: Wetlands Field Trip - Grade 6

March 10: HMS Spring Concert - 7 p.m. @ HHS

March 12: HMS PWT Applebee's Fundraiser

March 13: Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 15: School Board Visit to HMS

March 28 - 31: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Website: https://hms.hocksd.org/
Location: 15916 NE 182nd Avenue, Brush Prairie, WA 98606
Phone: (360)448-6440
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HockinsonMS