Hammond Middle School Bulletin

Twas the night before the first day, and all through the town,
Not a student was stirring, their backpacks laid down.
The pencils were sharpened, the notebooks were neat,
Each schedule was ready, each outfit complete.

Teachers were busy, with lessons prepared,
Classrooms set up, showing how much they cared.
Posters were hung with encouragement and pride,
Desks in neat rows, seating charts applied.

The building stood quiet, awaiting the cheer,
Of voices and footsteps that soon would be here.
Dreams filled the night with excitement to start,
A year full of learning, of courage, of heart.

And as the sun rose with a welcoming glow,
The school doors swung open, it was time—let’s go!
For tomorrow begins a new journey, brand-new,
And the magic of school starts again—with YOU.

Eric Piccirelli - Orchestra

Rebecca Stryker - Math Specialist

Natori Garnett - ELA

Karen Pastwa - Social Studies

Kathi Livas - Media Para

Alluson Korvah - Custodian

Gia Hunter - Health Assistant

Rachel Zimmerman - Social Worker

Tammi Mitchell - Special Education Teacher

Beth Riege - CTE (Financial Literacy/ Careers/ FACS)

Gabrielle Fernandes - Speech Language Pathologist

Mykel Robinson-Collins - Chorus/General Music

Students that would like to purchase breakfast may enter the building at 8:20 and report directly to the cafeteria, no stopping at their locker. All other students will be let in the building at 8:23 am. Students will report straight to their advisory/homeroom class. First period begins at 8:30 am. Please check synergy for the most updated schedule. Once in advisory, students will be given a hard copy of their schedule. We will have an extended advisory on the first day so students have plenty of time to unpack, practice their locker, and get to know their advisory teacher.

Lunch Pin Numbers:

If your student is purchasing breakfast, lunch or a snack from the cafeteria, they will need to know their lunch pin number. This is the same number they have had their entire time in HCPSS. Please locate the number, practice the number, and have your student write it down in an important place.

What Students Need to Bring On The First Day of School

• Student schedule and Bus Number (This is available on HCPSS Connect and Bus Locator) We will also give updated schedules out during advisory.

• One binder or folder with notebook paper

• Pencil and pen

• Lunch or lunch money

• Sweater or sweatshirt (parts of the building are cool and other parts are warm)

• Water Bottle - This should only have clear water inside.

• A positive attitude!!

Lockers

Locker Expectations:

• Please do not give your combination out to other students.

• Please do not share lockers.

• Alert staff if your locker does not open or your combination does not work.

• Use it to store bookbags, coats, lunch boxes, and extra school supplies.

Schedules

Schedules are live on HCPSS Connect. Please note that while these posted schedules are as accurate as possible changes may still occur. Students will receive a hard copy of their schedule during advisory on the first day of school.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work to ensure that every student at HMS has an appropriate schedule.

Please note: As we continue to enroll students, we are also continuing to balance class sizes based on new enrollments. With that, schedule change requests may not be possible. Such requests will be placed on a waitlist until all registrations are complete and will be evaluated based on things such as course availability and class size. For the first couple of weeks our top priority is ensuring every student has a schedule by the first day of classes after enrollment. As such, any request for a schedule change could take until the end of September before we are able to determine the possibility of a change. Again, we appreciate your patience as we continue to welcome new families to Hammond Middle.

Student Day & Procedures

• School Hours: 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM

• Arrival: Doors open at 8:20 AM for students purchasing breakfast. All other students enter at 8:23 AM.

• Dismissal: At 3:15 PM, bus riders exit first and go directly to their buses. Car riders and walkers will be dismissed immediately after bus riders

Important Safety reminders:

• Please refrain from entering the lower lot that is designated for school buses.
• There is no HMS staff supervision before 8:15 am
• Please follow the directions of the staff during arival and dismissal.
• Please stay in your vehicle at all times. Exiting the car can create unsafe conditions for everyone.
• Please have your child exit and enter your vehicle from the passenger side. This is the safest way for your child to be dropped off and ensure they will never cross between cars.

• Car riders and walkers will exit Hammond Middle School between 3:15 pm and 3:20 pm daily.

• Vehicles entering the school campus should queue along the RIGHT side of the school entrance driveway. Vehicles cannot be driven or stopped on the LEFT of the roadway where they are impeding oncoming traffic. When the line reaches Graeloch Road, vehicles should queue again along the right side of the roadway towards Helmart Drive. It’s imperative to keep the intersection of Aladdin Drive and Graeloch Road clear of vehicles so that school buses and emergency vehicles can access our school. Proceed accordingly once you enter the school property and the bus loop and car loop split.

• Please be aware of school buses entering the school campus on the left and then needing to turn right into the bus loop.

A few reminders:

• Be aware of your surroundings when waiting in the car loop, and be ready to follow the directions of staff on duty.

• Act with civility at all times.

Thank you for your partnership, ensuring all of our community is safe!

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

If your child is a bus rider, please talk with them about behavior expectations on the bus.

The bus is an extension of the school day, and students are expected to follow the directions of the bus driver and school bus rules. We want to ensure the ride to and from school is a safe and comfortable bus environment for all.

To ensure the ride to and from school is safe, enjoyable, and comfortable for all, please remind your bus rider(s) of the following:

• Provide morning and afternoon supervision at bus stops.

• Only students and the bus driver are permitted on the bus. If you have any concerns that arise, please contact the school.

• Make sure students are at the bus stop at least 5-8 minutes before the bus arrives. Students should be prepared to enter the bus when it arrives.

• There is no eating or drinking while on the bus. All food should be put away during the school bus ride.

• For their own safety, students must remain seated at all times while the bus is in motion.

• Students should use a voice level that is not distracting to the bus driver and be courteous to others while riding the bus each day.

We will uplift this same message at school, and we appreciate your continued support!

Please be aware of the following procedures for any visitor to a school/office:

• The front door is the only entrance point for all visitors.

• Please ring the bell and look into the camera.

• Be prepared to state your name and purpose for visiting.

• All visitors must enter the front office with a valid photo I.D. and sign in using our LobbyGuard system.

• A visitor’s sticker will be given to visitors following the above procedures and must be worn and prominently visible.

• Any visitor in the school without a visitor sticker will be escorted directly to the front office by a staff member.

For any student who has a Chromebook that is damaged or in need of repair, we are asking families to reach out to Mrs. Koehler at lora_koehler@hcpss.org or Ms. Kathi Livas at kathi_livas@hcpss.org

They will be able to assist you with getting any repairs done.

Chromebook Responsibilities

Chromebook Care

Chromebook Repair Cost

Cell phone use is a popular topic among middle school students. Policy 8080 states:

Middle Schools – Students:

1. Students will not use personal technology devices during non-instructional time, to include but not limited to transition between classes, lunch, recess, or in bathrooms.

All cell phones must be silenced and put away upon entering the building. Students may carry their phone, but it must be silent and it may not be used during the day. We recommend that students place cell phones in their lockers in order to minimize the temptation to have them out during the school day. We also have a student phone in the front office that students may use when needed to contact their family.

We are asking that families take the time to review the document online with their students. All students and families will be expected to have knowledge of the contents within the Code of Conduct and information is forthcoming on how families will acknowledge that they read the document with their student. We will hold student code of conduct assemblies with students during the second week of school. Thank you in

advance.

If your student has to be absent from school, please submit a note to hmsabsence@hcpss.org or send a note in with your child to submit to the front office.. Absence notes must be received within 5 days of your student’s return to school or the absence will remain unlawful.

• Students who are absent due to lawful reasons per HCPSS Policy 9010 will be considered Absent excused.

When emailing a note, you will receive an automated message to verify that your email was received.

Please do not send attendance notes to your child's teachers. If you have any questions about your child's attendance, please email hmsabsence@hcss.org

If you would like to request a discretionary absence, please complete the form found here: Discretionary Absence Request and email it to hmsabsence@hcpss.org.

Please review the HCPSS Attendance Policy for further information.

Late Arrivals:

• Students will report to the front office to sign in and receive a pass when arriving late to school.

• Parents must send students in with a note or provide an email explaining the reason for the late arrival. Students who arrive late due to lawful reasons per HCPSS Policy 9010 will be considered Tardy excused.

Early Dismissals:

• Parents/ Guardians will sign students out from the front office for early dismissals.

• Parents/Guardians are to show their photo ID upon arrival to confirm their eligibility to pick up the student in the family file.

• If you know that your student will have an early dismissal ahead of time, please send in a note or an email letting us know the time of the dismissal and the name of the person picking the student up. All attendance communications/questions should be sent to hmsabsence@hcpss.org

Please visit https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/ to apply for Free and Reduced Meals. Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with free and reduced-price meal eligibility from the prior school year will be carried over.

Any student who has not filled out an application up to the 30th school day will have their prior year status changed to full pay status until a new application is received.

If you have additional questions regarding the FARMs program, please review the FAQ Section or email foodsvc@hcpss.org.

This year we will be hosting the Book Fair during after-school hours. Visit us Wednesday, September 3rd, 4-7 pm or Thursday, September 4th, 4-7 pm. We will continue to be cashless this year.

Here is a preview of what will be available. Online shopping is also available here starting 9/1. Please email lora_koehler@hcpss.org if you have any questions

All proceeds help us continue to build our library program and supplement school needs! We appreciate the support!

• August 25 - First Day for Students
• September 1 - Schools & Offices closed Labor Day
• September 4 Back to School Night - 6 pm - 8 pm
• September 17 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal
• September 23 - Schools & Offices Closed - Rosh Hashanah
• October 2 - Schools & Offices Closed - Yom Kippur
• October 17 - Schools Closed for Students
• October 20 - Schools and Offices Closed - Diwali
• October 31 - End of 1st Quarter - 3hr Early dismissal

• Hammond Middle School Website
• HCPSS Calendar SY 25-26
• HCPSS Student and Parent Handbook
• Hammond Middle School PTA
• Follow us on Instagram: @hms_middle