September 2026
Dear Hoppock Families,
What a wonderful start to the school year! It has been a pleasure welcoming our students back to Hoppock Middle School and seeing our hallways and classrooms filled once again with energy and excitement. Our first days together have been incredibly positive, and we are excited about all that lies ahead this year.
One of our goals at the start of the year is to help students feel comfortable, connected, and part of the Hoppock community. Our staff has been finding fun and creative ways to build those relationships from day one. We had a whole school assembly where the teachers were introduced to your children and participated in a friendly "Crack The Code" lock combination challenge! The students cheered their teachers on and the staff were good sports about the surprise competition. I hope this and other small moments during the first few days helped students learn more about the adults who will support, encourage, and challenge them throughout the year.
This year, I want the students to focus on a few things: Be kind. Be kind to others because we never truly know what someone else may be going through. A simple smile, kind word, or act of friendship can make a bigger difference than you realize. Be responsible. Take ownership of your learning, your choices, and your actions. We don't always make the perfect choice or decision - we all can make mistakes - but what matters is what you do next. Learn from those moments, make it right, and keep moving forward. Be willing to try. This is the opportunity to try something new, raise your hand, join a club or team, make a new friend, talk to someone new, ask for help, challenge yourself, and know that it is ok to not succeed the first time. No one is expecting them to have it all figured out today. Our days here at Hoppock should be about learning, growing, building, and discovering who they are becoming.
Beginning-of-the-year benchmark assessments are also underway. These assessments provide our teachers with valuable information about where students are starting the year and help us better understand each learner’s strengths and areas for growth. Our staff will use this information, along with what they learn about students each day in the classroom, to plan meaningful instruction throughout the year. Teachers are already collaborating on ways to enrich, support, and appropriately challenge students based on their individual needs. Our goal is not simply to know where students are beginning, but to use that knowledge to help every student continue to grow.
We are grateful for the enthusiasm our students have brought back to school and for the partnership of our Hoppock families. A strong school year is built on the positive relationships among students, staff, and families, and we are excited to continue strengthening those connections in the weeks and months ahead.
Thank you for helping us begin the year on such a positive note. We look forward to seeing you at Back-to-School Night on September 24 at 6:00 pm and to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and community at Hoppock Middle School!
Warmly,
Meaghan Dagostino
Principal
Ethel Hoppock Middle School