HUMS Newsletter

Harwood Middle School Families -

We returned from April break with 8 weeks left in the school year and jumped right into learning!

On Wednesdays, Middle School math classes continued our new routine of opening the wall and sharing class with both the 7th and 8th grade classes. During this time, which we call Mega Math, we are working on statistics. In prior weeks, we have been learning about data and ways to represent it visually. This week in Mega Math we looked at data from the YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) and FUTURE VT survey. These surveys collect information on students regarding drug and alcohol use. Using the data, the students sketched different graphs to best convey the intended message of the data. We are looking forward to doing more work with this data and creating displays that accompany the posters from FUTURE VT.

In 7th grade on Team Aqua

Aqua Homework

English Students are now in the middle of the story of Gerta in A Night Divided, a historical fiction set in divided Berlin, and we are reading every night for homework. Check out the updated Reading Schedule here

to help assure your child is ready to participate in daily Harkness Dialogues about the new chapters as this suspenseful story unfolds.

Math: We have continued our conversations about integers and rational numbers by multiplying and dividing with negatives.

Science: Young scientists have gotten to experience some intellectual discomfort this week as we grappled with the dynamics of air moving from areas of high pressure to low pressure. They analyzed the forces involved in a pressure chamber that lost pressure and made some enclosed shaving cream expand. Then, they got a few supplies, some support in pulling the high and low pressure concepts together, and then limited directions to show how cold air/water sinks and warm air/water rises.

Social Studies: This week, we looked at the concepts of Capitalism (which emphasizes personal freedoms) and Communism (which emphasizes equality) and their roles in the Cold War. We also began a “Red Scare” spy game simulation, where each student was assigned a role.

In 8th grade on Team Terra

Check out the Team Terra homework slide.

English: Students wrapped up their persuasive unit with Maddie before break, and we just began our new unit reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Starting this week, there will be some reading homework; look out for the novel coming home!

Science: Students are wrapping up the electricity and climate change unit. We have been looking at Vermont’s progress towards their energy goals. We checked out the Vermont Energy Dashboard, which has data collected by the Energy Action Network. Here we could see adoptions of energy technologies by town. They also track emissions data and we saw our progress and our goals for 2050. Next we will work on our summative project for the unit, where students will propose solutions to decreasing our carbon emissions in their communities or their school.

Math: Students are currently learning about irrational numbers. Next week will start work with the Pythagorean Theorem.

The Spring sports season is underway, to stay up to date on the schedule please click here.

On May 9th varsity and baseball will be our first youth game. We encourage all youth baseball and softball players to come out and support the varsity teams as we host Spauldinbg at 4:30.

A huge thank you to The Bridges Resort and Tennis Club for providing indoor tennis courts for our girls team to practice indoors to start the season.

We’re looking for individuals who are interested in supporting co-curricular programs at Harwood to consider joining the Harwood Booster Club. The Booster Club plays an important role in supporting our student-athletes and activities, and they are currently seeking new members to join their dedicated group. Whether you can give a little time or take on a larger role, your involvement can make a meaningful impact. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please reach out to: info@harwoodboosters.com

A few friendly reminders:

As an ongoing reminder - VASTA is continuing to work with our students for the remainder of the year. Their hours this year at Harwood are Mondays 12:30 to 2:30 and in Waterbury on Wednesdays 5-6:30. Parents/Guardians - Please note that if your child is seen by someone at VASTA and there is pertinent information about their physical health as it pertains to their training, there will be direct communication with the coach.
If you would like to nominate someone for the Harwood Hall of Fame please click here. Unlike many other Halls of Fame, our Hall of Fame is not limited to former athletes or coaches. Once nominated for the Hall of Fame, a nominee remains active for consideration for ten years.
If you would like to donate to the Hall Of Fame please reach out to me at ifraunfelder@huusd.org.
Looking for new Harwood gear? Visit our new highlander store, all items are customizable and ship to your house.

Calcutta Update

Attention Harwood Athletic Supporters,

Due to circumstances outside of our control, we were unable to host the Calcutta on Saturday, May 2nd as originally planned.

The good news is that we have been able to quickly reschedule the event.

New Date & Details:
Sunday, May 3rd
Location: American Legion – Waterbury

Social Hour: 4:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM
Drawings begin at approximately 5:30 PM

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your understanding. If this new date no longer works for you and you would like a refund, we completely understand. Please contact Brian McCarthy:

Email: coachbcmc@comcast.net
Text: 802-272-8811

Additionally, a handful of tickets are still available for the event if you or someone you know would like to attend.

Thank you for your flexibility and continued support—we look forward to a great evening.

A huge thank you to The Bridges Resort and Tennis Club for providing indoor tennis courts for our girls team to practice indoors to start the season.

Ticks – The top 10 things to remember

10. Ticks crawl up – Ticks don’t jump, fly or drop from trees onto your head and back.

9. All ticks (including deer ticks) come in small, medium and large sizes.

8. Ticks can be active in winter. “We are always a few days away from tick season.” – Dr. Mather, PhD, University of Rhode Island (5/4/2014)

7. Ticks carry disease-causing microbes.

6. Only deer ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria.

5. For most tick-borne diseases, you have at least 24 hours to find and remove a feeding tick before it transmits an infection.

4. Deer tick nymphs look like a poppy seed on your skin.

3. The easiest and safest way to remove a tick is with a pointy tweezer.

2. Clothing with built-in tick repellent is best for preventing tick bites.

1. Tick bites and tick-borne diseases are completely preventable.

Top ten things to know. (ND). The University of Rhode Island. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/ticksmart/top-ten-things/

Mentor program field trip Wednesday June 3

Students that are in the mentor program should mark their calendars for Wednesday, June 3 for the end of year field trip. This will be a fun way to celebrate new relationships and end the program this year. We will depart at 9:30 am to head to Sparetime in Colchester for bowling and possibly laser tag. Students will get 2 pieces of pizza each for lunch. If your child does not eat pizza and would like a bagged lunch from school, please let me know or bring a bagged lunch from home. Contact Jen Dreimiller with any questions (jdreimiller@huusd.org)

April’s Harvest of the Month is Whole Grains!

On April 30th, students in Heidi Turgeon Baird’s Developing Sustainable Habits (DSH) courses hosted a whole grain taste test for the entire Harwood community. Using ingredients provided by King Arthur Baking Company’s Bake for Good Program, students learned the art of scratch-made yeast bread. After baking their loaves right here at school, they shared their creations as a meaningful act of kindness toward their peers.

Explore other recipes featured in our DSH classes this month:

These monthly taste tests are designed to deepen student appreciation for our local food systems. We encourage you to support our Vermont farms by buying local!

AQUA: 7th Graders are concluding their WIN sessions focused on morphology and vocabulary development with the study of 40 Greek and Latin Word Parts, and some work using novels and other texts to illuminate vocabulary and to practice decoding words by using contextual clues. Next week we will begin our final WIN Session: The HUMS Bio Sketch Project in which both teams will participate. Details about this research project will be forthcoming.

TERRA: 8th Graders are concluding their WIN sessions focused on close readings of Non-Fiction texts, and the elements of non=fiction. Some topics explored include: spies and their covert tools, methods and missions; microwave ovens and how they were invented, as well as timely topics like the development of robotics, and self-driving cars, New WIN groups will begin next week, based on STAR 360 scores on determining main ideas and details and integrating information from multiple sources- skills which will be taught and practiced during our final WIN SESSION: The HUMS Bio Sketch Project

Before break, students who participated in Yes She Can went to visit Habitat for Aviation in Swanton. We got a tour of many of the buildings and hangars at the airport and were able to participate in a few activities at Habitat for Aviation, where they are building the first, all female assembled airplane!

Dear Harwood Middle and High School Families,

On Monday, May 4th, the 7th-12th grade families will host a luncheon for the Harwood Middle and High School teachers and staff! This event is a simple way of expressing our gratitude for everything the educators do for our children, and the staff felt so appreciated when we hosted this event for them in the last few years. We would appreciate your family’s help in making the event happen.

We’re asking families to contribute to the luncheon as you choose: make food, help out at the event and/or donate raffle items to be gifted to teachers. Thank you for volunteering on the attached signup sheet. Students are encouraged to be involved and show appreciation to teachers and staff by preparing food items, cards of gratitude or decorations for the luncheon.

We will also need help on May 4th! If you are able to help set up, serve or break down the event, please choose a time here.

At the luncheon, we’ll conduct a fun raffle of gift items and gift cards from our community and local businesses. If you would like to contribute an item from your family or business, please email that information to lisalebl@gmail.com. Get creative: for example, your family might choose to gift an “art and craft” supply bundle or “spring cleaning” basket filled with cleaning supplies, or some pet-owning teachers might be thrilled to win a booklet of “5 free dog walks”. If you’d like to donate cash to be used toward gift cards for the raffle, you may send your contribution via Venmo to @Andrea-Cox-48.

If your family makes food for the luncheon, here are a couple of pointers:

● Items that need to be kept warm should be delivered in containers that will retain heat.

● Please bring all items to the High School main entrance on Monday, May 4th between 8:15am - 9:45am. Park in front and enter the building at the HS entrance (under the "swoop"). Ring the doorbell at the far left entrance door. Volunteers will meet you inside to take your item(s) to the kitchen.

● Bring your container labeled, identifying:

○ Food contents

○ Contributing family (Last year, we had small cards indicating what each family had made. The staff members enjoyed seeing that)

● Container pickup will be on May 4th from 2:00-3:30 PM, in the High School lobby. Alternatively, students may bring containers home.

Feel free to contact any of us with questions, thoughts, or ideas:

Lisa LeBlanc: lisalebl@gmail.com 617-233-8707

Andrea Cox: andreamatt21@gmail.com 857-363-0114

Jolanea Brauer: jolanea.brauer@gmail.com

Jenni Carpenter: jenni.carpenter@hotmail.com

Thank you for your time and support in helping make this event successful!

We hope you can join us at Zenbarn this Saturday as the Assembly Band celebrates the release of two singles that we have been recording for the past couple of months (we've also got a music video coming out soon too!)

It's going to be a fantastic show with an opening set from The Tones (Spaulding HS student band).

All proceeds will help the band get out on the road to play more shows. Your support truly means a lot to us!

Doors at 6:30 | Show 7PM

You are invited to the Harwood High School Socrates Cafe!

My Harkness Leadership class is planning a Socrates Cafe for Thursday, May 28th, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the library. A Socrates Cafe is a philosophical discussion about a timeless and timely question.

Our class has chosen the question: What is the value of empathy to our society?

Participants will discuss this question in groups of 8-10 people. Afterward, we will have some refreshments and reflect on the evening.

It would be great to have you join us. Please bring any family and friends who might be interested!