Hanson Middle School

https://hms.whrsd.org/

(781) 618-7575 – Main Office

(781) 618-7375 – Absentee Line

(844) 440-2346 – Fax

Speaking of traditions, November’s 58th Annual Turkey Trot was a huge success. 265 kids ran the 1.5 mile course. 12 turkeys went home with top finishers and another 18 were raffled off to other runners.

For December, students will compete in grade-level volleyball tournaments during PE class and our Chorus and Band students will perform in the Middle School Holiday Concert on December 11 at 7:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center at the high school.

Thank you,

Josh Belvis

Alyssa Pietrasik

Wednesday, December 10 - HMS School Council Meeting, 3:00

Thursday, December 11 - Middle School Holiday Concert, WHRHS PAC, 7:00 PM

Friday, December 19 - Early Release PK-12 Professional Development

School Committee Meeting - December 3, 6:30 PM

School Committee Meeting - December 10, 6:30 PM

Grade 8 Orientation - December 4, 6:30 PM, WHRHS

WH Will will be partnering with the high school SADD and Active Minds Clubs to bring back the peer mentoring program. All students in grade 6 will participate during their related arts classes for four modules starting this month! Please see the newsletter above for more information.

Reminders for Grade 8 Parents/Guardians:

Thursday, December 4th (6:30 PM - 8:00 PM)

Open House at WHRHS (students and parents/guardians)

Thursday, January 1st

Norfolk Aggie applications due***

Friday, January 16th

South Shore Tech Applications due***

Thursday, February 12th (Time TBA)

Curriculum Night at WHRHS (parents/guardians only)

Wednesday, March 4th (During school day)

WHRHS staff and students meeting with HMS 8th graders about scheduling, general information about 9th grade, clubs/sports/activities, etc. (students only)

***Please note that, due to new guidance from DESE, the admissions process for both South Shore Tech and Norfolk Aggie have changed to lottery systems.

ABSENCES AND ILLNESSES:

• Please remember to call the absence sick line (781-618-7375) or the nurse directly to report your student absent and be sure to include the reason for absence. I usually will follow up with a phone call or email home as needed if a student is out for more than 3 - 4 days and we have not received any calls for the absences.
• With the Flu/COVID and cold season upon us, please continue to be cautious and keep sick children home until their symptoms have improved. If your child has a fever of 100 or higher, they need to stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without taking any fever reducing medicine. If your child has a Gastrointestinal Illness (vomiting and/or diarrhea) - they should stay home until 24 hours after vomiting and/or diarrhea has resolved, they are showing improvement, and they feel well enough to participate in school.

MANDATED SCREENINGS:

• As mandated by the Department of Public Health, hearing, vision (for distance only), and BMI screenings are conducted annually for grade 7 students. Additionally, grade 5 students are required to have the vision screening only.
• Grade 7 students will also have the SBIRT screening (substance use screening) done this year. An email with an attached letter regarding this screening was already sent out to parents/guardians.
• I have completed the vision screenings for grade 5 and all referral letters for those students who should follow up with their physician or eye doctor have been mailed home.
• I hope to have the grade 7 screenings completed by mid December. Once the screenings are completed, parent/guardian(s) will be notified in writing ONLY if the student does NOT pass for the hearing and/or vision screenings. If you would like the BMI results for your child, you may contact me to request that information be sent to you.

INJURIES/RESTRICTIONS:

• REMINDER: If your child has sustained an injury, we must have a note from the doctor stating the child’s physical limitations/restrictions, including a gym excuse note and order for the use of assistive devices such as crutches or a wheelchair

Thank you and as always please contact me with any questions or concerns,

Lisa Godbout, M.Ed., BSN, RN

lisa.godbout@whrsd.org

781-618-7575

We are proud to announce Ben McDonough as our Class of 2026 Project 351 Ambassador in recognition of selfless service, potential for leadership, and values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude. Ben will join ambassadors from each of Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns. United for a year of leadership and service, Ambassadors transform communities, elevate kindness, advance social justice, and gain the courage, compassion, and capabilities to lead change.

A huge thank you to all who contributed to our Booster Bash fundraiser. We raised over $12,000 for student activities, field trips, assemblies, and school-wide enrichment.

265 runner finished the approximately 1.5 mile cross country course in the 58th Annual Turkey Trot. Top runners won medals and turkeys, and an additional 18 turkeys were raffles off among the finishers. We also had an impressive performance by our 7th and 8th grade cheerleaders! Thanks to all who make this event happen year after year!

Top 5 5th and 6th Grade Boys:

1. Jameson Brown

2. Dylan MacCallum

3. Kevin Brown

4. John Skinner

5. Nick Andrade

Top 5 5th and 6th Grade Girls:

1. Sammy Murphy

2. Hanorah Bray

3. Lillie Kniffen

4. Sophie Burrows

5. Olivia Westhaver

Top 5 7th and 8th Grade Boys:

1. Zack Kniffen

2. Ryan McMullen

3. Lincoln Mara

4. Tyler Andrews

5. Sam Spence

Top 5 7th and 8th Grade Girls:

1. Hensley Norris

2. Samantha Cronin

3. Gia Leonard

4. Evie Joy

5. Penny Arsenault

Thank you to Sue Moss for taking photos of the event! Photos can be found at the following link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wh-sports/albums/72177720330494159

We are excited that we have seen a lot of interest in Best Buddies! The informational meeting for those interested will be held on Monday 12/1/25. If you cannot make it you can still sign up! Best Buddies club will run on Mondays after school two times per month. One day will be a planning meeting and one day will be an event.

The dates will be:

• 12/15/25 until 4pm (only one due to holiday break in December)
• 1/12/26 until 3:30
• 1/26/26 until 4pm
• 2/9/26 until 3:30
• 2/23/26 until 4pm
• 3/9/26 until 3:30pm
• 3/23/26 until 4pm
• 4/6/26 until 3:30pm
• 4/27/26 until 4pm
• 5/4/26 until 3:30pm
• 5/18/26 until 4pm
• June- TBD

Grade 6 ELA students read an outside reading text. With a little bit of creativity and a sprinkle of book magic, students brought their books to life by creating an artifact, a diorama, or a letter to represent their text. We are so proud of our students and their hard work!

One of the focal points of the Renaissance Program is character development. One way the program recognizes this is with our Gold Star Spotlight. Members of our school community that display high moral character and contribute to the HMS environment in a positive way can be nominated for this award. Nominees are given a certificate, a small treat, and recognition on announcements and other public community platforms. HMS community members that have been nominated and recognized in the month of November: Jaqueline Murphy, Aiden Haley, Caroline Doyle, Dylan MacCallum, Emma Whitcher, Oliver Matos, James Taylor, Jordan Jesse, Olivia Baillargeon, Ayva Ernst, Kerri Doherty, Beth Shepardson, Ella Kelsch, Jackson Levesque, Owen Head, Jessica Levy, Carina Avis, Jennifer Clifford, William Riley

Renaissance aims to celebrate students and staff for academic excellence, positive character referrals, attendance, and for all around being amazing! We encourage all families to participate by emailing us positive stories about your child's teachers. Your feedback helps us to acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional educators in our community. If you have something that you would like to share, please email us at hms.renaissance@whrsd.org.

We have Hilliard’s Chocolate bars available for student fundraising. This fundraising is for all grade 8 students. Students staying home from the D.C. trip are still able to sell chocolate bars to reimburse the cost of their two field trips. Selling two boxes of chocolate will reimburse the cost of the two local field trips in full. Students or parents can purchase a box of candy bars from Mrs. Laferriere in the main office for $50. Each box contains 40 chocolate bars which can be sold for $2.50 each. There is a $50 profit from each box sold and you may apply the profit directly to your students account or may use it for spending money while in D.C.