HDMS Newsletter
June 17, 2026
Greetings from HDMS!
As this year closes out, we would like to thank each and everyone one of you - families, students, staff, extended families - for being a part of moving our students forward and making their year a great one. Education is a collaborative effort, especially during the formative years of middle school, and we couldn't do it without you!
This final newsletter highlights various events from the end of the year. Please take a moment to look through all the pictures and reflect on this past year and all of its accomplishments. We would also appreciate your feedback on the SAU 34 Climate Survey. Please see the link below.
Have a fun and safe summer! See you in the fall!
~HDMS Administration
Climate Survey
Please take 5-7 minutes to complete a Climate Survey for each of the schools your child/children attend. Your input is greatly valued. Each school will review the results to reflect up on the school year with results of the survey published in the fall. The survey closes on Friday, June 19th. Thank you for taking the time.
Click the red button below to be redirected to the survey.
Important Dates
See the button below for a link to next year's School Year Calendar.
Hillcat Cup
During the last month of school, advisories participated in a variety of activities to earn points towards the Hillcat Cup. Activities included "random event" BINGO, a recycled fashion show, Caught You Being Kind cards, a dinosaur hunt, community service, and more! Before the last week of school, students were split into multi-grade teams to compete to be winners of the Hillcat Cup, which occurred on June 15th. This year, the teams were elements - air, earth, water, and fire. Fire came out on top with over 11,000 points!
Academic Pep Rally
This year, for the first time ever, we held an academic pep rally. At this rally, we celebrated student growth in SAS and iReady, as well as staff accomplishments. Groups of students were recognized and then they played a Minute to Win It game. Our students and staff have done amazing things this year, and we wanted to make sure to highlight all their growth and effort!
History Alive Event
In May, the 6th graders attended History Alive to learn about Hillsboro history. The public event that weekend was postponed due to extreme rain. The event will now occur on August 15th in conjunction with the History Alive Military Reenactment. During the field trip, our students wove a basket which will be on display at the Fuller Public Library in July. This basket will be auctioned off at the event.
Grapevine News - A Community Resource
A Message from The Grapevine
The owner of Hearth Magick in Peterborough, Jeni Archer, recently started a food pantry with food items, feminine hygiene products, emergency contraception, and bonus items like gift cards to local restaurants and haircuts. The pantry is open to anyone, no eligibility requirements or appointments necessary. Anyone can come into the shop, head to the back, and grab what they need.
Hours are the same as shop hours, Tues-Sat from 10am to 6pm.
Hearth Magick
43 Grove St., Peterborough, NH, 03458
6th Grade Update
Math: The last unit of the year will involve exploring career options. Students will get to learn aboutbudgets, incomes, and taxes.
Social Studies: Caesar's been assassinated! Whodunnit? The students will explore Ancient Rome,its religions, architecture, and way of life for the rest of the year.
Science: Students will finish the school year learning about waves.
ELA: Students will wrap up our mythology unit with the story of Heracles. Then, we'll watchDisney's version of the myth and spend some time comparing and contrasting the two versions ofthe same myth.
7th Grade Update
Math
The 7th grade students finished their final curriculum unit by diving into the difference between theoretical and experimental probability. To bring these concepts to life, the students played a variety of games to calculate their actual odds of winning versus the mathematical predictions.
We concluded the year with our final major project: a famous mathematician research paper. For this assignment, students blended their math knowledge with their writing skills to craft a five-paragraph research paper. Each student chose a mathematician, researched their life, and explained exactly why their contributions made them famous in the field of mathematics.
ELA
Seventh grade ELA classes ended on some very positive notes! After finishing "the Outsiders", the students were tasked with creating a record album with songs that connected to all the major characters and events from the story. The results were very impressive! Afterwards, we had our annual "Outsiders Day" where students dressed up as characters from the book, participated in several activities connected to the story, and watched the movie. Overall, it was a good ending to the year and best of luck to all the students headed off to eighth grade. Have a good summer!
Science
We had a great end to the year! The students housed crayfish to finish their ecology unit. They designed investigations and studied the behaviors of the crayfish.
Social Studies
7th Grade Social Studies wrapped up the year studying the period following the Civil War, with a focus on Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. We looked at the power struggle between the President and Congress over control of Reconstruction, took a side quest into impeachments in US History and finished with students examining the reality of what life was like during the Jim Crow Era. Our last topic was studying how American industry developed during the Gilded Age, using the documentary series, The Men Who Built America. Along the way, we did some essay writing, made some word clouds of famous speeches in US History and learned about some additional communities in New Hampshire. It has been a great first year at HDMS and I am so proud of all of the learning we did together and the growth students demonstrated from August to June!
8th Grade Update
ELA and Social Studies
Students recently wrapped up our study of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Throughout this unit, students explored Shakespeare’s language, analyzed characters and themes, watched different interpretations of the play, and brought the story to life through class performance.
To conclude the year, students completed an integrated English and Social Studies Final Reflection Mandala Project. Students reflected on the books, historical topics, and ideas we explored throughout the year and created personal symbols to represent their learning, growth, and connections. This project gave students an opportunity to look back on their 8th grade experience, celebrate their accomplishments, and thoughtfully represent the stories and experiences that shaped their year.
Math
8th Grade Math
To review concepts of volume, students put their creativity and problem-solving skills to work by designing their own miniature golf courses. Students began by creating obstacles using three-dimensional shapes and calculating the volume of each obstacle. They then brought their designs to life by constructing scale models using cardboard and other recycled materials. This hands-on project allowed students to apply their understanding of volume in a real-world context while encouraging creativity, collaboration, and engineering design. The final products showcased both their mathematical thinking and their imagination as they transformed simple materials into unique mini golf course replicas.
Algebra
Algebra students spent time reviewing the many concepts they learned throughout the year. From solving equations and graphing lines to working with systems of equations and functions, students revisited the skills they worked hard to develop all year long. It was great to see them apply what they have learned and recognize how much they have grown as math students. Their hard work, determination, and willingness to take on challenges have made for a successful year in Algebra.
Science - Our students closed the year working on Linnaean Taxonomy and species classification. Our students used Greek and latin roots to decipher the meanings behind various genus and species names, and also used them to create fictional species of fish.
Unified Arts
Music
On June 4th, band and chorus students attended the Great East Music Festival and then enjoyed an afternoon at Canobie Lake Park. The band and chorus performed two songs and then received feedback and participated in a clinic with the judges. Band won silver and chorus won gold! Congratulations!!
Library Media Center
The Library would like to celebrate all of the reading and designing of our HDMS students this year! Another huge thank you to the Hillsborough Community Thrift Store for the grant that purchased our 3D printers. Students really enjoyed designing and printing.
A huge shout out to our two top readers: Michael Liquori (read over 200 books!) and Julian Bourasssa (read over 100 books!) this school year.
Students in all classes worked on photography this past month. Use this link to check out some of their photos: HDMS Student Photography
Have a wonderful summer and keep reading!
Mrs. Petersen
HDMS Journalism
HDMS Journalism has been making its triumphant return! Students have been working really hard these first few months on creating news stories, columns, and reviews based on a series of different topics! The link is below if you want to take a look, major credit to all students. We'll hopefully be soon adding a "Podcast Page" based on the work Mrs. Petersen is doing with the students in the media center. Enjoy!
