Panther News

Parents and Guardians,

Please remind your students to wear their uniforms daily. There has been a rise in students who have not been in uniform. If you or your family is in need of support please reach out to us so that we can connect your with the right resources.

• Uniforms: Uniforms must be worn each school day including Fridays. The only exceptions will be designated dress-down days that will be announced by a school administrator. CLICK HERE to review to Hilsman dress code. Note that students can wear a Hilsman spirit shirt with uniform bottoms on Fridays.

LEADER IN ME FEBRUARY THEME: SYNERGIZE

UPDATE: You will no longer be able to purchase a yearbook with your students dues. Yearbooks can only be purchased through the jostens website.

Reminder: Students will have a monetary fine added to their account if their device is broken, whether on purpose or accidental. It is so very important that students take care of the resources that they are using at school. Let us know if you have any questions.

Students will be dismissed from their last class in the afternoon when they are called, i.e, Walkers, Car Riders, or their specific bus number. Students are required to go directly to their designated departure location/bus. Students can not leave their classroom early or walk to the front office area unless they are car riders or walkers. Students who walk to the front of the school may not re-enter the bus loading area. Those students will be redirected to the front office to contact their parent or guardian regarding having a family member pick them up from school. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Our Hilsman 7th and 8th-grade band students recently demonstrated why the Panther Band program is one of the best around! Our students traveled to Clarke Central High School to participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Large Group Performance Evaluation.

This evaluation serves as a comprehensive "snapshot" of a band’s progress, grading them on technical skill, musicality, and their ability to learn on the fly. We are incredibly proud to share that our students received Straight Superior ratings—the highest possible score—for both their prepared stage performance and their sight-reading evaluation.

The Sight-Reading Challenge Sight-reading is one of the most rigorous tests for a young musician. Students enter a room with a piece of music they have never seen before. They have exactly six minutes to analyze the score, discuss the rhythms and notes, and ask questions. They are not allowed to play a single note until the timer stops and the performance begins. Our Panthers used their prior knowledge and incredible teamwork to ace this challenge, proving that they aren't just playing notes—they are becoming true masters of their craft.

Please join us in celebrating our talented musicians and their dedication to excellence!

Matthew A. Sines

Band Director

Hilsman Middle School

• Uniforms: Uniforms must be worn each school day including Fridays. The only exceptions will be designated dress-down days that will be announced by a school administrator. CLICK HERE to review to Hilsman dress code. Note that students can wear a Hilsman spirit shirt with uniform bottoms on Fridays.

• School doors open at 8:10 AM. UPDATE

• Front Office Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

• Early Dismissal: Students may be checked out for early dismissal until 3pm. After 3pm, the front office staff is busy making sure all of our Panthers get home safely and efficiently.

• Bus Changes: To ride the bus home with a friend, parents/guardians submit the change to the front office in writing in the morning. Once our office staff verifies the information with a parent or guardian, the student will receive a pass to ride a correct bus.

• Phones: Students are not permitted to use their cell phone OR have their cell phone out for any reason during the school day. The same is true for wireless headphones. Students are expected to use the phone organizer in each classroom or leave their phone in their locker. If a phone or wireless headphones are confiscated, a parent/guardian/adult may pick up the item at the front desk.

IMPORTANT REMINDER
Please remember that your student will not be able to participate in sports if they do not have:

1. A current physical on file

2. Rank One fully completed

Thank you for helping us ensure all student-athletes are ready for the season!

Hilsman Student Council Wins Several Awards at State Convention

The Hilsman Middle School Student Council continued its proud tradition of outstanding achievement last month, winning five statewide awards at the Georgia Association of Student Councils (GASC) annual convention. The convention, held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, gives student leaders across the state the opportunity to connect, share their experiences, and learn from each other. Twenty-six Hilsman students were in attendance.

For the second consecutive school year, Hilsman was recognized by GASC as a Council of Excellence. This award is given to middle and high school student councils that demonstrate integrity in their work throughout the year and commitment in serving their fellow students, school community, and the community at large.

Read more here about the awards received by the council!

21st Century After School Program Registration Open!

Registration for our *FREE* 21st Century after-school program is now open! We are pleased to continue offering 21st Century programming through federal grant money to middle school school students. Transportation is provided.

Programming includes academic enrichment, STEM, arts, and other educational activities. Days and times vary by school site. See each of these school flyers for more information.

Children ages 4-18 are invited to tryout for the Classic City Reign Majorette Dance Team from 4:30-6:30 p.m. March 18-20 at 3701 Atlanta Hwy., Athens. Children should wear black bottoms and a white top for tryouts. Contact 803--989-1593 for additional information and the link to the tryout form. You can also follow Classic City Reign on Instagram (@classiccityreign.majorette).

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🍕 Thank You, Johnny’s Pizza! 🍕
A huge thank you to Johnny’s Pizza for all the support you show to Hilsman Middle School! We appreciate everything you do for our students and staff.

Be sure to stop by Johnny’s and grab a slice—you’ll be glad you did!

Website: https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/Domain/24
Location: 870 Gaines School Road, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706 548-7281
Facebook: facebook.com/ClarkeCoSchools

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilsman.middle.school/

Website: https://www.clarke.k12.ga.us
Location: 595 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA, USA
Phone: 706-546-7721
Facebook: facebook.com/ClarkeCoSchools