HEMLOCK MIDDLE SCHOOL

This is our 17th week of the 2020-2021 school year. It remains our goal to provide you with regular updates. As this is my last weekly update of 2020, I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As this year is about to conclude, it provides each of us a moment or two to reflect on what is important. For me, that reflection involves a heartfelt thank you for the tremendous staff that we have here at Hemlock Public School District. Wall to wall, every facet of our team has come together to make this fall work for our students and families. Our team has managed to provide continuity to face-to-face instruction that has been unmatched.

Thank you to our students and families for all the support and cooperation, and compliance with changing regulations you have helped us work through. The biggest complaints seem trivial in comparison to the enormous amount of support from our families and partners. Each of you is the reason we do what we do every single day.

We will finish this week for K-8 face-to-face on Thursday, December 17th, with K-12 being remote on Friday, December 18th, and on Christmas break thereafter until Monday, January 4th. I have included our calendar for January below. The plan is to start back with two days of remote learning K-12 as we did after the Thanksgiving holiday. Tentatively, we are planning for all students to return to face-to-face instruction on Wednesday, January 6th.

When we return to school in January, please remember not to send children to a school with any sickness symptoms, cough, fever, etc. Sending children sick to school places our face-to-face instruction program at risk and creates inconvenience for you when we have to send your child home before the end of the school day.

Again, our team continues to refine our COVID-19 Dashboard with data updates in real-time and a location that brings pertinent information together into an easy-access place.

Don Killingbeck, Ed.D.

(989) 642-5282

Our synchronous learning schedule for this Friday, December 18th will be a little different.

We will be holding our synchronous classes online at the same times that face to face classes meet. This will allow everyone to have a normal lunch break for the day. Please see the schedule for this Friday below.

ALL students will start their day and must be logged on by 7:50 am.

Synchronous learning is for ALL STUDENTS .... remote and face-to-face!!!!

The students and staff had a great time enjoying Christmas Spirit week. Class participation was tallied every day and the Student Council cabinet members handed out 13 tickets every day for students to get their picture taken.

Student Council tallied each grade to come up with a total class participation for the week. Here are the weekly results......4th place - 7th grade, 3rd place - 8th grade, 2nd place - 6th grade and 1st place - 5th grade. Way to go 5th grade!!

Thanks to everyone for participating and making our last week of school festive and fun!!!

The mission/vision of Hemlock Public School District is to: Innovate, Collaborate, Educate, A Community of Learners. Our team of instructional experts is paving the way for continued innovation and increased collaboration as they work to create a unique educational experience that is unparalleled for our students.

Middle school teacher Jeremy Stedry said, “My classroom, which is a testing ground for various technology and other innovations, is likely what many other schools will see, if they are lucky, in 10 years or so. It is loaded with interactive displays, alternative seating, a sound system that communicates with small groups of students or the whole classroom, and so much more.”

The district is in the process of upgrading many technologies and other components in part due to COVID-19 relief funds. The district has updated computers, dual monitors, and a secondary conference system/computing device in each room. These hardware improvements come in conjunction with several software upgrades, like Google Enterprise, Skyward - Google Classroom Integration, Kami (PDF), Loom, and updated core curriculum across the district.

STEM and District Technology Director Lockwood said, “At Hemlock Public School District we are constantly looking for ways to improve and make things better for our staff and students.”

In addition to base technology, the district has provided multiple differing technology and tools via an internal proposal program to teachers by an application. These include:

• Bouncy bands
• iPads
• Additional Powerstrips
• Multimedia Tools
• Jamboards
• Web/doc camera
• Apple Pencils

Superintendent Don Killingbeck said, “Our mission/vision statement is more than words on a page, we strive to do more than just talk-the-talk, but we do everything we can to empower our staff to innovate, collaborate, and educate our community of learners.”

Round 4 of Christmas Movie Mania!

Follow the link to vote: https://forms.gle/KB5tDzg2SbpDxAcL8

Voting will last through the end of the day Thursday.

Voting for Round 5 will run Friday through Sunday.

Round 6 will start next Monday and the winning movie will be announced next Wednesday!

Round 3 Results (21 voters, winning movie listed first):
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 60%

It's a Wonderful Life - 40%

Prancer - 53%

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas - 47%
Home Alone - 75%

Christmas with the Kranks - 25%
The Santa Clause - 100%

The Star - 0%
Elf - 75%

Frosty the Snowman - 25%
Jingle All the Way - 55%

Die Hard - 45%
A Christmas Story - 71%

White Christmas - 29%
A Christmas Carol - 68%

The Nightmare Before Christmas - 32%

December is the first month of winter and the last month of the year.

National Cookie Day was December 4th. Other snacks celebrated this month include pie, cotton candy, chocolate brownies (mmm!), cocoa, and cupcakes.

December often marks the beginning of rain, snow, and cold weather.

A lot of people have days off around Christmas and before New Year's Eve.

December in the Northern Hemisphere is similar to June in the Southern Hemisphere.

The first day of Winter is on either December 21 or 22. This is the shortest day of the year and the longest night. It is called the Winter or Southern solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Anna Nurnberg, 12/19

Louis Englehart, 12/22

Annabelle Rigg, 12/22

Jade Huizar, 12/25

Aliyah Wasney, 12/25

River Smith 12/26

Kinsley Conger, 12/27

Emma Mishler, 12/28

Serenity Wenzel, 12/28

Travis Barrigar, 1/2

Elias Gomez, 1/7

• Friday, 12/18: Virtual day for everyone!
• Monday, 12/21 - Friday, 1/1: No School. Christmas break!!!
• Monday, 1/4 & Tuesday, 1/5: Virtual days for everyone!
• Friday, 1/8: Virtual day for everyone!
• Friday, 1/15: End of 2nd Marking Period and 1st Semester
• Friday, 1/15: Virtual day for everyone!
• Monday, 1/18: No School!
• Friday, 1/22: Virtual day for everyone!
• Friday, 1/29: Virtual day for everyone!

Email: kienitz.kris@hemlockps.com
Website: hemlockps.com
Location: 525 North Maple Street, Hemlock, MI, USA
Phone: 989-642-5253