Dr.  Kevin  M.  Hurley  Middle  School  

Parent  Newsletter  April  8,  2016  

 Dear  HMS  Community,       This  morning  we  celebrated  student  success,  honoring  our  Stars  of  the  Month  for  March  (pictured  above).  The  students  enjoyed  an  all  you  can  eat  breakfast  buffet  ceremony,  and  the  opportunity  to  play  games  and  win  prizes.  7th  grader  Jose  Baez  hit  a  half  court  shot,  taking  away  a  cash  prize!!  Congratulations  to  these  stars.  Their  names  are  listed  on  the  next  page  of  our  newsletter.       Last  night  was  our  annual  HMS  Jazz  Band  performance.  Everyone  in  attendance  enjoyed  the  music  as  well  as  the  food.  Thank  you  to  Mrs.  Grande  for  all  of  the  work  that  she  has  done  this  year  with  her  Jazz  Band  students.  You  can  read  more  about  last  night’s  performance  in  Mrs.  Grande’s  piece  of  this  week’s  newsletter.       This  week,  we  concluded  our  HMS  Unified  Sports  Basketball  season  with  a  big  game  that  took  place  in  the  gym  in  front  of  friends  and  family.  This  new  program  is  an  excellent  addition  to  our  school.  It  was  so  awesome  to  see  all  of  the  students  our  there  smiling,  and  trying  their  best.  Everyone  played  great!  Ms.  Bouchard  has  much  more  on  the  Unified  Basketball  Game  in  her  section  of  this  newsletter.       Tonight  is  the  annual  PTO  sponsored  Snowflake  Ball  at  the  Venus  DeMilo  in  Swansea.  The  event  begins  at  6:00  pm.       Lifetouch  will  be  here  on  Monday,  April  11th  for  the  spring  portrait  session.  Students  should  have  their  order  forms  ready  at  the  camera.  Students  do  not  need  money  on  this  day.  Next  week  should  be  an  exciting  week  for  students,  as  we  have  a  motivational  guest  speaker  named  Ed  Gerety  visiting  on  Wednesday,  and  our  annual  College  and  Career  Day  on  Friday.       April  vacation  is  Monday,  April  18th  –  Friday,  April  22nd.  Our  HMS  End  of  the  Year  Calendar  has  all  of  the  dates  that  you  need  to  know  for  the  rest  of  the  school  year,  including  PARCC  and  MCAS  testing  dates.  Mark  your  calendars!       This  edition  of  the  newsletter  includes  a  letter  that  eighth  grade  students  taking  the  Science  MCAS  Test  will  be  asked  to  sign  off  on  regarding  their  responsibilities  during  the  test.  Please  review  the  letter.    Dr.  Whalen       DC  Trip  Payment  #4  is  Due  Tuesday,  April  12th!!!  

   

   Stars  of  the  Month    March 2016 6th Grade Red – Ethan Clarke and Emma Hindle Yellow – Ava Gardner and Brady Halpin 7th Grade Blue – Jose Baez and Alaina Fortin Green – Ethan Gallishaw and Bianca Sebastiao 8th Grade White - Libby Dyson and Matt Frias Orange – Jacob Klang and Madison Khan Encore 6 – Chanelle Gomez and Spencer Deering 7 – Trey Ramos and McKenzie Gingras 8 – Brian Martinez and Libby Dyson                            

   Hello  Hurley  Families,    

 Players  standing  for  the  National  Anthem  

 This  past  Wednesday,  we  held  our  very  first  Unified  Basketball  Game,  

which  included  students  of  our  BASE  program  and  our  8th  grade  Student  Leadership  Team.  For  the  past  month  students  have  been  participating  in  a  basketball  intramural  program  with  Ms.  Skodras  and  I.  We  have  been  working  with  students  to  further  develop  skills,  and  learn  game  concepts.  The  game  concluded  the  intramural  program,  and  students  were  issued  a  jersey  to  wear  to  school  on  the  game  day.  I  could  not  be  more  pleased  with  how  the  game  went,  and  the  participation  among  the  students!  The  growth  and  teamwork  among  students  has  been  phenomenal!  

   I  would  like  to  thank  Ms.  Damiani,  Mrs.  Kenney,  Ms.  Marcueau,  and  Mrs.  

Armoush  for  helping  in  organzing  this  program.  In  addition  I  would  like  to  thank  Dr.  Whalen,  Mr.  Holden,  Mr.  Pellegrino,  and  Ms.  Skodras  for  making  this  day  memorable  for  our  students  and  their  families.  It  was  so  nice  to  see  the  support  of  many  parents  and  family  members  in  attendance.  We  look  forward  to  continue  to  develop  this  program  in  the  future.  Ms.  Bouchard-­  Interim  Assistant  Principal    

 Tip-­off  between  Jose  Baez  &  Aidan  Pilato  

 

                                 Game  day  smiles  outside  Mrs.  Kenney’s  room!      

 Blue  team  pre-­game  cheer!  

         Grace  MacDonald  dribbling  down  court!                

                 Marcus  Hoskins  &  Marc  Reakes  tipping-­off!    

                                         Cameron  Flores  defending  Maria  Duggan  and  Madison  Burbank  on  the  transition!      Photo  Credits:  Dr.  Whalen,  Mrs.  Turner,  and  Mrs.  Kenney.          

 

A Message from Mrs. Grande, Director of Music and Bands GREAT JOB last night at the JAZZ DINNER!!!. Both bands did a wonderful performance. A very special thank you to the HMS Band Parents and Mr. Mark Merolla for all the hard work and cooking. The deserts were wonderful and delicious. Thank you Mrs. Sicard and Elizabeth. This is a great fundraiser but even more importantly, a wonderful bridge to the high school. Thank you to all of you and the SHS Jazz Band too! NO JAZZ BAND MONDAY APRIL 11 Wednesday after school with 6th grade trombones was a fun learning extra help session. Several students improved on tone production, slide positions and note reading. Great work kids! 6 and 7 grade students were introduced to a fun, technology music game called Music Racer. The website is www.musicracer.com. Ask your child to show you how it works. They can play with note names, fingering, and musical terms. This is a great way to improve on all three areas. Don't forget the next Dine Out Day/Night at Miller's Roast Beef on Monday April 18th. Take the flyer with you and they will give 20% of your check to the HMS Band!

     

             

The Seekonk School Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Dear%Parent(s)%or%Guardian(s):%Students%will%be%asked%to%read%statements%about%their%responsibilities%during%MCAS%testing%and%to%sign%an%acknowledgement%indicating%they%understand%these%responsibilities.%The%statements%are%shown%below.%We%recommend%that%you%discuss%them%with%your%child%along%with%the%school’s%handbook%and%related%policies.Thank%you%for%your%involvement%in%your%child’s%education.%%%Sincerely,%Dr.%William%V.%Whalen%III%Principal%%By%signing%below,%I%understand%that%my%test%results%may%be%invalidated%if%I%do%any%of%the%following%activities%during%a%test%session%(including%after%turning%in%my%test%materials,%during%a%break,%or%during%the%transition%to%a%test%completion%area):%

•% duplicating%any%portion%of%the%test%or%answer%booklets%(e.g.,%photographing,%copying)%•% accessing%prohibited%materials%such%as%cell%phones%or%other%electronic%devices%(e.g.,%

% music%players,%game%consoles,%any%device%capable%of%taking%photographs)%for%any%% purpose%

• communicating%with%other%students%(e.g.,%talking,%whispering,%writing%notes)%• looking%at%any%other%student’s%test%or%answer%booklet%• consulting%notes,%books,%or%instructional%materials%during%testing%• working%in%a%session%other%than%the%one%being%administered,%looking%at%questions%or%

test%pages%beyond%the%stop%sign,%or%going%back%to%a%previous%session%• damaging%test%materials%or%removing%any%part%of%them%from%the%testing%room%

%I%also%understand%that%my%test%results%may%also%be%invalidated%if%I%discuss%the%content%of%test%booklets%or%my%responses%to%questions%with%anyone,%including%teachers.%If%I%have%any%questions%about%these%statements,%I%will%talk%with%my%teacher%or%principal.%I%understand%that%there%may%be%consequences%if%I%do%any%of%the%activities%listed%above%or%otherwise%violate%test%administration%rules.%%

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Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School 650 Newman Ave.

Seekonk, MA. 02771 508-761-7570

www.seekonkschools.org Dr. William V. Whalen III Ms. Alexis A. Bouchard Principal Interim Assistant Principal

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I"have"read"these"statements"and"understand"them."

Student’s Printed Name Student’s Signature Date

   Computer  Applications:    Please  consider  donating  to  our  classroom  project  on  DonorsChoose.org  to  help  us  get  mobile  devices  that  will  allow  my  8th  graders  to  post  on  social  media  with  ease.    Click  this  link  to  be  directed  to  the  DonorsChoose  website:    http://bit.ly/1quKq0P    Thank  you  in  advance!    Mrs.  DeLeo        Congratulations to the following students for achieving Blue Team Spotlight status for the month of March! They will be honored, with their parents, at a pizza party on June 1. Emma Auger Erin Fratus Jackson Kinney Jackson Leonard Madison Lezy Sarah Lezy Keep up the great work!!  

     

         

   

       

2016 HMS BASEBALL/SOFTBALL SCHEDULE All games start at 3:15 pm

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Seekonk @ Case (Monday, May 9th)

Wednesday, April 6, 2016 Middleboro @ Seekonk (Tuesday, May 3rd)

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Norton @ Seekonk

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 Seekonk @ Somerset

Thursday, April 28, 2016 Seekonk @ Berkley

Monday, May 2, 2016 Seekonk @ Rehoboth

Thursday, May 5, 2016 Case @ Seekonk

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 Seekonk @ Dighton

Thursday, May 12, 2016 Coyle Cassidy (BASEBALL ONLY) @ Seekonk

Monday, May 16, 2016 Rehoboth @ Seekonk

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Dighton @ Seekonk

Thursday, May 19, 2016 Seekonk @ Bridgewater

Thursday, May 26, 2016 Seekonk @ Raynham

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Somerset @ Seekonk

 

       

                               

     

                                 

2016 PARCC/MCAS Schedule Dates Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

6th Grade ELA 7th Grade ELA 8th Grade ELA May 4, 2016 April 29,2016 April 26, 2016 May 5, 2016 May 2,2016 April 27,2016 May 9,2016 May 3, 2016 April 28, 2016 6th Grade Math 7th Grade Math 8th Grade SCI- MCAS May 12, 2016 May 17,2016 May 10,2016 May 13,2016 May 18,2016 May 11,2016 May 16,2016 May 19,2016 8th Grade Math May 20, 2016 May 23,2016 May 24,2016

Blue Team

ELA:-My Super Core classes and Mr. Mare’s have begun reading I Am Malala, the powerful story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Noble Peace Prize winner. It is a story of hope and how one person can change the world. Work continues on preparing for PARCC. Students have been reading articles, answering questions for comprehension, and perfecting their open responses. Science One of the most common misconceptions about the seasons is that the closer the Earth is to the Sun, the warmer it is. Hopefully after this week the students will NOT be fooled by this misconception. We read, took, notes, discussed, modeled, and practiced open response questions all to make sure the students know the reasons for the seasons. There was an assessment on Thursday. We readdressed our location graphs after learning the content and made corrections. Next up - Phases of the moon, tides, and eclipses. We will wrap up instruction of the Astronomy Unit next week. Math: Students have been finishing up two-step and multi-step equations. We have begun reviewing area and perimeter and will be examining strategies for finding the area of irregular figures.