Dear Families in the Middle,

We would very much appreciate your feedback on our HMS Communication. Please take just 2-3 minutes to respond to this brief survey. Thank you!

Hudson School District is participating in a Safe Routes to School study. This is particularly timely, given our new construction and an anticipated Carmichael Road corridor study. Nationwide, we recognize fewer kids are biking and walking to school and more parents are driving. One of the goals of the study is to determine the barriers to walking and bicycling to school: safety and traffic, for example. Another goal is to promote the benefits of walking and bicycling to school: increased physical activity and fresh air. Please take 10 minutes to respond to a parent survey. Thank you!

We hope many families will join us for our annual Learner Showcase and our first Maker Fair next Thursday, May 4, from 5 - 7 PM.

Dress code reminder: The grass is green, the daylight is longer, and summer weather is on the way! With that in mind, it's also a good time to remind students and parents about our dress code. We know student dress can be a factor in establishing a positive learning environment. Balancing self-expression with our need for safety, comfort and modesty, and minimal disruption and distraction is our goal. Please take a few minutes to talk about limiting exposure of body and undergarments. Thank you for your support in helping us keep our learning environment safe and focused.

During this spring season, we are especially appreciative of parent support in communicating concerns, reporting incidents and partnering with us to help our middle-level learners make more positive choices. Thank you!

Dear Families in the Middle,

Thanks to seventh grade student Ella Dockery, each grade level was treated to a Talent Show last Friday. We were entertained by a variety of performances, including magic card tricks, unicycling, piano and flute solos, flips, martial arts and student-composed music (solo and small groups). "I want my classmates to see each other beyond our school day, beyond academics and athletics - to see their other interests and gifts," Ella stated when she proposed the Talent Show in a letter earlier this year. Thank you, Ella, for your leadership and compassion, courage and vision!


Hudson Destination Imagination teams traveled to the state tournament in Stevens Point last weekend. Liz Malanaphy reported FOUR of our Hudson Destination Imagination teams qualified for Global Finals! The teams include one fifth grade team from Willow River Elementary, two Hudson Middle School teams, and one Hudson High School team. All four teams will represent our district in the Global competition in Knoxville, TN in May.  This is the 13th consecutive year at least one Hudson team has represented our district at this Global competition. Many thanks to our DI coaches and community for supporting this creative opportunity for our youth!

More good news! The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM) has (once again) named Hudson School District one of the "Best Communities for Music Education" for 2017! The recognition is awarded to districts demonstrating outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students. "IT's an honor to be nationally recognized for the commitment to music education by our district staff, administration, and school board, as well as by the continued support from the community," says our HMS Music Team (Mrs. Root, Mrs. Stein, Ms. Brown, Ms. Maher, Mr. Krasin). The honor is also important because of the research highlighting the personal benefits of making music as well as music's vital role in students' overall success in school. KUDOS to Hudson Schools and Hudson's music teachers for this recognition!

Thank you for your efforts to partner with us in limiting our middle-level learners use of their phones during the school day. You may find these articles inspiring as we navigate this challenging ease of access to social media:
60 Minutes story on Brain Hacking and Phone Addiction

 

Dear Families in the Middle,

Spring has sprung at HMS! We're seeing many students budding into caring, capable and creative problem-solvers! Whether competing in Science Olympiad's State meet in Milwaukee, participating in a solo / ensemble event in music, volunteering at our National Junior Honor Society Blood Drive, collaborating on a problem for a national STEM event, auditioning for our Spring Talent Show, or preparing for the Learner Showcase & Maker Fair...Hudson Middle School students are showing their colors in a variety of ways!

Science Olympiad - Regional Meet
Advisors: Mr. Matt Anderson and Mr. Eric Vanden Heuvel

James Gavin

Shannon Miller,

Samantha Breid
HMS Learner Showcase & Maker Fair
Coming May 4

From our Student Council Advisors: The last coin has been counted, and the results are in! Because we worked together, our Pennies for Patients House Money Wars campaign was a big success. We raised $1284.87 toward helping the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society meet its goal of eliminating blood cancers. The money we collected helps the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provide a wide array of resources to help those affected by blood cancers. If you know someone who has been recently diagnosed or is dealing with treatment or challenges, LLS funds the Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program, which connects patients and their loved ones with someone who has been through a similar diagnosis. For more information click here.

A few parents inquired about accessing their child's Progress Report (formerly termed Report Card) through Skyward's Family Access. We hope these handy directions will help you navigate to this report: Family Access - Student Portfolio

Enjoy the weekend!