Dear Families in the Middle,

The Parent Group meeting was most certainly a highlight of my day Monday. Among the many positive and forward-thinking ideas shared was information about the following opportunity:
"UWRF Offers Engineering Camp for Teens" 

You'll note we've added a Parent Group Update tab to our blog. Please just click on the tab (use the drop down on the top of your mobile device) to learn more about volunteer opportunities, special events, and ways to support our middle-level learning community!

We have drafted a Mission Statement and would appreciate your input.

Hudson Middle School learners challenge, support, and empower each other through purposeful collaboration and critical thinking while becoming informed, active, and caring contributors in the local and global community.

Please use this Google Form link to provide input and help us refine our efforts! 

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ann Mitchell

Dear Families in the Middle,

THANK YOU! Taking time to post a comment, send an e-mail, or make a phone call really helps us know what is helpful and additional steps we might take to continue to improve our "learning in the middle". It's also a wonderful way to affirm students for their learning and work!

Monday was a day of professional learning for our teachers.  Part of the learning included messages from students in response to the question, "What do teachers do that ENGAGES you and makes learning MEANINGFUL?" While we learn something EVERY day from our students, time to learn from each other, reflect on our learning, and apply it to our practice is limited and highly valued. For a sense of that value, here are a few messages from teachers' feedback after a day of learning:
* Making changes in our classroom arrangement, routines, and approach keeps students motivated
* I want to allow students to have more ownership in their learning by allowing them to create a plan.
* I'm excited to move forward with ideas!
* I want to give students something to DO to learn rather than something to learn. 
* I liked hearing about what motivates students: success, curiosity, originality and relationships
* I am pushed to ponder how to foster, develop and model curiosity.
* I have room to grow when applying a variety of learning strategies. There are so many good ones being used by others. 
* Appreciated student perspective of helpful strategies.
* I'm just like my students: engagement and attitude matter.

This morning (Thursday) we welcomed a team from GOOGLE to our learning community. They shared a powerful message "You are What You Share" with students and FIVE Tips to be responsible with our online communication:
1) Think Before you Share
2) Know and Use Your Settings
3) Protect Your Stuff
4) Avoid Scams
5) Be POSITIVE! (My personal favorite!)
For more information, your family might check out: google.com/safetycenter

During our 7th grade Google message, US Representative Sean Duffy introduced himself and reinforced the message of responsible online safety. Google is a powerful educational tool. With great power comes great responsibility. Thank you for partnering with us to help our students be empowered AND responsible learners!

Mrs. Ann Mitchell

Dear Families in the Middle,

We hope you're taking a few minutes to check out our NEW Communication Tool, composed each week by STUDENTS! Please click on the House Communication Tab at the top of the Middle Musings Blog. You'll also find a link to the blog on our Middle School website - top left corner.

Our House Communication Student Leaders (there are 28 of them!) would really appreciate your feedback. Please take time to comment or send us an e-mail to ask questions, offer suggestions, or tell us what you like about the communication. Thank you for taking the time to support student learning in this way!

One of my sisters recently sent me a description she said prompted her to think of me...and most likely many other parents! Someone she knows described parenting children as "Long hours, short years." She commented, "So true and bittersweet!" As I reflected on the description, I thought about how fitting it is for particularly these middle years. Staying up late to listen to them talk about homework or a conflict with a friend, racing from work to the rink, dance studio, gym, or piano teacher for activities, keeping them in shoes and clothes that fit, glasses and braces, taking them to the doctor for a broken bone or stitches, finding time for a meal with the family, helping a neighbor, visiting grandparents...and then suddenly, you realize the house is quiet.

As challenging and difficult as these long hours may be, we know the years pass quickly. We are enjoying being a part of your son's and daughter's lives during these "long hours" and "short years." While they try on variations of identity and explore their limits, their humor, insight and energy inspire us.

Warmly,
Mrs. Ann Mitchell

Dear Families in the Middle,

Happy New Year! It's a lovely winter scene outside my office window as I watch a large group of seventh graders on cross country skis on a snow-covered football field. We hope 2016 is filled with memorable joys and challenges you and your family find inspiring and uplifting. Speaking of joys, challenges, inspiration, and uplifting...

We are excited to share with you a NEW Communication Tool inspired by feedback on the Parent Communication Survey (October) and developed and improved by our STUDENTS! Simply click on the House Communication Tab above and you'll find a list of links - one for each House. When you click on a House Link, you'll see (from a student perspective) important reminders and highlights. Especially significant is the ASK ME...section in each teacher/course area. Here you'll find a question we suggest you ask your student. You'll even find links to an occasional sample of student learning, work, and creations! We hope this tool will inspire you and your middle-level learner to have conversations - in the car, over the supper table, or while waiting for the bus in the morning.

KUDOS to our Student Leaders behind this House Communication (and to their teachers who recommended them for this role) and to Mrs. Dressel, our Technology Integration Coach, for working with this team of students (9 at each grade level) to develop and refine a template. While I have an immense amount of faith in what our learners are able to create, their work has surpassed even my expectations! Their questions, thinking, and suggestions left Mrs. Dressel and me thrilled about the possibilities in the future! Please bear with us as our student-authors introduce and refine this communication tool. We know about and are working on a few corrections, edits, additions, etc. We look forward to your feedback and suggestions for making this tool even more meaningful and inspiring.

Warmly,

Mrs. Ann Mitchell

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass;

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Dear Families in the Middle,

The weather has been wildly misleading; it doesn't feel like winter and it most assuredly doesn't seem possible we're already into second trimester of our 2015-16 learning year! However, our students' work demonstrates progress. Check out the links and information below for marvelous examples of some of our students' learning:

STEM Sisters - 8th grade students advised by Mr. DeLeon
Cool Tool created collaboratively students advised by Ms. Goebel
Science Olympiad - advised by Mr. Anderson and Mr. Vanden Heuvel:
Our Hudson Middle School Science Olympiad Team competed in their first ever competition Saturday, December 5th in Boyceville, WI with 39 Middle school teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.

The team competed valiantly in 16 different events, achieving FIVE top 10 finishes:
-“Crave the Wave” (Charlie Iverson and Evgenia Roth) achieved a 10^thplace finish.
-“Invasive Species” (Isabel Brown and Julia Ginsback) achieved an 8^thplace finish.
-“Reach for the Stars” (Julia Ginsback and Emma Akenson) achieved an 8^th Place finish.
-“Anatomy and Physiology”(Avery Richardson and MacKenzie Korent) achieved a 7^th place finish.
-“Write it do it” (Abby Olson and Lauren Chukel) brought home the 4^th place medal.

This week's Green Tip:

Turn off the water while showering and brushing teeth.

Esme and Ella, Sustainability Club, advised by Mrs. Conklin

Beginning in January, we hope to provide our middle families with a quick link to House Communication - a collaborative endeavor between student leaders and teachers! (See the second tab at the top of this blog.) We're looking forward to your feedback when we launch this effort!

We're celebrating the Habits of Mind illustrated by characters in Star Wars and we're looking forward to students finding their own clips and illustrations of these important Habits of Mind! 

A break filled with family, peace, and joy may you have...(in Yoda speak),
Mrs. Ann Mitchell

Dear Families in the Middle,

What a lovely time of year! Did you see the beautiful sunrise Tuesday morning? Temperatures in the 40's?! It's the little (and big) things that add joy to our lives...warm and dry feet, the smell of coffee, a visit with a friend, and oncoming traffic on Carmichael stopping to let you make a left turn into the middle school at 7:16 AM.

Our first trimester Progress Reports are available for your review through Family Access. Please DO call us with questions - whether it's about accessing your child's Progress Report OR what the information means. For questions about accessing and navigating Family Access or to request a printed copy, please contact Cheryl in our office: engnesca@hudson.k12.wi.us; 715-377-3820, ext. 4022. For questions about your child's learning and grades, please contact your child's Advisor and/or individual teachers.

It's Computer Science Education Week! What better way to celebrate than to announce the addition of Introduction to Computer Science, a new 8th grade elective at Hudson Middle School, beginning with the 2016-17 school year? From a national perspective, the imperative to increase the U.S. talent pool in computer science and software engineering is clear. The projected number of job openings in 2018 for STEM fields will reach 2.8 million, with half of them being for computer specialists. Like many other STEM fields, the current demand and supply are mismatched, as computer science career openings outpace students’ skills and interest. Also, like many other fields, interest starts long before a student decides on a major or even applies to college. Introduction to Computer Science is a PLTW (Project Lead The Way) course designed to be the first computer science course for students interested in learning to write code. Students create apps for mobile devices, explore the impact of computing in society, and learn how computing applies in various career fields.

Our Student News Club just finished their first show! We're aiming for at least one news show monthly, thanks to the able advising of Ms. Liz Stolte! Here's a youtube link to our first news show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gGERRrghTA

Hudson Middle School is gearing up for Green & Healthy Schools recognition! Thanks to Mrs. Conklin and our Sustainability Group, an application has been initiated. Recognition is provided for schools taking action to reduce environmental impact and costs, improve health and wellness, increase environmental and sustainability literacy, and empower students. To complete the process, we will be assessing our practices in NINE focus areas: community involvement, energy, environmental and sustainability education, environmental health, health and wellness, recycling and waste management, school site, transportation, and water. We welcome parent and community support in this initiative! Please contact Ann: mitcheae@hudson.k12.wi.us or Gwen: conkligj@hudson.k12.wi.us to offer assistance!

Warmly,
Ann

Dear Families in the Middle,

We hope you've enjoyed time with family, good food, and several moments of gratitude over the past week! One of the many opportunities for which I am grateful includes working with our middle level parent group. Last Monday evening's meeting included a terrific report of fundraising efforts (over $14,000) and positive planning ahead for practical alternatives to raise funds, make healthy choices, and support families in need. So thankful for the optimism, engagement, and compassion of our parents! Our Hudson Middle School Parent Group (HMSPG) Mission:

"The Hudson Middle School Parent Group (HMSPG) provides support and resources to the school and parents for the benefit and educational growth of our children. Through volunteer coordination, organized events, and effective fundraising, we seek to enhance learning, strengthen communication between home and school, and encourage and celebrate and every student’s experience."

Our HMSPG generates funds to enrich the learning experience for students in several ways: supporting Raider Pride events, field trips, and HMS Angel Fund. If you would like to contribute to the HMSPG please consider a monetary donation through Just Give.org by clicking here Donate Now.  Thank you so much!

Associate Principal, Mr. Hagerman suggested we initiate a Middle Level Ambassadors group of student leaders. What a terrific idea! Student Ambassadors would be responsible for welcoming guests and visitors to our learning community, helping substitutes find classrooms and resources, and assuring anyone new to our school is welcomed and supported. We're seeking positive, kind, and helpful students to serve in this role. Students interested in applying to serve as an HMS Ambassador can print and complete this application by Friday, December 11.

Each week, I'd like to feature a student whose communication and collaboration inspires me. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to observe a group of 8th grade students in Mrs. Conklin's Science class. They had completed an assessment and were preparing to teach each other concepts. When I asked a student about the value in this approach, I was impressed by his response.

"I have learned a lot more than I thought I would. While I am doing the questions, I don't really think about it, I just answer them. But, when I was told to teach other students, I ended up having to slow down and think a lot more about the problems. Because of this, I feel that I learned more from teaching. I think that it is also very helpful for the students that are being taught. I think that it's sometimes easier for students to learn from somebody the same age as them."

                                                                                                       -Eliot Hester; 8th Grade Nobles

Another impressive moment from Eliot was after the bell rang and students began heading to their next class. Eliot paused, turned to Mrs. Conklin and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Conklin." Thank YOU, Eliot, for your leadership and positive attitude!

Inspired,
Mrs. Ann Mitchell