Week of 12/9/2018

Quote of the Week: Children need to get a high-quality education, avoid violence and the criminal justice system, and gain jobs. But they deserve more. We want them to learn not only reading and math but fairness, caring, self-respect, family commitment, and civic duty.

                                                                                                                           Colin Powell


It is Sunday in Athens! It was a long and tough last week but we persevered and are confident that we will end on a great note this week. I want to take a moment to thank all of the members of the community that continue to rally around the Panther Nation. Your understanding and kind words of encouragement go a long way to our students and staff. We appreciate it and are looking forward to your continued support as we move forward toward excellence the remainder of the year.

As a reminder, I ask that you speak with your scholar about the importance of following the expectations. It is important that they adhere to the CCSD Code of Student Conduct. All students are expected to contribute to a safe school environment, show respect for self and all members of and visitors to the school community, and engage fully in the learning process. Students that fail to meet these expectations will receive disciplinary consequences. We will NOT tolerate the continued disruptions to the learning environment. As a school, we are working to prevent student misbehavior by teaching and modeling the appropriate behaviors.  

The first quarter incentive for students that earned all As and A/Bs was a huge success. We are looking forward to an even greater number of students at the end of the second quarter. Please be sure to check Parent Portal for grades and missing assignments. You are encouraged to reach out to the teachers to help hold your child accountable for any missing assignments. We are making every effort to ensure our students are academically successful. Every child deserves to experience academic success!

Please note that while we have had a troubling last week, rest in the fact that the majority of our students continuously exhibit the appropriate behaviors and remain focused on being successful students.  As a true Panther Nation, we will remain committed to our pledge to improve student learning, promote growth, and good character. If you have questions and/or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your grade level administrator or your child’s teacher or school counselor.  Thank you for your continued support of our school.


Principal Tolbert


PTO Meeting- We will host a mid-year PTO Meeting on December 13, 2018, at 6:00 pm. Please come out and show your support as we are all work together to support Hilsman. 

Important Spanish Update

Parents,

We have been exploring many options for the 7th-grade Spanish classes.  I am pleased to announce that pending District's approval, we are looking to host an online Spanish class to serve our students. 

Elevate K-12 offers high quality live, online teaching to engage students. The platform will allow for a blended model of teaching and will be taught by a live instructor. The instructor will review the curricular needs with Mrs. Viera to ensure that all of the students' learning needs are met. 

I am excited about this opportunity and would like to share more information with our school community. We will host a short informational session during the PTO Meeting on December 13, 2018, at 6:00 pm to provide more information about the online platform.  Below you will find a parent letter that will give you more information about Elevate K-12.

Elevate K-12 Parent Letter

Principal Tolbert

Grade Level Blogs

The parents spoke and we listened! Every grade level now has a blog that will be shared every week. Here is where you can find grade-level specific information! Thank you to the teachers for making this possible! They ROCK!

6th Grade: hilsman6.blogspot.com

7th Grade: www.hilsman7.blogspot.com

8th Grade: http://hilsman8.blogspot.com/ 

Dress Down Friday

Starting NOW, each grade level's students and staff members have the opportunity to earn a dress down day on the following days:

Friday, December 14th

Thursday, December 20th

In order to earn this opportunity, there must be NO physical altercations on your grade level during the week prior. For example, if there are no fights on your grade level this week, your entire grade level may dress down on Friday the 14th. You will be informed Thursday afternoon if your grade level has earned a dress down day.

Make good choices; we would love to have Everyone dress down.

* Dress down clothing must adhere to CCSD Uniform code (i.e. no slides or open toe shoes, no rips or tears in pants, no leggin or jeggins, no explicit material, etc...). Please contact the school directly if you have specific questions about clothing.

Thanks, 

Admin Team

A shout out to Mr. Spencer and the other members of the staff who helped to host our First Robotics Contest at HMS! Great job Mr. Spencer
and members of HMS' Robotic Team!

Looking Ahead for FFA:

Dec 18- 7:15-8:00 Agriscience Fair Practice FFA Meeting and Coffee Hand Out 4:00-6:00 (Ugly Sweater Contest and Present Exchange- Presents are provided by FFA) Dec 19- 7:15-8:00 Agriscience Fair Practice  Dec 20- 7:15-8:00 Agriscience Fair Practice  

Band News

Hilsman Band Concert Monday, December 10 @ 6:30 in the Cedar Shoals Theater. Students arrive at 6:10. We will be selling hot dogs, soft drinks, and chips for $1.00 each. Support our band!

Art News

Students and parents: The last Art Club of this semester will be held on Thursday, December 13th until 5:30. If your child is interested, please have them see Mrs. Garland for a parent permission form. Thank you!

Don't forget! Follow @hilsmanmiddleart on Instagram to see student work!

The Week at a Glance

Monday
21st Century
PSP
Band Concert at 6:30 in the Cedar Shoals Theater

Tuesday
21st Century
PSP

Wednesday
21st Century

Thursday
21st Century
PTO Meeting 6:00 

HMS vs. CMS
Time: Girls-4:30, Boys, 5:30 Where: Hilsman Middle School Gym, Old location

Friday
21st Century

Week of 11/25/2018

Quote of the Week: 

Good afternoon!

Tomorrow is the big day! We will be returning to school after a much-needed break. I hope that you were able to enjoy your family and had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Admittedly, this was the first break where I actually rested and enjoyed time with my daughters! Now it is time to get back to the business of teaching, and learning.

Parents, we have a little less than four weeks before the close of the quarter. We need your help ensuring that your scholar(s) are held responsible for their learning. If they are signed up for 21st Century or PSP, please be sure to have them attend on the designated days. I encourage you to check Parent Portal for updates on grades by Friday of this week. If your child is missing any assignments for the second quarter, please contact the teacher in an effort to help your child(ren) successfully complete the course. We want all of our students to experience being academically successful at HMS.

Every third Monday of the month is College and Career Readiness Awareness Day. Although we are seeing a slight increase in the number of students that are wearing their college gear, it is our desire to have 100% of our students wearing college shirts. Moreso, we want every child to be aware of their options following high school. If you have shirts that you would like to donate to the school, please contact Ms.Barnett in the front office.

The honor's dinner is still on! A member of my team wanted to create a more stylish invitation. Students will be presented with their invitations tomorrow morning. We are looking forward to a great time.

Please read the announcements below carefully. I will see everyone tomorrow!

Principal Tolbert

Announcements:

Grade Level Blogs

The parents spoke and we listened! Every grade level now has a blog that will be shared every week. Here is where you can find grade-level specific information! Thank you to the teachers for making this possible! They ROCK!

6th Grade: hilsman6.blogspot.com

7th Grade: www.hilsman7.blogspot.com

8th Grade: http://hilsman8.blogspot.com/ 

Tardies/Absences


School begins promptly at 8:25. Our overall attendance average is hovering in the low-'90s. It is our goal to be 98% or above! We want all of our students to be present at school and on time. In the words of Mr. Dwight Manzy, when you miss school, you miss out! If your child must be absent from school, please send in an excuse ASAP.

Uniform Rule Update: Reminder as the weather changes

Although the CCSD Student Code of Conduct does not define the dress code for schools, it does inform parents to defer to the school's dress code rule. I have attached our Dress Code rule in an effort to provide more clarity related to the articles of clothing that are not permissible at HMS. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at tolbertu@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Below you will find the dress code specific to HMS. 


Amended Uniform Information 2018-2019

Rain Plan: 

The district has used our current building for schools under construction many times, however, this is the first time that the building has been used with middle school students.  The building is not as conducive to transitions that middle school students need to make thus it does pose some challenges and we continually are working to improve on these challenges.

The rain poses additional issues when we need to transition students from learning cottages to the building. The Hilsman staff worked collaboratively to developed a rain plan for our students, due to the fact students must transition outside, which as you may know can cause issues with student safety.  Please note that the rain plan impacts all students at Hilsman. The rain plan consists of our teachers transitioning to designated classrooms to conduct their classes. Our students are not losing any instructional time.

I have communicated with staff that if we need to revisit the plan that was developed, I am more than happy to do so to accommodate my staff and students.  We are working with the office of facilities about overhang structures to assist us with this issue. If you have any questions or concerns related to this plan, please feel free to contact Principal Tolbert at 706-548-7281.

The week at a Glance:

Monday
PSP
21st Century
4:00-6:00 FFA Outdoor Cooking Lesson: FFA Members can come and learn how to use Dutch Ovens- Bring a jacket we will be outside (under a shelter).

Tuesday
PSP 
21st Century
FFA Agriscience Fair Meeting 4-5 (You must attend either Tuesday or Thursday to compete)
Honor's Dinner

Wednesday
21st Century

Thursday
21st Century
FFA Agriscience Fair Meeting 4-5 (You must attend either Tuesday or Thursday to compete)

Sport: Basketball Who: HMS vs. BHL When: Thursday, 11/29/18 Time: Girls-4:30, Boys-5:30 Where: Burney Harris Lyons Middle School

Friday-Spirit shirts and uniform bottoms

Week of 11/11/18

Quote of the Week: 


Good afternoon Panther Nation!

Cheers to a great week at Hilsman. I would like to congratulate our Panther Girls and Boys Basketball Team. Although the girls did not win last week, they played with heart! Our boys got their first win of the season. We are in for what appears to be a great season!

As we are approaching the Thanksgiving Season, I would like to extend my gratitude to our school community. Your continued support of Hilsman is greatly appreciated by myself and our staff. We are truly a village supporting the education of our youth. Thank you Panther Nation! 

Thank you,

Principal Tolbert


Grade Level Blogs

6th Grade: hilsman6.blogspot.com

7th Grade: www.hilsman7.blogspot.com

8th Grade: http://hilsman8.blogspot.com/ 

Announcements 

Tomorrow is College and Career Day! It is important that we all come dressed in our college shirts and khaki pants/black pants or our Career gear! Data collected last month revealed that 78% of our staff and students were dressed in the appropriate attire! This is growth! Let's shoot for 100% tomorrow! We can do it! 

Orchestra News

Our Fall Orchestra Concert is Wednesday, November 14th at 6:30. The concert will be held at Cedar Shoals High School in the Fine Arts Auditorium. All orchestra students will perform and friends, family, and guests are encouraged to attend. Students will need to report to the Cedar Shoals Orchestra Room between 5:45 and 6:00 ALREADY dressed in their concert attire. (Black collared uniform shirt and black or khaki long pants or skirts.) Violin and viola students will need to bring their own instruments from HMS to Cedar Shoals that day. I will remind them in class. Cellists with home cellos are encouraged to bring them to the concert so we don't have to share. I will transport school cellos and basses for students without personal instruments. The students have been working so hard, and they can't wait to show you all they've accomplished! Please remember that orchestra concerts are a required and graded event for all orchestra students. Contact Ms. Floyd for more info. Floydr@clarke.k12.ga.us or ext 29365

News from Mrs. Hughes

America Recycles Day will be on Thursday, November 15. Hilsman will collect aluminum cans and used health and beauty product containers. These items will be sold and the money earned will be donated to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and UNICEF.
We will wear GREEN shirts and jeans to promote Green initiatives at Hilsman and in our community on Thursday, November 15.

Please Support Team Gora

Hilsman family,
Team Gora's annual fruit sale is going on now through November 15. Please contact Mr. Dorsey if you would like to check out the options and/or place an order (dorseyr@clarke.k12.ga.us). All funds will be used to provide opportunities for our students to participate in Community Based Instruction field trips. Thank you for your support!

Honors Celebration

Please join Principal Tolbert on November 27, 2018, at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria to celebrate students who earned all As or As and Bs in the first quarter grading period. I am extremely proud of our students and their accomplishments! Invitations will be given to students this week.

Basketball Schedules

Please come out and support our Panther Nation Basketball Teams.

Season Game Dates:	Opponent	Girls' Game Time 4:30 Boys' Game Time 5:30
Thursday, November 8, 2018	Coile Middle School	4:30 PM- 5:30 PM
Thursday, December 13, 2018	Clarke Middle School	4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Thursday, January 10, 2019	Burney Harris	4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, December 5, 2018	Coile Middle School	4:30 PM- 5:30 PM

The Week at a Glance

Monday- College or Career Day
21st Century
PSP

Tuesday
21st Century
PSP

Wednesday
21st Century

Thursday
21st Century
Go Green at Hilsman (Green shirts and Jeans for staff and students)

Basketball HMS vs. CMS Date: 11/15/18 Time: Girls :4:30 , Boys: 5:30 Where: Clarke Middle School

Friday
21st Century

Week of 11/4/2018

Quote of the Week:

“Education...is painful, continual and difficult work to be done in kindness, by watching, by warning,...  by praise, but above all -- by example.” -- John Ruskin

Good Sunday Panther Nation!

We are preparing for another week at HMS! As we continue to focus our attention on improving the academic and behavior of our students, I want to reiterate our theme to our school community that "It Takes a Village." It takes a village to carry out our vision which states that we are building a culture of high expectations and equity where all students grow academically and socially to improve our community and our world.

Panther Nation, we can not do this work without your support. We must all work together to move our school and our students to higher grounds. Therefore, I am challenging every member of our school community to uphold the core beliefs of Hilsman and CCSD. Please speak to your scholar(s) about the importance of showing respect to others, solving conflicts without violence, doing well academically, and being present at school. IF we all work together then we can make a difference at HMS.

As your leader I can not stress the importance of high parental involvement at Hilsman. It makes a difference in the education of a child! If you can not be involved due to circumstances beyond your control, I encourage you to work with another adult to help serve as a liaison between you and the school. We are always standing in the middle to help our students and our parents. This is an all call for everyone to get involved in the school! Come out and support the programs, games, conferences, and the work that we are doing to elevate our academics and turn our school around to be a beacon of light in our community.

Principal Tolbert

Announcements

Picture Information

Fall Picture Day for Retakes/Make-ups, Clubs, and Teams at Hilsman is Thursday, Nov. 8th. Students needing to have their pictures taken will need to be in uniform. Certain clubs and teams will not have their pictures taken for the yearbook until the spring. Coaches/Sponsors will let students know if they will be taking club/team pictures next week as well as what to wear for the group picture. Homeroom teachers will give out order forms during the week of Nov. 5th to students who need to retake or make-up pictures. Pricing information is on the order forms. Extra order forms are in the front office should you not receive one next week.

Binder Checks

Tomorrow is Dress Down Day for students that have met the binder checks requirements. If your child has a discrepancy with their point sheet, please email Ms. Tolbert. It is important that the students abide by our dress code. Remember that jeans or pants may not have any rips, tears,or wholes. No mid-drifts, halters, or sleeveless shirts. Slides art not permitted.

PSP

Parents if your child is signed up to participate in PSP, please be sure that they are reporting on Mondays and Tuesdays. This program is free and offers remediation in the areas of Math and Language Arts. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Tonya Ward at tward@clarke.k12.ga.us or 706-548-7281.


Honors' Reception

Here is to all of the parents of students that earned all As or As and Bs during the first 9 weeks of school. Ms. Tolbert would like to extend an invitation to you and your scholar to join her in an Evening of Excellence on November 27th at 6:30 pm at Hilsman Middle School. Invitations will be given to the students no later than Friday! Please mark your calendars.


Week at a Glance

Monday
PSP
21st Century
Binder Dress Down Day


Tuesday-NO School-Exercise your right to VOTE

Wednesday
21st Century


Thursday
21st Century
HMS vs. Coile Middle School

Date: Thursday, 11/8/18 Time: Girls-4:30, Boys-5:30 Location: Hilsman Middle, old location

Friday
21st Century

Week of 10/28/2018

Quote of the Week:

Happy Sunday and what a weekend it was in the city of Athens! Go Dawgs! Hopefully everyone enjoyed the time away from school and the weekend. Tomorrow is Monday and we are back at it at Hilsman 2.0. 

Congratulations to our Hilsman Middle FFA students for competing at the National FFA Agriscience Fair. Students placed 1st in the state contest in April, moved on to the top 12 in August and winners were announced yesterday in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were coached by the SPECTACULAR Mrs. Rene Martin! Mrs. Martin works hard and gives her all to help our students. A big thank you to Mrs. Martin and the parents that accompanied our team on this trip! It was well worth it! Hilsman Middle School continues to make our community proud!

Emma McElhannon and Ella Barkdoll placed 1st in the NATION with their animal science project on the amount of protein in horse feed! 

Ella Johnson and Tory Ratajczak placed 2nd in the nation in the Social Science category with their project on dog food preference and data on overfeeding and underfeeding dogs in the Athens, GA area.

This week several shifts will happen in our school. Mr. Mosely will join the 8th grade team as a Science teacher, Mrs. Fox will join Mr. Watkins and Ms. Rhorbach in 6th grade Science and Mrs. Skinner will return to teach the high school Science courses. We are also excited to welcome Mr. Brandon Brock (6th grade ELA) and Ms. Lauren Wood (7th grade ELA) to our Panther Pact! Our teams are almost complete!

Lastly, I would like for our Panther Pact to welcome Mr. Fabian Jones to the Panther Nation! Mr. Jones will be joining Mr. Forker and I as an Assistant Principal. Mr. Jones met the students Thursday morning! We are so excited to have him join our team.

WE NEED YOU!

Parents,

We are in need of 1 parent and 2 community members to represent on our Local School Governance Team. I have received information from 2 parents expressing their willingness to serve! We meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month. This group helps to govern HMS and weighs in on important school level decisions that support the learning of our students. Please consider and contact me if you are interested!

We are also seeking parents to represent HMS on the CCSD Parent Advisory Board. This group meets once a month on Mondays at 6. This groups helps to weigh in on district level decisions and represent our school community. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP.

Pinking it Out

On October 31, 2018, the Panther Nation will host a Pink Out at HMS. Everyone will wear pink to culminate the ending of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We want to show a little extra love and support to our community members who have survived, currently experiencing, or have lost a loved one to breast cancer. A continental breakfast will be provided to members of our community from 8:00-8:45! Please help spread the word to our community!

Fresh Vegetables at HMS

We are going to have a produce market on Thursday, November 1st. Ms. Martin's Agriculture Science students are going to help out and we will be set up near the car rider line.

Produce Flyer

Available Resources

Dear Parents and Guardians, We would like to offer some resources for students taking high school classes in 8th grade. Georgia Virtual Schools has a sister site that is free. The modules teach the standards consistent with the classes offered. Below is the information and procedures for using the site. Go to http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/resources/sharedlandingpage.aspx At the top right, click on Resources. On the left side of the page, you will see the Subject options. Click on the subject, and the class options will appear below in the Courses section. For High School Science, choose Physical Science. For High School Spanish, Click on World Language under Subject and Spanish I under courses. For High School Math, Click on GSE Algebra 1 and/ or GSE Analytic Geometry

Binder Check Information

Dress Down Day for October's Binder Check will be November 5!

Grade Level Blogs

The parents spoke and we listened! Every grade level now has a blog that will be shared every week. Here is where you can find grade level specific information! Thank you to the teachers for making this possible! They ROCK!

6th Grade: hilsman6.blogspot.com

7th Grade: www.hilsman7.blogspot.com

8th Grade: http://hilsman8.blogspot.com/ 

Week at a Glance:

Monday

PSP

21st Century

Tuesday

PSP 

21st Century

FFA Meeting 4-6

Wednesday-Hilsman Goes Pink
Students are permitted to wear jeans and a pink shirt or any pink accessories for Breast Cancer Awareness

21st Century

Ag Class SAE Checkpoint 1 hour/1picture

Thursday

21st Century

Friday-Spirit Shirt and uniform bottoms