Week of 5/14/17

Quote of Week
                                              

Good evening,

Happy Mother's Day! I hope all of you are enjoying the day. Soooo we are down to the last 5 days! I know many of you are excited. Our week will be full of fun activities. It has been a great year. Shout out to the Band and Chorus for the great performances last week. Also if you had an opportunity to visit during Field Days, you witnessed the students having a blast. The Coaches and the rest of the Connections Team did a great job organizing the events. I have been asked several times about uniforms. This week only 8th grade will be out of uniform! But wait, there is a catch! They must donate 2 uniform items for next year's uniform closet. Please contact Mr. Blake if you have questions. All other grade levels may be out of uniform on the day of their Awards Ceremony and Friday! Remember to follow the dress code. Thank you for a wonderful first year. It has been great serving as the Principal of the Finest Middle School in town! Cheers to the last week of school!

Announcements:

You are invited to help plan the

HILSMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

2017-2018 Title I Family Engagement Program

At this Title I Planning meeting we will...

• Review and revise the Title I Family Engagement Plan and the School-Parent Compact
• Get input on how we can help you help your children to succeed in school
• Get input on how to spend the Clarke County School District’s Title I, 1% Parent Involvement set aside

The meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 17th in the school cafeteria.

We look forward to working with you to make 2016-2017 the best year for families at Hilsman Middle School yet!

If you have any questions, please contact: Ms. Jamie J. Hogan at (706) 548-7281 or hoganj@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Orchestra

Orchestra Open House Wednesday from 4:00-6:30.  Parents and students interested in orchestra should drop by the Orchestra Room to sign up and choose an instrument.  Orchestra is open to any rising 6th grader, as well as any current 6th graders interested in joining.  Please contact Ms. Floyd at floydr@clarke.k12.ga.us for more information!

21st Century

If you are interested in your student participating in the 21st Century STEAM Program, please get an application from Ms. Nix. Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will meet at Cedar Shoals June 5-29, Monday-Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. 

Rising 9th grade students will meet at Clarke Central June 5th - June 29th, Monday - Thursday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Transportation is provided for both programs. 

Please click on the link below for a special message from Mrs.Trammel

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=4aadd8b767&view=att&th=15bf864e6752cfa6&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=8fe9773f27a0a060_0.1&safe=1&zw

Media Center News

For Staff, Students, and Parents: All devices, chargers, HotSpots, and library books have been collected, so please send any that you find around home or campus to the Hilsman Media Center. Thanks!

Yearbooks are still on sale. Send payment to Ms. Nix.

Award Ceremonies

6th Grade- May 17, 2017 @ 9:30
7th Grade- May 16, 2017 @ 2:00
8th Grade- May 15, 2017 @ 2:00

8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance
May 11, 2017 @ 6:00

8th Grade Moving On Ceremony
May 18, 2017 @ 6:00

Monday- B Day

FFA Officer Banquet Practice 4:00-6:00

Tuesday- A Day

FFA Banquet  6:00pm (All Staff are invited!) (All FFA members will be recognized and we are asking parents to bring a dessert or side dish.)

Wednesday- B Day

Orchestra Open House

Thursday- A Day

Friday- Last Day of School- B Day

Early Release at 12:30 

Week of 5/7/2017

Quote of the Week: The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.


Parents,

It is hard to believe that there are only 10 more days of school left. The year has flown by and the last few weeks have been filled with students and staff representing Hilsman and winning awards. I am so proud of the work that they are doing on behalf of the school. They all deserve a HUGE shout out!

As mentioned earlier the last days of school are going to be filled with fun activities. Learning will be taking place but in a very different manner. Please pay close attention to the dates as some activities have been moved around to accommodate the many events that are happening at Hilsman.

I also want to take a brief moment to address some of the concerns regarding bullying and on going communication at Hilsman. The Administration Team at Hilsman works hard to to provide a safe environment that is conducive to learning. We strive to build meaningful relationships with our students and families. Panther Nation News and Parent Link are the main sources of communication with our parents and community. If you are not connected, please visit CCSD's website and go to the Get Connected link. If there is an issue that you would like to bring to the attention of administration, please contact the school to schedule an appointment or send an email. We will  make every effort to attend to your concern.

Students are encouraged to report any acts of bullying immediately to an adult. We can not help if we are not made aware of the situation. With the help of one of our Professors in Residence, the counselors have designed an anonymous survey to be given Monday to students. The survey will allow us to gather data to help to continue to improve our Anti-Bullying Program at Hilsman. It is my hope that the program will create a space for students to feel comfortable talking about bullying and making reports. We will also begin the 2017-2018 school year with an anti-bullying rally that will allow students/parents to share their experiences with hopes of ending bullying at Hilsman. If you are interested in participating or know of some experts that would be willing to serve as speakers, please contact me. I have attached a link to a great article that speaks to the differences between bullying and other behaviors. It is a great read and will provide you all with a different perspective about the definition of bullying.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/signe-whitson/bullying_b_2188819.html

As principal of Hilsman, it is important for me to lead my students and staff to higher ground. I do this with passion and pride. My goal is for Hilsman to be the BEST middle school that it can be each and every day.  I value the help of parents to support the school, celebrate successes of our children, and for making me aware when there are concerns that needs to be addressed. Hilsman is a great school, with wonderful students, and a dynamic team of teachers. I hope that you have enjoyed the weekend.

Respectfully,

Ms. U. Tolbert


Announcements

Please Congratulate Mrs. Skinner and Ms. Kasey Brinkley on being chosen by the staff as the 2017-2018 Teacher and Para-Professional of the Year. 

Band Concert at Cedar Shoals Auditorium Monday, May 8th at 7:00

On May 13, 2017 (Saturday), Hilsman will be hosting a Rising 6th Graders Transition Camp. There is no cost and transportation will be provided to students that are within the zone. Please see your child's principal or contact Ashley Destefani for more information. The deadline for registration is this Friday.

Field Day Events

Students may wear shorts and their team colors!

6th Grade-May 8, 2017
7th Grade- May 10, 2017
8th Grade- May 12, 2017

Award Ceremonies

6th Grade- May 17, 2017 @ 9:30
7th Grade- May 16, 2017 @ 2:00
8th Grade- May 15, 2017 @ 2:00

8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance
May 11, 2017 @ 6:00

8th Grade Moving On Ceremony
May 18, 2017 @ 6:00

The Spring Chorus Concert has been changed to May 12th @ 6:30


May 8, 2017 will be the last day of 21st Century

Seventh grade students who need tutoring or to make up work may stay after school with Mrs. Jones.  Please make arrangements a day in advance.  All students must be picked up by 5:00 p.m.

FFA Banquet Tuesday May 16th at 6:00pm. Hilsman Cafeteria. All FFA Members will be recognized.

Year Books are back and they look AWESOME! Get your copy for 24.00. Contact Ms. Nix

Testing Information

May 8, Monday- EOCT HS Physical Science Make-up 

May 9, Tuesday - EOCT HS Coordinate Algebra

May 10, Wednesday - French 1 Final Exam

May 10, Wednesday - Spanish 1 Exam (written)

May 11, Thursday - Spanish 1 Exam (oral)

Please note that the testing window was set by the state. In order to accommodate the students are on on the Washington, D.C. field trip, we were allowed to administer the test on Monday. The teachers have done a great job of preparing them for the test.

Support the Hilsman Garden and your healthy lifestyle by attending our weekly produce market every Wednesday from 4-6 at Hilsman. We have fresh, local vegetables and herbs from the UGArden and HilFarm available for purchase, and can accept cash, check, and cards. Any EBT cardholders qualify for a 50% discount on veggies! We hope to see you there!

Week at a Glance

Monday- A Day
Last Day of 21st Century


Tuesday- B Day
Building Construction Committee @ 5:00
Final PTO Meeting @ 6:00 (serving pizza)
Agriculture Make-Up Day 4:00-5:00

Wednesday- A Day
Mother's Day Plant Sale 4:00-5:00

Thursday- B Day
Mother's Day Plant Sale 4:00-5:00
FFA Agriscience Fair Recognition at Board of Education Meeting @ 6:00


Friday- A Day

Week of 4/30/2017

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your patience with the posting of the news. It was a busy weekend. We are back at it this week finishing up make ups for the Milestones as well as preparing for the End of Course tests. The next 15 days are filled with important events. I want to remind you to read and pay close attention to the dates and times posted in the announcements. Thank you to the parents that came out for the 8th grade Parent Meeting. Although we had a light crowd, Mrs. Varitek and Mr. Harris shared some great information to assist you with your child's transition to high school. 

If you missed the 80's Dance, you missed a treat! The students and teachers looked great. We had a ton of fun. I am sure that the students had a lot to talk about after watching a great performance by Mr. Phil! It was all a blast from the past. The adults may have had more fun than the students.

Mr. Forker and I have a busy schedule for the next 15 days. I respectfully ask that if you would like to meet with either of us that you call the front office to schedule a meeting or send an email. This will allow us to take care of our duties and responsibilities as well as attend to your concerns. Thank you in advance for your help. Also, please continue to remind your scholar to follow the expectations until the end. We have had an increase in play fights and "tissue rolling" in the restrooms. We have limited unsupervised passes for students however if there is an emergency, teachers will allow them to use the restroom or attend to the emergency. They are aware that the year is coming to an end and are pushing the limits in some areas. It is our goal to keep everyone safe as well as to end the year with all students present. 

As mentioned before, we are on the final lap of the race! Hang in there! Together we can end the year successfully. As I close please help me Congratulate our students/staff on the many wonderful events that Hilsman has received recognition within the last week! 

First Place and Heading to Nationals In Indianapolis!

Ms. Smith
Coriander McGreevy and Emma McElhannon
Tory Ratajczak and Ella Johnson
Hadiza Sarr and Serenity Howell

The following members placed second and were less than .5 from first place which is amazing!

Raquel Fillingim and Kori EdmondsBecca Thompson 

State Stock Market Game Winners-They will be the special guests of the State Superintendent tomorrow!
Gregory Stephens (Teacher)
Adam Fischer
Toby Bolton 
Vince Wesley

Our students competed against 30 highly competitive team, and clinched #6 overall. We also received a number of compliments for our students' remarkable sportsmanship, and they represented Hilsman well.

Please congratulate our students for their hard work and integrity!

U. Tolbert


Upcoming Events

On May 13, 2017 (Saturday), Hilsman will be hosting a Rising 6th Graders Transition Camp. There is no cost and transportation will be provided to students that are within the zone. Please see your child's principal or contact Ashley Destefani for more information. The deadline for registration is this Friday.

Field Day Events
6th Grade-May 8, 2017
7th Grade- May 10, 2017
8th Grade- May 12, 2017

Award Ceremonies

6th Grade- May 17, 2017 @ 9:30
7th Grade- May 16, 2017 @ 2:00
8th Grade- May 15, 2017 @ 2:00

8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance
May 11, 2017 @ 6:00

8th Grade Moving On Ceremony
May 18, 2017 @ 6:00

8th Grade Washington D. C.Trip
May 3-7, 2017

May 8, 2017 will be the last day of 21st Century

Seventh grade students who need tutoring or to make up work may stay after school with Mrs. Jones.  Please make arrangements a day in advance.  All students must be picked up by 5:00 p.m.

EOCT Finals

EOC Test for HS Physical Science - May 5 (Make-up May 8)

EOC Test for Coordinate Algebra - May 9 (Make-up May 10)

French 1 Final Exam - May 10 (Make-up May 11)

Spanish 1 Final Exam - May 16 (Make-up May 17)

Week at a Glance

Monday- B Day
21st Century


Tuesday- A Day
21st Century


Wednesday- B Day
21st Century


Thursday- A Day
21st Century


Friday- B Day

Week of 4/23/17

Quote of the Week: 


Good Day Panther Nation!

Happy Friday! We have had a wonderful week of testing at Hilsman and our students have maintained a positive attitude. As we walked through the building, we observed students focusing and working hard. Next week we will continue to test. Please continue to encourage your child to show what they know on the test. I respectfully ask that parents limit phone calls and early check out for students during the testing hours. We want to limit interruptions to the testing environment. 

We have a lot of events coming up as we are nearing the end of the year. Please stay informed of dates and times. If you have questions, please directly contact the school. As always, we want to promote a positive school culture. Our students are bursting with energy as we are nearing the end of the year. Please continue to speak with your students about the school expectations. We are almost to the end! Have a great weekend!

U. Tolbert

Announcements:

Friday, April 28th Hilsman will host a school dance. The theme will be The 80s! It will be lots of fun and an opportunity for students to celebrate the end of Milestones. The cost will be 2.00 per student and refreshments will be sold. See you all there in your 80s gear!

Sixth grade Hilsman student Ikeoluwa Ojo is competing on Saturday, April 22, 2017 in the State Social Studies Fair being held at Clayton State University in Morrow, GA.

Seventh grade students who need ELA remediation or makeup work may make an appointment to stay after school with Mrs. Jones.  They must be picked up no later than 5:00.

From the Nurse

6th graders are due to receive the MCV immunization and 2nd Varicella in order to be considered up-to-date for 7th grade.  Can you please add this to your blog so parents can make plans and schedule appointments to get their 6th grader immunized. Your help is greatly appreciated and may save a tree.

Stay happy and healthy!

Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22!

SET Fundraiser on Earth Day

One way to celebrate the day before going to other Saturday activities is to enjoy a pancake breakfast at Fatz Cafe.  The fundraiser will take place from 7:30-10:30 am.  

Science & Energy Team members that are trying to earn money for a trip to Atlanta and Washington, DC will be there to bring you a delicious breakfast.  If you don't have time to sit down and eat, you can request a to-go breakfast.  

If you are not a fan of pancakes stop by and bid on some of the Silent Auction items.  Silent Auction bidding ends at 10:00 am.

Upcoming Tests:

EOC Test for HS Physical Science - May 5 (Make-up May 8)

EOC Test for Coordinate Algebra - May 9 (Make-up May 10)

French 1 Final Exam - May 10 (Make-up May 11)

Spanish 1 Final Exam - May 16 (Make-up May 17)

Week at a Glance

Monday: A Day

Milestones Make ups

Ag Science Fair Practice 4-5

Tuesday: B Day

Math Milestone

Science Fair Practice 4-5

Wednesday: A Day

Science Milestone

Ag Science Fair Practice 4-6

Thursday: B Day

Social Studies Milestone

Thursday- Saturday State FFA Convention Macon, Georgia
8th Grade Parent Meeting with Mrs. Varitek (Cedar) and Mr. Harris (Career Academy) 

Friday: A Day

Milestones Make ups

FFA Convention Macon, Georgia

Saturday:

FFA Convention Macon, Georgia

Jaq Nation News

5A State Track Sectionals @ Eagles Landing HS  9:00 am

GO JAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week of 4/17/2017

Quote of the Week: 

Greetings,

It is my hope that you are enjoying your weekend and the beautiful weather. For those that celebrate Easter, Happy Easter. It is going to be a busy week as we will begin testing. Please ensure that your child is at school no later than 8:25 and prepared to test. Students will need to bring their devices and chargers in an attempt to avoid any testing issues. We are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to testing. Please help us help the students by reminding them to do their best on the test. 

Last week was Assistant Principals' Appreciation Week. Mr. Forker has been a great addition to the Panther Nation. He works endlessly to perform his duties and responsibilities at Hilsman. His work is appreciated and does not go unnoticed. Join our staff in showing a little extra appreciation this week as he is the testing coordinator and will probably need an extra smile! Thank you Mr. Forker! 

Below you will find the announcements and week at a glance.

Ms. Tolbert 

Come Sing with Hilsman

HMS Chorus Concert is May 11th at 6:30

Calling all singers and none singers! Here is your chance to sing. Please consider joining the Hilsman Community Choir. Rehearsal (Hilsman Community Choir) will be Tuesdays at 4:30 pm in room 133. If you would like to participate email Mr. Lawrence for music and lyrics.

Pancakes

Congratulations!

Congratulations Mrs. Hughes on helping Hilsman Middle School become the grand prize winner for the Atlanta Falcons Green Team Recycling program! Mrs.Hughes has worked with students at Hilsman to keep us Green!

The grand prize winner will receive a special visit from a Falcons Player, Cheerleaders, Freddie Falcon, a $2,500 grant, and a commemorative gift. Additionally, the Grand Prize winning teacher will also receive a grant to attend Keystone Science School's Key Issues Institute. Congratulations again!!

Great News

Check out what the newspaper did not report about Hilsman! Our students are doing amazing work. Here are a list of students that were honored last Thursday at the BOE meeting! 

 

Monday- B Day

4:00-4:30 FFA Officer Meeting


Tuesday- A Day
ELA Milestone Test Part 
4:00-5:30 FFA Ice Cream Social (Bring your favorite topping or ice cream!)


Wednesday- B Day
Testing Make up


Thursday- A Day
ELA Milestone Test Part 2
Agriscience Fair Practice 4:00-5:00


Friday- B Day
Testing Make up
Agriscience Fair Practice 4:00-5:00

Week of 4/7/17

Quote of the Week:



Happy Sunshine! 

It is great to see the sun shining so bright after a week of strong storms and rain. The students were safe and did an awesome job of handling business as normal at Hilsman. Please continue to encourage your child to finish the year strong. Congratulations to our Boys Soccer Team! They played a great game yesterday. We lost however they showed GRIT on the field. Both of our soccer teams had a great season.Thank you to the coaches for their dedication and time. Thank you parents for your support! 

I want to give a huge shout out to our 7th graders! They visited UGA last week and received  compliments on their behavior and engagement. Way to go 7th grade! It is also  exciting to recognize our students that participated in the 2017 Special Olympics! They came back super excited about their events and ribbons. Congratulations!

We are preparing for the administration of Milestones. The teachers have done an exceptional job of preparing the students and it is our belief that our students will perform well on the test. Please ensure that students are present and arrive to school on time. In an effort to avoid any disruptions to the testing environment, I highly encourage students to leave their cell phones at home. We have had several incidents with cell phones the last three weeks. It is suggested that students and parents review the No Flex Zone rule. 

If your child is becoming anxious as a result of the upcoming test, please schedule an appointment with one of our counselors. We want to  encourage them to do their best but do not want any student to experience health or mental issues. 


   
Below you will find the week at a glance as well as important announcements.

Announcements:

Congratulations to Saketh Chaluvadi who represented Hilsman Middle School on March 31 at the State Geography Bee, held at Georgia College and State University. 

Students in the seventh grade needing makeup work or ELA remediation may stay after school with Ms. Jones from 4:00 until 5:00.  Please let her know a day in advance, and students MUST BE PICKED UP or have a way home NO LATER THAN 5:00. 

TUESDAY CCSD Fine Arts Celebration Orchestra Performance 

The 7th and 8th Grade Orchestras will perform at Clarke Central on Tuesday (4/11) as a part of the CCSD Fine Arts Celebration.  We will take a bus from HMS to CCHS and back, but parents and guests are invited to join the audience at Clarke Central.  We will play in Mell Auditorium at 5:40.  Students will leave during 7th period and return to HMS for pickup at 6:30.

THURSDAY Spring Orchestra Concert

All orchestra students in grades 6-8 will perform their Spring Concert on Thursday.  The concert is at 7:00 in the HMS Old Gym, orchestra students should report to the orchestra room at 6:30.  

Rival soccer weekend this Saturday April 8, hosted by Cedar Shoals! Cedar Shoals versus Clarke Central, JV boys at 1, alumni game at 3, Varsity girls at 6, and Varsity boys at 8. Come out and support the Jags, who are also Hilsman and Coile alums. There will be good food at concessions and a fun day of soccer in Athens. Go Jags! (HMS soccer players get in free with their jerseys)

Milestone Testing Dates

Parents,

Students will need to bring their devices to school every day fully charged. It is also suggested that they bring their chargers too. Please make sure that charges are labeled with the students name, grade, and homeroom teacher.

4/18 - ELA Day 1

4/20 - ELA Day 2

4/25 - Math

4/26 - Science (8th Grade only)

4/27 - Social Studies (8th Grade only)

5/5 - Science EOCT

5/8 - Science 

5/9 - Math EOCT

5/11 - Math EOCT Make-up

Week of 5/15 - 5/19 - Foreign language finals (TBD in accordance w/ CSHS)

​

Milestones Practice Tests for the Public

The Experience Online Testing Georgia website is available with a demonstration test for each of three grade bands: grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and high school – with sample items from each content area.  While the 3-5 and 6-8 grade bands will contain Science and Social Studies items, please be reminded that these two content areas will be assessed in grades 5 and 8 only.  The primary purpose of this website is to provide exposure to the online platform that students will utilize when taking the Georgia Milestones tests. Included are examples of multiple-part, multiple-select, and evidence-based selected-response items.  As communicated, these item types were operational beginning with the Winter 2016 End of Course (EOC) administration in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics and with the Spring 2017 End of Grade (EOG) and EOC.  These item types will be field tested, for the first time, in Science and Social Studies in Spring 2017 for both the EOC and EOG.  Items that are field tested do not impact the scores of students.  In addition, questions 1-5 will illustrate the Reading & Evidence-Based Writing section of ELA. It is important to understand that the items that comprise the demonstration tests are general in nature and reflect multiple grade levels.  Given the purpose of this site is to acquaint students with the navigation of the online testing process, the items are generic and are not necessarily reflective of the range of content or challenge that students will experience when taking the actual Georgia Milestones tests. For this public-facing site, please be aware that Google Chrome is the only supported browser.  Using Google Chrome, these public demonstration tests can be taken on any supported device, including Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops and laptops, Chromebooks, iPads and Android devices.  Using a Chrome browser only, enter the following link to access the site:    http://www.gaexperienceonline.com/ All you need to do to access a test is to select the Test Practice button, select Online Tools Training and Test Practice under End-of-Course (EOC) or End-of-Grade (EOG).  For both EOG and EOC, you will have the option to explore the Standard Online Tools or the Online Accommodations of Masking, Contrasting Color, and Color Chooser.  You will find these under “Options” at the bottom of the screen.  If you select EOG, you will also select a grade band (3 – 5 or 6 – 8).  You will find the username and password on the login screen itself for the selected demonstration test.  Enter that information and click Sign In – and you are ready to go!  Additional information can be found on the Experience Online Testing Georgia page under Documentation.

Week at a Glance 


Monday- A Day
21st Century


Tuesday- B Day
21st Century
Agriscience Fair Practice Interviews 4:00-5:00


Wednesday- A Day
21st Century
Plant Sale Final Day! Makeup from this week 4:00-5:30


Thursday- B Day
21st Century
AgriScience Fair Practice Interviews 4:00-5:00


Friday- A Day


Jaquar News

Monday 4-10-17  JV Girls Soccer vs. Clarke Central  5:30

                          Varsity Boys Soccer @ Monroe Area 5:00

                          Varsity Baseball @ Johnson 5:55

Tuesday 4-11-17 Athens Area Track & Field Meet @ Cedar Shoals 4:00

Wednesday 4-12-17 Varsity Baseball vs Johnson 5:55  ( Senior Night )

                              JV Soccer @ Oconee Co. 5:30/7:30

Thursday 4-13-17  Varsity Soccer @ West Hall 5:30/7:30

GO JAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!