Week of November 28th

Hilsman Family:

We hope you all have had a restful and enjoyable break.  The three weeks between now and winter break will be full and, for many of our students, an emotional and anxiety-filled time.  While being firm, fair, and consistent, ensure that we are strengthening those relationships with our students that are so critical to our collective success.  Please take time to read the article linked here - you will recognize one of the co-authors as one of our own.

As Ms. Tolbert mentioned in last Friday's email, walkthroughs went well and we know exactly what we need to do to kick it up a notch.  Ms. Hogan will share more in collaborative plannings this week. Please be mindful of the norms you developed with your colleagues for collaborative planning. Be on time and prepared (have your device) for each of your plannings.  


Grade level teams and connections team, please have your supply list (shared by Hogan) ready to go by Tuesday of this week. We need to get orders placed. In addition, we would love for everyone to submit an application for the AthFest grants. It is well worth your time: http://athfesteducates.org/apply-for-art-education-grant.shtml. Please let Hogan know how she can help you with this process.


Hopefully you're not reading this at the beginning of your Thanksgiving break. :) Cherish your loved ones, rest up, and savor the good stuff. 


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Tech tool worth trying out  ➼   Pear Deck 

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*Please make sure you have added the Hilsman Events Calendar to your Google calendar, so you can stay abreast of upcoming events.

Monday:
8:30 am: Front office staff meeting
9:30 am: Admin meeting
10:30 am: Instructional Leaders Meeting

Tuesday:
IB Curriculum Meeting (Johns & Hogan) 12:30-3:30

Wednesday:
***Check out UGA's Differentiated Learning Centers in the Media Center during 2nd, 3rd, and 4th periods! 
ELA/Social Studies Collab Planning with Hogan
*Carlyn Bland will meet with ELA during 1st plannings re: benchmark data
4pm - Hilsman Tech Leaders Meeting

Thursday:
Math/Science Collab Planning with Hogan

Friday:
Hogan @ IC meeting AM
Rockathon - Chorus

Upcoming Events: 
12/5 - SILT
12/5 - Ambrose to meet with Social Studies teacher RE: literacy initiatives
12/6 - Reading Inventory during extended homeroom
12/7 - Faculty Meeting
12/9 - Winter Dance from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Week of November 14th

Quote of the Week:





Good afternoon,

Thank you to all that came out last week to support the many events. A big shout out to Coach Pullen for hosting the Moonlight Madness. There was a packed house and it was filled with laughter. On the same note, I can not forget Team Gora! They were sharp as they danced the evening away at their prom. It was a sight to see! As noted below, we have a busy week. Please make sure you dress for success all week as we will have several visitors in the building for various reasons. Wednesday the District will perform walk throughs. It is important to make sure your boards are up to date with current standards, EQs, and student work with commentary. I know that we will do well as we are aware of the expectations. I would like for as many staff members as possible to join us Wednesday for the dinner. Our community has done a phenomenal job of supporting the work that we do and the dinner is our way of giving thanks.

As we are approaching the break, please keep our less fortunate in mind. Behaviors may escalate due to the unknown for many of our students. Give a few extra hugs and smiles this week. I am sure that they will need it. To all of you, enjoy your break and your family. Be sure to rest and give thanks. I  am grateful to serve a wonderful staff. I am also so very thankful for the work that you do daily. YOU make Hilsman a great place even on our stormy days! Smile and know that I love each of you from the depth of my heart! Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday: *Advisement -- Activity Schedule 
8:30 a.m. Front office staff meeting
9:30 a.m. Admin Meeting
10:30 a.m. Instructional Leaders Meeting
2:00 p.m. Benchmark Make-Up Testing (Old Gym)
4:00 p.m. SILT

Tuesday: 
12:30 p.m. Middle School Instructional Council meeting (Tolbert, Hogan, Dalton, Crenshaw, & J. Holland)

Wednesday:  
District Walkthroughs
Benchmark Data Dig with ELA & Social Studies

5:30 p.m. LSGT Meeting
6:30 p.m. Partners in Education Dinner

Thursday: *District-wide Open House 
Benchmark Data Dig with Math & Science

Fall Orchestra Concert - All grade levels - 7 p.m. in the old gym

Friday: *Jeans if you donated to sunshine committee 

ENJOY YOUR TURKEY BREAK!!!

Week of November 7th

Quote of the Week: 

Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.
David Ogilvy

Panther Family: 

Good Day! Thank you all for a productive last week. I realize that many of you do not feel as if you are often being reminded of the good job you do, please know that I appreciate the great effort that is being given on a daily basis at Hilsman Middle School. Our job is stressful but it is the most rewarding of any other career. Again, be reminded that the fruit of your labor may not be seen immediately but just know that on a daily basis, you are making a positive change in the life of a child. 

This week will be short but long! Hang on as we are about to experience a roller coaster ride as we are quickly approaching the end of the year. Remember that just as we miss the students when they miss school, the students miss YOU when you miss school. It is our duty and responsibility to come to work and teach! Our students are depending on you because of the difference you make in them receiving an A or a F. Continue to hold students accountable for their behavior and academics by being firm, fair, and consistent. We got this so let us ALL do it well! Have an AWESOME week.

A big shout out to all of you who participated in the SOAR 5K. You may wear your shirts along with jeans Wednesday to school! Thank you for showing up to support our students. 

Monday:
8:30 a.m.: Office Staff Meeting
10:30 a.m.: Admin Meeting
11:30 a.m.: Instructional Team Meeting
4:00 p.m.: SILT
4:30 p.m. Basketball game @ Oglethorpe Middle School

Tuesday: PLC DAY at HILSMAN (See  AGENDA)


Wednesday: *Wear your Hilsman Pride! Jeans if you wish! 
Science Benchmark
Collaborative Planning
(ELA/SS Meet with Hogan)
4:00 p.m.: Vertical Meetings (If not held during the PLC Day)

Thursday: 
Math Benchmark 
Collaborative Planning
(Math/Science Meet with Hogan)

Friday: *Wear your jeans if you've supported the Sunshine Committee! 

Week of October 31st

Quote of the Week:

Panther Family,

 I surely hope that you all enjoyed your long weekend! Make sure to high five Mr. Yungmann tomorrow as he will be chomping the day away! Congrats Florida Gators! UGH I still love the Dawgs. We have a busy week ahead of us so brace yourself. Please adhere to the PAWS Expectations and the 15/15 rule. We need to hold students accountable for their academics and behavior. Do not give second chances. Your administrators are here to support you and will be present in the halls. Although we are administering benchmarks this week, we will still perform walk-throughs. Have a great week Panther Nation!

*SILT will meet NEXT Monday.
**Faculty meeting will be held next Tuesday during our PL day. More to come.

Monday: 
*1st Planning Benchmark Training with Forker
8:30 a.m. - front office staff meeting
10:30 a.m. - admin meeting
11:30 a.m. - instructional leaders meeting

Happy Halloween! 

Tuesday: 
ELA Benchmark - Testing Schedule
RTI Meetings


Wednesday: *Wear your Hilsman shirt and a pair of jeans to show our pride! 
Math Benchmark -  Testing Schedule
Collab planning with Hogan: ELA/Social Studies


Thursday: 
Benchmark Make-ups - Regular Schedule
Collab planning with Hogan: Math/Science

Friday: *Jeans for those who paid Micheletti & the Sunshine Committee
Benchmark Make-ups (if necessary)

Week of October 24th

Please review and adhere to the weekly instructional schedule linked below: 

Hilsman Weekly Instructional Schedule

Panther Family: 

Thank you for another great week and all you do for our students and their families. Our bus drivers were extremely complimentary of the meal and activities last week. Thank you! Mr. Forker and Ms. Tolbert will continue their walk-throughs throughout this week.  We will also have benchmark prep during ELT this week, Monday - Thursday. See the Panthers PLC for more information. Please continue to closely monitor the students' use of devices in class. Remember that playing games,chatting, and listening to music is prohibited.

WE ARE CELEBRATING RED RIBBON WEEK AT HILSMAN! This is the time each year when schools across the nation plan activities that promote alcohol and drug awareness and prevention. For more information, visit redribbon.org. The theme this year is YOLO. Be Drug Free. #YOUONLYLIVEONCE.

Also, we will have a DOOR DECORATING CONTEST this year with prizes for one homeroom per grade level! Get creative and send a positive message to your classmates. This contest starts Monday and all doors should be completed by Thursday. Good luck!

Monday:

District RED OUT Day. Wear a red shirt in support of Red Ribbon Week. 

Students must still wear uniform bottoms.

*ELA Teachers: Carlyn Bland will meet with us in the PL room during 1st plannings to go over the benchmark.

8:30 - Front Office Staff Meeting

9:30 - Admin Meeting

11:30 - Instructional Leaders Meeting

Tuesday:
Sock it to drugs and wear crazy socks! The Healthy Brain Campaign will have a table set up at lunch to give you more information about drugs and making healthy choices.

AP's PLC - Forker out in the PM
RTI Meetings

Wednesday: 

Team up against drugs and wear a sports shirt! Students must still wear uniform bottoms. Sign the Red Ribbon Week Pledge at lunch and commit to being drug free.
8:30 a.m. - Do the Math Now rep. visit during ELT 
ELA and Social Studies meet with Hogan during collaborative planning time.

4:00-5:00 p.m. - Vertical meeting Math
6:00-8:00 p.m. - FRIGHT FEST! 

Thursday: *Student dress down day. 
Put a lid on drugs and wear a hat! Let’s “Stomp Out Drugs” with a step team performance at lunch!

School-wide voting through social studies classrooms. See Mr. Hussain's email.  
Math and Science meet with Hogan during collaborative planning time. 

Friday:  ENJOY YOUR FALL BREAK! 

Week of October 17th

Hilsman Family: 

What a week! Overall, parent conferences went very well.  Do not forget to turn in any and all signed conference documents to Ms. Hogan's box. Please make sure you contact parents that may have missed their appointments and get them in so that we will have 100% attendance for fall conferences. If transportation/location is an issue, please let Ms. Hogan know. Thank you for all of your hard work last week. 

Walk-throughs will begin this week. Please insure that you are following the instructional framework and your lesson plans and instruction are aligned with the curriculum portal.  Remember to ensure that you have completed your self-assessment and entered your goals before coming to your pre-evaluation conference.

Thank you to Mrs.Camp for organizing our first staff gathering. It was fun! Shout out to all of the teachers that attended and I am looking forward to the next gathering. Please come out and join the fun.

Quick Read: 

NPR: How Teachers Can Help Quiet Kids Tap Their Superpowers

Please review the weekly instructional schedule linked below: 

Hilsman Weekly Instructional Schedule

Monday:

*Q1 House Points winner revealed!
8:30 - Front Office Staff Meeting

9:30 - Admin Meeting

11:30 - Instructional Leaders Meeting

4:00-5:00 p.m. - Science Vertical Meeting

Tuesday:

RTI Meetings

4:25 - Cross Country's last meet at the Athens-Oconee Championship at North Oconee High School. Please support our runners! 

Wednesday: Wear your Hilsman uniform and show your Panther Pride! 

*Hogan at FES Meeting (AM)

ELA and Social Studies meet with Hogan during collaborative planning time.
2:30-3:30: Gun Violence Assembly

4:00-5:00 p.m. - Vertical meetings for Social Studies, ELA, and Math 

Thursday: 

Math and Science meet with Hogan during collaborative planning time. 

Friday: Hilsman goes Pink!!  Wear your jeans if you donated to Ms. Micheletti for the Sunshine Committee! :) and a Pink shirt in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Meet with Forker during grade level meetings regarding Benchmark practice and testing

**Benchmark practice will take place during ELT Oct. 24-27***

7th Block - Q1 House Party​

Week of October 10

*See post below this one for tentative benchmark dates.

Panther Family:

We hope everyone has had a restful and relaxing weekend! We have another busy week ahead. Please make note of the Early Release schedule shared by Coach Page and Ms. Hogan.  It is included below as well. All conferences should be scheduled at this point; please let Ms. Hogan know if you need additional copies of conference documents.

Quarter 1 House Points will be tallied on Friday at 1 p.m. Please encourage your students to be on their best behavior. The House with the most merits will have a Quarter 1 House Party on Friday, October 21st during 7th Period.

Go Panthers!

Early Release Schedule

Monday: District PL Day (Make note of your location and please arrive on time.) Enjoy lunch and we look forward to seeing everyone back at Hilsman (except for 8th grade math, 7th grade science, Read 180 trainees, and certain connections teachers) by 1:00 p.m.

Grades are due by 4:00 p.m. Make sure all of your grades are entered and that no student has below a 55 average in any class.

Tuesday: RTI Meetings during grade level plannings

Wednesday: 
Early release for parent conferences. PTO will be providing supper since this is our late evening.
Collab planning for ELA/Soc. Studies with Hogan

Thursday: 
Early release for parent conferences.
Math 180 rep will be visiting Math 180 ELTs and meeting with those teachers during 1st planning.
Collab planning for Math/Science with Hogan

Friday: 
Early release for parent conferences.
Quarter 1 House points will end and be tallied at 1 p.m.