UPCOMING “ONE HOCKADAY” EVENT: The entire school will support our Upper School winter sports teams as they prepare for SPC at a Mardi Gras-themed pep rally on Tuesday, February 9. Students will be able to wear Mardi Gras colored tops and accessories with their uniform skirts and shoes that day. I must share that Middle School girls “rocked” the last “One Hockaday” pep rally with their enthusiasm, singing, dancing, and very, very loud cheering. We intend to do so again on Tuesday, February 9!

SPRING CONFERENCES: You also will soon be able to sign up online for Middle School spring conferences which will be held on Friday, March 18 for grades 5-8. Details will be forthcoming that will tell you both how and when to engage in the process. As you know, conferences are a great opportunity to engage in conversations regarding your daughter’s day-to-day life at Hockaday; we look forward to meeting with you in March. Fifth through seventh grade students, parents, and teachers will discuss goals set in the fall conferences and summer study plans while eighth grade families and advisors will plan for the upcoming ninth grade year.

 

VALENTINE’S IN MIDDLE SCHOOL: With February here, Valentine’s activities also will fill our calendar. As previously noted, eighth graders will host their peers from both St. Mark’s and Cistercian at our Valentine’s Dance this Saturday evening in the Small Gym from 7:30-10:00. In addition, Valentine’s parties for all grades will be held on Thursday, February 11 during advisory. Valentine’s bags are being handed out and decorated in advisory; there is no need to bring in “special” boxes or sacks from home. Our Valentine’s parties are held in advisories and are very low-key events, allowing time for girls to enjoy valentines from one another and some treats provided by the advisory volunteers for your daughter’s advisory. Students will be able to wear valentine-themed/colored tops and accessories with their uniform skirts and shoes on Thursday, February 11 as we celebrate.

 

7/8 SPORTS: Tryouts for spring sports (softball, track, and lacrosse) will be held for seventh and eighth grade athletes beginning on Tuesday, February 16 at 3:30 p.m. There will be no tryouts for spring tennis as those were held in November. Spring tennis athletes will report to practice on Tuesday, February 16. Please note: due to the fact that there will be no after- school sports for the next few weeks, afternoon carpool will most likely be more crowded. You might want to adjust your pick-up time just a bit.

EIGHTH GRADE GRADUATION DRESSES: While our eighth graders have another term to complete before the end of their journey through Middle School, it is not too soon to start thinking about Eighth Grade Graduation on Friday, May 27. You’ll receive more details about the event later this spring, but I did want to provide you with requirements for the girls’ dress that day. It is traditional that eighth graders wear white dresses or white skirts and blouses and white shoes to Eighth Grade Graduation. The governing principle at this end-of-year celebration is to dress with modest taste, meaning skirt lengths should be no more than four inches above the knee--no mini-skirts, please. If a dress is strapless or has spaghetti straps/halter top, a sweater or jacket must be worn also. The white is to be a true white, not ivory or off-white, and should not have colored trim. The required white shoes may be sandals but must have a strap around the back of the heel. The heels and soles may not be black or another color, but may be wooden, cork, or metallic. In addition, adornments on the shoes may not be colored but may be metallic. For comfort and safety reasons, girls must wear flats or heels no higher than two inches. Remember…the girls are walking up and down multiple steps at this graduation ceremony! All students in grades five through seven wear their dress uniforms to Eighth Grade Graduation.

Finally, Hockaday will “Go Red” tomorrow to promote heart health. We’ll have a partial free dress day and ask that the girls wear something red with their uniform skirts. Everyone may wear tennis shoes as teachers are encouraged to get the girls moving around campus at some point during the day to emphasize exercise and its relationship to healthy hearts.

 

 

My best,

 

Linda Kramer
Head of Middle School