IMPACT TESTING FOR SIXTH GRADE: Sixth grade parents, IMPACT testing (baseline concussion measurement) has begun for your daughters during study hall periods. All rising seventh graders go through this testing so that we have a baseline profile for our students, and you may view the School’s concussion protocol at this link.

ELECTIVES FOR FALL 2017-2018: In a few weeks I will mail out a selection form for electives that will be offered in the fall. These forms must be returned to the Middle School Office by Tuesday, May 23 or study hall will be assigned as your child’s elective. You may fax (214-360-6446), email (aheck@hockaday.org), mail, or have your daughter bring forms to Alexa Heck by that date.  Electives are offered to give girls a chance to explore areas beyond their regular classes. Each girl takes one elective that meets two times in each rotation. Some electives require a year-long commitment and others will run until the end of January, at which time the students may choose a different elective for the remainder of the year.

The majority of electives are offered on Day 1 and Day 5 during Flex (11:10-11:40) before lunch. Fifth and sixth grade choir and some orchestras meet twice during each rotation during a portion of D period study hall or Flex Period on days other than Day 1 or Day 5. I’ll provide the specific meeting times on the selection form.  If your daughter chooses choir or orchestra, she does need to be aware that choosing an additional elective will reduce her study time during the school day. Once you receive the details, please call me if you have any questions or have your daughter stop by my office for clarification.

 

MATH PLACEMENT:  During the week of in-service at the end of May, all Middle School math teachers and I meet to confer about next year’s math placement for our students. All incoming fifth graders are placed in the same level class. However, we do offer enriched sections of math in grades six, seven, and eight and also a concrete-approach section in eighth grade. Students in these enriched sections follow the same curriculum as the other students in their grade; however, the pace is quicker and the scope and depth of concepts is broader. Our concrete approach offers a more comprehensive, detailed approach when introducing new concepts. Movement into the enriched sections is reviewed at the end of each school year so that the enrollment usually grows by eighth grade. In our meetings, the math faculty and I analyze a wide variety of criteria:  the results of each child’s end-of-year math inventory, report card marks, ERB scores, ability to comprehend new and more abstract concepts quickly and confidently, frequency and accuracy of work on enrichment/bonus (higher level) problems, and comfort with taking risks in class. Most students are placed in our regular sections of math (which are actually advanced in comparison to other math programs). If your daughter appears to be well-placed in an enriched section or the concrete section in eighth grade, I will call you in June to talk about that opportunity. Again, please note that math placement for any given year is based on your daughter’s current cognitive development in this area; her growth is repeatedly analyzed by our math teachers, and through differentiated instruction and the fluidity of our program, we fully expect to meet her math needs.

 

HPA VOLUNTEERS: Our Hockaday Parents’ Association held its turnover meeting last week, providing information for incoming volunteers. I must extend my deepest appreciation to Katharine Friguletto and all of our parents who have aided us this year in adding the “frosting” to special events and programs we put on for our students. Our partnership with our parents is one we value greatly!

 

STUDENT COUNCIL: Our Student Council elections are coming up! Fifth through seventh graders have moved through the primary process, and candidates will give election speeches to their peers on Tuesday, May 9 with voting immediately following. New officers will be installed on Thursday, May 11.

 

EIGHTH GRADUATION SPEECHES: Some of our eighth graders are busily preparing graduation speeches. The speeches are due in the MS Office by Monday, May 1 by 3:15, and all interested girls present their thoughts about graduating from Middle School to the eighth grade advisors on Friday, May 5. One girl’s speech is chosen to be delivered at Eighth Grade Graduation; however, I weave portions of each girl’s speech into my comments at that event. In that way, the feelings of all are shared as we celebrate the eighth grade class.

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 Thursday, May 25.  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!

LIBRARY NEWS: All Middle School library books are due on Wednesday, May 10. Please be sure that your child returns all of her library books or pays for those that are lost.

WILLIAMSBURG 2017: A form indicating your desire to chaperone the Williamsburg trip was mailed to the parents of rising sixth graders this week. If the opportunity to chaperone appeals to you, please bring the form to the Middle School Office and give it in person to Alexa Heck. Please do not mail or fax the form to us and do not send it with your daughter. Alexa will have you sign a list as you turn in your form. We must have these forms in the office by 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, at the latest; unfortunately, we are unable to consider any late applications. Two doctors will be included in the total of eight chaperones. If more than two doctors send in their names, we will draw two from that pool separately. Parents who have gone before will not be included unless we need more people than have volunteered. If you have gone, and would like to be in the drawing in the unlikely event that we don't have enough, please indicate that on your sheet. On the afternoon of May 4, the grade reps and I will draw the names of eight chaperones from the returned forms and put the remaining names on a waiting list. We will send out a brief email (regarding those names which were drawn) on May 4 to notify all who sent in the forms. The grade reps will also call those first eight, so you will not have to wait for the email. Please do not call the school.

 

SEVENTH GRADE FILM FESTIVAL: Glenys Quick, Hockaday film instructor, invites all seventh grade Middle School film students and their friends and family to attend a showing of their films at Studio Movie Grill (Spring Valley) on Tuesday, May 2. Seventh grade films will screen from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Upper School student films will screen from 7:30-9:00. Admission is free!

IMPORTANT: Back-to-School Dates to Remember for 2017-2018:  As we look forward to the 2017-2018 school year, please mark the following dates on your calendar to ensure you will have a smooth transition.

Week of May 1: An email will be sent notifying parents that all forms for 2017-2018 school are available by logging into the Parent Resource Board.

Thursday, June 1: All forms are due from parents/guardians to specified division and school offices, and all health information is due.

Tuesday, July 25: An email will be sent to parents with back-to-school information. Additional updates can be found by logging into the Parent Resource Board.

Friday, August 18: Signed Handbook confirmation forms are due from parents/guardians to division offices.

As a reminder, the Health Center sent an email on April 17 regarding student health information for the 2017-2018 school year. In order for your daughter to receive her schedule, all required forms must be received by the school via the MAGNUS portal. Please login and submit any items that are outstanding by Thursday, June 1.

The Resource Board is the hub from which you can find important information to help you stay updated as you navigate the school year. Here you can find the full school calendar, online directory, HPA information, Class Pages, volunteer opportunities, and links to departments such as Athletics, Fine Arts, Bookstore and more.

Thank you for your attention to these important dates and action items to ensure the 2017-2018 school year begins smoothly.

NETFLIX SERIES: We all know that our girls enjoy technology and media, some more than others. I also think we are all aware of some of the dangers that both can pose. In general, we rely heavily on relationship-based interventions to help guide and steer our girls, and apps and shows change so frequently that it’s nearly impossible to keep up with them. Today, I want to make an exception and make you aware of a popular show that some of your daughters may be consuming, 13 Reasons Why. This is a Netflix-exclusive show based on the suicide of a young girl. The episodes recount heart-breaking and traumatic reasons that this girl decides to end her life. Obviously, discussions with you about 13 Reasons Why could help build empathy, support your daughter’s emotional health, and validate boundaries and values of your family. However, when watching unaccompanied by parents, with no one to help them unpack the emotional heaviness of this show, our girls could take away some mixed messages about the material. Please be informed that this show is extremely graphic in terms of sexual and violent content.

For more information, you can refer to a source we frequently use, Common Sense Media. You can find them online or follow this link directly.

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL CALENDAR: It is time to send out notification regarding the last month of school as you begin to make plans for May and summer. I have included the times girls need to arrive at school for special events and rehearsals. Please make your late-May /early summer plans according to the dates and times in this link.  

Have a lovely weekend,

Linda Kramer