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Superintendent's Newsletter

Please click here to access Superintendent, 
Mrs. Cheryl Watson-Harris' Weekly Newsletter.

HMS News and Information
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HMS Daily Announcements 

CLICK HERE to read the latest HMS Announcements.

 

HMS Celebrates Red Ribbon Week

Happy Red Ribbon Week, Henderson Middle School Family!!
     Red Ribbon Week begins Friday, October 23rd, and continues through Friday, October 31st. This year’s theme is: Be Happy. Be Brave. Drug-Free. While we are virtual, you will be able to engage in activities and take the pledge with your child to remain drug-free. Please partner with us and discuss this message at home, at the dinner table, at family outings, and with friends and extended family.
     Want a chance to win an iPad, and help our school win $1,000? Show your support,  join the conversation about drugs with your children, and enter the photo contest. The National Family Partnership is sponsoring a photo contest. This contest is free, simple, and you could win an iPad and $1,000 for our school!
 
For more information use the links below:
 

MAP Testing Schedule

CLICK HERE to download the 2020 Fall MAP Assessment testing schedule.  First Period/Homeroom teachers will determine which students are in each group.  Makeup tests will be held in November for students who miss any part of the assessments.  
 
 

Virtual Tech Cafe

 
Did you miss recent DCSD Virtual Tech Cafe presentations?  Below are the links to videos for recent Tech Café sessions hosted by Instructional Technology and Parent and Family Engagement

Session 1 | DCSD Digital Ecosystem Overview: https://youtu.be/zAVqyy9KUEc 
Session 2 | Connect with Verge: https://youtu.be/p7QxvRW7OAE 
Session 3 | Plugging into Parents Portal (Infinite Campus): https://youtu.be/Z08KCGhFtms
 
Dates for upcoming Tech Cafe sessions: 
 
Google Smart: Docs, Classroom and more:  9/17 @ 6:00pm
Staying Connected and Cyber Wise:  9/24 @ 6:00pm
Plugging in to Parent Portal (Infinite Campus):  10/22 @ 6:00pm 
 
To register for upcoming sessions, CLICK HERE. 

 HMS Back to School Information

Please use the links below to access and download helpful information as we begin our new school year: 

HMS Daily Instructional Schedule:  CLICK HERE to download the Virtual Learning Daily Schedule. 

Academic Teams:  CLICK HERE to download the list of HMS Teams and teachers for all grade levels 

Student Code of Conduct:  CLICK HERE to download the 2020-2021 Student Code of Conduct Handbook 

Digital Dreamers:  CLICK HERE for more information on the Digital Dreamers program including technical support and helpful tutorials. 

Infinite Campus:  CLICK HERE to access the Infinite Campus Overview web site
 
Virtual Learning Support:  CLICK HERE to access the Virtual Learning Support website for more information on Chromebooks, Verge, Launchpad, virtual learning tools, and technical support
 
DCSD Back to School Info:  CLICK HERE for more back to school information from the school district. 
 
COVID-19 Emotional Support Line

The Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line provides free and confidential assistance to callers needing emotional support or resource information as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emotional Support Line is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals and others who have received training in crisis counseling.

 Hours of operation: 8 am - 11 pm

Call 866.399.8938.

For additional assistance CLICK HERE to access the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) where students or adults may chat or text online.  

 HMS Good News!
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Teacher and Educational Support Specialists of the Year
 
We are excited to announce our Teacher and Educational Support Specialists for the 2019-2020 school Year!   Our Teacher of the Year is Lorren Kelsey, interrelated teacher on Team 8A. Our  Educational Support Specialist of the Year I is Quintavius Releford, custodian, head football coach, and soccer coach. And our Educational Support Specialist of the Year II is Robin Topa, head counselor.  Congratulations to our wonderful staff members for earning this honor from their peers!
 
Congrats Dr. Bradley
Congratulations to Dr. Rita Bradley, our HMS Visual Arts Teacher.  She was recently honored by having one of her woven sculptures included in the Infectious Creativity Exhibit at Kennesaw State University’s Fine Arts Gallery.  Her work, titled "Unwoven," is on display with other works created by educators during the pandemic.  Click Here for a virtual tour of the gallery and learn more.  Thank you Dr. Bradley for representing Henderson Middle School in this important exhibit.
 

 
Science Fair Honors Award Winner

Congratulations to HMS 8th grader Christine O. for receiving the Honors Award at the Georgia State Virtual Science Fair held in April!   Her project is titled "What is the Safest Way to Cook Chicken?"  Check out her video presentation:



 
Congrats to our HMS Odyssey of the Mind Team
 
The HMS Odyssey of the Mind team competed at the North Georgia Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament recently placing 1st in their Long-Term Problem and 4th overall, narrowly missing, by less that 1%,  their opportunity to compete at State.   Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving program where team members work together at length to solve a predefined long-term problem—involving various elements of theatrical performance, construction, and design—and a short-term, spontaneous, think-creatively-on-the-spot element. Learn more at odysseyofthemind.com . 
 
HMS Students Advance to State Science Fair!
Congratulations to the following HMS Science Fair participants for advancing to the state science fair in Athens, GA:
  • Hannah Choy – Recycling: Quantity or Quality? 
  • Monica Mistry – Are Household Detergents A More Effective DNA Extraction Buffer? 
  • Christine Olsen – What is the Best Way to Cook Chicken?  
  • Evan George – Eco-Friendly or Not? Ask the Worms
The state science fair will be held Thursday, March 26 through Saturday, March 28. 
Congratulations and best wishes at state! 
Go Cougars!
 
Science Olympiad Team Takes 1st Place!
Congratulations to our HMS Science Olympiad Team for taking 1st Place honors at the regional competition held on February 29th at Oconee County High School.  The team competed against 18 other teams and brought home 30 medals!  The team collectively received fourteen 1st Place medals, four 2nd Place, six 3rd Place, and six 4th Place medals!  
Go Cougars! 
 
HMS Soccer Teams Video Conference with Walker Zimmerman
 
Henderson Middle School’s girls’ and boys’ soccer teams had the opportunity to video conference LIVE with Walker Zimmerman, Center Back for Nashville SC.  Zimmerman is perhaps the premier player in U.S. Major League Soccer. During the 45-minutes’ conversation, he provided some training tips including daily Monday – Friday before-a-game tips. One of his training tips: “To be the best, you have to work harder and longer than everyone else.” His tips for developing an overall winning strategy included – “Winning at soccer is cerebral. You don’t have to be the fastest or strongest but you do have to think two or three steps ahead of everyone else. To be a successful team your focus has to be on helping everyone else succeed.” Every student who wanted to ask a question had the opportunity to ask the question and Walker answered every question.  The event was coordinated through the Direct to Discovery program and was held on February 25th, 2020.  Thanks goes out to Mr. Chambers and Coach Q for providing this opportunity for our HMS Soccer Team!
 
Cougarbots!
The HMS CougarBots recently took 3rd Place out of 26 teams at the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics league championship.  The competition, held on January 25, consisted of both middle and high school teams. Congratulations to the team for such an impressive achievement in their rookie season! Go Cougarbots!
 
Greenhouse Grant
Henderson Middle School thanks our HMS Foundation for assisting Mr. Purdy and our Eco-Avengers Club in securing a grant from the Clorox Foundation for a greenhouse at HMS!  To find out more about the HMS Foundation, including upcoming meetings, please visit hmsfoundation.org.
 
Disc Golf at HMS!
The HMS staff and administrators would like thank our HMS Foundation for providing the wonderful Disc Golf equipment for use by our physical education teachers.  Coach Morrison has now implemented Disc Golf within our Physical Education curriculum and it is available to our students.  We send a big THANK YOU to our Foundation for your continuing support of our students! 
 
Courtyard Dedication
Did you know that Henderson Middle School used to be Henderson High School?  The Henderson High School Alumni Association recently installed a dedication plaque in our school courtyard commemorating the original dedication of the courtyard in 1972.  The courtyard was constructed in memory of classmate Sinda Paige Jones by the HHS classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972.  Thank you to the Henderson High School Alumni Association for helping keep the Cougar spirit alive at Henderson Middle School!
 
District Events
Teacher Website Links



Use the links below for quick access to all your team's teacher class websites and contact information:
Lauchpad & Infinite Campus Quick Links
 Click the logos for quick access to Launchpad/Clever and Infinite Campus
 
Virtual Learning Tools Help Desk

Need help with Virtual Learning Tools?  Call the DeKalb County School District Help Desk at 678-676-1188.
Need a Counselor?

If you need to speak with your counselor, CLICK HERE for access the Counseling Department web page to locate contact information and other resources.  Use the quick links below to send them an email:

Robin Topa
Head Counselor: email
 
Paul Bell
6th Grade: email
 
Janalee Garay
7th grade: email
 
Angela Coleman
8th Grade: email 
 
Upcoming Events @ HMS

For more info about our school, click below to access our PTSA website! 
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