Yarmouth Education Foundation spreads joy and learning

We glimpsed the first true sign of the joy that spring brings when the YEF Grants Parade came to HMS on April 12th! The Yarmouth Education Foundation continues to enrich our students' and teachers' learning experiences at HMS and throughout our district. We're grateful for their on-going efforts!

Congratulations to the following YEF grant recipients:

Merry Stuhr, Tracy Weinrich, and Mike Arsenault: The 4C Studio at HMS will provide a library space for students to work on projects involving the 4Cs:

• collaboration
• creativity
• communication
• critical thinking

Mike Arsenault and Merry Stuhr-The 4C Studio

Bob Gross: Arduino is an open source hardware and software system that will be used to teach students about circuit function, programming and problem solving.  The starter kits contain circuit boards to which students can add components like resistors and sensors.  The students can then develop computer programs to respond to a wide variety of input sources. 

Bob Gross-Arudino

Morgan Cuthbert and Jay Harrington: The Shellfish Nursery will create a floating learning lab for our students.  Currently across Maine and the North East the Invasive Green Crab, Carcinus maenas, is causing havoc to the third most lucrative fishery, and a hallmark of our town, clamming. 
The project will be an embedded part of our 7th grade curriculum for all students.  Students will play an active role in farming clams to a size big enough to withstand green crab attacks.  We will run field trips to the shellfish nursery throughout the year and then participate in the seeding of the clams into Yarmouth's mud flats.

Morgan Cuthbert and Jay Harrington-Shellfish Nursery

Molly Kilpatrick and Meghan Haugevik present on reading strategies

Molly Kilpatrick, Language Arts Lead Teacher, and Meghan Haugevik, 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, presented essential, engaging information on, "Reaching the Middle School Reluctant Reader" at the 8th Annual Literacy Connections Conference, sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation.

Important resources to support our students with reading include, Someday lists, "Shelfies", and Book Talks. Congratulations to Molly and Meghan; please contact them if you would like to learn more about engaging developing readers.

Meghan Haugevik and Molly Kilpatrick

6th Graders win HMS Lunch Contest

Congratulations to our 6th grade students for winning the exciting lunch contest developed by Blair Currier, Director of Yarmouth's School Nutrition Program, and supported by Kathy Latham, Head of HMS Nutrition, and our wonderful school nutrition team!

Our 6th grade students took the lead increasing their participation in our school lunch program after a month of exciting opportunities for taste tests and creative input on our menus. They received tickets to an upcoming Sea Dogs game, along with a lunchtime visit from Slugger, which was a huge hit! Students will also have the opportunity to join in a parade with Slugger at the game.

Our thanks to Blair for creating this exciting experience for all of our students!

HMS students participate in fundraising

                                                                                 

The HMS Student Leadership Team, and their advisor, Nini Emmons, presented a check for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Maine to Jared Conant, Muscular Dystrophy Ambassador for our state. This donation was the result of HMS fundraising efforts during spirit week. Thanks to our students and school community for contributing to this important cause.

Evan Lucca participates in the National Beographic Bee

Marsha Newick shared this exciting news about Evan Lucca's participation in the 2016 Maine National Geographic Bee. Thanks to Marsha for her expert mentorship and guidance as Evan prepared for this competition!

The 2016 Maine National Geographic Bee was hosted by the University of Maine Farmington and sponsored by the National Geographic Society on April 1, 2016.  One hundred Maine students who won their school bee and passed a qualifying test participated in the competition.  

Evan Lucca, a seventh grader, represented HMS at this event.  He was the top student in his preliminary round and became one of the ten finalists in the final competition. Evan is to be congratulated for his outstanding performance.  Thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participated in the 28th annual National Geographic Bee this year. Congratulations, Evan!                                                     

Evan Lucca

Aladdin

Congratulations to the cast and crew of the 7th/8th (and some 6th) grade production of Aladdin Jr.! 
                                                                                        

Expertly directed by Betsey Reinsborough, the students acted, sang, and danced their way into the hearts of the audience at two standing room only shows! Their talent and enthusiasm enchanted the crowd, as did their beautifully vivid costumes. Their support for each other and their collaboration on every aspect of the play was obvious to all.
Our gratitude and admiration to Betsey Reinsborough, the heart and soul of all HMS shows!

Special Thanks to: Team Reinsborough, which includes Liz and Tom,
Kathy Gardner, Melina Roberts, Mary Kate Elward, Marlena Faxon, Karina Omark, Cindy Walden, Sarah Costen, Jen Hill, and Kristina Truesdale, along with all of our other wonderful parent volunteers. These shows could not happen without your support!

Colonial Craft Day

                                                                                       

Our 5th graders had a chance to experience life as colonial students during this engaging celebration of learning. They dressed in the clothing of this time period and tackled the challenges of making candles, wooden toys, and spice racks. They also learned to use a loom and enjoyed at a "family style" lunch provided by our amazing school nutrition team. The students immersed themselves in this authentic learning opportunity and enjoyed all that it offered to them.

                                                                                     

Special thanks to the 5th grade team, Nini Emmons, and all of our parents who contributed their time and talent this unique event!