FRANK H. HARRISON MIDDLE SCHOOL

June 11, 2020
 
Dear HMS Families,
 
We have reached the end of this school year, which has included so many challenges to navigate and so much to absorb on a daily basis. Through it all, we have been honored to work with our students, who inspire us daily, and with all of you, who have reached out with questions, ideas to share, and support. We are grateful.
 
We have also noted the many celebrations of this time, and we have several more to share with you today, along with some important reminders about closing out the school year.
 
We want to recognize and honor our retiring educators, Jane Blais, Paula Vicenzi, and Merry Stuhr for all of their contributions to our students and our learning community. Each has connected with countless students, positively impacted countless lives, and shared their joy, discovery, and learning with our students!
 
We hope you can take some time to watch and listen to an incredible project brought to us by Kimberly Grover. Kimberly and some of her students in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs created the "Million Dreams" virtual choir. The first 1:49 seconds of this link shows the actual project on Garageband. At the 1:50 mark, a slide show of the participants begins and includes candids from previous concerts mixed in as well. We know that you will enjoy this special performance of A Million Dreams.
 
Finally, we want to share our virtual sendoff for our students with you, which we created with love (and a good measure of silliness!). We hope you can watch it with your children:
 
Farewell Video from Ms. Adler
 
Student Sendoff from HMS Staff 2020
 
With thanks and all best wishes for a wonderful summer,
 
Joan Adler, Tom McDowell, and the HMS Staff
____________________________________________________________________
 
Important Reminders and Summer Resources:
 
A Wonderful Message from Merrill Library:
We know you will appreciate this fun summer reading video from Merrill Library. This summer’s program will not include any in-library events. Instead, the focus is on getting books to the kids. When children register, they will get a free book and a BINGO sheet, and when they complete the BINGO sheet, they will get another free book! Our thanks to Jill O’Connor for her partnership with our schools!
 
Technology, Library Books, School Supplies, and Athletic Uniform Collection
Please see the letter about this process (shared with you last week), along with the plan for this collection:
 
Drop Off Plan:
-Parents will drive around the circle at the front of HMS and pull up to the stop sign. We will provide a “curbside” procedure that follows social distancing protocols. Parents will drop items into labeled bins on the tables under each awning. Staff will be on site to move the line along and help with any questions.
 
-Unfortunately this is not a time for students to visit HMS due to the need for social distancing and the construction going on in and around the building; please have children stay in the car if they accompany you to school for this errand.
 
-The staff on site during the drop off hours will wear facemasks and maintain at least 6’ distance from others.
 
-Parents returning these items to school must follow this same protocol - please wear face masks and maintain a distance of 6’ from others.
 
Drop off on Monday, June 15 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Last names A - L 
 
Drop off on Tuesday, June 16 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Last names M - Z
 
 
Parent Portal and progress in Unified Arts Classes
-A reminder that the PowerSchool portal will be in flux as teachers complete the process of sharing student progress.
 
 
-Unified Arts teachers will use the codes “PDL” to indicate “Participated In Distance Learning” and “DNP” to indicate “Did Not Participate” in distance learning.
 
Locker Clean Out
Please review this information, which was sent out on May 26:
Parents will be able to pick up items from lockers by mid to late summer. We have to postpone this given the construction at HMS. If there are items that are "must haves" for families (for example, if your family is moving from Yarmouth in June or July), we will retrieve those items from the lockers so you can pick them up. We will work out a structure for the locker clean out and send the plan to all of you.
 
Yearbooks
The delivery date for our HMS yearbooks has been delayed due to the pandemic. We will be in touch about a process for pick up as soon as they arrive. There is still time to order this collection of memories.