Hickory Middle -

🎙️ Episode 17 of Amplified: The Chesapeake Public Schools Podcast is now live! 🎧 Tune in to learn about our new Power of the Peake Employee Recognition Program and hear the inspiring stories of our first winners! Learn how they’re making a difference daily in their schools, departments, and communities! 👉 Listen today at https://www.cpschools.com/amplified or wherever you get your podcasts. 🔗Learn more about this program and nominate the next Power of the Peake recipients here: https://www.cpschools.com/page/employee-recognition

⛄ Thursday - Frosty the Snowman Day ❄️ Chill vibes only! Dress in white or like Frosty himself. ⛄ Pin the Carrot on the Snowman (Lunch) Test your aim in this snowy twist on a classic game! Winners will earn bragging rights (and maybe a crunchy treat!).

🎶 Wednesday - Jingle Bell Rock ✨ Time to jingle jangle! Wear outfits that jingle, sparkle, or shine. Let’s rock the holidays! 🎶 Jingle Bell Brain Breaks Take a moment to “jingle” down the halls during surprise brain breaks. Listen for the sound of holiday magic throughout the day.

🗺 ROADMAP TO 2030! 📢 Last week, we hosted an in-person session to gather valuable community input and feedback to help develop our new strategic plan. Thank you to everyone who contributed! 💻 Don’t miss our two virtual meetings happening tomorrow, December 17, 2024, and Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Your feedback is vital as we shape our goals for the next five years! 🔗 Learn more and register at https://www.cpschools.com/page/our-strategic-plan #EmpowerCPS #EngageCPS #InspireCPS

💚 Tuesday - Grinch Day 🎁 Wear green or dress like a character from The Grinch. Will you be a Who or a Grinch? ❤️ Christmas Card Creations (Core Plus/Class) Help hearts grow 3 sizes by making cards for kids at CHKD. 🛠️ When: Grades 6 & 7 Core Plus or during one of your classes (English, Math, Science, or History) Let's show our holiday kindness!

🌟Next Week is Spirit Week!!🌟 🎥 Monday - Home Alone Day 🎄 Stay cozy! Wear your comfiest pajamas just like Kevin lounging at home. 🎤 Best Kevin Impression (Lunch) Bring your Home Alone vibes to the lunchroom! Channel your best Kevin McCallister—crowd applause will decide the winner for each grade level!

📚✨ Professional Development in Action at Hickory Middle School! ✨📚 This week, our teachers and teacher assistants came together for an inspiring professional development session! 🌟 Teachers who attended the AMLE Conference in Nashville shared their key takeaways, sparking engaging discussions and collaborative growth. 🔑 Topics included: 🧠 Brain Breaks 🤝 Relational Relationships 🎉 Boredom Busters 🌍 Resources for English Language Learners We’re proud of our educators for their dedication to continuous learning and for fostering innovative strategies to enhance our students’ educational experience. 💡💪 #HickoryMiddleSchool #AMLE2024 #ProfessionalDevelopment #DedicatedEducators #LifelongLearning #HMSProud

🌟 History Comes Alive for Our 8th Graders! 🌟 Today, our 8th-grade students didn’t just learn about World War I—they lived it. 🎖️ In a hands-on history experience, they stepped into the shoes of soldiers on the Western Front: 🪖 Crawling under barbed wire in the trenches ✍️ Writing heartfelt journal entries from a soldier's perspective ☠️ Surviving the chaos of a gas attack 💥 Feeling the intensity of artillery shells and the sounds of battle This immersive activity brought the harsh realities of trench warfare to life, helping students better understand the sacrifices and struggles of those who fought. Learning history isn’t just about reading—it’s about empathy and connection. #HistoryComesAlive #TrenchWarfare #WWILearningExperience #8thGradeAdventures #HMSProud

🏆 HMS Spelling Bee Results 🏆 After an intense 20 rounds of competition, the Top 3 Spellers are: 🥇 1st Place: Andrew Clarke, 6th Grade (NightHawks) 🥈 2nd Place: Pugazhini Dinesh Kumar, 6th Grade (NightHawks) 🥉 3rd Place: Sadie Collins, 7th Grade (Harriers) 👏 Special recognition to all participants: 6th Graders: Ameer Gant, Skylar Dowdell, Sariah Johnson, Alexis Williams, Ariel Yu, Pugazhini Dinesh Kumar, Andrew Clarke 7th Graders: Sadie Collins, Jacksyn Anselm, Avanni Linton 8th Graders: Joe Crouse (4th), Brianna Rush, Jacquelyn Edmonson, Henry Justiss 🌟 A big thank you to our sponsors, Vicki Mayfield and Cathy Timmins, for their guidance and dedication! Since October, these incredible students have met weekly after school to study and support each other. Their hard work and teamwork truly shined! 🎉 Congratulations to Andrew Clarke, who will proudly represent HMS at the WHRO Regional Spelling Bee in February, competing with over 60 other top spellers! #HMSPride #SpellingBee #AcademicExcellence

📢 Attention current 8th graders and families: Applications for our high school academies are NOW OPEN! 🌟 Apply to be considered for the 2025-2026 school year: 🩺 Science & Medicine Academy (SMA): Deep Creek High School 🖥️ Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM): Grassfield High School 🌎 International Baccalaureate (IB): Oscar Smith High School 📅 Deadline to apply: December 18, 2024 👉 For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.cpschools.com/article/1863836

🎄✨ Get Ready for Holiday Spirit Week! ✨🎄 Join us for a week full of festive fun and holiday cheer! Show off your school spirit and holiday style from December 16-20 with these exciting themes: 🎥 Monday - Home Alone Day 🎄 Stay cozy! Wear your comfiest pajamas just like Kevin lounging at home. 💚 Tuesday - Grinch Day 🎁 Wear green or dress like a character from The Grinch. Will you be a Who or a Grinch? 🎶 Wednesday - Jingle Bell Rock ✨ Time to jingle jangle! Wear outfits that jingle, sparkle, or shine. Let’s rock the holidays! ⛄ Thursday - Frosty the Snowman Day ❄️ Chill vibes only! Dress in white or like Frosty himself. 🎅 Friday - Deck the Halls 🎉 Go all out! Wear your most festive holiday gear from head to toe. Ugly sweaters, Santa hats, tinsel—anything goes! Let’s make this week one to remember! Who’s ready to sleigh the spirit week game? 🛷✨ #HolidaySpiritWeek #FestiveFun 🎄

🍂 We are grateful for our amazing students, families, and staff who make our school community so special. Wishing you a joyful and restful Thanksgiving filled with love and laughter! 🦃

🍂 We are grateful for our amazing students, families, and staff who make our school community so special. Wishing you a joyful and restful Thanksgiving filled with love and laughter! 🦃 Reminder: All schools and offices will be closed November 27 - November 29.

Attention Winter Sports Families! 🏀🤼‍♂️ Join us for an important parent meeting for Basketball and Wrestling! Coaches will provide essential information about the upcoming season. 🗓 Date: Wednesday, December 4 ⏰ Time: 5:30 PM 📍 Location: HMS Auditorium Who Should Attend: ➡️ All parents and athletes participating in basketball and wrestling For questions, please contact Dr. Bynum, Athletic Director, at Monisha.bynum@cpschools.com. We look forward to seeing you there! 🏀🤼‍♀️

🎙 Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming education with Maria Kainz, a first-year English teacher at Oscar Smith High, and Andrew LeClair, a technology innovation coach from Hickory Middle. Together, they discuss the opportunities and challenges of incorporating AI into classrooms, offering insights on how it can enhance personalized learning and prepare students for a tech-driven world. This episode highlights their dedication to creating thoughtful, ethical approaches to using AI while inspiring meaningful conversations about its role in education. Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or visit https://www.cpschools.com/page/amplified! 🎧

🌟 8th Grade Science in Action! 🔬💡 Our budding scientists dove into the fascinating world of chemistry by testing common household substances to uncover whether they were acidic, basic, or neutral. Using pH indicators that change color based on pH levels, students classified items and deepened their understanding of acids, bases, and their properties. ⚗️ This hands-on experiment brought science to life for students on the Dream Hawks team, teaching practical skills while showing how chemistry plays a role in our everyday lives! 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 #ScienceLab #AcidsAndBases #STEM #HandsOnLearning #FutureScientists

🎉 Amazing News, Hawks! 🎉 Thanks to everyone’s incredible school spirit and generosity, Penny Wars raised a whopping $796.42! 🪙💰 Every single penny, nickel, dime, and quarter you donated will help support the HHS Hawk Santa 🧑‍🎄 event, and we couldn’t be prouder of our Hickory community. 🪙Let’s keep the momentum going and continue making a difference together! Go Hawks! #PennyWars #HawkPride #Teamwork #HickoryStrong

🌍 Calling all students! Join us for Geographic Information System (GIS) Day with a fun virtual scavenger hunt adventure! Use GIS technology to solve clues and uncover answers along the way. Complete the quest for a chance to win a prize! 🎉 🗓️ The GIS Quest is open now through December 4 and can be accessed using these links: 🔗 Elementary (K-5) Link: https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=35377731 🔗 Middle/High (6-12) Link: https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=35377710 📍 Don’t miss out on this exciting journey—start your quest today! 🗺️✨ #InspireCPS

💻 Military families, join us for a valuable online session covering ways to make college more affordable! We'll discuss financial aid, GI Bill, Post 9/11 GI Bill, scholarships, and more. 💲 👉For more info and to register, visit https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=35542436

🎉 Thank You, Hickory Community! 🎉 Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, family, and friends, we raised over $47,000 for Hickory Middle School! 🐾✨ This amazing achievement will go directly toward enhancing learning opportunities for all of our students. Together, we’re making a difference and building a brighter future. 💙📚 #HickoryStrong #ThankYou #SupportingOurStudents