On behalf of the 385 fifth through eighth grade students, over fifty professional staff and thirty support staff, I’d like to welcome you to Hampstead Middle School. Our school continues to be recognized by the New England League of Middle Schools as a Spotlight School. The purpose of the Spotlight School Award is to acknowledge schools that have a record of powerful learning for young adolescents that consistently evidence middle level best practices.
Behavior expectations at HMS include the Three R’s: Respect, Relationships and Responsibility. Students and staff are aware of these expected behaviors, and these behaviors are taught to students in a positive, supportive and practical manner.
HMS offers athletic programs that consist of competitive teams as well as teams where a student can be on the team regardless of his/her ability. Our fall sports include field hockey, boys and girls soccer and cross country. Our winter sports consist of boys and girls A and B basketball, cheerleading and volleyball. Baseball, softball, golf and track and field complete our spring sports offerings. HMS also offers over twenty clubs and activities. Students interested in music can participate in band, jazz band, chamber chorus, select chorus and the musical. There are also an array of other clubs including: Engineering and Robotics, Sunshine Club, Anti-Bullying Club, Student Council, Ski Club and National Junior Honor Society.
This will be our tenth year of implementing Response to Intervention (RTI) strategies. RTI enables our teachers, specialists and administrators to target instructional interventions in response to a student’s specific areas of need as those needs become apparent. In addition, our Ventures program utilizes this time to reach, stretch and engage students who have already mastered skills and concepts. To identify students’ academic progress and needs, HMS conducts i-Ready assessments two times per year as well as the SASS testing annually. Analysis of this data enables educators to place enhanced learning and supportive learning opportunities in place for every level of learner.
Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, teachers will continue to focus on professional and curriculum development reflecting the New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards and deepen our practice of Universal Design for Learning. All core curriculum areas have created competencies for full implementation. In response to the pandemic there continues to be a large focus on the social-emotional needs of students through our advisory program.
To keep parents informed of grade-level curricular content, teachers create grade level summaries that are accessible on the HMS website in the curriculum folder located within the About Us tab. Teachers also participate in ongoing technology training to deepen their skills in the use of Google Suite to support our one-to-one device school. All students receive a daily advisory period whereby HMS students learn about personalized learning goals while also playing an important role in bullying prevention. As a school we continue to learn the importance of caring for one another and how to create a sustainable community of learners.
Hampstead Middle School has fully implemented a 1:1 computing device per student ratio using Chromebooks and iPads. Students consistently make strides in modern and safe internet searching and reliable source identification, and other internet-based activities. Through the use of Google Apps for Education, students can store their work in a cloud-based drive that is accessible at home as well as school. Since the Google Apps offer the ability to simultaneously work on a document, students are able to collaborate with peers to create projects and peer edit work. This initiative requires new and different ways of teaching and is supported by consistent and relevant professional development.
Please feel free to contact me personally if you would like more information about our wonderful school.
Respectfully,
Erin Milbury
Hampstead MIddle School