Highland Middle School

Tuesday, February 2nd is Team 7 Black's turn to purchase candy grams during advisory and ELP. Don't forget your money. Thanks!

HMS Positive Pups from 1/29. These students continue to do the right thing, help others, and show true PRIDE!!!

https://5il.co/p162 Due to current mitigations we will be conducting Boys Basketball as non-contact practices at this time. HMS students who are interested can sign up now through Wednesday, February 3rd at the Information Desk in the Plaza. Students must have a current sports physical and signed COVID waiver form on file in order to try out. The COVID waiver form is attached. Tryouts will take place in the Middle School gym according to the schedule below. Thursday, February 4 5:15 - 6:45pm - 6th & 7th grade tryouts 7:00 - 8:30pm - 8th grade tryouts Friday, February 5 5:15 - 6:45pm - 6th & 7th grade tryouts 7:00 - 8:30pm - 8th grade tryouts

Thank you to Rachel Miller, a Holocaust survivor who lives in St Louis, for speaking to Team 8 Red today about her inspirational story of survival during WWII. We are so grateful.

Mr. Matt Herndon is new to HMS this year serving as our Athletic Director and PE teacher. Even though he is new to our building, he comes to HMS with 28 years of experience. In his spare time, Mr. Herndon loves spending time with his family. Some of his favorites are Mexican food, skittles, and Pepsi. One thing you may not know about Mr. Herndon is an avid Illini fan. The best part about teaching, according to Mr. Herndon are the relationships that are developed while teaching. Thanks so much Mr. Herndon for all that you do!

Special Education teacher, Ms. Shelly King, has been in education for most of her life. In her spare time she loves camping, hiking, gardening, travel, history, politics, yoga, poetry, swimming, home decorating, and spending time with family and friends. Some of her favorites include dark chocolate with nuts, fresh pineapple, rhubarb pie, and ice cold Coke. One thing you may not know is Ms. King is a published poet. Ms. King says the best thing about teaching is helping her students develop an intrinsic joy in the process of learning. Thanks for the love and care you give our students at HMS.

Mr. Chris Hartlieb, 8 Black American History, has been teaching for 30 years. He enjoys travel, movies, binge-watching a good show, and being at home with nothing to do. Some of his favorites include Italian and Mexican food along with Twix and plain Hershey’s chocolate for a sweet treat. You may not know this about Mr. Hartlieb, but he loves singing along with musicals. What he enjoys most about HMS is now and forever, working with great people, both kids and adults. Thanks so much for all that you do for our students, Mr. Hartlieb!

Mrs. Abbott, 6 Red ELA, has been teaching for 14 years. When she has spare time she enjoys renovating a 100 year old house along with gardening. As a tea connoisseur, her favorites include British Tetley tea, Yorkshire Gold tea, and Builders Grade tea. One thing you may not know about Mrs. Abbott is that she is fabulous at everything and her students would agree! According to Mrs. Abbott the best thing about teaching is the energy given from our amazing students. Thanks so much Mrs. Abbott for always being a fabulous teacher!

8 Black had an amazing speaker today, who shared her experiences as a Holocaust survivor. While the St. Louis Holocaust museum is under renovation, they were still able to provide our student this opportunity via Zoom.

A big thank you to Kevin Kruse and the Highland Moose Lodge 2479 for their generous donation to our Gym Plaza Revitalization Project!

Do you know where our AEDs are located at HMS? AEDs save lives. We found one! #highlandheartsavers

Queen Dena Geiger has her 6th grade students enter the dungeon today for her Math Escape Room! Have fun!

Sign up for HMS Volleyball will take place on Wednesday, January 27th & Thursday, January 28th only. Sign up sheets are located on the Information Desk in the Middle School Plaza. 6th grade tryouts will take place on Friday, January 29th. More detailed information to come regarding tryout dates and times. All students must have a current physical on file within the past 13 months as of the first day of tryouts. You will be notified if your student does not have a current physical on file. If you have any questions, please email Coach Hubbard at dhubbard@highlandcusd5.org Thank you

For Students, Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and HMS has a wonderful opportunity for you to do something for that special someone -- purchase a candy gram. Candy grams will be sold from January 28th - February 5th. Please see the schedule below for the day your team is allowed to purchase candy grams. Students may purchase candy grams for $1.00 during their advisory and ELP in the HMS Plaza. Your valentine will receive a full-size candy bar and a special handwritten message from you on Friday, February 12th during ELP. Happy Valentine's Day!! Purchase Dates: *Thursday, January 28th -- Team 6 Black *Friday, January 29th -- Team 6 Red *Tuesday, February 2nd -- Team 7 Black *Wednesday, February 3rd -- Team 7 Red *Thursday, February 4th -- Team 8 Black *Friday, February 5th -- Team 8 Red Candy Gram Message: *Give Me A Break . . . Be My Valentine! (Kit Kat) *You Are Magnificent & Marvelous! (M&Ms) *You Color My World! (Skittles) For Parents, We have lots of parents ask about whether or not they can purchase candy grams for their own children, their children's friends, teachers, etc. . . . the answer is yes you can. If you would like to purchase a candy gram, please fill-out this form -- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3kGb1X2015yEz95iVu0xe874HIzxxDahlHVhdYtT7DZyLAA/viewform. Please have your student turn in the money for candy grams in an envelope to the office. They will need to give it to either Jill Reaka or Kateri Odle by Friday, February 5th. Please make sure you put on the outside or inside of the envelope who the candy gram is for or who is giving it. Each candy gram is $1 for a full-size candy bar, and they will be handed out on Friday, February 12th. Happy Valentine's Day!! If you have any questions, please contact me at dhubbard@highlandcusd5.org. Thanks, Dawn Hubbard and Mecala Scholl HMS Student Council Sponsors Candy Gram Message: *Give Me A Break . . . Be My Valentine! (Kit Kat) *You Are Magnificent & Marvelous! (M&Ms) *You Color My World! (Skittles)

Congratulations to Sophia Fleming for being selected our HMS nominee for the SIJHSAA Jim Burns Award. She will be representing HMS in our conference this year for outstanding academic and athletic leadership.

Mrs. Stephanie Schwappach, 6 Red Math teacher, has been teaching for 15 years. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, studying genealogy, and traveling. Some of her favorite foods include chocolate, steak, chips with pineapple salsa, and pasta. One thing you may not know about Mrs. Schwappach is that she can sing. In fact, she used to sing in weddings many years ago. The best part about teaching at HMS is that Mrs. Schwappach loves being around her kiddos. Her favorite time is when she sees that "Aha" look on her students' faces after understanding a new math concept. Thanks Mrs. Schwappach for all that you do to help students grow.

Mrs. Mindy Bernal, our 7 Red Science teacher, has been teaching for 28 years. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, hiking, photography, scrap booking, painting, and yoga. She loves spending time with her husband and kids as well. Some of Mrs. Bernal’s favorites are soda, especially Coke. Something unique about Mrs. Bernal, is that she makes and keeps a picture collage for each year she has been teaching, and they are displayed throughout her classroom. She also has an uncanny resemblance to Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus at times. Her favorite thing about teaching HMS students is having fun lessons and watching the kids enjoy learning. Thanks for making science fun Mrs. Bernal!

Mrs. Amanda Holcmann, our Special Education transition room teacher, has been teaching for 18 years at HMS. When she is not teaching, Mrs. Holcmann loves spending time outdoors, camping, and going to sporting events for her 3 children. Some of her all time favorites are dark chocolate and Mexican food. One thing you may not know about Mrs. Holcmann is that she is a great cook. According to her, the best thing about teaching is getting to know the kids and interacting with her students helping them learn new things each day. Thank you Mrs. Holcmann for all that you do to help our students learn and succeed.

Mrs. PJ Bolk has been working with students as our librarian secretary for 28 years in the Highland School District. In her spare time, she enjoys going camping and boating with her family and loves reading from her Kindle. She loves brownies, snickers, Almond Joys, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for sweets. Other favorites include pork chops, Chinese, and Mexican food. One thing you may not know about Mrs. Bolk, is that she worked for U.S. Secret Service for 10 years before coming to the Highland School District. She met Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Mrs. Bolk and her husband also owned their own napery business - making cloth tablecloths & napkins in South Carolina. Her favorite time at HMS is when she is busy with all of the students coming to the library to read or pick out a great book. Mrs. Bolk will be retiring at the end of this school year. We will sure miss her. Thanks for your dedication to HMS, Mrs. Bolk.

This week's Mag 7 winners for team 7 Red. Nice work!