You are invited to the Farewell Celebration for the Hammond Middle School Class of 2009!

click here for permission slip

  To:             HMS 8th Grade Students, Parents and Faculty

From:         HMS PTA

When:        Friday, June 12, 2009

Where:       Hammond Middle School 

Time:            7:00-7:30pm - Gathering in cafeteria for students, parents, and faculty to view memory video and hear from the administration. A parent or guardian must accompany students.

(Due to space limitations, no siblings please).

                        7:30 -9:30pm - Students only. Dance in gym. Pizza, snacks, and dessert in cafeteria.

                        9:30pm - DESIGNATED ADULT MUST SIGN STUDENT OUT!

Dress:            Young Ladies - Dress, skirt and top, or dress pants outfit. Dress and skirt length should be no shorter than fingertip. No strapless tops.

                        Young Men - Collared shirt and dress pants/khakis. No jeans, cut-offs, t-shirts, or hats. 

Admission: Cost is $15.00 per student (includes access to dance, refreshments during dance and a memory DVD.)  Permission slip and payment (cash or check made payable to HMS PTA) should be placed together in an envelope marked 8^th Grade Celebration and turned in to a PTA parent during lunch the week of May 26 -29. No admission ticket necessary. Limos and guests prohibited. STUDENTS MUST BE CHECKED OUT BY A DESIGNATED ADULT BEFORE LEAVING THE DANCE.

 Contact Adrienne Trainor (trainorfamily1@verizon.net) or

JoAnn Ekstrom (JoAnn21@comcast.net) with any questions.

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8th Grade Dance Scheduled for June 12
7th Grade Volunteers Needed
It is a Hammond tradition that 7th grade parents help with the 8th grade end of year dance. We are looking for about 25 parents to help with dance on the evening of Friday, June 12.  We have a need for parents to chaperon, set up food and check students in/out.  Please contact:  Marla Singer at  moosewonk@gmail.com or 301-725-5338; Mary Leadbeater at theleadbeater@comcast.net or 301-497-1574.
Spirit Wear
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A Message from the Hammond Middle School PTA President:
Most of our PTA Executive board have graduating students or have fulfilled their term.  Our unique situation this year is to have nearly every position vacant as of June 1.  It is time for a new set of parents to bring new ideas and energy to an already excellent school. 

Part of what makes Hammond Middle School a great place for students is the variety of activities offered beyond the classroom.  Your PTA works with staff and administrators to plan such events as after school dances, the annual variety show, spelling bee and the “teachers vs. students” basketball game.  We also support existing programs such as Outdoor Education for sixth graders and TeacherEase.   

It has been a privilege to work with such a gifted staff.  It has also been great fun.  Your children benefit so much from your direct involvement in PTA.  Please consider a position.  If you have any questions please feel free to call or email me.

 Sincerely,
Laura Borowski
mborowski@hotmail.com    410.290.9790

Positions available:
President
Treasurer
2 Vice Presidents
Secretary 

Committee Chairs:
After School Dances
Fundraising
Teacher Appreciation/Hospitality
Spirit Wear
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Surviving the Teenage Years

PTA Council Information & Tips for Parents of Teens
Keeping Your Teens Active, Safe and Drug Free This Summer

More teenagers try marijuana for the first time during the summer months than during any other season, according to a newly released report by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  The same study reports that the number of youth cigarette and alcohol users also rises when school is out.

What Parents Can Do
• Engage your Teen in Summer Activities. Research shows that teens who are involved in constructive and adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs. Some summer time options include: getting a job, going to camp, becoming a camp counselor, getting involved in sports, taking summer classes, babysitting or life guarding. Applying for a volunteer internship or just offering to volunteer at an organization or business could be a great learning experience for many teens.

 • Set clear rules and enforce them. Discuss curfews and other responsibilities with your teen at the beginning of the summer. Make sure that you’re both clear on the guidelines and the consequences. At the same time, don’t focus solely on the negative; remember to accentuate the positive by praising your teen’s healthy choices. Praise and reward good behavior.

 • Monitor Your Teen’s Activities and Behaviors. You don’t need to put a homing device on them, but it’s not unreasonable to insist that you know where they are, who they’re with, what they’re doing and how you can reach them. Teens who are not regularly monitored by their parents are four times more likely to use drugs.

 • Talk to your teen. Keep open lines of communication with your child. Information about illegal drugs is important, but adolescents are more apt to act wisely on that information if they have an open, supportive relationship with their parents. Do you talk to your teen about the harmful physical, mental and social effects of alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs?

• Make Sure You Stay Involved with Your Teen’s Life. Have you talked to your teen’s coach, employer or friends lately? Stay in touch with the adult supervisors of your teen and have them inform you of any changes in your teen. Get to know the parents of your teen’s friends. They may alert you to behavior or activity that you’re not yet aware of.

• Reserve Time for Family. Have you planned a family activity with your teen in the coming weeks, such as going to the movies together, talking a walk or sharing a meal? Teens who spend time, talk and have a close relationship with their parents are much less likely to drink, take drugs or have sex.

• Getting a Job. Parents should know the state laws regarding age and employment, as well as the job safety regulations for certain work environments.  The Web site, Parenthood.com, has a helpful article “That first Summer Job: How to Help Your Teen Get It and Make the Most of It.

Your guidance, and your continued involvement will make a big difference in your child's life. Get Involved. Stay Involved.

Sources: www.Parenthood.com, and Parents.The Anti-Drug at www.theantidrug.com

Variety Show Thanks
Thanks to everyone who came out to the 5^th Annual HMS Live Variety Show. It was an evening full of terrific student performances.  We appreciate all the help from Mrs. McGowan, Mr. Davis, PTA President Laura Borowski and everyone who contributed to the success of the show.  A big thank you to everyone who donated canned food for LARS – Laurel Advocacy & Referral Service at the show.

The HMS Student Variety Show has been a wonderful tradition at Hammond Middle School these past five years.  Adrienne Trainor and I have had a lot of fun coordinating, but this was our last show.

We need some folks to take over as coordinators for next year’s show.   We have lots of good information to share to help make the 6^th Annual HMS Live a smashing success.  To find out more contact Susan Costenbader at 301-776-8820 or Adrienne Trainor 301-317-9315.

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BoxTops for Education!
Hammond Middle PTA just received a check for $162.50!  Keep those boxtops coming!  A collection box is located in the front office.
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Registration for Summer 2009 Kids on Campus Begins February 10
Howard Community College is offering summer enrichment options for middle school students through its Kids on Campus program.  Courses such as "Creating Games with GameMaker," "Latin Lanugage & Roman Culture," and "Junior Medic," are just a few of the exciting opportunities for Howard County students.  For a brochure or more information, contact Sara Baum, HCC Coordinator, Lifelong Learning, at sbaum@howardcc.edu or at 410-772-4976. Visit the website: http://coned.howardcc.edu/kids_on_campus/
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Hammond Middle Named Blue Ribbon School
Hammond Middle School is one of six schools to be named 2009 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools, according to information released today by State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick. According to Grasmick, the six schools will now represent Maryland in the National Blue Ribbon Schools Competition.
 
Hammond is one of Howard County's top performing middle schools. Ninety-five percent of Hammond students scored at proficient or advanced in reading on the 2008 Maryland School Assessments, up six points from the year before. In mathematics, 92 percent of Hammond students scored at proficient or advanced, also up six points from 2007. Additionally, Hammond had a 99 percent pass rate for students taking the Algebra High School Assessment.
 
Hammond is realizing success across student groups. A total of 100 percent of the school's sixth grade Hispanic students scored at proficient or advanced on both the reading and math MSAs. The school's African American students are performing at a high level as well. In sixth grade, 79.2 percent scored at proficient or advanced in mathematics and 87.5 in reading. African American seventh graders reached 74.2 percent in math and 82.8 in reading, while 81.0 percent of the school's eighth graders scored proficient in math and 90.5 in reading.
 
Superintendent Sydney Cousin congratulated the entire Hammond Middle School community for this well-deserved recognition. "We are very proud of everyone at Hammond Middle School. The school has strong leadership and a very dedicated staff. They are to be commended for all that they do in support of students."
 
"This is such an honor and wonderful affirmation for the Hammond staff, students and parents," remarked Principal Kerry McGowan. "Everyone has worked so hard to make sure our students are achieving. We feel like we just got the very best holiday gift possible, tied up with blue ribbon!"

High School Happenings...
The Reservoir High School PTSA is currently seeking and accepting nominations for the 2009/10 Executive Board.   Positions that are open are President, Vice President, Treasurer and County Council Representative.  Descriptions of these positions can be found on the PTA website:   http://reservoirptsa.wikispaces.com (under Board Positions and Committees).

If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else, please contact:

Molly Grover - molly_grover@yahoo.com or 301-490-6774

Cheri Horne -  cheri@horneshouse.com or 301-490-5218

Kris Kendall -  kriskendall@verizon.net or 301-490-7035

All nominations must be received by April 15.

Please forward to any parents who you think might be interested.  Thank You!

President
1^st Vice President
2^nd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
PTA Council Representative –(Two are needed)  
 If you are interested in a position,  please notifly one of the following PTA nominating committee  members.
Anne Thompson
kagethompson@verizon.net
410- 715 -6552
Laura Borowski
mborowski@hotmail.com
410 290 9790
Kathy Jones
kaiserjones@comcast.net
410 381 5682

We are looking for volunteers to help prepare artwork for an exhibit with Mrs. Lisa Nerseesian our art teacher.  She would need 1 - 3 volunteers to mat artwork using matting tools for the upcoming art show at the Columbia Mall.  We need the volunteers in March before spring break.  If you are available please contact inahersh@verizon.net

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