October 14, 2022
Dear HMS Parents and Guardians,
We hope this update finds you well and enjoying the brilliant colors that fall has to offer in Maine. Pictured here are some of our 7th graders during their field trip to Wolfe’s Neck Farm this past Tuesday where they explored organic growing and regenerative practices among other topics as part of a new school programming opportunity. Our students enjoyed their exploration of coastal ecosystems and brought much back with them to share at HMS. We want to extend a huge thank you to our PTO for supporting this opportunity.
On Thursday, October 6, all HMS students and staff participated in our first full-school, multi-grade level book discussion focused on the first part of Count Me In. In preparation for additional activities related to the book, our staff created our own collages, as the main character does in Count Me In, to share with others what we at HMS are all about. We are excited to do this activity with students next week. Thank you to those who have donated magazines; we are still in need of more. If you have additional magazines to donate toward our project, please send them in with your student or drop them off at the Main Office.
You will notice a new section in our updates: Counselors’ Corner. Our Counseling Team is going to share information and tips each month as a way to help families build skills and support their students. In this update you will find information about the following topics:
Bicycle Safety
One Book, One School - Update
HMS Library - September Stats
Merrill Memorial Library - Events
Counselors’ Corner: Coping with Anxiety
Active Parenting Class
PTO Initiative - Build the Village
Dates to Date
HMS Update #6 will be sent on October 28, 2022. Please continue to reach out with any questions.
With Gratitude,
Mandy Lewis and Tom McDowell
HMS Administrative Team
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Bicycle Safety
We are thrilled to see so many students biking to and from school! There are many benefits to our students and our community when we have students biking to school. However, HMS and the Yarmouth Police Department have received several reports about unsafe bicycle riding by middle school students going to and from school. One particular unsafe action that is being reported is biking from the sidewalk to the road and back to the sidewalk. These unpredictable moves endanger the bicyclist, people in vehicles, and pedestrians. Please encourage school-aged bicyclists in your family to ride in single file on the sidewalk in order to keep everyone safe. We are also seeing more students riding without helmets; we ask you to encourage your child to wear a helmet while riding; Maine state law requires riders under the age of 16 to wear a helmet while biking. Thank you for partnering with us to help all students be safe bicyclists.
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One Book, One School - Update
Our students are having thoughtful discussions about Count Me In during read-aloud in Language Arts classes and during school wide discussions. We continue to be grateful for our PTO for funding this full-school opportunity!
Varsha Bajaj, the author of Count Me In, will visit with each grade level at HMS during the day on November 4th. We are looking forward to her visit! Varsha will also be holding a 20-minute Q & A and book signing at Merrill Memorial Library on Thursday, November 3, at 6 PM. Copies of Varsha’s books will be available for purchase that evening, courtesy of Royal River Books.
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HMS Library - September Stats
Here is a snapshot of our community of readers!
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Merrill Memorial Library - Events
YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD: Now accepting applications for teens in grades 6-12 interested in creating and running programs and events at the library. Volunteer hours earned for those who need them. To apply: https://forms.gle/g9gBpkxoqqUbrg5EA
DANGEROUS THINKING CLUB: Third Thursday of the month, October 20, 5-6pm. For grades 8-12. Book Club with an edge.
ORIGAMI WITH AUGUST: Saturday, October 22 and December 10, 10-11. Drop in at the MML foyer to fold with an origami master. All ages.
AUTHOR NIGHT! Friday, October 28, Time TBD. Join three teen authors, including YHS senior Leela Hidier, as they read from their books and answer questions. In collaboration with The Telling Room.
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Counselors’ Corner: A Few Helpful Hints from the HMS Counseling Team
Helping Your Child Cope with Anxiety
For this month we would like to talk about anxiety. We have started to see many students feeling anxious about school, sports /activities and peer relationships.
Worry is a normal part of growing, learning and changing. In certain situations, however, worry and anxiety can become overwhelming and extremely powerful. What can you do?
Connect with your child's school counselor and their teachers. Let them know what you are seeing at home and what your concerns are. School counselors can provide individual counseling, group counseling, peer mediations, and referrals. If it is determined that your child will need more ongoing support, a referral to an outside counselor or to one of our school social workers can be made.
Who we are:
Catherine Nein, School Counselor
catherine_nein@yarmouthschools.org
Chelsea Collupy, Social Worker
chelsea_collupy@yarmouthschools.org
Michelle Napoli, Social Worker
michelle_napoli@yarmouthschools.org
*We can also be reached by calling the main office phone at 207-846-2499.
A few resources we recommend are:
Podcast with Lynn Lyons LICSW - Each episode is filled with practical advice to help parents better manage their child’s worry.
https://flusterclux.com/category/lynn-lyons-podcast-episodes/
The Child Mind institute - An independent nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/
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Active Parenting Class
Our school will be offering our Active Parenting class again virtually. The Active Parenting class is based upon the idea of mutual respect between parent and child as well as a cognitive behavioral emphasis on personal choice, approach to change, and responsibility. Be on the lookout for more information and registration information coming soon!
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PTO Initiative - Build the Village
The Yarmouth PTO Welcome Committee is launching a new initiative, Build the Village, to help families connect around shared experiences, interests, and identity. This is not a fundraising effort. The goal is to form small group networks so that parents can share tips, tricks, and insights with others who may be navigating the same path.
If you are wondering if your child is the first one to come up against something they’re struggling with, or if you are wondering if you are the first parent to be uncertain of resources or next steps, chances are the answer is no. If you recently made it through a process with your child that should have come with an instructional manual, then you are now a great resource for someone just setting out on that path.
To participate in Build the Village, please complete this survey. The PTO Welcome Committee will share your contact information specifically with other parents who selected the same area(s) of interest. Once the initial connections have been made, build your village in whatever way works best for your group.
Questions before signing up? Email: Mary Gaulladet, YES Welcome Committee Chair yarmouthpto04096@gmail.com
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Dates to Date
November 3: Varsha Bajaj at Merrill Memorial Library at 6pm (book signing and Q+A)
November 4: One Book, One School Author Visit at HMS
November 11: Veterans Day - no school