News and Events

Washington State students enrolled in algebra, geometry, and/or biology courses are now required by law to take an End Of Course (EOC) Exam. Details about the EOC can be found in this letter that went home with students taking the EOC exams.The tests will be administered at HIMS on the following days: June 5 (Geometry); June 12 (Algebra), June 14 (Biology). Find more information on OSPI’s EOC link. If you have further questions, please contact your child’s math or biology teacher or Jo Shapiro.

The month of May is filled with music! On Saturday, May 12, Senior Jazz appears at the Gypsy Cafe right here in Wallingford at 6:00 p.m.; all ages welcome. On Friday, May 25, Senior Jazz, Marimbas, Vocal Jazz and Choir will perform at the Folklife Festival at Seattle Center. These performances and others during the month of May are listed below. 

May 12 at 6:00 pm - Sr. Jazz at Gypsy Cafe  
May 18-20 all day - Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band at Music-in-the-Parks Festival/Silverwood
May 25 at 11:00 am - Sr. Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Choir and Marimba at Folklife Festival 
May 29 at 7:00 pm - Cadet Orchestra at Concert w/Laurelhurst & JSIS   
May 31 at 7:00 pm - All Bands Spring Concert 

Please check the HIMS Fusion Calendar for details and schedule updates. All music events are color-coded purple. 

Fourteen HIMS 8th graders participated in last week’s YMCA Youth & Government program at the State Capitol in Olympia.  Each of these students wrote a piece of legislature that they debated with 400+ students from all over Washington.  Through the legislative process teens in grades 8-12 develop confidence, hone skills in writing, research and public speaking, and better understand their power as citizens in a democratic society.  Delegates learn about the variety of views and issues around WA as they discuss solutions and alternatives to problems facing their own communities.  Congratulations to Sarala D., Brian G., Taliya G., Emma J., Abigail L., Ada M., Thomas N., Erik N, Karl N., Paloma N., Page R., Akaash S, Ricky S. and Cyan T. for representing HIMS in Olympia this year!  Many thanks to Chris Rossman and Liz Chase for chaperoning and supporting our students. For more information on the program check out www.youthandgovernment.org.

Seattle Public Schools has a new attendance policy regarding planned absences and two forms must be used for planned absences to be excused. You must devise an approved Educational Plan prior to the absence to ensure that lost instructional time is made up. Links to these forms, as well as all other attendance forms, are provided on the HIMS Attendance Page. Remember that it is your student's responsibilty to check with each teacher to get missed assignments and find out when they are due. 

The last Hamilton PTSA General Membership Meeting of this school year will be Wednesday, May 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Commons. We’ll have a short but important business meeting to elect new PTSA officers for the 2012-2013 school year. Immediately following the meeting, we are pleased to sponsor a community educational event with Kim Estes of Savvy Parents Safe Kids, Be Keen on Your Tween’s Safety. This is a forum for parents, aimed at helping you prepare for your child's increasing needs for independence as they transition from tween to teen. This parenting workshop will cover hot topics such as: sleep overs, cell phones, being home alone, out and about safety, your kid as a babysitter, red flags every parent should know about, and why NOW is the time parents need to step up their game when it comes to safety. Please join the PTSA at this terrific educational event!  Light refreshments served. 

Families and students who would like to honor the memory of HIMS teacher Marcy Shadow (1947-2011) are invited to donate books in her name to the HIMS library. (Donations to the Washington MS library, where Ms. Shadow taught for many years, would also be welcome.)  A special bookplate has been created for this purpose. Marcy Shadow taught for over 30 years in Seattle’s public schools and was instrumental in creating and supporting the district’s gifted education program (APP). She was beloved and inspired generations of students. In December she lost a long battle with cancer. Please consider donating a book (new or secondhand), possibly one of Ms. Shadow’s favorites, one of your own favorites, or a book that would simply enrich the library in her spirit -- classics, poetry, drama, children’s or young adult literature. Bookplates are available at the HIMS library.