FOX FACTS

May 11, 2022

HMS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Final PTA Association Meeting on Tuesday, 5/17/22!

Please join the HMS PTA for our In/Out Association Meeting on 5/17/22 at 9AM via Zoom. We will wrap up the business for the current school year and welcome our new officers for the 2022-23. Come and hear about planned end of year activities as well as plans for PTA Allocations. 

Topic: HMS PTA In/Out Association Meeting

Time: May 17, 2022 09:00 AM US/Pacific

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2802599752

Meeting ID: 280 259 9752

8th grade promotion (graduation) information

Mr. Topalian sent all 8th grade parents and students an email on March 28th at 4:30 PM about upcoming events and activities for 8th graders.  It had a link to the letter detailing all that is still to come.  Click here for the letter.

Some highlights include:

PANORAMIC PICTURE: 

On Tuesday, May 24th a panoramic photograph of the entire 8th grade class will take place. All students will have the opportunity to purchase their own copy of this picture from Lifetouch if they wish. 

PROMOTION CEREMONY: 

Promotion ceremony practice will take place Tuesday, May 24th, Wednesday, May 25th and Thursday, May 26. Students must be present at all rehearsals or they may not be permitted to participate in the ceremony. 

The promotion ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 26th at 5:30 PM on the HMS athletic field. Students must report to the HMS Barth Athletic Complex by 4:45 PM. 

The ceremony will last approximately one hour.  It is extremely important to recognize this is a dignified event. All graduates and guests must enter at the front of the school. No guests or students may enter from Sherwood Ave. 

STUDENT ATTIRE:

Students, please remember this is a formal event. Your attire should be appropriate to the occasion.  Wear formal, dark suits or sport coats and trousers with dress shirts and a tie or wear a formal white, red, or black dress.  Jeans, sweat pants, sports caps, flip flops, shorts, strapless, open midriff, backless, and spaghetti straps are not appropriate. Dress shoes are recommended. Since the graduates will be walking on grass and up stairs, high heels should be avoided for safety reasons. In the event inappropriate clothing is worn, the student will be asked to change or not participate in the ceremony.  Please remember the nature of this occasion. If in doubt, please dress on the formal side.  No leis (flower, money, etc.) may be worn during the ceremony.  They may be given to students after the ceremony.

STUDENT CONDUCT: It is important to remind students to continue to demonstrate the proper behavior they have shown throughout the year.  Please understand that students who do not follow the school rules between now and commencement may be excluded from the activities or the commencement ceremony.

8th GRADE GRADUATION PARTY: The Promotion Party will take place on Thursday, May 26th, from 8:30PM-11:00PM at the San Gabriel Country Club (a separate invitation will be sent from PTA).  HMS thanks our PTA for planning this event for our 8th graders.

NOW OPEN!

Current 5th grade students:

All 5th grade students will automatically be enrolled in the following sixth grade courses: Math 6, English 6, Science 6, Social Studies 6 and PE 6. Honors and accelerated courses are only offered in 7th grade and based on a students academic performance throughout their 6th grade year.

Your elective selection is due by May 24, 2022. You can make changes to your selection up until the due date. If you do not select an elective, one will automatically be selected for you based on availability and no changes will be made in the Fall.

All electives are subject to availability, enrollment and staffing. NO COURSE IS GUARANTEED.

Please contact our School Counselor, Mrs. Gonzalez if you have any questions.

8th graders and students not returning

OUTDOOR EDUCATION INFORMATION

Current 5th, 6th, and 7th grade families, you should have received an email from Ms. Hazlett, our Assistant Principal, about Outdoor Education last week. The Google registration forms are available for parents to fill out. The Google roommate request forms are open for the students to fill out using their SMUSD email accounts. 

For more information and access to these forms (if our email went into your spam account) visit our HMS website under Activities/Outdoor Education. Or click this link.

PTA Thank Yous for May

As the year winds down, the PTA activities keep picking up.  Let’s try and keep up!

A big shout out to Stephanie Raleigh and Elsie Wong as they guide us on a whirlwind world tour for Staff Appreciation Week.  So happy that we are able to celebrate our wonderful HMS teachers and staff for this festive week.  They deserve our applause all year long!

Thank you to Zeina Daoud and Amy Yee as they work hard on planning 8th Grade End of Year Activities.  We won’t see the results of their hard work until the last day of school.  But rest assured, they and their team have so much planned for our graduating 8th graders.   

Parent Party may have wrapped up but the fun continued on with our fun fixed bid events.  Thank you to Luyi Khasi, Maria Manibog, Jennifer Park, Chris Song, and Lisa Wang for hosting the Moms’ Blackpink Night.  And cheers to Kevin Cheng, Gene Chuang, Chris Lee, Leo Lei, Steve Levy, TiWen Lin, Greg Meier, Sandeep Pathak, Jerry Shen, Cho-Nan Tsai, and Brian Wong for hosting the Dads’ San Manrino Night.  Fun for adults while supporting our children.

Recurring events like Noontime Fun (Emily Burke and Lulu Lopez) and 6th Grade Dances (Lisa Vuong and Brenda Salinas) continue to lift kids’ spirits on campus.  Meanwhile, PTA business continues quietly behind the scenes as various chairs lead their PTA Committees  - Jaime Gertmenian (Teacher Wish List, Allocations); Mikah O’Mara (Nominations, Halo Awards); Lauren Shen, Becki Watlington and Zeina Daoud (Founder’s Day)

I am grateful to have worked with an absolutely phenomenal Executive and Big Boards who has made this year a joy!  Many of them have been recognized at their events but others have been working year-round and avoiding the spotlight.  A few special people I want to highlight are - Danielle Spicer (Recording Secretary), Ada Wong and Mandy Chan (Financials), Kelly Carpiac (Publicity) and Cheryl Freiburg (Webmaster).  

I can’t forget to acknowledge the constant and amazing support PTA has from HMS Admin - Mr. Topalian, Ms. Hazlett, Randi Davis and Ashlin Anand.  

Finally, PTA is all about volunteerism for our kids.  The Halo Awards are one way we try to shine a light on those who have gone above and beyond.  Congrats to this year’s recipients- Coach JP, Coach Shawn, Jacki Chuang, Zeina Daoud, Stefanie Killackey, and Cathy Newton.  They are just a few of the phenomenal volunteers we have here at Huntington Middle School.  We are grateful to you all!

Jacqueline Tran Chuang

HMS PTA President 2021-22

HALO AWARDS 2021-2022

The HMS PTA HALO Awards were established to recognize exceptional parents, teachers, and staff who have given outstanding contributions of time and talent to Huntington Middle School. They embody the volunteer spirit that inspires our HMS Community. Please join the HMS PTA and the HALO Awards Committee in congratulating our amazing 2021-2022 HMS Halo Award recipients!

Jacqueline Chuang

This hardworking pediatrician and super-star volunteer has been a part of all things HMS for a continuous seven years. If we have it, she’s run it – from Parent Party, to Hauntington Breakfast, from Choir Booster Chair to PTA President and a variety of PTA executive board positions. Throughout the pandemic, she’s guided us with calm advice and a can-do spirit. Jacki never hesitates to lend a hand. She does it all without needing the spotlight, but we could not let this super volunteer “graduate” without recognizing her. HMS is a better place thanks to the awesome Jacki Chuang!

Zeina Daoud

This fabulous volunteer has served in so many roles at HMS that it is hard to keep track of them all. She is a busy real estate executive but nevertheless has found the time to serve in multiple PTA executive board positions, including Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and Auditor. She has volunteered her time on the Parent Party Committee, the HMS Reopening Task Force Team, and the COVID Compliance Team, and she is currently serving as 8th Grade Activities Chair. We are grateful for Zeina’s dedicated service and look forward to more years of working with her, as her youngest child joins us at HMS!

Coach Shawn Gonzales

Don’t blink, or you might miss him as he runs by. “Coach Shawn” spends endless hours as the cross country and track coach at HMS, teaching our Foxes how to be the best athletes they can be, as well as requiring the utmost in sportsmanship from them. He is always welcoming, and his positive attitude gives students the confidence to challenge themselves in trying new things. Coach Shawn gives freely of his time at school and PTA activities and has gone above and beyond his role as an instructional aide in helping students return to the classroom after the learning disruptions caused by the pandemic. Coach Shawn puts a smile on all of our faces, and we are so thankful for his commitment to our school!

Stefanie Killackey

This phenomenal volunteer has given our HMS community a sense of fun and normalcy in 2020 and 2021, despite the challenges of the past few years. She’s co-chaired an amazing 2021 Outdoor Movie Night Spring Fundraiser, which involved much pivoting and working with the County Health Department. She did it all again as co-chair of the 2021 Hauntington Breakfast, where she managed to seamlessly blend safety with fun. She’s also given her time in multiple PTA executive board roles and on many PTA committees. Stefanie always says “yes” when asked to help, and we are grateful for her many years of indelible service!

Catherine Newton

A busy pediatrician and mom of four at four different schools (HMS, SMHS, Carver and St. Edmunds Preschool), she is a committed volunteer at all of them and a variety of community organizations. Yet, Cathy has never shied away from donating her time and planning skills in taking on big projects at HMS. She recently co-chaired our amazingly fun HMS Spring Fundraiser, Fox Games, and also co-chaired our 2020 safer-at-home Hauntington Breakfast. She has helped with the HMS musical and served on the 2019 CA Healthy Youth Act Curriculum Review Committee, as well served on many other HMS committees and events. You will be seeing her party planning in action again this fall, as she co-chairs Hauntington Breakfast for a second time! HMS would not be the fun place it is without irrepressible Cathy Newton!

Coach Jean-Gharry Pierre

Affectionately known as “Coach J.P.” around campus, he has left his mark on many HMS students, teaching them dedication and sportsmanship on the football field, as well as on the basketball court. He coaches both junior varsity flag football and varsity boys basketball and is a force of positivity for all our Foxes, always there to build up our HMS students and lend a hand at PTA activities, including our recent Fox Games. In addition, he has been invaluable in assisting with the post-pandemic back-to-classroom transition as an instructional aide. We are always happy to see Coach J.P. on the field or in the classroom, and we are thankful for his dedication to HMS!