VHMS Hamilton Headlines

July 21, 2022

Vol. 4, Issue 1

Principal July Update

By Principal John Burkholder

Welcome to the 22-23 school year, and the first of many Hamilton school newsletters that will be coming your way over the coming 12 months--lucky you! The Hamilton Headlines are designed to be periodic over summer, and then move to a regular weekly publication once school begins in September. As principal, I write the newsletters and do my best to cull through information from various sources to provide you with what to know for Hamilton Middle. I also put forth a fair amount of effort to fill the newsletters with photos of students and events taking place on our campus, though some weeks lend themselves more to photos than others. As much as I can I send the newsletters on Thursdays, but occasionally they will come to you on a Friday during weeks when I was not perhaps as efficient as I had hoped.

So here you go, the first Hamilton Headlines of the 22-23 school year! I hope you and your family are having a good summer.

John Burkholder, Principal

Registering for School

Beginning August 3, you will be able to register your child officially for the 22-23 school year. If you have been in the district for some years, know that the enrollment process continues to be about the same as it has been in recent years. Below are the dates of enrollment, along with some qualifying categories. Please read the information carefully and enroll as soon as you are able as it helps us greatly in our planning for the new year to have accurate student counts as early as possible. Thanks in advance!

Was your child enrolled in MMSD last year and you have not moved or changed adult household members (i.e., marriage or divorce)? If so, then you should be able to complete your child's enrollment completely online beginning August 3.

Were you enrolled in MMSD last year, but changed addresses or there was a change in the adult membership in your household? You will be able to complete the great majority of your enrollment online, but will need to come in on our in-person date with documents identified in your online enrollment.

Are you new to MMSD? If you are new to our district, then you will still complete most of your enrollment online, but will need to come to our in-person enrollment date with the documents identified in your online enrollment.

Enrollment Dates:

August 3: Online Enrollment Begins, All Families

August 18: In-Person Enrollment, 10am-1pm, Families New to MMSD

August 18: In-Person Enrollment, 2-6pm, for Returning Students with a Household Change

Enrollment Website Link

Expiring USDA Waivers

At the time of this writing, the federal government had ended its pandemic relief program of providing free breakfast and lunch to any and all public school students. As such, for the 22-23 school year the school lunch program will be back to its pre-pandemic form, charging students who choose to eat school provided breakfast and/or lunch. For students who qualify, the free and reduced priced option will once again be available.

1970 Van Hise Viking Reunion

It was a bright sunny day in June when the Van Hise Junior High Class of 1970 stopped by our Hamilton campus for a reunion tour. Through 1970 our current campus had a single name (Van Hise), and included students in kindergarten through ninth grade. The group visiting us was the last ninth grade to be on our campus as the next year the school was changed to a middle school format, serving students K-8. The group regaled in the fact that much of the original campus had not changed much since 1970, and shared many stories from years past. There was particular interest in our upper breezeway where I was told that students "sprinted through here every day to get to the cafeteria". Yep, that hasn't changed either! Stories of shoe dances, stolen milk money, and fond memories of teachers from long ago were shared. A good time was had by all!

The Van Hise Viking Class of 1970 is in search of fellow classmates. Can you help? See this website for more information and a list of class members with whom the group is trying to locate. If you know someone on the list, please contact the Class of 1970 at vanhisejhclassof1970@gmail.com.

MMSD App Launches August 1

MMSD will officially be launching a new MMSD App on August 1. The new App integrates seamlessly with MMSD website content systems. Content includes items such as calendars, directories, and news (you can use filters so you just see news of individual schools). To find the App, you can search MMSD Schools in the App Store.

"Clean Up, Aisle 9"

Our Hamilton Middle custodians are hard at work getting our campus ready for the coming school year. Part of their work is to empty every room in our building and clean the room including stripping and waxing the floors. The crew does great work!

Reminder: Best Bets for Summer Reading

Is your child looking for some good books to read this summer, but you don't really know where to begin your search? Hamilton Librarian Mrs. Phelps to the rescue! Mrs. Phelps created a list of the most popular books that were checked out of our Hamilton Library this year, as well as a list of popular authors. Check out the below link to Good Summer Reads!

Good Summer Reads

Upcoming Dates of Interest

Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates:

August

3-Online Enrollment Begins (ALL Students)
18-In Person Enrollment Day

September

1-First Day of School SIXTH Grade Only
2-First Day of School ALL Students

Link to 22-23 MMSD Calendar