Heads Up Hamilton: Friday, January 14th

Posted January 14, 2022


The Week Ahead

Monday, January 17

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day NO SCHOOL
  • Join Team DPS at the Jan. 17 Marade in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (click here for more information)

Tuesday, January 18

  • HMS Brain Bowl at 8:30am
  • Boys/Girls Basketball Practice (4:15-5:45 pm)

Wednesday, January 19

  • Basketball Home Game @ 4pm
  • Per COVID guidelines, we’ll not have spectators in the gym.

Thursday, January 20

  • HMS Brain Bowl at 8:30am
  • HMS Virtual School Expo 6:00pm-8:pm (click here for more information)
  • Boys/Girls Basketball Practice (4:15-5:45 pm)

Friday, January 21

  • Meet the Principal Virtual Town Hall 6:00pm-7:00pm (click here for more information)

School Reminders & Updates

  • 1/14-2/15 SchoolChoice: Jan. 14-Feb. 15, 2022
  • 1/18-20 DPS Virtual School Expo Week is Jan. 18-20; Facebook Live event Jan. 13 (more information here)
  • 1/31-2/4 Denver Health: School Oral Health Program (more information here)
  • 1/25-1/29 Slices Pizza Week-long Fundraiser
  • 2/21 NO SCHOOL- Presidents Day
  • 2/22 NO SCHOOL- Non Student Contact Day
  • 05/27/22 8th Grade Continuation

  • Transportation Updates weather delay and cancellation procedures here
  • Lunch Menus (click the link to learn more)
  • Covid Protocols (click the link to learn more)
  • Free Citizenship Assistance with Catholic Charities of Denver (click on the link for more information)
  • Free Lunch & Snacks for All Hamilton Huskies (click on the link for more information)

Hamilton Administration Updates

Mrs. Dillon’s Message

Dear Hamilton Community,

I hope you enjoy the three-day weekend and stay safe. Please take a moment to read the letter I sent to you on Thursday night. Let’s work together to make sure every student wears their mask properly, brings a water bottle to school, and stays home if they don’t feel well.

I would also like to kindly ask you to help your student take good care of their Chromebooks. Students use technology during class and at home to learn. Here is the link to the technology and Chromebook update with maintenance and fee information.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the Town Hall Meeting next week.

Mrs. Dillon

Principal 


Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Join Mrs. Dillon on Fri., Jan. 21st from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm for a virtual town hall meeting. Click here for the link.


Hamilton Interest Form

Dear Families, we sent out an interest form before the break and it seemed to not open for many of you. If you were not able to open the form before please take a moment to fill out the interest form now as we are working hard to identify the needs of the families in our community. This form will focus on the following interests:

  • Carpool/Walkpool and/or volunteering to Carpool/Walkpool
  • School Pantry Planning and/or volunteering
  • Interest in other volunteering opportunities

Hamilton Assessments

ACCESS assessments for our MLL students were administered this week.

The CMAS, state summative assessment for language arts, math, science, and social studies will be administered this Spring. We will post more information as it gets closer.

Interim Assessments are in two weeks.


Volunteers

Get involved! Any volunteers or community partners who interact with students will have their vaccination status verified in the front office. All people in the building whether they interact with students or visit the front office must be masked at all times. Click on the link for more information.


School News

SPARK Program at Hamilton

The first SPARK field trip to the Denver Police Museum was a success! Students learned about the history of the Denver Police force, got to see artifacts, and had the opportunity to dive deeper into the world of law enforcement.

DU Men’s Basketball Attendance Incentive  

University of Denver Men’s Basketball team wants you to fill their seats like you fill ours! Come to school AND get to class on time from now until February 4th to earn tickets for you, your friends, and your family! For real, anyone with at least 80% attendance will be invited to request up to 4 tickets to attend the Saturday, February 12th DU vs University of South Dakota Basketball game at 2 pm.

Club News

Two of our clubs had the opportunity to meet with the We Don’t Waste Denver Program where they learned earn more about the environmental impact of food waste, hunger, nutrition, and ways we can all make a difference.

School Choice Opens Soon!

The 2022-23 SchoolChoice application window opens on January 14, 2022.

DPS has put together resources, including the annual Great Schools Enrollment Guides, which will be mailed this month to all transition-grade students (current ECE, fifth- and eighth-graders). Families can also check out a digital version of the guide or access our mobile-friendly school search tool, School Finder.

The DPS SchoolChoice First Round window for the 2022-23 school year is Jan. 14 through 4 p.m. Feb. 15, 2022.  For more information, call the SchoolChoice hotline at 720-423-3493, email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org or visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org or you can reach out to our school liaison Dimarlys with questions.

The SE School Expo is on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Join us and meet Hamilton’s leadership team. Learn about our school and what it has to offer, meet our administrators and ask questions.  

SE School Expo

When: Thursday, January 20, 2022

Time: 6:00pm- 8:00pm

Where: Google Meets Link

Event Flier: HERE


HMS Sports News

If you have any other questions, contact the coach directly or visit Hamilton’s Athletics page for more information. Coach Elmore Victoria_Elmore@dpsk12.net

Updates

Basketball– Practices are M-TH from 4:15-5:45 pm unless there is a game. No spectators at games. The game schedule can be found on the DSP Athletics page.

Floor Hockey– Coming soon! Keep an eye out for more details about tryouts to be sent out on Deets in the next two weeks.


Nurse’s Corner

Staying Safe and Healthy

We have automatic no-touch drinking fountains for students to fill their water bottles. Students are not allowed to drink water directly from the water fountain. Please make sure students bring a water bottle to school every day. 

Students must bring a mask to school and wear it properly, covering their mouth and nose. If a student is not wearing their mask properly, we will call parents/guardians to support us and pick them up from school if the behavior continues. Please help us at home by talking to your student about proper mask usage and by providing them with a mask that fits comfortably.

Denver Health: School Oral Health Program

Nurse’s CornerThe Dental Sealant program is coming to 6th and 7th graders during the last week of this month. Parent permission forms are required to receive care. Forms have been distributed through your child’s advisory class. Please have these forms filled out and turned in as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact our nurse Regan Thornburg. Click here to read more about the program.

COVID-19 Vaccinations and New Protocols

As you know, our Denver Health School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) are now offering vaccinations for free at 18 locations across the city. For more information on COVID-19 vaccines and new protocols click on the link.

Every Colorado Youth is now eligible for three free therapy sessions. Visit our Husky Herald post about the I Matter Program to learn more. Click the link to be sent to the Nurse’s Office page for health forms.

Bullying and Cyberbullying

If you are concerned about bullying at your school, we recommend contacting your school’s principal, social worker, school psychologist, or teacher directly to address the issue. We encourage you to talk to your student about bullying and to teach your student to always tell a trusted adult if he or she, or another student, has been bullied or cyberbullied.

Learn more about bullying and cyberbullying at:

You can anonymously report any bullying behavior that threatens you, your family, or your community through Safe2Tell by calling 877-542-7233, by visiting Safe2tell.org, or by using the Safe2Tell app on a mobile device.

For more information on DPS Bullying and Cyberbullying Policies & Procedures click on the link.


PTSA News

January PTSA General Meeting notes can be found here.

Slices Pizza Week-long Fundraiser will be from 1/25-1/29. More information coming soon.

 PTSA Parent to Parent Night on Zoom January 25th, 7 pm. More information coming soon.

Trivia Fundraising Night in February. More details coming soon.

Want to help plan the PTSA Plant Sale in May, contact PTSA at Hamiltonptsadenver@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support of the PTSA and we look forward to more opportunities to serve in 2022!


HMS Diversity Calendar

We are committed to upholding an inclusive culture where students and team members can show up as their authentic and best selves. Click on the link to visit HMS Diversity Calendar for more information on what’s happening in the month of December!


How to Support Hamilton Middle School?

Join the PTSA!

The Hamilton Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) welcomes ALL Hamilton families, staff, and students to become members! CLICK HERE to complete a membership form and pay annual dues.

Other Ways to Support Hamilton


AMAZON SMILE

Simply shop at smile.amazon.com and tap on “AmazonSmile” within the Programs & Features menu or Settings and follow the on-screen instructions. AmazonSmile will donate to Hamilton Middle School PTA, at no cost to you!



BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION

The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online. Learn more at boxtops4education.com.


KING SOOPERS COMMUNITY REWARDS

Connect your Loyalty Card to Southmoor Elementary!

  • Click on the link
  • Link your account to Hamilton Middle and King Soopers will donate a portion of every dollar you spend back to our school.

Our school cooking club is looking for donations. If you have some cooking and baking utensils/tools that maybe you aren’t using or haven’t used, the Food Club will take them off your hands. 

What is needed:

mixing bowls, spoons, baking pans (cake and cookie sheets), aprons, kitchen towels, measuring cups, and spoons.

If you can contact the school liaison at 720-423-9456 or just drop off donations at Hamilton Middle attn: Mrs. Freeman (Food Club) 

Thank you in advance.

SCHOOL DONATIONS

Thank you Hamilton families for your support. Your help with donating any of these classroom supplies at any time during the school year is appreciated. If you would like to donate school supplies, click here for more information.

Our Design and Modeling STEM students will be designing and building prototypes of a foot orthosis (brace) for children with cerebral palsy. We need A LOT of supplies for the students to use. If you have any of the following materials in your home that you would be willing to donate please contact our school Liaison Dimarlys_suarez@dpsk12.org or bring them down to the front office. Thank you for your generosity and continuous support. 


Technology Update 

Dear Families, your scholars should already have received a school-issued Chromebook and charger last year.  If they are new to the district or need a new Chromebook due to damage, they will receive one on the first or second day of school. You MUST fill out this form so that we are able to prepare accordingly for our scholars to make sure we have what we need on hand for all scholars to be successful. Please have your scholar notify their teacher if they need a new Chromebook.


Questions?

Registrar Esther Blackmonesther_blackmon@dpsk12.org/720-423-9505
AttendanceTJ Rameythomas_ramey@dpsk12.org/ 720-423-9504
Technology Wes AkersWesley_Akers@dpsk12.net/720-423-9542
School LiaisonDimarlys Suarezdimarlys_suarez@dpsk12.net/ 720-423-9456
Transportationtransportation@dpsk12.org/ 720-423-4699
GT/504/SpEdRachel Langbergrachel_langberg@dpsk12.org

Parent Portal

  • Log in to Myportal.dpsk12.org
  • Tech. support? Call 720-423-3163 or email dps_portalteam@dpsk12.org

COVID-19 Updates

  • Gaiters and vented masks are NOT permitted at DPS, even if it has two layers or is folded to create two layers.
  • Please send them to the nurse’s office for an approved mask.
  • DPS Update on Masking and Health Procedures