Heads Up Hamilton, February 7, 2025

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Dear Husky Families,

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome! It has been a pleasure to meet with parents and families this week and to listen to and learn about your hopes for Hamilton. From time with the Hamilton PTSA to quick chats in the foyer, I’ve appreciated getting to know the Hamilton community more closely so that we can be responsive to your vision for our school.

Whole School Gatherings

We had a fantastic week. On Monday, we held assemblies with our 6th and 7th graders to reset their behavior expectations. The students’ respectful and engaged behavior was truly commendable. On Friday, we had an all-school assembly. The ‘At the Table with Dr. King’ performance successfully taught our students about the American Civil Rights movement and the importance of equality and respect. Your children’s active participation and respect during the assemblies were a testament to their character and our shared values.

Behavior Reset

At the behavior reset, we shared how proud we are that most students make the right choices. We reaffirmed our staff’s expectations, including on-time attendance, respectful behavior throughout the building, and prioritizing student and teacher commitments to the Husky Safe & Welcoming agreements. Your child’s safety is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment.

Concerning Student Behavior – It Takes All of Us

We wanted to share some student slang and a concerning but limited trend we have learned about. A few students have engaged in what kids call “friendly fades.” This is a pre-arranged agreement to fight with a peer, and we are addressing it to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students. While keeping up with the latest slang can be challenging, please be on the lookout for this type of language. Please encourage your students to report via our “See Something, Say Something” form, which we use to help students report concerns. Your student can access the form here. Students can also report anonymously to Safe2Tell at 877-542-7233 or visit their website at safe2tell.org. We assure you that we are committed to addressing such trends and fostering a safe and respectful school environment.

Once again, we are grateful for your partnership and ongoing support. Your involvement in your child’s education is invaluable, and we are committed to keeping you informed and maintaining open lines of communication. Thank you for being a part of the Hamilton community.

Warm Regards,

Jessica Garza

Director of Middle Schools


The Week Ahead

Student Council will be selling Valentine’s Grams in the cafeteria ALL WEEK

Monday, Feb. 10th:

  • Student Council Meeting: 8:15 – 9:00 AM, room 27 (Art).
  • Anime Club Meeting: 8:10 – 9:00 AM, room 104.
  • Girls Basketball Tryouts: 4:15 – 5:45 PM, GYM.

Tuesday, Feb. 11th:

  • Girls Volleyball: DG Southeast vs Hamilton @ Hamilton. Game time: 4:00 PM.
  • Boys Volleyball: Bill Roberts vs Hamilton @ Hamilton. Game time: 5:00 PM.
  • Girls Basketball Tryouts: 4:15 – 5:45 PM, GYM.

Wednesday, Feb. 12th:

  • Brain Bowl Practice: 8:10 – 8:55 AM, in the community room.
  • Art Club Meeting: 4:05 – 5:00 PM, in room 27 (Art).
  • PTSA General Meeting: 5:30 – 6:30 PM. Join us for information about CMAS and PIZZA!

Thursday, Feb. 13th:

  • Brain Bowl Practice: 8:10 – 8:55 AM, in the community room.
  • Black History Month Celebration: 5:30 – 8:00 PM. Enter through the main entrance.

Friday, Feb. 14th:

  • No School For Students/PL Day for Staff.

Save the Dates

Monday, February 24th, Early Release for teacher professional learning

Students leave at 1:00 pm – they take a “grab and go” lunch on the way out of the building.

Thursday, February 20th, and Tuesday, February 25th, Spring Family Conferences

Family conferences from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm (10-minute increments), and open house style from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Friday, February 28th, no student contact day / HMS PD day

Other Events

Black History Month Celebration, Feb 13th from 5:30 – 8:00 PM

No School Feb 17th President’s Day

Spirit Week, March 10th – 14th

Spring Break/No School, March 24th – 28th

No School March 31st, Cesar Chavez Day.

CMAS April 7th – 11th

AAYLS Black Excellence Showcase April 18th/no student contact day


PTSA News and Updates

  • Thank you to our community for providing snacks for our staff this week.  If you haven’t brought them in yet, please do so by Monday morning.
  • WEDNESDAY, February 12th:  PTSA General Meeting @ 5:30pm – we will have a representative discussing CMAS testing and answering any questions you may have.  Please join us for great information and pizza!
  • Ms. Moreland has planned an amazing Black History Celebration on 2/13 at Hamilton.  She needs a few volunteers to make the night successful.  CLICK HERE to sign up.
  • Friday 2/14:  We would like to provide a Beverage Day for staff during their inservice.  We need someone to pick up the beverages at my house on Friday morning, deliver them to school and set them up in the lounge.  Email hamiltonptsadenver@gmail.com if you are available.
  • CALLING 7th Grade Parents:  We are starting the 8th grade Continuation Planning and we need 7th grade parents to help host the continuation. Your responsibilities would include, decorating, ushering, organizing and setting up treats for the 8th graders and cleaning up.  Email hamiltonptsadenver@gmail.com if you would like to be on this one-time committee.!
  • ESTERS Dine Out:  Monday, February 24th
  • SKATE CITY NIGHT: Thursday, February 27th 6-8pm
  • Saturday, March 1st  is Community Clean Up Day 10am-12:30pm.  CLICK HERE to sign up. 

Don’t forget to bookmark our page for all the latest news from your Hamilton PTSA HERE: https://sites.google.com/view/hamiltonmsptsa/home


Mental Health Supports for Students & Families

During times of change and uncertainty, it’s natural for students and families to experience a range of emotions. DPS is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our entire school community through:

  • On-campus support from licensed and trained school social workers, school psychologists and school counselors. Below are the staff at HMS that are available to provide support to your students.

Audrey Torrez-Fluent, MSW, LCSW School Social Worker 720-423-9511

Alexis Wageman, Ed.S, NCSP School Psychologist 720-423-9448

Alonzo Williams, MSW Affective Needs School Social Worker 720-423-9533

Marcia LaSalle, M.Ed., School Counselor 720-961-3613

Destiny Mitman, M.Ed., School Counselor 720-460-1846

Aliyah Meehan, M.A. School Counselor 720-507-9088

  • Comprehensive intervention programs and response protocols.
  • Access to community mental health partners and crisis support.

If you have concerns about your child’s mental health:

  • Listen to your child and acknowledge their feelings.
  • Connect with your school’s mental health provider.
  • Call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room for immediate risk.
  • Connect with support, such as:
    • Care Solace: Care Solace connects students, staff, and their families to care. At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs. A multilingual team is available 24/7/365 to help you understand options, call providers on your behalf, and schedule an appointment. Get connected to care today by calling 888-515-0595 or visiting caresolace.com/dps.
    • I Matter Colorado connects youth to free counseling sessions. Youth and their parents can visit I Matter Colorado to take a confidential online survey about their mental health and schedule sessions with a licensed behavioral health clinician, primarily online via telehealth.
    • Denver Health School-Based Centers: Denver Health’s School-based Health Centers (SBHC) form an extensive network of 19 health centers located inside Denver Public School (DPS) campuses that provide medical, mental health, dental, and behavioral health care to any DPS student and sibling(s), including children enrolled in DPS-affiliated Early Childhood Education programs at no charge to families. 

Please visit the DPS Mental Health Services webpage for more information on mental health services, resources, and contact information.


What’s for Breakfast and Lunch?

Breakfast Menu Link for the Month of February

Lunch Menu Link for the Month of February