March 4, 2022
Vol. 3, Issue 30
Picture Perfect
To borrow a phrase, sometimes it can seem like we go a month without a great photo op day at Hamilton, and sometimes it seems like we get a month's worth of opportunities in a single day! Such has been the past week or so at Hamilton Middle! There is some important information below with regard to the permanent closing of the covid testing clinic on our campus, an upcoming district Advanced Learning Advisory Committee meeting, along with soon to be arriving State testing for our students. Aside from that, it's a photo burst! You may need to click the See Full Message link at the bottom to see all the pics!
Low Ropes Class in PE
Forward Testing is on the Horizon
Beginning toward the end of this month, the vast majority of students at Hamilton and across the state will begin the State's Forward assessment. Some students with testing accommodations written into their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will take an alternative to the Forward test called Dynamic Learning Maps. These State tests are administered over a period of about three weeks with students taking the assessments in their regularly assigned classrooms. Students will test anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes total per day across two to four days of the typical testing week. The tests are untimed, so students can can return to unfinished tests on a day when there is no testing, or during the fourth week of the assessment schedule, which is set aside for make-up testing.

As we move into the endemic phase of covid, it is important for us to have data that helps us determine where our students are in their learning as individuals and as a school so we can make the adjustments to ensure that students Resume their expected trajectories of learning. These State tests will help to provide us with important data to assist in making these adjustments. If you have concerns about your child taking either the Forward or Dynamic Learning Maps assessment, please let us know.
Mardi Gras in French Classes!
MMSD Advanced Learning Advisory Committee March Meeting
The district's Advanced Learning Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 10, at 6pm. See the below link for more details about this meeting, and a link to RSVP.
Covid Testing Clinic Update
While we thought that the closing of the covid testing clinic located at Hamilton Middle was only temporary, turns out that it is closed for good. See the below link to various testing sights in the community. Testing is also available at pharmacies and with your healthcare provider.
Read Your Heart Out Day
Hamilton students read and perform dramatic interpretations to classes
at Van Hise Elementary.
Matilda Musical
First semester students in our 8th grade theater arts class perform Matilda!
Hamilton Quick Links:
Upcoming Dates of Interest
Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates:
March
  • 18-No School: Staff Professional Development and Wellness Day
  • 25-End of Q3
  • 28-April 1-Spring Break
April
  • 4-School Resumes (Start Q4)

Photo Finish
And finally, this week winter thankfully seemed to begin to give way to spring!