Weekly Announcements
HHS Principal's Weekly, January 20, 2023
Plan for Next week!
If there is no cancellation Monday:
Monday- SS exams; Tuesday- Science Exams; Wednesday- C day Sem 2; Thursday- D Day; Friday- E Day
If there is a cancellation Monday:
Monday- no school; Tuesday- SS exams; Wednesday- Science exams; Thursday- D day Sem 2; Friday- E Day Sem 2
If there is a delay on Monday or Tuesday.
Exams will start at 10am. The first block (8-10) will be moved to the last block of exams (1-3). Proctors and rooms will be announced at a later time.
Are we having fun yet?
Please Participate in the 2023 HHS Equity Audit!
This winter the HHS community is engaging in an equity audit. “Equity” means that every student gets what they need to succeed, and that demographics, such as gender, race, or income, are not predictive of a student’s school experiences and educational outcomes. An equity audit is a systematic self-study of school climate, curriculum, and practices to assess the degree of equity present in the school. The purpose of this audit is to gather essential data in these areas that will inform future decision-making at HHS, with a goal of maximizing equity in student outcomes and experiences.
We have been explicitly examining equity at HHS and in our district for the past four years. Last year, all HHS staff participated in a yearlong professional development series on the topic HHS. Staff read and discussed Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Engage All Learners. This resource provides a comprehensive model (taxonomy) of equity for schools, and it offers educators recommendations for achieving equity at every level of the equity taxonomy. Our equity audit this fall is based on the equity taxonomy provided in Building Equity. Equity audits are iterative work, with a goal of continued improvement. The HHS community engaged in an equity audit in the spring of 2020, and this fall's audit is a continuation of our efforts.
Our equity audit takes the form of surveys for students, staff, and parents/guardians. All survey responses are anonymous. The surveys ask questions about all levels of the equity taxonomy: physical integration, social emotional engagement, opportunity to learn, instructional excellence, and engagement and inspiration amongst our learners. The surveys also ask demographic questions, the answers to which will help us identify any demographic disparities in student experience and/or outcomes.
In order to collect the most accurate data set, we aim to have every student and one parent/guardian adult from every household complete the equity audit. Students will complete the equity audit during Circle on Tuesday, January 31. If you do not want your student to participate in the equity audit, please contact Devon Voake, HHS equity steward, to opt out of the survey. Devon can be reached by email at devonvoake@
Please click here to complete the HHS equity audit for each HHS student in your household by February 8, 2023.
YOUTH-IN-ACTION
Martin Luther King, jr. challenged the country to demonstrate peacefully.
There are many reasons to demonstrate and I hope we can all follow Dr. King’s lead.
I’m challenging our school community to demonstrate empathy. Why? Because there is a consistent push to help those facing housing insecurity by donating food and clothing; but what about underwear, socks, and tee shirts - these are the items consistently in low supply at shelters.
Remember being offered ABC gum (Already Been Chewed)? If you’re like me, you probably said - Ew, gross. How about ABU underwear - already been USED underwear - Ew, GROSS. No, of course not, but that’s exactly what happens when people donate ‘gently used’ underwear, socks, and tee shirts.
For the week of January 23-28, the Youth-In-Action Student Leadership Committee is collecting NEW adult sized underwear, socks, and tee shirts to be donated to benefit people experiencing housing insecurity. Let your students and friends see you peacefully demonstrate empathy by helping to fill the collection bin in the HHS atrium. And, since we are doing this in January, you can take advantage of clearance sales at many retailers - Sierra now has a low supply, that’s where I bought my donation.
I am so excited that most of our events are filled in January.
Heck out some of the events in February:
3rd David's House Dinner → please sign up to donate a part of the meal!
4th Buddy Up Tennis - 12:30-1:30 at RVCC
9th Games with seniors at Black Recreation Center 3:00-5:00
11th Buddy Up Tennis - 12:30-1:30 at RVCC
15th Listen Community Dinner
24-26 Basketball tournament - we will need baked goods and snacks donated and volunteers
Council Update
Last week Council unanimously passed a motion that requires students and staff to display name cards for the first three weeks of each new semester. These name cards are now required to display the community member’s name and pronouns, with the option of writing “No Pronouns''. This motion was brought by the Rainbow Alliance Club, which is a safe space for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The goal of this motion is to help community members avoid misgendering others, or calling others by the wrong name. The name cards also build community by helping all members of a class get to know each other’s names and pronouns.
As a reminder, Council is open to all community members. We will meet for the first time next semester on January 25th at 11:10. View the full agenda and minutes of Wednesday’s meeting.
Shayna (Public Relations Officer) and Anna (Secretary)
Give Your STEM Students a Chance To Be Published in the New York Times Learning Network
It’s time for the New York Times Learning Network’s 4th annual STEM Writing Contest! Students will choose an issue or question in STEM that interests them and then write a 500-word explanation that will engage and enlighten readers. Here is a rubric for the contest, which is open to students ages 11–19. Submissions are due Wednesday, February 15 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Winning entries will be published by the New York Times Learning Network. You can read last year’s winning essays here.
Kickoff to College Night
Juniors and Junior parents: Please join the Counseling team Tuesday January 31 at 6:00 for a zoom presentation with Admissions representatives from Dartmouth, UNH and Colby-Sawyer who will talk about the college search and application process. Zoom link will be sent out the week before the event.
US Army Career Opportunities
A Representative from the United States Army will be set up in the Atrium on Wednesday January 25 from 1100-1200 to meet with students interested in learning more about US Army Career Opportunities.
Log Volunteer Hours
Please take a minute to log any volunteer hours you have contributed to our high school this semester. Assisting with coaching, baking treats for teacher appreciation, guest speaking, helping out with March Intensives...the list goes on - and we want to know! Thank you for volunteering your time - we appreciate it!
Important Links
- HHS Cafe
- HHS Calendar
- District Transportation
- District Calendar
- Dresden Board Meetings On Demand
- BOARDDOCS: Remember to select “Dresden School Board” in upper right hand corner after you click “Public Access”
