HHS Shadowing Program

Dear Eighth Grade Parents,

I would like to present to the parents of eighth grade students a program that has been added to the middle school to help the transition of select eighth grade students to the high school. The Holliston High School Shadowing Program is intended for students who either have transition anxiety or are considering attending a private or vocational high school. We would like to invite eighth grade students to spend a morning and shadow a high school through his/her classes during the morning of February 11.

Adams eighth grade students would arrive directly to the high school main lobby at 7:25am. They would be paired with a high school student and sit with him/her through two of their classes and the Directed Study Block (DSB). We will match each eighth grade student with a high school student who is in similar classes to what they might take next year. For example, if the student is planning on being in band or chorus, we would try to pair them up with a student who is also in band or chorus so that during the day they could get a taste of what band or chorus is like at the high school. The purpose of this option is to give students a feel of what a day at the high school might be like and to hopefully help lessen their anxiety or help them make a more informed decision between choosing schools.

Transportation to the high school will not be provided for those students participating in the program. Each Adams student would have to have transportation to arrive to the high school at 7:25am and then to be picked up and transported to Adams at about 10:55am.

If your student is interested or you have questions about the program, please contact Mrs. Beattie, Adams’ Eighth Grade Guidance Counselor at beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us.

Virginia Hanstad
Holliston High School Senior, NHS Member

ReAct Players

Fiddler on the Roof rehearsals are in full swing now! The cast of 61 students has been working hard and all the aspects of the show are coming together nicely. Outside of school, a few very supportive parents have been helping build our sets for the little town of Anatevka. Brian Hickey of the High School Drama department has been helpful in lending us some props and Miss Wallick of 6th grade has volunteered to help us organize our prop room! For the month of January we named Maggie Young our Terrific Techie for all her hard work on past shows and her current enthusiasm on this one. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the performances – you might even get to see some of our staff members in the show!

Fiddler on the Roof:

Friday April 4th at 7 pm (Ensemble A)

Saturday April 5th at 1 pm (Ensemble A)

Saturday April 5th at 7 pm (Ensemble B)

Sunday April 6th at 1pm (Ensemble B)

*see ReAct website/Winter Musical page for cast list

Ticket Design Contest

Ticket Design Contest

Relay for Life Middle School Dance, March 7 

Adams Middle School is teaming up with: Relay For Life of Ashland/Holliston to raise awareness for the fight against cancer and to honor cancer survivors and loved ones lost. Adams will be hosting a once-a-year school-wide dance for all middle school students. High school students and Adams students are teaming up to organize this special dance. We’d like to encourage YOU to participate in a ticket design contest for our annual school-wide Relay for Life dance. All entries are due into the main office by Friday, February 7th! Good Luck!

Ticket design guidelines: (Please see Mr. Jordan for more details!)

1) The ticket should include the following information:

When: 7 to 9pm, Friday, March 7, 2013

Where: RAMS Gym

How Much: $10/ticket (Proceeds to benefit American Cancer Society!)

What: School-wide dance - this year’s theme is “Black, White, Silver and Gold!” with pizza from Pepperoncini’s & Raffle prizes

2) The design should have some type of logo, image(s) or illustration that represents one or more of the keys for the dance like “Black, White, Silver, and Gold”, Relay for Life/American Cancer Society, School-wide dance for all Adams middle school students etc.

3) The design must fit into a 5 inch x 8 inch space

Art Room News

We have made it to the half way point in the year, and Tech Ed and Art students have switched. Be on the lookout for your children’s art portfolios which have been sent home. This semester’s 8th graders don’t have much in their portfolios because their Louise Nevelson Style Sculptures looked so fabulous we decided to keep them in the hall between the cafeteria and the lunchroom until the spring. Also, the 8th graders Mixed Media Leaf Tapestry project is enlivening the library Smart room space. The 8th grade self portrait drawing should be making their way home. 7th grade recycled animal sculptures are also on display in the library until spring, while several challenging drawing assignments are coming home: 1-point perspective room drawing, a realistic animal drawing, and a Zentangle design.

This year’s 6th graders are the first ones to create online digital portfolios which showcase beautifully their core assignments from this semester. Parents of 6th grade spring semester artists: be on the lookout for information about registering your child for their digital portfolio account with artsonia.com. Artsonia will email you whenever your child published work to their digital portfolio, and your child’s achievements can be easily shared with friends and family- ask them to sign up for your child’s “fan club”. This digital portfolio will grow with your child throughout their middle school years, encouraging reflective thinking about the art making process. Finally, Artsonia is an ongoing fundraiser. Purchases of custom keepsakes with your child’s artwork on them make your child feel proud, but also support the RAMS Art department- 20% of purchases comes directly back into our art supply budget.

MS-PTSA News

The second Nature’s Classroom packet will go home to families of 6th graders on February 3rd. Please check you child’s backpack for this important information.

Save the date! March 7th - All School Dance

Upcoming MS PTSA meetings are open to all middle school parents/guardians at 9AM in the teacher cafeteria: February 28 (grant vote), March 21, April 11, May 16.

The 6th Grade Carnival will be on Friday, January 31st from 6:30-8:30pm. This annual event is always a hit. Carnival-like games with prize tickets, carnival food and lots of laughs and fun hanging around with your classmates. Thus event is sponsored by the MS PTSA and is for 6th graders only. Tickets will be sold during lunch the week of the event for $7 - cash or check made out to Holliston PTSA. Refreshments will be available at the event for $1 each.

Over 30 parent volunteers are needed to make the carnival a success. Moms and dads are needed and it is so rewarding to see all the 6th graders have a fun night of old fashioned fun! Contact Mary Killelea at emkayassociates@comcast.net or Hillary Freeley at freeley@verizon.net to help

RAMS Technology Update

Adams Middle School has begun to use its new carts of chromebooks to help students and teachers in the classroom. Some of the activities being done include Internet research, creating podcasts, collaborating on documents, and recording science lab data.

Jr. Central District Auditions

Best of luck to the following students who auditioned for the Junior Central District Chorus, Concert Band, and Jazz Band in Townsend, MA on February 1. They auditioned with over three hundred students from around the state to participate in the Central District Festival. Thank you for representing Holliston and our music department!


Maddie Cerulli (soprano), Anna Damigella (trumpet), Will Flanagan (trumpet, Jared Grant (jazz trombone), Sage Grant (flute), Olivia Hastie (soprano), Maggie Martin (alto), and William McGovern (alto).

High School Transition

8th Grade Parents:

I cannot believe it is that time of year to begin thinking about the transition to High School!

The Holliston High School is continuing its annual Shadowing Programming, which will be held on February 11, 2014. Please be sure to have your child bring in a completed form to Mrs. Beattie by February 6. In addition, the High School Guidance Department will be coming to visit with our 8th grade students on February 27. During this time they will review the High School course selection process and requirements for 9th grade.

Finally, for those 8th grade students considering Keefe Technical High School, the application process is still open. Please see Mrs. Beattie for an application, and all interviews will take place in the Adams Middle School Guidance Office.

Professional Day January 17

The teachers and administrators of Adams Middle School participated in an exciting and educational professional development day on January 17. Some of the topics explore on the day included Google Sites, digital portfolios, and using social media as an educator. This was a great opportunity for teachers and administrators to connect around technology and to begin to develop a shared vision for the future of technology in our district.

Two Ways to Support HMAPA

Students throughout our schools brought home Joe Corbi fundraising catalogs last week. This the spring fundraiser through which Holliston Music and Arts Parents Association raises funds for teacher grants, senior scholarships and more. Try some delicious and convenient cookie dough, or enjoy a no-fuss dinner of pizza and pie. Even Fido can have a treat with his own doggie cookies!

Ask your friendly neighborhood art, band, chorus or drama student about the tasty treats today. All students who turn in a form with one or more items sold will be eligible for a $25 cash prize with the top seller in town receiving a $50 cash prize. 

We are also excited to announce that Fiske's General Store has partnered with HMAPA for the month of February!

For every new or renewed Friend of Fiske's membership during the month of February, Fiske's will donate $5 to HMAPA.

Not sure if it's time to renew? Ask one of the very friendly and helpful staffers at Fiske's to look it up.(There is no penalty for early renewal.)

Be sure to check out their fine selection of Valentine's goodies and support the creative arts in our schools!

HHS Benefit Concert for the Music Technology Lab:

Congratulations to Renee Torio and Maggie Martin who performed at the HHS Fundraiser Concert on Friday, January 10 to benefit the music technology lab. Renee sang two songs accompanied by her father on acoustic guitar, and Maggie sang and played piano on two songs. One of the songs she performed, Maggie was accompanied by her father on bass and brother, Bobby on the drums. 

 
If you or your business would like to donate to the HHS music technology lab contact HHS Chorus Director, Stu Britton atbrittons@holliston.k12.ma.us. Thank you for your support!