No sunlight, no problem? ☀️🌱 Mrs. Previs’ science class is about to find out! They're putting their hypotheses to the test with a hands-on experiment! Stay tuned for the results to see if their plant will grow without sunlight! 🧪✨
Gear up and show off your Viking spirit! 🛡️✨
Grab official HHMS merch—including t-shirts (solid, glow-in-the-dark, & tie-dye), sweatshirts, hoodies, cozy blankets, windbags, trucker hats, and insulated tumblers!
Tax-Free & Free Shipping to HHMS! Order by September 21st to skip the tax and shipping fees shown on the order sheet.
How to Order:
Online: MyPaymentsPlus
In-Person: Cash or check (payable to Hamilton Holmes Middle School)
Note: Orders placed after Sept 21st will be sold via a separate link with tax and shipping fees added.
Get your orders in today! 🎒🍂
🐍 Rikki-Tikki-Tavi vs. The Cobras: Villainous or Just Minding Their Own Business? 🐍
Before diving into their short argument essays, our students rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on textual evidence sort!
Here’s how they tackled the debate:
1️⃣ Sorted the Evidence: Analyzed quote cards to build two cases—were Nag and Nagaina truly villains, or were they simply acting on their natural cobra instincts?
2️⃣ Took a Side: Examined the evidence, chose their position, and crafted strong claim statements
3️⃣ Built the Argument: Selected their most compelling evidence to back up their claims, with some students already diving into their rough drafts!
Learning is hands-on (and a little messy), but we promise... no desks were harmed in the making of this activity! 😉 Desk-writing optional, critical thinking required. 📝✨
Before diving into their short argument essays, our students rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on textual evidence sort!
Here’s how they tackled the debate:
1️⃣ Sorted the Evidence: Analyzed quote cards to build two cases—were Nag and Nagaina truly villains, or were they simply acting on their natural cobra instincts?
2️⃣ Took a Side: Examined the evidence, chose their position, and crafted strong claim statements
3️⃣ Built the Argument: Selected their most compelling evidence to back up their claims, with some students already diving into their rough drafts!
Learning is hands-on (and a little messy), but we promise... no desks were harmed in the making of this activity! 😉 Desk-writing optional, critical thinking required. 📝✨
Hands-on science in action! Mrs. Previs's Science class explored the states of matter by mixing up a batch of oobleck using just cornstarch, water, and a splash of food coloring. The students had a blast watching it instantly shift between a solid and a liquid right in their hands. 🧪✨
Students in Ms. Magee's Accelerated and Science 7 classes conducted a science investigation on the side of the coin, surface area, to determine the water-holding capacity. Students created their own hypotheses. Students conducted 3 trials each of the heads and tails of a penny, nickel, and dime. Students had the opportunity to count, calculate averages, and graph the data. Afterwards, an analysis of the data and conclusion statements were made; students were able to communicate their results to each partner group.
📸 Fall Picture Day — 9/25! 🍂
Paper forms coming home soon, but you can order now at mylifetouch.com with Picture Day ID: EVTQD7DZF. Order by midnight on 9/25 for FREE shipping! 🚚✨
Prefer cash/check? Send the completed flyer with your child on Picture Day. After 9/25, orders are online only
Paper forms coming home soon, but you can order now at mylifetouch.com with Picture Day ID: EVTQD7DZF. Order by midnight on 9/25 for FREE shipping! 🚚✨
Prefer cash/check? Send the completed flyer with your child on Picture Day. After 9/25, orders are online only
Meet Ms. V, our Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT)! While much of her work happens behind the scenes, her main focus is making sure technology actively supports your child’s learning every single day. Ms. V helps students, parents, and guardians access essential portals like Canvas and PowerSchool so you and your student can stay updated on your child’s progress. She also manages the Hamilton Holmes website and Facebook page to keep our community informed and connected.
Before any new learning software or app enters the classroom, she thoroughly vets it to ensure it is academically valuable and, above all, safe for student privacy. She also manages our core learning tools (like Lexia and IXL) and fixes tech glitches fast so classroom instruction stays on track. She collaborates directly with teachers to design fun, interactive lessons that use digital tools to make everyday learning more engaging for students. She also helps teachers and administrators look at student performance data so our school can quickly step in with the right support whenever a student needs an extra boost. She provides some of the earliest training for new teachers when they start at HHMS and plans and leads training for our staff, keeping our educators updated on the newest technology and ways to incorporate different teaching strategies.
Her fun fact: on top of all this, she also started the HHMS Intramural eSports team!
The best part of my job is getting to work with all the students and the teachers! I started out as an English teacher, but love Math and History too (sorry Science!), so getting to work with all the subjects and come up with creative projects is so much fun! It challenges me to know at least a little bit about a lot of different topics. Also, the technology is awesome! One of my favorite things has been teaching our students how to fly drones and code different robots to solve problems.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job? It’s always changing! I have to keep up with new technology and its trends, like AI, and try to stay ahead to make sure our teachers and students are prepared for what the future brings.
Before any new learning software or app enters the classroom, she thoroughly vets it to ensure it is academically valuable and, above all, safe for student privacy. She also manages our core learning tools (like Lexia and IXL) and fixes tech glitches fast so classroom instruction stays on track. She collaborates directly with teachers to design fun, interactive lessons that use digital tools to make everyday learning more engaging for students. She also helps teachers and administrators look at student performance data so our school can quickly step in with the right support whenever a student needs an extra boost. She provides some of the earliest training for new teachers when they start at HHMS and plans and leads training for our staff, keeping our educators updated on the newest technology and ways to incorporate different teaching strategies.
Her fun fact: on top of all this, she also started the HHMS Intramural eSports team!
The best part of my job is getting to work with all the students and the teachers! I started out as an English teacher, but love Math and History too (sorry Science!), so getting to work with all the subjects and come up with creative projects is so much fun! It challenges me to know at least a little bit about a lot of different topics. Also, the technology is awesome! One of my favorite things has been teaching our students how to fly drones and code different robots to solve problems.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job? It’s always changing! I have to keep up with new technology and its trends, like AI, and try to stay ahead to make sure our teachers and students are prepared for what the future brings.
Attention Hamilton Holmes families: Required gym shirts are now available for purchase on MyPaymentsPlus, by cash, or by check for $7. Shirts are required starting NEXT WEEK on 9/8. Any King William Spirit Wear shirt can be used as a gym shirt, but students will have to wear a KW/HHMS shirt to earn full daily gym credit.
6th Grade Field Trip: Look for Permission Slips Due 9/3
Students will be bringing home a permission slip on Monday (today) for a 6th grade science field trip! We know it is a short turnaround, but it is a fantastic opportunity for only $5! If your student needs a bagged lunch at school lunch prices (free and reduced lunch does apply), we need to form back by 9/3 for the cafeteria to prepare. If you need help with the cost of the trip, please contact the bookkeeper, Kathy Britt. We want all students to have the opportunity to participate.
Our 6th graders are heading outdoors for a day of hands-on learning and history at Sandy Point State Forest!
What Students Will Experience
Water Science: Students will explore the natural aquatic area through water sampling, monitoring, and seining along the river’s edge.
Critter Identification: Hands-on macroinvertebrate identification to study the local ecosystem.
Living History: A 17th-century historical interpreter will bring local history to life with captivating stories of King William.
What to Wear & Bring
Footwear (Required): Old tennis shoes or closed-toed water shoes. No flip-flops, sandals, slides, or open-toed shoes are permitted due to safety and the terrain.
Clothing: Wear clothes that can get dirty and potentially wet. We will be working in muddy areas along the water.
Recommended Items: A towel or blanket, a refillable water bottle, and bug spray
Students will be bringing home a permission slip on Monday (today) for a 6th grade science field trip! We know it is a short turnaround, but it is a fantastic opportunity for only $5! If your student needs a bagged lunch at school lunch prices (free and reduced lunch does apply), we need to form back by 9/3 for the cafeteria to prepare. If you need help with the cost of the trip, please contact the bookkeeper, Kathy Britt. We want all students to have the opportunity to participate.
Our 6th graders are heading outdoors for a day of hands-on learning and history at Sandy Point State Forest!
What Students Will Experience
Water Science: Students will explore the natural aquatic area through water sampling, monitoring, and seining along the river’s edge.
Critter Identification: Hands-on macroinvertebrate identification to study the local ecosystem.
Living History: A 17th-century historical interpreter will bring local history to life with captivating stories of King William.
What to Wear & Bring
Footwear (Required): Old tennis shoes or closed-toed water shoes. No flip-flops, sandals, slides, or open-toed shoes are permitted due to safety and the terrain.
Clothing: Wear clothes that can get dirty and potentially wet. We will be working in muddy areas along the water.
Recommended Items: A towel or blanket, a refillable water bottle, and bug spray
Please click the link to read this week's Viking Newsletter. If you have a student at HHMS and did not receive the Newsletter via email , please check your demographic information listed in PowerSchool. Link: https://app.smore.com/n/6en78b
Highlights:
6th Grade Field Trip Announcement
Week Two Instructional Highlights
Highlights:
6th Grade Field Trip Announcement
Week Two Instructional Highlights
The HHMS TILT club is off to a great start! TILT stands for Teens Interacting and Learning Together. Student mentors apply at the end of their 7th grade year to mentor Mrs. Gregory's students during our WIN block each day. TILT mentors need to maintain good grades, have strong teacher recommendations, and write an essay explaining why they want to be in TILT and how they will make an impact with students with different abilities. The students have already started to build friendships and work together on teams! We are excited for all they will accomplish together this year!
Two weeks in, and the creative energy at Hamilton Holmes is off the charts! Here is a peek at the incredible teaching and learning happening in our classrooms every day:
Building Confidence in Math: Ms. Stewart’s Math Lab kicks off learning with thought-provoking prompts that go beyond the textbook. Check out these students reflecting on the real-world question: "Why is it sometimes difficult to ask for help?"
Mastering the Fundamentals: Before picking up their instruments, Mr. Loveless' intermediate band students hit every note of preparation—counting rhythms aloud, tapping toes, clapping beats, and labeling music by hand.
Hands-on Problem Solving: Think you could build a popsicle stick bridge strong enough to hold real weight? Students in Mrs. Ambrose's Design & Modeling are teaming up to test their critical thinking and engineering skills against real-world challenges.
We love seeing our students collaborate, think critically, and grow every day!
Building Confidence in Math: Ms. Stewart’s Math Lab kicks off learning with thought-provoking prompts that go beyond the textbook. Check out these students reflecting on the real-world question: "Why is it sometimes difficult to ask for help?"
Mastering the Fundamentals: Before picking up their instruments, Mr. Loveless' intermediate band students hit every note of preparation—counting rhythms aloud, tapping toes, clapping beats, and labeling music by hand.
Hands-on Problem Solving: Think you could build a popsicle stick bridge strong enough to hold real weight? Students in Mrs. Ambrose's Design & Modeling are teaming up to test their critical thinking and engineering skills against real-world challenges.
We love seeing our students collaborate, think critically, and grow every day!
Grateful shoutout to St. Davis' Episcopal Church for feeding Hamilton Holmes' staff during Teacher Work Week—for the third year in a row! 🙏🍽️ The crew even rode the bus together and enjoyed camaraderie, laughter, and great food. It’s moments like these that remind us how strong our community is ❤️
Meet Ms. Magee - she not only teaches the gifted seminar course, but also teaches 6th and 7th grade Life Science. When the 26-27 school year is completed, she will have completed 20 years in education!
As the gifted coordinator, my role is to serve our students in the gifted program. Students receive services through the gifted seminar course, one-on-one consultations, small group settings, and collaboration with other teachers in the building. When a student is referred for eligibility for services, I administer the gifted tests, evaluate, and the gifted committee determines if a student is eligible for services through the gifted program. The best part of my job is building relationships, learning their interests, and having a general understanding of the student's learning style. I really enjoy watching our students perform in sports, band, chorus, and school dances. When my schedule allows it, I try to attend evening events to support our students.
As the gifted coordinator, my role is to serve our students in the gifted program. Students receive services through the gifted seminar course, one-on-one consultations, small group settings, and collaboration with other teachers in the building. When a student is referred for eligibility for services, I administer the gifted tests, evaluate, and the gifted committee determines if a student is eligible for services through the gifted program. The best part of my job is building relationships, learning their interests, and having a general understanding of the student's learning style. I really enjoy watching our students perform in sports, band, chorus, and school dances. When my schedule allows it, I try to attend evening events to support our students.
Meet Deputy Connors! She has been a law enforcement officer for almost 27 years and has had several completely different roles along the way. Once, she bicycled over 1,000 miles from South Carolina to Washington, DC.
I am the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Hamilton Holmes Middle School. My job is about much more than safety and security. I'm here to build relationships with students, support staff, help students work through challenges, and be someone they know they can come to when they need help. I also work with K9 Kip, our Community Resource dog, who helps us create a positive and supportive environment throughout the school.
The relationships I get to build with students are definitely the best part of my job. I love watching students grow, overcome challenges, gain confidence, and realize that someone believes in them. Sometimes it's the smallest moments- a conversation in the hallway, a student stopping by to talk, or Kip giving high fives- that make the biggest difference. I am looking forward to getting to know our students even better and seeing all the funny, unexpected, and meaningful moments that come with another year at middle school. You never really know what each day is going to bring!
I wish people knew that being an SRO isn't always about having the answers- sometimes it's about being the person willing to listen, figure it out with a student, and stick with them until things get better.
I am the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Hamilton Holmes Middle School. My job is about much more than safety and security. I'm here to build relationships with students, support staff, help students work through challenges, and be someone they know they can come to when they need help. I also work with K9 Kip, our Community Resource dog, who helps us create a positive and supportive environment throughout the school.
The relationships I get to build with students are definitely the best part of my job. I love watching students grow, overcome challenges, gain confidence, and realize that someone believes in them. Sometimes it's the smallest moments- a conversation in the hallway, a student stopping by to talk, or Kip giving high fives- that make the biggest difference. I am looking forward to getting to know our students even better and seeing all the funny, unexpected, and meaningful moments that come with another year at middle school. You never really know what each day is going to bring!
I wish people knew that being an SRO isn't always about having the answers- sometimes it's about being the person willing to listen, figure it out with a student, and stick with them until things get better.
“The best part of my job is working with our students to navigate their new & changing world. I wish people knew how much we truly care about their children, and because of that, our job can be very emotional but also very rewarding!!!”
Ms. Veach is our amazing counseling coordinator for Hamilton Holmes! She works primarily with students with last names starting with A-L. “During the school year, I advocate for students and support them through academic, emotional, and social issues. I also help parents and families navigate through the 'struggles' that come with raising a middle school student. This looks different in every family but often includes helping them find resources in our school and/or community. During the summer, my job looks very different as I start planning the next school year. It involves a lot of screen time and a plethora of spreadsheets. I very much prefer the school year when we have all of our students in the building!”
Every year I look forward to meeting our new 6th graders and seeing the returning students and how much they've grown over the Summer
Her fun fact -right before school started, I got a puppy!!! Her name's Sweetie & it fits!
Curious how summer can spark big growth? Two gifted & talented students attended summer GT programs and returned energized. “The week was a great experience! I didn't want to go home at the end,” one said. “I thought SEE VT was a very fun experience,” said the other. "I had a lot of fun in my classes. I would say that my favorite class was fantasy writing. I did a lot of fun world, character, and plot building. I also took a trails and streams ecology course. I was able to hike and study the health of trails and streams in the area. 🌟
Both students attended the SEE VT program through Virginia Tech's Center for Rural Education. SEE VT is an exciting opportunity for rising 7th and 8th graders living in rural communities. During this one-week residential summer camp on Virginia Tech’s campus, students have the opportunity to learn, examine, and reflect on what it means to live (and thrive) in rural communities!
Both students attended the SEE VT program through Virginia Tech's Center for Rural Education. SEE VT is an exciting opportunity for rising 7th and 8th graders living in rural communities. During this one-week residential summer camp on Virginia Tech’s campus, students have the opportunity to learn, examine, and reflect on what it means to live (and thrive) in rural communities!
Please click the link to read this week's Viking Newsletter. If you have a student at HHMS and did not receive the Newsletter via email , please check your demographic information listed in PowerSchool. Link: https://app.smore.com/n/r87m0
A huge thank you to Gethsemane Church of Christ in Mechanicsville, VA, for their incredibly generous donation of backpacks and school supplies to Hamilton Holmes! 🎒✏️
Thanks to your kindness and support, our students are heading into the new school year feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn. We are so grateful for amazing community partners like you who invest in our kids' success! 💙📚
Thanks to your kindness and support, our students are heading into the new school year feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn. We are so grateful for amazing community partners like you who invest in our kids' success! 💙📚
🎉 Welcome back, HHMS Vikings families — we’re so excited to see our halls and classes full of energy again. Whether you’re a returning student or joining us for the first time, here’s to a year of growth, friendships, and big achievements. 📚💫
