January 2014

Dear Hillview Parents/Guardians,

It's hard to believe that 2014 is upon us. I have every expectation that this is going to be another banner year for Hillview Middle School. I'm looking forward to all that it has in store.

I want to provide you with some important and exciting updates as we begin the new calendar year.

No School on Monday for Students

Don't forget that Monday, January 6 is an official staff development day for Menlo Park City School District. Students get one more day to sleep in. Encourage your children to use this opportunity to set some important goals for how they want the next 12 months to go. New beginnings are great goal-setting opportunities.

What will teachers be doing on January 6? Great question. All Hillview staff (along with the fourth and fifth grade teachers from Encinal and Oak Knoll) will be attending an EdTech Mini-Conference hosted by Hillview Middle School. As an emerging leader in the Bay Area around using technology to enhance teaching and learning, HV is hosting "Learning Reimagined: How EdTech Reshapes Instruction and Assessment." In addition to over 100 MPCSD staff, Hillview will welcome over 50 educators from all over San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to our event. Keynoting the conference is Justin Reich, Co-Founder of Ed Tech Teacher and a researcher at Harvard University. Several well-known technology experts including five of our own staff members (Mr. Doroquez, Mme. Kingsley, Ms. Payton, Mr. Kaelin, and Mr. Haug) will provide amazing workshops from which the over 150 attendees can choose. Hillview is leading the EdTech evolution as we ask, "How can technology be used for optimal instructional benefit without creating a distraction from what is most important?"

6th & 7th Grade iPads Are HERE!

The time has come. Our hard-working MPCSD Tech Department is feverishly preparing 580 new iPad's for distribution to our 6th and 7th graders as we gear up to launch our 1:1 iPad program school-wide. On Friday, January 10, seventh graders will be participating in an afternoon assembly introducing them to the rules and benefits of the iPad they will receive. Before school on Monday, January 13, seventh graders will visit their Fifth (5th) Period teacher's classroom to pick up their new iPad and case. Students will receive all necessary information to share with their parents on Friday, January 10. Parents are requested to sit down with their seventh grader over the weekend to discuss the rules and expectations around the iPads before signing and returning the paperwork on Monday. Optional insurance will be available for parents to purchase. Insurance information will also be provided on Friday. Please note: Your 7th grader must submit the required paperwork in order to receive his or her iPad on Monday morning. This will include the signed iPad AUP (acceptable use policy), and either proof of insurance OR agreement to self-insure.

Sixth grade distribution of iPads will happen some time prior to the February break. More details about sixth grade distribution is forthcoming as we work out the kinks of seventh grade distribution.

What is our expectation for the next six months of the iPad rollout in sixth and seventh grade? Great question. Our goal for the first sixth months (January-June 2014) is simple. We want to teachers and students to explore. Every teacher will be in a different place as it comes to understanding and embracing the use of 1:1 technology in the classroom. I encourage all parents to understand that the addition of 1:1 devices for all students is a BIG change for all teachers regardless of their comfort and knowledge with EdTech. Some teachers will RUN while others will WALK. As their principal, I am clear with them that this is OKAY! We are all headed toward the same "finish line;" we'll just get there at different times. We have amazing mentors in our 8th grade teachers and we have great professional development and support. It will take us some time, but the true impact of our 1:1 program will not be felt for months and even years to come. For questions about our 1:1 program, please email our Assistant Principal, Mr. Haug, at whaug@mpcsd.org.

Mini-Course Assignments Distributed on Friday, Jan 10

As if great professional development and iPad distribution weren't enough for the first week back from winter break, students and parents will also receive confirmation of Mini-Course assignments on Friday, January 10. Our amazing Mini-Course planning team has been working overtime to schedule each child with one of his/her first choices. We are happy to report that ALL students received one of their top choices AND all courses had enough enrollment that we are able to conduct EVERY course we offered. Parents, students, and teachers will have the first few weeks of January to ask any questions or make any changes to their enrollment before course enrollment is finalized. To ask questions or request a course change, please email: minicourse@mpcsd.org.

Amazing Parent Ed Opportunities THIS WEEK

In addition to iPad and Mini-Course excitement, you'll be thrilled to know that you have not one, but TWO, amazing Parent Education opportunities available to you this first week of January.

THIS first Wednesday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the PAC, the Hillview Parent Education Series brings you Dr. Devin Prouty, a researcher at SRI International and a national expert on SLEEP. Dr. Prouty will present "Sleepy Students: The Adolescent Circadian Shift." One only need spend 20 minutes in middle school classrooms to observe that our kids are over-tired. Come learn how sleep impacts EVERYTHING and what you can do to support your child's healthy sleep habits. You don't want to miss this important presentation. As always, snacks AND childcare for children 2-14 is available. Non-MPCSD parents are welcome and encouraged to attend this and ALL HV Parent Ed Series events. We'll see YOU and your friends at 6:30 p.m. THIS WEDNESDAY in the PAC.

Project Cornerstone and MPCSD are once again partnering to offer all MPCSD parents the ever-popular six-week parenting course "Take it Personally." The first day of the six sessions will be this Tuesday, January 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Hillview Middle School in room G1. This six-session workshop helps adults understand and make a stronger commitment to supporting young people and provides tools, exercises and strategies to help participants fulfill their commitment. Participants are encouraged to continue meeting after the formal workshops end to support each other's efforts and work together to create new opportunities in their families, schools, neighborhoods, organizations or communities. The cost of the series is only $10 and covers materials. Courses will continue each Tuesday from 7 - 8:30 p.m. for the next six consecutive Tuesdays (1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, & 2/4, 2/11). For more information, email Robin Soran. If you ask any parent who has taken the course (and there are scores in our community), they will encourage you to enroll!

WHEW! That's quite a lot for the first week back, huh? There's always something exciting happening at Hillview Middle, and none if it would be possible without your continued participation, support, and commitment. THANK YOU! I look forward to another great year serving this community.