Erik Burmeister
Principal
Willy Haug
Assistant Principal
Debbie Devoto
Counselor
Robyn Watts
Counselor
Brian Darmanin
Activities Director
Danielle Ireland
Activities Director
Chris Arrington
Psychologist
Cathy Garagozzo
Administrative Assistant
Linda Pebet
Administrative Assistant
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Dear Hillview Parents and Guardians,
It's hard to believe that we have just one and a half months left in this school year. There are several important items on which to update you. I invite you take a moment to read this message as we move into the closing month of school.
Mini-Course Documentary
Several weeks out from our engaging and energizing hands-on learning week, the memories of our learning are still fresh. It is my honor to send you this link to the Hillview Mini-Course Documentary that was completely designed, filmed, produced, and edited by our Documentary Filmmaking Mini-Course led by Mr. Darmanin. Enjoy this meaningful representation of the excitement and learning experienced in our first year of Mini-Courses!
Final Parent Education Speaker Series
Our final Parent Education Series event is around the corner. We hope you will join us on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the PAC for a showing of the acclaimed documentary film Race to Nowhere followed by an engaging discussion with Hillview Principal and Vice Principal, Erik Burmeister and Willy Haug, and the venerable Alice Kleeman, the College Counselor at Menlo-Atherton High School. Our evening will focus on the question, "Are we pushing our kids too hard?"
On behalf of the Parent Education Series committee led by Roxy Bozdog and Jessica Raines, we extend a sincere thank you for your participation and support of our first Hillview Parent Education Series. It has been a wonderful success. Next year, we look forward to joining forces with the District Council and MPAEF to bring you another great series. We hope to see you at our last event of the year!
Elective Request Window
It's that time of year. Students who will attend Hillview next year will have the opportunity to request their next year's electives via the Power School Student Portal. Our counseling and elective departments have created amazingly thorough and explanatory Text and Video Course Catalogs for students and parents to view. Those catalogs are available NOW on the Hillview website front page. Check them out. The window to request electives opens on Friday, May 16 at 8 a.m. and will stay open until Wednesday, May 28 at 4 p.m. Students will use their STUDENT Power School logins to access the system. There is no benefit to requesting early, as everyone who registers before 4 p.m. on May 28 will have the same chance at electives. However, any student who does not request during the window will be left to select from only those classes that have room available after everyone else is scheduled. Don't forget to log on and request!
Stanford Research Project
Hillview Middle School has partnered with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education to participate in educational research around the learning benefits of engaging students in Design Thinking. As many of you know, Hillview and MPCSD have been partners of the Stanford Design School and have trained all middle school teachers on using design principles in the classroom. Our question, though, is "Does getting kids engaged in design in middle school really move the learning needle; what are the benefits?" Supported by scholars at Stanford, many of our amazing sixth grade teaching team have designed standards-based lessons that involve design to varying degrees. Following the completion of a variety of learning experiences, students will get the chance to participate in an assessment that looks and feels like a "video game." While the students are having fun with the game, the game is actually measuring learning outcomes. Sixth grade students will be given permission slips that they will need to complete and return in order to participate in the assessment. The resulting data will be compared to data from students who have had NO design experiences in school. For more information on the sixth grade experience, please contact your child's math teacher.
Some seventh and eighth graders will also have the opportunity to try some of the interactive games that are really research-gathering assessments. Participation will only be through select electives and will be completely voluntary. More information to come if you child is in an elective class that is participating.
New Vice Principal Position
As Menlo Park City School District continues to grow and develop innovative educational programs, demands on site administration increase. The MPCSD Board of Trustees recently made the decision to increase the number of administrators at Hillview from two to three and add an additional administrator to Laurel Elementary. We welcome the additional support and consider it a meaningful resource. The title of the new HV administrator will be "Vice Principal." He or she will be tasked with areas such as: school climate/culture, student support and discipline, attendance, and facilities. Don't worry...Mr. Haug isn't going anywhere. He will serve in an associate principal role and focus even more of his energies on transition to the Common Core, teacher support and instruction, the new Smarter Balanced Assessment, and technology including our 1:1 iPad program. We are grateful for the continued support of our community and the recognition that "leadership matters."
Academic Summer Camp (Summer School)
Hillview will once again offer Academic Summer Camp to all students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade (current 5th, 6th, and 7th graders). ASC will begin Monday, June 23 and end on Friday, July 18 (no school on July 4). Students who will benefit from ASC are those that have a few holes in grade level skills in math, reading and/or writing OR students who have significant gaps and are more than one year behind grade-level skills. Soon letters will be sent to parents if your son/daughter is recommended to attend ASC. If you would like your child to attend, please contact his/her counselor.
Hiring Update
Next year, Hillview will welcome one of the largest recruiting classes of teachers and staff it has ever hired. Scores of applicants completed the necessary paperwork to be considered for the eleven positions open for next year. The interview and selection process is rigorous, including a "Daisy Chain" interview for all candidates who make it past the paper-screening, followed by a panel interview and demonstration lesson for all finalists. We are happy to announce that nine of the eleven positions have been filled with outstanding, energetic, and creative educators--all of whom can't wait to hit the ground running. The openings are a result of several retirements, a couple of resignations, and added staff to accommodate for growth. Currently hired are:
1 Humanities Core Teacher
2 ELA (one 7 and one 8)
2 Math
1 Physical Education
1 Counselor
1 Part-Time Spanish for Spanish Speakers/Immersion Teacher
1 Part-Time EL/ELA Support Teacher
In just a couple weeks, interviews for the new Vice Principal and Attendance Clerk will occur, and we should be fully staffed. Thanks to all the parents who participated in the interview process and all the students who welcomed candidates in their classrooms for demonstration lessons!
Saying Goodbye
Hillview is saying good-bye to many beloved teachers at the end of this year as they move on to retirement, begin new adventures, and conclude long-term substitution experiences here at Hillview. Over the course of the next month, please reach out to the following superheroes who have made Hillview the special place that it is, whether they've been here 34 weeks or 34 years...
Debbie Devoto, Harry Bell, Sharron Thompson, Susan Brochin, Linda Pebet, Nancy Mitchell, Dalila Neves, Bonnie Bartz, Molly McNinch.
Open House
Don't forget that Open House is coming soon! Join us Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. for a showcase of the amazing learning in which kids have been engaged, an incredibly relevant Book Faire, the amazing art work in the Art Faire, and delicious food trucks, with proceeds benefitting the 8th Grade Grad Night. Mr. Burmeister will give his annual "State of the School Address" in the PAC to kick things off. Wondering why I didn't mention the 8th Grade Decades Dance performance? It's because we have moved the dancing to its own event due to popularity. You may also join us on the Thursday, May 29 at 6 and/or 7 p.m. in the PAC for an evening of Dancing! You don't want to miss either event.
Welcome to spring, Hillview! I hope it's a good one.
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Warm Regards,
Erik Burmeister
(a.k.a. Mr. B)
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