Better Resolution Hillview Hawk
Hillview Middle School
A 21st Century Middle School
1100 Elder Avenue
Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 326-4341
Erik Burmeister
Principal

Willy Haug
Assistant Principal

Danielle O'Brien
Assistant Principal
 

Kristyn Cardosi
Counselor

Robyn Watts
Counselor

Brian Darmanin
Activities Director

Nancy Haight
Activities Director

Chris Arrington
Psychologist

Cathy Garagozzo
Administrative Assistant

Cathy Bell
Administrative Assistant

Dear Hillview Parents and Guardians, 

 

It's been a great start to the 2014-15 school year. Students are engaged and excited. Teachers are building strong instructional and logistical foundations in their classes. Parents are involved and incredibly supportive. As we settle in to the new year, please take note of the following important pieces of information.
  
After School Classes and Sports
Many of Hillview's PTO-sponsored after school classes and fall sports begin the week of September 8. Speech and Debate, Chinese, and Writing are all running; unfortunately, we did not get enough sign-ups to run Latin or Chess at this time. Flag Football practices and Burgess League Volleyball tryouts will also occur the week of September 8. For more information on specific days and times, please click here
  
After School Support Programs
Thanks to the generous support of our PTO (and your support of it), Hillview is able to offer several free after school support programs. The first is our drop-in Homework Center (HWC) which provides a credentialed teacher and high school tutors in a quiet study environment. HWC is available Monday & Tuesday from 3:15-4:45 p.m. and Wednesday & Thursday from 2:40-4:30 p.m. in the library. Additionally, PTO sponsors an after school Math Clinic for guided support in all levels of math; the Math Clinic is open during the same times as Homework Center in "The Tank" next to the library.
 
Students who might benefit from direct tutoring and mentoring may flourish in our after school mentor program, Flight School, which partners small groups of HV kids with paid high school and college mentors and role models. Sixth graders enjoy a specific program for them called Hawk Stars, which partners sixth graders with a volunteer high school tutor a couple times per week. You can read more about these programs on our Homework and Support Programs link on our website. MPCSD provides a late bus that serves East Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, a schedule for which is posted on HV's website under Transportation>Bus Routes.
  
Lunch Clubs
Hillview strives to support students' acquisition of as many of the "40 Developmental Assets" as possible. Thanks to your financial support of the PTO, Hillview is able to offer a plethora of exciting and engaging student clubs during lunch to develop assets such as: school engagement, bonding to school, positive adult role models, constructive use of time, and others. Lunch Clubs begin the week of September 15 and include the following: Anime, Art, Book, Chess, Dance/Cheer, Drama, Math Competition, Music Appreciation, Quiz Bowl, Science Fair, Service, and Tech. HV also offers two drop-in activity programs--Game Room and Intramural Sports. For more information about all these programs, visit the Lunch Club schedule under the Student Activities tab on the HV website. 
  
Speaking of Lunch Clubs...HV is currently looking for a parent or two interested in running our Math Challenge Club. The "mathletes" compete in online, paper, and in-person math competitions throughout the year. Competitions include: AMC, Math Counts, Math Olympiad, etc. Meetings/practice are once per week during lunch and, if desired, after-school. A small stipend is available. Coaches will be partnered with a teacher for support, but you will get to lead the club and organize events. If interested, please email Mr. Burmeister ASAP at [email protected].
  
New Middle School Math Text Adoption
As I mentioned in our summer mailing, MPCSD teachers have spent much of the spring and summer planning for the new Common Core math curriculum and reviewed a myriad of math text options. Considering our high-achieving population, the needs of CCSS (Common Core State Standards), and our move toward digital texts, the math textbook committee unanimously selected Larson's Big Ideas math text for consideration by the Board. At the August Board meeting, the CCSS standards and Big Ideas book were presented for approval. We are so excited to begin using the Big Ideas text; it's solid! The public is welcome to review materials at the district office prior to the final vote of the Board on September 9. For more information, visit the Big Ideas website where you can review the curriculum by clicking the "Teacher Materials" tab and entering the username and password which are both "California2013." Please email Mr. Burmeister with any questions you may have. 
  
Also, please calendar the MPAEF/MPCSD Parent Education Conference on Sunday, October 12 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Hillview where several workshops regarding the new math curriculum and materials will be offered, in addition to a myriad of other workshops. 
  
Back to School Night
You should have already received or will receive a mailing in your mailbox inviting you to attend our annual Back to School Night on September 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m. I hope you will join us for a "Day in the Life" of your student and for my "State of the School" address. Remember, this is a parent-only event; please leave your students at home unless you are unable to secure childcare. Before you attend, don't forget to sit down with your child and complete the blank schedule provided in the mailing. 
  
Hillview Internet Content Filter Update
Parents of 7th and 8th graders may have heard that we were experiencing some challenges accessing sites that we wanted our students to visit during school hours. This summer MPCSD worked hard to improve our content-filtering on the iPad so that when students go home, they are even better protected from accessing inappropriate content. It turns out that the new filter was so strong that it was keeping our students from getting to perfectly innocuous content during school hours! We have been working hard to figure ways to resolve this issue, which has included "white listing" those sites we deem of educational value. 

In the long term, the district will be installing a more discerning management system that will give students access to all the good stuff, while at the same time protecting them from the bad stuff. In the meantime, we are confident that our efforts represent a step forward in protecting our students from inappropriate content, albeit with the inconvenience that some sites we want our students to visit are restricted. This is not to say that you needn't still be vigilant about your student's iPad use; no filtering system is 100% effective! 
  
6th Grade iPad Update
6th grade parents should be aware that we are very close to issuing 6th graders iPads, with a current target of Friday, September 12. The most important first step is for you to create a unique Apple ID for your student. We have sent home communication urging you to find the email sent from Apple on August 26 and follow the instructions to set up this Apple ID. If you deleted the email and can no longer find it, or if you have any questions about this process, please contact Willy Haug at [email protected]Without creating the ID, your student will be unable to use the iPad! The Apple ID is needed to set up the device. 
  
When you set up the ID, you will also be creating a password. Be sure that you record this somewhere. Your student will need the password in order to set up the device at school. Remember, your student will not be bringing the iPad home until late October/early November, after having completed the first portion of Hillview's Digital Drivers License program. 
  
Help Me Honor Teachers and Staff
Last year, I challenged our community to focus a few minutes of time to appreciate and offer gratitude. As such, I invited parents to email me stories and examples of how teachers and staff (groups or individuals) have done something special for our kids. The results were OUTSTANDING. I invite you to continue this practice of gratitude by sending me stories and examples that I can anonymously share with the staff. It sends a powerful message. Your emails can be sent any time during the year about any staff member or group of staff members. Simply email me with your stories and gratitude and I will share in a way that honors and empowers!
  
Sorry for the rather long update, but I hope you find the information helpful and informative. I look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on September 11 at 6:30 p.m.!

Honored to Serve You,

Erik Burmeister Picture

  

 

Erik Burmeister
(a.k.a. Mr. B)
 
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