The Sunday SquawkHardy Middle School PTO Newsletter

January 19, 2020In This Issue:• A Message From Principal Cooke• Upcoming Dates• Principal Cooke, AP Dix and AP Merlos' Upcoming Office Hours• A Message From the PTO• Athletic Program Updates (Schedule for the week ahead)• News of Note• Share the Squawk

A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL COOKE:

Good Morning Hardy MS!

I hope you’ve been having a great weekend, managing and/or enjoying the weather andare planning to enjoy your extra day with your Hawks. We have another short week thisweek AND the next, but we are packing in all the learning possible! Please reiterate toyour Hawk that they need to be on point and prepared EVERY DAY for learning! Thank you to all of you who were able to join us for conferences this past Friday. Thecollaborative work of our families and staff are what best ensure the success of ourHawks! If you were unable to connect and would like to set up a meeting, please reachout directly to your Hawk’s teacher! Duke Partnership Information Session – Friday 1.25 during Talon Time interested8th grade students will be called down to the auditorium for an information sessionrelated to our coming partnership with Duke Ellington for arts programming andmentorship. AP Dix will send more details including a flier shortly. We are deeply excitedabout this experience – please reach out to AP Dix if you have questions – we arehoping to identify our interested students/families ASAP! Have a great weekend!Cooke

A FEW SHOUT-OUTS THIS WEEKActive Shooter Drill – shout out to our safety, support and schoolofficers teams for working to coordinate and enact our drill this pastThursday! These are essential to ensure our preparedness in case ofemergency and to give students and staff a chance to practice theirresponses!

From Birth to Beard! Students in Mr. Gallant’s named and planned thismusical performance as part of their preparation for developing their own Cornerstoneprojects. A group in the hall was plotting exactly how to represent this magical journey . .. (pic)

Model UN at Hardy MS! Students in Ms. Doherty’s class had a special ‘dress up’ day thisweek so they could be at their professional best when participating in this great learningexperience! (pic)

Mr. Estifanos’ students get another day in the spotlight – this time with Officer Thomasand Mr. Adams trying to figure out their cube puzzles in record time! Jordyn and Isaiah’sgroup had a tough one – I needed a hint! (pic)

Shout out to Mr. Jou for coordinating a great our for our ELL students this week to

bolster their language skills and get exposure to cultural experiences this week!

Mr. Matthews rockets our students to success! Our students worked in groups with rolesincluding team leads and resource managers to plan, develop and then launch rocketsthis week! (pic)

Indoor recess fun! It’s tough when our kids have to stay in due to rain like they did thisweek, but they had a blast and played well together in the tight quarters! (pic)

Our Hardy family is growing! At our Open House this week our ambassadors did a greatjob sharing their experience at Hardy and we welcomed two new 6th grade ambassadors– great job Jessica and Nya! (pics)

Wrestlers are tough! It was so impressive to see our Hawks out on the mats taking downthe competition this past Thursday our home match! So very proud of our team and theheart they showed! (pics)

HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY HAWK'S LEARNING THIS WEEK?Give them a last push! With the coming week being the last week of the marking periodit’s an essential time to have them grind out last projects, studying makeup assignments,etc. Let’s push though and finish strong!

HAPPENING SOON/CRITICAL REMINDERS AND ACTION ITEMS/IMPORTANTINFORMATIONThursday School – Thursday Intervention School has it’s last session for MarkingPeriod 2 this Thursday, 1.23 – please be sure to urge your Hawks to attend! LSAT Roundtable – Brookland MS – 5:00pm Thursday! LSAT team members arewelcome to join!

NEWS FROM THE LIBRARYWinter Reading Challenge 2020: The Hardy Middle SchoolWinter Reading Challenge 2020 began January 2 and will runthrough January 31, 2020. Please remind students to login toClever, find the Library and Resources heading and select"Beanstack." They should then select Winter 2020 ReadingChallenge and enter their daily reading minutes. They can alsogo directly to the following website: hardyms.beanstack.org. The

top 30 students with the most minutes will receive a pizza party. Please contact Mrs.Dozier if you have questions.

It's time to talk Hardy Musical!

HONK! The Musical

Do you love singing, dancing and acting? Are you a littlecurious to learn more about singing dancing and acting?All interested Hardy students can attend a Hardy musicalinterest meeting after school on Feb 11th.

Musical Theater Interest Meeting for Students: Feb 11th at 3:15pm

And please mark your calendars for Auditions: Feb 24th-Feb 28th (more info to come)

Musical performances will take place Friday June 5 and Saturday the 6th

UPCOMING DATES1/2 - 1/31 - Hardy Winter Reading Challenge 20201/20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL1/21 - 1/24 - 8th Grade Mock Congressional Hearings1/21 - Principal Cooke's Open Office Hours 5-7pm1/23 - 6th and 7th Grade Parent Meeting - Florida Splash Trip (Library) 6pm

1/24 - Permission Slips Due for 7th Grade Nature Bridge Field Trip1/27 - Term 2 Ends - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/1/2 Day Staff PD1/28 - Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS2/9 - Politics & Prose & Comet Ping Pong Give Back Day for Hardy2/11 - Musical Theater Interest Meeting for Students 3:15pm2/12 - Staff Meeting (No After School Activities)2/13 - 2020 Panorama Survey Opens2/14 - Dress Down Day for Students Whose Families Took 2020 Panorama Survey2/17 - Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL2/18 - 2/21 - February Break - NO SCHOOL2/24 - 2/28 - HONK, The Musical Auditions (more info coming!)2/27 - Hardy PTO Meeting - All are welcome! (Library) 6:30pm

PRINCIPAL COOKE, AP DIX and AP MERLOS'UPCOMING OFFICE HOURS:Principal Cooke will be available for any and all members of the community to touch baseand discuss the upcoming school year, initiatives, etc. They are also open during the dayby appointment.

DATES/TIMES:Cooke – Tuesday (1.21) – 5:00-7:00pmAP Merlos – Tuesdays – 3:30-5:30pmAP Dix – Wednesdays – 3:30-5:30pm

A MESSAGE FROM THE PTO:

We hope you find time this year to do the following:1. Attend a PTO meeting (the next one is on Feb 27that 6:30 PM )2. Commit to attending or hosting at least one sign-upparty in order to meet and socialize with other parents(more information below)3. Volunteer for one Hardy event this school year. Pleasesee message below for a big need in the Social Studiesdepartment!

If you have missed the opportunity to Donate to the PTO please take time to do so;without your support we won't be able to continue to provide support that is needed bythe school to support students in and out of the classroom over the course of the year.

We have had the opportunity to sit down with multiple staff members this week and willcontinue to do so over the next month. With the growing number of students and staffthere are some great ideas and needs for the building. We can't make these dreamsbecome reality without families support whether through financial donations or throughassisting with volunteer opportunities. Many hands make light work for all.

DONATE/JOIN NOW

SAVE OUR BUSES!WMATA is proposing a series of fare hikes and bus line cuts as part of its annualbudgeting process. The proposed bus cuts have angered the Glover Park, CathedralHeights and other neighborhoods which have seen bus service reduced time and timeagain over the years. In Glover Park and nearby neighborhoods, we have no access toMetro rail and depend on the D1, D2 and 30-32-34-37 bus lines for access, which islimited at best already. Parts or all of those lines are slated to be cut in the current short-sighted proposal. Please read, mark the dates and sign the petition on this link.

HARDY 2020 PANORAMA PARENT SURVEYDCPS administers the Panorama Survey to measure social-emotional learning(SEL), school climate and engagementacross students in grades 3-12, and families. The results willinform goals at the district and school level.

Hardy Middle School’s Family Survey response rate lastyear was 24%, or 103 surveys and we are trying to get as close to 100% aspossible.

All Students who have returned the survey or completed survey by 2/13/20 willbe allowed to dress down on 2/14/20. Parents have a few option to complete thesurvey, by using the link (bit.ly/dcpsfamily) or completing the survey at the schooleither on paper / online (assistance will be available if needed) CONTACT - Keydra M. AndersonAttendance Counselor / DCOC Admin. /KRFkeydra.anderson@k12.dc.gov

SIGN-UP PARTIESThis year, Hardy is introducing Sign Up Parties all year long! Sign Up Parties are fun forparents and students. They’re also a great source of revenue for the school and a greatopportunity for community building. Whether you host a party or just sign up to attendone, you are sure to have a fabulous time as you mix and mingle with other Hardyparents that you might otherwise never have met.

What Are Sign Up Parties?

They are “sign-up” events that parents host for as many people as they find appropriatefor the specific activity/party. Attendees can be adults, kids or a combination of thetwo. The hosts cover all expenses of the party, and 100% of the funds raised by theevent benefit Hardy. Prices range from $20 to $50+ per person, depending on theevent. We need Hardy families to donate to the school and Sign Up Parties are the mostfun way to do it!

Want to Host a Party?

1. Dream up an event you or your kids would love to attend. You can host a cocktailparty or a dinner, give a lecture or have the kids come to your house for a videogame tournament. Just think about what you’re good at and like to do, and go fromthere!

2. Recruit your friends as co-hosts. It makes throwing a party much easier and a lotmore fun.

3. Check with us at hardyschoolsignupparties@gmail.com to discuss your ideas andtiming, and we’ll send you more info on how to organize your event.

8TH GRADE MOCK CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESSMr. Antwi-Obimpeh and Ms. Mills will be preparing studentsover the course of the next few weeks to "testify" as expertson the U.S. Constitution and related issues (judicial review,citizenship, powers of government, etc). Parents and familiesare invited to attend the Congressional Hearings in ourrespective classes. In addition, parents interested in judging

the Congressional Hearings should email Ms. Mills their availability. Parents areneeded in the morning from 9:15 - 10:45 AM and then again in the afternoonfrom 1:30 - 3:15 on both Thursday Jan 23rd and Friday Jan 24th. Please use thislink to also sign-up: Mock Hearing Sign-Up

POLITICS & PROSE and COMET PING PONG GIVE BACKDAY FOR HARDY (2/9) - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!We are looking for parent volunteers to staff the Hardy Tableat our annual Politics & Prose fundraiser. No experienceneeded! Staffing the table involves handing out the cards

listing the books requested by teachers and collecting booksbought for the school.Please click

here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D48A4A62DA57-hardy6

HARDY PARENTS: PLEASE CALL "311" TO REQUEST CROSSWALK SUPPORTWe need your help in increasing the traffic safety around Hardy. The administration,PTO, and ANC commissioner Putta have submitted formal requests for increased safetymeasures at our crosswalks. We are not receiving the action necessary to increase thesafety of our students and families. This is where you can make a difference. If youare crossing 34th or 35th and feel the circumstances are unsafe please call "311" at thattime and every time to report the situation. Thank you for your support!

NEW AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITYActing 101 // Fridays, 3:30-4:30, beginning Jan. 24th (please note the date change offirst class)Amore Learning's fantastic teaching artists will teach Hardy students to explore the joy ofacting. They will be introduced to many theatre games and exercises used to explorecharacter, setting, dialogue and so much more. Students of all experience levels areencouraged to explore new outlets for creativity, expression and confidence in asupportive environment. These budding thespians are sure to have lots of fun and willfinish off the semester with a performance for family and friends! Find more informationand registration here: Acting 101

START YOUR SHOPPING AT AMAZON TO HELP HARDY MSThe Hardy PTO is excited to announce that we have joined the Amazon Affiliate Program.This means that when you access Amazon through our website, you can support theHardy PTO sponsored programs at the same time! It’s EASY: simply click the Amazon link and shop as usual on the entire Amazon website.There are no special codes or checkout procedures. All you do is click the link, log in toyour account and shop. You can use the link on your computer, tablet or phone.

You can learn more about the Amazon Affiliate Program on the Hardy MS website here.

Thank you!- Abi and StevenYour Friends at the PTO

Grade-Level Liaisons:6th grade: Shoshana Rosenbaum, Gayle Cramer7th grade: Chamar Littlejohn, Steven Brown8th grade: Leigh McKenna, Kyra Stewart

ATHLETIC PROGRAM UPDATES:

Hello Hawks and Hawk families:

HARDY 8TH GRADERS INVITED TO JOIN WILSON CREW FOR WINTER TRAININGWilson Crew is running a Winter Conditioning Program for 8th grade students interestedin learning what it’s like to row for Wilson Crew. Starting in December, we’ll beginpracticing as a middle school squad, with the goal of participating in two erg competitionsover the cold indoor months.

In addition to erging (indoor rowing), the coaches will cross-train 8th graders using aworkout regimen including body circuits, alternative cardio, stretching, core work, yoga,and more. The goal is to have a great time and to learn the ropes of what it is like to rowfor Wilson Crew. Questions? Please contact Middle School Head Coach Charlotte Taft at

coachcharlotteww@gmail.com

https://www.wilsoncrew.org/page/show/4680609-middle-school-winter-conditioning-8th-grade-only-

LAST WEEK'S ATHLETIC RESULTS:

Girls Basketball lost vs Kramer 16-37Boys Basketball lost vs Kramer 36-48

THIS WEEK:

Monday, 1/20NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, 1/21Wrestling match 4:00 @ HardyCheerleading practice 3:30-5:00 in the cafeteria

Wednesday, 1/22Bowling meet vs. Stuart-Hobson 4:00 @ Bolling AFBBoys Basketball game 4:00 vs. Kelly-Miller @ HardyBoys and Girls Track practice 3:30-5:00 meet in Mr. Grover’s classroom (125)Wrestling practice 3:30-5:00 in the cafeteriaSwim practice 4:00-5:00 at Marie Reed pool

Thursday, 1/23Wrestling match 4:00 @ Stuart-HobsonSwim meet 5:30 @ HD Woodson HSGirls Basketball practice 3:30-5:00 in the gymBoys Basketball practice 5:00-6:30 in the gym

Friday, 1/24

Boys Basketball game 6:00 vs. Johnson @JohnsonGirls Basketball game 4:45 vs. Johnson @JohnsonWrestling practice 3:30-5:00 in the cafeteria

** Hardy Athletics is looking for Boys and Girls Lacrosse coaches for theupcoming spring season. Please have them contact AD Larry McEwen. Thankyou.

Larry McEwen | Athletic DirectorHardy Middle School1819 35th Street, NWWashington, DC 20007O: (202) 729-4350 | C: (202) 250-0325coachlarry1@yahoo.com | hardyms.org

NEWS OF NOTE:Hardy 8th Graders Invited to Join Wilson Crew For Winter TrainingHardy Athletics is Seeking Boys and Girls Lacrosse Coaches for Spring 2020HONK! The Musical Interest Meeting and More Info!Volunteers Needed for 8th Grade Mock Congressional CongressVolunteers Needed for Hardy Fundraiser at Politics and Prose (2/9)For the Hardy Community: Save Our Buses!Winter Reading Challenge 2020 Starts Today!Nature Bridge Overnight Trip – April 8 - 10, 2020 -- 7th Grade Students6th and 7th Grade Parent Informational Meeting - Florida Splash Field Trip(Summer 2021)Hardy's Clubs & Tutoring Brochure is Here - SY2019-2020Baseball Club Meetings December 4th-February 10th

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