Weather watch for Tuesday
Good morning and welcome back to school!
I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving and found time to rest, recharge and enjoy moments of gratitude with family and friends. Can you believe it is already December? I’m sure you are looking forward to the holiday season and spending time with your family.
December is a short but busy month, and there will be many exciting things going on at Hackett Middle School before we say goodbye to 2025. Please be sure to note your calendars and check the calendar on our website.
This week's Friday Fun Day theme is "Twin Day." Let's show our school spirit by wearing the same thing as a friend! We will continue to celebrate Friday Fund Day a different way each week in order to boost school pride, add a little fun to our week, build healthy relationships and get ready for the weekend!
Join us to celebrate the sounds (and tastes!) of the season at our annual Winter Concert and PTA Dessert Auction on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. We are very proud of our young musical artists and look forward to showcasing some of the best talent in the area. Attention baking enthusiasts: This is your time to shine as well! Donations of baked goods make up our Dessert Auction, and we hope you will consider making something to contribute. Store-bought baked goods are also more than welcome. Please bring all items to the Hackett Main Office in the morning on Dec. 9 or immediately before the concert. All proceeds from the auction benefit students through the Hackett PTA.
Our first-quarter Honor Roll Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 a.m. in the auditorium. Please join us to celebrate our students' academic achievement!
Stay connected!
Check out our website and Facebook page in addition to my weekly emails. You also can reach out to us at (518) 475-6475.
Now for our 'Don't Snooze and Lose News'
Besides the items listed above, please make a note of the following information:
- Attention parents of eighth-graders: The lottery drawing to determine which Albany High School academy your child will attend this September will be held on Thursday, Dec. 11.
- Interim grades for the second term close on Friday, Dec. 12.
- On Dec. 19, the theme for Friday Fun Day will be “Flashback to the ‘90s.” Let's show our school spirit by wearing some fly fashion from the 1990s! We will continue to celebrate each Friday Fun Day in a different way to boost school pride and add a little fun to our week. This is a great way to build healthy relationships and look forward to the weekend!
- There will be no school Wednesday, Dec. 24-Friday, Jan. 2 for Holiday Recess. Classes will resume on Monday, Jan. 5.
- Our next PTA meeting will be held in 2026! Please join us on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in room 112. Can't make the meeting in-person? You can attend virtually via this Google meet link. Your involvement helps support the well-being and educational success of our children as well as our school community. We hope you will consider attending one of our upcoming meetings and sharing with us your thoughts about providing all students with a safe and supportive learning environment.
- There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Second-quarter grades close on Friday, Jan. 23.
Holiday wishes
As we start the winter holidays, I want to wish everyone a safe, warm and memorable holiday season. Whether you end up traveling or staying here for the holidays, I hope all of you can enjoy some time together with family and friends. I am so grateful and honored to serve as your principal. Happy holidays!
Important reminders
Attention student skiers, snowboarders and those who want to learn either or both! Ski Club is preparing for the upcoming season. Interested students can pick up the paperwork in room 112. Year after year, our students benefit from building confidence and new skills, enhancing social skills and improving their overall physical fitness. Ski Club also offers a more affordable way to enjoy skiing and snowboarding through our group discounts.
Our Extended Day Program is underway! This after-school program takes place Monday-Thursday from 3-5:30 p.m. and includes a free snack and free door-to-door bus transportation home. Programs include swimming, cooking, judo, cosmetology, dance, arts and crafts, yearbook and more! Applications are available at the Attendance Desk in the main foyer. Completed forms should be returned to the Main Office, and any specific questions should be directed to Ms. Lewis at dlewis2@albany.k12.ny.us. The program runs through June.
Our school district recently joined with Mayor Sheehan and transportation partners to announce stop-arm cameras on all First Student (yellow) buses, an important new initiative to improve traffic safety for our students and our community. BusPatrol will issue citations for violations captured on the bus cameras, with fines as much as $300 being paid to the city.
We have new rules in place about student cell phone use in school. You can get more information about the rules here.
As a reminder, speed cameras are operational and intended to help enforce the city's 20 mph speed limit in school zones. Fines are $50 per offense. Please help keep our school communities, students and staff safe and adhere to these speed zones on your daily commute.
We will hold emergency response drills throughout the school year. The safety of everyone in our school community is extremely important. Holding these practice drills, including lockdown drills, is crucial to our overall emergency planning. Before we practice a drill, we teach students, faculty and staff about the procedures to follow in an emergency.
Hackett Corner Quotes
"December is full of the beauty of the holiday season, the excitement of a new year and the simplicity of wintertime." – Unknown