From the desk of Hamilton Heights Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood

Update No. 127

As we enter our last few weeks of school, I invite you to take part in celebrating the work and achievements of our students. There will be a wide variety of events to choose from, such as awards and recognition programs, prom, art shows, athletic events, and graduation celebrations. Stay in the loop with details on the website, Facebook, calendars, and future building communications.

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Something cool took place on Friday at Hamilton Heights Middle School. It was the annual Take Our Kids to Work Day – a day designed to be more than a career day. It’s an opportunity for staff to bring their child with them to school in their classroom, meet their students, help them teach, and experience first-hand what it means for their parent to be a teacher. HHMS started this program in 2022 and it’s proven to be a positive experience for the students, teachers, and teachers’ children. It’s a tradition they hope to continue well into the future, especially as we inspire more students to become teachers.

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Speaking of cool, I want to give a shout out to Will Monnin, an eighth grader at HHMS, who has set his sights on making a positive impact for current and future student athletes at Heights. He is undertaking a project to improve our cross country course while he earns his rank as an Eagle Scout. Check it out here. #RunWithTheDawgs

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Packaging meals for the International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES) has become another annual tradition for high school and middle school students at Heights.

Earlier this month, about 90 fifth-grade students joined the effort with HHMS staff and Teach One to Lead One (T1L1) volunteers to package over 6,000 meals in one hour in the auxiliary gym. On April 19, over 30 high school students traveled to the IDES campus in Noblesville and helped package over 8,000 meals.

These pre-packaged meals will be shipped around the world for families in need. This annual service project is a hands-on activity that serves as a real-life application of the character and leadership lessons they learn throughout the semester during the T1L1 program.

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This is National School Library Month. School libraries (media centers) are integral to our schools. These spaces offer unlimited opportunities for growth through access to technology, multimedia, and incredible resources of every variety. Our school media center specialists, Karen Jones (HHES), Emily Beechler (HHMS), and Lori Hippensteel (HHHS), play an essential role in the education of our students. They are teachers of information, literacy, and skills and are invaluable instructional partners. Thank you for helping to positively transform lives at Heights!

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Registration is also open for the 35^th annual Golf Scramble hosted by the Hamilton Heights Educational Foundation (HHEF). Plan to spend a relaxing day on the green with friends and colleagues while supporting the work of this outstanding organization on Thursday, June 6 at Bear Slide Golf Course in Cicero. Click here to register to play or be a sponsor.

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Thank you for your partnership and working with us to foster students’ engagement, empowerment, and achievement in their educational journey at Heights.

#WeAreHuskies