Week of August 31, 2026

The Week in Review at HMS: Notes from Dr. Cockley

Week of August 31, 2026

 

A LIFE-CHANGING Experience: In our Service Learning & Careers course, students are partnering with Hands of Gratitude - a program that uses 3D-printing technology to create prosthetic hands for individuals around the world. Over the past several years, HMS students have built and donated more than 380 prosthetic hands!

Through this meaningful work, students learn about the need, the global network making it possible, and the life-changing impact these hands can have on recipients.

Want to be part of the change? Explore sponsorship opportunities to help support this powerful program: Hands of Gratitude Sponsorship Flyer

 

 

Working together and cooking up something delicious! Our students put their teamwork and skills to work making a delicious French toast breakfast! 

 

Seventh-grade scientists are using marbles and roller coaster tracks to explore potential and kinetic energy…with the challenge of incorporating 5 hills into their design! 

 

Practicing latitude and longitude in 6th grade Social Studies by using coordinates to locate their opponents’ ships in a game of Battleship! 

 

Medical Detectives students learned the importance of clear procedures and following written directions step by step as their teacher put their instructions to the test making a grilled cheese! 

 

A warm welcome to HMS! Our 6th-grade counselor, Mrs. Wood, is visiting each 6th grade class to introduce herself and her role as a counselor, get to know our students, and share ways to manage stress and take care of themselves throughout the middle school journey. 

 

One of our awesome 6th-grade communities brought the energy today during Advisory with a giant Rock-Paper-Scissors “Chain” activity! What a fun way to build connections and community! 

 

Important Notes:

HMS Announcements - Please feel free to visit this site daily for up-to-date announcements for our students and school!

No School on Monday, 9/7 - Labor Day

 

Chromebook Insurance - by 9/4:  

• The enrollment window for Chromebook insurance is open and available through September 4, 2026 at the cost of $25. 
• To enroll and learn more, please visit our district Technology website. 
• For a quick link to the sign-up form, click here.

 

HS Drama Production Opportunity - Auditions on 9/8:

Are you between the grades of K-8 and are interested in being in the High School's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL this fall? Well, you're in luck - we are looking to cast 13 youth performers to join the high school cast! Here is how you can try out:

• First chat about it with your parent/guardian and then visit this link:
• Auditions are 9/8 (for grades 3-8, you must book an appointment to try out). Callbacks are 9/10 (by invitation only)
• At the above link, you can sign up for an audition, read the script, get full audition details (which includes the rehearsal schedule info, what to prepare, etc.), you can also access the audition form and the content acknowledgement form that you need to fill out before your audition.

 

Tuesday, 9/8, Busy Athletic Night at HMS…& Coffee Truck & Kona Ice Truck! 

• Tuesday, September 8 will be a busy night on our central campus, with numerous athletic events taking place at HMS and across the central campus.
• To help everyone navigate safely and efficiently, we have identified specific entrances and parking areas based on each athletic event. This information was shared directly with athletes’ families by our Athletic Supervisor, and we wanted to make sure all HMS families have access to it as well. Please review the map here before arriving, and please plan to arrive at 4:15 or after due to elementary pick-up traffic.
• And while you’re here, stop by our front circle for a cool treat from Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck or Kona Ice! Both will be supporting HMS Athletics through the evening.

 

Hands of Gratitude Sponsorship:

• In order to continue the life-changing Hands of Gratitude program that is part of our Service Learning & Careers Course at Hudson Middle School, each year we seek sponsorships.
• If you know of a person or organization who may be interested in supporting this program at our school, please feel free to pass this on.
• Our students are making a difference and are so appreciative of your support!  
• ONLINE DONATION LINK: thehcsf.org/hands-of-gratitude 
• See our Hands of Gratitude Sponsorship flyer for more details about this incredible program, the incredible individuals and organizations who are sponsoring the program this year thus far, and how you can help! 

 

9/15 8th Grade Parent/Guardian DC Informational Meeting

• Please note that the upcoming Washington D.C. parent meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
• Meeting Details:
  • Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (previously scheduled for 9/21/26)
  • Location: School Auditorium
• We will cover essential itinerary details, safety guidelines, and trip expectations during this session. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Bus Lot Closed During Recess Hours

• For the safety of our students during recess, the bus lot will be closed daily from 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. This helps keep both students and vehicles safe.
• Visitors may park in the designated spots in the front circle or in the lot just north of Malson Field during this time.
• Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!

 

Week of 9/21 Start with Hello Week and 9/18 Social Inclusion Advisory Lesson

During the week of September 21, Hudson students will participate in Start with Hello Week, a national initiative focused on creating a culture of inclusion, connection, and belonging. 

• Through our morning announcements and daily activities, we will encourage students to take small but meaningful actions to reach out, include others, and build connections within our school community.
• At HMS, our Friday, September 18 Advisory lesson will introduce students to the theme, and throughout the following week, students will participate in activities centered around saying hello, giving compliments, kindness, and making connections with others.
  • Ohio House Bill 123 requires us to teach a lesson on Social Inclusion, in grades 6-12. Our district has selected the “Start with Hello” curriculum, through Sandy Hook Promise Learning Center, which is a state-approved curriculum provider. 
  • The lessons from “Start with Hello” align with our HMS Advisory purpose of connecting with each other! This year’s lesson can be reviewed here: Start with Hello: HMS Advisory Lesson 2026 
  • If you would like to opt your child out of this lesson, please email Dr. Cockley by September 11 at cockleyk@hudson.k12.oh.us 

 

9/22 Portrait of an Explorer Day & Hudson Spirit Day

• Tuesday, September 22 is our first Portrait of an Explorer Day! 
• In celebration of our first Portrait of an Explorer pillar, Adaptive Problem Solver, and as part of our Start with Hello focus on connection and community, everyone across Hudson Schools is encouraged to wear Hudson gear or navy and white. 
• We are proud to be one Hudson family, and we all play a part in helping one another feel connected, supported, and that we belong.

 

Take a Second Make a Difference Nominations - Due 10/1

• Do you know someone in our community - kids, teachers, coaches, neighbors, or merchants - who Make a Difference for Hudson's youth?
• Hudson Community First will recognize outstanding community members at our annual Take a Second. Make a Difference. celebration. All nominees will be recognized throughout the community and receive a thank you from Hudson Community First for their efforts.
• Nominate someone here: https://hudsoncommunityfirst.com/tas-mad 

 

10/5 Parent/Guardian Event: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids

• You’re invited! October 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Hudson Middle School
• Join Hudson Community First for an evening with Melinda Wenner Moyer, award-winning science journalist and contributing editor at Scientific American. She will share practical, science-based strategies to help parents prepare kids to navigate an increasingly complex world, including building resilience, caring for themselves and others, standing up for what they believe in, and bridging divides.
• Sponsored by Hudson Community First [Learn more and RSVP →] 

 

Middle School Clubs and Extracurricular Activities:

• In Final Forms, you may have signed up to receive email communication regarding certain clubs and activities at HMS. If you didn’t, no worries - it’s not a requirement. 
• Once those clubs begin, information will be shared on our morning announcements for students, and can also be viewed on our website: HMS Announcements. 
• Our clubs haven’t yet started, but look for information to be shared in advance, once they’re ready to begin.

 

Arrival & Dismissal (Drop-Off and Pick-Up) Reminder: 

• Please help us keep arrival and dismissal safe by using only the designated HMS drop-off and pick-up areas or school bus transportation. Other areas of campus, including the back parking lot and gravel lot between HMS and Evamere, are not designated or supervised for student drop-off and pick-up. 
• Please review our HMS Traffic Pattern and share these expectations with anyone who may drive your child to or from school.  

 

Important Reminders from our Attendance Office: 

• If you’re picking up your child early, please send your child with a dismissal note, to the attendance desk, the morning of their appointment. This will allow the attendance office to give your child a pass to return to the office for their appointment time. This process allows us to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum and prompt arrival of your students for their departure. Here’s a template you can print and use if you’d like.
• If you did not send in a note with your child, please bring your photo ID for verification, and please be prepared to wait for your child to arrive from class - thank you for your patience and understanding. 
• In addition, if your child will be missing school for a planned time away, please have them fill out an Advanced Absence Form, available in the Main Office. These forms are an important communication tool between the student and their teachers and will be noted upon being filled out and returned to the Attendance Office.

 

HMS Calendar of Events - To view upcoming middle school activities, including performances and meetings, click here: https://www.hudson.k12.oh.us/calendar1

 

PeachJar Flyers - For event information about district and community events, please view the latest Peachjar flyers here: HCSD PeachJar Link