Communications
Our website is https://hammondms.memberhub.com/ or t.ly/hmspta and contains details on upcoming events. We also have a Facebook group at t.ly/hmsfbgroup where we share information and connect with other HMS families.
Membership Drive
We are in the midst of our membership drive. Currently, we have 80 members! Memberships need to be renewed after July 1 each year. The membership fee for this school year has stayed the same and is $15 for one person or $25 for a family. PTA's mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
Visit t.ly/joinhmspta to join and to learn more about the benefits of PTA visit t.ly/whyjoin.
Spirit Wear Sale
The blue ship is sailing!!
The Fall Spirit Wear Online Store is now open.
Please check out all the new offerings! Apparel marked with full back has the new ship design on the back. Store closes on October 15, with deliveries in November.
Hammond Middle School PTA Spirit Wear 2023
Fall Festival
Save the date for the Hammond Middle Fall Fest for students! Friday, Oct. 13th from 3:15pm (dismissal) to 5:00pm. More details to follow. If you are interested in helping/volunteering please contact vicepresident@hmspta.org.
Fall Fest Ticket Sales Now Open!
HMS Students are invited to come out for an afternoon of fall fun on Friday, October 13th from 3:15-5pm (rain date Thursday, October 19th). Fall Fest will feature a DJ, Photo Booth, games, crafts, cotton candy, prizes, snacks/drinks, and more! Each $7 ticket includes everything! Please buy in advance, same-day ticket sales not available. Tickets can be purchased here until October 12th.
Call for Fall Fest Volunteers and Donations
You can help make this year's Fall Fest the best ever by donating your time and/or items needed for the event. Please check out our volunteer and donations sign-up here. Please sign up by October 10th so we have an idea of what is still needed. Thank you very much for your support of the HMS Fall Fest!
Adopt a Staff
HMS PTA is looking for families to participate in our Adopt-A-Staff program. We secretly match a staff member with an HMS family for the school year. The family honors the staff member at least monthly with notes of encouragement or a small gift/treat to brighten their day. It's a fun and easy way to show appreciation for our wonderful HMS staff. We have 32 staff members who are interested in being matched. A list of staff member's favorite things will be shared with you if you are matched. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the Google Form, linked here. Thank you for helping to make this program a success!
Staff Appreciation
Thank you to everyone who donated towards the September snacks and the back to school breakfast for staff!
Grants
Howard County Arts Council Award: We are pleased to announce that we were awarded an Artists-in-Education grant that the PTA will match to fund the Shakespeare program for 8th graders and the 6th and 7th grade assemblies.
PTA Council Coat Drive
PTA Council has the goal of collecting over 1,000 warm coats for kids and adults by October 16. Coats can be dropped off at the North Laurel Multi Service Center. Many more kids are walking to school this year and there is a greater need for coats. More details can be found here: t.ly/coats
Welcome Gifts for Students
The PTA was happy to be able to provide ear buds to all students for use in the classroom. We also were able to order planners for the 6th graders and treated them to ice cream cups after orientation.
Volunteer Needs
The following committees are forming and need volunteers: Fundraising, Enrichment, School of Excellence, Grants, Staff Appreciation, Events, Membership, Spirit Wear, Assemblies, Restaurant Nights, Reflections, 8th Grade Events, Spelling Bee, Adopt a Staff, Communications, and more! We are especially in need of a Reflections coordinator (t.ly/reflections) if we wish for HMS to participate in this wonderful arts competition. We are also exploring a hybrid PTA meeting format to be accessible to more families, so if you are tech savvy and have ideas for the best way to initiate this, please let us know.
Please email president@hmspta.org if you would like more information on any of these opportunities. You can participate in whatever level your time permits.
PTA Meeting Dates - Save the Date
General Meeting Dates: 11/2, 1/4, 3/7, 5/2 (election)
Board Meeting Dates: 10/5, 12/7, 2/1, 4/4, 6/6
You can view all the materials from the September meeting and future meetings at t.ly/hmspadlet
Comments, Questions, Suggestions?
Please email us at president@hmspta.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.