Dear HKMS Families,
Believe it or not, back-to-school season is here! Whether you are welcoming your first rising sixth grader to Helen Keller Middle School, joining us new from Easton, or are a seasoned middle school parent, we are excited for an incredible year ahead.
Middle school children (ages 11–14) are in the most intense period of brain development in a person's life outside of infancy. During these years, young minds are undergoing a massive remodel—deepening their abstract thinking and building foundational skills for adulthood. It is why teaching and supporting middle schoolers is as rewarding as it is dynamic.
As we kick off the new year, here are five core principles to keep in mind:
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Embrace New Experiences (and Failures): Encourage your child to try new sports, clubs, instruments, and friends! Small setbacks build true resilience; as Master Yoda says, "The greatest teacher, failure is."
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Widen the Guardrails: Grant them more independence with homework and schedules, but stay connected by attending school events, parent coffees, PTO meetings, and reading our weekly family newsletter.
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Keep Communicating: Swap closed questions ("How was school?") for open-ended prompts ("What was the funniest thing that happened today?"). You will be blown away with how well they process the complexities of their day and show signs of their new brain powers.
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Model Emotional Regulation: Middle school life is a rollercoaster. When your child hits a high or low, stay grounded so they can learn to navigate their own emotions.
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Embrace the "Gloriously Kooky": Quirkiness, sudden shifts, and testing boundaries are all normal parts of growing up. Guide them through missteps with empathy and reflection.
At HKMS, we love middle schoolers for their energy, empathy, and tenacity, and we are thrilled to partner with you on this journey.
To help your family prepare, please review our online guide together with your middle schooler for key updates on school routines, cell phone/screen time policies, important dates, and so much more here:
If you have any questions, please reach out to me, Mrs. Mohr, or our main office team anytime.
Sincerely,
Steve Clapp, Ed.D.
Principal of HKMS
