Dear Parents: Isn‘t it hard to believe the first semester is already over? With the beginning of second semester, many of our students are beginning new courses. Please check to make sure that your children have the supplies they need for these new classes. Our school store carries many of the supplies. It is run by the PTA and is open in the mornings before school. Report cards will be sent home on February 1st. This would be a good time to review your expectations and develop a plan for your child to work toward achieving those expectations. You may need to provide your child with some structure and guidelines for studying, homework, and reading for pleasure. Also, talk to your child about the opportunities for re-learning and re-testing offered by teachers. We are finding that while some students use these opportunities appropriately, many do not. If you have questions regarding this, you may contact the teacher or your child‘s counselor. In the next few weeks, counselors will be meeting with students to discuss course selections for next year. Your child will be bringing home either a Middle School Program of Studies or a High School Program of Studies. Please review the booklet carefully and discuss course selection options with your child. It is important that these selections be made carefully and thoughtfully now so that changes do not have to be made later when they are much more complicated and may not be able to be made. Please take into consideration your child‘s outside activities when selecting electives, especially music, which have requirements beyond the school day. I encourage all students to pursue a challenging, but realistic, course schedule. The SOL Writing test will be administered to 8th graders on March 6th and 7th. It is extremely important that your child be in school on these dates. The May SOL testing window is May 7th through June 1st. A schedule of specific dates for the tests will be available in future newsletters. SOL tutoring classes will also begin soon. I urge parents of invited students to make every effort to have your students participate in all scheduled tutoring. Our goal is to have every student prepared to take- and pass - the SOL tests in May. With this as our goal, your help is needed. Teachers cannot teach students who are not in class. Please make sure that your students are in class every day, all day. Taking students out of school sends a strong message to your students about priorities. I urge you to show your students that education is a top priority by scheduling vacations and trips during school breaks and holidays. Our district has established a set calendar for the year and publicizes it well in advance to help with planning. We have included this calendar in every newsletter. Please refer to this calendar before making plans for trips and vacations. As we begin the second semester, I look forward to working together to ensure that we finish the year strong as we continue Building a Foundation of Success for each of our students. I thank each of you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Sherron P. Gladden

Message From the Principal

FEBRUARY 2012

www.lcps.org/harmony

In this issue

Students of the Month

Yearbook News

Band News

Choral News

Team News

Drama News

German Dept. News

Library News

Guidance Dept. News

Spectrum Speaks

PTA News

Note to Parents

Student Pick-Up Notice

School Store Information

Harmony Outreach

2012-2013 Calendar

Lunch Menu

Calendar

School Delay/Cancellation

Buzz the

NUMBERS TO

KNOW

540-751-2500 phone

540-751-2501 fax

540-751-2502 absentee call-in

540-751-2504 clinic

FEBRUARY 2012 PAGE 2

Pegasus: Jessica Derrow and James Warndorf Gemini: Navneet Kaur and Jacob Stephens Eagle: Elizabeth Olchevski and Josh Wiles Scorpion: Erika Burns and Sam Allison Hercules: Quin Byrd and Fallon Valakis

Orion: Noah Poole and Megan Walther Phoenix: Conor Forrest and Alana McBride Taurus: Emily Herbert and Nick Lemanski Ursa Major: Robert Grady and Rachel Petterson

Yearbooks! Yearbooks!

Don't forget to purchase your 2011-2012 yearbook. You can order online, through the mail, with the forms mailed to your house, or by phone. Don't miss out on the memories!

Please note: Students of the Month are chosen based on their accomplishments during the named month. Their names are announced at the end of the month and their biographies are displayed in their house for the next month.

The BUZZ

The administrative newsletter of

Harmony Middle School

38174 West Colonial Hwy. Hamilton, VA 20158

540-751-2500

FAX 540-751-2501

Sherron Gladden, Principal

Jim Hepner, Assistant Principal

Gail Lucas, Assistant Principal

Patrick White, 6th Grade Dean

Christina Thompson,7th Grade Dean

Andrew Olejer, 8th Grade Dean

NOTICE

If, due to a disability, you need assistance to enable you to participate meaningfully in any school activity, please contact Mrs. Gladden at 540-751-2500 at least five working days prior to the activity.

Orion: Liam McMahon and Kristen Mathews Phoenix: Liam Devinney and Andrea Patterson Taurus: Miri Case and Joe Sgarella

Ursa Major: Shahdin Ghaffari and Jacob Rodal

Pegasus: Nicole Cassella and Harrison Furlow Gemini: Stefania Dodd and Wyatt Black Eagle: Meghan Glidden Scorpion: Sam Ball and Lauren Lafollette Hercules: Andrew Hale and Meghan Cleary

Homework 4-1-1

Homework is posted on the Harmony Website on teachers‘ web pages at

www.lcps.org/harmony

PAGE 3 BUZZ

Band News

Feb. 7th & 21st: Symphonic Band (block 6) rehearsals to prepare for assessments, 7 PM—9 PM Feb. 9th: Band Booster meeting in the band room, 7 PM. All band students and parents are encouraged to attend. Feb. 16th: Winter Band Concerts – 6 PM 6th Grade Band; 7 PM Concert Band ( block 5 ) and Percussion Ensemble, HMS Feb. 23rd: Symphonic Band (block 6) pre-assessment concert, performing at Woodgrove HS, 7 PM

Geography Bee

Congratulations to the winners of the Geography Bee: Abby Schooling – 1st place

Harrison Furlow - 2nd place

Team Geography Bee Winners: 6th: Audrey Birch, Brie Reed, Merron Douglas Runners up: Noah Balaban, Sean Whalen, Darya Nouri 7th: Harrison Furlow, Abhi Mogili, Art Olsen Runners up – Oliver Kline, Jakob Frederick- Harteis, Grace Robinson 8th: Taylor Chatfield, Abby Schooling Runners up – Alex Kittka, Elwyn Murray

Choral News

American Choral

Director’s Association

(ACDA)

Congratulations to the following students for being selected by audition to the 2012 All Virginia Middle School Honor Choir: Abby Dahl, Sophia Gwartney, Claybrooke Dean, Samantha Kerschner, Georgia Peake, Julia Stewart , Maryann Hayden. They will represent Harmony Middle School by participating in the All-Virginia Choir on April 26th-28th in Lynchburg, VA.

Above—Geography Bee Team Winners Below– Geography Bee Team Runners Up

Abby Schooling – 1st place

FEBRUARY 2012 PAGE 4

Team Gemini

History students have been exploring the relationship between the influx of immi-grants in the late 1800's/early 1900's and the period of industrialization in Amer-ica. Now they are moving forward through the Progressive era and are looking at the social and political reform which came about at that time.

English students are working on their story boards for their PSA projects. They have been trained in Movie Maker in the computer labs and are ready to make their final PSA ―commercials." Students are continuing to read a variety of novels to which they respond in journals and discuss in small groups. In science, students learned about how cells transport mate-rials and how they get and process energy. Students are learning how cells reproduce. After the wonders of mitosis and meios, they move into genetics. Please periodically check the individual teachers‘ and the Team Gemini Web pages for announcements and updates.

Team Orion

The end of the semester found English students finishing their individual writing workshop pieces and having com-pleted a thorough autobiographical sketch of their child-hood. Next quarter includes writing in preparation for the Writing SOL, and "buzz groups" of independent read-ing. This is a great time to encourage students to be read-ing and find a book that holds their interest! Let Mrs. Donohue know if you need help in doing so. Civics classes will be visit-ing the US Capitol on Febru-ary 15th. Be sure your per-mission slip is in to Mr. Cas-suto. In science, students are examining waves and magnetism.

Team Phoenix

Civics students finished benchmarks and are now studying the legislative branch. They will be writing children‘s books about How a Bill becomes a Law. In science, waves and how they apply to light and sound are being studied. Hands-on learning ensures these abstract concepts become concrete. English classes are finishing up with The Outsiders and are excited to begin the next Literature Circle books. Students continue working on their writing workshop creative writing, or they will start a new piece for the third nine weeks. Also, new vocabulary has been introduced, and will be quizzed every two weeks. In math 8, students are embarking on geometry and algebra 1 students are beginning an inequality unit followed up by systems of equations.

Team Taurus

English classes are currently going over creative writing for the nine weeks. They have also read a variety of different books in either literature circles or as a class novel. The stu-dents are continuing to write and read on their own as well. Science classes are finishing with electricity and starting magnetism. Math 8 students are re-viewing multi-step equations. Algebra students are preparing for their exam. Civics classes are studying the Amend-ments to the Constitution.

Team Ursa Major

The BIG news for Team Ursa Major is the upcoming field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium and Maryland Science Center on Thursday, March 22nd. Students will be receiving permission slips in Mrs. Murphy‘s class. Permission slips are due by Thursday, February 2nd.

Team Eagle

Science students are studying weather instruments and obtaining the weather forecast every day. Social studies classes are studying events leading up to the Revolutionary War. They finished working on the Acts that led to the First Continental Congress. Math 6 students studied customary measurements followed by the metric system. Math 7 students completed Functions studies. English students have completed their book review essays and presentations and have begun literature circles. They are also working with prefixes and multiple meaning words. Congratulations to Farrah Shoja, Conor Carey, and Hudson Vetter who won the class spelling bee. Mrs. Richard‘s English students began the novel Fever 1793.

Team Hercules

Students continued to build Team Spirit as they won the Team Award and went roller skating! Students in English classes are participating in literature circles and reading novels independently in preparation for the book trailer assignment for third quarter. Please encourage reading at home. A persuasive writing unit begins this nine weeks. In science, the students are learning about the atmosphere and its weather. History students are studying the American Revolution and will soon delve into the formation of our great country - a democratic experiment that continues to this day. With the next election cycle in full swing, it is a great opportunity to discuss democracy in action at home, too. Math students are covering a variety of topics in the third marking period: mean, median, mode, and range; area, vol-ume, surface area, circumference; polygons; and probabil-ity. Please incorporate the math you use in your everyday life with your child. The measurement unit can be reinforced in your kitchen by using the measuring tools to help better un-derstand the practical application and purpose of measure-ment.

BUZZ PAGE 5

Team Pegasus

Science students are learning different ways a cell can transport materials in and out of the cell. Studies have begun of three very important equations for three very important processes: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and fermentation! Congratulations to students for the effort, creativity, and enthusiasm displayed in their awesome cell model projects! English students began a unit on poetry. Students will also be continuing their hard work on literature circles, vocabulary, and finishing up their public service announcements! History classes have wrapped up a unit on inventions of the Gilded Age and a unit on the formation of monopolies during the Industrialization Era. Students are exploring the contributions progressives like Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt made to the United States during the Progressive Era. Over the next quarter, they are studying the causes, effects, and the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, WWI, and WWII!!! Math students have been introduced to all things Algebra. This semester begins the review for SOL's.

Team Scorpion

English classes are reading novels for literature circles, introducing prefixes, and getting ready to begin book trailers (like a movie trailer but for books). So-cial studies classes are learning about the Boston Massacre from different points of view (rebels, loyalists, and investigators), the Declaration of Inde-pendence, and the poet Phillis Wheatley. Science stu-dents are learning about the atmosphere and weather. Math 6 and accelerated math 6/7 students are currently studying geometry. Activities include classifying and identi-fying shapes, and calculating area, perimeter, volume, and

surface area.

German

Department

News Blitz

Christkindlmarkt: The German Society of Lovettsville hosted its annual Christkindlmarkt during the weekend of December 3-4, 2011. The German students from Harmony volunteered by entertaining the children, while their parents shopped. Students painted faces, used colored hair spray, and taught learners German phrases. Nikolausfest: Freedom High School hosted Loudoun County‘s yearly Nikolausfest on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. German students from every high school and middle school in Loudoun County were invited. Students from Harmony attended this event and were able to meet many other Ger-man students. There was a giant potluck style dinner, where students were able to enjoy authentic German dishes. There was Bratwurst, Wienerschnitzel and potato salad! There were also games, songs and a gingerbread house contest. Schülerband: German students from Harmony attended a concert at Heritage High School on Friday, January 13, 2012. The German Embassy sponsored a ―Schülerband‖ (student band) called, ―Artig‖ from Bochum, Germany to come to a Loudoun County high school and perform their songs. Stu-dents were able to hear and sing songs in German, as well as meet other German students from all over Loudoun County. Tutoring: Frau Lenz will stay after school EVERY Wednes-day until 4:30 PM. If you need help or want to retake a quiz, please join her! Snacks/drinks will be provided and some German II students will also stay after to help tutor! German Class: German students participate in an ―Auktion‖ at the end of the year with their hard earned Euros. Dona-tions are always welcome!

FEBRUARY 2012 PAGE 6

SOL Information

The 8th grade Writing SOL will take place on Tuesday,

March 6th, and Wednesday, March 7th. Students are

encouraged to get a good night‘s sleep and eat a well-

balanced breakfast.

Essay Contest

Winner!

Congratulations to Zach Lock-hart, winner of the essay contest sponsored by The Valor Founda-tion to help convince Congress to have a National First Re-sponder's Day. The prompt was "How have you or someone you know been helped by a First Responder?" As winner, Zach receives a $500 savings bond.

Drama News

HMS is "Off to see the Wizard!" Director Karlah Louis and musical director Ann Stew-art began rehearsals in December with the cast of 70 plus actors. The costumes are

AMAZING -- and the sets will transport you to another land!

Cast:

Dorothy Hannah Harrelson Auntie Em Megan Gingerich Uncle Henry Henry Carlson Miss Gultch Maddy Goggin Mayor James Vasile Scarecrow Josh Wilk Tinman Alex Behan Lion Karl Canby Wizard Chris Hunt Glinda Maryann Hayden Wicked Witch Rachel Louis Guard Josh Shourds Winkie General Clay Dean

Posters, advertisements, and ticket information will go up the middle of this month. Tickets will first go on sale February 21st after certain rehearsals. Look for ticket

request forms online and the box to submit ticket orders in the main of-fice. Show dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 22nd, 23rd, and 24th at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, March 25th, there will be a 2:00 matinee performance. Last year, tickets sold out VERY fast. We can't wait to per-form for our audiences!

Address Changes A proof of residence is required for students who move to another physical address in order to make the change on the student record. This is important to ensure that the students are attending the appropriate school. Please see the Attendance Secretary or the main office if you have any questions or concerns.

@ the Library

Used Book Sale: Start cleaning out those closets and bring us your used books! We are collecting books NOW for our annual Used Book Sale in the library. Books for all ages are accepted (please no textbooks or encyclopedias). For every TEN books a student donates, they will receive a coupon for a free book at the sale. The sale will run from March 15 – 20th. We will be open the night of March 15th during Family Arts Night. 50 % of all our profit will go to the Empty Bowl project sponsored by the Art Department. Online Databases: Please remember that all students have access to several databases through the Harmony website. These databases are a great resource for research projects and can be used both at home and school. The databases feature many types of works, including encyclopedia articles, newspaper articles, primary documents, periodical articles, and book excerpts. To access the databases from the Harmony Web page, choose Library then click on Research to find a list of the databases. At home, users will be prompted for a username and password; these are available in the library. Book Suggestions: Do you have any suggestions for our library collection? Your Harmony library staff welcomes your input as we work to make our collection reflect the needs and interests of Harmony students and staff. There is a suggestion box located at the circulation desk. We have been receiving lots of great book titles in our suggestion box which have helped us in ordering new materials for the library. Thank you, students!

“Books, I found, had the power to make time stand still, retreat or fly into the future.”

~Jim Bishop

BUZZ PAGE 7

40 Book Challenge

This year at Harmony, all students are participating in the 40-book challenge! This is a reading strategy based on the book The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. The idea is to inspire students to read more than they thought they could, as well as create high expectations for the readers in our school. Students keep track of what they read using the 40-book challenge chart, which many keep in the classroom. When they have read a book, they write it in the chart under the appropriate genre. Part of the challenge is to expand the genres that students are comfortable with, and try new gen-res. This helps readers avoid being "stuck" and exposes students to new types of literature. When they have en-tered the book, they bring the chart to their teacher, who records their progress. Already in 6th grade, we have some students who have finished their whole chart, and in 7th and 8th grade, where the texts are sometimes more challenging, we have many students who are past the halfway mark. We have many staff members, as well as parents, who are keeping track of their reading on a chart as well. The challenge has helped Harmony to maintain its focus on independent reading, promote discussion of good books, and improve student progress with reading skills. We are excited to see how many students will have completed the challenge in June!

Family Arts Night

Save the date! Family Arts Night will be held March 15th from 6:00 to 8:00. Please join us for an evening of art making, guitar, chamber strings and blue grass performances, karaoke, and Irish dance as well as numerous art displays. The Empty Bowl Dinner will be served in the cafeteria for $15.00 a person with a handmade bowl created by a local potter or Harmony student. Dinner will be served from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and bowls will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Proceeds will be donated to the Western Lou-doun Food Pantry. This is a wonderful way to support the arts and recognize the many talented students we have here at Harmony! Please help with the evening by volunteering, and contact-ing Lori DeMark (Art Teacher) at lori.demark@lcps.org or Krtisten Thatcher (PTA) at kthatcher@rstarmail.com.

From the Guidance Department

FEBRUARY 2012 PAGE 8

Counselors: Mrs. Jamie Sharp – Lead Counselor and 7th Grade Counselor Mrs. DeHaven-Dawson - 8th Grade Counselor Mr. Henry Thomas – 6th Grade Counselor

COURSE SELECTION

Academic and Career Plans: In January and February, counselors have been busy working with

students to develop their Academic and Career Plans. The 6th grade students have started to build their plan and will continue to work on the career part of the plan. The 7th and 8th grade students all met with their counselors to correct and modify their academic and career plans. These plans have been sent home with the students.

Scheduling all students who have chosen classes for next year. Please make

sure you have reviewed your child‘s classes, signed the course selection plan, and returned it to Harmony. If you have not seen your child‘s selections, please contact your child‘s guidance counselor.

INTERNET SAFETY: What Parents need to know.

A parent information session will be offered on March 28th at 7:00 PM at Blue Ridge Middle School. This is an awareness level presentation designed to educate parents about the growing trends in internet safety. The presentation will cover topics including Sexting/Texting, Chat Rooms, Cell Phones, Internet Access, Picture Posting Hazards, Gaming, Social Networking, and Online Predator Techniques. This presentation is intended for ADULTS ONLY due to some graphic content. The presentation will be one hour long with a question and answer period to follow. The presentation is by Loudoun County Sheriff‘s Office Deputy James Spurlock, a 21 year veteran of law enforcement and a National Certified Crime Prevention Specialist. Deputy Spurlock has been featured in magazines both in the US and abroad for his prevention programs and expertise. Loudoun County Parent Resource Center is a wonderful resource for parents, located in Leesburg. The website for the parent resource center is http://www.lcps.org/prc. The center provides workshops for parents, an updated tutor list, an online live homework help link, and so much more. Check it out today.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Interims: Grading Period Ends: Report Cards: March 1st March 30th April 18th May 10th June 8th June 13th

Ink Cartridge Recycling Program Please remember we accept any ink jet or laser jet toner cartridge as well as cell phones. In the past, these monies have been used to purchase extra technology equipment and computer project supplies for our school. Ask your employer for the old cartridges they are throwing away and drop them off in the main office at school or send them with your child.

Some of the things we have purchased with these monies are supplemented grant monies to purchase a Qwizdom Inter-

active Response System, an electronic memory card reader, and a high quality photo printer for student projects.

BUZZ Page 9

SPECTRUM SPEAKS

With the first semester behind them, Spectrum students give a sigh of relief as exams, grades, and semester projects are concluded and we start anew! Spectrum students started the year with all things new and different: a new school, a new teacher (to some) and a new schedule. All this can be a chal-lenge, but characteristic to so many Spectrum students, they rose to that challenge and conquered all. Spectrum began with a self-awareness/communications unit called Spectrum ‗Spirations. Part of knowing who you are is knowing what you want, which led into after school test prep sessions for those seeking admission into Thomas Jefferson High School and Dominion Science Academy. Also, many students took the sessions to become familiar with and better their scores on the new SAT. Whatever the reason, when the results are in, we hope to see many of their dreams become reality! Once again, Spectrum 8th grade students will compete in the annual Shortie Film Festival, an international short film compe-tition. They have created claymation animated works of art that can be viewed on the Harmony website. This is a na-tional competition and provides a real world audience for the students‘ work. The websites created for this competition will be live for all to see after March 1st on the Harmony School web site. Make sure you check them out! In the midst of all they do, the Spectrum students, grades 6-8, found time to compete in the Continental Mathematics League, a five meet competition covering five months and administered in the Spectrum classroom. Each meet consists of six problems. Kudos go out to David Zhang, Josef Zimmer-man, Taylor Chatfield, Nick Lemanski, Rachel Vasta, Alexan-der Zhou, Michael Fagan and Barbara Regan who all received a perfect score of six on one or more of meets 1-3. Way to go!! If you ask a 6th or 7th grade Spectrum student, ―What was the highlight of your year in Spectrum thus far?‖ the answer will most likely be: ―Our field trip to the Marian Koshland Science Museum.‖ With lunch following at Union Station, accompanied by outstanding parent chaperones, this field trip could only be described as fantastic. Completing their unit on American Sign Language with the signing of the Pledge under Harmony‘s American Flag, 6th and 7th grade Spectrum students show off their knowledge of sign language and display their patriotism at the same time. Stu-dent signing will be on display at this year‘s Family Arts

SPECTRUM SPEAKS

(continued) Night, along with the 8th grade Claymation film entries. I invite all of you to attend and view their work! A final good luck to all those students in and out of Spec-trum, who are awaiting the final determination for entries into the AOS and TJ. May the result be worth the wait!

Woodgrove’s Fine Arts

Program Fundraiser

Saturday, February 18th

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

At Woodgrove High School

36811 Allder School Road

Purcellville, VA 20132

This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Woodgrove‘s Fine Arts Program. Last year, over $7,300 was raised. This year, the goal is $10,000. Proceeds for the event will be used to fund items such as scores for the music ensembles, costumes and props for drama productions, drawing tablets for the art department, scholarships for drama and marching band camps and many other much needed items that are not part of the school budget.

Live Auction!

Hosted by Tillett and Damewood Auctioneers Variety of student drama & musical entertainment

Hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Savoir Fare Restaurant, Round Hill, VA

Tickets $10 with 2 basket raffle tickets, or $10 at door (no raffle tickets)

Sold at Haute Dog & Fries & Re-Love It, Purcellville VA. Students free with accompanying adult. Items are needed for the Live Auction. To donate, please contact Rhonda Allen, daverhon1@aol.com Chris Miller President, WMAA thosemillers@rstarmail.com

PAGE 10 FEBRUARY 2012

8th

Grade SOL English:

Writing Online Field Test

Most Virginia public school students in grades 3 through 8, and those enrolled in certain high school courses, participate in the Standards of Learning (SOL) assess-ments. At grades 5 and 8, and in high school at English 11, students take the SOL English: Writing test. This test has two parts: the students answer multiple-choice questions about the writing process, and also write an essay or Short Paper. SOL English: Writing has been administered as a paper/pencil test, but beginning in Spring 2013, it will be given as an online, or computer, test. Students will write their essay, and also answer multiple-choice test questions, at a computer. In preparation for the Spring 2013 change in SOL Eng-lish: Writing from a paper/pencil test to an online test, this year students in grades 5 and 8, and in high school at English 11, will take part in the SOL English: Writing Online Field Test. This field test will provide the Virginia Department of Education an opportunity to gather data about SOL English: Writing as an online test, before actually moving this test online in Spring 2013. Because the SOL English: Writing Online Field Test is a ―test of the test,‖ students and schools will not receive scores. Students will be administered the Short Paper, or essay, for the SOL English: Writing Online Field Test on Febru-ary 15th and 16th. The Multiple-Choice section of the SOL English: Writing Online Field Test will then be given to students on March 19th and 20th. In addition to participating in the SOL English: Writing Online Field Test, this March, students in grades 5 and 8, and in high school at English 11, will still be adminis-tered SOL English: Writing as a paper/pencil test, the same as in previous years, and students and schools will receive scores. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Lucas, Assistant Principal, at 540-751-2500.

Harmony Spelling Bee

Winner

Congratulations to Ranger Kasdorf, 7th grade, who won the Harmony Spelling Bee with Josh Wilk, 8th grade, as the runner up! The bee was held in the library during 6th block on Wednes-day, January 25th and was great, consisting of 46 participants. We‘re proud of ALL who participated:

Sarah Ayers Jenna Barr Beau Bennett Nick Bennet Emily Bowman Haley Burnell Conor Carey Hanna Carey Hannah Carter Tanner Eaton Danny Fagan Meghanne Flynn Cullen Franklin Harrison Furlow Andy Gil Shelby Greene James Guthrie Sean James Ranger Kasdorf Cameron Kilgour Melissa Lani Megan Lee Sam Lewis

Connor Madden Travis McMillan Joe Mercier Emily Moff Billy Mullen Georgia Peake Shane Reynolds Caroline Roden Cole Rossick Trey Rustand Farrah Shoja Harpreet Singh Katie Smeraldo Erin Stitt Eliza Stup Ryan Vacca Hudson Vetter Patrick Ward Emily Whetton Ally Widzinski Josh Wilk Alexis Zimmer-Chu and Noah Zullo

Ranger, we wish you well as you continue on to represent Harmony at the county bee which will be on March 8th at Stone Bridge High School!

SCA

The SCA is working on a hall display for Black History Month. Every Wednesday, students are asking BHM trivia questions, and prizes will be awarded. A student will come in and read the I Have a Dream speech during announce-ments. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent

about things that matter.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have a

Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World

On another note, Candygrams were a huge success! AND, As an expression of gratitude to those who have served in the Armed Services, the SCA ran a program, Sweats for Vets. Here‘s the response to our results!

High Five Winners!

Congratulations to our Hi-5 Winners! 6th grade - Ivan Vallejo, 7th grade - Hector Mayorga and 8th grade - Megan Krone! We're proud of you!!! WooHoo!

Parents and

Rising 8th

Graders

The search has begun for about 85 current 7th grade stu-dents to be WEB Leaders in the 2012-13 school year. WEB Leaders are good role models for younger students and have been successful at Harmony Middle School. They have strong communication skills, leadership poten-tial, and great personality traits. These qualities and the lessons they‘ve learned are shared to help others succeed. The WEB program is also a great way to earn volunteer hours! WEB Leaders are trained to work with the incoming 6th graders and new students who will be attending Harmony next year. WEB Leaders will run 6th grade orientation, help during the first day of school, plan social activities and meet throughout the school year to help with challenges. The ultimate goal is to create a climate of comfort, respect and success at Harmony. Applications can be picked up in House B, the main office or the auditorium starting on February 13, 2012. Com-pleted applications must be turned into Mrs. Thompson, the 7th grade Dean, by the end of the day on March 9, 2012. If you would like more information please contact: Chris-tina Thompson at Christina.Thompson@lcps.org or 540-751-2500.

BUZZ PAGE 11

Important Note

Students, submit requests for passes and early dismissals in your house office before school. Classes will only be inter-rupted for an emergency. Calling into rooms disrupts the class and impacts students in the class. Thank you for your coopera-tion in this matter.

PTA News

February-April Meetings: NEXT PTA GENERAL MEET-ING – The next general meeting will held on Thursday, February 16th, at 7:00 PM in the Harmony Library. Upcom-ing meeting dates are:

March 21, 2012 at 7 PM April 18, 2012 at 7 PM

After School Clubs: The PTA is excited to offer two new clubs for students to participate after school: Chess and Mad Science Clubs. Please look for electronic and paper registrations soon to sign your child up for these clubs with the goal of the clubs starting in March. There is a cost for each club ($65.00 for a 12 week chess club and $50.00 for a 5 week science club). If you cannot sign your child up due to cost, there is financial support offered through the PTA. Upcoming Event where help is needed: March 15th -6:00 to 8:30 - Empty Bowl Family Arts Night. The PTA will sponsor the food and all volunteering efforts for the dinner portion of the night. We need volunteers to help in the kitchen preparing, serving the food and cleaning up as well as in the main entrance of the school as hosts for the event informing parents where the various activities can be found and in the cafeteria selling tickets for the dinner, the raffles and packaging the purchased plates. In addition, cash, check or gift card donations to help make the dinner are greatly needed. Please send them into the school in an envelope marked, ―EMPTY BOWL DINNER,‖ ATTENTION: Kristen Thatcher. Donations are needed by March 12th. Stay informed: The Harmony Middle School PTA cur-rently produces a weekly email newsletter. If you'd like to sign up to receive the newsletter, click on the link below! You don't have to be a member of the PTA to receive The Hornets' Nest, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Make sure you put our email address,

Harmonyhornetsnest@gmail.com, in your trusted contacts list on your email program so that the newsletter doesn't end up in your spam or junk mail folder. If you have any questions or difficulty, contact newsletter editors Barbara Petzen and Tom Regan.

COME VISIT HARMONY’s SCHOOL

STORE

OPEN DAILY BEFORE

SCHOOL

8:15 – 8:30 Operated By PTA

PAGE 12 FEBRUARY 2012

Outreach News

Many thanks to all of the families who donated gift cards to help others during the holidays. I was able to help about 15 Harmony families with either gift cards, gifts or food. With-out your support and the support from our wonderful com-munity, this would not be possible. I often say that this could be any one of us who may have to ask for help one day - whether it‘s because of an illness in the family, job loss or loss of a parent. So for your generosity, I am grate-ful.

Rhonda Lough, Parent Liaison, Rhonda.Lough@lcps.org

Thanks to a grant from the Loudoun Education Foundation, all students at Harmony will be attending an assembly on Febru-ary 13th presented by Dylan Pritchett, an educational storyteller, in honor of Black History Month. His performance will center on African culture and African-American stories, riddles, games, music and constant audience participation. As the pro-gram unfolds, the students are taught universal morals and values and their listening and analytical skills are enhanced. The age appropriate programs focus on five major themes: moral teachings; building self-esteem; respect towards family, friends, and authority; a taste of African culture; and fun!

Moose Spelling Bee

Come support your Harmony staff team at the Mountain View Elementary School's 2nd Annual Moose Scholarship Spelling Bee! It will be held on Friday, February 24th at MTV at 7 PM in the gym. There will be an admission fee of $1.00 per adult with a bake sale as you go in. All proceeds from the door and bake sale will go to scholarships. This year, two will be awarded - one to a LVHS senior and one to a WHS senior - could be a Harmony graduate! Dr. Hatrick will be a participant. Last year, Dr. Michael Martin participated! Our staff representatives this year are Mr. Binford, Ms. Hatcher, Mrs. Martin and Ms. Passin. Come support our team and this great opportunity! BEE there!

PAGE 13 BUZZ

*NOTE: Parents with child-care or other weekday schedul-ing concerns - The date of the Moveable Student Holiday between the first and second semesters may change if the school calendar must be changed due to school closings for inclement weather or other emergencies.

2012-2013 Calendar:

August 27th First Day of School for Students

September 3rd Holiday (Labor Day)

October 8th Holiday (Columbus Day)

November 2nd End of the Grading Period

November 5th-6th

Student Holidays (Planning/Records/ Conference Days)

November 21st-23rd

Holiday (Thanksgiving)

December 24th-- January 1st

Winter Break (Classes Resume January 2)

January 17th End of Grading Period

January 18th

Moveable Student Holiday* (Planning/Records/ Conference Day)

January 21st Holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

February 18th Holiday (Presidents' Day)

March 22nd End of the Grading Period

March 25th-29th Holiday (Spring Break)

April 1st Student Holiday (Planning/Records/Conference Day)

May 27th Holiday (Memorial Day)

June 6th Last Day of School for Students/ End of Grading Period

Staff

Recognition

This month, the staff members se-lected to be honored from the nomina-tions made by faculty and staff for their dedicated focus on students, collabo-ration and learning and their contribu-

tions to the Harmony community are the following: Samantha Berman organized a wonder-ful presentation on Veteran‘s Day with five veterans who are parents from Team Pegasus. The speakers shared their stories with the students, and it was a great tribute to the men while the stu-dents really learned a great deal!

Brian Martel has had brilliant ideas for teachers and has shared them freely in PLC. He is an incredibly hard worker!

Charlie Price, one of our exceptional cus-todians, DOES EVERYTHING! He‘s al-ways happy and smiling!

Karen Tyrrell, one of our unsung heroes, is always happy to help everyone – students and teachers alike. She is continually run-ning all over the building to help trouble shoot computers, printers, Activotes, Pro-metheans, laptops—you name it! She proof reads the newsletter with speed, accuracy and a cheerful countenance!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE OUTSTANDING PRO-FESSIONALS who help give Harmony its climate for suc-cess!

Hot Meal Menu Schedule: The Loudoun County Public Schools new Secondary Lunch Menu is a three week repeating menu. This menu may be viewed online at www.lcps.org by selecting school menu.

PAGE 14 FEBRUARY 2012

Week of January 30th Week 1

Week of February 6th Week 2

Week of February 13th Week 3

Week of February 20th Week 1

Week of February 27th Week 2

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1/29 1/30 1/31 2/1 Report

Cards

2/2 2/3

2/4

5 6 7 8 9 Band Boost-

ers Mtg

10 11 Yearbook

Ordering

Deadline

12 13 BHM As-

semblies

14 15

16 Concert

Band, 6th

Gr & per-

cussion

ensemble

17 18

19 20 Presi-

dent’s

Day HOLI-

DAY

21 22 Club

photos

23 Symphonic

Band @

WHS

24 25

26 27 28 29

February 2012

B A B A

BUZZ PAGE 15

B

A

B

B B A A B

Black History Month

2/1— Report Cards sent home

2/1—Parent Coffee @ 9:30 AM in the Har-mony library

2/9 - Band booster meeting, 7 PM in the band room

2/11 Yearbook dead-line

2/13—BHM Assem-blies

2/15-16—Field Test SOL Writing—8th grade

2/16 - Concert band (5th block), 6th grade band & percussion ensemble, 7 PM, Har-mony Auditorium 2/20 - Holiday/Presidents Day

2/22 - Club photos taken during school day

2/23 - Symphonic Band (block 6) pre-assessment concert, performing at Woodgrove HS, 7 PM

2/27, 28 & 3/1- Music Information Night for rising 6th @ 6:30 PM in Harmony Audito-rium (scheduled by elementary school)

3/6th & 9th - SOL test-ing

FEBRUARY EVENTS

B

A B B A A

A A B

B

B

A

A A B

A

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

A

A

B

Music Information Night for rising 6th @ 6:30 PM in HRM Auditorium

B A

Harmony Middle School 38174 West Colonial Highway Hamilton, VA 20158

Buzz The Non-Profit Std. Mail

Permit 10 Hamilton, VA 20158

School Cancellation/ Delayed Opening/Early Closing

In the event that weather or other reasons require either closing or delaying the opening of school before buses start on their routes, announcements will be made over the following radio/TV stations by 6:00 AM. These stations are notified by direct calls and should be the primary stations that are monitored.

WAGE(1200 AM) Leesburg Cable (Channel 21) Loudoun County WRC (TV 4) Washington, DC FOX (TV 5) Washington, DC WJLA (TV 7) Washington, DC WUSA (TV 9) Washington, DC News Channel 8 Washington, DC WINC (92.5 FM) Winchester, VA WMRE (1550) Charles Town, WV WTOP (1500) Washington, DC WMAL (630 AM) Washington, DC

In the event of a delayed opening, please stay tuned to the radio/TV station in case some change in the weather causes schools to be closed for the day.

A one-hour delay would mean that all morning programs would operate as usual except that they would start one (1) hour later. A two-hour delay would mean that school opening would be delayed for two (2) hours with specific alternatives to certain

programs.

Early Closing In the event that circumstances necessitate the early closing of school after school is in session, announcements will be broadcast of the same radio/TV stations listed above. When we have an early closing, it will probably be announced that school will close either one or two hours earlier than usual.

For more information, log on to: http://www.