STUDENTS: School Culture and Climate Survey

Spring Concert Wednesday May 16th!

May 14, 2012

This Wednesday we have our annual Spring Concert. It begins at 7 P.M. in the auditorium.The band,orchestra and chorus will be preforming.

School Budget Vote May 15th!

May 14, 2012

Please remember to support our Albany schools and vote for the budget tomorrow, May 15th. For information on the budget, see the district's 2012-2013 Budget Overview. Polls will be open from 7:00am to 9:00pm, and note that your voting location may have changed, so we recommend you visit the district's "Where do I Vote" page to check!

Talent Show Friday May 18th!

May 11, 2012

Our annual Hackett Middle School Talent Show will be held on Friday, May 18th from 1:25 - 3:00pm with the help of our friends at Too Deep Entertainment. Families are encourage to attend, but please make sure you arrive early enough to sign in at the front desk. Come see some of the incredibly talented students we have here at Hackett!

'Beach Party' Teen Night Friday 5/11!

May 10, 2012

Our last Teen Night of the year will be held TOMORROW NIGHT, May 11, from 6:00-8:30pm! Tickets are $4 - we hope to see you there!

Applebee's Fundraiser CANCELLED March 31st

March 29, 2012

Unfortunately we have had to cancel our fundraiser at the Glenmont Applebee's that had been scheduled for this coming Saturday, March 31st. We thank everyone who volunteered to work and who purchased tickets to attend for your support. If you purchased a ticket you should be contacted by Linda McTague shortly for a refund.

Spring 2012 After School Zone Packets Updated

March 29, 2012

The Spring session of our After School Zone is underway - please see the newest After School Zone Packet for updated details on all the programs!

Hackett Fundraiser at Applebee's March 31st!

March 15, 2012

Please join us for a delicious Flapjack Fundraiser March 31st from 8am - 10am at Applebee's in Glenmont to raise money for our Hackett Middle School PTA! Breakfast will be pancakes, bacon, and coffee, juice, or milk - served by Hackett staff and parent volunteers! Tickets are only $5 and can be ordered by contacting Linda McTague at nunzmct@hotmail.com. See the Applebee's Fundraiser flyer for more details, and we hope to see you there!

New Extended Day Tutoring Program Started

March 15, 2012

Hackett's Extended Day program has begun! Students have the opportunity to stay after school each week Monday-Thursday for extra help, makeup work, and academic enrichment! The program runs from 3:15pm - 4:15pm, and students who attend can take a school bus home. We are hoping to see many of our students taking advantage of this great opportunity! For more information, visit this Extended Day Program page or contact us at 475-6475.

Congratulations to all of Hackett's Young Scientists!

March 15, 2012

Hackett Middle School held its annual Science Fair afterschool on Friday, March 2nd. Over 90 individual and group projects were on display.

Our judges were arranged by Louis Gutierrez and included Elizabeth McGuoirk, Jennifer Forsyth, John Licato, Chris Shing and Katelyn Kwoka. They are all doctoral students at RPI and members of the campus Circle K service organization. We appreciate their volunteering to serve as judges.

The winners of the science fair are:

7th & 8th Grades:

• 1st Place - Ready, Set, Grow - Caylee Kelly, Rosemarie Lizardo, Patrick Natera, Shirley Wu (7th grade)
• 2nd Place - The affect of detergents on plants - Ivan Besmonte (8th grade)
• 3rd Place - How low can you go? - Kelly Streznewski (8th grade)
• Honorable Mention - Seedling, Colored Light and Mold - Olivia Stebbin-Hopkins (7th grade)
• Honorable Mention - Are dogs and cats color blind? - Peggy Abdul-Korah, Akua Sarfo, and Mikaela Gardner (7th grade)

6th Grade:

• 1st Place - Blastoff - Nick Joslin
• 2nd Place - Pondering Pendulums - Ian Boldiston and Thomas Ottaway
• 3rd Place - Can Heating Berries Prevent the formation of mold? - Patricia Federis, Gianne Nocus, Pamela Pantin
• Honorable Mention - Subway vs. McDonalds - Armani Currie and Jayda Devine
• Honorable Mention - Expansion of fragrance pearls - Taymiyyah Abdul-Khabir, Ummkulthum Abdul-Khabir, and Kimberly Westfall

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners are all eligible to participate in the city-wide Joseph Henry Science Fair held at St. Rose on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Congratulations to all of our student-scientist participants!

Check Out Mrs. Rizzo's Reading Enrichment Class Web Site!

March 9, 2012

Mrs. Rizzo has put together a great website with resources for students and parents - visit Mrs. Rizzo's Reading Enrichment Class and take a look!

Hackett PTA: Attention 8th Grade Parents

March 9, 2012

All 8th grade families should have received a letter a few weeks ago informing them of which Academy their student will be in next year. If you did not receive a letter, you can contact the Guidance Office for more information.

The District has published the dates of their free summer camps for incoming 9th graders (and others). There is a camp devoted to each Academy at Albany High School, as well as specialized camps. More details on these camps will be coming soon, but you can get the dates from this calendar.

Also, all 8th graders should have met with their guidance counselor by now to sign up for their 9th grade classes. If this is the first you've heard of it, ask your child what they signed up for or call Guidance. All course requests will try to be honored, but there may be cases where a class does not have enough students enrolled to go forward or where a student signs up for two classes that are offered during the same class period. In these cases, the High School will contact the student - probably at the end of this school year or in the summer - to register for a different class.

Winter Recess February 20-24

February 17, 2012

All City School District of Albany schools will be closed for winter recess during the week of Feb. 20-24. School will resume Monday, Feb. 27. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable break!

Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society Rep Visits Hackett

February 17, 2012

Our Student Advisory meetings have recently focused on service learning. Students and staff were asked to submit the names of organizations our school could support, and after a school-wide vote we decided to have a penny drive to benefit the Mohawk Hudson River Humane Society.

During the month of January, many Hackett students and staff brought pennies to their Advisory group to donate. One Advisory group raised $96.00! Students also brought in pet food, treats, and home-made blankets, pillows, and even bandanas for the animals. Everyone participated and the outcome was overwhelming!

In total, Hackett raised $674.23… in pennies! We are very proud of our students and staff who helped out with this event. On Friday, February 10, a representative from the Humane Society visited Hackett to meet with one person from each Advisory group, present information about the Humane Society and its programs, and collect the money and items. She was very pleased and eager to return to the shelter.

Thank you to everyone who made this a big success. Go Hawks!

Sharon G. Flake Visits Hackett!

February 17, 2012

Recently, award-winning author Sharon G. Flake visited our school. She gave a lively presentation, in which she shared her personal experiences and journey as a writer. She encouraged students to make positive choices and to pursue their dreams. Students asked many questions and she answered each question enthusiastically and thoughtfully. After her presentation, she talked with students one on one and signed books. We had very enjoyable time with Ms. Flake and would like to thank her for visiting our school!

Winners of Sharon G. Flake Author Visit Essay/Poetry Contest

February 17, 2012

The winners of the Sharon G. Flake Author Visit Essay/Poetry Contest have been chosen! The library had a challenge for students: Write a poem or a reflective essay about self-esteem. The following students won an autographed copy of one of the Sharon Flake’s books and met her during her visit to our school:

• Barbara Delaney
• Cassidy Callaghan
• Joelle Mix
• Betsy O’Toole
• Paris Pabone

Hackett Night at Pizzeria Uno on Feb. 16th

February 8, 2012

Thursday, February 16 is Hackett Night at Pizzeria Uno's in Crossgates Mall near the Best Buy entrance. For those of you who hate the mall, you only have to step foot in about 10 feet of the mall before getting to Uno's.

A portion of all purchases (including take out) made by people handing in this 'Dough Raiser' certificate will go to Hackett Middle School. Remember you MUST bring the certificate for Hackett to benefit. This certificate can be copied and given to others, but it cannot be handed out or around the restaurant.

Enjoy a night without cooking while supporting our school! Thank you to Linda McTague for organizing this great fundraiser!

Emergency Preparedness PSA Open Casting Call

February 6, 2012

Here's a great opportunity for an Albany family to get paid to act in a commercial for emergency preparedness! Social Interactive, on behalf of Albany County, is hosting an open casting call for a series of three emergency preparedness commercials. Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday, February 13th and 14th, from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Interested? See the flyer for all the details.

Teen Night on Friday, February 10th!

February 3, 2012

Hackett's next Teen Night will be held NEXT FRIDAY, February 10th. Get ready for a fun-filled night of music, dancing, games, face painting, and more! Tickets will be $4 at the door ONLY - they will not be sold in advance - and only students in good academic and behavioral standing will be admitted. So pick out your outfit, practice your Cupid Shuffle, and see you at Teen Night!

HMS Library Page Online

February 3, 2012

Mrs. Greenaway has put together a great 'wiki' resource for students and families - check out our new HMS Library Page to see!

Black History Month Celebration Tuesday!

February 3, 2012

Please join us for Hackett's annual Black History Month Celebration on Tuesday, February 7 from 6:00 - 8:00 (doors open at 5:30.) It's sure to be a great program again this year! See the event flyer for details.

Second Quarter Honor Roll Reception RESCHEDULED

February 3, 2012

Our second quarter Honor Roll Reception has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 15th, at 8:30am. We hope that you will be able to join us to celebrate our students' achievement, and report cards will be mailed home next week.

Author Sharon G. Flake Coming to Hackett 2/9!

February 2, 2012

You've read her books, now hear what she has to say! Author Sharon G. Flake is coming to the Hackett Middle School library on February 9, 2012 from 8:00am to 10:00am to share her work and get to know her readers. Ask your librarian for one of Sharon G. Flake's books, and we hope you'll join us when she visits our school!

Spring 2012 After School Zone Packets Available

February 2, 2012

The Spring session of our After School Zone is starting soon - see the new After School Zone Packet for details on all the programs!