Hello, Hackett families!
I hope everyone enjoyed the extended weekend and had time to relax with family and friends. We have officially entered the busiest time of the school year! Between assessments, year-end activities, and graduation preparation, the next few months will fly by very quickly.
The modified spring sports season begins Tuesday, tomorrow. Visit our Athletics page for practice schedules.
Our final All-City concert showcasing our band students is this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Albany High School. "Music in our Schools Month" has been nothing short of outstanding and we look forward to wrapping up the celebration with our talented band students! This is your last chance to take a break from the routines and catch the cool sounds of the gifted band students in our music program. Performances are free and open to the public! As a reminder, our April PTA meeting has been moved to next Wednesday, April 9, so as not to conflict with our All-City concert.
Snapchats don't last forever, but yearbooks do! Hackett yearbooks, featuring customizable pages, are now available for preorder! Please visit www.treering.com/validate and enter our school's passcode: 1016488352114359 for details on purchasing and customizing your child's yearbook!
This week's Friday Fun Day theme will be "Think Spring." Let's show our school spirit and celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of spring by wearing the colors of the rainbow! We look forward to celebrating each Friday in a different way in order to add a little fun to our day and show our school spirit. This is a great way to build healthy relationships and look forward to the weekend.
Final preparations continue this week for the 2025 New York State, Regents and Spring NWEA testing periods. Our New York State English Language Arts exam is Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9 (see the full state assessment schedule below). It is our hope that students do their best, without feeling pressure, fear or anxiety. These tests serve as a tool for us to measure student learning and inform our instructional practices ensuring that we are providing the best possible education for all our students. Please make every effort to have your child come to school on time especially during testing days. However, your child should bring a note following any absence and complete all missed work. Missed or incomplete assignments have a devastating effect on grades, and as we approach the end of the school year, we hope to give all of our students every opportunity to be promoted to the next grade.
As a final note, Hackett Middle School continues its fire drill emergency response procedures. Holding practice fire drills, as well as lockdown drills, is crucial to our overall emergency planning, and we will continue to conduct planned drills throughout the school year.
... and that was the week that was!
Now for our 'Don't Snooze and Lose News'
- The City School District of Albany’s annual Autism Spectrum Fair is Tuesday, tomorrow, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Montessori Magnet School, 45 Tremont St. All families are welcome, and the district will provide free transportation. Get more information about the event.
- Join our team! The City School District of Albany is hiring for a variety of positions. A list of employment opportunities can be found on the Human Resources page of the district website.
- Our next PTA meeting will be held Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. in room 112. Please note that this date was changed so as not to conflict with the All-City Band concert on April 2. Can't make it in person? Join us virtually.
- New York State test schedule for 2025:
- English Language Arts: April 8-11
- NYSESLAT Speaking: April 21-25
- Math: April 29-May 2
- NYSESLAT Listening, Reading and Writing: May 12-22
- Science: May 13
- Science make-ups: May 14-16
- Third-quarter grades close on Friday, April 11. Please be sure your child has handed in all assignments for the third quarter by then.
- Spring Recess will take place Monday, April 14-Friday, April 18. Classes will resume Monday, April 21.
Important reminders
- Extended Day Program applications are available at the attendance desk in the main foyer. Programs include swimming, cooking, judo, cosmetology, dance, arts and crafts, yearbook and more! The after-school program takes place Monday through Thursday from 3-5:15 p.m. and includes a free snack and free door-to-door transportation home. Completed forms should be returned to the guidance office, and any specific questions should be directed to Ms. Lewis at dlewis2@albany.k12.ny.us. The program will run through June 13.
- Speed cameras are up and running, and $50 fines are being imposed on drivers exceeding the 20-mph school zone speed limit on Delaware Avenue and in several other school zones throughout the city. Please drive safely and avoid these fines by being mindful of the school zone on your daily route. You can visit our website to read more from earlier this school when the city launched the school speed zone safety program.
Hackett corner quotes
"April is nature's way of saying, 'let's party!'" – Robin Williams
