91��ɫ

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and was able to stay warm in light of the cold weather. March is here, and that means it is Music in Our Schools Month! It is a time when music education becomes the focus of schools and communities and a time to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children. Each year, we are proud to showcase our district's top choral, orchestra and band students through our All-City concerts. Please see our concert schedule below and consider joining us for one (or all!) of these exciting events to celebrate music in our schools. Performances are free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, tomorrow, we welcome Board of Education member Vickie Smith to Hackett. Ms. Smith will conduct various classroom visits throughout the building, and we very much appreciate her time with us.

Our Second Quarter Honor Roll Celebration will be held this Wednesday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the auditorium. The ceremony will be completely student-led and will have one seventh grade student serving as the master of ceremonies. Approximately 258 students will be celebrated for outstanding and exemplary academic achievement, with our bronze students totaling 98, silver totaling 74 and gold totaling 86. We are proud to recognize these students and extend our sincere congratulations to them. 

This week's Friday Fun Day theme will be “Wacky Tacky Friday,” so let's end the week with crazy hair, colorful socks and/or mismatched clothing! We look forward to celebrating each Friday in a different way 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.

Also on Friday, we will hold our second Teen Night of the year from 6-8 p.m. We are expecting a very large turnout, as our first Teen Night was well-attended and very popular. If you are interested in helping supervise, please .

In approximately five weeks, we will begin a heavy dose of testing including the 2025 New York State Assessments, Regents and Spring NWEA (see state assessment schedule below). The next several weeks provide us with no interruptions to the learning schedule prior to the start of assessments and will play a critical role in our ability to prepare our students for a long testing period. It is my hope that attendance will be high over the next several weeks. However, your child should bring a note following any absence and be sure to complete any missed work. Grades close for the third quarter interim report card period this Friday.  

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' 

• City summer jobs application period is open: Attention students aged 14-18: Looking for a summer job? The City of 91��ɫ is accepting applications through March 31 for the 2025 LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program, which will run July 7-Aug. 8. Learn more about the program and link to the online application.

• Spring sports update: All students in grades 7-8 who want to play a spring sport are encouraged to attend an informational meeting with a parent or guardian on Tuesday, tomorrow,  at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School from 6-8 p.m. The modified spring sports season starts April 1. Learn more about spring sports.

• All-City Concert dates are as follows:

  • All-City Strings: Wednesday, March 5 at North 91��ɫ Middle School at 6:30 p.m.
  • All-City Chorus: Wednesday, March 19 at 91��ɫ High School at 6:30 p.m.
  • All-City Band: Wednesday, April 2 at 91��ɫ High School at 6:30 p.m.

• Our next PTA meeting will be held Wednesday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 112. For those employees, parents and guardians who are unable to attend the meeting in-person, you may .

• There will be no school on Monday, March 31 in celebration of Eid al-Fitr.  

• 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

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

"How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time." – Morgan Freeman