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Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! The fall is a time of excitement as we anticipate new learning opportunities, meaningful friendships, and personal growth. This year ushers in the 101st year of our illustrious learning community and each of us has an important role to play in the continuing legacy of educational excellence we enjoy in San Marino. It is a great privilege to be the new principal of Huntington Middle School, a school which I have very quickly come to love, and I look forward to a strong dynamic partnership with students, families, faculty, and staff.

This year HMS will be “Sailing the 7Cs.” The California ELA/ELD Framework identifies four cognitive and intrapersonal competencies all students need for college and career readiness in the 21st century: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. HMS Faculty work diligently to incorporate these 4Cs into lessons and units of instruction throughout the year. We are in the fourth year of our ConnectEd math program, the third year implementing StudySync in English classes, the second year of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) at all grade levels, and there’s a Social Studies adoption waiting in the wings. The 4Cs are foundational pillars across all core subjects that create a learning platform for the standards being taught to your student.

In addition, we believe strongly that HMS students should develop character traits and citizenship qualities (2 more Cs) that benefit the climate of the school and enhance the well-being of every individual.  We will continue with our Think Kindness program that features a new kindness challenge each month, and our Inner Explorer Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program each Monday in homeroom classes. We value our Safe Schools Ambassador program, the nation's most effective bystander education program which harnesses the power of students to prevent and stop mistreatment, and we’ll train a new group of student ambassadors this year. Every month we celebrate the contributions of students at the Good Citizenship Breakfast, a tangible way positive actions are recognized and rewarded. Another initiative we will continue this fall is our W.E.B. (Where Everybody Belongs) program. WEB is built on the idea that students should feel welcomed and supported as they transition into middle school life. WEB is a program where student activities are organized by WEB leaders for all 6th graders and those new to the school.  They participate and enjoy time together throughout the year as they continue to build strong ties to their new school and school community.

The final C is a focus on caring. Most educational organizations care about imparting knowledge to students, but the best schools and teachers also care about the relational aspect of teaching. We want to take time to establish a trusting and caring connection with our students, who will in turn become more receptive to what's being taught. We get to know students' interests, talents, and needs, which helps us prepare lessons and helps students feel the partnership of the learning experience. A school-wide focus on these 7Cs will see our educational community sailing with direction through the coming year.

On behalf of all our teachers, staff, and administrators at Huntington Middle School, I wish you a wonderful start to the 2018-2019 school year.  

Alana Fauré, Principal