Greetings HFMS Families,

Well, believe it or not we are already a quarter of the way through our school year.  The arrival of fall is a great time to display gratitude and at HFMS we certainly have a lot to be thankful for.  I am extremely grateful for the students and the families of Harpers Ferry Middle and want to personally say thank you for all of your efforts so far this school year.  In particular, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have worked through several unforeseen staffing issues.  November is also a great time to recognize our community including our veterans for their ultimate commitment to our country and the lasting impact they have had on our school and community.  I would also like to take this time to thank the Harper Ferry High School Alumni Association who recently donated more stuffed tigers to help us kick off our recent Spirit Week and Homecoming festivities, and who are always finding new ways to support our school.  And finally, to the teachers and staff of HFMS who I will always be forever grateful for all that they do to make HFMS the special place that it is.  During a time when unfortunately there are many temptations to leave, these individuals have made the commitment to our school and our students to stay.

I hope everyone has a great November as we head toward the holiday season.  As always, please do not ever hesitate to reach out to myself or our admin team if there are questions or concerns you have at any time throughout the school year.  We are here for you and it is my hope that we continue to work together for the success of all students.

 

Take care,

Eric R. Vandell

Principal, HFMS

evandell@k12.wv.us

     As we dive into the second nine weeks, I want to say thank you for your efforts to get your students to school each day. When your student is absent, we appreciate you contacting us, so we know they are in your care. Communication is key. Remember that most assignments are posted virtually, and if your student is out, they can complete them on CANVAS. If you do not have access to CANVAS, please contact the school. If you have barriers stopping you from getting your student to school, reach out to us for help. Every situation is unique, but by working together, we will find a solution. 
      Research shows that attendance directly affects performance in the classroom. Missing school can make it difficult to catch up on foundational skills and create learning gaps. Think about it, missing two days a month equals 18 days a year. After 10 days, excused or unexcused, your student is considered chronically absent, and chronic absenteeism is the leading indicator of a student’s risk of dropping out of high school. Our goal is for every student to succeed.
     In the first nine-week period, Harpers Ferry Middle School had 183 students with perfect attendance. That is something to celebrate! We held a drawing for each grade level and the winners were: Kimber Catterson for 8th, Aurora Gilbertson for 7th, and Landericus Durrschmidt for 6th. These three students will receive a Tiger t-shirt to celebrate their attendance success!

Additional stats: 109 students earned all A’s, 137 earned A’s and B’s, and 97 earned A’s, B’s, and C’s. Keep up the good work! 

Best wishes, 
Mrs. Waller
Assistant Principal 

Dear Harper Ferry families,

As we step into the month of November, a time to reflect and give thanks, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for all of our students’ participation in Red Ribbon Week! The enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment our students showed in making healthy and positive choices truly made the week a success. 

November also reminds us to focus on gratitude and kindness—two powerful ways to strengthen our mental health and connections with others. As we move through this month, let us all take a few moments each day to notice the good things around us, thank those who make a difference in our lives, and show kindness to ourselves and others. Small acts of gratitude can make a big difference!

We are truly thankful for all of our students and the positive energy they bring to our school each and every day.

With appreciation,

Ms. H and Ms. Zoe

We would like to thank Dick's Sporting Goods for their generous $2,500 grant donation that allowed our school to purchase new uniforms for our Cross Country team. We appreciate the continued support for our student athletes!

-Coach DeRonda and Coach Busch