Hoquiam Middle School

The Cubby Chronicle

October 2025
GrizzRizz

October 2025: Here we Go!

As we step into October, I want to celebrate the strong start our students and staff have made this year. The energy in our classrooms, hallways, and extracurricular activities has been awesome, and all of you should be thanked for contributing to that!

This month, we are focusing on two important priorities: building strong academic foundations and fostering a culture of care. Teachers are working intentionally to weave academic vocabulary into daily instruction, helping students strengthen the language they need for success across all subjects. At the same time, our staff continues to build positive relationships with students, supporting both their learning and well-being.

October also brings opportunities for families to stay engaged—whether through conferences, athletics, or the multitude of community events that seem to be on the calendar this month. Your partnership plays a vital role in helping every student reach their highest potential, and we deeply appreciate your support.

Thank you for your part in continuing to inspire our students to aim high, work hard, and believe in themselves. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns that we need to be aware of. Our office phone number is 360-538-8220.

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InvestED is a program that the schools use to help students with financial needs that come up. We get a little each year, but it is something that can be donated to if you have the wish to do so. Click here for more information: https://invested.org/campaigns/hoquiam-middle-school

October Important Dates

October 2025

  • 01-Soccer @ Centralia-4:00

    • 8th Football @ Rochester-5:00

    • XCountry @ Black Hills-4:00

  • 03-Early Release 1:15

  • 06-Soccer @ Elma-4:00

  • 07-JV Soccer @ Elma-4:00

  • 08-Soccer (H) Tumwater-4:00

    • 8th Football @ Tenino-4:00

    • XCountry @ Rainier-4:00

  • 09-HMS Progress Reports

    • CUB CLUB Meeting-6:00

  • 10-NO SCHOOL for Students

    • HSD Staff PD Day

  • 13-Soccer @ Rochester-4:00

  • 14-Picture Retake Day @ HMS

    • JV Soccer @ Miller-4:00

    • XCountry @ Willapa-4:00

    • 7th Football @ Elma-4:30

  • 15-Soccer (H) Miller-4:00

    • 8th Football (H) Elma-4:30

  • 16-Great Shakeout Drill-10:16

  • 17-Early Release-11:20

  • 20-Normal Schedule-2:50 Dismissal

    • HMS Evening Conferences 5:00

    • First Day of Practice-Girls Basketball and Wrestling

  • 21-Early Release-11:20

    • Afternoon Conference 12-3:30

    • 7th Football (H) Tumwater-4:30

  • 22-Early Release-11:20

    • Afternoon Conference 12-3:30

  • 23-Early Release-11:20

    • Afternoon Conference 12-3:30

    • XCountry @ Elma-4:00

  • 24-Early Release-11:20

  • 27-31-HOPE Week

  • 31-Early Release-1:15

    • Dance 5:00-7:00

HMS Athletics: Wrestling and Girls Basketball begin October 20!

Fall sports are beginning the wind down to the end of the season! Our next sport season begins on October 20, with Wrestling and Girls Basketball beginning. There is still a 7th Football game and an XC meet that happen that week, so athletes are asked to finish their seasons before starting a new one. The practices will count towards their next season sport, so they don't have to miss any competitions.

For newcomers to Hoquiam Middle School, we use Final Forms to house our athletic paperwork, and all forms must be completed and the athlete cleared before the first day of practice for the student to participate.

If you are looking for Final Forms, you can find it at this web address: https://hoquiam-wa.finalforms.com/

Parents need to create an account. Here is where you can find directions for making an account: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/sportshub2-uploads-prod/files/sites/2656/2020/12/14094353/Hoquiam-FinalForms_ParentPlaybook.pdf

You can find updated Fall Sports Schedules here, when they are created: https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=33572

Please understand that contests can change at any time. We face an age of limited number of bus drivers and referees, so changes are likely. We will work hard to keep you abreast of changes as we are made aware of them.

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Counselor's Corner

Wow!  Where did our summer go?  Yesterday, staring at my garden and drinking a cup of tea just felt like fall.  I am ready for this season.

I completed Counselor Talks last week.  In September I do our annual bully talk and attendance.  There are five types of bullying: verbal, physical, social, cyber, and sexual.

Physical will usually always go to Mrs. Ounsted or Mr. Cook.  Sexual harassment will always go to Mr. Cook.  As the school counselor, I will take on the first step and make phone calls to both parties of the conflict report after investigating the report.  The steps are continuous throughout the school year: first step is the counselor and all other steps are either Mrs. Ounsted or Mr. Cook for discipline.

This year Counselor Talks will happen about once a month.  Every other month will be SEL (Social Emotional Lessons) or College/Career Lessons.

Hope Squad

We have used this first month building a family and getting ready for our first Hope Week and the end of October.  They are very excited!  

We are also starting our talk of HOPE and why we have Hope Squad.  This topic can be very heavy, so please check in with your child.

Attendance

I spoke with all students about our attendance law and why it is important to be in school.  We will also be looking at tardies and skipping this year as part of our attendance.  When students are not in school, they are missing a huge part of their learning.

Reminder!!  Parents/guardians have 48 hours to call and excuse your child.  Per the state, students should not have excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused.  Letters are already being sent out for excessive absences.  Make sure you are calling your child in for absences!

We love seeing your child(ren) at school!  If they are absent, make sure you are calling the school to excuse them.. If they have a doctor's appointment, bring in a doctor's note to excuse.  If you are planning a vacation, contact the office to set this up in a timely manner.  Mrs. Strom is our attendance person, 360-538-8221 or hms.attendance@hoquiam.net.

Fall Sports Schedules

HMS 8th Grade Football

September

  • 10...@ Shelton...6:00

  • 18...MILLER...4:30

  • 24...CENTRALIA...4:30

October

  • 1...@ Rochester...5:00

  • 8...@ Tenino...5:00

  • 15...ELMA...4:30

Home Games played at Sea Breeze Oval-HHS.

HMS 7th Grade Football

September

  • 16...@ Miller...5:00

  • 23...@Centralia...5:00

  • 30...ROCHESTER...4:30

October

  • 14...@ Elma...4:30

  • 21...TUMWATER...4:30

Home Games played at Sea Breeze Oval-HHS

*Schedule has changed

HMS Girls Soocer

September

  • 15...@ Miller...4:00

  • 16...@ Bush...4:30

  • 17...JV (H) BUSH...4:00

  • 22...CHEHALIS...4:00

  • 23...JV (H) MILLER

  • 24...@ Tenino...4:00

  • 29...OAK. BAY...4:00

October

  • 1...@ Centralia...4:00

  • 6...@ Elma...4:00

  • 7...JV @ Elma...4:00

  • 8...TUMWATER...4:00

  • 13..@ Rochester...4:00

  • 14..JV @ Miller...4:00

  • 15...MILLER...4:00

Home Matches at Emerson Field

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Cross Country

September

  • 17...(H) EVCO 1 A Meet..4:00

  • 25---@ Rochester 4:00

October

  • 1...@ Black Hills...4:00

  • 8...@ Rainier...4:00

  • 14...@ Willapa...4:00

  • 23...@ Elma...4:00

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October Conferences

When: October 20-24

Time:

  • Monday, 10/20-5:00-8:00 pm

  • Tuesday, 10/21-12:00-3:30

  • Wednesday, 10/22-12:00-3:30

  • Thursday, 10/23-12:00-3:30

Where: HMS Cafeteria

Fall Conferences are a chance to see where your student is at before the end of 1st quarter. We do these in a common area (the cafeteria) and you will have an opportunity to meet with your student's teachers. Teachers will be reaching out to you to schedule a time during the above listed windows. If you have any questions, please call our main office at 360-538-8220.

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Parents: October is a good time to think about disaster preparedness!

Actually EVERY month is a good time to think about preparing for the worst, but since we do our Great Shakeout Earthquake drill on October 16, it is fresh on a lot of people's minds. There is an abundance of resources out there in terms of what you need to have in place for your family emergency plan. I will list a few for you, as I feel they are good "one stop shopping" sites that give you all the information in one location. As with any plan, informing your family, and actually practicing it are the two most important factors in successfully navigating a disaster. We hope you take the time to have these conversations as a family throughout the year.

A couple of resources for you:

  • https://www.dhs.gov/prepare-my-family-disaster The Department of Homeland Security site has a lot of very good information on one page here. I highly recommend their list of items for a disaster kit.

  • https://www.ready.gov/plan A great site that guides you step by step through creating a plan for your family. Lots of good resources along the way. I recommend their section on "How will I receive alerts and warnings?" as it has a number of ways you can sign up for alerts to be better informed.

  • https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/teaching-kids-about-emergency-preparedness/how-families-can-prepare-for-emergencies.html?srsltid=AfmBOopvB562VUmbcnyagj98d_NcKTl4m-lBM75ljuSLdGTpoJDfZk8v Look, its hard to beat the American Red Cross who has a long history of preparing for and dealing with disasters. This site is really how to best talk to and prepare your kids for disaster. I highly recommend just about everything on this page.

We hope you find these sites useful, and again, there are a ton of other sites with great information. I would say that as you build your plan, start with the things essential to survival, food, water, shelter, etc. In an actual earthquake/tsunami, it may be days even weeks until a coordinated response is able to deal with things.

Odds N' Ends

  • Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)-Students need to have a book with them at all times (except lunch), as we are really pushing reading for purpose, and reading for joy. Drop Everything and Read will usually occur on Wednesday, during homeroom, but can be called at other times of the day and week. Please encourage your student to find things they enjoy reading, and to read more!

  • Mr. Templer wants to give a shout out to Declan Potter. "Declan is a model student who shines in our classroom. He asks amazing science questions that spark curiosity and deepen learning for everyone. Declan also shows great care for others and pride in his classroom, making him a true role model. Keep up the great work, Declan!"

  • Ms. Falla's "Crack the Code" class is exploring mystery novels this month...the pictures are of some of her students with their mystery!

  • HMS will be holding a Halloween Dance on October 31 from 5:00-7:00. There is also a home Grizzly game that night and we understand that trick or treating is also on the agenda for some. Cost is $5, and costumes are encouraged.

  • HMS will be taking part in constructing a "Day of the Dead" display as a means of learning about this important cultural tradition. If you have items you would like to contribute to the display, please have your student talk to their homeroom teacher.

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HMS Contact Information

School Contact Information

Main Office/Ms. Glasgow 360-538-8220

Attendance Line 360-538-8221

Attendance Email: hms.attendance@hoquiam.net

Principal/Mr. Cook 360-538-8225

Dean of Students/Ms. Ounsted 360-538-8220 xt 1236

Counseling Center/Ms. Andrews 360-538-8224

Athletic Director/Shane Krohn 360-538-8213

HMS Student Fees

There are basically two fees that students have at HMS. The first is our ASB card, which is $20. This is required if your student is participating in athletics and activities. ASB cards also get students into home high school events, and discounts on away high school events. Generally if your student will be attending these events, the card pays for itself many times over. These can be purchased in the main office at HMS.

The second fee is for the PE uniform. The uniform consists of an orange PE shirt and black shorts. The shirt is required and costs $9. If your student has a pair of black shorts or athletic tights, then they can use those in lieu of the school shorts, which are also $9.

If fees are a financial difficulty for your family, they are not meant to be an obstacle for your child's participation. Please speak to Ms. Glasgow in the HMS office if this is the case.