Dear Hurricane Family;
As we approach our final month of school, I would like to commend the Class of 2013 for their accomplishments this year. It was a year of growth and challenge, triumph and tragedy. The year began with Hurricane Sandy, and ended with the traumatic loss of one of our own Hurricanes. But through it all, we stood together, survived, and thrived. We learned that the challenges of life make us more resilient, educated, and ready to take on the world.
One of the most wonderful moments of this year was when the chairperson from the Middle States committee complimented the Hazlet Middle School. He said that our students were some of the kindest and most polite young men and women that he had ever met. I wholeheartedly agree with his assessment.
It is my hope that the 7th graders will spend the summer engaged in productive activities that will enrich the skills that they have developed this year. I urge you to read at least a few times a week. It is my hope that you will spend less time on virtual relationships, and more time with your real friends engaged in fun, safe, and healthy activities.
To my departing 8th graders, I would like to thank you for a wonderful year. You have been a fantastic class, and we are all very proud of you. As you enter high school, I hope that you remember the lessons that you learned here at HMS. I don’t just mean your academics; I am also referring to the lessons of honesty, altruism, and integrity that we have impressed upon you. Your character and identity are up to you. Good luck in high school!
And to my parents, thank you for sharing these gifts of joy with all of us. You have done an amazing job raising these children, but there is a long hard patch of road ahead. The teenage years will often be a struggle. Stay strong and have faith that tough decisions are good decisions.
Lastly to my staff, I would like to end by saying that it has been an honor to serve by your side. I have been enriched by your spirit, humor, and generosity each and every day. May our roads cross again someday, but till then, I wish you all good luck from a wee ole Irish lass….I will never be far if you ever need me.
Colleen Rafter
