Dr. Kim’s Update�December 2021

Table of Contents

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Principal’s Message

Introductions

Hoover Happenings

Health and Safety Information

Daily Procedures

Schedules and Calendars

Team Highlights

Parent Engagement Opportunities

After School Activities

Communication & Expectations

Counselors, Social Emotional, and Wellbeing Resources

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Mr. Crable as Principal

Dear Hoover Community,

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The purpose of this letter is to update you regarding Mr. Crable internship. As I informed you at the beginning of the year, we are very pleased to have the opportunity to develop a future MCPS principal. Since joining the Hoover team, Mr. Crable has provided incredible support to our students and staff. Over the last few months, we have been working side by side co-leading activities and ensuring that our students receive a quality education every day in every classroom. A critical component of the principal internship is the practicum experience when Mr. Crable assumes the leadership of the school as the principal. This component of the program creates an opportunity for the principal intern to experience first-hand the role of leading a school community. The practicum begins on Monday, December 13, 2021 and concludes on Friday, January 28, 2022.

I am very confident in Mr. Crable’s ability to lead our school during the practicum. In order to make this experience more authentic and beneficial, I ask that parents, students and staff direct all school-related communications to Mr. Crable between December 13, 2021 and January 28, 2022. As usual, I thank you for the trust you place in us to educate your children. While I will miss our daily interactions, I also believe that we all have to work together to continue to develop highly effective leaders in Montgomery County Public Schools.

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Sincerely,

Dr. Yong-Mi Kim

Principal’s Message

Dear Hoover Community,

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It was a wonderful week for Thanksgiving, and now we head into the holiday season! By the time we finish Winter Break, we will be almost halfway through the school year!

For all of us, it is a time to reflect and give thanks, and I want to acknowledge the cast of thousands who make HHMS the best middle school anywhere! The Hoover community truly is a special place where we appreciate and support each other. I have been extremely pleased to see students and staff working together both in and out of the classroom. In the spirit of the holiday season and gratitude, I would like to thank the following: our teachers for their unending energy and dedication to creating lessons for our students that are engaging and powerful; our paraeducators, who work tirelessly every day to help students be successful; our counselors, who work intensively with our students to develop their social emotional learning and health; our cafeteria staff, who prepare nutritious and delicious meals; our office staff for their personal touch in supporting student and parent needs; our security team for building relationships with students, and our building service team for keeping our school clean and orderly. This year, I also want to give special acknowledgement to our school leaders as they continue to lead the way by example! Leading a school is a joint venture that requires leadership on many different levels. Our leaders have done a fantastic job, and their work has made our transition back to in-person learning successful. Last, but not least, thank you to our families and students. Thank you parents for your support as we couldn’t do this without you. Thanks also to our students for whom this is all about and who are the best!

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Sincerely,

Mr. Crable

Principal Intern

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Be safe and be well.

Dr. Yong-Mi Kim, Principal

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Meet Our Administration

Dr. Yong-Mi Kim

Principal

*on special assignment 12/13 - 1/28 while Mr. Crable serves his internship as principal.

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Ms. Jeanni Chin

Assistant Principal

Grade 6

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Mr. Peter Crable

Principal Intern

Grade 8

Ms. Barbara Carlstrom

Assistant School Administrator

Grade 7

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Our Counseling Department

and Team Leaders

Our Resource Teachers

Hoover Happenings

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Buy Your 2021-22 Yearbook Today

Yearbooks are on sale now! Purchase your copy of the Herbert Hoover Middle School yearbook today at Jostens.com or by CLICKING HERE. Order by 12/29/21 to take advantage of the lowest price of the year.

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8^th Grade Congratulatory ads are also on sale. Upload your photos and submit your text at Jostens.com or by CLICKING HERE. Order by 11/26/21 to take advantage of early bird pricing. The final deadline to submit your congratulatory ad is 1/28/22.

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8th Grade Congratulatory Yearbook Ads

8^th Grade Congratulatory Yearbook Ads

8^th Grade Congratulatory Yearbook Ads are also on sale. Upload your photos and submit your text at Jostens.com or by CLICKING HERE. Order by 11/26/21 to take advantage of early bird pricing. The final deadline to submit your congratulatory ad is 1/28/22.

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PARENT TEAS

Parent teas are an opportunity to join administrators, teachers and counselors in conversations that will provide information and resources on a variety of topics.

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Here is the HHMS Parent Tea Schedule for Semester 1:

• September 9: 6th Grade Parent Tea
• November 9: 7th Grade Parent Tea
• December 15: 8th Grade Parent Tea
• January 19: Special Education/ESOL/504 Plan Parent Tea

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All parent teas are virtual and take place on Wednesdays from 9-10 AM. Invitations and registration information is sent out the week before each tea.

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Restorative Justice

MCPS is committed to implementing restorative practices at all schools. Restorative Justice is a mindset and philosophy toward school climate and relationship building that allows students to:

• build strong relationships to feel a sense of connectedness and belonging within a community
• actively engage and problem-solve issues that affect their lives and the community at large.

At Hoover we are focusing on building relationships among students and teachers as well as developing a sense of community within classes. Mrs. Karen Megary, Staff Development Teacher, serves as our Restorative Justice coach, providing training to staff on restorative practices and implementing community building activities during Connect Time.

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Health and Safety Information

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Contact Tracing Update

• Definition of direct contact reduced from 6 feet to 3 feet if both students were wearing masks and there are universal safety and mitigation measures in place.
• Vaccinated staff and students do not need to quarantine following a direct exposure, recommended to test 3-5 days after exposure but can be on-site during this time if they do not have symptoms.
• Unvaccinated students who are close contacts will not have to quarantine if they opt in to Covid testing.
• Opt in Covid testing is occurring weekly; however, due to the overwhelming responses, students are testing every other week (group A and group B).
• Any students displaying Covid-like symptoms in school may be given an rapid test with parent permission.

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Quarantine Student Instruction

• School will contact families individually to check in and share the quarantine instruction plan
• Students will have access to their teacher of record each day for live assistance
• Lessons posted to MyMCPS Classroom daily and all materials available online
• Weekly Preview
• Monthly Newsletter
• Plan subject to change pending number of students in quarantine

Quarantine Student Instruction

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School Safety Procedures

EMERGENCY DRILLS

Montgomery County Public Schools is committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students and staff. Every year, each MCPS school conducts a number of emergency drills to ensure students are prepared in the case of an emergency.

TYPES OF DRILLS

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• Fire Drills
• Shelter in Place
• Lockdown
• Lockdown with Options
• Severe Weather
• Drop, Cover, Hold
• Evacuation
• Reverse Evacuation
• Bus Evacuation

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Daily Procedures

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Cafeteria Procedures

• Students have the option to sit indoors or outdoors
• Students must sit with homerooms when indoors.
• Students may sit outdoors in defined areas.
• If indoor seating is not available at your homeroom table, students must sit outdoors.
• In the event of inclement weather, students will also have the option to sit in the main hallway.
• Free breakfast, lunch and supper is available to all students.
• Masks must be worn when not eating.

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Arrival/Dismissal/Carpool Reminders

REMINDERS

• Please allow sufficient time for drop off so students enter the building prior to 8:10. Classes start promptly at 8:15.
• Families should use the carpool lanes to drop students off. This means both the one in front of the school and through the first lane of the parking lot.
• All students crossing Tuckerman and/or Postoak Road should do so only at the crosswalk that is attended by a county crossing guard.
• To avoid carpool traffic, you can drop students off at Postoak and Bunnell Dr.
• When exiting the student drop off loop, please only turn RIGHT on Postoak Road.
• Families should not use St. Andrews entrance to U turn.
• Families should not drop off or pick up students in the side lot off Tuckerman Ln.
• For AM drop off, please stay in single lane in the carpool lane
• For PM pick up, once you have picked up your student, you may merge into the left carpool lane to exit.

Late Arrival & Early Dismissal Reminders

If a student is arriving late, or leaving early, please

• Email Ms. Tuttle in advance (if possible)
• Send a note with your student with their ID #, reason for late arrival/dismissal, and parent contact information
• Do not escort students inside.
• Students leaving early will meet their parents outside.

Schedules and Calendars

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December 2021

Connect Time (Mindful Mondays)

Connect Time (CT) is a time to…

• Get to know each other and create a safe and respectful community
• Develop strong relationships among our group
• Frequent check-ins with your CT teacher about your academic progress
• Talk about real life events while exploring how we got to this place in history
• Have courageous conversations around diversity and equity
• Mindful Monday Schedule - Meet after 6th period

Mindful Mondays

Charge Up

• Charge-up is for…
• Getting extra help from teachers
• Getting a head start on homework
• Making up missed work
• Asking questions about the material that you need answered!
• Tuesday-Friday after 6th period
• 23 minutes with each teacher
• Meet with all 7 teachers!

Bell Schedule

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Team Highlights

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Meet Our Team Leaders

Ms. Amalia Triantis 7th Grade Team Leader

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Mr. Josh Smith

8th Grade Team Leader

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Mr. Nic Mast

6th Grade Team Leader

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TLs

6th GRADE TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

Outdoor Education: This year all students in sixth grade will participate in our three day Outdoor Education Program in early December. Two days of school-based environmental activities will take place at Hoover with a one day program at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Center in Rockville. Unfortunately, parent volunteers are not permitted. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Mr. Michael Calvert, our Outdoor Education Coordinator.

• December 8th, 9th, & 10th
• Please use the following link to access the Hoover Middle School Outdoor Education Meeting Presentation - Outdoor Education Information Slides

Parent Engagement Opportunities

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HOOVER PTA

Join the PTA: Your patronage enables the PTA to continue to advocate for our students and support the many teachers and programs that make Hoover great. We cannot do this alone. To continue to support and build our community, we ask you to join the PTA.

Support Hoover While You Shop: Amazon Smile, Harris Teeter, Boxtops

Check Out the PTA Website: HooverMSPTA.org for the latest and greatest concerning our Hoover community.

Subscribe to Hoover Notes: Receive weekly updates concerning the Hoover community.

Contact the PTA: Email HooverMSPTA@gmail.com for questions or if you would like to volunteer in any capacity.

PTA Meeting Schedule: All meetings will be virtual

• Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday, May 19, 2022 at 7:00pm

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Ms. Susan Lifsey

PTA President

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HOOVER PTA

PTA Board Members 2021-2022

After School Activities

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Hoover After School Clubs and Activities

This year we are offering a variety of after school experiences for our HHMS students. Most activities take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 3:10-4:20. We have activity buses running each of those days at 4:30 to take students home. Details regarding specific clubs and activities, how to join them, and after school bus routes for 2021-2022, are available on the HHMS website.

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Extracurricular Activities Coordinator: Ms.Barbara Carlstrom

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HHMS Extracurricular Clubs

All Things Anime

Art Club

Book Wars

Bugs and Botany

Chess/Board Games Club

CHurchill Tutoring Club

Global Citizenship

Herbert Hoover Theater

Heritage Club

Homework Club

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Hoover News Network

Jazz Band

Math Team and Mathcounts

Minority Scholars Program

Model UN

Rainbow Chargers

Science Bowl

Science Olympiad

SGA Club

Yearbook Staff

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Herbert hoover Theatre

Congratulations to the 135 Students Who Attended Workshops and Submitted the Registration Forms!

Callbacks Monday, December 6, and Tuesday, December 7, by invitation.

MS Athletics Program

The middle school interscholastic athletics program is available for students in seventh and eighth grade, and consists of three sport seasons including fall (cross country and softball), winter (basketball), and spring (soccer). All students participating, as part of the MCPS interscholastic athletics program, must complete the online registration process including the Pre-Participation Physical form and the Winter Registration available on our Hoover website. Each season consists of practices and games that occur on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Practices are held for one hour right after school. The schedule for games can be found here Middle School Athletics Schedule. For more information visit the Hoover website.

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Tryouts information for each season is below. Students meet in the gym for tryouts.

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• Fall: Sept. 9 - Nov. 4; Tryouts start on Sept. 9 at 3 PM
• Winter: Dec. 7 - Feb. 17; Tryouts start on Dec. 7 at 3 or 4 PM specific time for boys and girls TBD
• Spring: March 8 - May 12; Tryouts start on March 8 at 3 PM

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Athletics Coordinator: Ms. Laura Hamilton

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HHMS MS Intramural Program

The middle school intramural program is an extension of the physical education instructional program, including the development of movement skills, health-related fitness, and personal and social responsibility. It is conducted before and after school among students at Hoover Middle School. It is open to all students.

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The Fall Intramural season will begin on December 2. Gaga play will take place in the morning before school from 7:30-8:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pickle Ball will be held after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please be sure to register ASAP by clicking on the Intramural Calendar. You will also need to complete this COVID Participation form. Checkout the Hoover website for additional information

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Intramurals Coordinator: Ms. Lauren Zucconi

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We Need Your Support

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Please support Hoover and our community! Consider buying our HHMS Spirit Wear or a yearbook as holiday gifts for the family so we can continue offering after school interventions, clubs, snacks and transportation for these clubs with the funds raised from this effort.

Shop our Spirit Wear store and wear your Hoover Pride! Click here to access our store and let us know what you think! We can’t wait to see you show off your Hoover swag at drop off, pick up, sporting events, after school club activities, and around the Churchill Cluster!

Buy a Hoover 2020-21 yearbook. Despite an extremely challenging 2020-21 school year, the Hoover Yearbook Staff produced a yearbook packed full of precious memories and moments in our lives. Call the main office to purchase last year’s exciting and meaningful yearbook.

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A Word from the SGA

(Student Government Association)

Thanks for your participation in:

• Gobble Grams
• November/ Early December Spirit Week

Upcoming Events:

• Jacket Drive (12/1-12/10)
• Donate your lightly used or new jackets to students and families who need them within MCPS. All coats can be placed in the bin in the main office.
• Spirit Week (12/20-12/23, no school 12/24)
• Get ready to get dressed up to show Hoover pride!

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Thankful Giving Project

As we give thanks this holiday season,

let’s remember those less fortunate than us.

The Hoover Student Ambassadors are collecting toiletries which will be sorted and arranged into holiday baskets for families in need.

Please consider donating the following:

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• Shampoos/Conditioners
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Razors
• Shaving Cream

• Hand Cream
• Soaps
• Chapstick
• Deodorant
• Hair Brushes

When: Dec.1^st -10^th, 2021

Where: Collection Boxes in the Main Hallway

Sponsored by: Hoover Ambassadors

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Communication & Expectations

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Communication

• MyMCPS Classroom Consistency
• Weekly PREVIEW of major assessments and topics for the week.
• Homework is posted in MyMCPS Classroom on the Calendar.

Due Dates and Work Completion

• Teachers will indicate when all assignments and assessments are due through MyMCPS Classroom.
• Depending upon the course, some assignments may be submitted through MyMCPS Classroom or turned in via paper.
• To monitor your student’s grades:
• Always check ParentVue/Synergy.
• You can also check your students’ grades. Blanks, “Missing” or Z’s are indicators that the student may still turn in the assignment. X’s indicate a student has been excused from an assignment. Please be mindful that teachers will need adequate time to grade and provide feedback on work.

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Counselors, Social Emotional and Well Being Resources

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Counselor’s Corner

Debbie Velasquez

Resource Counselor

Mike Hopkins

7th Grade Counselor

Caroline Capoccia

8th Grade Counselor

Julie Mendelson

6th Grade Counselor

School Counselor’s Role

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School counselors are vital members of the education team

and maximize student success

Help all students:

• Apply academic achievement strategies
• Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills
• Plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force)

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Counselor duties include providing:

• Individual student academic planning and goal setting
• School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
• Short-term counseling to students
• Referrals for long-term support
• Collaboration with families/teachers/ administrators/community for student success
• Advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
• Data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges

(For more information go to our Website: www.hoovermscounseling.org)

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• Students can email their counselor directly to let him/her know they would like to meet. Students should summarize concerns and/or indicate the reason they would like to meet in the email.
• Resource/504: Debra_M_Velasquez@mcpsmd.org
• 6th Grade: Julie_R_Mendelson@mcpsmd.org
• 7th Grade: Michael_S_Hopkins-Gross@mcpsmd.org
• 8th Grade: Caroline_B_Capoccia@mcpsmd.org

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• Students may also stop by the counseling office before or after school, during lunch, or during charge-up and fill out a COUNSELING APPOINTMENT REQUEST slip.

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• The counselor will either communicate with the student by email to set up a time to meet and/or will call the student down to their office when they are available.

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If you or your child are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact the THE MARYLAND CRISIS HOTLINE: 800-422-0009 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or Dial 2-1-1 and press 1. More details on counseling resources can be found on our counseling website at the following link: Herbert Hoover Middle School Counseling Department

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Need to Connect with your Counselor?

Student Well-Being Team

The Student Well-being Team (SWT) is a collaborative, comprehensive school-based team for all students and families. Their primary role is to support students to reduce barriers to learning, conduct outreach, problem-solve, and support students who are:

•Demonstrating mental health concerns

•Not engaging in their educational program.

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Meghan Grana, PPW

Maryam Zolecki

School Psychologist

Debbie Velasquez,

Resource Counselor

Message from our Pupil Personnel Worker

Welcome back to a new school year! We are thrilled to be seeing students in person. We know these past few months have been a challenging time. Please reach out, should your family need assistance in accessing community resources. While lunch is currently free for all students (as is breakfast and dinner), you may still complete the application for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) to document eligibility.

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https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

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Sincerely,

Meghan Grana meghan_q_grana@mcpsmd.org

Important Links

Office of Family Support and Engagement Crisis Support Information

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Resources and Supports

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Continue to access the Herbert Hoover Middle School website, the Media Center homepage and the Hoover Counseling website for updates and resources.

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We are Hoover!

Please continue to stay safe and

take care of one another.

We are all in this together.

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Sincerely, YMKim, Ed.D.

Principal, Herbert Hoover Middle School

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