What an incredible showcase of talent, creativity, and confidence at this year’s HMSHS Speech Competition! We are so proud of every student who took the stage—your hard work, courage, and dedication truly shined. 👏
A special congratulations to our top speakers:
🥇 1st Place – Mallory Mosley: “The 6th Grade HMSHS Experience”
🥈 2nd Place – Sam DuFault: “The Importance of Fiction Literature”
🥉 3rd Place – Brie Philabaum: “The Great Depression”
Each participant brought something unique and inspiring to the competition. Your voices matter, and you made this event unforgettable!
Great job to all—keep speaking, keep inspiring!



This week in science, our 6th graders have been diving into the fascinating world of the human body systems—focusing on the respiratory and circulatory systems!
Students explored what heart disease is and learned ways to prevent it by watching an informative video and discussing who may be at the greatest risk. To bring their learning to life, students stepped into the role of medical professionals—dressed in hospital type PPE and ready to diagnose! 🏥
Each group was given six different patient case studies. They carefully read through each case, identified and summarized risk factors, and worked collaboratively to determine which patient was at the highest risk for heart disease.
This hands-on, real-world activity was truly eye-opening for our students and helped them understand the importance of making healthy choices.
We are so proud of their hard work, critical thinking, and enthusiasm! 💙




The outdoor setting created excitement and engagement as students collaborated, checked each other’s work, and applied their math skills in a meaningful way. It was a fun and active way to reinforce problem-solving, teamwork, and confidence in mathematics. 📐✏️
All of this great practice is getting our students ready for FAST Math testing in May—and if this week is any sign, they are going to do an amazing job! We can’t wait to see them shine! 🌟










Congratulations to the Class of 2026—we are so proud of each and every one of you. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment have truly paid off. A special shoutout to Mrs. King, whose guidance and support, along with the students’ determination, made this achievement possible.
This success highlights how vital our CTE program is on our campus. It not only prepares students for certification but also equips them with real-world skills and valuable opportunities for employment after graduation.
And a big thank you to Easy Peasy Sips & Eats for providing delicious lemonade this morning—it was the perfect way to start such an exciting day! 🍋


From March 12–15, students traveled with HMSHS FBLA sponsor, Mr. Mizenko, and several chaperones to the Florida FBLA State Leadership Conference at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida. 🏨🌴
We are especially proud of Emma, who is serving as the Florida FBLA Region II Vice President and represented our school with excellence throughout the conference. 👏
Our students showed great dedication and professionalism in competition. Out of our qualifiers, 9 of 13 middle school competitors and 22 of 45 high school competitors participated at the state level—an amazing accomplishment! 💼📊
🏆 We are excited to celebrate our top finishers:
• 4th Place – Future Business Leader: Emma Dillard
• 5th Place – Computer Applications: Kaitlyn Hart
• 5th Place – Network Design: Ian Cooper & Jayden Kjensmo
• 5th Place – MS Exploring Marketing Strategies: Katherine Dillard, Audrey Shippy & Keilonni Taylor
🎉 Congratulations to all of our competitors for their hard work and for representing our school so well. We are so proud of each and every one of you! 💙




Get ready for an unforgettable evening in the clouds! ☁️🌙
📅 Saturday, April 25
⏰ 7:00–9:30 PM
📍 HMSHS Cafetorium
👥 Grades 6–8
🎟️ Tickets:
• $40 (pre-pay)
• $45 (at the door for HMSHS students only)
• Cash or check payable to HMSHS
• Tickets go on sale Monday, 3/23
• See Mrs. Vanzant to purchase
🍽️ Finger foods and drinks included!
⚠️ Important Reminders:
• Guest tickets must be purchased in advance—none sold at the door
• Guest approval forms are due by Thursday, April 23
• Students may bring a middle school guest (follow guest form guidelines)
• Do not arrive before 6:45 PM
• Parents/guardians must sign students in (for at-door tickets) and pick up at the cafeteria doors by 9:30 PM
🚫 Please note: Attendance is dependent on school behavior eligibility requirements
Let’s make it a magical night above the clouds! ✨💙

Recently, members of the HMSHS Flashes Band traveled to Music Performance Assessment (MPA) at First Coast High School. MPA is an annual event where school bands perform for professional adjudicators who evaluate their musicianship, preparation, and overall performance. Rather than competing directly against other schools, students receive valuable feedback that helps them grow and improve as musicians.
Congratulations to Mr. Hazlett, Band Director, and our talented band students for their hard work, dedication, and the pride they show in representing HMSHS. Opportunities like MPA allow our students to strengthen their musical skills, build confidence, and experience the rewards of teamwork and discipline.
We are grateful for the continued support of our community and the resources made possible through the One Mill investment, which helps provide instruments, equipment, and materials that support meaningful music education experiences for our students.
Please join us in celebrating Mr. Hazlett and our Flashes Band students for their commitment to excellence in music! 🎶 #MusicInOurSchools #OneMillImpact


We’re sharing our upcoming spring testing schedule (see graphic below 👇), and we want all students and families to be prepared and ready!
📝 Testing Dates:
✔️ March 24, 2026 – ACT School Day (select Juniors and Seniors)
✔️ March 26, 2026 – CNA Certification
✔️ April 2, 2026 – BEST Writing (Grades 6–10)
✔️ April 9, 2026 – SAT School Day (Juniors)
📌 Please mark your calendars and make sure students are present on their assigned testing day. Attendance is extremely important, and being prepared helps everyone feel confident and successful!
✅ Testing Day Checklist
✔️ Charge your computer the night before
🔌 Bring your charger to school
😴 Get a good night’s sleep
🥞 Eat a healthy breakfast
⏰ Arrive on time and ready to focus
💪 Come with a positive mindset
We know our students are capable of amazing things, and we can’t wait to see them shine! 🌟⚡
Families — thank you for your support in helping students be prepared, present, and ready to do their best. Let’s make this spring testing season a success! ❤️⚡📚✨

🎓 Nassau Schools Showcase
Explore your options with Nassau County School District, all in one place.
✔ Enroll your student full-time
✔ Use scholarship funds for district programs
✔ Meet school leaders and district teams
✔ Explore academics, arts, athletics, and student support services
Get the information you need to make the best choice for your child.
📅 Saturday, April 25
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Yulee High School
🔗 View details and plan your visit: https://www.nassau.k12.fl.us/showcase
Discover how your family can connect with Nassau County’s “A”-rated schools.
#WeAreNassau #NicerInNassau

This hands-on opportunity is a huge step forward, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real patient care. Being in a clinical environment helps build confidence, strengthen essential skills, and deepen their understanding of what it truly means to provide compassionate, quality care.
As they prepare to take their CNA certification exam on March 26, 2026, this experience will play a vital role in their success—not only on the exam, but in their future healthcare careers. We are so proud of their dedication and can’t wait to see the impact they will make in the field!
Join us in wishing them the best of luck as they take this exciting next step!

School resumes on Monday, March 23, 2026!
We hope our students, staff, and families are enjoying a relaxing and safe Spring Break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to our classrooms.
#WeAreNassau

Congratulations to our talented student musicians and Mr. Hazlett, Band Director, for their success in participating in All District Band. Being selected for All District is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects the dedication, practice, and passion our students bring to their music each day.
Our band program provides students with meaningful opportunities to grow as musicians, collaborate with peers from other schools, and represent HMSHS with pride. Experiences like All District highlight the powerful role that music education plays in building discipline, confidence, and teamwork.
We are grateful for the continued support of our community and resources made possible through the One Mill investment, which helps provide instruments, equipment, and materials that support our students’ musical journeys.
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Hazlett and our Flashes Band students on this wonderful achievement and for representing our school so well! 🎶 #MusicInOurSchools #FlashesBand #OneMillImpact

Spring Break begins for Nassau County School District students!
Friday is a teacher planning day, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Wishing all of our students and families a fun, safe, and relaxing Spring Break! ☀️🌴
#WeAreNassau

This winter, Ms. Schreiber’s theater students wowed audiences with their fantastic performance of Elf. From the acting and stage presence to the teamwork behind the scenes, our students showed just how powerful arts education can be in building confidence, collaboration, and creativity. We are so proud of the hard work and dedication they put into bringing this joyful production to life!
Experiences like these are made possible thanks to the continued support of our community, including resources provided through the One Mill investment, which helps ensure our students have access to meaningful arts opportunities.
If you missed the winter performance, you won’t want to miss what’s coming next! Our Spring theater performance is already in the works, and it’s sure to be another amazing showcase of student talent. Stay tuned—details will be coming soon!
Join us in celebrating the arts and the incredible learning experiences they create for our students! #MillageAtWork #ArtsEducationMonth

Students in Mrs. Cash-Canode’s class are working on hand embroidery memory projects, learning stitching techniques while creating meaningful pieces that tell their personal stories. Projects like these help students build patience, creativity, and confidence as they turn simple materials into lasting works of art.
Thanks to the One Mill investment, our students have access to the supplies and materials that make hands-on art experiences like this possible.
We love seeing our students’ creativity come to life! ❤️ #ArtsEducationMonth #StudentCreativity #MillageAtWork










Mrs. Russell’s 8th graders recently wrapped up their unit on Cell Theory and Body Systems with a hands-on “Homer-ostasis” Lab!
Throughout this unit, students have learned that the body works hard to maintain a stable internal environment in all cells — keeping a constant temperature, balanced levels of oxygen, electrolytes and sugars, and a stable pH (acidity level).
To bring this concept to life, students took on the challenge of maintaining homeostasis in a leaky cup! 💧
Their task:
✔️ Keep the water level constant
✔️ Maintain the same color (concentration)
✔️ Control the temperature
Using cold water, hot water, and yellow dye, students had just five minutes to keep their “leaky system” balanced and match it to a control cup. Through teamwork and assigned lab roles — such as Thermal Technician, Chill Specialist, Concentration Chemist, Temperature Tracker, Lab Architect, and Procedure Captain — students collaborated to problem-solve under pressure.
This engaging lab allowed students to see firsthand how challenging it can be to maintain balance — just like the human body does every second of every day!
We are proud of their critical thinking, teamwork, and scientific skills on display. Check out the photos of our scientists in action! 🧬✨
#FlashesInAction #ScienceLab #HandsOnLearning #FutureScientists




A Night Above the Clouds
Middle schoolers, get ready to rise above the ordinary! 🌙⭐
Mark your calendars for a magical evening in the sky at our 2026 MORP!
🗓 Saturday, April 25
⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
It’s going to be a night filled with music, fun, friends, and memories you won’t forget! 💙✨ Put on your best and join us as we celebrate A Night Above the Clouds.
More information will be posted soon — so stay tuned! 🎶🌟
#HMSHS #MORP2026 #ANightAboveTheClouds

Engaging, hands-on learning is taking place in Ms. Dyal’s 8th Grade Pre-Algebra class (Room 25-04) as students explore geometric transformations!
Recently students learned to identify and apply translations (slides), reflections (flips), and rotations (spins) on the coordinate plane. Through whole group instruction and guided notes in their Interactive Notebooks (INB), students are building a strong foundation in understanding how figures move and change.
During small group rotations with Mr. Andrews, instruction is differentiated to support every learner:
🔹 Targeted guided practice
🔹 Collaborative problem-solving
🔹 Extended application and deeper analysis
At the computer station, students are strengthening their skills through IXL practice—writing transformation rules, graphing reflections, and analyzing rotations with immediate feedback to guide their learning.
Throughout the week, students are engaged in:
✏️ Daily bell ringers to reinforce prior skills
📓 Organized note-taking using WICOR strategies
🧠 Independent practice to build confidence and mastery
📊 A weekly Edulastic quiz to monitor understanding
From teacher modeling to independent application, students are thinking critically, using precise mathematical vocabulary, and applying concepts with confidence. We are proud of the focus and effort happening in Room 25-04! ⚡📚
#FlashesInAction #MathInMotion #PreAlgebraPower





Showing up matters — every class, every day! When our Flashes are in school, they’re building knowledge, strengthening friendships, and creating opportunities for success. Attendance isn’t just about being present — it’s about being engaged, connected, and committed to your future.
We are proud to share our February attendance percentages:
⚡ 6th Grade – 92.7%
⚡ 7th Grade – 90.4%
⚡ 8th Grade – 91.7%
⚡ 9th Grade – 91.7%
⚡ 10th Grade – 92.1%
⚡ 11th Grade – 89.6%
⚡ 12th Grade – 88.67%
🏫 School Total – 91.02%
Great job, Flashes! Let’s keep pushing forward. Every day you show up is another step toward your goals. Small improvements each week can make a BIG difference by the end of the year!
Remember — when you Own Your Epic Attendance, you own your success. Let’s make March even stronger! ⚡💛
#OwnYourEpicAttendance #EveryDayCounts #FlashesLeadTheWay

Any student interested in trying out for the cheerleading team this season must attend a mandatory parent meeting. Families may choose either of the following dates:
• Monday, March 9 at 6:00 PM
• Tuesday, March 10 at 6:00 PM
📍 Location: HMSHS Cafeteria
Important tryout information, requirements, and expectations will be discussed. A parent or guardian must be present for the student to participate in tryouts this season.

