Upcoming Dates

3/12/2026 11:43 pm

Community Speaker Series Event - April 28

National Animal Therapy Day - April 30

Final PTO Meeting & Farewell Mr. May - May 1

Dr. Hector Garcia Retirement Celebration - May 4

Staff Appreciation Day - May 7 

Hinsdale Central PTO 8th Grade Welcome - May 7

GiftCrowd Deadline - May 22

Staff Appreciation Day

3/12/2026 11:42 pm

How sweet it is to have amazing teachers and staff like we do at at HMS! Staff appreciation week is coming soon. To celebrate the PTO staff appreciation committee is hosting a Dessert Day on Thursday, May 7. So, if you love to bake or have a store bought bakery treat that your family would like to share then please sign up HERE to help us! 

Final PTO Meeting & Farewell Mr. May

3/12/2026 11:41 pm

Save the date for our final PTO meeting on Friday, May 1 from 9 - 10 am. We will be voting in the proposed budget for 2026/27 and the new executive board members. These are published on our PTO website.

We will also be honoring Mr. Rocky May for his 14 years of service at Hinsdale Middle School and wishing him well on his new role as Principal at St Patrick’s.

If you plan to attend the meeting please sign up HERE.

Order School Supplies for 2026-27

3/12/2026 11:40 pm

Order your HMS school supplies online now until June 1st. They will be conveniently shipped directly to your home. The early sale which is happening now until June 1st is the price shown online. If parents order after June 1st, the price increases by $10. This sale window will end on June 22. All kits purchased until June 22 will be shipped to homes on August 4.

Please note that all 6th, 7th and 8th graders will use the scientific calculator that is included in the 6th grade w/calculator kit, or it is available to purchase separately as an add on item when purchasing any kit. The graphing calculator is also listed as an add on item, but your student will be notified by their teacher if that is needed.

Click HERE to order. Enter school ID HIN022. See flyer below for details. Email schoolsupplies@hmspto.org for questions.

End-of-Year Teacher Gifts with GiftCrowd

3/12/2026 11:39 pm

As we prepare for the school year to come to an end, the PTO is providing an opportunity for families to express their gratitude for our teachers and staff with GiftCrowd again. Because of your contribution, our teachers will be able to select from hundreds of gift card options.

Click HERE to join GiftCrowd. Simply search for your teacher/staff name and click "Join". You will input your information and gift amount. You will not need to click "Hide Contributions" as we have hidden all gift amounts. Once complete, "Add to Cart", and "Join" additional teachers/staff. Add as many as you'd like before you checkout. Any amount is greatly appreciated. The teachers/staff will see which families contribute but not the individual gift amount. Please note participation is completely optional. There are many other ways to show your appreciation.

The deadline to participate in GiftCrowd is Friday, May 22nd, by 9am. At that time, teachers and staff will automatically receive their virtual gifts. Please note: GiftCrowd will automatically close at the deadline - no late contributions can be accepted.

Questions or trouble finding a staff on the list? Email staffapp@hmspto.org. Thank you always for supporting our HMS teachers and staff!

National Animal Therapy Day

3/12/2026 11:28 pm

Curbside Cuddles: Meet Bailey at the HMS Bus Loop!
Experience the incredible science of the human-animal bond. In honor of National Animal Therapy Day, we are hosting a special meet-and-greet with our favorite Shetland Sheepdog, Bailey.
Bailey is a certified therapy dog who helps students lower their cortisol levels, boost their mood, and find a sense of security. The connection between humans and animals has a profound impact on mental health and emotional well-being.

Event Details
• When: April 30, 2026
• Time: 3:15 PM
• Location: Hinsdale Middle School – Outside at the 3rd street bus loop near the blue Windhover sculpture
• Who: Open to all community members!

Interested in Becoming a Handler? Have you ever wondered if your own dog has what it takes to provide comfort to others? Being an animal therapy handler is a rewarding way to give back to the community. Bailey’s team will be on-site and happy to answer any questions you have about the certification process, training requirements, and what a typical day looks like for a therapy team.

Celebrate Dr. Garcia's Retirement

3/12/2026 11:07 pm

After eight years of dedicated service to District 181, Dr. Hector Garcia is retiring at the end of July. We will be honoring him, along with three other D181 retirees, during the District Celebration Night on Monday, May 4th, at the Hinsdale Middle School gym.

This will be a family-friendly event with light refreshments provided. It will be a great opportunity to thank Dr. Garcia and give him a lovely send off into retirement!

PTO Volunteer Opportunities

3/12/2026 10:51 pm

There are so many ways for parents to get involved at HMS and support our students, staff, and school. Please consider volunteering for one of our available positions for the 2026-2027 school year. Many of these positions involve planning a single event and do not require a year-long commitment. If you are interested or would like more information, please reach out to nominating@hmspto.org.

We hope to have you join us next year!

HMS PTO

Lost & Found Reminder

3/12/2026 10:50 pm

Please encourage your students to check the Lost & Found for any missing items. We will be doing a final clean-out in May, and any unclaimed belongings will be donated. Taking a few minutes now can help ensure students don’t lose anything important.

Community Speaker Series Event

3/12/2026 10:49 pm

Please join us on Tuesday, April 28 at 7pm for a Community Speaker Series in-person event at the Hinsdale Central High School auditorium. Register HERE.

In his latest book, Dream School, New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo helps families reimagine the college search process. Drawing on extensive research and insights from thousands of parents, he encourages students and families to broaden their view of what makes a school truly great—emphasizing career readiness, hands-on learning, and a strong sense of community. Jeffrey Selingo is the author of three other books, including Who Gets In and Why and There Is Life After College. He is a regular contributor to The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and co-hosts the popular higher education podcast, Future U.

Jeffrey Selingo
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
7:00pm – 8:30pm
In-person at Hinsdale Central Auditorium
This program is for students and parents

The Community Speaker Series is committed to fostering a sense of community through hosting in-person and virtual events that inform and inspire. CSS is funded jointly by District 86 and District 181 and is supported by the D181 Foundation. Our events are free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to join our events, connect and learn together.