CHARGE!
Fishers Junior High, December 2020
Home of the Chargers
Principal: Dr. Crystal Thorpe
Assistant Principal: Mr. Tige Butts
Athletic Director: Mr. Scott Timmons
Guidance Director: Mr. Basel Maarouf
Email: vax@hse.k12.in.us
Website: hseschools.org
Location: 13257 Cumberland Road
Phone: 317-594-4150
Twitter: @FJHChargers
Dr. Thorpe is Middle School Principal of the Year!
Greetings Charger Parents,
This past Sunday, I had the amazing honor of being named the 2020 Middle School Principal of the Year for the state of Indiana. Words cannot express the fullness of my principal heart. My leadership philosophy has always been "Take care of your teachers first, so that they can take care of who matters most, our students."
During my tenure, we have garnered many accolades for both students and staff, and as a school community. I'm so proud of Fishers Junior High School. Thus, this award represents the outstanding staff, students, and families that I serve. We did this together. Thank you.
Proudly serving as your principal,
Dr. Crystal Thorpe, FJH
Regional Champions!
Needless to say, this year's We the People team is competing under unique and different circumstances. But even though the whole team had yet to ever meet entirely face-to-face, that did not stop them from earning the title of Regional Champions in their first competition.
Competing via Zoom, the students faced a difficult set of judges but held their own when answering questions about the Constitution, its history, and its modern application. The team is advancing to the State Finals which are also being held virtually on December 9 & 10. The competition at that event will include state powerhouse Brown County and the fellow district team from Fall Creek Junior High.
Over the upcoming weeks, the students will be hard at work writing a new paper and preparing for even more difficult questions than they faced at Regionals.
Hoosier Upstander Award
Congratulations to 8th grade Language Arts teacher, Kelly Watson, for being the inaugural recipient of the Hoosier Upstander Award! Kelly is being honored for her leadership and commitment to Holocaust education with the State’s inaugural award.
The Hoosier Upstander Award is for an individual or organization that has shown a commitment to using the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire Hoosiers to stand up in the fight against hate and bigotry, and to actively promote respect and understanding.
Our organization has been working with the Indiana civil rights commission for over 20 years and this year they asked us to design two awards; we pretty much wrote the description for the upstander award with you in mind the whole time.
Thank. You. Kelly. For all you’ve done and continue to do for students, and therefore society. Your work not only honors the lives of the victims and experiences of survivors, but also helps keep families safer in today’s world.
FJH Library News
The books are so lonely without our students! Remind your Charger that they can still check out books from the FJH Library by putting a hold on the titles they want in Destiny. Instructions are in their Media Center Canvas page.
We’ll check the books out to your kiddo and put them in a bin in the main lobby, which is open from 7:45am - 3:15pm each day. Books can also be returned to a separate bin in the lobby.
Contact us in the library if you have any questions, need a book recommendation for your student, or need assistance getting a book.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @FJHLibrary and Instagram @FJH_Library for news, games, contests, book recommendations, and more!
Coming to the FJH Library in December!
We miss seeing students in the media center, so we’ve put together a few fun opportunities for them to “hang out” in the library with these virtual programs.
Virtual Puzzle Hang Outs on Tuesdays
Encourage your students to join us on Tuesdays in December during BEST for virtual puzzles. Students can sign up in their Media Center Canvas page. All they’ll need to participate is their iPad.
Virtual Trivia on Fridays
We’ve gathered trivia on a variety of topics, from movies to science to sports and more. Encourage your Charger to sign up through their Media Center Canvas page to join us on Fridays in December during BEST. The contest will take place on Zoom and should be a fun and relaxed way to spend some time with friends. All they’ll need to participate is their iPad, a piece of paper, and a pencil.
Students Study School Start Times
Mrs. Strole's Honors Algebra classes tackled the school start time issue during their Unit 4 performance task. In this task, students analyzed the circadian rhythm (a non-linear function) of both an adult and teenager. They compared the alertness level of adults during a typical workday and of teenagers during our current school day. Students then watched a video that talked students through the pros and cons of flipping start times.
Several students chose to do some research on their own to answer any questions that they still had. The performance task ended with students writing a persuasive letter to the school board asking that they either keep start times the way they are this year or to flip the start times.
This activity allowed students to see that the math we are studying in algebra is relevant to their lives outside of the four walls of this classroom. It also allowed them a chance to realize that student voice is a powerful tool that they can utilize.
The school board did read every student submission and responded to the students. All of their letters were also submitted into the board meeting. This task also allowed us a chance to realize that although our student voice is powerful, it doesn't mean that decisions will always be made that we agree with.
Our classes were close to a 55%-45% split, which meant that a lot of us were going to agree with their decision and a lot of us were not. It was so rewarding to see how respectful the students were in their letters as they acknowledged the fact that they understood the school board was asked to make difficult decisions that not everyone in the community would agree with. I was yet again reminded of how amazing our students are.
2021-2022 Freshmen Information
2021-2022 Freshman Choice Transfer Application - application window closes Dec. 11th:
https://www.hseschools.org/happenings/news/2021-2022-freshman-choice-transfer-application-ann
8th Grade Parents - Save the Date
Fishers High School 8th Gr. Parent Night is scheduled for Jan. 27th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Fishers High School AP/Dual Credit Showcase is scheduled for Jan. 20th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
HSE High School 8th Grade Parent Night is scheduled for February 3rd, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
HSE High School AP/Dual Credit Showcase is scheduled for January 14th at 7:00 p.m.
Fishers and HSE High School will be sharing more information in the weeks ahead. Parents only need to attend the events of the high school your student will be attending next year.
Mudsock Youth Sports
“Mark Your Calendars!
Spring program registration will open on January 1st for baseball, softball, soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, rugby and track. Visit www.myathletics.com for the most updated season information and to register your child for a league”.
Four Years of Paid Tuition?
Indiana's 21st Century Scholars Program is the state’s premier college scholarship and preparation program for low-income Hoosier students. Students who fulfill the Scholar Pledge are provided up to four years of paid tuition at an eligible college or university. Scholars also receive a variety of support services designed to help them succeed in school and complete college.
Please click on the link below for more information, including income eligibility, and to apply:
https://learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/enroll/
Applications must be completed online on or before June 30th of the student’s 7th or 8th grade year.
If you have already applied, you do not need to reapply.
Please contact your school counselors if you have any questions.
7th grade – Kitti Gal (kgal@hse.k12.in.us)
8th grade – Basel Maarouf (bmaarouf@hse.k12.in.us)
Withdrawing Your Student?
If your child will be withdrawing from FJH, please notify the Guidance Office at least two days in advance of your child’s last day. Withdrawal forms prepared by the Guidance Office must be signed by the parent/guardian and district rental iPads will need to be returned upon withdrawal.
Book Rental Fee Information
In compliance with Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation policy, book rental needs to be collected at the beginning of each school year. Email statements were sent out September 4, 2020.
To view in family access:
Click on Skyward Family Access
(https://sis.hse.k12.in.us/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsEAplus/seplog01.w)
Enter your User ID and Password
Click on “Fee Management” under General Information
Your student’s invoice amount will be listed under “Unpaid Balances”.
Ways to pay for your student's book rental this year:
Personal checks/ Money Orders/Cash
Personal checks should be made payable to FJH and can be mailed or sent with your student to school. Be sure to specify on your check /envelope that the payment is for book rental. Include student’s name, I.D # and grade in the memo line of check. Payment needs to be directed to the Bookstore/Treasurer.
Note: We will not accept Mastercard or Visa this year at FJH. If you choose to pay by credit card you MUST utilize eFunds.
On-line payments with Mastercard, Visa, or Discover Payment may be made online via the Efunds tab on the FJH website. https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/55481
Payments will be posted in Skyward within 10 business days.
***PAYMENT DUE DATE*** was October 2, 2020
Prompt payment is appreciated.
Should you have any questions or do not have internet access and need a copy of your fee statement, please contact me at 317-594-4150, extension 5715.
Thank You, Robin Passwater Treasurer Fishers Junior High School