Hilltop Herald Parent Edition
Be Respectful ~ Be Responsible ~ Be Resilient
Volume 2 ~ Issue 21 ~ January 16, 2024
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically, Intelligence plus character – that is the true goal of education." ~ Martin Luther King
Happy Martin Luther King's Day!
One of the things I love about this weekend is that I always get to celebrate my birthday with the late esteemed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As I was preparing for Semester 2 to begin, I came across this quote from Dr. King, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically, Intelligence plus character – that is the true goal of education." This is the work we do at HTM - the balance between the HEAD and the HEART. And we do this in community where we (students, teachers, parents and families) work together to produce a future generation that is hopefully better than our generation. Our actions in the present will always shape our future.
Demonstrating Safe Behavior at All Times
Dr. King also said, "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." Every day, I remind you of our mantra: Be Respectful-Be Responsible-Be Resilient. Then I conclude it with, "Let's choose to make today a great day." It is as Dr. King stated; that what we say and do AFFECT all of us. We are not an island. Last Friday during lunch, we had a large group of students who behaved in such a way that promoted what I consider an unsafe environment. This group was moving from one area of the school to another drawing attention that many students followed them to see what was happening. And while we did not end up with a sit-down lunch, I had to remind you over the intercom twice to stop roaming in large groups that is creating this unsafe feeling. To support you in changing this behavior, we will be asking you on Fridays, when we have one lunch, to get your lunch and find an area to remain, either in the quad or in the back area until the end of lunch. Students, there are other things in life that you need to be curious about. When you see a large group roaming during lunch, do not assume something bad is going to happen. That assumption almost always leads a negative situation. Another example is when you decided to say something as a joke that we cannot take as a joke. Whether a good or bad action is done on or off campus, the whole community is affected. If the action happens out in the community, it will eventually come on campus. These negative actions are learned behaviors; hence, they can be unlearned. So.... for Semester 2, let's remember to follow our HTM Mantra: Be Respectful-Be Responsible-Be Resilient. If you choose to act and say things that reflect these three statements, then you are contributing to a safe and healthy school. Let's do this together.
Balancing Classes
Falcons, per the teachers' contract, we are required to balance classes by the 10th day, which is January 24, 2024. While the counselors are working hard to minimize the change, know that if one or some of your classes changes, it is because it was necessary. Thank you for understanding.
Safety Awareness Week During January 16-19
HTM will host its first-ever safety awareness week. Our safety committee has embraced the charge of creating a safety vision for HTM by creating advisory lessons, hosting a Safety Fair and planning a safety assembly. One of the community partners present at the fair is Love on a Leash. In order to pet these dogs, students must have a signed parent approval form. Click HERE to give your child permission to interact with these dogs. Please read the section below on this topic.
Future Falcon Parent Nights
Falcon parents, if you have 6th grade children who will be coming to HTM in 2024-2025, please attend one of the informational meetings that we have planned for January 23 and 24, 2024. Please read the flyer below.
Eighth Grade Promotion Reminder
Now that Semester grades 1 are official, this is a reminder of your promotion requirement: YOU MUST PASS ALL YOUR CLASSES IN 8TH GRADE. Eighth graders, make every effort to pass all your classes this semester as you will not have enough time to make Fs up before June. We are only offering credit recovery and Incomplete Grade Project for Semester 1. Please read the Promotion Requirement Section below to see what we will be offering for credit recovery.
Save the Dates for Upcoming Student Empowerment Events
Families, we have two major events coming up in the next several months. We want to make sure that HTM is represented. Please read the sections below on these two events:
- BSU RISE Conference on February 10, 2024 @ Olympian High School
- Adelante Mujer Conference on April 20, 2024 @ UCSD.
Buy Your 2023-2024 Yearbook Now
Students, memorialize your school year by buying your yearbook now! Read the information below.
ASB Sales
Falcons, stay warm during the winter months and buy your HTM sweatshirt for only $25. See picture at the end of the newsletter.
NEW!!! Easier Access to HTM Google Calendar
Parents, starting with this newsletter, there is now a clickable button to access the school calendar. We update this calendar every Friday. We hope that this helps with your family planning.
A Couple of Reminders
Families, please review our No Cell Phone Out Policy with your children. Another policy to review is the Bullying/Harrassment Policy for the district. These policies are included in this newsletter. Please scroll down toward the end of the newsletter.
Falcons, let's have a wonderful and uplifting Week 2.
Sincerely,
Ms. Finley
Our dedicated Safety Committee has planned the first ever Safety Awareness Week at Hilltop Middle School. Our goal is to empower Falcon students and staff to make decisions on behalf of their own safety. Students will be led through advisory lessons January 16-18 on the following topics:
- January 16: Friendships and Boundaries
- January 17: Keeping our HTM Community Safe
- January 19: Active Shooter Response
On Friday, January 19, students will have discussions surrounding safety measures they can take in each of their 6 learning spaces. HTM staff has been trained on how to direct students to barricade entrances and what they can do to be as safe as possible in the worst-case scenario.
We have teamed with our community partners to have a Safety Fair at lunch on January 19th that will include booths with free giveaways and valuable information all aspects of what it means to be “safe.” Students can decompress with therapy dogs from Love on a Leash if they so choose. If your child would like to interact with the dogs, a permission slip must be submitted prior to January 19th. Use this google form to access the form and submit it for participation.
As a parent, I know it is scary to send your children out into a world where the unthinkable happens. I am a firm believer that having the difficult conversations and preparing for emergencies eases anxiety in the long run. So, thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe and healthy HTM. In addition, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Cruz at amy.cruz@sweetwaterschools.org.
Eighth Graders,
There is one requirement for you: you must pass ALL your classes this year for both semesters, if you want to participate in the promotion ceremony on June 4 and receive a certificate of promotion.
By now, you have received your semester 1 grades. If you passed all your classes, you are on track to promote. If you failed class in either, English/ELD, General Science 2, Integrated Math 8, Integrated Math 1, US History, you will be offered to take credit recovery for one or more of these courses. These courses will take place on Saturdays during Saturday Scholars or during Spring Break. If you do not participate in these offerings, there is a high probability that you will not participate in promotional exercises in June.
We are in the process of planning these credit recovery courses. ALL CLASSES WILL BE ON SATURDAYS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PE, WHICH WILL BE DURING SPRING BREAK. We will be offering:
- English 8/ELD III Hour 1 - Ms. Holt
- General Science 2 - Teacher to be determined
- PE 8 - Mr. Rob Johnson, former HTM PE teacher
- Integrated Math 8 - Mr. Chaidez
- US History (will pilot the Incomplete Grades Program) - Mr. Horton and Mr. Stubbs
We are not offering credit recovery for Elective Courses.
A - Gi: Ms. Santana
Go - Mo: Ms. Haug
Morn - Z: Ms. Orozco
Easter Finley, Principal
Email: easter.finley@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: htm.sweetwaterschools.org
Location: 44 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 619.498.2700
Twitter: @erfinleysd