Hocker Grove Family Newsletter
September 19, 2023
SECTION 1: NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION THIS WEEK
First HG PTA Meeting of the Year
School Pictures Have Arrived
Free Virtual Parent Support Series
The Parent Support Series announced in previous newsletters begins today, September 19. The sessions are free, but families must register in advance. Please see the information below to get registered.
As part of ongoing support for families, your child’s school is offering a series of classes for parents and guardians through a partnership with the Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST). These training sessions are designed to provide ways you can support your child’s developing academic and behavior skills, as well as increase consistency between home and school.
BIST Virtual Parenting Series Agenda
5:45 PM - 6:00 PM Enter Zoom Room
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Informational Session
6:45 PM – 7:00 PM Questions and Answers
September 19th: Punishment vs. Protection
September 26th: Enabling vs. Equipping
October 3rd: Cultivating Accountability to Grow Seeds of Empathy
These classes are designed to:
· Create consistency between school and home
· Provide language for adults to use when redirecting children
· Share ways to problem solve to increase your child’s success
· Increase generosity and kindness in your children
· Bring a sense of calm to your home
Please join us for any or all three sessions!
How to Register for Free Training
These virtual classes are provided free of charge, however, we do ask that you please register through the BIST website on or before Friday, September 15th, 2023. Instructions for registration are below.
We are excited to offer this opportunity to you!
To register for this class:
1. Go to http://BIST.org
2. Use the dropdown menu “My Account.” Click Log In/Log Out.
3. Create a username by clicking “Click Here” under the large LOG IN heading. If you already created a username by previously enrolling in a BIST class, just log in.
4. Enter your information (Name, Email, and a Password). This will register you on the website, but not for the class.
5. Select the class you wish to attend. Click “Register” to the right of the class name.
6. Follow the instructions.
a. Be sure to select “Pay Later via PO” under the Payment Method. This Parent Class is free, but you must select the “Pay Later via PO” option in order to register.
b. Select your child’s District and School from the dropdown menus.
c. Select your position as a Parent unless you are a school staff member. If you are both a parent and a school staff member, you may select either.
7. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link for the training sessions.
a. If you do not receive a confirmation email by noon on Monday, September 18th, please contact our office at bist@cornerstonesofcare.org for assistance.
Construction Updates
Work on the outdoor classroom space and new flex room continued last week with images below of the progress. The construction team provided an update last week that they believe we will be able to open the walkway across that courtyard in October. One of our topics this afternoon for the BLT meeting is to look at furniture for those new spaces along with new furniture for the staff lounge.
Important Upcoming Dates
September 26 First Hocker Grove PTA Meeting 6:30pm
October 3 Band Concert
October 12 No School- Professional Learning
Section 2: Previously Announced but Still Relevant Information
School-wide Fundraiser: Eagle Strut
The EAGLE STRUT is our only fundraiser for Hocker Grove Middle School this year and will take place on Friday, September 22nd, 2023. This all-school event features daily prizes leading up to the EAGLE STRUT. There will be food, music, fun, and FIVE GRAND PRIZES that school day to allow all students the opportunity to participate. Funds raised from the event will be used for the 2023 -2024 school year to support students, teachers, and our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiatives. PBIS is a program interwoven throughout the school day for teachers to instill behavior expectations in students, as well as teach strategies to make good decisions.
Students who have REGISTERED for the EAGLE STRUT will be entered into daily drawings! Your student won’t want to miss this fun afternoon of friends, music, games, and prizes.
How can I support Hocker Grove Middle School and/or register my child?
- Click this link to see Categories of Giving & Prizes
- Read the directions below before clicking this link when you are ready to register your child or sponsor a student:
- Click the “Buy Now” button
- Choose the “Category” you wish to donate from the drop-down menu
- Fill in the student and parent information
- Click “Add to Cart”
- Click on the shopping cart (top right corner) to check out
- Click the “Checkout as a Guest”
- Enter your payment information
- Click “Continue”
- Follow the prompts and your registration will be completed!
- If you have any questions, please contact Janna Weaver at jannaweaver@smsd.org
We are off to a SOARing start. THANK YOU to those that have already contributed and THANK YOU in advance for those that will!
Late Starts Continues
In an effort to provide time for teacher collaboration for improved teaching and learning, Hocker Grove and all SMSD secondary schools will continue late starts this year. Each Thursday morning between September 14 and April 4 will be an optional late start for students. Here is the breakdown:
Eagle Hour - our homeroom period (mascot hour) will not take place Thursdays from 9/14/23 through 4/4/24, and school will begin with 1st hour at 9:19 a.m. Teachers will meet in collaborative teams from 8:05 - 9:05 a.m. each Thursday.
Students may still arrive at the normal time to be supervised by staff from 8:20 - 9:10 a.m. until released to go to 1st hour at 9:10 a.m.
Breakfast will still be served for students that want to take advantage of that option at school.
Buses will continue to run at the exact same time as they do on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Your student will show up at normal time (8:20 - 8:35 a.m.) if they choose to take the bus on Thursdays.
Although not required, your student has the option of taking advantage of a late start each week because the school day will technically begin at 9:19 a.m. each Thursday.
A comparison of a regular and late start schedule is pictured below:
Academic Enrichment
Late buses run to take students home that want that option even if they aren't typically bus riders, but all students need to be registered with DS Bus in order to ride. That can be done here: https://www.smsd.org/families/transportation
Character Strong Pilot
Here’s what the data tells us:
-
A sense of belonging in school is one of the most important conditions for learning and a fundamental support for social and emotional well-being. Nearly 1⁄3 of all students report a weak sense of belonging in their schools. Roughly half of 6th - 12th grade students say they don’t enjoy coming to school most of the time.
-
Mental health challenges for teens have been increasing and 7 out of 10 teens in the U.S. (between 13 and 17 years old) have named anxiety or depression as a major problem among their peers.
-
Student engagement drives learning and supports school success.
One of the key parts of nearly every lesson is the “CharacterDare” for Middle School students and the “To Be List” for High School students. These are invitations near the end of most lessons to put the content that they are learning into action in the real world. If you ever want to play an active role in the CharacterStrong curricula, simply ask your student about the most recent CharacterDare or To Be List challenge. Maybe they’ll invite you to try one yourself!
To learn more about CharacterStrong, check out characterstrong.com
Join the HG PTA
· Fund Teacher Grants Applications for materials not provided by the SMSD
· Provide support for school field trips
· Assist with events for student and family activities
· Host Staff Appreciation Events for our AMAZING faculty and staff
There is no wrong or right way to be involved – anything you can give, whether it’s time or money, will support your child’s potential. We invite you to join because we can do more together than apart. It only takes 5 minutes: https://hgms.new.memberhub.store/store
SMSD’s Use of Cell Phone/Personal Electronic Devices Guidelines
SMSD is committed to providing highly effective and consistent learning spaces across the district. The personal use of cell phones and other electronic devices that are not district-issued is prohibited unless explicitly permitted by school staff. Medical exemptions may be applied. Initial violations will fall under the Discipline Matrix as a Level 1 offense. Subsequent violations will result in progressive disciplinary action.
Personal Electronic Devices includes, but is not limited to, headphones, earbuds, smart watches, tablets, gaming systems and phones.
Cell Phones and electronic devices may only be used during passing period and lunch time with the following limitations:
Any content accessed during school hours must be school appropriate and follow all expectations listed in the student handbook.
Phones need to be in a silent mode at all times. Headphone devices must be used when listening to music. One ear of the headphone must be free from the ear to allow for the student to hear announcements and instructions.
Photos and videos may not be taken during school hours.
Hocker Grove Middle School
Email: ChrisKase@smsd.org
Website: hockergrove.smsd.org
Location: 10400 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-0200
Facebook: facebook.com/HockerGroveMiddleSchool
Twitter: @HockerGroveMS