Hocker Grove Back to School News
July 19, 2022
SECTION 1: NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION THIS WEEK
Looking Forward to 22-23
We encourage you to login to Skyward prior to July 27 and complete your online verification (email sent by district communications today). Fees can also be paid online through this link. Online verification and fee payment can be done in person on July 27, but completing these tasks in advance will significantly reduce your wait time. Please feel free to call our office with any questions.
What are School Fees?
Some school fees are required to help offset the cost of instructional resources, id cards, and materials associated with certain classes like art, Project Lead the Way classes, Foods, etc. Other fees are optional fees that if a family elects not to pursue, will be removed from the payment list. Optional fees include purchasing a yearbook, picture packet, and an activity ticket (helps to fund school-wide activities/reward days throughout the year).
Fees can be paid in person or online. To pay fees on-line by credit card, or to see fee totals (including elective class fees), go to www.smsd.org and click on “Families” on the top of the page, then choose “Pay fees”. All required fees (including elective class fees) and optional fees will appear. You may then pay by credit card, or write a check for the amount and mail it to Hocker Grove Middle School with the fee payment form included in this document. All fees must be paid, or a payment plan must be in place, by August 10.
Fees
Instructional Resources $100.00
ID card $5.00
Activity Ticket $7.00 (optional)
Yearbook $20.00 (optional)
TOTAL: $132.00 (+ elective class fees as indicated on Skyward)
Additional fees that may include school pictures, bus fees (if less than 2.5 miles from school), and/or school meals. Transportation and Food service representatives will be available at Fee Payment. School meals have been free for the last two years, but will be fee based again in 22-23. The cost of meals is listed here. There is no fee for school pictures until after families receive the proof in an email after Fee Payment. That email will contain information for purchasing pictures if families choose to do so.
All returned checks will be processed by a collection agency and a $30 fee will be assessed.
Overpayments will be applied to any underpayment on another account for the same student. Any remaining overpayment will be applied to the student’s food service balance.
New for 22-23: Instructional resource and ID card fees may be waived if one of the following circumstances apply:
If the student meets the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for free meals, then 100% of the fees will be waived. If the student meets the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for reduced meals, then 50% of the fees will be waived. We will need a documented confirmation letter. It takes time for this document to process, so the sooner you apply the better. See note below.
- Applications for Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for free meals (free/reduced meals) is live, and located on the district’s food services webpage. In order to apply for a fee waiver, an application for free/reduced meals must be submitted and approved.
- Proof that the student is in the custody of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (foster care program) is provided to the school office, or the student receives services provided by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act.
What If I Can't Come To Fee Payment?
What School Supplies Will My Student Need?
What Immunizations Are Required?
All 7th grade students are required to provide written proof that they have had the following immunizations: Tdap and meningococcal (dose 1 required for entry into 7th grade). Immunization information provided to us or an SMSD Elementary School should already be on file. Please give any written documentation of recent immunizations from your doctor to the school nurse during fee payment by the first day of classes.
What About Bus Services?
Those students who reside over 2.5 miles away from Hocker Grove will be allowed to ride the bus for free. Contracts for this service may be picked up at any Shawnee Mission school office or accessed on-line from the District website. If you have questions regarding bus service, please call DS Busing at 913-384-1190. All riders must be prepared to show a student identification card with bus sticker daily to the driver. Bus routes, times and stops are posted on the district website. Go to www.smsd.org, click on “Families”, then click on “Transportation”.
Does Hocker Grove Have a 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
What Are School Hours?
Earliest Students may arrive to school 8:20 a.m.
Office opens 8:20 a.m.
First hour begins 8:45 a.m.
Teachers on duty to assist students 3:45-4:05 p.m.
Building closed. 4:05 p.m.
(Students still in building after 4:05 must be involved in a supervised school activity.)
Middle school students will not be allowed to be on school property prior to 8:20 am unless they have prior approval of a staff member. School personnel are not available for supervision until 8:20 am. At the end of the day, all students are expected to be off of school property by 4:05 pm unless attending a tutoring session or other school sponsored activity. Limiting student access to middle school property to the hours of 8:20 am to 4:05 pm will help ensure the safety and security of the students. Parents will need to make arrangements on a regular basis to have their student arrive and depart within these designated times. Students will not be allowed to congregate or wait outside of the buildings, as these are unsupervised areas.
New Late Start for 22-23 School Year
At the May 23 Board of Education meeting, middle school PLC time was made official. The committee that developed the plan focused on finding essential time for teachers to collaborate without overburdening families. Full details of the board presentation can be found here, but some important highlights for families can found below.
Beginning on the same date that high school PLC starts, September 1, 2022, each Thursday morning will be an optional late start for students. Here is the breakdown:
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Eagle Hour - our homeroom period (mascot hour) will not take place Thursdays from 9/1/22 - 4/27/23, and school will begin with 1st hour at 9:19 a.m. Teachers will meet in PLCs from 8:05 - 9:05 a.m. each Thursday.
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Students may still arrive at the normal time to be supervised 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.
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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.
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A tentative weekly schedule is pictured below:
Does Hocker Grove Have a Dress Code?
The general atmosphere of the school must be conducive to learning. If a student’s appearance attracts undue attention to the extent that it may become a disruptive factor in the education process, a building administrator will ask the student to make the necessary changes. In the event that the changes do not take place in the time allotted or the same inappropriate clothing continues to be worn on subsequent days, the administrator will prescribe the appropriate disciplinary action.
Students are not to wear clothing which has proven to be disruptive and/or clothing which promotes habits, attitudes or actions that are at odds with the school’s expectations of citizenship and acceptable behavior (clothing displaying messages, symbols, or pictures which are vulgar, profane, ethnically derogatory, or related to alcohol or drugs). Outdoor clothing, such as sunglasses, blankets, and coats are to be removed upon entering the building and stored in the locker provided by the school.
Some examples of clothing that is prohibited includes the following: dog collars, chains, safety pins, or other sharp accessories, clothing which allows undergarments to be seen, clothing which allows for an excessive amount of flesh to be exposed, (shorts or mini-skirts well above mid-thigh, shirts which bare midriffs or are very low cut).
Some Important Dates for the First Months of School
July 26 Office Opens, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
July 27 Fee Payment, 10:00 am-7:00 pm
July 28-August 10 Office Open for Fee Payment Makeup 8:00 am-4:00 pm
August 11 First Day of School for Seventh Graders Only (Pen or Pencil only supplies needed), 8:45 am- 3:45 pm
August 12 Classes for all students 7th and 8th grade (All school supplies needed), 8:45 am- 3:45 pm
August 23 HG Back to School Night, 5:30-7:00 pm
September 1 First Late Start Day, School Starts at 9:19 am
September 2 No School- Professional Learning
September 5 No School- Labor Day
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