News from Panther Headquarters
November 2016
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families β
I appreciate the opportunity to share the latest and greatest happenings at HIJH each month. There have been some common misperceptions with regard to HSE21 as the blueprint for teaching and learning in our school district. Initially, this initiative was thought to be mostly about the rollout of 1:1 iPad implementation. When in fact, the iPad is just a learning tool to be incorporated into the HSE21 philosophy of equipping students with content knowledge, unique skills, and new literacies needed to succeed in the 21st Century global economy. We know that just being able to find the answer is not enough. It is our duty to ensure that students think critically and problem solve in school on a regular basis. Students must be able to think, reason, apply, and transfer their knowledge in order to be successful beyond high school and in life. The diagram below organizes the key components we believe are necessary in the teaching and learning that occurs in HSE schools. We encourage you as parents/guardians to have those more in-depth conversations with your child about what they learned in school, and to have them explain what they learned and why it is important to know that material, and how they might use that knowledge in other areas. The new IN Core state assessments will also require students to go beyond finding the answer by providing narrative text boxes for students to justify their answers and provide evidence-based examples of what they read. As principal, I am excited about the possibilities that include such in-depth learning for ALL students.
Below is an example of a shift in the Fundamental Classroom Conditions of Collaboration among 5th grade students and 8th grade students as part of a Toy Design and Marketing project in 8th grade Science. 5th graders had an opportunity to see the 8th grade students "in action" and give their feedback. This is what learning is all about at HIJH!
Upcoming Important Dates
November 8 Election Day - Teachers Only - NO SCHOOL
November 11 Mid-Term
November 23-25 Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
December 2 PTO Meeting 9:30
December 2 Choir Concert (8th graders)
December 6 - 8 BizTown Field Trips (5th graders)
December 12 Orchestra Concert
December 16 End of 1st Semester
December 19 - January 2
Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
Counselor's Corner
Messages from the Nurse
Washington DC Trip for 8th Grade Students
The deadline to register for the 8th grade Washington DC trip has passed and the planning for the trip has begun! Our next step will be a roommate selection meeting in early December. More details will be coming as we get closer. For other general trip information, please go to www.dctrip.info or contact Eric Brown (ebrown@hse.k12.in.us)
Yearbook Orders
PTO News
Staff Appreciation. Thank you HIJH friends and families for your donations for our staff appreciation luncheon in October. It was a great success because of you! Kristina Bucciarelli and Jen Watkins, Staff Appreciation Committee Chairs
Book Fair. A huge thank you to all of our wonderful book fair helpers, and to Marsh for donating all of the of the shopping bags. We could not have done it without you! Jen Watkins, Book Fair Committee
HIJH Winter Athletics Information
HIJH Cafe Info
11/16/16 Taco Triangles or Pretzel Burger, refried beans, side salad, veggie pack with hummus, assorted fruit and milk
11/17/16 Thanksgiving Meal: Baked Turkey with dinner roll, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, fruit salad, milk, and pumpkin pie
iPad Helpful Hints
Passwords.
We recommend that students use 4 digit passcodes on their iPads if they wish to have a passcode on their device. Several students that choose words forget their passwords, and then get locked out of their devices. Several students will also decide to change their passwords at random times throughout the year. It's best to stick with the original password. But if a student must change their password mid-year, then they should write it down in a safe location. Also it's a good idea to have younger students share their passwords with you or for you to help them create it.
What happens if an iPad passcode is forgotten?
It'll start out disabling your iPad for short amounts of time, but then it will disable it for longer amounts of time until it's disabled indefinitely. At that point, the only option is to connect the iPad to a computer that has iTunes and restore the iPad, which would wipe the iPad clean and take it back to factory settings. If the iPad had been backed up to a computer or to iCloud at some point, you could restore from backup. More information on how to backup an iPad will be in next month's newsletter!
PastaBowl Sets a Record!
HIJH Connect
November Multicultural Holidays
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior High
Ph: 317-594-4120
Attendance: 317-594-4126
Guidance: 317-594-4124
Fax: 317-594-4129
hse.k12.in.us/hij/home.aspx
Twitter: @HIJPanthers
Athletics Twitter: @HIJathletics