News from Panther Headquarters
January 2023
News From Panther Headquarters - January 2023
From the desk of the Principal
Happy New Year Panthers!
I certainly hope you had an enjoyable holiday season and are ready for a great new year. The new year brings opportunity for fresh ideas, fresh perspective and a fresh start. We plan to take advantage of those opportunities at the HIJH and feel poised to have a productive second half of the year. We’ve taken the break to re-assess; make tweaks and adjustments, as well as reinforce some of the things we are doing well in serving your family. If there’s anything you are aware of that we can improve or things that you feel are going well, please share those with us.
Thank you for the privilege to educate your student(s), cheers to the start of an incredible semester!
Jagga Rent
Principal
Attendance/Early Dismissals
Please call the attendance line, 317-594-4126, by 9:00am to report all attendance including early dismissals, all day absences and late arrivals. This allows the staff adequate time to facilitate the requests. We will send your student a pass and have them waiting for you in the office at the time requested.
Additionally, and for planning purposes, our car rider line does seem to form quite early so dismissals after 3:30 may be difficult to maneuver.
If you do not call ahead……the parent/guardian will need to show identification to have the student dismissed. This is for the security of our students.
NOTE: Please be aware that it may take time to locate students who are at lunch, outside for P.E., Recess, etc. The more notice you can give the school, the smoother this process becomes. We appreciate your assistance!
Drop Off Area Reminder
Drop off area is located at the entrance of the building.
Please continue to drop off your students items on the drop off table in the main lobby. If you circle that you have texted your student, a note will not be delivered to them. Our student aids bring the items into the office for students to come and pick up.
Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to work on protecting our class time and safety.
Message From The Clinic
Reminder: The district's policy for illness is to keep student home
- Fever of 100.4 should stay home for 24 hours and remain home until fever is normal without the use of medication
- Vomiting should stay home for 24 hours and remain home until vomit free without help of medication
- Diarrhea should stay home for 24 hours and remain home until diarrhea free without use of medication
The clinic does not stock allergy medication.
If your student tests positive for Covid - please call the clinic at 317-594-4120 extension 3.
HHS Course Fair/8th Grade Parent Info
8th grade families are invited to attend the Hamilton Southeastern High School Course Fair on Tuesday, January 10th at 5:30pm. Learn about what credits students need to graduate, diploma types, and more in a special information session for 8th grade families at 5:30pm in the Leonard Auditorium, followed by breakout sessions to meet your student's counselor.
Visit course fair tables and other info sessions from 6:30 - 8:30pm to learn about specific courses, dual credit, AP courses, and career opportunities that HHS has to offer. The Fan Stand will also be open so you can start stocking up on Royal gear!
Reach out to HHS Assistant Principals Stacey Brown (smbrown@hse.k12.in.us) or Paige Vinson (pvinson@hse.k12.in.us) with questions.
FHS AP/Dual Credit & Parent Night
8th Grade IMPORTANT DATES:
Fisher High School:
AP/Dual Credit Night is January 11, 2023, at 7:00 pm
8th Grade Parent Night is January 25, 2023, at 6:00 pm
News From the Guidance Office
Snack Attack
Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP) is offering a free weekend snack program for any student attending Hamilton Southeastern Schools who qualifies for the reduced lunch program or has an increased need currently. Snacks will be delivered to schools each week and sent home with students.
To be part of this free program, you must sign up your family online. https://forms.gle/xrKNaxRaLypSqKvV8
If you have any questions about the registration, please email fyapfood@gmail.com
Withdrawing Your Student:
If your child will be withdrawing from Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Junior High School, please notify the Guidance Office or Kristen Weitzel (kweitzel@hse.k12.in.us) or 317-594-4124 at least two days in advance of your child’s last day. Withdrawal forms must be signed by the parent/guardian.
Twenty-First Century Scholars:
Click Here for Twenty-First Century Scholars information. Eighth Graders must apply by June 30, 2023, to be considered.
*This is the link for Click Here if it doesn’t work 😊 https://learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/enroll/
A Message from Your School Social Worker
January Group Opportunities
Social Skills
This group is being offered to all 5th grade students. Students will learn how to relate to others through finding commonalities with peers and understanding others’ perspectives. They will learn what a good friend looks like, how to apologize, and compliment others.
Girls Growing Strong
This group is being offered to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls.
We will focus on confidence building by working toward growth mindset vs. fixed mindset, learning the power of the word “Yet,” as well as what it means to be self-compassionate.
If either of these group's sound like it would be beneficial to your child or you have further questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Sayers at ssayers@hse.k12.in.us. Let me know as soon as possible if you are interested, as they may fill up.
Library News
Hour of Code
The library worked and shared Hour of Code resources with several classes in December. Students can still get to them through the Makerspace page in the library’s Canvas, and they can also still go to the Hour of Code website.
Book Club
Book Club will be starting back up in January after winter break! Book club meets before school in the library on certain dates. Stay tuned for more details on times and dates after break. We hope to see you there!
Next PTO Meeting will be held at HIJH on Monday January 9th @ 11 am.
Fundamentals of Restorative Practices
Hamilton Southeastern Schools is offering a one-day training, Fundamentals of Restorative Practices, for parents/guardians of HSE students and community members who are interested in learning more about restorative practices. Participants will be able to understand the foundation of restorative practices and recognize how these practices cultivate relationships, repair harm, and restore connections. This workshop is identical to the training that district personnel received and will be facilitated by our district restorative practices team.
This training is limited to 50 participants who must have an up-to-date Safe Visitor background check and complete the online application that can be found here. We hope to have a diverse group of participants with representation from many of our schools.
The training will be held on February 13, 2023, from 8:30am-4:30pm. Participants must be available to attend the full session to be considered.
There is no cost to participate if you have a current background check on file. The deadline to complete the application is noon on January 13, 2023.
To apply for consideration, click this LINK.
2023 Washington DC Trip
7th grade parents: The early discounted registration has closed but we can still squeeze your 7th grader in this epic Washington DC trip: a 26-year HSE tradition!
Over 175 students have sign up! Just go to https://worldstrides.com/custom/hamilton-intermediate-jhs-204897/
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Brown ebrown@hse.k12.in.us or visit my website at www.dctrip.info
Mudsock Youth Athletics Updates:
Save-The-Date: Spring Program Registration
Get moving with us in the spring! Registration for baseball, softball, soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, rugby, and track and field opens January 1st atmyathletics.com. Program information will be updated on the site mid-December.
Spring Program Scholarships
Families who qualify for free or reduced lunches within the district are also eligible for program scholarships with MYA. Families can apply for one per season per child and must apply and be accepted during our open registration period. For spring sports these dates are 1/1 – 1/31. Emailinfo@myathletics.com.
2023 HIJH Costa Rica Service Adventure
R.A.V.E. Reviews
Help us in recognizing and appreciating our talented, hard-working, and dedicated employees by submitting a R.A.V.E. (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) Review. All HSE staff members are eligible for nomination and may be recognized multiple times. To submit a R.A.V.E. Review, click here to fill out a quick and easy online form and share why the individual is a 5-Star employee.
Recipients will receive a R.A.V.E. Review window cling to proudly display their nomination in their workspace, a certificate and letter of recognition with their review. Each month, one R.A.V.E. Review recipient will be selected at random by the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation for a $100 gift card. Thank you for your support!
HSE Intermediate & Junior High School
Fishers, IN 46037
Main Line: 317-594-4120
Attendance: 317-594-4126
Counseling: 317-594-4124
Fax: 317-594-4129
Permitted use of school newsletters as required by the Equal Access Act is not an endorsement of this group or this group’s beliefs by Hamilton Southeastern Schools or the Board of School Trustees.
Email: swahlstrom@hse.k12.in.us
Website: https://hij.hseschools.org
Location: 12278 Cyntheanne Road, Fishers, IN, USA
Phone: 317-594-4120
Twitter: @HIJPanthers