Henderson Middle School
February 2019 Newsletter
Henderson Middle School
Email: yaa.appiah.mcnulty@lrsd.org
Website: https://hendersonhawks.org
Location: 401 John Barrow Road, Little Rock, AR, USA
Phone: 501-447-2800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hendersonmiddleschoollrsd
Twitter: @MiddleLrsd
Principal's Corner
Dear Henderson Families,
As we dive into the month of February, we have exciting news and updates to share with our school community. Last month, HMS staff made a commitment to incorporate interventions into our school schedule two times a week. We were able to accomplish this task by shaving off a few minutes of each period in order to have 45 minutes available every Tuesday and Thursday to work with our students. Our intervention groups were created based on each student’s NWEA score. As you are aware, NWEA is a test we provide to students three times a year. This test measures our students growth and tells our staff which skill gaps our students are missing, so we can provide interventions to help them move on to the next skill level. Each teacher providing an intervention class has no more than ten students, so we can really support them individually to make positive growth. We have a spring assessment for NWEA coming up as well as the ACT Aspire (state test). One major thing you can help us with is encouraging your child to take the test seriously and do their very best. In reviewing students assessment scores, we have noticed that some students are not truly showing us what they know and that reflects poorly on them as well as our school. Thank you for taking the time to talk with your child about the importance of these assessments.
As interim grades draw near, we have Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled on Thursday, February 14th (4pm-7pm) and Friday, February 15th (9:00am-1:00pm). This is a great time for parents to get informed about how your middle school student is doing. Information such as grades, assignments, tests, and ways to support them at home should all be a part of the discussion you have with your child’s teacher. If your child has not done well in the first and second quarter, they will be candidates for summer school. Critically, in such a case, you need to visit with the teacher to plan how we as a team can help your student change course in order to pass the remaining two quarters to ensure that we all finish out the year in strong way. We know that our middle schooler’s do not always think about the impact of their decisions as their brains are still in the development stage. However, it is all of our responsibilities to continue to guide them to work hard, complete their assignments, study for their tests and maintain those habits as it shapes who they become.
Daily attendance and decreasing tardiness is very important. Our students will show academic growth when they are here, on time, and ready to learn. While we have seen at least a 10% increase in attendance, we need a daily attendance of 95% for all students. Please ensure that your child is at school and getting to class on time!
Lastly, we are asking for our parents to take time out to monitor your child’s social media access. We find that as we investigate student conflicts, many stem from social media conversations. Talk to your child about knowing when to stay away from inappropriate social media conversations and reporting to school officials when they know of a potential conflict that needs immediate mediation. Our goal at Henderson is to support all students, so we have a healthy and safe school environment. As always it takes the commitment of all of us to make a healthy learning environment. Finally, we need volunteers here at Henderson. If you are a parent or guardian and have some extra time to dedicate to our school, we welcome your presence to positively support students and staff. Please contact sharon.johnson@lrsd.org (Parent Facilitator) for volunteer opportunities.
Sincerely,
Ms. Yaa Appiah-McNulty
Shining
Excited about our students business plan relating to the the Smart Cane. 4th Place Winners at the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase. Proud of Ms. Kelly and our talented students!
Enrichment Time!
Students being innovative during intervention time at HMS! Excited to see student work products with Ms. Jackson's enrichment students!
Smile!
Mr. Watson cracks a smile for the camera during reading time!
Assembly
Accomplishments
Intervention Time
Success Tips from a Middle School Counselors
Ms. Smith 6th Grade
Ms. Tatum 7th Grade
Although your middle schooler is becoming more independent and is increasingly involved in activities outside the family, you should and must remain the most influential person in his/her life. Through your involvement in school and extracurricular, you can do much to help your child believe in the value and importance of education, be enthusiastic about learning, and achieve academic success.
As a middle-school counselor, a big part of my job is to help parents support their children emotionally as well as academically. Here is my best advice for parents of preteens:
1. Show interest in their studies by talking with them daily about what they’re learning and doing in school (don't take "nothing" for an answer!). If you know your child has a project for science, get involved. The same goes for cheerleading, sports, and music — any extracurricular activities.
2. Contact counselors, administrators, and teachers periodically. Find out what your child should be learning, how they are progressing, and how you can help. Be a full partner in your child's education.
3. Be sure that your child attends school on a regular basis. Even if they are absent for illness or another valid reason, they need to keep up with their studies. Call the school if your child will be missing a day, and find out what he needs to do to make up for it.
4. Know their friends. Who does your child hang out with? Follow up on any suspicions that you may have. It is better to be safe than sorry at this time of their life. Know where your child is at all times. Be clear and consistent with discipline.
5. Make it clear that they must follow school rules and policies. Teach them to respect people as well as property. Help them know right from wrong and what they must do when negative temptations come their way.
6. Consistently acknowledge and reward efforts at school. Many parents expect the school to provide the incentives for their child's accomplishments. While schools do have a lot of motivation programs, parents need to recognize their child's successes too. When your child works hard, your acknowledgment motivates them to persist.