Charger Connection
October 8, 2021
Please Congratulate Dr. Thorpe!!!
- District 5, IASP, Middle School Principal of the Year 2020
- State of Indiana, IASP, Middle School Principal of the Year 2020-2021
- Indiana NASSP, Principal of the Year 2021
This week, Dr. Thorpe represented the state of Indiana as the state's 2021 Principal of the Year, with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Dr. Thorpe has been the recipient of numerous awards during her tenure at FJH, for activities such as We The People, the All-School Day of Service, the International Fair, and Field Day. Dr. Thorpe is fortunate to have an amazing staff that believes in doing what's best for kids. She has used these awards as an opportunity to further advocate for FJH students and staff. She has submitted FJH student essays for publication and personally submitted an article to Principal Leadership. Dr. Thorpe has used her platform to participate in a blog post, an advocacy push, and a round-table discussion on Civics Education. We are proud and grateful to have such an amazing and caring leader as our principal here at FJH!
Upcoming Dates
- Play rehearsal 4-6
- 7th Boys Basketball tryouts 6-8
- 8th Boys Basketball tryouts 5:30-7:30
Tuesday October 12
- Writing Club 4-4:45
- Play rehearsal 4-6
- Paper Crafting Club 4-5
- 7th Boys Basketball Tryouts 6-8
- 8th Boys Basketball Tryouts 5:30-7:30
Wednesday October 13
- 8th Football 5:30 @ HIJH
- Gay Straight Alliance 4-4:45
- Play rehearsal 4-6
Thursday October 14
- K-pop 4-4:45
- Play rehearsal 4-6
- 8th Boys Basketball Tryouts 4-6
- 8th Boys Basketball Tryouts 7-8:30am
***October 18-22 FALL BREAK- No School***
Important information
Greetings Charger parents,
I want to bring something very important to your attention. We are experiencing levels of aggression unlike anything we have seen before in the history of Fishers Junior High School. This includes but is not limited to horseplay, rough-housing, fighting, foul language, and verbal aggression. This is NOT who we are as a school or a community. Students are video-taping and posting to social media websites. This is traumatic for the students involved, and it destroys the reputation of our school. We have great kids who sometimes make poor choices. Please talk with your student about managing conflict and encourage them to speak with someone at school if they are having an issue. I appreciate your attention to this very important matter. I'm hoping together we can get a handle on this situation. Thank you for all that you do to support our school.
Proudly serving as your principal,
Dr. Thorpe
Counselor's Corner
Email Alerts for Grade Checks:
All grades are contained in Skyward Family Access. If you would like to sign up to have your student’s grades delivered straight to your inbox if they reach a certain percentage, please follow the instructions in the attachment. This may be helpful as we are now to the end of the first nine weeks of school. If you need assistance, please contact Mrs. Broughton in the guidance office, kbroughton@hse.k12.in.us
Canvas Parent Resources:
Please click on the link below to learn how to create a Canvas Parent Observer Account:
https://sway.office.com/xU2P6nliHhzwMeJb?ref=Link
Canvas is Hamilton Southeastern's Learning Management System.
sway.office.com
Body Safety Presentations Next Week:
In September, parents were invited to attend a zoom session presented by Brooke Lawson, from HSE Central Office, and Maggie Owens, from Indiana Center for Prevention, where they led a parent presentation (advertised earlier via skylerts) regarding the body safety presentations that students will have here at FJH next week. This year as part of your Skyward Family Access Back to School Forms, you had an option to opt out of this presentation. We will utilize those reports to determine who will not participate. If you have not completed the form, Item #9, Instruction on Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse, please do so at your earliest convenience indicating whether you would like your student to participate or not. Item #10, Consent for Formal Classroom Instruction on Human Sexuality, will be presented in the next nine week grading period and that will need to be completed as well.
21st Century Scholars
Indiana's 21st Century Scholars Program is the state’s premier college scholarship and preparation program for low-income Hoosier students. Students who fulfill the Scholar Pledge are provided up to four years of paid tuition at an eligible college or university. Scholars also receive a variety of support services designed to help them succeed in school and complete college.
Please click on the link below for more information, including income eligibility, and to apply:
https://learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/enroll/
Applications must be completed online on or before June 30th of the student’s 7th or 8th grade year.
If you have already applied, you do not need to reapply.
Please contact your school counselors if you have any questions.
8th grade – Kitti O'Neill (kgal@hse.k12.in.us)
7th grade – Basel Maarouf (bmaarouf@hse.k12.in.us)
SNACK ATTACK
Fishers Youth Assistance Program is pleased to offer Snack Attack again this school year and continue to support students in HSE Schools. For those unfamiliar, Snack Attack is a simple program designed to help students needing a little extra nourishment to get them through the weekend until they can receive a hot meal at school on Monday. There is no cost to the family or to the school, families just need to opt into the service. All students in need are welcome to participate.
Snack Attack bags are unmarked brown bags filled with ten snacks for junior high students that are picked up in the Guidance Office each Friday. Snacks are individually wrapped snacks such as granola bars, fruit cups, pop tarts, or peanut butter/crackers, Goldfish crackers, etc. The type of snacks will vary each week. If a child has a peanut allergy, he/she will receive a special white bag of peanut-free snacks.
If you would like to opt into this program, please email Mrs. Broughton (kbroughton@hse.k12.in.us) with your student(s) name and grade. Please also include if there is a peanut allergy.
If you would like to donate to the Fishers Youth Assistance Snack Attack program, donations may be dropped off at the front office or by sending in with your student. Monetary donations to Fishers Youth Assistance may be made by clicking on the link below:
Tutoring Club
Students at Fishers High School have graciously offered their time to tutor FJH students who need a little extra help academically. Tutoring will happen every Thursday starting October 14th from 4-5pm in the FJH media center. Students will be placed into small groups of 2-3 students per high school tutor. All participating students must be picked up promptly at 5:00.
In order to participate, your student must sign up at least 24 hours in advance by filling out the Microsoft form that can be found on their school counselor's canvas page. This will be on a first come, first serve basis. Students must come prepared with something specific to work on (homework assignment, project piece, concept you don't understand etc,). If you have any questions, please email Mrs. O'Neill at kgal@hse.k12.in.us.
NEW TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
Miss Taylor Miller
I came back to FJH in 2016 as a Cadet Teacher for Kim Beaulieu in the FOCUS program. Building rapport with the students and experiencing the teacher side of school solidified my love for education. I went onto IU to study Secondary Special Education and Middle School Math. During breaks or when I had time, I returned to FJH as a sub or volunteered my time in the FOCUS room to gain experience(and for fun). It was also comforting to visit familiar faces and remind myself of why I wanted to go into teaching in the first place.
I graduated from IU this past May. When searching for a first-year teaching position, I knew I wanted a school like FJH. Little did I know my first-year teaching would be at FJH! I am so thankful for the endless support I have received from every staff member. I think every teacher can attest that the first year of teaching is challenging but I wouldn't want to be surrounded by any other group of staff. Shout out to the most amazing Resource team. Truly the best team I have been a part of! I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to growing during this school year.
Fun Facts:
- In 8th grade I had 22 rebounds in one basketball game(set the school record at the time)
- In my free time, I enjoy hiking and baking
- My favorite subject is math
Performing Arts Department
Hispanic-Americans Spotlight
DR. ELLEN OCHOA was recognized with NASA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal. She became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on the nine-day STS-56 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery. She is also the first Hispanic Director of Johnson Space Control. Dr. Ochoa has ventured to space four times in the course of her career. Among the many awards she has received, Dr. Ochoa has earned the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award and has six schools named in her honor.
PAM MUÑOZ RYAN is an American author of Mexican heritage. She is the recipient of numerous writing awards including the National Education Association’s Civil and Human Rights Award. She has written over forty books. Many of these books reflect her half-Mexican heritage. Esperanza Rising, is a book that chronicles Esperanza’s move from privilege to poverty during the Great Depression. The book is based on Ryan’s maternal grandmother’s challenging immigration from Mexico. This book and many others written by Ryan are available at our Book Fair. See the link below.
FJH Book Fair online until October 14th
Book Rental is Now Due
If you need assistance paying your book rental please contact our treasurer, Candis Tucker, ctucker@hse.k12.in.us
In compliance with Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation policy, book rental needs to be collected at the beginning of each school year.
Email statements were sent out September 3, 2021.
To view statements in Skyward Family Access:
Click on Skyward Family Access
(https://sis.hse.k12.in.us/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsEAplus/seplog01.w)
Enter your User ID and Password
Click on “Fee Management” under General Information
Your student’s invoice amount will be listed under “Unpaid Balances”.
Ways to pay for your student's book rental this year:
Personal checks
Money Orders
Cash
eFunds
Personal checks should be made payable to FJH and can be mailed or sent with your student to school. Be sure to specify on your check /envelope that the payment is for book rental. Include student’s name, I.D. #, and grade in the memo line of check. Payment needs to be directed to the Bookstore/Treasurer.
Note: If you choose to pay by credit card you MUST utilize eFunds.
On-line payments with Mastercard, Visa, or Discover Payment may be made online via the Efunds tab on the FJH website. Be sure to select Student Course Fees.
(https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/55481)
Payments will be posted in Skyward within 10 business days.
***PAYMENT DUE DATE*** October 1, 2021
Prompt payment is appreciated.
Should you have any questions or do not have internet access and need a copy of your fee statement, please contact me at 317-594-4150, extension 5715 or ctucker@hse.k12.in.us
Thank You,
Candis Tucker - Treasurer Fishers Junior High SchoolRequest
Message from the PTO
Student Spirit
We are still looking for parents/guardians to head up the Student Spirit committee. Meantime, we’ve scheduled an after school UPaint Pottery event. Save-the-date for Thursday, November 4! UPaint Pottery will be bringing their mobile studio to the FJH cafeteria. There will be a number of items for students to choose from, along with the paint. UPaint Pottery staff will be on hand to assist, and then they will take the items back to the studio, fire the items, and deliver the items back to school for distribution back to the students. Registration details are coming soon.
Dine to Donate (D2D)
Thank you to everyone that joined us at Texas Roadhouse on October 5th, for our first D2D!
Please consider spreading the word and joining us on:
November 11 & 12, time 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. at Jaggers
December 7, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Five Guys
January 12, 10:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Bibibop
These businesses are part of our community and are happy to support our school by giving us a portion of the sales during the listed date/time.
Concessions
While our final night of football was cut short due to weather, we wanted to make sure to send a shoutout to all the volunteers who made it possible for the outdoor concession stand to be open for each game this season. Thank you to the students and parents who volunteered with an extra big THANK YOU to Michelle Cruser and her daughter, Ashley, who worked EVERY game. Having Michelle 'manage' the stand was a huge help! We have begun planning for the basketball and wrestling season to begin. We'll be using SignUp.com again to organize our volunteer needs.
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/FdBhDDu
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact FJH PTO and we can sign you up manually.
Other Miscellaneous Income Opportunities
Please consider the big and small ways you can financially support the students and staff at FJH:
AmazonSmile (Search for Fishers Junior High School Triangle Club Inc.)
Families Invited to Panorama Parent Night Webinar
In the spring of 2019, HSE Schools began using the Panorama survey to better understand student’s experience in our schools. This survey helps HSE teachers, administrators and counselors gauge student growth and understanding around social and emotional competencies, which contribute to academic success and increase engagement in the classroom.
The district will be hosting a Parent Night Webinar to share information and answer common questions about the Panorama survey. We will discuss what data is collected and how HSE uses this data to help inform what services and supports are provide to students in order to increase academic success.
The webinar will be held on October 12th at 7:30PM. All HSE Families are invited to attend. Please pre-register for the event here.
If you can’t attend the webinar, the event will be recorded and posted to the HSE Schools website after concluding.
If you would like to learn more about how social-emotional learning can help your student better manage emotion, achieve positive goals, and experience increased success in the classroom, please visit: HSE Schools – What is Social Emotional Learning?
Below are the full links, just in case internal message links are broken and you need to re-enter them for your newsletter:
Parent Night Registration:
https://hseschools-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IamT2dEdRm2wiw9LdCMfpg
HSE Schools Social Emotional Learning Webpage:
Social Emotional Learning - Hamilton Southeastern Schools (hseschools.org)Fishers Junior High
Personal responsibility
Respect for others
Integrity
Discipline & self-control
Engagement
Email: lfrancis@hse.k12.in.us
Website: https://fjh.hseschools.org/
Location: 13257 Cumberland Rd, Fishers, IN, USA
Phone: (317) 594-4150
Twitter: @FJHChargers