Hocker Grove Family Newsletter
August 23, 2022
SECTION 1: NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION THIS WEEK
Teacher of the Year Nominations
STUCO Canned Drive at Back to School Night
STUCO will also be celebrating Spirit Week in conjunction with Shawnee Mission North's 100th year celebration on September 6-10. More information on specific days in next week's newsletter.
Internet Hot Spots Available for Checkout
Hocker Grove continues to have Hotspots available for check out to students/families in need of internet support. Families with a demonstrated need may check out a hotspot for home access. The first step is to complete the application: http://bit.ly/smsdhotspot
Need is established by an inability to secure internet access in the home and one of the following:
National School Lunch Program qualification (District letter confirming qualification should be shown to establish this need.)
Academic need - the student is at risk of failing or at least 1 academic year behind peers for their age.
Children with Limited English Proficiency
Immigrant children/youth or Migrant Educational Program participant
McKinney Vento or Youth in Foster Care
Parent experienced recent job loss/unemployment/financial hardship
Checkout will be for a semester. If a device is not actively used, the district will request it be returned and reallocated to another student in need.
Some Important Dates for the First Months of School
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
September 29 First PTA Meeting 7:00 pm, Hocker Grove Library
SECTION 2: Previously Announced, Still Relevant, Information
Student Arrival and Drop Off for Car Riders
While we encourage car riders to take advantage of the car rider loop here on campus, which usually clears about 10 minutes after dismissal, some families choose to drop off at the Shawnee United Methodist Church parking lot just to the west of Hocker Grove or on a side street, allowing their student to walk the rest of the way. This is typically quicker and is certainly allowed, but please keep in mind that we aren't able to provide off campus supervision.
How Can the School Office Help You? (Or How Can You Help The Office?)
It is our desire to provide you with friendly and positive assistance when you contact the school. You can help do that by remembering the following:
- The switchboard will be open for incoming calls from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Phones are available for your student’s use before and after school. During the school day, students may use the office phone for important reasons with a pass from a teacher.
- Students need to bring notes requesting permission to leave school to the front office prior to 8:45 a.m. Parents must come into the building to check their student out at the main office.
- If your student is ill, please call the attendance line (913-993-0212) before 8:45 a.m. Instructions will be on the recording and you simply need to follow the instructions. To talk to the nurse during the school day, please call 913-993-0207.
- In the case of forgotten lunches, gym uniforms, etc., please bring these items to the office with the student’s name written on it and we’ll notify the student.
- Please confine personal calls to your student to matters of true emergencies during the school day and be sure to call the school office (993-0200) to ask for your child. Cell phones are expected to be put away during classes in order to respect the educational environment. We ask your cooperation in supporting this school expectation.
- In the event of inclement weather, please listen to the local radio or TV stations regarding the closing of school rather than calling the school office. Families who have signed up for SM Alert will receive text messages about school closings.
- All visitors, including parents, must report to the office with their driver’s license to secure a visitor’s pass upon entering the building. Your cooperation with this policy is greatly appreciated and will help maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students. Please remember that this is for the safety of your student. Visitors desiring to observe classrooms will need to make the request at least twenty-four hours in advance to ensure appropriate arrangements. Approval of school visitation is ultimately at the discretion of the school principal and is determined by need. Visits may be limited in order to preserve the educational process.
- Students wishing to ride home on another students bus must bring a note from their parent and from the other students parent and bring them to the office in the morning to get a bus pass.
Hocker Grove PTA Facebook Page
Student Lockers
If your student would like to have a locker to keep their coat, backpack, lunchbox, etc., we have announced for them to share their request with their Eagle Hour teacher, who will coordinate getting a locker assigned to them.
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:
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