Bronco Bits
August 22 2019
Principal's Message
Our first week of school has been amazing!!! We began the week rolling out the red carpet for our students with a DJ, smiles, high fives, and a few dance moves. It was quite an event and we are so grateful to have the students back in the building. Please be sure to check the campus website and this weekly newsletter to keep up with the great things happening at HMS.
Today we concluded our grade level meetings in which we discussed campus-wide expectations for everything from our Focus Time, Dress Code, Hallways, Cafeteria, and other pertinent information. While we just concluded these meetings today, I must say that I am so very proud of the way our students have navigated the beginning of school even before we discussed these things with them. They have been absolutely stellar throughout the building and I know they will continue as such.
In closing, I want to thank you all for a great first week here at HMS. You have all been so welcoming and supportive. Thank you for your patience as we navigated the change in traffic flow. Your patience and willingness to work with us has made each day significantly better than the day before. We appreciate your willingness to embrace change so that we can improve our processes to better meet the safety and transportation needs of all students.
If the first week of school is any indication of what is to come for the HMS Broncos we are poised for great things!
Proud to be your principal,
Dr. James Whitfield
Traffic Flow Info
Baskin-Robbins Spirit Night! Come and cool off!
Wednesday, Sep 4, 2019, 11:00 AM
Baskin-Robbins, 2750 TX-121, Suite 800, Euless, TX 76039
Fall Social! Jeans & Jerseys
*Only current HMS students are invited to HMS Socials*
Parents! We would love your help! Thanks for giving your time for either pre-pay sales, or at the event itself. Don't forget to complete the GCISD background check and be cleared by September 27... Sign up to help out here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0949abae2ba6fa7-hmsfall1
Washington DC Trip for Next Year - June 2020
Registration for the HMS trip to Washington DC for next summer is LIVE! Trip is open to HMS students in 7th and 8th grade during the 2019-2020 school year. Visit www.worldstrides.com/signup for details. Use Trip ID# 174661. Contact Coach Landau for more information.
HMS Volunteer Hours
Did you volunteer on behalf of HMS in May 2019?
Bronco Parents! Please log any HMS volunteer hours at www.heritagemiddlepta.com/volunteer
Click on "Log Volunteer Hours".
Time volunteering for ANY HMS activity (band, athletics, choir, drama, dance, cheer, PTA, etc) count! Log any hours done at home, school, or in the community.
We compete with the other GCISD schools each month for top volunteers! Help us win!
Counselors' Corner
Welcome to the 2019-20 school year! We are so excited to work with your students. They have done an awesome job this first week of school, and we are looking forward to getting to know our new Broncos! We will update the Counselors’ Corner weekly with counseling, scheduling, and other social/emotional supports and programs. Also, please don’t ever hesitate to contact one of us by calling or emailing us with any questions or concerns. For students, they will all be joining a grade level Google classroom where we will post any important information.
Counselor Request for Students
We have shared with all students that there are posters around the school and in classrooms with a QR code and website they can use to put in a request to see a counselor for any non-emergency situations. This link is also on the front page of our counseling website.
Counseling Curriculum Preview
There will be a parent preview of all guidance and counseling materials and calendars for you to view on Tuesday, August 27th from 11:00-12:00 in the Panther Den at PDEC. 5800 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville. If you are unable to attend but have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of the counselors.
Upcoming Guidance
Counselor Introduction/Bullying - We will be going in through PE classes for all sixth graders this coming up week to do an introduction lesson and talk about Bullying and CyberBullying/David's Law. All 7th and 8th graders will view a Counselor Introduction video with all of this information. To learn more about David's Law you can click HERE.
6th Grade Guidance - Throughout the year, the Student Advocate Counselor and Security Resource Officer will be partnering with the PE teachers to teach a monthly guidance lesson over different topics (goal setting, tobacco/drugs, decision making, communication and decision making, conflict resolution, media literacy, coping skills and leadership). The first lesson (Bullying) is included with the Counselor Introduction.
SOS
During the month of September, the HMS counselors will be leading guidance lessons from the S.O.S (Signs of Suicide) curriculum. This program will be shared with all GCISD middle and high school students and staff. Students will learn how to respond to a friend who may need extra support. One tool they will gain is the acronym ACT.
A: Acknowledge the problem
C: Care. Let the person know you care.
T: Tell a responsible adult.
Counselors will also discuss the difference between sadness and depression.
The Parent Screening will be August 29th at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM at the Administration Building.
6th Graders will have their lesson Tuesday, September 10.
7th Graders will have their lesson Thursday, September 12.
8th Graders will have their lesson Monday, September 16.
A parent letter is being sent homeThursday, Aug. 22nd with more information. This needs to be returned by September 6th only if you do NOT want your child to participate in this guidance lesson. To view the Parent and Student videos and access an electronic copy of the letter, you can go to this website: https://www.gcisd.net/cms/one.aspx?portalId=96313&pageId=748694
If you have any further questions over this curriculum, please contact Sarah Burey, the Student Advocate Counselor.
Friends for Life
This is an anonymous way to make a report if a student sees or hears about anything that is concerning. To access information with the phone number, number to text, phone application, and website to make this report, you can go to our counseling website by clicking HERE.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you ever have any questions or concerns!
Thank you,
Chandra Manuel (A-K Counselor) - chandra.manuel@gcisd.net
Renae Garrett (L-Z Counselor) - joyce.garrett@gcisd.net
Sarah Burey (Student Advocate) - sarah.burey@gcisd.net
HMS Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs
Mission
Heritage Middle School will empower all students to develop the knowledge and skills to be college and career ready in a global society.
Vision
Our school community will inspire a passion and sense of value for lifelong learning.
Core Beliefs
- Provide a safe and secure environment
- Maintain high expectations for all learners
- Build and maintain positive relationships
- Celebrate diversity
- Communicate and collaborate effectively
Doing Things The Bronco Way!
Website: http://hms.gcisd.net/
Location: 5300 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX, United States
Phone: 817-305-4790
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heritage-Middle-School-145970672210425/
Twitter: @HeritageBroncos