HMS Parent Newsletter
October 2016
It's almost time for the HMS Halloween Dance!
Costume Judging at 5:30
Dance: 5:30-7:30
Costume Awards: 7:15
Pick-up: 7:30
Cost: $5.00 at the door
Costume Contest:
1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Prizes for each category:
Scariest, Cutest, Most Creative
Socks are required.
All costumes must adhere to the school dress code.
PSAT Test for 8th graders on Wednesday, 10/19!
All 8th graders will be taking the PSAT test Wednesday morning. Taken in 8th and 9th grade, this test will serve as practice for the actual SAT test your child is required to take in high school. This test also allows teachers and students to pinpoint areas for focused practice as students progress through high school.
Please remember to have your child get a good night's sleep, eat a good breakfast, and come to school on time and ready to take the test 1st hour!
A note from Mrs. Rehlander...
Dear Parents,
We had a great meeting about our 2017 WorldStrides program. I wanted to reiterate some important topics from the meeting:
- Most importantly, don't forget to register for the trip, you only pay a deposit of $99 to sign up! There are three easy ways to register: online at https://worldstrides.com, by calling the WorldStrides Customer Service Team at 1-800-468-5899 (8:30-5:00 EST), or by mail, using the envelope you received in the student invitation. Please reference our Trip ID # 140918.
-There are many options for individual travel funding, including the Gift of Education program, which includes Gift of Education E-Cards and Facebook links. You can find detailed information about fundraising ideas and scholarship options at www.worldstridesfundraising.com. If you're interested in helping lead a fundraiser for the group, contact me to get started. Help from a few dedicated parents can really make a big difference!
- Don't forget about the $2 million in the FLAG financial assistance fund. WorldStrides is proud to be the only travel company that offers this level of financial assistance to its families. It is given on a first come-first served basis and the guidelines are generous (AGI $85,000 and less). Every dollar is helpful, so I encourage you to call WorldStrides for more information at 1-800-468-5899. You never know until you ask, right?!
-I know some interested parents were unable to attend, so I've included the link to WorldStrides Parent Presentation. Please share it with anyone you know who wasn't able to make it! https://resources.worldstrides.com/parent-presentations/
Please let me know if you have any questions about the trip. I look forward to leading a fun and educational program for your child!
All the best,
Kelly Rehlander
Here Comes the Bus... HMS is now using this great tracking system!!!
Here Comes the Bus
Here Comes the Bus is a bus and student tracking software tool that helps keep you informed and your children safe as they travel to and from home and school on the school bus. Here Comes the Bus gives you real-time bus location and alerts to help you get your children to the bus stop at just the right time.
Here Comes the Bus will show you your child’s officially assigned bus stop. Please make sure your child uses the correct, assigned bus stop each day to ensure their safety and the accuracy of our tracking system. Thank you for your help in this matter!
With Here Comes the Bus, your child will use their student ID card (Bus Pass – their code is their lunch ID number) or the Here Comes the Bus app on their smartphone to scan as they board or exit the bus, or the bus driver may log them in if they forget the Bus Pass or do not have the app on their phone. Students will receive their card (Bus Pass) at school. This gives us AND you the comfort of knowing your child got on the right bus and off at the right stop.
Simply download the Here Comes the Bus app, create a secure account, add your students and you’re all set!
What will you see with Here Comes the Bus?
Real-time location of your child’s bus on a map
Scheduled and actual bus arrival times at home and school
Confirmation that your child’s bus has arrived at the bus stop, at school or both
Your child’s scan data including bus number, time and location of scan
Push notification* and email alert when:
o Bus has entered the radius around the home stop
o Bus has been substituted
o Your child scans on and off the bus, including bus number, time and location
Available in three languages (English, Spanish and French), the Here Comes the Bus app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
To sign up or to learn more about Here Comes the Bus, visit http://www.herecomesthebus.com or visit the School City of Hobart website at http://www.hobart.k12.in.us for the Cool Tool Here Comes the Bus.
Should you have any questions, please contact Lisa Wilkison, the Director of Transportation via email at lwilkison@hobart.k12.in.us or by phone at 947-2413, Ext. 8956.
If you need to contact Here Comes the Bus’ customer support (hctb@synoviasolutions.com), please provide the following information:
Your name
School Code: 46342
Email address used for your Here Comes the Bus account
Best number to reach you
Your child’s last name and student ID #
Description of the problem
How to get started:
1. Download the Here Comes the Bus app* or visit herecomesthebus.com
2. Click the button
3. Enter school code (46342) and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
4. Complete the “User Profile” box
5. Under “My Students,” click “Add.” Enter your child’s last name and student ID number - (which is their lunch ID number)
6. Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus! We will issue a Bus Pass or a Smart Phone App can be used for entering and leaving the bus. *Available at the App Store and Google Play Here Comes the Bus® is a registered trademark of Synovia Solutions™ LLC
MASTERY LEARNING AT HMS!
As you have heard on our all-call messages, HMS is all about Mastery Learning!
What is Mastery Learning? It is a method of teaching that involves constant feedback for students, re-instruction when needed, and the opportunity for students to prove mastery for specific skills.
Not only do we give students the opportunity to prove mastery for specific skills (based on state standards), but we actually require it!
If you have questions about Mastery Learning in a specific class, please contact your child's teacher. Of course, some assessments are summative, or final, meaning that a particular test cannot be retaken. These types of tests are given at the end of a unit, after many other assessments have been given to allow time for mastery.
Here are our Mastery Learning numbers from last week:
Passing Rates for Core/Related Arts:
6th....83%
7th...82%
8th...87%
Brickie II Branch (aka the Credit Union at HMS)
- Did you know that representatives from the Hobart Credit Union come to HMS every week?
- Did you know that student workers have the opportunity to assist in banking transactions?
- Did you know that your child can open his/her own checking account with a minimum deposit of only $1?
It's all true! And it's all happening in the HMS cafeteria each week! Students can earn prizes just for opening an account! In order to open a REAL savings account, students need the following:
- $1
- Their Social Security number
Here is the official ad from the Credit Union:
Need a place to "Save for a Rainy Day?" The Brickie II Student Credit Union is open once a week during lunch. Open your savings account with just one dollar and a completed application, then add more every week when the branch is open and watch your money grow. Stop by the Credit Union counter during lunch!
Coming Soon: Red Ribbon Week October 25-28
Red Ribbon Week is part of a drug prevention campaign sponsored by the National Family Partnership. To read more about the Red Ribbon Campaign, click on the link below:
One of the first things you will see on this website is this staggering statistic:
Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don't, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
You will be informed about multiple facets of our HMS Drug Prevention campaign throughout the year. We rely on your partnership, and nothing replaces those daily conversations you are having with your kids.
Here is our Red Ribbon Week lineup:
Red Ribbon Spirit Week:
Tuesday, Oct. 25: "Team up against drugs" - Wear your favorite team shirt.
Wednesday, Oct. 26: ""Be a jean-ius, be drug-free" - Students & staff wear jeans.
Thursday, Oct. 27: "Put a cap on it"- Hat day.
Friday, Oct. 28: "Wear red day" - Show you are drug-free by wearing red (or Brickie spirit gear)
Monday, Oct. 31: "Turn your back on drugs" - Wear a shirt backwards.
Banner signing at lunch - pledging to be drug-free
Red Ribbon Week suckers distributed to all students who promise not to be a "sucker" for drugs and alcohol.
Activities during lunch with Scout, the K9 dog!
Coming Soon: Financial Planning Night
Location: Hobart High School Board Room (please enter Door 1)
Parents--you are invited!
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend a special meeting just for parents of grades 3-8.
We have invited the following VIP’s to speak to you:
ISM College Planning (about financial readiness and helping your child progress toward college/career goals)
Regional Federal Credit Union (about kids saving for college and financial literacy)
Tim O'Brien--529 Plans and other saviings tools for college planning
Valentine Torres--Hobart High School--early college, dual credit, applying for college and financial aid, FAFSA
Christine Duggan--UPromise, UGift--ways to save while shopping
Topics:
Finding affordable colleges
Saving for college
Financial Aid and FAFSA
21st Century Scholars Program
College loans, and keeping debt low
Finding grants and scholarships
How AP/Dual Credit/”Early College” classes, extracurricular experiences, community service, and part-time employment affect college acceptance and financial aid