Focus on Education
January 2021
The Holidays Were Bright And Cheery In Our Schools!
Here are some tips that can help students set effective goals:
1. Goals are intentional commitments to action, not a wish list.
"I want to get an A" lacks power. "I will work hard (How), to earn an A," is intentional and powerful.
2. Be specific.
“Find help" is too general. "I will find 5 resources that will help me before the end of the month" is better.
3. Share your goals with someone who cares if you reach them.
Sharing your intentions with your parents, your best friend, or your teacher will help ensure success.
4. Write down your goals and put them where you will see them.
The more often you read your list, the more results you get.
5. Review and revise your list.
Experiment with different ways of stating your goals. Goal setting improves with practice!
S.M.A.R.T Goals!
Help your child succeed by setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals!
You can work with your students by helping them set specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.) Goals!
Our students can login into Google and access these forms. You can do this together and have them submit to their teacher. Monitor progress together!
Check out our website for the Google Doc and more information!
Use our Google Goal Setting Form to Get Started! #BrickieUP
Student Accomplishments With Hobart University!
During the 2018-2019 school year we had 727 students achieving college credits. We offered 72 courses that were taught by 36 educators, earning our Brickies a total of 6,222 college credits and a savings of $874,946 in tuition!
Last year, during the 2019-2020 school year we had an amazing 829 students achieve college credits while offering 96 courses taught by 49 educators. This earned our Brickies 7,704 college credits while saving an astonishing $1,152,233.20 in tuition!
Over all in the past two years, with the implementation of Hobart University, our Brickies have earned 13,926 college credits while achieving their high school degree and saved over TWO MILLION dollars in tuition! Students gain experience and skills in their field of interest, with some even leaving high school with an Associate degree and all graduating knowing they have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed.
So what are you waiting for? Learn more about Hobart University at www.hobart.k12.in.us/HU
Learn More Indiana Magazines: Indiana's Guide To Student Success
Learn More Indiana publishes Learn More magazines for every age level, from kindergarten to adults, designed to help students take the right steps to prepare for and succeed in college. Magazines are available for downloading and can be viewed by clicking the link below or on our website at www.hobart.k12.in.us/ccr along with other helpful information!
- Start by visiting Indiana Career Explorer
- Compare the estimated net price of attendance at Indiana colleges through Indiana College Costs
- Learn about career interest inventories, education requirements for different careers and more at Learn More Indiana.
- Check out Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs for the most recent in-demand careers and wages in the state!
- O*NET® Career Exploration Tools - Self-directed career exploration/assessment tools to help you consider and plan career options, preparation, and transitions more effectively. The tools are also designed for use by students who are exploring the school-to-work transition.
- Go to My skills. My future looks at the jobs you have held in the past to determine some similar positions for you in the future. It also allows you to learn more about those recommended careers.
- Skills Profiler - Use the Skills Profiler to create a list of your skills and match them to jobs that use those skills
HHS's "Careers In The Trades" Newsletter!
Did you know...
That every month a new "Careers In The Trades" newsletter is created? Click on the Smore newsletter below to see career opportunities available right now for our Brickies! Take advantage of experiences that are offered to you and continue to grow into a successful Brickie!
So what?
It's more important than ever for you to make sure you have options for what skills you develop and what credentials you earn so that you are marketable.
What will it take for you to be successful?
The successful worker is one who is up-to-date on trends in their industry and who is always learning and refining skills and abilities.
What can you do now to prepare for the future?
By taking dual credit classes while in high school and working to earn a certificate, technical certificate, or associate degree - you can save a lot of time and money while working towards finding and keeping your dream job. Talk to your counselor and see what HU can do for you!
Porter County Career and Technical Education (CTE) / Vocational Opportunities Through HU!
Did you know????
You’ve heard about Hobart University… but did you know that Hobart University includes vocational trades?
High school students attended presentations by our Ivy Tech and Porter County Career Center partners. During these presentations, they have learned about opportunities to earn college credit AND/OR earn technical certifications that they can use immediately after completing high school.
Did you know about our Energy program? It’s actually Ivy Tech’s Energy program, and it is in partnership with NIPSCO and it begins right here at Hobart High School. Students who start this program in 10th grade will complete it by the end of 12th grade and are guaranteed an interview with NIPSCO. Jobs in this field are moving toward renewable energy, so it’s not “just” about power lines, although if students are interested in that part, we have that too! Ask your kids about the salary. I am certain they will remember it.
We also offer a Medical Assistant program that prepares students to work in the field as a Medical Assistant at the end of the summer after their senior year.
What else do we have through our great partnerships? Diesel, automotive, robotics, cosmetology, just to name a few.
Does your child want to enter the workforce immediately after completing high school? No problem. Interested in the trades? We have direct links to local unions and can assist your child in whichever way he/she wants to go. The possibilities are endless and we talk to your kids about all of them.
Students in grades 9-11 have also participated in the Taste of HU, which is a “fair” highlighting all of the dual credit and technical certification opportunities that we have.
Whether students want to start a career immediately after completing high school or attend a post-secondary school, we can help them with a head start.
Parenting Tips
Teen Dating- start discussion early
5 Tips from Positive Parenting Solutions - Teen Dating: 5 Tips for talking to your teen
Positive Parent Solution Newsletter sign up - Free Tips to become the parent you want to be
Self-Care for Families – ideas for families to do together and promote mental health of all family members.
Social Emotional Learning Parent Meetings
Meeting dates - Feb. 2nd, 16th, 23rd - zoom meetings
Session 1: SEL 101- Feb. 2nd
Definition of Social Emotional Learning
Mental Wellness
How to apply SEL to home.
Session 2: Importance of Routines- Feb. 16
Session 3: Regulation and Self –Control Strategies – Feb 23
Benefits of Mindfulness For Kids
Studies show that the benefits of mindfulness for kids may include:
1. Increased focus, attention, self-control, classroom participation, compassion.
2. Improved academic performance, ability to resolve conflict, overall well-being.
3. Decreased levels of stress, depression, anxiety, disruptive behavior.
Your children will participate in mindful practices focusing in on learning about the science of the brain, breathing and movement. Our goal is to teach your children how to successfully manage emotions, identify & discuss emotions, feel and show empathy to others and build positive relationships as well as make responsible decisions. The SEL tools that students will learn can be applied at home and taken with them to use throughout life. Our SCOH staff has been learning about the science of the brain for a number of years. We’re looking forward to putting plans in place at each level. Students will participate in Mindful Mondays and/or Wellness Wednesdays during Power Hour at HHS, Homeroom at HMS and morning meeting at the elementary level.
Resources for families is located on the School City of Hobart’s website under the title Academics and Social Emotional Learning.
Click here to access the page: Social Emotional Resources for Parents and Families
A Mindfulness Practice For Families
This is an informal mindfulness practice that you can do with your family. It’s the basis of most compassion and empathy training. You can do this practice on birthdays, or when other opportunities to make wishes come around. You can also use this practice to wind down before bed.
- To begin, find a comfortable sitting position. You can even place a hand on the heart. Allow your eyes to close or lower your gaze toward the floor.
- Bring to mind someone who you really respect and look up to, and who really loves you in return. Notice how you feel as you bring this person to mind.
- Make a kind wish and send it their way. What would make them happy?
- Next, bring to mind someone else you love and care about: A family member, a friend, a beloved colleague. Just bring this person to mind, sending this person a kind wish.
- We’ll move from here to a more neutral person. Perhaps someone you don’t know very well: A parent you see occasionally in the pick-up line, a person who delivers your mail, or makes your coffee in the morning. Just bring this person to mind and imagine yourself sending them some kind of kind wish.
- Lastly, bring to mind someone who has frustrated you lately, someone who is a little difficult. Send this last person a kind wish—something nice for them in their life.
- Check in with your mind and body as you conclude this practice. Allow your eyes to open if they’ve been closed. Notice if there’s any shift.
The point of is: We don’t have to be perfectly loving beings at all times. We don’t have the psychological, financial, or genetic resources to literally treat everyone as we treat our own child—let alone treat our own child as we’d always like to. Instead, we strive to do our best and aim for that middle path: loving, caring, and acts of kindness. Because compassion, and even self-compassion, runs in families. I encourage you to find ways to practice compassion. What you do now will make a difference for future generations.
Make Sure To Self-Screen Every Day Before Coming To School
Practice Your 3 W's Everywhere You Go!
FREE Mobile Program To Help Young Individuals Quit Vaping
Indiana teens are more likely to use vaping devices than cigarettes. The increase in vaping among youth is rising at such an alarming rate that the U.S. Surgeon General is calling it an epidemic that “demands action to protect the lives of young people.” The age for cigarette purchases has risen to 21, but this won't help those that are already addicted. Furthermore, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has been investigating vaping-related severe lung injuries since early August and have already reported 5 deaths caused by vaping. The number of vaping-related lung injuries continues to rise steadily in Indiana and nationwide. Vaping is the only common factor in these injuries to date. Most individuals have reported vaping THC, the ingredient in marijuana, or other substances, but it’s unknown what specific products, brand or substance is causing these injuries. More information is being learned as new cases are investigated and data analyzed.
In Indiana, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping among youth has risen more than 350 percent among high school and middle school students since 2012.
So what to do? Sign up with Truth Initiative's "This Is Quitting" program which is the first-of-its-kind program to help young people quit vaping, This is Quitting gives youth and young adults the motivation and support they need to ditch JUUL and other e-cigarettes. It is a free mobile program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people quit vaping. The first-of-its-kind text messaging program incorporates messages from other young people like them who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. Our messages show the real side of quitting, both the good and the bad, to help young people feel motivated, inspired and supported throughout their quitting process. We also send young people evidence-based tips and strategies to quit and stay quit. This is Quitting is tailored based on age (within 13 to 24 years old) and product usage to give teens and young adults appropriate recommendations about quitting.
To enroll in This is Quitting, teens and young adults text DITCHJUUL to 88709. The first messages they receive will ask for their age and product usage so that they are able to receive relevant messages. Users receive one age-appropriate message per day tailored to their enrollment date or quit date, which can be set and reset via text message.
Those who are not ready to quit receive at least four weeks of messages focused on building skills and confidence. Users with a quit date receive one week of messages prior to that date and at least eight weeks of messages after their quit date. Throughout the program, users can text COPE, STRESS, SLIP or MORE to receive instant support. Upon completion of the program, users receive periodic text messages from truth® and may continue to use supportive keywords for as long as they like.
Nurse's Corner for January
Happy New Year!
Flu -A flu shot a year makes the flu virus disappear! Hand-washing is so important! Don’t forget to get your flu shot and stay protected. Contact your healthcare provider or make an appointment at our Brickie Clinic 219-945-9383
Sick students-
PLEASE KEEP ALL SICK OR SUSPECTED SICK STUDENTS HOME FROM SCHOOL.
PLEASE MARK THEM OFF IN SKYWARD. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: fever greater than
100.4 degrees, CHILLS, SORE THROAT, COUGH( especially new onset, uncontrolled
cough), DIARRHEA, VOMITING, HEADACHE( particularly new onset of severe headache,
especially with a fever) , NEW LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL, MUSCLE OR BODY ACHES
OR FATIGUE, CONGESTION OR RUNNY NOSE, SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR
DIFFICULTY BREATHING. If you are unsure, please call your healthcare provider or school
nurse for advice. Please do not send your student to school and instruct them to go directly
to the nurse before the school day begins. Again, if you have any questions or concerns
please contact your school nurse. For more information, please visit our website:
https://www.hobart.k12.in.us/protectbrickies
▪ SKYWARD INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
ABSENT REQUESTS IN SKYWARD FOR PARENT/GUARDIANS- SEE VIDEO BELOW
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UVUSq5USyAh-AwDoDXVhZl-nP83REUqB/view?usp=sharing
COVID-19 INFORMATION- SYMPTOMS/SICK AND RETURN SCHOOL POLICY
Notify your school immediately of COVID-19 symptoms or any exposure to a COVID-19
positive test: nurse@hobart.k12.in.us
COVID-19: When a student, faculty, or staff member can return to school (Indiana Department
of Health) Updated 8.25.20
Indiana COVID-19 Testing Sites - Added July 18, 2020
Click Here to access the Indiana State Department of Health's Indiana COVID-19 Testing Sites
Note: For each testing site, the following information is provided: Location, Scheduling Options, Hours, Requirements to be Tested, Payment Options, Phone Number, Days/Hours of Operation, Format of Testing Reporting.
Current Testing Sites in Lake County (As of July 18, 2020):
● Methodist Hospital-Southlake Campus - 8701 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410
● Family Urgent Care - 1217 US HWY 41, Schererville, IN 46375
● Methodist Hospitals-Northlake Campus - 600 Grant St, Gary, IN 46402
● NW Indiana ER & Hospital - 7904 Cabela Dr, Hammond, IN 46324
● Physicians Urgent Care Indianapolis - 10343 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 46322
● HealthLinc Community Health Center - 1313 W Chicago Ave, East Chicago, IN 46312
● ISDH Drive-Thru at Ivy Tech CC - 410 E Columbus Dr, East Chicago, IN 46312
● ISDH Drive-Thru at Oliver P. Morton High School - 6915 Grand Ave, Hammond, IN 46323
COVID-19: When to Isolate (ISDH Resources) - Added 8/12/2020
COVID-19: When to Quarantine (ISDH resource) - Added 8/12/2020
Don’t Touch Your Face
To help prevent infections, keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. WHY?
Touching the mucous membranes on your face with your dirty hands allows germs that
cause respiratory infections to enter the body.
Why Is Not Touching Your Face SO Important?
It is estimated that people touch their faces about 23 times per hour! Respiratory infections
can be caused by many different bacterial, viruses, and other disease-causing germs. When
you touch your face with dirty, unwashed hands, germs can take up residence in your
mucous membranes which can lead to an infection.
How Are Respiratory Infections Spread?
Respiratory infections, like pneumonia or the flu, can spread through droplets in the air
when a sick person coughs, sneezes, or talks near you. Respiratory infections can also be
spread by direct contact with bacteria, viruses, and other disease- causing germs. When we
touch people who are sick, or touch dirty surfaces, we contaminate our hands with germs.
We can then infect ourselves with those germs by touching our face.
How Can I Protect Myself From Respiratory Infections?
There are several ways that you can protect yourself from getting a respiratory infection:
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Never touch your face with dirty
hands.
● Wash your hands frequently. Washing hands with soap and water is the best way
to get rid of germs in most situations.
● Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands if soap and water are not
available.
● Get a flu shot every year. Encourage your family and friends to get a flu shot too!
● Ask your healthcare provider if the pneumonia vaccine is right for you.
● Avoid being close to people who are coughing and sneezing
Handwashing
Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from
getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.
How Germs Spread
Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal
infections from one person to the next. Germs can spread from other people or surfaces
when you:
● Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
● Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands
● Touch a contaminated surface or objects
● Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or
common objects
Key Times to Wash Hands
You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often,
especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
● Before, during, and after preparing food
● Before eating food
● Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
● Before and after treating a cut or wound
● After using the toilet
● After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
● After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
● After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
● After handling pet food or pet treats
● After touching garbage
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, you should also wash your hands
● After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may have
been frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps,
shopping carts, or electronic cash registers/screens, etc.
● Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our
bodies.
Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way
Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread
of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and
throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and
hospital
Follow these five steps every time.
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply
soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your
hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday”
song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Why? Read the science behind the recommendations.
Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water
You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and
water are not available.
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If
soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by
looking at the product label.
Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,
● Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
● Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
● Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and
heavy metals.
Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than
a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise
their use .
How to use hand sanitizer
● Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct
amount).
● Rub your hands together.
● Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds
CDC’s Handwashing Campaign: Life is Better with Clean Hands
CDC’s Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign encourages adults to make handwashing
part of their everyday life and encourages parents to wash their hands to set a good
example for their kids. Visit the Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign page to download
resources to help promote handwashing in your community.
For more information on handwashing, visit CDC’s Handwashing website or call
1-800-CDC-INFO
Vaccinations - All students SHOULD be up to date on their vaccinations. Indiana state
law requires you to have up to date immunizations. If you have any questions or concerns
about the new school year 2020-21 requirements, please contact your school nurse.
Health Conditions - If your student has a specific health condition or needs special
care during the school day such as medication, treatments, or monitoring, please inform
your school nurse and provide your nurse with a care plan. Individual health care plans help
keep your student safe and healthy.
Head Lice - It’s that time of year where our students break out their coats, scarves and
hats. Please encourage your child not to share such items as hats, scarves, brushes or any
personal items. Lice is not a danger to your child’s health, it is simply an annoying problem
that comes around this time of year, so no need to panic. Please know that anyone and
everyone can get lice. Getting lice has nothing to do with you being clean or dirty, it only has
to do with the fact that you are human. It is very important to check your family for lice this
time of year regularly. If you find any live lice or eggs, it is absolutely necessary to treat each
“infected” person, but more importantly, you must notify the school so that we can
effectively and confidentialy assist you with monitoring. The school nurse can assist you
with proper treatment options as well as identify and demonstrate for you what to do.
CLOTHING - Please make sure your student has an extra change of clothing in his/her
backpack incase needed for unseen circumstances that may arise during the school day .
If you have any questions, please call your school nurse or visit our school web page
at http://www.hobart.k12.in.us for more information on student health, school forms,
and other helpful links
Help ALL Brickies Get A Lunch!
Scheduled E-Learning Day for ALL students!
Friday, Jan 8, 2021, 07:30 AM
School City of Hobart, Hobart, IN, USA
HHS - Records Day
Friday, Jan 15, 2021, 07:30 AM
Hobart High School, East 10th Street, Hobart, IN, USA
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., schools will be closed today!
"The time is always right to do what is right" - MLK Jr.
Monday, Jan 18, 2021, 07:30 AM
School City of Hobart
Parent Teacher Conferences for K-8 *No School for K-8 Grade
Friday, Jan 29, 2021, 07:30 PM
All K-8th Grades Students at the School City of Hobart
Published by:
The School City of Hobart does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or disability, including limited English proficiency.