HBMS Warrior Parent Update
Week of September 28, 2020
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Week of September 28, 2020
Suicide Prevention Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
MondayA Day - Periods 1,2,3,4
Tuesday
B Day - Periods 5,6,7,8
Wednesday
College Wear Day - Wear your college/military shirts
All periods Today
Thursday
A Day - Periods 1,2,3,4
NJHS Virtual Induction Ceremony
Friday
Progress Report 2
B Day - Periods 5,6,7,8
T1 Grading Period ends on October 9
Principal Corner
Happy Saturday! We were excited to welcome back our campus staff this past week and they are working hard to prepare for a return to face to face (F2F) and continuation of online learning. At Monday's Board of Trustee Meeting, the Board approved our transition back to campus, for those families requesting face to face instruction.
Although elementary students will start transitioning the week of September 28, our 6th graders, whose parents selected F2F, will be our first group to return to the HBMS campus. They will begin on Monday, October 5th. Our 7th graders, whose parents selected F2F, will begin on Wednesday October 7th. Our 8th graders, whose parents selected F2F, will begin on Friday, October 9th. The majority of our students will continue with online instruction. Please see below for a calendar and links to more information about our Transition to Dual Learning Models.
Our campus has been prepared with proper cleaning, signage, set up, and personal protective equipment (PPE), however, we will rely on our students to remain socially distanced and wearing of a face covering while on campus. Please speak to your child about the importance of keeping all adults and students safe during our return to F2F instruction during a pandemic.
Because we will be working with two distinct Learning Models, many of our teachers and students will encounter a teacher or schedule change. Although we have tried to limit this as much as possible, we had to accommodate the students that have elected to remain online and the over 400 kids that selected F2F. We also have to take into account the staff members with underlying conditions who will continue to work from home. This being said, your HBMS student will likely experience a teacher or schedule change. I appreciate your support and understanding while this occurs.
Your child will continue to engage with their current teachers until October 2nd. Beginning Monday, October 5th, your child will engage with their new teachers and follow their new schedules. They will receive Teams invites from their new teachers from October 1-4, this is when the students will know about their new schedules.
Parents will have another opportunity to switch between the two Learning Models in November for the third grading period, which begins in January. The form for this is found in Skyward Family Access, under Online Forms, titled Learning Model Change Request Form. I am currently working on the requests for those families that submitted a request for the T2 grading period. Due to staffing limitations, no further requests will be reviewed for the T2 grading period. Parents will receive a phone call and/or an email indicating if the request was approved or denied.
The HBMS Administrative staff has been closely monitoring our students grades and attendance during this school year. We are seeing a trend of students that are not engaging with their teachers and their grades are reflecting this. Please speak to your student about the importance of good grades and submitting all their assignments on time. The T1 grading period will end on October 9, so there is limited time available to improve a failing grade. Please remember that the T1 grade will be averaged with T2, T3, and T4 for a final year average in most classes.
I've shared quite a bit of information in this message about our Transition to the Dual Model Systems. I strongly encourage you to visit the links below and review the information shared for additional information. Please rest assured that your child's educational success is extremely important to us. I thank you for support as we work through providing an education during a pandemic. Please reach out to your child's administrator or counselor if you have questions or concerns. We are here to support you and your child.
Sincerely,
Ms. Cortez
HBMS Principal
Important Information
Staff is in the process of finalizing schedules for the transition into two learning models, face-to-face and online; however, schedules will not be final until October 2. As staff works to finalize, students may see changes in Schoology or TEAMS; however, these changes are not final until October 2 and may not be accurate. We appreciate your continued patience as we finalize schedules.
HBMS Bell Schedules - Begins Oct. 5
Students who will remain online during the T2 Grading Period, will continue to follow the ONLINE-Middle School Bell Schedule.
Students who chose to return to face to face instruction will follow the F2F-Middle School Bell Schedule.
Both of these schedules will go into effect on Monday, October 5, 2020.
Change to A/B Block Schedule
Another change coming October 5 with the new bell schedule, is that all secondary students will follow an A/B Block Schedule.
This means that students will alternate between A Days (Periods, 1,2,3,4) and B Days (Periods 5,6,7,8). We will no longer have the all period Wednesday schedule.
See the calendar below.
Return to Campus Q & A
Each grade level will change to their new schedules according to the phased transition timeline. This applies to all face to face and online students. Students schedules will be shared directly from your child's teacher in the days leading up to the new schedule start date. Students will maintain their current schedule until the designated new schedule start date (October 5).
What time will my child attend school?
Bell Schedules:
Online
Elementary 8:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Middle School 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
High School 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Face to Face
Elementary 8:10 a.m. – 3:25 p.m.
Middle School 8:50 a.m. – 4:05 p.m.
High School 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
What impact will the change of class schedule have on the technology needs to engage in learning?
We anticipate limited access to Schoology on the first day new schedules begin as the system processes the updates. All instructional materials necessary for online and face to face learning will be provided directly by the assigned teacher. Microsoft Teams will be available for online students through links sent directly by the assigned teacher in order to continue engagement in synchronous online instruction.
Click here for updated information: https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/130363
Prepare Your Child for F2F Instruction
Attendance is Important!
email your absence notes to: Cynthia.Nietolee@fortbendisd.com
Coffee with the Counselors
October 6, 2020 at 9:00 am
November 3, 2020 at 9:00 am
December 1, 2020 at 9:00 am
Our counselors work with students by last name:
A-Gi Tamara.Carrell@fortbendisd.com
Library News
Remember, if you checked out books last school year and did not return them, you can bring them to the front HBMS office between 8:00 - 4:00.
Students with library fines must pay the fine, prior to obtaining any new books.
Online students can also request a library book by using the form below. Once a book is requested, a date and time for pick up will be scheduled. For questions about the HBMS Library, please contact our Librarian at Shari.Wendt@fortbendisd.com
HBMS Athletics
Volleyball tryouts will be October 12 - 15, students must have a physical to tryout
Football practice will begin October 14
Athletics is available to online and face to face students. Full COVID protocols will be in effect for all student athletes and coaching staff.
For more information about girls sports, contact Imani.Shabazz@fortbendisd.com
For more information about boys sports, contact Nicholas.Thompson@fortbendisd.com
HBMS Synchronous Tutorial Schedule
PTA Members Needed
Child Nutrition Information
Families will need to create an account online to apply for Meal Benefits and to make payments to their student’s account. ALL Meal Applications will be done through SchoolCafe.com/FBISD. Due to the pandemic, our office will not be open for paper applicants.
Families can email MealApps@fortbendisd.com for further assistance with applications if they’re unable to fill one out online.
Hodges Bend Middle School
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/hbms
Location: 16510 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-3000
Twitter: @HBMS_Warriors