Panther Periodical
HMS 4th Nine Weeks Newsletter 2018-2019 School Year
Vision of the Zone
Home Stretch
We are now entering the home stretch of the year with the 4th Nine Weeks beginning March 12.
Please make sure you review the section on school attendance in this newsletter. In an effort to reward students with good attendance and good behavior, beginning in the 4th Nine Weeks for the months of March and April, we will have "Fun Fridays" beginning at 2 PM. Students who have no unexcused attendance (and this includes absences, tardies, check-ins and check-outs) and no office referrals will be eligible to participate in the "Fun Friday" activities. Students will be allowed to use their devices (as long as they are used appropriately) during that time and have access to concessions. Those students who chose not to meet the requirements will remain in class. The first Fun Friday will be March 15.
We will begin the last round of Scantron Testing on April 8. The testing window will run from April 8 until May 3. This round of testing is the State Assessment that will be used for our A-F report card. In fact, 80% of our grade on the A-F Report Card comes from this one administration of the Scantron. It is, therefore, an imperative that students and parents take this administration of the Scantron seriously. To encourage students to try their best and to be present on time each day during the testing window, and in cooperation with the HMS PTA, we will have a Field Day activity on May 3. Students who have no unexcused attendance (including absences, check-ins, check-outs and tardies) and no Class IIs or Class IIIs throughout the testing window will be eligible to participate. More information in the weeks to come. Parents keep these dates in mind when planning appointments. Once a testing group begins, we will not interrupt the for check-outs.
We will continue making our weekly school broadcasts on Saturdays. When the weekly broadcast runs long, expect it to be split into two parts with a second broadcast on Sunday afternoons. Please also check our Facebook page regularly as we are attempting to post updates there on a regular basis. Not all updates posted on the Facebook page will be posted through the weekly broadcast so as to not make the weekly message excessively long.
Towards the bottom of the newsletter you will find a section on the ways students can exempt semester diagnostics in May. Please read over these so that you are familiar with them. Reminders will be posted over the course of the nine weeks.
Every student received an agenda when they picked up their schedule this year so parents also have the student handbook. Please review the handbook to become aware of school policies and procedures.
The Jefferson County Student Code of Conduct went digital this year and can be accessed by following this link:
2nd Semester Diagnostic Schedules will be posted at the beginning of May. 2nd Semester Diagnostics will begin May 17th and run through May 21st. Once the schedule is posted, parents should keep the testing times in mind. Once a semester diagnostic test begins, we will not interrupt a class for check-outs. Until next time,
Go Panthers!
Hueytown Middle School CIP at a Glance
School Attendance
Under the state accountability guidelines, any student who misses 15 or more days is considered chronically absent. Excused and Unexcused absences are counted in this total. Please keep this in mind when scheduling appointments and family trips.
Parents may write an excuse to cover seven (7) days for the year. After the seventh day, only doctor’s excuses may be accepted. Please keep this in mind when scheduling family trips because once those seven days are used they are gone for the year.
Please also keep in mind that students have three school days in which to bring in their excuse for an absence, a check-out or a check-in. After three days, the absence, check-out or check-in becomes unexcused and no make-up work will be given out. Work missed for unexcused absences, check-outs and check-ins will be recorded in the grade-book as zeros.
To participate in extra-curricular activities, a student must be present for a minimum of 1/2 school day. This includes participation in dances, competitions and practices. An excuse must still be provided for any missed work top be made up when checking out.
C.A.R.E.
Three times during the school year, the Hueytown Area Schools host a Citizens Advocating a Return to Excellence (CARE) meeting at one of the schools in which parents and community members are invited to hear about the great things that are going on in our schools. The principals from Brighton, Concord Elementary, Hueytown Elementary, Hueytown High, Hueytown Middle and North Highland Elementary Schools all make presentations and answer questions. On occasion, local government, county government and county school leaders may also attend to provide additional information and updates to those in attendance. The format changes somewhat from time to time and may include presentations/performances from student groups from the host school.
Remaining 2018-2019 CARE Meeting Dates:
- April 15, 2019, at Brighton School beginning at 6 PM
- July 15, 2019, Hueytown Middle School beginning at 10 AM
Grading Parameters
For the 2018-2019 school year, middle school grading will remain as last year with the following parameters:
- 75% Assessments
- 25% Classwork/Homework
Consequently, we do not administer nine weeks assessments. At the end of the 1st and 2nd Semester we will administer semester diagnostics on a modified schedule. The full schedule will be posted at the first of December. 1st Semester diagnostics will be begin December 12th and run through December 18th. Please keep this in mind when scheduling appointments.
These diagnostics will be teacher created and cover the content to be covered for that semester. The diagnostics will count as a 100 point assessment in the 75% assessment category for the 2nd and 4th Nine Weeks, respectively.
Pride of the Panthers/Panther Passes
For the 2018-2019 year, we are continuing our efforts to improve student attendance and encourage students to do the right thing. Students who are caught doing the right thing can receive “Panther Passes.” We also give Panther Passes on random days to students who are present and on time to 1st period so do not forget that school starts at 7:55 AM. Other examples of ways students can earn a Panther Pass include (but are not limited to): going out of the way to help another student, working diligently on an assignment while others are goofing off, etc...
Once earned, a Panther Pass can never be taken away.
Every two to three weeks, students will have the opportunity to cash in their Panther Passes for various opportunities and activities. One such incentive is to cash-in 30 Panther Passes to exempt one semester diagnostic providing the student has a “C” average in the class. It is possible that a student could save up enough passes to exempt more than one diagnostic.
Additionally, any student who has an overall “A” average at the end of the semester, no unexcused absences, unexcused tardies and no discipline referrals will be eligible to exempt all semester diagnostics for that semester and will receive a free “T-Shirt.” Students who are eligible both semesters will be recognized at the end of the year awards ceremony and will receive a special prize.
Important Dates for the 4th Nine Weeks
Mar 10 - Daylight Savings Kicks in
Mar 11 - Professional Development Day - School Closed
Mar 12 - 1st Day of 4th Nine weeks
Mar 12 -14 - Cheer Clinic
Mar 12 - 18 - Spring Book Fair in HMS Library
Mar 12 - NJHS Meeting after school
Mar 13 - Report Cards go home with students
Mar 13 - Student Council Meeting after school
Mar 15 - 5th Grade Tour of HMS
Mar 15 - Cheer Tryouts after school
Mar 19 - FBLA Meeting after school in Bus Tech Lab
Mar 20 - 3rd Nine Weeks Awards Day Part I in HMS Cafeteria: 6th Grade 8:30 AM, 7th Grade 9:15 AM
Mar 21 - 3rd Nine Weeks Awards Day Part II in HMS Cafeteria: 8th Grade 8:30 AM
Mar 25-29 - Spring Break - School Closed
Apr 2 - FBLA Meeting after school in the Bus Tech Lab
Apr 3 - FCCLA Meeting after school in FACs Classroom
Apr 8-May 3 - State Scantron Testing begins
Apr 9 - NJHS Meeting after school in Room 104
Apr 10 - Student Council Meeting after school in the FACs classroom
Apr 15 - CARE Meeting at Brighton School - 6 PM
Apr 16 - FBLA Meeting in Bus Tech Lab after school
Apr 18 - Progress Reports sent home with students
Apr 19 - Weather Day - School Closed
Apr 23 - Spring Art Show in HMS Cafeteria
Apr 24 - Student Council Meeting after school in FACs classroom
Apr 26 - HMS Spring Play
May 1 - FCCLA Meeting after school in FACs classroom
May 2 - NJHS Induction Ceremony in HMS Gym
May 3 - Field Day
May 3 - Last day to sign up for Semester Diagnostic Exemptions using SCANTRON with Mr. Anders (by 3 PM)
May 7 - FBLA Meeting after school in Bus Tech Lab
May 8 - Student Council Meeting after school in FACs classroom
May 9 - Self-Contained Ex Ed Graduation in HMS Cafeteria
May 10 - Last day to sign up for Semester Diagnostic Exemptions using Pride of the Panthers with Mr. Anders (by 3 PM)
May 10 - Last day to sign up for Semester Diagnostics using Panther Passes with Dr. Foster (by 3 PM)
May 14 - NJHS Meeting after school in Room 104
May 17-21 - 2nd Semester Diagnostics (Schedule will be posted at the beginning of May)
May 20 - End of Year Awards Day Program @ HHS starting at 6 PM in the Auditorium
May 23 - Last Day for Students
May 23 - Report cards mailed home
These dates are current as of 3.6.19. Additional dates and activities will be added over time. Please check the Facebook page on a regular basis.
Semester Diagnostic Exemption Options
1. Pride of the Panthers - Must have an "A" average for the semester in every class, no unexcused attendance (includes absences, check-ins, check-outs & tardies) and no discipline referrals
2. Panther Passes - 30 Panther Passes and a "C" average in the class for the semester
3. Math Scantron Exemptions - to use Spring Math Scantron Scores to exempt a semester diagnostic (either Math or Science) the student a) must meet or exceed their learning target in Math, b) must have no unexcused attendance in the testing window (includes absences, tardies, check-ins/outs) , c) have no Class IIs or IIIs on testing days and d) must have a clear balance in the lunchroom, library and front office.
4. Reading Scantron Exemptions - to use Spring Reading Scantron Scores to exempt a semester diagnostic (either English/Language or Social Studies) the student a) must meet or exceed their learning target in Reading, b) must have no unexcused attendance in the testing window (includes absences, tardies, check-ins/outs) , c) have no Class IIs or IIIs on testing days and d) must have a clear balance in the lunchroom, library and front office.
Testing Window: April 8 - May 3
Submission Deadlines for Exemptions:
- Deadline to sign-up for Scantron Exemptions - 3 PM. May 3 with Mr. Anders
- Deadline to sign-up for Pride of the Panthers - 3 PM, May 10 with Mr. Anders
- Deadline to sign-up for Panther Pass Exemptions - 3 PM, May 10 with Dr. Foster
The dates and times listed above are hard deadlines and late submissions will not be accepted.