Mustang Update
Week of February 20 - 24, 2023
Happy President's Day!
Happy President's Day
At this point we are now half way through the 3rd Quarter. Please take a few moments to check on your child's grades in Parent Vue. If you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out to teachers or our counselors. We can always set up a conference with teachers and parents.
Reminder, all schools are closed on Monday, February 20th for Presidents Day. We hope you all enjoy a long weekend.
H. H. Poole is looking to host a parent night for rising 7th and 8th grade parents. It is important that we communicate changes to the schedule for next year and want to ensure all parents have the opportunity to ask questions. We are looking at hosting this meeting before spring break. Please keep an eye out for more information.
HH Poole's Literary Magazine, The Poole Perspective, is looking for submissions. If you think your child would like to submit something they have written, a poem, an essay, or a short story, we would love to see it. Scan the QR code below for more information.
Attention Seventh Grade Parents! Invitations to apply for the National Junior Honor Society will be sent to students and their parents on the evening of Friday, February 10, 2023. If your child has a cumulative middle school GPA of 3.7 or higher, they will receive an invitation to apply. Please contact defiorewoodar@staffordschools.net with any questions.
If you haven't noticed, HHP's PTO is awesome! They are running many programs to support our students here at H.H. Poole. If you are interested, we would love to have more parents join us to continue with these awesome programs. We would love to have you join our PTO Facebook Page. See below for the QR code to link to the page. The next PTO meeting is on Wednesday, March 8th at 7PM. Please join us.
Important Dates:
- February 20 - President's Day - Holiday - No School
- February 23 - Boys Basketball Game RTMS @ HHP - 5:15pm
- February 23 - Wrestling vs. RTMS at HHP - 5:15pm
Socks and Gloves Drive
"Anchored 4 Life students are hosting a donation drive for socks & gloves to benefit the local homeless shelter.
They are asking for donations of new (in package or with tags) socks and gloves of all sizes from February 13 - February 24, 2023.
The donation box is in the Counseling Center. Let's fill up the box!"
Dear Mustang Families,
I am writing to bring awareness to two matters of importance, both of which have potential to influence your student’s success at school.
Electronic devices are powerful tools that can provide safety and communication, as well as valuable enhancement of learning experiences. Please help ensure your student’s success by reinforcing responsible use of these tools. Ensure that cell phones are powered off and stowed in the locker or bag at all times while at school. Monitor social media use and counsel positive interactions online that avoid peer conflict and associated disruptions to learning. Likewise, encourage your student to use the Chromebook wisely and on-task while in school. Your school technology staff is working behind the scenes to support positive practices by constantly adjusting the boundaries of the student user experience. Current measures include ongoing adjustments to website filters, applications and peer to peer sharing permissions, among other tools.
Youth vaping, or e-cigarette use, is a matter of safety both inside and outside of school that warrants your attention and action. Vaping has seen a marked increase among youth nationally and in recent months has become a prevalent concern at H.H. Poole. The CDC reports that about 1 in every 30 middle school students and 1 in 7 high school students reported that they had used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days. Our experience indicates these estimates are valid. If you suspect your child has vaped, you’re probably right. If you wonder if your child has been exposed to the opportunity, chances are high that they have been. E-cigarettes are unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults. Most contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development. Other such substances are marketed as well. Many products have strong youth appeal, offering fruit and candy flavors that are preferred by 8 out of 10 youth users. Many devices are refillable and sharing is common. Bottom line – there’s no telling what’s in it or what harm it’s doing. Also, on a lesser note, having one at school results in suspension. Please make sure that your child is properly informed about vaping and make it a part of your ongoing conversations with them. If your child sees vaping or inappropriate behavior in the hallways or bathrooms please encourage them to let administrators, counselors or a teacher of who and what is going on.
As always, your child's safety is of the utmost importance to us. HHP teachers and staff will do all we can to ensure that your child is safe. Please encourage students to talk to us when they see something unsafe.
Sincerely,
Robert Bingham
Principal
Spring Picture Day
“Hello! Victor O'Neill will be taking Spring Pictures on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Please indicate interest in having your student's photo taken by completing the link below.
HH Poole Spring Photo Signup : https://forms.gle/W92xaWZv7Nxya6MN7
Your student's online gallery will be available approximately one week after picture day. If you have any questions leading up to picture day, please reach out to Victor O’Neill Studios by emailing Underclass@vosphoto.com .”
Attention All Wrestlers
Wrestling pictures are available. The link to the wrestling pictures is on our wrestling page of the HH Poole website. Parents can view and purchase right from that link.
National Jr. Honor Society
NJHS Meetings
- For the remainder of the school year, our group will hold meetings on the first Monday of each month:
- February 6th, March 6th, April 3rd, and May 1st.
- All members are expected to attend meetings; we will hold both a morning (8:20-8:50 AM) and an afternoon (4:15-4:45 PM) session on each date. Each member should choose 1 session to attend.
- Members and their families should discuss which session will work best for their schedules before choosing when to attend.
- Please complete the Google Form to RSVP by the Thursday before each Monday meeting.
- Unfortunately, SCPS does not have activity buses for middle school, so families will need to coordinate transportation or provide permission for the student to walk to or from their chosen meeting time. If a member is not able to attend, they should still use the RSVP Form to let us know that as well.
Mrs. DeFiore, Ms. Fisher & Ms. Fleetwood
Mustang Shout-outs
Many times when our students accomplish extraordinary things outside of school, we are not aware of them. If your child has recently done something that you would like us to celebrate, please use this Google Form to let us know. Our school community would love to help recognize their accomplishments!
Some examples include:
- Community service
- Athletics recognitions
- Scouting awards
- Fine and performing arts recognitions
- Entrepreneurial activities
To submit a Mustang Shout Out please click here:
Stafford County Sheriff's Office - Basketball Game
HHP PTO Meeting Reminder
Want to Reach out to the PTO?
Click on the QR Code to see their Facebook page.
Click on Counseling Corner for More Information
SCPS Parent Teacher Resource Center (PTRC)
The Parent Teacher Resource Center (PTRC) is an information center for Stafford County families and others concerned with the care and education of children with disabilities. The center is open to all families in Stafford County, school staff, and the community with an emphasis on individuals who receive special education services or any family who suspects that their child may have a disability. The PTRC promotes partnerships between parents, educators, and the community.
The PTRC provides:
Support through listening and problem-solving with families
Interactive workshops and resources for families and educators
A lending library of books, videos, and audio tapes on topics relating to disabilities and special education
Individual help on IEPs, the special education process, and challenges that affect families of individuals with disabilities
Help for families and educators to locate local, state, and national resources
Contact the PTRC if you would like more information about joining the PTRC email list for local information, community resources, IEP (Individualized Education Program) information, transition from school to adult life, and building successful parent-school partnerships, and the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC).
The PTRC is open when SCPS schools are in session, 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Feel free to call for an appointment outside of these hours.
610 Gayle Street, WA-11
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
(located at the back of the Gari Melcher’s Complex)
Telephone: 540.89 9.6000
Email: prc#staffordschools.net
Website: www.staffordschools.net/Page/13883
Facebook: Parent Resource Center- Stafford County Public Schools
Middle School Cell Phone Policy
In Stafford County Middle Schools, Cellular phones/electronic and wireless devices are permitted before and after school; however, students must power off such devices and stow them properly out of sight during the school day. Such devices are to remain off the entire school day unless teacher permission is given otherwise.
It is important that parents and students remember:
- Cell phones are not a part of the Stafford County Curriculum and are not permitted to be used during the day.
- Students should be reminded that if they are sick, they need to report to the nurses office. Please do not allow your child to text you to pick them up from school with out checking with the nurse.
- Students always have access to the front office to call home.
Attendance Information
ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL
Early Dismissal Information
If your student has an appointment and needs to be dismissed early, please write a note and have your student bring it to the front office first thing in the morning. In the note include the student name, date, time of dismissal, and who is picking up your student. We will give your student an Early Dismissal Pass for them to come to the front office when you need them to be. To pick up your student, come to the front office with your driver's license.
Early dismissals will not be processed after 3:15 pm.
Absent Notification
It is the responsibility of a parent/guardian to notify the school of any absences that occur. We may accept written notes or notification through the Online Report of Absence form located on the website or click here. Notice will be accepted up to five days after the absence.
Contact Information
Email: rbingham@staffordschools.net
Website: https://www.staffordschools.net/Domain/27
Location: 800 Eustace Road, Stafford, VA, USA
Phone: (540) 658-6190
Facebook: www.facebook.com/poolems/#
Twitter: @HHPMUSTANGS