News from Panther Headquarters
March 2017
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
The ISTEP Applied Skills writing assessment was completed on March 1st. We will now have a break in the assessment until April 17th – April 28th for the Multiple Choice portion of the ISTEP. Both parts will be averaged together to make up the overall student scores. Please try to schedule any appointments around these dates, if possible.
Spring is right around the corner, and HIJH will be providing more extra-curricular opportunities for our students to be involved in their school. Both intramural volleyball and track will be available for 5th & 6th graders, as well as the new Foreign Language Immersion Program (FLIP), interscholastic track (as a junior high sport) for 7th & 8th graders, and Ultimate Frisbee for 5th-8th graders are among the activities available. Not only are students able to find their niche through extra-curricular activities and clubs, research shows that students who participate in activities at school also fair better academically so we encourage students to find ways to get involved beyond the school day.
In conclusion, The Panthers have a tradition of excellence thanks to the support of great parents, students who exhibit PAWS expectations, and staff who truly care for the overall well-being of our students. We take great pride in working at HSE Intermediate & Junior High and will continue to provide the education our students deserve. Thank you for your continued support of HIJH!
Upcoming Important Dates
March 1st ISTEP Testing - All Grades - 8:20 AM - 9:45 AM
March 2nd ISTEP Testing - Grades 5th, 6th & 7th - 8:25 AM - 9:15 AM
March 3rd PTO Meeting 9:30 AM
March 8th Festival HIJH Concert Starts at 7:45PM Students Arrive at 7:30 PM
March 10th - March 17th - Book Fair
March 13th Flex Day
March 14th Book Fair Family Night 4-7 PM
March 14th Orchestra Concert - 7 PM
March 21st DC Parent meeting 7 PM
March 22nd Band Concert HSE High School 7 PM
March 31st Spring Break - Return to School on Monday, April 10th
Early Dismissals and Returning to School
Counselor's Corner
Testing Dates to Note:
Mark your calendars to ensure your child is in attendance these testing periods.
ISTEP+ Part 1 - Applied Skills (CCRA)
February 27 - March 10th, 2017
ISTEP+ Part 2 - Multiple Choice & Technology (CCRA)
April 17th - May 5th, 2017
It is extremely important that your child be in attendance and on time during these testing days. Please assist us by ensuring that your child is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast. Also, it would be advantageous to reschedule any appointments you have scheduled during these days. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this testing process.
2017-2018 School Year:
If your child will be attending another school outside the HSE school district next year, please call the guidance office (317-594-4124) by May 1st, so records can be prepared for the new school prior to leaving for the summer.
HONOR ROLL postings are on the HIJH website!
Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/ Junior High posts honor rolls on the HIJH website. You may access the high honor roll and regular honor roll as follows: Go to: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/HIJ/home.aspx
Select “Guidance” at the top of the page (above the panther logo)
On the next page select “Guidance Resources”
Scroll down to “Guidance Documents” & select the honor roll you wish to view.
Withdrawing Your Student:
If your child will be withdrawing from HIJH, anytime prior to the end of school, you MUST notify the guidance office at least two days in advance of your child’s last day. Withdrawal forms prepared by the guidance office must be signed by the parent/ guardian. Once all administrative items are completed, a copy of the withdrawal form, current grades and schedule will be given to the student to provide to their future school for enrollment.
Click here Twenty-First Century Scholars.
Messages from the Nurse
Allergies and Medication. Although winter is still here, spring keeps peaking in; please medicate your student before they come to school. We want to keep students in their classes and feeling their best. Allergy medications and cold medications are not stocked in the school clinic. When medicated in the AM before leaving home, the medicine has time to “kick in” to help them feel better for their classes. Many allergy medications work best when given on a daily basis, not just when symptoms begin.
For the safety of your child and all children in the building, students are not allowed to carry medications with them, store in locker, or pack them in lunch boxes. In some buildings being caught with medications results in an automatic suspension. Please help ensure this rule is being followed. Students may drop off needed medication to the clinic with medication guideline form found here: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/resources/pdf/ADM/health/Medication_Guidelines.pdf
Immunizations for 2017-2018 (Current 5th graders). All students who will be in 6th grade for the 2017-2018 school year, will need immunizations for Tdap and Meningococcal. As your student gets these shots at their well-child checks be sure to send me a copy too. You can also email me a copy over summer.
Breakfast really is THE MOST important meal of the day! It “breaks our fast” that occurs while sleeping. Please make sure your children are having something to eat in the mornings. It really will help them feel their best! We also offer breakfast as a purchase option at school.
Band Notes
HSE High School Band:
Eighth grade band parents, please take a moment and open/read the four high school band attachments. These documents include information about our high school band program, important dates and schedule for 2017–18, and sign-up forms. Our high school band program is an exceptional program that will offer our 8th graders an amazing musical outlet next year.
Click here to find Important Dates, Click here to see the HSE Band Brochure, Click here for the HSE 4 year plan worksheet, and Click here for the Sign-Up Sheet.
Choir Notes
Click here to find out about all of the big things happening in the Choir Department.
HIJH Sports Information
7th & 8th Grade Track Information.
Call Out Meeting: Thursday, March 2nd after school in the Main Gym. Parents please pick up in south lot along curb near doors 1, 3, 4 & 5 by 3:45 pm.
First practice: Tuesday, March 14th after school until 5 pm.
7th & 8th Grade Golf Information.
Call Out Meeting: Tuesday, March 14th after school in Cafeteria until 3:30 pm
Tryouts: Monday, March 20th – Thursday, March 23rd 3-5 pm (transportation provided to golf course, parents must pick up after)
*All players will get at least 2 days of tryouts. Tryout schedule will be determined at call out meeting.*
5th & 6th Panther Track Team.
Practice is every day, meet in the Cafeteria no later than 3:00 pm.
Registration is due Friday, March 17th and must have completed form with $25 payment. Parents please pick up by 4:00 pm.
Click here for attached form.
Cheer Call Out Meeting.
Call Out Meeting: Any current HIJH 6th or 7th grader (7th or 8th grade in 17-18) who is interested in trying out for our school cheer squads for the 2017-2018 school year & their parents.
Monday, March 13th 2017 (Flex Day - meeting still ON even if no school)
6:00 - 7:00 pm
HIJH LGI Room
Park in south lot & enter door #3
Cheer Tryouts.
What: Cheer Tryouts for the 2017-2018 school year
When: April 17, 2017 - April 20, 2017 (4 days)
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Where: HSE Intermediate/Junior High Main Gym
*Parents please drop off & pick up by door #3 on south side*
Who: Current 6th & 7th graders (7th & 8th grade in 2017-2018) at HIJH
**Athletes MUST have a IHSAA physical valid for this school year on file with Mr. Guest in order to tryout**
**Rank One online signature forms must be completed by athlete & parent in order to tryout**
Questions: Contact Coach Karen Boyd bashjack1224@gmail.com
***All athletes must have IHSAA sports physical on file with Mr. Guest & have the online signature forms completed before participating.***
Click here to find out more about the Junior High Physical Night.
Intramural Volleyball for 5th & 6th Graders.
Attention all 5th and 6th grade students interested in playing intramural volleyball. Sign up forms are now available outside Mrs. Mockler's classroom (room 206) or in the main office. Forms are due back by Friday, March 3rd. Space is limited and only the first 50 students who apply will be accepted so don't delay! Click here for more information.
Yearbook Orders
Washington DC Trip for Upcoming 8th Grade Students
iPad Helpful Hints
Basic Troubleshooting Tips
When students come to the library with iPad issues, there are different fixes for different problems, but these are some of the troubleshooting methods/fixes that work the most often for various issues:
• Restart the iPad – Hold the home button and power button at the same time until the white apple appears. Then let go and wait for the iPad to reboot.
• Check date and time – Go into Settings. Go to General. Go to Date and Time. Make sure the Set Automatically is turned on.
• Make sure you have available storage.
• Make sure apps and the software are up to date.
Internet/Website Issues:
• Allow pop ups – Go to Settings. Go to Safari. Turn off Block Pop Ups.
• Turn Wi-Fi off and then back on in settings.
• Forget the Network. (Tap the lowercase I with the circle around it beside the name of the wi-fi network, then tap Forget Network.)
• Make sure the iPad isn't connected to a VPN. Delete the VPN if it is.
• Go to Safari in Settings and clear the Cache.
• Go to General in Settings. Go to Reset. Carefully select Reset Network Settings. (Choosing the wrong reset could wipe the iPad. Tread carefully.) - This will wipe your wi-fi passwords and cause you to re-enter them but it can fix bugs such as videos not playing
PTO News
PANTHER FEST - Friday, March 24 will be our second annual Panther Fest; a night of games, sports, challenging activities, music, food, and fun for HIJH 5th and 6th grade students. From 5:30-8:00, our school will be transformed into a carnival, street fair, dance club, sports arena, and fun house all rolled into one. The cost is $15 for pre-registration or $20 at the door. Registration forms are attached (click here) and will be coming home with your students soon. Volunteers are greatly needed. You can sign up to volunteer at http://signup.com/go/hFaTXW. Contact Tim Baldwin (baldwin.timothy@gmail.com) with any questions.
Thank you to all of our Panther Palooza volunteers! This was our first year and it went great, thanks to you and the fabulous 7th & 8th graders who attended.
A HUGE thank you to all the families and donors who contributed to the HIJH PTO baskets for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation's Game day. Thanks to your generosity put together not one, but TWO amazing baskets that represented HIJH. Great news: we WON the basket contest and raised $1,080 for HSSF. The HIJH PTO would like to send a special shout out to Denise Retzner & Gina Shipley for organizing the baskets! As always, thank you for your continued support of HIJH.
HIJH Spring Book Fair - Get ready for the HIJH Scholastic Book Fair! (Click here to see attached flyer.) HIJH will host the Scholastic Book Fair, Friday, March 10th- Friday, March 17th. Family night will be Tuesday, March 14th, 4-7 pm. We need your help to make our book fair a success. If you would like to volunteer during the book fair, please click the following link to our Sign-Up page: http://signup.com/login/entry/676202216085 Volunteers receive a 20% discount on their purchases. Please remember, volunteers must have a background check on file and must have watched the bullying webinar prior to volunteering. Questions regarding book fair may be directed to Jen Watkins at 816-694-8862 or jjmanda@comcast.net. Thanks and see you at the fair! Jen Watkins, HIJH Book Fair Chairperson.
ALL FOR BOOKS - HIJH Library will be collecting loose change March 10th-March 17th for the All for Books Program. Send in your loose change and you can help purchase books for the classroom and study group use. Please see the attached flyer here for more information.
A HUGE THANK YOU!! Thank you Meijer, Kroger and McAlister’s for your incredible generosity during the 2016-2017 school year. Your contributions have had a positive impact on our staff and students and we appreciate your support!
Student Council
Student Council will begin their Pennies for Patients Campaign on March 7th. The campaign will run through March 17th. There will be two components to this fundraiser. Students may participate in spirit dress up days by bringing $1.00 each day they choose to participate. Be prepared to have fun while supporting a good cause! The second part of the campaign brings back an old favorite... students can bring in change to place in Pennies for Patients buckets during lunch. Each bucket will advertise some of your favorite teachers doing CRAZY things like arm wrestling, being duct taped to the wall and more! The teachers with the most money collected will be your lunch time entertainment! Help us help those in need by participating in this great event!
Neon Day benefitting HSE Teacher Mrs. Cameron
To the HIJH community,
My family and I would like to express our gratitude for Neon Day at HIJH. We are overwhelmed by the outpour of support in the community. We are so touched by the thoughtfulness you have given to our family. Our loss is great but our hearts are hopeful. We will rebuild from scratch, but it is people like you that bring us strength and hope. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
The Cameron Family
HIJH Connect
Middle Years
HIJH Cafe Info
March is National Nutrition Month! "Put Your Best Fork Forward" reminds us that each one of us holds the tool to make healthier food choices. Please click here to see attached flyer.
March Multicultural Holidays
March 1st- Ash Wednesday (Christian)
March 8th- International Women's Day
March 12th- Sangha Day (Buddhism)
Purim (Judaism)
March 13th- Holla Mohalla (Sikh)
Holi (Hindu)
March 17th- St. Patrick's Day (Christian)
March 20th- Vernal Equinox
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
Permitted use of school newsletters as required by the Equal Access Act is not an endorsement of this group or this group’s beliefs by Hamilton Southeastern Schools or the Board of School Trustees.
Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior High
Ph: 317-594-4120
Attendance: 317-594-4126
Guidance: 317-594-4124
Fax: 317-594-4129
hse.k12.in.us/hij/home.aspx
Twitter: @HIJPanthers
Athletics Twitter: @HIJathletics