Hawk Nation
April 2021
The official monthly newsletter of Horning Middle School
Contact Us
Main Office
Principal: Mr. Robert Blessington 262-970-3305Principal's Secretary: Ms. Jodi Aylsworth 262-970-3305
Assistant Principal (6B, 7B, 8B, Dual Language 6 and 7): Mr. Bryan Lyday 262-970-3311
Dean of Students (6A, 7A, 8A, 8C, FLIGHT): Ms. Susan Inkmann 262-970-3450
Attendance/Associate Principal Secretary: Ms. Pamela Craig 262-970-3317
Attendance Line: 1-866-490-7371 or 262-970-3316
Athletic/ Activities Director: Ms. Susan Inkmann: 262-970-3450
School Resource Officer
Officer James Wolbert, 262-970-3304
Student Services
Counselors
Mrs. Angie Jackson (6A, 7A, 8A, FLIGHT), 262-970-3327
Ms. Natalie Ramirez (6B, 7B, 8B, 8C, Dual Language 6 and 7), 262-970-3326
Student Services Secretary: Ms. Sue Miller, 262-970-3303
Social Worker: Ms. Angie Krueger, 262-970-1699
School Psychologist: Ms. Lindsey Lemus 262-970-1093
Health Room: Ms. Olivia Trejo 262-970-3315
Email: rblessin@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Website: https://sdw.waukesha.k12.wi.us/horningms
Location: Horning Middle School, Wolf Road, Waukesha, WI, United States
Phone: 262-970-3305
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HorningMSHawks/
Twitter: @HorningMiddle
Mark your Calendar
- Friday, May 28-Early Release Day-school day ends at 12:36 PM
- May 2021 TBA Showcase of Learning, 4:00 -7:00 PM
- Wednesday, June 9-Last day of school for the 2020-21 school year
FORWARD Testing Reminder
Math Parent Communication
HMS Writing Contest 2021
More details and a video from Ms. Hollis, who created this contest, can be found @ this link.
Student Council Presents to HMS Building Leadership Team
Every Day Counts
A Little Bit of Data
During the First Semester, HMS attendance rate for students who missed three or fewer days of school was 7.6%
Our school attendance goal is to have 95% or more of our students with 0-3 days of excused absences.
February Data:
% of Students:
- Percent of students with less than 1 day of excused absence: 56%
- Percent of students with 2-3 days of excused absence: 22%
- Chronically Absent 4 or more: 20%
Things that the school is doing to address attendance issues:
tracking attendance
Students of the month
Attendance awards
Monthly updates
Contacting families to see if they need support from the school
Across the country, more than 8 million students are missing so many days of school that they are academically at risk. Chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused, unexcused absences and suspensions, can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.
What is Habitual Truancy
HABITUAL TRUANCY refers to unexcused absences. In the past, federal law required states to track truancy but left it to states to come up with the definition. WAUKESHA schools have tracked the number of students who are habitually truant which is defined as missing for part or all of five or more school days without a valid excuse.
Based on school board policy PO5200 Attendance, the following steps are followed to address truancy at Horning Middle School:
Families are notified by U.S. mail of the unexcused absences of a student who is truant
A truancy meeting is scheduled with the school social worker and an administrator to discuss the absences and confer with the parent/guardian and student
A plan for improved attendance is created
A follow-up meeting is scheduled
Sometimes a referral is made to the Waukesha County Department of Human Services
Virtual Attendance Use
Dear Parents/Guardians,
During this year of Covid precautions and mitigation, we are fortunate to be able to offer an option for students to continue learning from home. Our distance learning set up is utilized when our students are quarantined or sick, and on a more permanent basis for those who make the choice to learn from home every day. Our distance learning connections are not intended to be used for taking a day away for reasons other than quarantines and illness. Having an ever-changing roster of at-home and F2F students is disruptive to the smooth operations of our classes and to a student’s learning. As a group, our middle schoolers do not attend to their learning with the same level of engagement while they are away.
When F2F students log in virtually for reasons other than Covid quarantines or doctor-excused absences, they are still classified as absent in our Infinite Campus attendance records.
Thank you.
8th Grade Band Virtual Concert-See it Here!
The Horning Middle School 8th grade band presents "African Safari". This virtual concert features selections of traditional African melodies and syncopated rhythms. We hope you will enjoy our performance!
Click HERE to see the performance!
Horning Orchestra Virtual Concert-See it Here!
The Horning Middle School 8th grade orchestra presents "Finlandia". We hope you will enjoy our virtual performance!
Click HERE to see the performance!
Pictures are needed for yearbook!
Going to Waukesha West? Join Color Guard!
Parents United 2021 Events
Please click the link below for some excellent opportunities from Parents United:
SDW Face Covering Enforcement & Refusal Process
The School District of Waukesha recognizes the importance of face coverings in order to best ensure health and safety in the school environment. We recognize that this will be a learning curve for many of our students and is something that will require teaching, reteaching, and reinforcement. All 19 public school districts in Waukesha County will be utilizing a "three strikes" policy regarding refusal to comply with the face-covering requirement. The following progressive discipline will be utilized in accordance with board policy #5600.01 - Disciplinary Consequences for Student Misconduct.
Teaching, Re-teaching, & Reinforcing
The first week of school will include a heavy emphasis on providing clear expectations, support, and instruction to students regarding face coverings. This will include the information regarding the consequences of repeated refusal to wear a face covering. There will be increased leniency during the first week of school in order to best establish this new procedure and requirement for all students and staff; however, all incidents of refusal will be logged in Infinite Campus.
First Refusal
Teacher redirection
Parent contact
Infinite Campus Documentation
Second Refusal
Infinite Campus Documentation
The student will be referred to administration and suspended for the remainder of the school day. A reminder of the consequences for further violations will be provided to the parent and student along with the written notice of suspension per board policy #5610 - Suspension and Expulsion.
Third Refusal
Infinite Campus Documentation
The student will be referred to the administration. An out-of-school suspension will be issued and the student will be auto-enrolled in eAchieve for the remainder of the school year. The student will be suspended for no more than 5 days until the enrollment and student’s course schedule are finalized. A written notice of suspension will be provided with a resolution detail of "enrollment in eAchieve."
**If the student has an individualized education plan or Section 504 plan, face-covering accommodations should be discussed with the case manager. In the event a disciplinary response is necessary, the administration will follow all federal and state guidelines for discipline, which will include working with the IEP/504 team and potentially proceeding with a manifestation determination process.**
Counseling Services for Horning Students
Meet Horning's Student Services Team
(Front Left to Right ) LINDSEY LEMUS, School Psychologist; KAITLYNN SOSA, School Social Work Intern; ANGIE KRUEGER, School Social Worker; (Back Left to Right) ANGIE JACKSON, School Guidance Counselor; NATALIE RAMIREZ, School Guidance Counselor
GREETINGS FROM HORNING STUDENT SERVICES!!!
School Psychologist: Evaluate students using a wide variety of techniques to determine: Eligibility for special education services, Academic skills and aptitude for learning. Intervene directly with children and their families to help resolve learning and adjustment problems. Promote tolerance, understanding, and an appreciation of diversity within the school community.
School Guidance Counselor: Assist students in personal growth through educational and career planning, self-awareness, goal setting, decision making. Work as student advocates while consulting and collaborating with school staff and families to assist students to be successful academically, vocationally and personally. Please contact them for questions related to school schedules.
School Social Worker and Intern: Provides services related to a student's social and emotional needs while being a link between the home, school, and community. Please contact them for questions related to community resources such as Christmas Clearing Council, financial support, and counseling.
What is AVID?
What Is the AVID Binder?
The AVID binder is a system for keeping essential school materials and assignments organized into one binder. A proper AVID binder contains all the materials in the “Required Items” section below. Items on the “Suggested” list are optional and may be added at your discretion. Binder checks will be conducted once a week in predetermined classes. Teachers leading the monthly binder checks will be looking for the required items and overall organization.
How can I support my child at home?
We encourage you to ask your student to show you their organization system. Your support of the binders and agendas will greatly add to the success of its implementation.
Regularly check your child’s backpack and binder. All papers should be placed in binder rings in the proper class section. Ask them to remove unnecessary papers. Ensure all required materials are present. We encourage you to reference the binder/agenda checklist referenced below.
Check your child’s student agenda daily and have a conversation with him/her about what he/she is learning. It may be a good idea to sign your child’s planner when you review it.
What is AVID?
AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities. For more information about AVID, visit their website at avid.org.
Required Contents:
- Good quality 3-ring, 3” binder / Case It
- Agenda/daily planner
- (provided by the school)
- Colored tab subject dividers to separate all classes
- Three-hole pencil pouch
- 2 or more pens
- 2 or more pencils with erasers
- Loose-leaf notebook paper for each class
- Single subject notebook for Thoughtful Log/Literacy
- 1 or more highlighters
- 1 or more dry erase markers
- 1 glue stick
- Hole reinforcement stickers
- Post-it notes
- Colored pencils or markers
- Earbuds or headphones
Suggested Contents:
- 3 hole punch
- Index Cards
Please take a few minutes to hear from a student’s point of view how valuable her organization system is.
Sophia’s Video
Thank you for your partnership and support. If you have any questions about the binder, do not hesitate to contact us.
Athletics and Activities
Our website, https://sdw.waukesha.k12.wi.us/horningms will have a current calendar of our co-curricular activities for your planning purpose and a Guidebook that will help you learn more about our offerings.
Please contact Ms. Inkmann with questions at sinkmann@waukesha.k12.wi.us.
Email: sinkmann@waukesha.k12.wi.us
Phone: 262-970-3450
Join Horning Site Council!
The 2nd Thursday of each month starting in September is reserved for our Horning SIte Council meetings. More information will be provided regarding the format.
Horning Site Council's mission is to build community among families, learners, teachers and staff. We WANT people like you to get involved to help improve communication, support school needs, and plan activities to bring the Horning community together.
Site Council was formed in the 2016-17 school year, so we’re fairly new and trying to build our family involvement here at Horning. For the 2019-20 school year, we are looking for members to fill the following roles:
Please join us at any meeting, or contact us any time for more information!
Connect With Us!
Horning Website: https://sdw.waukesha.k12.wi.us/horningms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HorningMSHawks/
Twitter: @HorningMiddle