Greetings Houston Middle School Community,

The 2023-2024 school year got off to a wonderful start! It didn't take long for students and staff alike to get busy in the day-to-day operations of our school. It's been great visiting with students and seeing our classrooms and hallways filled with activity. As the school year continues, I will send out monthly HMS News so our parents, guardians, and community can keep informed about all that is happening during the month. September promises to be a busy month. Please take a few minutes to read our monthly newsletter for September. There are lots of great things happening at HMS. I hope everyone has a splendid September! -Mr. Orin P. Wear

HMS will offer after school tutoring (funded by Title I) Monday thru Thursday of each week, beginning on Monday, September 11th from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM. Please contact the front office @ 892-9400 for questions. Permission slips to participate are located at the front office.

• sign up to participate online by September 21st
• tryouts start on September 26th

Parent/Guardians - please sign up for HMS sports/activities using Big Teams (previously Planet HS) There are instructions for athletic registration and how to pay fees on the MSBSD website: https://www.matsuk12.us/Arbiter You can pay fees through Parent Vue-just click on the fees tab.

Go Hawks!

Battle of the Books is starting soon. Please visit with your child to see if they are interested! Students can pick up a list from Mr. Ames.

There is exciting brain research happening everyday that is beginning to unwrap the mysteries of how people learn and also myth-bust long held beliefs about learning. Understanding growth mindset is a critical piece to new research. Watch the video below to learn more about Growth Mindset. Think about what defines good practice and how the right kind of practice is proving people cam learn almost anything the want to.

Happy September!

Our friends at Big Lake Elementary will be hosting the Lion’s Club on Monday, September 11. FREE vision and hearing screenings will be available to our Big Lake/Houston community at this event. For those needing glasses (both students and adult family members), glasses will be available to those without insurance and at no cost. This is a great opportunity to get your new glasses! If you are interested, please contact HMS at (907)892-9400 or BLE (907)892-9700, for more information.

Many questions seem to arise regarding health records at registration time. We would like to answer some of these questions and explain some procedures which will require your cooperation.

IMMUNIZATIONS: Alaska State Law requires all students be adequately immunized PRIOR to entering school. The parent/guardian must provide the school with a valid medically verified immunization record from a clinic, health department or private physician showing the dates of all immunizations given. This record will be checked and verified by the school nurse at your child’s school. Children without valid verified immunization records will not be allowed to start school. (Provisions are available for medical or religious exemptions.)

PHYSICALS: Pursuant to MSBSD Board Policy 5141.3, health examinations by a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, Physician’s Assistant, Nurse Practitioner or chiropractor will be required annually for all students participating in interscholastic athletics. The completed physical form should be returned to the school as soon as possible. Sports physicals are current up to 18 months from the date of examination. A current physical must be provided in order for your student to be eligible to participate in HMS athletics.

HEALTH CONCERNS: If your child has a health concern (such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, etc.) please indicate this at the time of registration. There are Individual Healthcare Action Plans for the following conditions; allergies, asthma, diabetes, and seizures. These forms need to be completed by you and your health care provider and submitted to the school nurse as soon as possible. These forms can be located on the District web site under health forms. Please feel free to discuss these health concerns with the school nurse, teachers and counselors.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Emergency phone numbers are vitally important to the school. If you work, do not have a phone, or plan to be out of town, please provide additional emergency contacts who may be contacted should your child become ill or injured. Please update these emergency numbers frequently. REMEMBER, WE MUST BE ABLE TO REACH YOU!

These updates must be done via ParentVUE. If you are needing assistance with ParentVUE, please contact MSBSD IT CallCenter at 907-761-4357 (HELP) for assistance and technical questions.

MEDICATIONS: We understand that it may be necessary for your child to take medication during the school day. All medications are to be delivered by the parent or adult representative to the nurse’s office. The appropriate MSBSD Medication Authorization forms must be signed by the parent and accompany all medication for administration. Prescription medications to be taken for over 2 weeks must also be authorized and forms signed by the prescribing physician or health care provider. Medications must be kept in appropriately labeled prescription bottles. A simple request to your pharmacist to provide a second labeled bottle for school is all that is necessary. Thank you for your cooperation, as your student’s health and safety are a priority at Houston Middle School and MSBSD.

On September 26, 1960 - The first-ever televised presidential debate occurred between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. Many who watched were inclined to say Kennedy 'won' the debate, while those who listened only to the radio thought Nixon did better. Nixon, who declined to use makeup, appeared somewhat haggard looking on TV in contrast to Kennedy.