Friday Memo
February 3, 2023
Important Dates
February 13 - Late Start Day
February 16 - Vogt OOTB for to work on 23-24 master schedule
February 24 - 8th grade Glow Party; Vogt OOTB; GFA Field Trip
February 27 - Department Meetings, 3:35 pm to 4:35 pm
March 1 - Growth Plans due
March 6 - Faculty Meeting, 3:35 pm to 4:35 pm
March 8 - 3rd quarter grading window opens
March 10 - 3rd quarter ends
March 14-15 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 4pm to 8pm
March 15 - 3rd quarter grading window closes
March 17-24 - No School due to Spring Break
March 25 - School resumes, Late Start Day
Instructional Focus - Self Assessment/Reflection
February is Black History Month!
Dr. Mae Jemison
Vice President Kamala Harris
President Barack Obama
Faculty Meeting on Monday!
As a follow up to the data that I shared at our last faculty meeting, we will move forward with our focus on Tier 1 instruction, which is in line with our instructional focus for this year (and years to come). Therefore, some of your colleagues will offer 1 hour PD sessions that are in line with high quality Tier 1 instruction during the faculty meeting on Monday. Click the link below to sign up for a session of your choice. You only need to sign up for one session. When it is time for the faculty meeting on Monday, you do not need to report to the Cafeteria. Please go straight to your session instead. When your session is over, you are free to go!
February Tier 1 Instruction Session sign up
If, after experiencing the sessions on Monday, you decide that you are interested in presenting in March, please let me know that you are interested so we can discuss your idea.
Mr. Jones, My Invisible Father
Please click on the link below to view a recent interview with Mr. Jones about his book, My Invisible Father, on Studio STL. Congratulations Mr. Jones! Thank you for sharing this amazing story with the world!
Mr. Conners is in a Play!
Volunteer for the 8th Grade Glow Party!
Yearbooks are on sale!
Yearbooks on sale January 30 - February 28 at the link below. The will be $20 each this year!
PTO Getting to Know You Series
create a post for you? Do not feel like you need to answer every question....just a few so that we can write a little biography about you. And send a picture because everyone loves putting a face to the names we hear about over the dinner table. Thank you so much!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-hPdR98I-mZHgtAN44dbc7Bi2v40FWzomG9o-TSpuAlO_4Q/viewform
PTO Teacher Mini Grants
MRTF Certified & Support Staff Grants
Attached is an application for $500 grants for teaching staff and support staff provided by MRTF, which is the tax exempt entity of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association (MRTA). All certified and non-certified staff members are eligible. Please note that there are two separate applications, one for certified staff and one for support staff. Certified staff includes teachers, counselors, school social workers, administrators and support staff includes school nurses, teachers' assistants or aides, secretaries, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, etc. There will be a total of one hundred and twenty-six $500 teacher grants awarded (nine in Region 8) and twenty-eight (28) PEERS grants awarded throughout the state. The focus of winning grants should be on programs that would enhance student learning, enhance student well being, or in general provide a better learning environment for students. Recently, a nurse won a grant for a program she was initiating in the health room.
Please note that both of the applications have two pages, one of which is the cover sheet that must accompany the grant application. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2023. However, applications may be submitted at any time prior to the deadline. .
Thank you for your attention!
Sincerely,
Dr. John A. Pohl, Retired Principal from Holman Middle School, Pattonville School District and MRTA Past Presiden
Budget Timeline
Reminder about Field Trip Procedures
Chromebook Collection
We will begin the collection of the Chromebooks on May 11th and will finish up collections by May 19th. Below is the schedule for collection. This year's collection will take place during ELA classes. More detailed information will be rolled out closer to the time of collection. We wanted to share this information with you now so you can make plans for the second semester.
If you have a need for Chromebooks in your class after collection has begun please submit a technology request well before the month of May so Jason Heisel can plan accordingly. The request should have a minimum and max need.
Example: Need at least 3 Chromebooks and would love to have 15 Chromebooks available for the following dates: May 12-May 15th to allow learners to finish up submitting late work
Please keep in mind that a team of people worked to create this schedule based on feedback from last year and this year as well as working around major events that are on the calendar and testing schedules.
If you have any questions please let Jason P. Heisel, our building technology specialist, know via email.
Preparing Your Classroom for Summer Break & Summer School Classroom Use
- Please clear your teacher desk of everything, including drawers and surfaces.
- Remove all personal belongings from the classroom.
- Mark all things that are trash with a noticeable, legible sign.
- If your classroom has a tile floor, then the bookshelves have to be emptied. We will have boxes available. Please be mindful of how heavy you make the boxes. The saran wrap idea at the end of last year didn't work as well as I thought it would.
- We will be using the 6th grade wing for summer school.
Please don't hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.
Hixson Middle School
Email: mayes.shenita@wgmail.org
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Hixson
Location: 630 South Elm Avenue, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6450