Hidden River Newsletter
Week of November 28 - December 2, 2022
Weekly Reminders
- SAVE THE DATES:
Next Week: (12/5-12/9)
Saturday, Dec., 10th - School Choice Fair (details below)
What's in the Newsletter?
- School Information
- iUpdate
- Lost & Found
- FSO Fundraising
- Classroom Updates
- Health Office Message
- Family Feedback Form
School Information
School Online Store: Back open with more Winter items. Click here to order.
Tissue/Kleenex Donations: We are running low on tissues/kleenex in our classes, any donations would be extremely helpful. You can drop them on the main office. Thank you!
School-wide Expectations: With the start of the new Quarter we are reviewing school-wide expectations with students, this week we are focusing on the one below. Complete Family Handbook here.
Personal Electronics Expectations
At Hidden River Middle School, we support our students in using technology for real-world application and often, as learning tools. Academic success for our students is most important while they are in school.
Our expectations around cell phone/personal electronics use:
Student use of personal electronics should be limited to before or after school, lunch, and passing time.
Adults are in charge of the teaching and of the safety in the spaces they lead. Therefore, after teaching their learning community expectations, if a student’s use of their cell phone becomes a barrier to teaching, learning or safety, adults have the responsibility to make decisions such as:
request the student put their electronic device away.
confiscate/store the electronic device and return at the end the class.
confiscate/store the electronic device and return at the end of the school day.
confiscate/store the electronic device and return to a guardian.
request a family conference.
Our expectations are grounded in our beliefs that:
As an International Baccalaureate middle school, we foster the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global engagement—essential qualities for young people who are becoming global leaders. Much of this learning and collaboration requires real, human interaction.
Electronics can become disruptive to learning, and a health concern. Cell phone notifications can interrupt students’ thinking, communication, and collaboration and therefore interrupt learning. Cell phone notifications can become addictive and detract from the big thinking work of middle school that we want students to be fully present for as they develop their thinking, communication, social, and self management skills.
Electronics can go missing. Hidden River Middle School students are learning to be reflective, open-minded, caring communicators, and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, as reflective as our students are, phones can be stolen for a variety of reasons. While we teach and model responsible personal electronic use and try to help students problem solve, the school is not responsible for lost or stolen electronics. Students who choose to bring cell phones and/or other electronics to school do so at their own risk. Hidden River and the St. Paul School District will not be liable for any damage, loss, or theft of electronic devices (SPPS Policy 520.00: Information Technology Usage & Safety Policy).
Students have access to personal school electronics. Every student at Hidden River Middle School is given an iPad for academic use. Middle School students are learning to become independent learners; should you need to contact your student during the school day, please call the main office, 651-293-8860 and we will get a message to your student as soon as possible. If a student needs to contact a family member, they can ask the teacher to help make a plan to contact.
iUpdate
ONESTOP https://www.spps.org/Page/31224 I have attached the English version of instructions other language versions can be found on the OneStop page. There are also paper copy versions of the iUpdate on the OneStop page as well.
Lost & Found
FSO - Fundraising
THANK YOU to all who have donated!
We are making progress toward our goal, but we are not there yet!
Here’s one way your donation will be put to good use –
Our Hidden River staff works hard day and day out to support the students and community. Each year, the FSO puts on a Staff Appreciation event. Last year we provided a meal for staff to enjoy and build community together as well as a small $10 gift card to a local restaurant or store of each staff members choice. Just a small way for our community to show our appreciation for our amazing Hidden River team!!
If your family is able to help, donations can be made in a number of ways. You can find us online through the GiveMN donation platform at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Hiddenriver.
If you prefer to write a check, it can be made out and sent to
Hidden River Middle School FSO
1700 Summit Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105.
We are also able to collect cash, check and credit card donations in person at school events - just look for the FSO table. All donations are tax-deductible. We also appreciate corporate matches and Amazon Smile donations (we are still listed on Amazon as the Ramsey Middle School Parent Teacher Organization).
Classroom Updates
Minnesota Studies with Ms. Walter - 6th grade
Sixth grade students in Minnesota Studies class at Hidden River Middle School have recently been learning about the Dakota, the first inhabitants of the state. Students learned more about the importance of bison to the early Dakota and with the help of the SPPS Center for Equity and Culture, students were able to see some of the following items; a buffalo hide, buffalo horn, jawbone, buffalo bladder, a bag/purse (large) made from stiff rawhide (called a parfleche), a doll made from buffalo hide and moccasins. Many of the students thought it was really cool to see and feel these items that they had only previously seen in pictures.
Design Class
Health Office Message
Cold and Flu season is upon us and we are seeing cases of RSV, Influenza and common colds in addition to COVID-19.
We appreciate families monitoring their children for illness at home and trust that students are sent to school well enough to be in class engaging with learning.
Please continue to monitor for fever, chills, body aches, headache, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat and return 24 hours after fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medicine) and your child is well enough to participate in routine activities.
We have Binax NOW COVID-19 antigen self-tests available in the health office for use at home. We can send kits home with students, or you can pick one up- just ask.
In collaboration, Nurse Mary