Teachers will provide appropriate grade-level text and student-centered assignments through small group instruction and frequent checks for understanding.​

Shields Middle School Vision Statement

The SHIELDS way, every day.

Scholarship

Honesty

Inclusion

Empathy

Leadership

Dependability

Service

• Week ahead calendar
• Final exam bell schedule
• Summer Learning Program Information
• District Updates
• Here comes the bus app
• Community Information
• Counselors' Corner
• Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Information -
• Dismissal Reminders
  
• Attendance Information
• Tardy Policy
• Dress Code Policy
• Boys and Girls Club Registration - SUMMER ENROLLMENT AVAILABLE
• Online Tutoring Programs
• Athletic Information - REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
• Title 1 Information
• Lunch Room Reminders
• Canvas
• Volunteer Opportunities
• SAC Committee Information
• PTSA Information - UPCOMING MEETING INFORMATION
• Contact us

Ms. Ambers (twila.ambers@hcps.net) - 7th Grade Counselor

Ms. Brown-Joseph (mary.brown-joseph@hcps.net) - 8th Grade Counselor

Ms. Temperino (lanny.temperino@hcps.net) - English Language Learners Counselor

The information includes several resources including website resources and the Hillsborough County Public Schools, FACE Resource Guide, which outlines initiatives to support school-based family engagement and more.

FACE Resource Guide (See attached)

FACE Website Resources (See link below)

The HCPS FACE Department also offers a variety of yearlong resources for educators, families and community partners.

This month’s feature is “THE FATHER FACTOR” – Engaging our fathers and male care givers!

Link: Family & Community Engagement (FACE) / Overview (hillsboroughschools.org)

Power Hour – You Tube Channel

Previously recorded videos can be accessed via the FACE YouTube Channel (See link below)

Link: HCPS FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - YouTube

REMINDER: Attendance Matters Every Period Every Day. We cannot educate our students at an optimal level if they are not present and/or late to school.

Absences shall be reported to the school attendance office by the parent/legal guardian on the day the absence occurred. The number to be called to report an absence on the day of the absences is 813-672-5338 option 1.

Tardiness to Class: A student is tardy when the student arrives after the beginning of the school day or when he/she is not in his/her assigned seat or station when the tardy bell rings. A student’s tardiness shall be excused when the reason given is acceptable to the principal or designee. Examples of acceptable reasons for tardiness are the same as the examples of acceptable reasons for excused absences.

Sign-in Procedures: Any student arriving to school after the session has begun at 8:40 must report to the Main Office or Office of Student Affairs. An admit shall be issued indicating excused or unexcused tardy or absence. For the student to receive an excused sign-in, a parent or guardian must accompany the student to the Main Office and give an excusable reason. More than two sign-ins in a grading period shall require medical or other documentation. Students will not be allowed to sign out later than 3:00 pm. Please understand that students are close to dismissal and sign-out at these times disrupt the learning and dismissal process.

• Tardy 1 – 4 : Verbal warning, Parentlink call home​

• Tardy 5: Tardy letter, Parentlink call home​

• Tardy 6: After-school detention​

• Tardy 7: 2 – After-school detentions or Saturday detention​

• Tardy 8: Considered insubordination and disobedience​

Shields Middle School will no longer enforce a mandatory uniform policy. Shields will follow the guidelines established in the Hillsborough County Student Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct states the following:

The dress and grooming of students shall be that which contributes to the health and safety of the individual and which is non-disruptive of the educational activities and processes of a school. The definition of appropriate dress shall vary with the age of the student, the program of instruction, and the heating/cooling system of the building.

When a student is out of dress code the following steps will be taken:​

• Student will be given the opportunity to correct the issue or they will be sent to ISS, and their parent will be contacted​

• Students that display a pattern of having dress code issues will be referred to the Student Affairs Office for interventions. ​

Help is Here. Anytime. Anywhere.

Hillsborough students grade 6-12 have unlimited, on-demand access to free academic support through Paper. Need someone to talk through a particularly tough math problem? A Paper Tutor will be there to assist students within seconds. Need someone to read an essay and make suggestions on how you can improve it before submitting? A Paper Tutor will be there to assist students.

No matter what a student's academic needs are, Paper’s expert learning assistants are available to help 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Just log in and ask a question! Students can login through Clever by clicking on the Paper icon.

Unlimited, Expert Support for Students, No Costs for Families.

Paper is a free resource for all Hillsborough students grades 6-12. Any student can connect and speak with a tutor for 30 minutes or 6 hours. Their usage will never be capped and families will not have to pay a cent for seeking assistance.

When working with a Paper Tutor, students should not expect to receive answers. Instead, their tutor will ask them guiding questions to get students thinking critically about what they know, what they’ve tried, where any misunderstandings are, and how to move forward.

Try It Now or RSVP

To speak to a tutor immediately, students can login to their Clever accounts and click the Paper icon.

To learn more about how Paper works, parents and guardians can sign up for Q&A sessions in English and Spanish and speak with a member of the Paper team directly. Should you have any immediate questions, feel free to reach out to parents@paper.com.

All students receive free breakfast and lunch DAILY.

• Our lunchroom is currently short-staffed, however additional staff have been hired and will begin serving student lunches soon.
• Students are given the opportunity to get a breakfast or lunch each day.
• Serving times are running a little longer.
• Students are given time to eat once they receive their lunch and will be given a late pass if needed.
• Please feel free to contact your student's administrator (emails listed below in the newsletter) with any questions or concerns.

https://forms.office.com/r/TUmqvBuXRu

You can contact an administrator at 813-672-5338 or by emailing them (email address listed below):

Ms. Fisher (deanna.fisher@hcps.net) - Principal, Oversees Shields Middle School and Sailfish Academy (6th grade)

Ms. Miller ( jamie.miller@hcps.net) - Assistant Principal, 7th grade students, Oversees athletics, facilities, clubs, instructional support faculty, transportation, and student debt list.

Mr. Peacock (michael.peacock@hcps.net ) - Assistant Principal, 6th Grade students, School Communication Liaison, Oversees school counseling department, Canvas liaison, RTI/MTSS supports, field trips and new teacher resources/supports.

Ms. Romando (jessica.romando@hcps.net) - Assistant Principal, 8th Grade students, Oversees curriculum, instructional faculty, COVID protocols, and assessment administration.