Hocker Grove Family Newsletter
September 13, 2021
SECTION 1: NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION THIS WEEK
Eagle Hour
Resources to Support Paying for College
Johnson County Library is offering virtual programs this fall on the FAFSA and Learning Quest 529. Please share the following information with students, parents, and anyone else you think may be interested in attending these programs.
Step-by-Step through the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the federal application necessary to get free and low-cost money for college.Join us as Jason Anderson, CPA, CFP®, Managing Member and Senior Consultant at Gradmetrics, as hewalks line-by-line through the FAFSA form, using it to explain the ins-and-outs of the college admissions, and financial aid process.
Program dates:
Thursday, September 16, 2021, 6:30-8pm
Wednesday, October 14, 2021, 6:30-8pm
It’s Never Too Early to Start Planning for College:
The earlier you invest, the better the chance your investment will grow over time. With contributions to a 529 account as part of your plan for college savings, you have a tax-advantaged investment option to help cover the ever-increasing costs of college, while potentially reducing reliance on student loans. JoinTeresa Stewart, 529 Business Development Consultant, and Jason Anderson, Managing Member and Senior Consultant at Gradmetrics, as they answer questions about financial aid and the Kansas Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Plan. Topics covered will include tax-deferred growth in a 529 plan, tax-free withdrawals on the growth in your account when used for qualified expenses and possible state tax deductions, and how you can use a 529 plan for student loan repayment up to $10,000 lifetime limit.
Program date:
Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 6:30-8pm
To register to attend these virtual programs, please visit our calendar:https://www.jocolibrary.org
Section 2: Previously Shared But Still Relevant
Free Family Resource
As part of its mission to support children and families, the Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST) is offering a series of three complimentary classes for parents and guardians. Classes will be presented virtually and facilitated by Marty Huitt, educational consultant and Director of Cornerstones of Care.
These classes are designed to:
- Create consistency between school and home
- Provide language for adults to use when redirecting children
- Share ways to problem solve to increase your child’s success
- Incorporate family meetings into your routine
Bring a sense of calmness to your home
Please join us for any or all three sessions!
● BIST Parenting Series Topics:
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Tuesday, September 21: Setting Boundaries and Increasing Partnership
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Tuesday, September 28: Proactive Problem Solving
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Tuesday, October 5: Family Meetings and Planning
● Time:
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5:45 PM - 6:00 PM Enter Zoom Room
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6:00 PM - 6:45 PM Informational Session
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6:45 PM - 7:00 PM Questions and Answers
● Cost: These virtual classes are provided free of charge.
● Registration:
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Please register on or before Friday, September 17, 2021.
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To register for this class:
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Go to https://BIST.org
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Use the dropdown menu My Account. Click Log In/Log Out.
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Create a Username by clicking Click Here under the large LOG IN
heading. If you already created a Username by previously enrolling
in a BIST class, just log in.
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Enter your information (Name, Email, and a Password). This will
register you on the website, but not for the class.
Select the class you wish to attend. Click Register to the right of the class name.
Follow the instructions.
- Be sure to select Pay Later via PO under the Payment Method. This Parent Class is free, but you must select the "Pay Later via PO" option in order to register.
- Select your child’s District and School from the dropdown menus.
- Select your position as a Parent unless you are a school staff member. If you are both a parent and a school staff member, you may select either.
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Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing the zoom link for the training sessions. If you do not receive a confirmation email by Monday, September 20, please contact the Cornerstones of Care (sponsor) office at bist@cornerstonesofcare.org for assistance.
We are excited to offer this opportunity to you!
Student Busing Update
During the week of September 20, DS Bus Lines, the district’s transportation service provider, will implement roster checks in order to verify accurate counts of riders enrolled and receiving transportation services. For any student riders not yet registered for transportation, please note that parents will be contacted by school offices to arrange alternative (parent provided) transportation.
To register students for transportation visit DS Bus Lines website. You can contact DS Bus Lines at 913-384- 1190.
For schools that offer regular education transportation, families who may qualify for free transportation should consider completing the online Household Economic survey (HES) located in Skyward (Online Verification Link). Please contact your child’s school office for assistance in completing this form.
Panorama Social Emotional Learning Survey
This school year (2021-2022) the Shawnee Mission School District is once again utilizing the Panorama Social- Emotional Learning survey to assess student’s perseverance, grit, determination, school culture and student- teacher relationships. The Panorama Social-Emotional survey takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete and will be administered once each semester. The first survey window is scheduled for September 13 through September 24, 2021 to be conducted through your student's Science class. Parents/Guardians would have opted their student(s) in or out of the survey during the 21-22 registration process. Survey data will be reviewed at the district and classroom level to determine areas of strength, as well as areas where more instruction and/or support is needed. Once survey results are returned, parents/guardians are welcome to see and discuss the results with their students’ teachers, social workers, and counselors. Sample survey questions can be found here and here.
We encourage you to visit the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) website to learn more about how Social Emotional Learning benefits your child and their environment. All data is maintained by SMSD and will remain confidential. Please visit this site for more information about the Panorama SEL survey.
A La Carte Items in HG Cafeteria
Families can use the School Cafe website for a variety of purposes including limiting a la carte purchases. Other uses of the School Cafe website are:
- View your child's account balance anytime.
- Access direct certification information
- See exactly what a la carte items are being purchased.
View Menus with nutrient and allergen information
Section 3: Important Resources
Health Services Information
• If you or your student have symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and contact your school nurse for testing information. Symptoms to watch for:
Primary Symptoms (One symptom prompts need to stay home and follow up with school nurse for further guidance.)
o New loss of taste or smell
o New Cough
o Shortness of breath
Secondary Symptoms (Two or more symptoms prompting need to stay home and follow up with nurse for further guidance)
o Sore Throat
o Fatigue
o Headache
o Runny Nose
o Congestion
o Fever
o Chills
o Body/muscle aches o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Diarrhea
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Close contacts of positive COVID cases will receive an email with instructions for testing and return dates.
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SMSD only accepts PCR tests for return to school/activities
Join The Hocker Grove PTA
· Fund Teacher Grants Applications for materials not provided by the SMSD
· Provide support for school field trips
· Assist with events for student and family activities
· Host Staff Appreciation Events for our AMAZING faculty and staff
There is no wrong or right way to be involved – anything you can give, whether it’s time or money, will support your child’s potential. We invite you to join because we can do more together than apart. It only takes 5 minutes: https://hgms.new.memberhub.store/store
Hocker Grove Student Announcements
School-based Health Partnership Clinic
Health Partnership Clinic has moved from Merriam Park to SMWest. It will be open Sept 2nd to serve all SMSD students and their siblings on Thursdays from 11am-3pm. Please see the flyers below in English/Spanish for more info. This is THE ONLY school based health clinic in Johnson County and we want to be sure our students to benefit from it.
Hocker Grove Middle School
Email: ChrisKase@smsd.org
Website: hockergrove.smsd.org
Location: 10400 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS, USA
Phone: 913-993-0200
Facebook: facebook.com/HockerGroveMiddleSchool
Twitter: @HockerGroveMS