Hallie Wells News
September 10, 2017
Great Start to the Year!
What a joy to have the students back in the school. It never gets dull. The excitement and energy at the start of the year is simply amazing! Looking forward to an incredible 2017-18 school year.
Empower Hour Selection
One unique aspect of Hallie Wells is Empower Hour Program. Monday (tomorrow) students will be selecting choices for Empower Hour sessions for the first marking term. Here is a link to the course catalog. Feel free to review the different opportunities with students and discuss the choices they plan to make on Monday. Empower Hour is an opportunity for students to try new interests—without any stress of grades. To the extent possible, students are provided first or second choice selections.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Tuesday: September 12
5:30-6:30: 7th and 8th Grade Parent Optional Health Curriculum Overview: Media Center
5:30-6:30: Information tables PTSA, M.O.R.E, Flex Academy, etc.
6:30: PTSA Meeting: in the cafeteria
6:55: Back to School Night Sessions Begin. Parents Report to Advisory Classes.
This event is for parents and adults only. No children, please, unless serving as an Ambassador for the evening.
Parking is limited at Hallie Wells. Consider carpool. Back to School Night Bus Shuttle Service is being provided between Wilson Wims ES and Hallie Wells Middle School. Parking is available at Wilson Wims ES. First pick-up is at 6:15 p.m. runs until 9:20 p.m.
Consider testing out the Carpool Ap: “Go Chaperone.” http://gochaperone.com/
Spirit Ware
It’s the best looking clothing in town! Show school spirit. Some styles below. Orders accepted through Sunday, September 17. Click to see all products and order.
Support Innovative Programs
Provide funding directly to student programs. 100% of funds collected go directly to student programs--not staff! In order to provide programs above and beyond the county’s traditional funding, support is needed. Forward this information to anyone with an interest in supporting a new vision of teaching and learning. We need your support. We’ve reached only .05% of our goal to run Empower Hour, Field Trips and many other programs.
Information and paper registration Click for flyer
Student Expectations
The Assistant Principals Ms. Thomas and Mr. Currence are visiting math classes this week to review student expectations. Below is link to the HWMS student expectations.
Remind your children MCPS has a no cell phone policy in middle school. Remind your child no cell phones during the school day.
Student Rights and Responsibilities and Code of Conduct
A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities and the MCPS Code of Conduct have been updated for the 2017–2018 school year. All MCPS families should receive a copy of these documents from their school. The documents also are available online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/students/rights/
MCPS Parent Portal.
This school year, myMCPS Parent Portal is the primary home-to-school communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, and more. The portal is still being launched--great things in store this year! Information is being sent home. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/mymcps-classroom/
Student Service Learning Forms Due
Verification forms must be turned in by Friday, September 29th. Please see Mr. McGough in room 356 with any questions. Great job to those of you who have already submitted your completed forms. To learn more about the SSL Program, click here.
Fall Sports
Boys and Girls Softball and Co-Ed Cross Country tryouts will begin on September 13th. 7th and 8th graders are invited to try out! Forms due to coaches by Wednesday. Please see Mr. Finelli, Ms. Goyne, Mr. Mahoney, or Mr. McGough for the forms!
Walk to School
Parents--consider having your kids walk to school if you live in the walking zone--rather than driving them. There are over 500 walkers at Hallie Wells. It's such a joy to see all the kids walking to and from the school. When we see them walk up in the morning, staff notice how happy the kids seem to get time with friends--being kids.
Any support to reduce the number of cars will support a smooth and efficient drop off and pick up. Let’s set a goal to have every car have no fewer than 3 passengers.
To support this, the PTSA reviewed a few neighborhood carpool Aps and recommend, "t“Go Chaperone" if looking for a few parents to join into a carpool http://gochaperone.com/
School Hours
Drop off no earlier than 7:45.
Main Office Hours: The main office hours are 7:30am until 3:45pm. The main office for our school closes at 3:45 pm each day. The phones are not answered after this time and all messages left will be picked up the following morning at 7:30 am.
Clarksburg High School Saturday School
This program is for students in Grades 1-12 and focuses on Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Test-Taking skills. Certified teachers review material that is aligned with the curriculum at Montgomery County Public Schools/MCPS, and students have an opportunity to review concepts and homework covered during their school week. Algebra, IM and much more. This year at Clarksburg High School http://www.saturdayschool.org/programs/
Attendance
Attendance is required by law. If a student is absent or will be arriving late, the parent/guardian should call the attendance line at 301-284-4801. Upon the return to school absent or late students should bring an attendance note including:
- student name,
- grade,
- date,
- reason for absence or lateness,
- parent/guardian name,
- parent/guardian signature and
- phone number where a parent may be reached.
Attendance notes should be hand carried to the main office when the student enters the building. Alternately, the parent may send a note generated by the doctor or dentist.
Early Dismissal: Students leaving early for appointments should bring a note to the main office at the start of the day stating the time and reason for the early dismissal. A pass will be issued to the student to report to the main office at the time indicated. Please do not email early dismissal notes to main office staff. The person picking up the student must come into the main office. No student will be released to an adult that is not authorized in writing to pick up a student. A photo ID is required. All students must sign out in the main office if leaving the school before the final bell.
The PTSA Needs You
According to a survey conducted by the National PTA, the number one reason why people don't join the PTA is because they are not asked to. On behalf of all of our supportive Parents/Guardians who are already members, our wonderful Teachers, Administration and Staff here at Hallie Wells are all asking YOU to please join us today! Our goal this year is 100% participation. We can't do it without you. Become a Member. Volunteer, if you can. If you don't have the time, donations are always welcome and appreciated. Support our kids, our teachers, our school and our community. After all ... We Are All In This Together! http://www.hwmsptsa.org/
Homework Hotline
For 32 years, Homework Hotline Live (HHL) has helped tens of thousands of students in kindergarten through Grade 12 by offering free after-school homework help from MCPS teachers. HHL uses the internet and cable TV to offer students live one-on-one homework help. When HHL is on TV, students can phone in questions and see and hear the teachers while working through problems together.
HHL kicked off its 2017–2018 season on September 6 by offering homework help online. Homework Hotline Live on TV will start Tuesday, September 26 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on MCPS-TV.
Students can call HHL for help from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays or submit online questions from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Mondays. During the TV broadcast, all questions will be answered on-air. Questions submitted at other times will receive an online response.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/itv/hhl/ for more information.
Hallie Wells Middle School
Back-School-Night
Parents and Guardians--Come meet the teachers
5:30-6:30: 7th and 8th Grade Parent Optional Health Curriculum Overview: Media Center
5:30-6:30: Information tables PTSA, M.O.R.E, Flex Academy, etc.
6:30: PTSA Meeting: in the cafeteria
6:55: Back to School Night Sessions Begin. Parents Report to Advisory Classes.
This event is for parents and adults only. No children, please, unless serving as an Ambassador for the evening.