HIDDEN RIVER HEADLINES 12/19/19
9224 Paradise Lake Road, Snohomish, WA 98296
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Principal's Message
Happy Holidays / Merry Christmas HRM Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you well and not too stressed out or overwhelmed with all that still is left to be done to prepare for Christmas and the holiday season . Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to sub in Mrs. Nelson's classroom ... she and Mrs. Erickson were away at a Math conference and we were short on substitutes, so I jumped at the opportunity to spend a week working directly with students in the classroom. I have to be honest and report that two big reminders emerged for me after a fun week teaching Math to our students. The first reminder is just how amazing our teachers truly are with all that they have to do to prepare and deliver engaging lessons for our students. I've always known that as a principal, but living it out first hand was a great reminder that our teachers really do have a challenging task, each day, to provide meaningful and relevant instruction to our cherished middle schoolers. And the second reminder that was as clear as day for me after last week is that our kids are truly amazing! Your kids are a gift to be around each day, even on the most difficult of days for them. Helping them learn, grow, and navigate these middle school years is an honor and privilege for us as a staff ... thank you for sharing them with us and trusting us to help them on this middle school journey.
As the end of this calendar year comes to a close and all of us head off for a holiday break, I want to thank our parents, families, and students for your efforts, partnership and support as we work together to build a school that puts the needs of students at the center of all that we do. HRM is a great place for kids because of all of you and for that I'm truly grateful! Have a Happy Holiday and a Merry Christmas ... enjoy all that this season has to offer and we'll see you back here in 2020!
Brett Wille
Principal
HIDDEN RIVER PURPOSE
Core Values: "Our Kids, Our Community"
- Have a Positive Attitude
- Act with Integrity
- Wholehearted Respect
- Keep our Commitments
- Serve our Community
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
- Dec. 19 - ASB Meeting - CANCELLED
- Dec. 20 - Early Dismissal at 11:50 a.m.
- Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 - Winter Break, No School
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON JANUARY 6, 2020!!
THANK YOU PTO!!
Also, we have a lot of cookie trays and containers in the office if you would like to claim yours.
CLASS OF 2024 PARTY PLANNING
IT'S ALMOST THAT TIME
THIS YEARS 8TH GRADERS WILL BE NEXT YEARS FRESHMAN!
If you are interested in helping plan the 8th Grade Party
JOIN US AT PARK PLACE JANUARY 30TH AT 7:00 P.M.
Bring your ideas - we will pick a theme and location
AND mark your calendars for all upcoming planning meetings
Meeting via CHAT will be between in person meeting on
February 27th at 7:00 p.m.
May 14th at 7:00 p.m.
Please text Misty at (425) 346-0270 if you have any questions.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS
Wrestling and Girls Basketball starts January 21st!!
Final Games for Volleyball and Basketball
VOLLEYBALL:
Jan 8 Valley View @ Hidden River
Jan 13 Park Place @ Hidden River
BASKETBALL:
Jan 8 Hidden River @ Valley View
Jan 13 Hidden River @ Park Place
Wrestling and Girls Basketball starts January 21st!!
Students need to be cleared by Friday, January 17th. See Mrs. Aaby in office if you have questions.
NOTE: Athletic packets are now online. You may find the online forms in your Family Access website. *****To register for sports, please go to monroe.wednet.edu > Family Access > On-line forms > Athletic Registration. Bring the following forms to Mrs. Aaby OR upload into your athletic packet account under Family Access.
1) Physical Examination Form. These are good for two years. These must be good through the ENIRE season.
2) Parent Medical Questionnaire (completed annually)
As always, if you have questions or concerns please call.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Joel Garrison, Athletic Director - 360-804-4305
Judy, Athletic Secretary - 360-804-4108
MEET OUR NEW COUNSELOR, LILY SHAFER
Ms. Shafer is the Hidden River school counselor. She chose to be a counselor because she enjoys supporting students in discovering their strengths.
Ms. Shafer grew up right here in Seattle with a younger brother. She went to the University of Portland and said she chose that school because it is a smaller school and she got to run Cross Country and Track.
Some of her passions are traveling (she loves to explore national parks, and she studied abroad in Spain), she loves the fresh air and being outdoors. She enjoys skiing, running and hiking. Her favorite things include ice cream and the color blue.
Her Christmas favorites include the 2018 animated version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and she enjoys listening to Christmas music by Michael Buble. Her favorite Christmas memory is when she and her family stayed in their matching pajamas all day and made pizzas for dinner. But most of all, she enjoys being with family, listening to Christmas music and the Christmas spirit.
The best advice Ms. Shafer has ever been given is to talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend, and to be patient with yourself when learning something new. The best advice she wants to give the students at Hidden River is that it is okay to ask questions, always be kind, and try to sit next to someone new at lunch.
LAST CHANCE TO CLAIM YOUR LOST & FOUND ITEMS
Our LOST & FOUND table by the band room and gymnasium is overflowing with coats, jackets, lunch boxes, etc. Please take the time to go through it to see if you are missing anything.
*All items left on the table on Friday, Dec. 20th will be bagged up and donated, so be sure to take a look!
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CHALLENGE?
Get your act together and get registered for the 1st MPSF Annual Lip Sync-Formerly Sky Valley Lip Sync for 15 amazing years! Saturday, January 25, 2020, 6 pm at the Frank Wagner Performing Arts Center.
Cash prizes are awarded to 1-3 place for all categories.
Registration is open and song selection must be family friendly and is first come, first served. Challenge your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors! Register Today!
Great Sponsor Opportunities are available. All proceeds go to Class of 2020 Scholarships for Graduating Monroe Seniors.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Dear families,
In preparation for our “winter weather” months, we want to take time to share the Monroe School District (MSD) Winter Weather Procedures for school closures, delays, and early dismissals.
Our top priority is always the safety of staff, students and visitors when making decisions. We recognize that canceled school days disrupt family schedules and that the school year may have to be extended. The decision to close schools is not an easy one and many factors are taken into consideration when making such a decision.
It is important to understand that the road conditions of our entire district are taken into account when a delay or closure decision is made. The roads in one part of our district may be clear while other areas are struggling with snow and/or ice. It is not possible to close some schools in the district while leaving other schools open.
How the decision to delay or close schools is made:
To help make the best possible decision, weather forecasts are consistently monitored and district staff drive our bus routes to evaluate road and parking lot conditions. We make every effort to make decisions regarding closings or delays in the evening, understanding that parents need time to make arrangements. However, if the forecast is uncertain and still developing, we wait to get the latest forecast and assess actual road conditions early in the morning. Morning decisions will be announced by 5 a.m. Additionally, if a delayed opening has been announced the night before, and the forecast or conditions worsen overnight, we may need to update the status in the morning and announce that all schools will be closed for the day.
Depending on the winter weather conditions, one of the following four options is decided:
- Schools start on time (no messages will be shared)
- Schools start on time with limited bus service
- Schools start two hours late (no a.m. preschool)
- Schools are closed (When schools are closed, all after school activities and evening facility use are also canceled.)
If schools are delayed or closed, information will be shared through the following communication channels:
- Email and robocall: An email and automated phone call will go out to all families. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Family Access to ensure you receive these notifications. Families who have ‘unsubscribed’ from district emails and/or automated calls will not receive these notifications.
- Text message: A text message will be sent only to those families who have opted-in to receive texts from the district. Learn how to opt-in here.
- District website: A message will be posted to the front page of our district website
- Social media: Messages will be posted to the district Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
- School schedule hotline: 360-804-2950
We will not send or post messages if schedules are normal. No news means that schools are open.
If other area school districts and colleges are closed, this may impact the schedules of our Sno-Isle and Running Start students.
Bus snow routes are posted on the district website, here.
If you have questions, please contact the district administration office at 360-804-2500.
To excuse an absence:
· Call (360) 804-4101 or (360) 804-4104 or
· Send in a note with your student or
· Enter on Family Access at www.monroe.wednet.edu Please remember - Early releases due to illness must be checked out through the Health Room.
- All absences must go through the Attendance Office, not through your students’ teachers.
- Absences must be excused within 72 hours or they will remain unexcused.
- Going on vacation? Student must get a “Trip Request Form” from the office for assignments if you will be gone for more than 3 days. This form needs to be signed by teachers, principal and parent.
Any questions or concerns, please contact our Attendance Secretary, Debbie Schelfhout at (360) 804-4104.
About Us
Principal
Brett Wille
Assistant Principal
Jonathan Judy
Counselor
Lily Shafer
Office Manager
Liz Holton
ASB/Counseling Secretary
Michele Engvall
Athletic Secretary
Judy Aaby
Attendance Secretary
Debbie Schelfhout
Health Room
Nurse
Sherah Bustamante
Health Room Assistant
Heidi Brennan
(360) 804-4132
Family Engagement Liason
Kathy Jackson
PTO OFFICERS
President: Tod Johnson
Vice President: Misty Simoneaux
Secretary: Amy Rushton
Treasurer: Lisa Bussey
Fax
(360) 804-4199
Attendance Hotline
(360) 804-4101
District Notice of Non-Discrimination
Monroe School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights Coordinator:
Joanne Dickinson and Title IX Coordinator, 360-804-2539, dickinsonj@monroe.wednet.edu;
504 Coordinator: David Paratore, 360-804-2609, paratored@monroe.wednet.edu.
Address: 200 E Fremont St., Monroe, WA 98272.