News from Panther Headquarters
September 2017
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
We picked up right where we left off: great kids, great families, great staff, and a high level of teaching and learning for ALL students! Thank you for the privilege of teaching your children as they came to school with a positive attitude willing to learn. Our purpose per our Mission Statement, The staff of Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate & Junior High, in partnership with the community, strives for educational excellence by providing experiences that challenge ALL students to become effective decision-makers, problem solvers and communicators, goes way beyond excelling on state and national test scores. Moreover, while we do emphasize academics and excel in that area, it is our job to ensure that our students become well-rounded citizens who can think critically and solve problems that they will be faced with throughout childhood and adulthood. We believe that the ‘new’ HSE21 Vision drives how we will approach our teaching and learning every day.
A key part of our success at HIJH is the continuation of a concept called Professional Learning Communities (PLC) where collaboration and data-driven decisions are the norm. As a Staff, we have reached consensus on the Big 3 Ideas of PLC’s to ensure the success of your child; they are as follows:
1. We accept Learning as the fundamental purpose of our school and therefore are willing to examine all practices in light of their impact on learning.
2. We are committed to working together to achieve our collective purpose. We cultivate a Collaborative Culture through development of high-performing departments.
3. We assess our effectiveness based on Results rather than the intentions. Individuals, teams and the school seek relevant data and information and use that information to provide continuous improvement.
For the 17-18 school year, we will be afforded weekly PD time for teachers to accomplish our teaching and learning tasks. Each Monday will be an early release day (2:25) so teachers can collaborate from 2:40-3:30.
Canvas is our new Learning Management System replacing Blackboard. Teachers are learning the nuances of the system, and it should be fully operational beginning Thursday, 9/7. Teachers are also training students on how to fully utilize the system. The Calendar is where to find what and when, and Modules contain needed content. Parents will receive a separate Canvas username/password from the District after soon after fall break.
Respectfully,
Tim A. Mankin
Upcoming Important Dates
September 4 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
September 6 - Picture Makeup Day
September 11 - Fundraiser Sale Ends-All money is due.
September 27 - Final Picture Retake Day
November 14-15 - Upcoming Dates for Student Led Conferences by Appointment (3-7 pm)
Early Dismissals and Returning to School
Book Fees and IPad Rental
Skyward will be updated with all book/Ipad fees for 17-18 school year the week of September 11th. Once all fees are updated, you will receive a Skylert message.
Fees can be paid on line through efunds,(be sure to click book rental fees), check or money order, NO CASH please. If paying by check, please put your child’s ID number in the memo line. This will ensure the amount is applied to the correct student.
Please allow up to two weeks for skyward to show paid. Receipts will not be sent home.
If you have any questions, please contact Doty Gaertner, Treasurer at 594-4120.
Counselor's Corner
Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! Each month we hope to provide you with pertinent information for both you and your student(s). Counselor’s Corner will allow for such information to be made available to our families, and we hope you find the communication helpful. We look forward to serving all students and families to the best of our abilities. We encourage you to call or email with any questions, concerns, or comments throughout the year.
GUIDANCE TIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS:
· Be on time for class or early. Bring iPad, pencils, paper, and any other needed supplies with you to class.
· Check Canvas every night for any homework or teacher messages.
· Be interested in what the teacher is saying. If you look bored, a teacher may assume you are not interested in learning.
· Ask questions when you do not understand.
· Always take notes and be organized.
· Prepare for the school day the evening before school. Have a regular location at home to place items that need to go to school. (Lunch, backpack, iPad, sports equipment/uniform, PE uniform if required, monies for lunch or activities, eye glasses or clothing)
· Homework should NOT be an option. Extra practice at home reinforces the lessons taught in school and enriches material learned.
· Take advantage of opportunities to join clubs, sports and activities.
Student Login and passwords to Family Access
New this year, students in grade K-8 will be receiving their own login and passwords to Family Access. A Skylert will be sent out from the Mr. Mankin, HIJH principal, as to how passwords will be distributed and when logins will be ready for use. Please stay tuned!
Newly Enrolled Families/ Address Changes
If you are new to the district or have changed your address over the summer, please be sure that you have provided all the required residency documents to the guidance office. Thanks for your assistance with this.
Click here Twenty-First Century Scholars.
Messages from the Nurse
We look forward to helping make your child's experience this year a safe, healthy and successful one. As school nurses, our priority is to provide care for students who are injured or become ill while in our school building. The clinic is not a substitute for your private physician's care. Nurses monitor for signs and symptoms of an illness; however, our scope of practice does not include diagnosing illness—that is the role of a physician. Additionally, we are here to assist students with medication administration and to help manage students' special medical conditions. If your student is well enough to come to school but needs allergy or cold meds, please administer them at home, as we do not stock these medications in the clinic.
Electronic Health Cards Needed. If you have not filled out your student's electronic health card, please do so today. 1. Log onto your Skyward Account, 2. Click "ONLINE FORMS" in left column, 3. You will see your child(ren)'s name(s), click here to fill out needed forms, including the Electronic Health Card. This card helps us to provide care for your child as needed on a daily basis and is necessary for off campus events and/or emergencies.
7th Grade Camp T Medication Drop off: If your child needs ANY prescription meds given while at camp, Please bring medications in original containers to the nurse
Wednesday, September 27th 3:30p-6p. If you are attending camp with your child, you do not need to drop off medication -you can give your child their meds.
INHALERS & EPI:
If you marked on your electronic health card that your student uses and inhaler or EPI, we need additional forms and doctor’s orders. Please contact the clinic. If your student carries an inhaler or EPI, a doctor’s note must be on file. Please fax to the clinic’s attention at 317-594-4129. Forms found here: Health Forms
IMMUNIZATIONS: If your student requires immunizations, you have received an email from me. You can also check your students’ immunization records on Skyward. 1. Log onto your Skyward Account 2. Click "Health info" and your child's vaccinations will appear. They should say “compliant” to be complete. If you have provided notice of an upcoming appointment, your child is compliant.
NON-Compliant students will be unable to attend school after SEPTEMBER 6th.
HSE Illness Policy: All students must be free of fever (without the use of temperature lowering medication--fever is defined as 100 degrees or more), vomiting and/or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. Thank you for helping to keep our students healthy by following HSE Illness Policy (it can be found in the online HIJH Student Handbook) and your best judgement when your child is sick.
Picture Makeup & Retakes
We will have a picture make up day on Wednesday, September 6th for students that did not get their picture taken during Panther Preview or would like a retake. Report to the LGI room before you go to lunch to have your picture taken. If you are having a retake done, please make sure you bring your picture packet with you to the LGI room.
All students should have their picture taken for the yearbook. You are not required to purchase photos.
If you would like to purchase photos visit mylifetouch.com, our ID is HM417004Y1
We will also have a final retake day on Wednesday, September 27th.
Free Math Tutoring
HIJH Sports Information
Click here to learn about all of the HIJH Athletic Info. Please read page 2 carefully as some dates/times have changed recently!
Attention all parents of 8th Graders
Attention all 8th grader parents: We have reached our enrollment cap and planning has begun for this year’s legendary 8th grade Washington DC trip! Our next meeting will be for HIJH students only and will likely be on Friday December 1st at 7am. Go to our trip website at www.myfieldtrip.info or contact Eric Brown (ebrown@hse.k12.in.us ) if you have any additional questions.
Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee Club starts up Thursday, August 31st. Ultimate Frisbee is a no fee, no commitment club open to all students in all grade levels (including HIJH graduates). If your student is looking for a great workout and an opportunity to meet new people, come join the Club! We will work on frisbee skills at the beginning of practice, then break into teams and scrimmage. We will meet immediately after school in Mr. Beesley's room (room 321). Students must have their rides pick them up at the main office (Door 1) at 4:15. Please bring water bottles and some athletic wear.
Thrill the School
The 5th and 6th grade "Documentary Film Club" is coming soon? This club will create the documentary film called "The Making of Thrill the School." The final film will be premiered at the "Thrill the School" event after school on October 27. Students in this 5/6 club will learn the roles and responsibilities of careers in the filmmaking industry. Students will also learn how to use a variety of apps to create the film and assemble it using Moviemaker. The 5th and 6th grade "Documentary Film Club" applications will be available September 1 on Canvas and outside the Art Room and will be due September 8 to Mrs. Knecht.
National Junior Art Honor Society
A National Junior Art Honor Society has been formed at HIJH for current 8th graders in semester or full year Art. Applications will still be accepted by Ms. Gammons—please see her in room 304 for more information. Our next meeting will be at 7:00am on Wednesday, October 25 in room 304. In related news, we are looking for art-related service projects outside of school; anyone with ideas, possibilities, proposals, etc. for service activities should contact Ms. Gammons at kgammons@hse.k12.in.us, anytime. 7th graders will be eligible to apply in May 2018.
5th Grade Choir
Do you love to sing? Join our 5th grade choir! We will meet after school on Tuesdays until 4:00 pm in the music room. A complete schedule and permission form can be found in the office or from Mrs. Hochstetler, and are due before the first rehearsal on Tuesday, September 19th. We can’t wait to sing with you!
Music Happenings
Fitness Enrichment Activities for 5/6 Graders
PTO News
PTO Website. Checkout our PTO website (www.hijhpto.wordpress.com) for the 2017-18 PTO calendar, PTO meeting schedule, past meeting minutes, newsletters, and more.
Panther Rewards.
Did you know that there are three easy ways to help our school earn money without it costing you anything?
Kroger. Families who link their Kroger card number to our school earn us money. When you use your Kroger card, a portion of the sale goes to our school. It’s an easy way to support PTO (and keep your fuel points). Simply go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards and create an account or sign in. Find Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior H.S. PTO (organization number 10358) and link your card to our account.
Box Tops for Education & Tyson Rewards. Clip your Box Tops for Education and/or Tyson Rewards on your groceries and household goods. We will collect them throughout the year.
AmazonSmile. The AmazonSmile Foundaton donates .5% of the purchase price from your eligible purchases to our PTO. Go to www.smile.amazon.com to choose our school (under Hsjh Pto Inc) and to make purchases.
Popsicle Handout for Tyson Rewards and/or Box Tops. Wednesday, September 20
Every student that turns in 15+ Tyson Rewards and/or Box Tops will receive a popsicle given out at lunch by a PTO volunteer. Students can turn in the Tyson Rewards/Box Tops in a baggie labeled with the student’s name, homeroom teacher and grade. Baggies may be turned into the front office or directly to the PTO volunteer on September 20 at lunch time. We only need 24 more Tyson Rewards to receive a $480 Tyson donation check. If you have any questions please contact Lisa Gruber at lag363@icloud.com.
Pep Rally/Tailgate. The Pep Rally and Tailgate was a huge success! Thank you to all the staff and parents that volunteered and/or donated items and money. We could not have done it without you!
Spirit Wear. Spirit wear should be delivered in early October.
September PTO Meeting. The next PTO meeting will be Thursday, September 21 at 7 PM at the school. All parents are invited to join us.
HIJH School Fundraiser
The HIJH School Fundraiser is underway! Students received their Red Apple fundraising packets on August 24. Please encourage them to take time to sell items, as the proceeds go directly back to HIJH. Important Dates to Remember: Monday, September 11- Fundraiser Orders and Money are DUE. Monday, October 9- Fundraiser Product Pick-up at HIJH-AUX GYM-Enter through Door #3, 3:00-7:00 p.m. Click here to learn more about the Fundraiser.
Academic Team for Spell Bowl (7th and 8th Graders)
7th and 8th grade students who are interested in joining the Academic Team for the Spell Bowl, the academic tournament, or both; and did not attend the first meeting are encouraged to join us on Tuesday, September 5 in the library after school until 4:15 for our next meeting. We need more spellers!! The permission slip can be found on our school website.
Creating Positive Relationships (CPR) Parent Seminar-October 12
CPR will be hosting a Parent Seminar for 5th grade families on Thursday, October 12 from 6:30-7:30 PM at HIJH in the LGI Room. At this meeting, you will learn strategies to begin parenting conversations at home that will help your child navigate the changes that occur physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially during puberty.
While this event is specifically designated for 5th grade families, all families are welcome including those who may have missed this informational meeting the previous year. Because CPR is not taught in grade 5, this parent information session is offered to support conversations at home. CPR will be taught in grades 6, 7, and 8 during the PE/Wellness classes. Again, this Parent Seminar is specifically designed for 5th grade families to help facilitate conversations at home. For more detailed information about each lesson, please listed to this parent webinar: https://www.cpr4teens.org/parents/webinar-info/. Many questions will be answered at the parent session and specific content is covered in the webinar. We would be happy to answer any further questions you might have after the meeting. Please contact Shannyn Miller smmiller@hse.k12.in.us for support with your questions.
What do you do if you suspect a child disability?
Middle Years
HIJH Connect
HIJH Handbook
September Multicultural Holidays
Click here to find out about September Multicultural Holidays.
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
Permitted use of school newsletters as required by the Equal Access Act is not an endorsement of this group or this group’s beliefs by Hamilton Southeastern Schools or the Board of School Trustees.
Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Junior High
Ph: 317-594-4120
Attendance: 317-594-4126
Guidance: 317-594-4124
Fax: 317-594-4129
hse.k12.in.us/hij/home.aspx
Twitter: @HIJPanthers
Athletics Twitter: @HIJathletics