Can you believe that last week was our first FULL week of school since the Holiday Break? Yes!! Whether it has been a scheduled Holiday or inclement weather...we are still learning to bounce back from breaks as middle schoolers thrive in routine and consistency. We are doing our best to get back into the swing of things but it's difficult to do when our routines are interrupted. Speaking of days off, we have one coming up soon. This is just a reminder that on Monday February 20th, our students will be out of school for a President's Day/District Professional Development Day.

The following question often comes our way at Heartland, how can I support my middle schooler? Here are some ways you can support your middle school student:

1. Be present: Attend parent-teacher conferences, school events, and extracurricular activities to show your support and interest in your child's education and well-being.

2. Encourage physical activity: Encourage your child to be physically active, whether through organized sports or simply playing outside. Physical activity can help with focus and reduce stress.

3. Promote healthy habits: Encourage healthy habits such as proper nutrition, enough sleep, and avoiding drugs and excessive screen time.

4. Encourage independence: Let your child take responsibility for their own schoolwork and decisions. Offer support and guidance, but avoid doing their homework for them.

5. Foster their interests: Support your child's interests and encourage them to pursue new hobbies and activities.

6. Communicate regularly: Keep the lines of communication open by regularly talking to your child about their school experiences, friends, and feelings. Teachers are a big support in the few years of middle school. Our aim is to consistently respond to your inquiry within 24-48 hours.

7. Help with organization: Teach your child good study habits and help them stay organized. This can include setting a regular schedule for homework, studying, and relaxing.

Remember, every child is different, so it's important to tailor your approach to your child's individual needs and personality. By being there for them, offering support and guidance, and encouraging their growth and independence, you can help your student have a successful middle and high school experience by building healthy habits today.

We had a wonderful week celebrating National School Counseling Week and our fantastic counselors! We appreciate Mrs. Treece, Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Bowerman so much for the work they do with our community of Thunderhawks! They are often doing work behind the scenes that never gets seen and a week was not long enough to say thank you for everything our counselors do. We hope that you continue to feel the love for all the weeks to come!

We have TONS of fun activities and events coming up in support of our Double "PUP" Dare Week! Next week's newsletter will be full of ways to get involved in "People Uplifting People" and how you can show your support! We look forward to raising money for a great cause! As always, should you have any questions, ideas or suggestions please feel free to reach out to our office. Let's have a fantastic week, Thunderhawks!

WE ARE...HEARTLAND!

Respectfully,

Veronica Johnson

Principal, Heartland Middle School

405-340-2972

Students are required to wear their student ID each and every day. All students have received their initial ID for the year. Students that do not have their ID are expected to print a temporary sticker badge to wear for the day. This should only be used in emergency situations. Students are allotted 5 free sticker badges per month and will be charge $1 for every badge thereafter until the end of the month. Students wearing a sticker badge will not have access to the snack bar and be last in lunch lunch line. I recommend purchasing a new ID for $5 if your student has lost their ID.

This is one of the district's many safeguards for our schools. IDs provide a quick glance of students that belong to our school, their grade level, and which parts of the building they should be in during the day.