Hixson Happenings
114th Issue, May 13, 2022
Important Dates
May 16 - State of Missouri required Sexual Abuse Training (see below)
May 16 - 20 - Panorama window #3
May 17 & 18 - NWEA Testing
May 23 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, Roberts Gym (WGHS), 7pm
May 25 - Regatta Races, 7 Unity & 7 Integrity; Band Pops Concert, 6pm
May 26 - Regatta Races, 7 Bravery
May 27 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visit; early dismissal at 12:32 pm
6th grade Orientation
Panorama School Climate Survey Window #3: May 16 - 20
- Survey administration will take place during Statesman Time between May 16 and 20, 2022.
- The survey is not anonymous. If a student demonstrates that they need support through the survey, we will be able to follow up and provide additional support to your student.
- The survey questions are as follows: (How well do people at your school understand you as a person? How connected do you feel to the adults at your school? How much respect do students in your school show you? How much do you matter to others at this school? Overally, how much do you feel like you belong at your school? The goal of Statesman Time is to provide time for students and staff to build relationships with one another and learn about our core values of positive relationships, respect, and teamwork. In your opinion, is Statesman Time achieving its goal? Do you have a trusted adult at Hixson? Please share the name of your trusted adult at Hixson. Do you have any questions, comments, or concerns about Hixson Middle School?)
- All survey questions are optional. The survey can be submitted even if your student doesn't answer all the questions.
- We sincerely value your student's feedback and want all students to take the survey. However, if you wish to opt your student out of the survey, please click HERE to add your student's name to the opt out list. This list will be shared with Statesman Time teachers prior to survey administration. Students who are opted out of the survey may read a book or work on homework while they wait for the other students in their Statesman Time class to complete the survey. A student can also opt themselves out of the survey by simply letting their Statesman Time teacher know and not taking the survey.
- Panorama does not market, sell, or rent any student's personal information, nor do they engage in, inform, influence, or enable advertising to students. Panorama does not use student data for purposes other than serving schools and districts pursuant with their written contract.
State of Missouri required Sexual Abuse Training
Beginning last school year, Missouri State Statute 170.045 requires that students in grades 6-12 receive trauma-informed developmentally appropriate, sexual abuse training. The school district shall notify parents or guardians in advance of the training required under this section, of the content of the instruction, and the parent's or guardian's right to have the student excused from the instruction. In accordance with Missouri state law, beginning this school year and every year thereafter, our district will provide age - and developmentally sexual abuse prevention education to students in 6th - 12th grade. The goal of this programming is to keep your children safe. Under Missouri law this education will include the following components:
Instruction providing students with the knowledge and tools to recognize sexual abuse,
Instruction providing students with the knowledge and tools to report an incident of sexual abuse,
Actions that a student who is a victim of sexual abuse could take to obtain assistance and intervention, and
Available resources for students affected by sexual abuse
Students will complete the training during Statesman Time on Monday, May 16, 2022.
Families choosing to excuse their student from the instruction will need to complete this form by Friday, May 13, 2022.
As always, our school counselors and social workers will be available to answer questions and provide support to students. Should you need additional support, please visit these websites with resources for sexual violence and support for students and families.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Learn more at www.rainn.org.
Safe Connections is one of the St. Louis region’s oldest and largest organizations working to prevent and end domestic and sexual violence while helping survivors thrive. Learn more at safeconnections.org.
As a reminder to families, all school staff are mandated reporters, but anyone can report suspected child abuse and neglect. Mandated reporters "who know or have reasonable cause to suspect" are required by law to report child abuse and neglect. The hotline number for making reports is 1-800-392-3738.
If you have further questions, please contact your child’s assistant principal or counselor.
Interested in Volunteering at Hixson next year?
Last Day of School, May 27, 2022!
Our last day of school is a half day and we have some fun activities planned to celebrate the end of the year! Parents - we would appreciate your help with supervising these activities. Everything is planned and ready to go - all you need to do is show up! If you are able to give an hour or so of your time on May 27, please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EAAAE23A3FC1-hixson
1st Day School Supplies!
I am happy to announce our partnership with 1st Day School Supplies. If there were ever a year to order your school supplies early, this is it!
1st Day School Supplies is convenient, easy and hassle free! Plus, they have guaranteed our school the highest quality brands like Ticonderoga, Crayola, Elmers, Fiskars, Purell and Clorox.
Order today before it’s too late!
Kona Ice to visit Hixson, May 27!
Late Start Day Supervision Program
Beginning in the 22-23 school year, the Webster Groves School District has added late start days to the school calendar.
Late start days will allow for additional time for our teachers to use data and collaboratively plan to continue to address the needs of all of our students. Families who need help with student supervision on late start days can participate in a program available at each building (K-12). The times for the late start supervision program are included below:
Elementary Schools (K-5): Avery, Bristol, Clark, Edgar Road, Givens, and Hudson
Late Start Supervision Program: 7:40am-8:50am
School Day Arrival Begins @ 8:50am
School begins @ 9:05am
Hixson Middle School and Webster Groves High School
Late Start Supervision Program: 8:15am - 9:25am
School Day Arrival Begins @ 9:25am
School begins @ 9:40am
WGSD staff will manage the Late Start Supervision Program, including instructional aides and substitute teachers. Families who participate in the morning Adventure Club Program will automatically be enrolled in the Late Start Supervision Program for your building.
Registration in the Late Start Supervision Program will be for the entire school year (all late start days), so that we can appropriately plan for staffing for the 22-23 year. To register for the Late Start Supervision Program, families can log into the parent portal and follow the registration prompts. Registration will open on Wednesday, May 4 and continue through June 30. Families who enroll after June 30 will work with their schools to make a determination about Late Start Supervision for their family.
Please click here to go to the Parent Portal for registration.
Freestyle Pool Pass
The Freestyle Pool Pass is BACK for 2022, after a very successful inaugural year last summer. The Freestyle Pass removes barriers to the community swimming pool by providing free daily swim passes for individuals and families that require financial assistance. Thanks to the generosity of this amazing community, 604 pool passes were used last summer!
It is our pleasure to report that together we raised enough money last year to run the program again for summer 2022. Webster Groves is a great place to live, work, and play--and our community is striving to be consciously inclusive. We want everyone to feel welcome, included, and vital in all spaces! The Freestyle Pool Pass is a partnership of the Alliance for Interracial Dignity, the Webster Groves School District, and Webster Rock Hill Ministries. We are also grateful to the City of Webster Groves for their administrative efforts to accept and track the pool passes.
To those families who may currently be in need of financial support to access the pool, our goal (pending funding) is to provide:
· WGSD PreK – 5th grade students: 4 Freestyle Pool Passes per student upon request
· WGSD 6th – 12th grade students: 2 Freestyle Pool Passes per student upon request
· If you have more than one child attending the same WGSD school, then you will receive a family pack of Freestyle Pool Passes.
If you currently are in need of financial assistance and are interested in receiving Freestyle Pool Passes (each is good for one daily admission), then please complete this WGSD Freestyle Pool Pass Request Form by May 13, 2022, or contact your child’s counselor. The passes will be given to your child May 19 - 20, 2022. During pool season, Freestyle Pool Passes will also be available at Webster Rock Hill Ministries and inside the Rec Center front desk.
As the Freestyle Pool Pass program continues to find its footing in future years, we hope to expand the program to include snack bar vouchers and possibly swim instruction. We are not actively fundraising for summer 2022, but If you would like to support the program's future, the fund is being held by Webster Rock Hill Ministries (WRHM). Checks can be made payable to WRHM and mailed or brought to 111 East Waymire, Webster Groves, 63119. Checks must include “Freestyle Pass Fund” in the memo line. You may also donate online at http://bit.ly/wgfreestyle.
We look forward to seeing you at the pool this summer, which opens on May 27th!
Sincerely,
Dr. Shane Williamson, WGSD
Farrell Carfield and Elyssa Sullivan, AID
Emerson Smith, WRHM
Hixson PTO Update
PTO Equity Committee update
Hixson friends of educational equity: You are invited to the PTO Equity Committee social gathering! Come to build community and have some fun. Very light discussion frame. Email Elyssa Sullivan at elyssa.sullivan@gmail.com to receive the RSVP form and further details if you're interested in joining us.
Volunteers Needed!
The Hixson PTO is looking for volunteers for next school year. Please email if you are interested in serving on the executive board or on a committee: hixsonmiddlepto@gmail.com.
Coming Soon: Families can donate money that will be matched by the PTO's Fund the Need Grant Program. Look for more information on this soon.
Questions? Contact Hixson PTO Co-VP Sarah Middendorf sarahmdorf@gmail.com
Webster Groves Softball
Webster Groves Football Camp
Freedom School
Cross Country!
Team & Department Newsletters
Contact Us
Email: mayes.shenita@wgmail.org
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Hixson
Location: 630 South Elm Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6450
Facebook: facebook.com/HixsonMiddleSchool