Hillside Family Newsletter
Hillside Middle School | October 2016
Principal's Corner
As the first month of school draws to a close, the positive energy of our students and teachers is palpable in the building. Both are beginning to hit their strides and there are exciting things happening in our classrooms. As teachers and students in an MYP school, we are all committed to inquiry, ownership, and relevance as we make meaning together.
As you continue to have dinner-time and car ride conversations with your children, challenge them to explain their learning and thinking each day. As a parent, I find myself defaulting to the traditional "How was school? Did you have a good day?" I have made a conscious effort of late to shift my questions to encourage my children to reflect on their learning. "Tell me the best question you asked today. What did you struggle with? Tell me something you're doing better today than you did yesterday."
As we approach the midpoint of the marking period, and with conferences around the corner, I encourage all of us - principal, teacher, parent, student - to focus not only on what students are learning, but what they can do with what they are learning. When sitting down with teachers during conferences (info below), ask those probing, growth-oriented questions. What can my child do? What will he or she be able to do next? I think you will be pleased with the answers.
William R. Jones, Principal
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, October 20th - 12:30-3:00pm & 4:00-6:30pm
Immediately following conferences on October 20th, we will have a short ALICE meeting to go over the lesson that we will share with students.
PTSA
Our date for the Carnival is Friday, December 2nd. The event will run from 4:30pm to 8:00pm. This is our main fundraiser for the school year. We really appreciate your participation in this event. More information to follow in the November newsletter.
The PTSA is looking for parent assistance at the food table on the night of Carnival. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sandra Lynch.
Kroger Community Rewards: Help raise money for Hillside PTSA when you grocery shop. Sign up or re-enroll to earn money for Hillside PTSA. This needs to be done yearly. Once you enroll or re-enroll, it will take 7-10 days to show up on your receipt and let you know you are earning money for our school.
Kroger Community Rewards
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Click on [Enroll Now]
Scroll down and Find Hillside Middle School PTSA
Box Tops for Education
Thank you to all of the students that have brought in Box Tops for Education. Please continue to bring Box Tops in throughout the year, but especially in the month of October as the Box Tops Coordinator will be submitting them so that our school can receive a check to purchase extra supplies for the school.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will be October 14th-21st. If you are interested in signing up to volunteer for this event, the link is below. We could not do this without your support! Creating life-long readers is a mission we take very seriously here, and nothing works better than putting great books into the hands of our Raider Readers! Click below to access the Scholastic Volunteer Sign up.
Forgotten Items
Attendance Reminders/Procedures
If your child will be absent or tardy on any school day for any reason, please call the school attendance line (248) 344-3605 and leave a message; please spell your child’s name. If your student is being picked up during the day, send a note in with the date, time, and reason. Have the student bring the note to the office first thing in the morning. We will stamp it and return it to them. The student should show the note to the teacher(s) whose class they will miss, then use the note as their pass out of class during the class period they are to be excused.
PTSA Reflections
The national PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and inspires students to reflect on a specific theme and create original art. Each year, students in grades K through 12 are recognized for bringing the theme to life through any of the six categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. The Special Artist division is a non-judged division for qualifying students. Awards are given at the local, state, and national levels. Students may enter as many entries as they’d like, in one or more of the categories.
The Reflections theme for this year is “What is Your Story?" Please see the two video for more information.
Hillside students, please consider submitting as many entries as you would like. Students' winning entries will move on to the State level competition. Hurry, don’t miss out, get your entries in by November 1st!
Questions? Feel free to contact Reflections Chair Erin Maten at erin.maten@gmail.com or Co-Chair Angela Minniti at angelaminniti5@gmail.com​
Cyber Safety
Northville Public Library Showcasing Science Olympiad Resources
There will be a Science Olympiad Resource Showcase event at the Northville Public Library on:
Saturday October 1st from 10.30 am to 12 noon in Meeting Room A
Drama Club
SIxth Grade Field Trip
Student Council News
Learning in Action
Mr. Vanderveer's Classroom
Mr. Vanderveer's Classroom
Mr. Vanderveer's Classroom
Mrs. Comben's Classroom
Mrs. Comben's Classroom
Mrs. Comben's Classroom
Make a Difference Day
Testing Schedule for 2016-2017
NWEA (6th and 7th grade, 8th graders with IEPs):
Fall: September 26-October 14
Spring: May 8-June 2
PSAT 8:
Fall: Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Spring: March 29, 2017
M-Step:
6th and 7th Grade: May 1-26
8th grade: April 10-May 5
NAEP:
Feb. 1, 2017
PBIS Information
Lost and Found
Music Department Fundraiser
The Music Department is doing a fundraiser. It is called Mixed Bag Designs. It is the same fundraiser we held last year. They specialize in products made from recycled materials. The kickoff will be the week of October 10th and orders will be due by Tuesday, October 25th.
The Choir department will use these funds for additional needed uniforms, music, piano accompanist fees, choir folders/cabinets & costumes/props. The Band department will use these funds for an additional timpani, new tubas, and baritones.
Athletics
10/5 - vs. Meads 4pm
10/12 - vs. Holmes 4pm
10/19 - Districts 4pm
Volleyball Home Matches
10/10 -vs. Novi Green 7th-4pm 8th-5:15pm
10/17 -vs. Novi White 7th-4pm 8th-5:15pm
10/19-vs. Holmes 7th-4pm 8th-5:15pm
10/24 -vs. Meads @ Northville High School 4pm
Combined Football with Meads Mill
10/19 -vs. Geisler 4pm @ Meads Mill
10/26 -vs. Novi 5pm @ NHS Stadium
Drop off and Pick up
1. Please do not drop your child off on the way up the hill. It causes them to have to cross traffic to enter the building.
2. Only drop your child off in the designated zones on the building side.
3. Please do not turn around early as you head up the driveway. There is a designated spot for turning around at the crosswalk.
Our goal is always to maintain a safe and secure environment at Hillside Middle School. It is important that we share in this responsibility. Please feel free to contact Robert Watson if you have further questions.