News from Panther Headquarters
September 2019
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
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 new Mission Statement, Facilitate Learning, Foster Agency to Empower ALL Students, 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. Learning goes beyond academics as our data showed through the various Panorama Surveys taken last year, and as such, Social Emotional Learning will be a key component of HIJH this school year and beyond. All 5/6 classrooms are engaged in AM Community Circles daily to build relationships and provide safe zone for students to share. We also have ‘pilot’ teachers in all four grade levels teaching Second Steps SEL lessons once a week. They will share successes and needed growth areas with our whole staff prior to full implementation by all teachers next school year. I 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.
Continuing this 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 Learning Management System and key communication tool. The Calendar is where to find what and when, and Modules contain needed content and where students can upload assignments. Parents can set up a separate Canvas parental account with username/password different from their student. Log into hseschools.org and scroll to bottom of the site for the Parent Resources for Canvas link.
Respectfully,
Tim A. Mankin
Upcoming Important Dates
September 2 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
September 6 - PTO Meeting 9:30 AM
September 12 - Fundraiser End Date - All Money and Packets Due
September 13 - Mudsock Game at Fishers HS
September 19 - Parent Safety Awareness Night
September 21 - Dine to Donate - Books and Brews
Week of September 23 - 27 Fall Book Fair
September 26 - Camp T Cabin Parent Meeting 8 PM in Panther Hall
Week of September 30 - Camp T for 7th Graders
October 9 - Picture Retake Day
October 22, 23, and 24 - Student Led Conferences
HIJH Student Handbook
New Parent Summit Series
HIJH will host the second event of the series that will be a "School Safety Awareness Night" on September 19, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Click here for more information on "School Safety Awareness Night."
Early Dismissals and Returning to School
Bus Notes
Pasta Bowl
Book Fees and IPad Rental
Student Course Fees will be assigned in mid-September with a due date of October 11, 2019. A fee statement will be emailed to you when the fees are assigned and available for viewing.
Student Course Fees are based on each individual student’s schedule, but fees can range from approximately $90.00 to $150.00 for the year - not including rental of a iPad, which is an additional $80.00.
If you choose to pay by efunds, please select the OPTIONAL FEES PAYMENT TAB.
FREE OR REDUCED lunch applications must be submitted online each year. Applications must be submitted after July 1, 2019 and before September 30, 2019. If your application is approved, your student will receive their course materials at no charge, including iPad rental.
If you have any questions, please contact Doty Gaertner, Treasurer at 317-594-4120.
Counselor's Corner
Welcome to the 2019-20 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 Success.
· 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).
· Bring CHARGED iPad EVERY day, along with pencils, paper, and any other needed supplies with you to class.
· Check Canvas every night for any homework or teacher messages.
· Be on time for class or early.
· 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.
· 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.
Back to School Forms. New and returning families MUST complete all “Back to School” forms, every year. These forms assist our staff with your student’s needs while here at school. Both the student health information card and the Community Health form must be completed in order for our nursing staff to see your child in the HIJH clinic.
Also, if you have not completed the rental agreement form for your child’s iPad, one must be completed each year. Every child is required to have an iPad as part of their book supply needs. Even if you choose to have your child bring their own device, this agreement must be completed, stating your intentions.
Student Login and Passwords to Family Access. Students in grades K-8 now have their own login and passwords to Family Access. Please encourage your child to own their own learning by becoming familiar with this system and following their homework completion and grades. Also, please have them note their password and login in a secure place in the event they forget.
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. HSE district requires a lease, a closing statement or a warranty deed with the address and closer/leaser signature, AND a recent copy of a utility bill AND a drivers license with the accurate address. We will only need one document to change the address, but all are required documents within 45 days of the address change. 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 25th 3:30-6:30 PM. 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 an 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.
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 4th.
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 Make Up and Retake Day
We will have our picture make up – retake day on Wednesday, October 9th for students that did not get their picture taken during Panther Preview or would like a retake. If your student is having a retake done, please make sure they bring their picture packet with them 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 EVTFH4G3F.
Free Math Help
Attention all parents of 8th Graders
Attention all 8th grader parents: We have reached our enrollment cap but there are still spots on the risk-free waitlist. Students are pulled from the waitlist on “first-come-first-serve” so don’t wait. To register online go to www.worldstrides.com using our trip ID#173852 . For those already registered for the trip, our next meeting will be for HIJH students only and will likely be on Friday December 6th at 7am. Go to our trip website at www.dctrip.info or contact Eric Brown (ebrown@hse.k12.in.us ) if you have any additional questions.
Choir-5th Grade
5th Grade Choir begins Tuesday, September 3rd. Singers should stay after school and come to the general music room (416). They are welcome to bring a snack, and must be picked up promptly at 4:00 p.m. at the main entrance. Students interested in singing still have time to turn in a permission form, which can be found outside the Office.
Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee Club has started at HIJH! 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. New ultimate frisbee shirts will be available for purchase shortly for students in the club.
PTO News
PTO Website. Checkout our PTO website (www.hijhpto.wordpress.com) for the 2019-20 PTO calendar, PTO meeting schedule, past meeting minutes, newsletters, and more.
September PTO Meeting. The next PTO meeting will be Friday, September 6 at 9:30 AM at the school. All parents are invited to join us.
Dine to Donate. The next Dine to Donate is on Saturday, September 21st at Books and Brews located in the Hamilton Town Center from 11 am to 12 pm.
Panther Rewards.
Kroger. HIJH families who link their Kroger card number to our school help earn our school money. It’s an easy way to support the PTO without costing you (or your fuel points) anything! Go to kroger.com/communityrewards, click “I’m With An Organization…” then “Request Your Kroger Plus Card” and create an account or sign in. Find HIJH-PTO (WT583) and link your card to our account.
Amazon. Amazon is another simple way to help our school money. Go to HTTP://smile.amazon.com/ and type HSJH PTO under “supporting.” You will need to go to smile.amazon.com each time (rather than use the app)- saving it under bookmarks makes it easy to use.
Coke Rewards. Enter online or send them in with your child.
Box Tops. Keep clipping & scanning Box Tops & send the clipped ones in with your child's name, grade, and teacher. Raffle prizes will be drawn each semester for those who enter 25 or more.
Thank you for your support of the PTO and those families who have already linked their accounts to our school! The more families who are linked, the more money the PTO earns - and it all goes back to the school!
Staff Appreciation. The Staff Appreciation Committee is still looking for about twenty families to be Secret Pals for our awesome HIJH staff. If you are interested please email Star Untersee at StarHope78@yahoo.com for more details or to sign up.
HIJH School Fundraiser
The HIJH School Fundraiser is underway! Students received their Red Apple fundraising packets on August 22. Please encourage them to take time to sell items, as the proceeds go directly back to HIJH. Important Dates to Remember: Thursday, September 12- Fundraiser Orders and Money are DUE. Monday, October 7- Fundraiser Product Pick-up at HIJH-AUX GYM. Enter through Door #3, 3-7 PM. *Parents must come to pick up products for their children. Click here to learn more about the Fundraiser.
E-Waste Recycling Program
Middle Years
Notification of Pesticide Application
September Multicultural Holidays
Click here to find out about September Multicultural Holidays.
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
Find out more here.
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