News from Panther Headquarters
November 2019
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
I appreciate the opportunity to share the latest and greatest happenings at HIJH each month. There have been some common misperceptions with regard to HSE21 as the blueprint for teaching and learning in our school district. Initially, this initiative was thought to be mostly about the rollout of 1:1 iPad implementation. When in fact, the iPad is just a learning tool to be incorporated into the HSE21 philosophy of equipping students with content knowledge, unique skills, and new literacies needed to succeed in the 21st Century global economy. We know that just being able to find the answer is not enough. It is our duty to ensure that students think critically and problem solve in school on a regular basis. Students must be able to think, reason, apply, and transfer their knowledge in order to be successful beyond high school and in life. We encourage you as parents/guardians to have those more in-depth conversations with your child about what they learned in school, have them explain what they learned, why it is important to know that material, and how they might use that knowledge in other areas. The IN Core state assessments also require students to go beyond finding the answer by providing narrative text boxes for students to justify their answers and provide evidence-based examples of what they read. As principal, I am excited about the possibilities that include such in-depth learning for ALL students.
Below is an example of a shift in the Fundamental Classroom Conditions of Collaboration among 5th grade students and 8th grade students as part of a Toy Design and Marketing project in 8th grade Science. 5th graders had an opportunity to see the 8th grade students ‘in action’ and give their feedback. This is what learning is all about at HIJH!
Respectfully,
Tim A. Mankin
Upcoming Important Dates
November 1 PTO Meeting 9:30 AM
November 5 Picture Retake Day
November 6 Fundraiser Prize Drawing
November 12 Choir Concert Rehearsal (Gr 5/6)
November 13 Choir Concert (Gr 5/6) 7 PM
November 13 Dine to Donate at Aspen Grill 4-10 PM
November 27-29 Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL
Early Dismissals and Returning to School
Bus Notes
Picture Make Up Day
We will have our final picture make up / retake day on Tuesday, November 5th for students that did not get their picture taken during Panther Preview or would like a retake. Students who would like a retake should 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. If you have any issues with your picture packet/order, please contact Lifetouch at their direct local number 317-829-2066.
Counselor's Corner
Address & Bus Changes. Anyone requesting new bus transportation for their child, due to a move to a new home, MUST provide proof of residency to the attending school to make this change. Residency documents needed are posted on the corporation website under “For Parents” and “Enrolling Your Child”, Step 3, Residency Documents. Once documents are provided to the school, new bus information will be provided to you and will be available on Skyward within a 24-hour timeframe.
Planning for the Future. Getting one’s thoughts in order is a good start for planning the future. Simply sitting down with your child and asking, “What do you think you want to do with your life?” is a great way to start planning. Promote conversations that focus on where your child wants to be academically and what their career interests might be at this time. Take a half hour every other week to research some of the careers of interest discussed, as well as colleges, universities, and vocational school that support such careers. Simply open the door to future planning; you may be amazed at what you find!
Naviance: College and Career and Life Readiness Skills for Grade 7. On November 18th and 19th, we are excited to begin piloting the Naviance program in our 7th grade Business Information Technology classes (BIT). This program is designed to help prepare middle and high school students for success after graduation. The 7th grade skills include identifying careers of interest in order to set the stage for a successful transition to the 8th grade as well as begin to build their pathway to a meaningful career based on their own strengths and interests. Students will explore career clusters of interest and develop SMART goals for their future success. The information entered in 7th grade can be revisited in the 8th grade and will be used to assist in college and career readiness goals for their continued education in high school and beyond. Parents will be able to view the career inventories with your children after they have been completed. Our 7th graders will also complete a learning style inventory. This pilot program will be repeated in the Spring semester of 2020 for all 7th graders taking BIT in the second semester.
Freshman Choice. Hamilton Southeastern Schools offers high school selection to all current eighth graders for the 2020—2021 school year. Parents of eighth grade students who wish to attend a high school other than the one assigned to them by geographic boundaries may request a transfer by filling out the Freshman Choice Transfer Application. The application window closes on Friday, December 13th. Click here to find out more information about this process and the application.
HONOR ROLL postings are on the HIJH website! Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/ Junior High honor roll is located on the Home page of the HIJH website. https://hij.hseschools.org. Students receiving high honor roll have received no grade lower than an A-. Students receiving regular honor high honor roll have received no grade lower than a B-.
TESTING DATES TO NOTE. Please mark your calendars to ensure your child is in attendance these testing periods.
ILEARN testing window - April 20 - May 15, 2020
It is extremely important that your child be in attendance and on time during these testing days. Please assist us by ensuring that your child is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast. Also, it would be advantageous to reschedule any appointments you have scheduled during these days. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this testing process.
Click here for Twenty-First Century Scholars information.
Click here for Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) information.
Messages from the Nurse
Normally, in the winter the chances of colds and flu does increase. Remind your student to wash hands and cover that cough. Also, if your child has a fever of 100 degrees they need to stay home. Fever free WITHOUT MEDICATION for 24 hours and 24 hours from the last time they vomit.
CDC information on the difference between flu versus a cold. Onset of symptoms: Abrupt/Gradual
Fever: Usual -last 2-3 days/Rare
Aches: Usual/Slight
Chills: Common/Uncommon
Fatigue: Usual/Sometimes
Sneeze: Sometimes/Common
Stuffy nose: Sometimes/Common
Sore throat: Sometimes/Common
Chest discomfort and cough: Common can be severe/Mild to moderate hacking
cough
Headache: Common/Rare
*Reminder that your student cannot carry medications of any kind with them. They need a doctor's note to carry meds with them- this in
cludes inhalers and cough drops.
The weather is changing and classes will still go outside for recess until 15 degrees, coats will be needed. Please remember to bring coats as needed.
5th grade and 8th grade will soon be getting vision screens.
Airpods and Beats
Send in your pop can tabs to HIJH!
Free Math Help
Student Council
Student Council will once again be collecting non-perishable food for the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank. This is traditionally our largest fundraiser of the year. Our goal this year is to collect 1,000 pounds of canned food! Collection will begin on Monday, November 11th and end on Friday, November 22nd. Please join HIJH in making a difference in our community!
Attention all parents of 8th Graders
Attention all 8th grade parents: the deadline to register for the 8th grade Washington DC trip has passed and the planning for the trip has begun! Our next step will be a student-only roommate selection meeting which is tentatively scheduled for all registered HIJH students on Friday December 6th at 7 am in the main gym. For other general trip information, please go to www.dctrip.info or contact Eric Brown (ebrown@hse.k12.in.us).
Orchestra News
HIJH Cafteria
Kidz in Motion Fitness and Conditioning
This fitness conditioning Boot Camp will be a music thumping, heart pumping fitness and conditioning class. This class is a fun way to introduce a “boot Camp” style of fitness to kids! Kids will have to opportunity to learn more in depth exercises and training programs with equipment such as the rower, treadmill and other various pieces of equipment. Some of our favorites include paper plate pushes, sliding gym mats, skiing and much more! Classes will emphasize the importance of safety and proper techniques when working out. It’s time to encourage our kids to get FIT, stay FIT, and live FIT!!
Fitness and conditioning class will meet from 2:45 to 4:00 pm on following dates: 11/12, 11/14, 11/19, 11/21, 12/3, 12/5, 12/10, 12/12. Please report to hallway outside of Fitness Lab after school lets out.
Forms are available on Mrs. Miller's canvas page for current classes. Forms are are located in the front office and Mrs. Millers' aux gym table. Questions or want a form? Contact Mrs. Miller at smmiller@hse.k12.in.us.
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. The next PTO meeting will be Friday, November 1st at 9:30 AM at HIJH Conference room. All parents are invited to join us.
Dine to Donate. The next Dine to Donate is on Wednesday November 13th from 4 – 10 PM at Aspen Creek Grill. You MUST show your server the flyer in order for the HIJH PTO to get credit. Click here to view the flyer. Mark your calendar for December’s Dine to Donate also on December 12th from 6-8 PM at Chic-Fil-A.
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, teacher on envelope or baggie. Five raffle prizes will be drawn each semester for those who enter 25 or more - ***Drawing will be in December before winter break.
HIJH School Fundraiser
Fundraiser Prize Drawing: Red Apple Fundraising will be at HIJH during all lunches on Wednesday, November 6 to complete prize drawings. Students will have an opportunity to draw for one prize per 12 items sold. Thank you again for your support of this year's fundraiser!
E-Waste Recycling Program
Middle Years
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