News from Panther Headquarters
January 2018
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
Each year time seems to go by more quickly for me, and this year is no different. Upon receiving this newsletter, we will be fully engaged in our second semester of the 17-18 school year. At HIJH, we believe that it is our job to provide real world learning experiences for students while incorporating the components of the District HSE21 Vision. Our Mission states: The staff of Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate & Junior High, in partnership with the community, strives for educational excellence by providing experiences that challenge ALL students to become effective decision-makers, problem solvers and communicators. By combining both the Mission and the Vision as our guides to ensure we adhere to the Best Practices for teaching and learning, students will continue to succeed as well as develop a Growth Mindset to work through all that comes their way. We appreciate your support in this educational journey!
Respectfully,
Tim A. Mankin
Upcoming Important Dates
January 3 NO SCHOOL - Teachers Only
January 4 First Day of School
January 12 PTO Meeting 9:30
January 15 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Day
January 23 Dine to Donate - Marco's Pizza
January 24 8th Grade Trip to HSEHS
February 2 Panther Palooza - 7th and 8th Grade
Early Dismissals and Returning to School
Bus Notes
Counselor's Corner
Mark your calendars for the following 2018 dates.
FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING HAMILTON SE HIGH SCHOOL: January 11, 2018 - 7:00 pm there will be an AP Showcase Night at Hamilton Southeastern HS. The purpose of this evening is to provide 8th grade students AND parents with pertinent information about Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These courses are college level courses that students have the opportunity, through the AP test results, to earn college credit for coursework completed in high school.
January 24, 2018 High School Connection - 9:00–11:30 am (transportation provided by HSE transportation).
All 8th Graders will visit the HSEHS College and Career Academy (CCA)
On the visit students will:
* Tour the CCA,
* learn about 9th grade scheduling options and the various diplomas,
* hear about career/apprenticeship opportunities,
* learn more about college and career preparedness, and
* learn how they, as HS students, can utilize the CCA, and beyond.
Parents who choose to opt their student out of the experience must contact the Guidance Department prior to January 19th. Students who opt out of the experience still need to report to school on time.
February 6, 2018 - Parent Night in the Leonard Auditorium at Hamilton Southeastern HS (time to be announced). The purpose of this evening is to provide 8th grade parents with pertinent high school information, and make you aware as to what is to be expected over the next four years.
February 12th, 13th and 14th, 2018 - You and your 8th grade child will be scheduled to meet with a high school counselor, at our HIJH building, to create your child’s course requests for the 9th grade. HIJH will be scheduling those 15 minute appointments, 9:45 am - 2:30 pm timeslots, at the end of January, and will extend that information to you as soon as arrangements have been made. If you know of a date that you are NOT available, please inform the Guidance Office ASAP. Appointment times are randomly assigned and cannot be changed once they are assigned. Guidance office phone (317) 594-4124.
FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING FISHERS HIGH SCHOOL: January 24, 2018 7 pm there will be an AP/Dual Credit and Academic Specialty Showcase Night at Fishers HS in the large auditorium. 8th Grade students AND parents will receive pertinent information about Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These courses are college level courses that students have the opportunity, through the AP test results, to earn college credit for coursework completed in high school.
January 31, 2018 7-8:30 pm there will be a Parent Night taking place throughout the building at Fishers HS. The purpose of this evening is to provide 8th Grade parents with pertinent HS information, and make you aware as to what is to be expected over the next four years. You may choose to attend four (4) academic presentations (choose 4 from the following department choices: English, math, science, social studies, art, world language, physical education, business, performing arts, or special services). Please take time to stop by the CCA Café to enjoy a refreshment, meet the counselors, enjoy the FHS orchestra, shop at the FHS spirit shop or visit our student club and athletic booths in Café B (open until 8:30 pm).
February 12, 2018 scheduling appointments will be scheduled starting at
9:45 am. Parents and your 8th Grade child(ren) will be scheduled to meet with a Fishers HS Counselor, at our HIJH building, to create your child’s Course Requests for the 9th Grade. HIJH will be scheduling those 15 minute appointments at the end of January, and will extend that information to you as soon as arrangements have been made. Please direct any questions to the Guidance office at HIJH (317) 594-4124.
Withdrawing Your Student. If your child will be withdrawing from Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/ Junior High School, you MUST notify the Guidance Office at least two days in advance of your child’s last day. Withdrawal forms prepared by the Guidance Office must be signed by the parent/guardian. Once all administrative items are completed, a copy of the withdrawal form, current grades and schedule will be given to the student to provide to their future school for enrollment.
Testing Dates to Note. Mark your calendars to ensure your child is in attendance these testing periods.
ISTEP+ Part 1 - February 26 - March 9, 2018
ISTEP+ Part 2 - April 16 - May 4, 2018
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 the Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS).
Click here Twenty-First Century Scholars.
Messages from the Nurse
2018-2019 (Current 5th graders). It is never too soon to start planning for the next school year. All students who will be in 6th grade for the 2018-2019 school year are required to receive immunizations for Tdap and meningococcal. NEW for next year 6th graders should also have received TWO doses of HEP A. As your student gets these shots throughout this school year be sure to send us a copy too. Thanks!
***EMERGENCY MEDICATIONS*** If your student is carrying emergency medication on them while at school (Epi Pen or Inhaler) we MUST have a doctor's note on file. Please have your child's doctor fax a note to me at 317-594-4129.
Colds, Flu, and Illnesses. If you are not sure if your child is sick, please do not send to the school for Nurse to diagnose. We are not doctors, and are unable to diagnose illness. If you have concerns, please take your child to the doctor and they will let you know if they are too contagious to attend school
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 Handbook) and your best judgement when your child is sick.
Many times, parents will ask us when should my child begin using deodorant? Now is the time for most middle school kids, even if you haven't noticed they "NEED" it. Please have your child use deodorant daily. This will help prevent an embarrassing situation. They can keep an extra in their locker.
Free Math Tutoring
HIJH Sports Information
Click here to learn about all of the HIJH Athletic Info. Please read page 2 carefully as some dates/times have changed recently!
The Athletic Department needs parent volunteers to work the ticket tables at our home winter sporting events! Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080548adaa23a02-20172018. Thanks for your support of Southeastern Athletics!
Attention all parents of 8th Graders
Attention all 8th graders going on the Washington D.C. trip: There will be two pre-trip meetings:
Meeting ONE is from 7-8 PM in the HIJH Panther Hall on Tuesday, February 13th. (Please park in North Lot and enter at Door 14).
Meeting TWO is from 7-8 PM in the FCJH auditeria on Wednesday, February 14th. (Please park in Bus Parking Lot and use the Main Entrance).
It is MANDATORY that all students going on the trip attend ONE of these two meetings (whichever is more convenient for you). Parents are encouraged to attend with their 8th grader. The purpose of these meetings will be to hand out packing lists, supplies, flight info, and to go over trip plans and guidelines. Important information about the trip will be coming home from these meetings and is also be posted on the google drive linked to our trip website www.dctrip.info. Also, please make note of the special arrangements you will need to make for Friday's (2/16) departure. If you have any additional questions please contact Eric Brown (ebrown@hse.k12.in.us ).
CPR (Creating Positive Relationships) - Grades 6, 7, and 8
Creating Positive Relationships (CPR) lessons are taught in your child's 6th, 7th, and 8th grade PE/Wellness classes. In these lessons, students are taught about reproduction and what to expect as they progress through puberty. They will learn about physical, mental, emotional, and social maturity. Students will receive booklets with helpful information to be shared with their families. A parent meeting for 5th and 6th grade parents was offered on October 12, 2017, at HIJH. If you were unable to attend the meeting, detailed information about each lesson can be found on this parent webinar: https://www.cpr4teens.org/parents/webinar-info/.
The 6th grade CPR curriculum will be taught during PE classes between January 26 and February 15. The 7th and 8th grade CPR curriculum will be taught in Wellness classes in February. If you have questions about this curriculum, please contact Jill Berry, jberry@hse.k12.in.us or Shannyn Miller, smmiller@hse.k12.in.us.
PTO News
PTO Website. Checkout our PTO website (www.hijhpto.wordpress.com) for the 2017-18 PTO calendar, PTO meeting schedule, past meeting minutes, newsletters, and more.
January PTO Meeting. The next PTO meeting will be Friday, January 12 at 9:30 AM at the school. All parents are invited to join us.
Hamilton Southeastern Foundation Basket Donations. Kathy Barton, Gina Shipley and Denise Retzner are collecting donations again for this year’s Foundation Day baskets. The themes will again center on “Man Cave” and “A Guys Dream Basket.” We are asking that you please send any donations in marked “Foundation day donation, attention Denise Retzner.” No donation is too small. Last year our basket came in first place and won the school $1000. We would LOVE to have a repeat performance. If you would rather have your donation picked up, please contact Denise at dretzner@yahoo.com or call 317-407-0185. Possible donations: gift cards, sports memorabilia, golf items, sports tickets, neon signs, corn hole, slippers and cash donations are always appreciated.
Panther Rewards. Thank you Panther families for linking your Kroger cards and Amazon accounts to our school. In doing so, you help to raise a lot of money for the PTO to allocate throughout the school. We currently have 151 families who have linked their Kroger account to our school. Let’s make it 200! Linking your card does not cost you anything or take away fuel points. In three months we earned $1461.33, which is awesome! If you would consider doing so, you simply have to go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards and create an account or sign in. Find Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior H.S. PTO and link your card to our account.
Panther Palooza. Save the date! 7/8th grade after school event! Panther Palooza is Friday, February 2 from 6-8 pm.
Marco’s Dine to Donate. Our next dine to donate is Tuesday, January 23, 2018. Marco’s on Olio Road will donate 20% of your order to HIJH. When placing your order, be sure to mention you want your order to benefit HIJH.
Panther Pride Geist 5K Team
Planning on running the Geist 5K or half marathon this year? Then join our Panther Pride Geist 5K team and run or walk with fellow Panthers! Not only will you have fun and get fit, but a portion of your race entry fee comes back to benefit the students and staff at HIJH. Click on the link below to register early. More information and details to come!
Chess Club - Grades 5/6
E-Waste Recycling Program
Middle Years
HIJH Connect
January Multicultural Holidays
Click here to find out about the Multicultural Holidays.
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