News from Panther Headquarters
December 2019
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
Having the opportunity to work in education with adolescents over the last 33 years, and especially in HSE for the last seven years, has been an amazing experience, and I thank you for the opportunity to work with your children. A lot has changed over the years as teaching and learning has had to make many shifts to stay relevant with the changing society. One of the biggest recent adjustments has been the use of technology, both positively and, unfortunately, negatively through the use of social media. Technology is a critical learning tool for our students, but there are Acceptable Use expectations tied to the iPad with the key word being learning tool and not a personal social media tool. Students should only use their iPads When and How a teacher asks them to within that particular class. At no time should students being using this technology to text, email, use social media Apps (like Instagram or Snap Chat), or take photos unrelated to specific educational content during the school day. This also applies to our new HSE REPORT IT! Safety App. We want kids to utilize this resource for safety purposes, but not for frivolous or bogus messages that take up administrator time. We ultimately believe that the educational value of technology outweighs the cons that do exist. Tweens and teens put a high value on social life and social image, but we must continue to reiterate the purposes of using technology at school appropriately and maintain the safety of everyone by not succumbing to its improper usage. Also, we have asked students to keep their phones locked up in their locker throughout the school day. All necessary calls can and should be made from a school phone with the permission of an adult during the school day. Students who carry phones tend to use them when they shouldn’t. We can’t allow the possibility of students taking phones with cameras into the bathrooms for obvious reasons. Please help support us in this endeavor. It is greatly appreciated! Below I have included a useful website article from Common Sense Media that could be a great springboard for conversations with your child.
It is our mission to provide the best possible education learning environment for all of our students, and in doing so, provide the communication that families need to stay involved as a partner. When questions arise, please contact our teachers, counselors, or administrators to assist you as needed. We appreciate your support along our educational journey, and on behalf of the HIJH Staff, I wish you the very best as we approach this Winter BreakJ!!
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/9-social-media-red-flags-parents-should-know-about
Respectfully,
Tim A. Mankin
Upcoming Important Dates
December 6 - DC Trip Roommate Selection Meeting-Main Gym 7 AM
December 6 - PTO Meeting-Lg Conf Room 9:30 AM
December 6 - Choir (Gr. 7th & 8th select choirs (HSE High School) 7 PM
December 10 - 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra Concert (HSE High School) 7 PM
December 11 - 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra Concert 7 PM
December 16 - 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band-Panther Hall 7 PM
December 17 - 7th & 8th Grade Choir Dress Rehearsal-Panther Hall 2:45-4 PM
December 18 - 7th & 8th Grade Choir-Panther Hall 7 PM
December 20 - Last Day for Students Winter Break
December 23 through January 3 - Winter Break NO SCHOOL
Early Dismissals and Returning to School
Walking To and From School
HSE Schools provide transportation to and from school. Parents also have the option of driving their students to and from school. HIJH is not conducive for students to walk to and from school for safety reasons. We have received several requests for students to walk across the street to Schoolhouse 7. Unfortunately, we are unable to permit this due to the large volume of traffic on Cyntheanne Road and the lack of sidewalks and crosswalks. Thank you for your understanding on this matter.
Bus Notes
Counselor's Corner
Attn: 8th GRADE PARENTS-Important Dates:
Students attending HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN HIGH SCHOOL:
AP/Dual Credit Night-Thurs.,January 16 at 7 PM -HSE High School (Leonard Auditorium). The program is designed to provide information about HSE’s course offerings in Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and Academic Specialty Program areas (Project Lead the Way: Biomedical Science, Engineering; Academy of Finance; Law & Government Academy; J. Everett Light Career Center). You will hear from and speak with students, teachers, and representatives from each of these classes and programs. This program is open to all current 8th through 11th grade students and their parents.
Royal Connection-Wed., January 22 from 9–11:30 AM (transportation provided by HSE transportation). All 8th Graders will visit the HSEHS College and Career Academy (CCA) along with the HSE High School building campus. On the visit students will:
* Tour the CCA and the high school campus.
* 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 HIJH Guidance Department prior to January 17th. Students who opt out of the experience still need to report to school on time.
8th Grade Parent Night-Wed., February 5 at 7 PM-HSE High School (Leonard Auditorium). The program is for 8th grade parents to receive information regarding scheduling and other general information about high school. Families will also get a chance to hear from their student’s guidance counselor and attend a course fair to get information from teachers and students regarding course options.
HSE Course Requests-February 19, 20, and 21. You and your 8th Grade child will be scheduled to meet with an HSEHS Counselor, at our HIJH building, to create your child’s course requests for the 9th Grade. We will be scheduling those 15 minute appointments, from 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 HIJH Guidance Office ASAP. Appointment times are randomly assigned and cannot be changed once they are assigned.
Students attending FISHERS HIGH SCHOOL:
AP/Dual Credit Night-Wed., January 22nd at 7 PM- Fishers High School (in the Auditorium).
The program is designed to provide information about FHS’s course offerings in Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and Academic Specialty Program areas. You will hear from and speak with students, teachers, and representatives from each of these classes and programs. This program is open to all current 8th through 11th grade students and their parents.
Tiger Connection-Thurs., January 30 from 9–11:30 AM (transportation provided by HSE transportation). All 8th Graders will visit the Fishers College and Career Academy (CCA) along with the Fishers High School building campus. On the visit students will:
* Tour the CCA and the high school campus.
* 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 HIJH Guidance Department prior to January 24th. Students who opt out of the experience still need to report to school on time.
8th Grade Parent Night-Wed., January 29th-Fishers High School at 7 PM (in the Auditorium). The program is for 8th grade parents to receive information regarding scheduling and other general information about high school. Families will also get a chance to hear from their student’s guidance counselor and attend a course fair to get information from teachers and students regarding course options.
Fishers High School Course Requests. You and your 8th Grade child will be scheduled to meet with a FHS Counselor, at our HIJH building, to create your child’s Course Requests for the 9th Grade. We will be scheduling those 15 minute appointments, from 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 HIJH Guidance Office ASAP. Appointment times are randomly assigned and cannot be changed once they are assigned.
Current 6th and 7th grade students. As second semester approaches, students should watch for information explaining scheduling choices for their 7th and 8th grade year. Sometime second semester, those students will meet in classrooms with their junior high counselor to discuss course selection options for the 2020-2021 school year. Please know that you will be able to verify those course selections later in the spring.
Current 5th Grade Students. Course selection for the 2020-2021 school year will be a natural progression of the courses they are currently scheduled.
Withdrawing Your Student. If your child will be withdrawing from HIJH , 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.
HONOR ROLL postings are on the HIJH website! HIJH 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.
High Ability Testing
Messages from the Nurse
Inhalers. If your student has an inhaler- the proper paperwork must be completed for them to keep the inhaler with them.
Cast, Crutches, or Walking Boots. If your student has any type of walking boot, cast, crutches, etc., please let the clinic know. It is very important for the safety of your student that the clinic is aware.
5th graders. If you go to the doctor and get any vaccinations, please bring a copy for the clinic. Do not wait for the doctor to put the information into CHIRP. Also, remember you will need Meningococcal and Tdap before entering 6th grade.
Airpods and Beats
Send in your pop can tabs to HIJH!
Canned Food Drive for Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank
Spirit Week-December 9th-13th for Riley Children's Hospital
HIJH Student Council will be sponsoring a spirit week from December 9-13th. The cost to participate is $1.00 each day they dress up/($5.00 for the week). Money will be collected each morning during 1st period. All money collected will go towards Riley Children's Hospital. Come join in the fun and show your school spirit! The dress up days are as follows:
Monday- Team Gear/Jersey Day (includes hats)
Tuesday- Meme Day
Wednesday- Wacky Wednesday (mis-match/crazy hair/socks)
Thursday- Pajama Day (included slippers, must follow HIJH dress code guidelines)
Friday- USA Day
Free Math Help
Math Bowl Competition-Grades 5/6
Attention all parents of 7th and 8th Graders
Attention all parents of 8th graders going on this school year’s (2019-2020) Washington D.C. trip: We will be having a MANDATORY meeting on Friday December 6th at 7 AM in the main gym for all the student’s going on the trip. Parents do NOT need to attend. The purpose of this meeting will be to finalize roommates for the trip. If you have any questions please contact Eric Brown (ebrown@hse.k12.in.us )
Attention all parents of 7th graders: We are trying something new this year and starting enrollment early to allow for more fundraising. It is time to start signing your kiddo up for next school year’s (2020-2021) Washington DC trip! Mr. Brown will be holding a meeting on Wednesday December 4th at 7 PM in the LGI room at HIJH for any parents interested in learning more about the trip. You are welcome to bring your 7th grader too! Mr. Brown will be handing out info, taking questions, and opening fundraiser opportunities at the meeting. More info is posted on our trip website at www.dctrip.info . Contact Eric Brown ebrown@hse.k12.in.us if you have questions but can’t make the meeting.
HIJH Equity
Did you know that each building has an Equity Committee that strives to build equitable and inclusive environments for all students and to lead training and conversations with staff about this work? HIJH’s Committee includes the following teachers: Ashli Cooper, JoyAnn Boudreau, Brice Willey, Kathy Gammons, Sarah El-Rahaiby, Annie O’Rourke, Anthony Ioannacci, Kelli Collins, Kate Conrad, Jacquelyn Cappello, Cory Worzala, Laura Schultz, Denielle Krstic, Maria Dorsel, and Christy Lade.
Ashli Cooper (acooper@hse.k12.in.us) and JoyAnn Boudreau (jboudreau@hse.k12.in.us) are the building’s Equity Coaches. Feel free to contact them with concerns related to diversity, equity, inclusion matters.
Orchestra News
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.
Next PTO Meeting. The next PTO meeting will be Friday, December 6th at 9:30 AM at HIJH Conference room. All parents are invited to join us. Also, mark your calendar for our first meeting of the new year on Friday, January 10, 2020.
Dine to Donate. The next Dine to Donate is on Thursday December 12th from 6-8 PM @ Chic-Fil-A at HTC. Mention HIJH when you order so the PTO gets credit.
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.
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!
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