News from Panther Headquarters
March 2020
From the desk of the Principal...
Hello Panther Families –
March has always been a busy time of the year as we begin to plan and schedule classes for the next school year. We have worked harder and smarter to ensure that 8th grade students/families are prepared for high school scheduling, the 6th and 7th grade families are informed of course selection options, and the students have selected courses for next year. In the midst of it all, we must not forget the ‘here and now’ regarding the remainder of this school year. It is imperative that all staff and students maintain their focus and purpose on doing their personal best every day. At HIJH, we have promoted the 212 Degree concept every Monday to start off our week. The idea being that at 211 degrees water is hot, but at 212 it begins to boil. With boiling water comes steam, and steam can power a locomotive. Raising the temperature of water by one extra degree means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine- a beautiful, uncomplicated metaphor that ideally should feed our every endeavor- consistently pushing us to make the extra effort in every task we undertake.
I am also excited to report that with the assistance of the District monies generated from the solar panels that we have finalized all plans and have begun construction on Phase II of our Playground. Phase II of our Parkour playground should be finalized, weather pending, after Spring Break. How Fun!
We appreciate the opportunity to serve our students and families and thank everyone for your continued support throughout the year.
Respectfully,
Tim A. Mankin
Upcoming Important Dates
March 3 8th Grade Yearbook Photo - 2:15-2:45
March 6 PTO Meeting 9:30 AM
March 6 Spring Musical, Seussical Jr. - 3:15 and 7 PM
March 7 Spring Musical, Seussical, Jr. - 2 and 7 PM
March 11 Choir Preview Festival Concert (6, 7, and 8th Grade Choirs) - 7 to 7:45 PM
March 16 Equity Cafe - 7 PM
March 17 Orchestra Concert - 7 PM
March 18 DC Parent Meeting - 7 PM
March 19 ISSMA Orchestra Contest - 3 to 10:30 PM
March 19 ISSMA Orchestra Contest - 7 AM to 3 PM
Week of March 23-27 Book Fair
March 24 Community Night for the Book Fair - 4 to 7 PM (enter through Door 1 or Door 14)
March 24 Band Concert
March 27 Panther Fest - 6 to 8 PM
April 3 to April 10 SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL
8th Grade Class Yearbook Photo
The 8th grade class yearbook photo will be taken in the Main Gym on Tuesday, March 3rd during SLT. Class t-shirts will be handed out same day during 7th period.
Absent from School? Early Dismissal? Late Arrival?
Going out of town in the future?
Let us know, when you know!
Bus Notes
Counselor's Corner
Current 5th Grade Students. Course selection for the 2020-21 school year will be a natural progression of the courses they are currently scheduled.
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.
2020-2021 School Year. If your child will be attending another school outside the HSE school district next year, please call the Guidance Office (317-594-4124) before May 1st, so records can be prepared for the new school prior to leaving for the summer.
Withdrawing Your Student. If your child will be withdrawing from HIJH, anytime prior to the end of school, you MUST notify the Guidance Office at least two days in advance of your child’s last day. Withdrawal forms 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.
Click here for Twenty-First Century Scholars information.
Click here for Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) information.
Messages from the Nurse
Upcoming 6th Grade Vaccinations. All incoming 6th graders will need Tdap, Meningitis, and Hepatitis A to begin school. If you get these shots at anytime, please bring a copy to the school or email them to the nurse at eallen@hse.k12.in.us.
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.
Library News
We’ve had some missing iPads recently where we haven’t been able to sign into the "Find My" program. We can't find the device because the Apple ID was set up under the students’ school email addresses. Apple has revised their perimeters and are not allowing business/school emails to be used for that. If your student’s iCloud is set up to a school email address, please have them add a personal email address in Settings. In Settings, go to the iCloud account up top, then to Name Phone Numbers and Email. There you can add and remove email addresses. If a device with that Apple ID goes missing, this will enable them to use the "Find My" program.
Seussical Jr.
HIJH once again will be doing their spring musical Seussical Jr.
The event will take place here at the school on:
Friday, March 6th at 3:15 and 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 7th at 2 and 7 PM
Tickets are available on line through ebright, during lunches at school for you child to purchase or at the door. We happily accept cash or checks. Apologies, but we CANNOT accept credit cards. This year be sure to join some of the cast at Schoolhouse 7 coffee shop after Saturdays performance from 12:30-1:30. They will be available for pictures along with a photo booth. Proceeds from the event come back to the Music Department. Thank you for all your support!
Send in your pop can tabs to HIJH!
Val-O-Grams
Your HIJH Student Council members have been hard at work during the last few months. We successfully raised over $400 from the sale of February's Val-o-Grams to continue to add to our total gift that will go to Riley Children's Hospital at the end of the year. Our members also spent time creating positive messages to leave for HIJH staff members in every staff restroom. That was a huge success! Watch for upcoming announcements regarding our next spirit week. All proceeds from that week will go to the Pennies for Patients campaign funding the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Free Math Help
Music Department
Members of Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Panther Sound will travel to Ball State University on Tuesday, March 31st for a day of music-making with Ball State faculty and students. These music students will have the chance to tour Ball State’s state-of-the-art facilities, work with music professors, record music in the Sursa Performance Hall, experience athletic facilities, and more. We will depart HIJH at 9:15 AM and will return around 6:30 PM. Permission slips have been sent home with students and are due back to directors on Friday, March 6th along with the $25 field trip fee. We are looking forward to a fantastic day!
Music Department Fundraiser. The Music Department Fundraiser is entering its final leg as all paper forms have been turned in. Items that were ordered via paper form will be delivered to school the week of March 9th for students to pick up and distribute to their customers. Once we have a final delivery date, we will announce it to students. More information to come!
We would like to thank families for their participation in our fundraiser, whether through selling of items or through a monetary donation. It is our goal to provide the best possible musical experiences to our students here at HIJH, and we thank you for your continued support of our program. If your family would still like to make a donation, please feel free to send cash or a check made out to HIJH Music to school with your child. Every little bit helps!
Click here for the latest Band information.
Click here for the Orchestra information.
Attention all parents of 7th Graders
Did you forget to sign up your 7th grader for next year’s Washington, DC trip? YOU ARE IN LUCK! I will be holding another informational meeting on Wednesday, March 18th from 7-8 PM in the HIJH LGI room. This is for all 7th grade parents that missed the first meeting that was in December. If you already attended the December meeting, you do not need to attend unless you want info on the new spring fundraiser. Currently, there are over 100 7th graders are already signed up! If you don’t have any questions you can also just sign up your kiddo by going to www.worldstrides.com/signup and use our trip ID#184678. Don’t wait! There are a limited number of spots and once they are filled your child will go on a waitlist. More info is posted on our trip website at www.dctrip.info . Contact Eric Brown ebrown@hse.k12.in.us if you have any questions.
5/6 Intramural Volleyball
Intramural volleyball will be starting at HIJH in March. Any 5th or 6th grade students interested in playing and learning the game are encouraged to pick up a registration form outside of Mrs. Mockler's classroom (room 220) or from the main office. Forms are due back by Friday, March 6th. Space in this club is limited so do not delay!
Panther Pride Geist 5K-May 16th
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, March 6th at 9:30 AM at HIJH Conference room. All parents are invited to join us. Also, mark your calendar for our next meeting on Friday, April 17, 2020.
Dine to Donate. The next Dine to Donate is on Wednesday, March 18th at Chuy's (excludes alcohol). Make sure you mention HIJH PTO to your server.
*Mark your calendar for Upcoming Dine to Donates
-April 15 The Ale Emporium
-May 4 Upaint Pottery
Panther Palooza. Thank you to all of the wonderful parent volunteers who helped make this years Panther Palooza for the 7th & 8th graders a success.
Panther Fest. Panther Fest is our amazing NIGHT OF FUN for all HIJH 5th & 6th grade students. It will be on Friday, March 27th from 6-8 PM. New this year you can register & pay ONLINE at https://hijh-panther-fest-2020-copy.cheddarup.com Online registration is OPEN now. Paper forms will come home in the next couple of weeks if you prefer to sign up that way. Early registration price is $15 if paid by March 25th. {Walk-in price on March 27th is $20 of cash or check only.} A permission slip & a signed waiver are mandatory for participation.
The night will include fun activities like Dance Party, Black Light Experience, Incredible Sports Challenge, Hair Coloring, Cake Walk, Photo Booth, Ring Toss, Estimation Station, Tattoo Parlor, Life Size Hungry Hippo, Soccer Shots Challenge, Human Foosball, archery, and more.
Panther Fest is a student ONLY event – but we need parent VOLUNTEERS – please go to https://signup.com/go/qxknYEc to sign up to volunteer or to sign up to send in donations for the event.
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. Sign into your account by clicking the person on the top right hand corner of the screen. Once you are signed in, click "My Account" under your profile tab. Click "Community Rewards" on the left hand side of the page. Type in "HIJH-PTO" or "WT583" and link your card to our account.**You STILL earn all your Kroger reward/fuel points – this is just BONUS money for the PTO. Click "Enroll."
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 Coke Bottle Caps in or enter online.
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. Click here for more Box Tops information.
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
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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