Information for Parents of New/Incoming Highlander Way Students

Highlander Way Middle Highlander Way Middle SchoolSchool

Welcome 5th Graders !Welcome 5th Graders !

SOON to be MIDDLE SCHOOLERSSOON to be MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

You ARE the You ARE the Class of “2017”Class of “2017”

Administrative Administrative TeamTeam

Mr. Jason Feig, PrincipalMr. Jason Feig, Principal

Mrs. Marge Hamill, Asst. PrincipalMrs. Marge Hamill, Asst. Principal

Mr. Duane DeMeyer, Asst. PrincipalMr. Duane DeMeyer, Asst. Principal

Home of the Home of the HAWKSHAWKS

A GREAT school to attend A GREAT school to attend Dedicated and committed Dedicated and committed

staffstaff Active PTO- Active PTO- Sabrina Waker, Sabrina Waker,

PresidentPresident

Involved parents Involved parents High MEAP scores High MEAP scores

Academic ExpectationsAcademic Expectations

AMAM

Hawk AcademyHawk Academy

6:45-7:30AM6:45-7:30AM

M-ThM-Th

AFTER SCHOOLAFTER SCHOOL

Study Hall Study Hall

2:20-3:20PM2:20-3:20PM

M-ThM-Th

LUNCHLUNCH

Hawk’s NestHawk’s Nest

Lunch PeriodLunch Period

M-FM-F

NEW CORE SUPPORT NEW CORE SUPPORT COURSESCOURSES

Math Power Hour (MPH)Math Power Hour (MPH)Reading Destination (RD)Reading Destination (RD)Deciphering Science (DS)Deciphering Science (DS)

WRITE ON! (W0)WRITE ON! (W0)(Program Success)(Program Success)

TEAM S.T.E.P.TEAM S.T.E.P.(Students and Teachers Elevating Performance)(Students and Teachers Elevating Performance)

Mission Statement: Mission Statement:

Highlander Way Middle School is a united Highlander Way Middle School is a united

community whose members support and community whose members support and encourage each other to become positive, encourage each other to become positive, well-rounded, life-long learners and well-rounded, life-long learners and successful leaders of the future.successful leaders of the future.

Vision:Vision:

At HWMS we will:At HWMS we will:– Provide a rigorous, standards-based educational Provide a rigorous, standards-based educational

program that prepares students for success in high program that prepares students for success in high school and beyond.school and beyond.

– Provide a caring, nurturing environment in which all Provide a caring, nurturing environment in which all students can feel supported and safe emotionally, students can feel supported and safe emotionally, intellectually, and physically.intellectually, and physically.

– Create an environment of educational excellence by Create an environment of educational excellence by using a variety of instructional strategies.using a variety of instructional strategies.

– Build positive personal characteristics such as Build positive personal characteristics such as integrity, cooperation, honesty, and encourage integrity, cooperation, honesty, and encourage respect and appreciation for individual differences.respect and appreciation for individual differences.

Beliefs:Beliefs:

We BELIEVE in each of the We BELIEVE in each of the 33

RRs:s:

RRigorigor

RRespectespect

RResponsibilityesponsibility

TEAM S.T.E.P.TEAM S.T.E.P.

Sign-up if you are interested in Sign-up if you are interested in notification of S.T.E.P. meetings or notification of S.T.E.P. meetings or would like to attend or serve on this would like to attend or serve on this committee. committee.

(Forms are located at the entrance.)(Forms are located at the entrance.)

What’s NEW for What’s NEW for you to look you to look forward to:forward to:

66thth graders will: graders will: Take the 4 core subjects: English, Math, Take the 4 core subjects: English, Math,

Social Studies and ScienceSocial Studies and Science Have 2 Encore classes ( “Specials” ) each Have 2 Encore classes ( “Specials” ) each

dayday School begins earlier at School begins earlier at 7:21 AM -2:21 PM7:21 AM -2:21 PM Switch classes each hourSwitch classes each hour Have Lockers have Have Lockers have COMBINATIONCOMBINATION locks. locks.

(Lockers for 6(Lockers for 6thth graders are usually near graders are usually near their homeroom.)their homeroom.)

Lunch = 30 minutes and includes outside Lunch = 30 minutes and includes outside recess time recess time

TeachingTeamsTeachingTeams

Students enjoy teaching teams of Students enjoy teaching teams of 4 core teachers: Math, English, 4 core teachers: Math, English, Social Studies, and ScienceSocial Studies, and Science

Teaming helps provide a smaller Teaming helps provide a smaller caring atmosphere within our large caring atmosphere within our large school setting.school setting.

Team classes are clustered Team classes are clustered together in the 6together in the 6thth grade wing. grade wing.

A moment in MathA moment in Math

A glimpse into A glimpse into Language ArtsLanguage Arts

A peak at a Science A peak at a Science class… class…

A second in A second in Social Studies Social Studies

class…class…

Encore ClassesEncore Classes

Life SkillsLife Skills PE (gym)PE (gym) Technology LiteracyTechnology Literacy World LanguageWorld Language Multi-Media PressMulti-Media Press

Most of them Most of them Change QuarterlyChange Quarterly

Applied Applied TechnologyTechnology

Art Art Band - Band - Full YearFull Year Choir - Choir - Full YearFull Year

And a little And a little exploration in Band !exploration in Band !

(Plan a daily practice time at (Plan a daily practice time at home.)home.)

ChoirChoir

What’s the same?What’s the same?

Breakfast and lunch are available Breakfast and lunch are available every day (lots of new choices)every day (lots of new choices)

Computerized cafeteria systemComputerized cafeteria system Parents can pre-pay for food itemsParents can pre-pay for food items Students use their ID cards for the Students use their ID cards for the

cafeteria and library media centercafeteria and library media center May ride the bus to and from May ride the bus to and from

schoolschool

Our CafeteriaOur Cafeteria

You may eat with You may eat with your friends!your friends!

What About the Bus?What About the Bus?

Students will ride buses with Students will ride buses with other middle and high school other middle and high school students.students.

Bus supervisors wear orange Bus supervisors wear orange vests and are on duty from vests and are on duty from the time students get off the the time students get off the bus in the AM and until the bus in the AM and until the last bus leaves in the PM.last bus leaves in the PM.

What if I drive my What if I drive my child to school?child to school?

Student drop off areas are on Student drop off areas are on Highlander Way main entrance, or Highlander Way main entrance, or the 6th grade wing in the north the 6th grade wing in the north parking lot.parking lot.

To improve student safety, To improve student safety, we we recommendrecommend dropping off and dropping off and picking up your 6picking up your 6thth grader at the grader at the north entry no earlier than 7:25AMnorth entry no earlier than 7:25AM

All students should be picked-up by All students should be picked-up by 2:30PM.2:30PM.

Join OUR TEAM and Join OUR TEAM and stay connected! stay connected!

Power SchoolPower School – Our new on-line grading – Our new on-line grading system Parents and students will be able to system Parents and students will be able to access student’s grades with username and access student’s grades with username and password protected password protected

PARENT-LINKPARENT-LINK-notification system and -notification system and electronic newsletters-sent to any family electronic newsletters-sent to any family who signs up to receive them. who signs up to receive them. (Sign-up forms located at the entrance)(Sign-up forms located at the entrance)

E-mailE-mail-we provide all teacher email -we provide all teacher email addressesaddresses

District web-site and HWMS web-pageDistrict web-site and HWMS web-page

Students are encouraged Students are encouraged to be involved in their to be involved in their

schoolschool Student CouncilStudent Council elections will be elections will be

held in the fall in each homeroom.held in the fall in each homeroom. After School DancesAfter School Dances are are

sponsored by Student Council. sponsored by Student Council. Dances are open to HW 6th, Dances are open to HW 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. 7th, and 8th graders.

Student Council ActivitiesStudent Council Activities

Clubs at HWMSClubs at HWMS

Builder’s Club-Building leaders Builder’s Club-Building leaders for tomorrowfor tomorrow

Sewing ClubSewing Club Creative Writing ClubCreative Writing Club Ski & SnowboardSki & Snowboard YearbookYearbook Foreign Language ClubForeign Language Club Fuel Up To PlayFuel Up To Play Science ClubScience Club

Student Safety & Student Safety & SecuritySecurity

66thth Grade students will attend an Grade students will attend an Orientation Assembly where high Orientation Assembly where high expectations for academics and behavior expectations for academics and behavior are reviewed and set for a successful are reviewed and set for a successful year. year.

HWMS follows the HPS Code of Conduct. HWMS follows the HPS Code of Conduct.

Disciplinary consequences are greater Disciplinary consequences are greater middle school. middle school. (www.howellschools.com)(www.howellschools.com)

(State laws mandate we enforce discipline (State laws mandate we enforce discipline more strictly for grades 6-12.)more strictly for grades 6-12.)

ResponsibilityResponsibility

Behavior that can be easily avoided Behavior that can be easily avoided by knowing the rules for the by knowing the rules for the following:following:– Dress codeDress code– ElectronicsElectronics– Cell phones must be turned off Cell phones must be turned off

and out of hand 7:25AM-2:21PMand out of hand 7:25AM-2:21PM– Bullying/Rumor mills/HarassmentBullying/Rumor mills/Harassment– HorseplayHorseplay– Fighting Fighting

What about What about Medication?Medication?

All medications administered by All medications administered by HPS employees must have an HPS HPS employees must have an HPS Medication form completed and Medication form completed and signed by your physician. signed by your physician.

Students may not carry any Students may not carry any medications, prescription or over medications, prescription or over the counter. the counter.

All medication must be brought to All medication must be brought to school by an adult and be in school by an adult and be in the original container. the original container.

Special Education Special Education ServicesServices

Students receiving special education Students receiving special education services are encouraged to acquire services are encouraged to acquire knowledge, build skills and prepare for knowledge, build skills and prepare for their future independence.their future independence.

Each student is assigned a case-Each student is assigned a case-manager (teacher) who will oversee manager (teacher) who will oversee their academic goals and objectives. their academic goals and objectives.

All special education students attend All special education students attend general education, encore, and some general education, encore, and some may attend pullout integrated or may attend pullout integrated or essential classes. essential classes.

CounselorsCounselorsMs. Houser (A-K)Ms. Houser (A-K)Mrs. Literski (L-Z)Mrs. Literski (L-Z)

We have two counselors eager to help you We have two counselors eager to help you and your student with:and your student with:

Course schedulingCourse scheduling Social and academic concernsSocial and academic concerns Facilitate parent meetingsFacilitate parent meetings Mediate peer conflictsMediate peer conflicts Teach Problem-Solving strategiesTeach Problem-Solving strategies Assist students and parents with the Assist students and parents with the

transition to middle schooltransition to middle school Any general school concerns or questions Any general school concerns or questions

please call us at 517-548-6259please call us at 517-548-6259

Daily PlannersDaily Planners

Organization is key for your Organization is key for your academic success.academic success.

Student Planners are provided Student Planners are provided to all students at the to all students at the beginning of the year. beginning of the year.

Students are expected to write Students are expected to write their assignments in their their assignments in their planners every hour- every planners every hour- every day.day.

Daily PlannersDaily Planners

Parents are encouraged to Parents are encouraged to review their child’s planner review their child’s planner each evening as a part of the each evening as a part of the daily study time at home.daily study time at home.

Study Time vs. Study Time vs. HomeworkHomework

Study Time vs. Study Time vs. HomeworkHomework Set up a study space Set up a study space

away from “the away from “the bedroom.”bedroom.”

Plan at least 30-45 Plan at least 30-45 minutes per day to minutes per day to study at home.study at home.

Study in the same Study in the same place each day.place each day.

Turn off the radio, Turn off the radio, TV, and cell phone.TV, and cell phone.

Not, “DO you, but Not, “DO you, but Show Me.”Show Me.”

Attendance=Good Attendance=Good GradesGrades

All absences must be called-in by All absences must be called-in by an parent or guardian. Teachers an parent or guardian. Teachers take attendance hourly. take attendance hourly.

A computerized phone machine A computerized phone machine calls home with unexcused calls home with unexcused absences. absences.

Attendance=Good Attendance=Good GradesGrades

Unexcused, excessive absences Unexcused, excessive absences and/or tardies result in a report to and/or tardies result in a report to the truancy officer and may result the truancy officer and may result in disciplinary consequences.in disciplinary consequences.

Students are held accountable for Students are held accountable for tardies in middle school. (Tardies tardies in middle school. (Tardies will be excused if the bus is late will be excused if the bus is late or the student has a note from or the student has a note from a doctor’s office.)a doctor’s office.)

Mark Your Mark Your CalendarCalendar

66thth Grade Orientation: Grade Orientation:

Date TBD*Date TBD* Students will get their schedulesStudents will get their schedules Have School Pictures taken Have School Pictures taken

yearbook and Student ID’syearbook and Student ID’s

**Parents will receive an Information Parents will receive an Information

Packet during the summer.Packet during the summer.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

We appreciate you taking the We appreciate you taking the time from your busy time from your busy

schedules to attend this schedules to attend this eveningevening..

Please feel free to contact us Please feel free to contact us with any questions.with any questions.