September 26, 2017

Post date: Sep 26, 2017 4:46:16 PM

6th Grade Camp Drop Off

Drop off between 8-8:45 A.M. in the West Gym (the one by the front door). Students need to pack a lunch for Wednesday. Students will place their luggage in a designated area, but KEEP THEIR LUNCH WITH THEM! They will sit in the bleachers according to their rooming assignment.

Parents will need to drop off any medication with the medical staff. There will be tables set up by the stage. You do not need to stand in the line for medical if you do not have medicine to drop off for your child.

You can follow me on Twitter to see pictures and updates of the camping experience - @MrHenryHMS

6th Grade Camp Pick Up

On Sept. 29 students will return to HMS at approximately 1:30. I will give updates as to the arrival time on Twitter. Please keep the parking lot roadways clear around the Middle School so the buses can enter and leave the parking lot. Please park in parking spots either in the front of the school or in the back.

You will meet your student at the middle school stadium (or in the West Gym depending on the weather). I will update this on Twitter also. If you are there early you may begin to locate your child's luggage. Please walk all the way into the stadium down to the football field to meet your child. Medication will be able to be picked up at the concession stand.

You will need to sign out your child as you leave the stadium or the gym. There will be lines set up alphabetically according to the child's last name - from your right to left as you leave the stadium A-D, E-K, L-R, S-Z. We will allow anyone listed on the Emergency Medical Authorization in Final Forms to pick up your child without a note or phone call from you. If you do not remember who is listed you can, at any time, log back into Final Forms to review and/or change the information. We will have all changes that are made by Monday Sept. 25. ANY CHANGES AFTER THAT TIME WILL NEED A WRITTEN NOTE SENT TO SCHOOL.

If your child is getting picked up by someone other than those listed on the Emergency Medical Authorization, you may:

  • Send in a note to school prior to camp ending stating who will pick up your son/daughter.
  • Be on the phone with the person picking up your child to speak with the sign out table when they are checking out.
  • An email WILL NOT work.

These will be the ONLY ways in which we will allow a child to go home with someone other than their parent.

This does delay your exit but it is valuable practice for the HMS staff. If there was ever an event where we needed to evacuate and parents needed to pick children up, we would use this process. This gives us the opportunity to practice this procedure in a less stressful situation.

It is a very exciting time when the students return and see their parents. It is also very busy and hectic. Please be patient as you wait to sign out, then exit Highland Middle School and the parking lot as quickly and safely as possible. The stories your children will share will be best heard at home.

Volleyball Tailgate

Our volleyball teams are having great seasons. Come out and support our ladies at the volleyball tailgate on Oct. 5! Tickets will be sold for $10 Tuesday Oct 3 - Thursday Oct 5. Students will stay after school, eat, play games, and attend the game to cheer on our teams. Students will have cotton candy and popcorn prior to the game. Kona Ice will be available outside the band room doors for purchase.

Please consider volunteering some time or food for the event. Sign up here http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4caead2ba1fb6-hmsvolleyball

Thursday Tutoring

Highland Middle School is instituting a new tutoring program this year. The program will start October 5th and be open every Thursday after school from 2:30- 4:00. Students will meet in the Middle School Media Center and work with Highland High School National Honor Society students, Peer Leaders, Highland Middle School NJHS members, and teachers. Parents should plan on picking their child up at 4:00.

To participate in tutoring students must fill out a form in the school office with their name and what they want to accomplish during their tutoring session. This will help staff identify needs and partner students with someone to work with.

Students will remain in the Media Center until 4:00 when the session has ended. Students are expected to bring enough work to stay busy until 4:00. Students that cause disruption during the session may be asked to be picked up early by their parents. Parents should arrange to pick their children up at 4:00.

NJHS and Golden Apple Changes for 2017-2018

There have been some changes to the requirements to achieve a Golden Apple and to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. You can read about the changes by clicking on the tab above labeled Golden Apple Awards.

Last week was National Suicide Prevention Week.

Please take some time to read over some resources School Counselor Mrs. Colbow has collected.

How to talk to your teen about suicide and depression

Check out info about the Crisis Text Line

Anyone can text “4hope” or “home” to 741741. A live, trained crisis counselor will receive and respond to the text. This is an anonymous service for adults and children alike.

Info about the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why

In Spring 2017, Netflix released a 13 part series (that is filming a 2nd season) based on a book. In this series, a teenager takes her life, but creates a secret set of “tapes” blaming 13 different people for her decision of suicide. This series contains graphic scenes of sexual violence and completion of suicide. Experts have been extremely critical of the series as it can promote suicide as an option or “way out” for vulnerable teens. Many middle schoolers have viewed this series with and without parent knowledge or permission.