Highlands Middle School
NTI Information
NTI Schedule - November/December
HMS Semester Exam Schedule
NTI Expectations for Students
Follow the NTI Schedule and check Schoology Daily.
Attend all live in-person sessions with teachers.
Follow Virtual Learner Expectations:
- Be on Time.
- Turn Camera on and Mute Yourself.
- Be Prepared in a Quiet Place, Properly Dressed.
- Be Respectful.
NTI Information for Parents
Some highlights and need to know information for parents about what NTI will be like at HMS.
NTI Help Line
859.815-2NTI
START OF YEAR INFORMATION
Welcome to our beginning of the year information site. The information below includes schedules, safe at school information, drop-off locations, entry locations, dismissal process, and other need to know information to support a great start to our school year. If you have any questions please reach out to the school, contact information is at the bottom of this page.
HMS Daily SCHEDULE
Our return to in-person learning at HMS begins on September 17th and 18th with 50% of our student body attending each of those days. The day your child will attend is determined alphabetically by last name. Please review the September 17th and 18th schedule below. Next to the Sept. 17th and 18th schedule you will find our daily in-person schedule. Students will follow this schedule anytime we are in-person at HMS. On September 21st, all in-person students will begin attending daily at HMS.
In-Person Daily Schedule
In-Person Student Health and Safety Information
Masks - Current guidelines require students wear a mask at all times unless eating and drinking. Masks may be lowered to each lunch when students are seated 6 feet apart.
Masks should:
Be two-ply cloth or medical paper masks (gaiters/neck buffs are acceptable if two-ply)
Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
Be secured with ties or ear loops
Include multiple layers of fabric
Allow for breathing without restriction
Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
Cover both nose and mouth
Students will be temperature checked, masked checked, and use hand sanitizer upon entry to the building.
As outlined by the "Guidance on Safety Expectations and Best Practices for Kentucky Schools K-12" students and staff should stay home or be sent home if they have:
Fever is greater than 100.4 or chills
New, uncontrolled cough
Shortness of breath
Muscle or body aches
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Exposure to a COVID-19 case
Students will not be using lockers this year due to the need for additional hallway space. It is encouraged that all students have a backpack to carry needed materials.
Please visit the Fort Thomas Independent Healthy at School Website for more information on Masks and Guidelines: CLICK HERE
You can visit this Link for Data Dashboard information and our current Covid Response flow chart for Staff and Students: CLICK HERE
Attendance - Reporting an Absence
If your child needs to be absent from school, we ask that you leave a message on our attendance line by calling 859-815-2599. When your child returns to school, please send a written parent or doctor note with an explanation of their absence. This note should should be placed in our attendance box upon their entry to the school. Boxes shall be located by entrances.
Morning Drop-off and Building Entry Information
To reduce the number of students entering a single location and support a quick temperature and mask check process morning entry locations will be organized by grade level. Each grade will have a specific entry point each morning. Building entry will begin at 7:45 AM and continue until the school start time of 8:05 AM. Students will enter the designated location and report directly to their first period classroom. If a student's first period class is in the high school, they will enter HMS and travel to that first period location in HHS. Any student arriving after our 8:05 AM start time will enter through the Main Lobby Entrance.
Morning Student Drop Off and Go Parking Spots
The parking spots circled in yellow are open in the morning to drop off students and go. Students should exit automobiles and enter through their grade level location. Anytime they need to cross the street a crosswalk should be used.
6th Grade Entry
The morning entry location for 6th grade will be our Main Lobby Entrance.
7th Grade Entry
The morning entry location for 7th grade will be through our Patio Cafeteria Entrance.
8th Grade Entry
The morning entry location for 8th grade students will be our Gym Lobby Entrance.
School Lunch Procedures
Students will be eating lunch in either the cafeteria or the gym area. Seating is staged at 6 feet apart and facing the same direction. Students will be escorted down by teachers and supervised within each area. When seated and stationary students may demask to eat and drink. Each desk and area will be cleaned and sanitized between student lunch waves. Recess is postponed until further notice.
Students may purchase a lunch or pack. Purchased lunches will include a hot item and standard sides.
Item Drop-Off during school day
Parents may drop off emergency items only, such as MacBooks or packed lunches, in the main lobby. Please ask your child to make other arrangements for items or equipment not related to HMS.
Items should be clearly labeled with the student’s name and grade. Please call office (859-441-5222) prior to arrival to be assigned a bin #. Once you arrive at the middle school, ring the bell and a staff member will ask for your name. Staff member will again remind the parent/guardian to place forgotten item in designated bin in office lobby.
It is the student’s responsibility to pickup these items once called by the front office. We will not interrupt instructional time to deliver forgotten items and will call student down prior to class change.
Students will not be allowed to leave class and wait in the office or commons area for items to be delivered. Items must be picked up before classes, in between classes, during lunch, or immediately after school. Lunches not picked up at the end of the day will be discarded.
Lunch money or checks needs to be placed in a sealed envelope with the student’s name and grade and placed in cafeteria drop box, located near entrances.
Hallway Transitions
Students will transitions between class periods by staying to the right and following directional patterns in hallways. During our small group sessions, students were taught movement patterns and expectations of keeping some distance between each other while in hallways. Lockers will not be used to provide additional space for hallway movements. Staging markers are placed on floors outside of classrooms for students to stand until the classroom is cleaned and they can enter. Students will not be allowed to group or socialize in hallways and must move from one class to another. Masks must be worn at all times except when eating or drinking.
School Dismissal Information
Students will be escorted to a building exit by their 7th period teacher at the conclusion of the school day. School dismissal will be 3:05 PM. Students may not remain on campus after school unless they are directed and organized by a coach, teacher, or club sponsor. Hallways will be cleared and the school lobby closed at 3:20 PM. Parents please be supportive in having a destination for your child to go after school to support our efforts in reducing student grouping and congregating after school.
Student Fee Information
At this time we are asking for students fees be paid through Infinite Campus. Please be aware that until fees are paid the system will continue to send you a general pay fee reminder. We do not have the ability to turn this notification off. If you have fee related questions please feel free to contact the school office.
Advisory Class at HMS
All HMS NTI/In-Person Learning Students will be enrolled in an Advisory Class Period this year. Click on the image to read more about the class.
Remote Learner Information
Our HMS Remote Learning teacher is Mrs. Melissa Trimbach. This is her letter to remote learners and parents. She is sending additional information to remote learner parents and students about their first day, live sessions, and daily schedule. Please be sure to look for that information in your email.
Questions or Support Needs
Contact:
School:
Phone Number: 859-441-5222
Tech Support:
859-815-2014
Counselors:
Kristen Gerrein - kristen.gerrein@fortthomas.kyschools.us
Lori Maines - lori.maines@fortthomas.kyschools.us
Principals:
Michael Howton - michael.howton@fortthomas.kyschools.us
Josh Feldmann - josh.feldmann@fortthomas.kyschools.us