Announcements 3-13-23

Highland Hills Middle School Announcement for Monday, March 13, 2023

A huge thank you to our music department and all of the parents that volunteered for all of the ISSMA efforts this past weekend.  It was a big success with 12 of our HHMS groups performing.   One of the judges sent this wonderful compliment and I wanted to share it with you:

Dear Principal Ivey,

I gave many people my thanks this weekend but I wanted to also relate to you about the enjoyable time I had judging music contest this weekend at Highland Hills.  I have judged for decades in every corner of Indiana however this was my first trip to your beautiful building.

I know you are well aware of the excellent instrumental music programs your teachers have there; I have heard the high school orchestra many times.  It was a pleasure hearing the middle school bands and orchestras – they were wonderful.  And your staff obviously spent many hours organizing a most smooth running contest site.

But I really wanted to compliment all the supportive parents who volunteered to work this weekend – I got a chance to thank quite a few, but I am sure I did not see them all.  We judges were aided whenever needed and we ate like royalty.  The support the music program has there from the parents and friends is amazing.

I’m hoping I get assigned to Highland Hills in the future.

• Spirit Week to get us thru before Spring Break

  • March 14 ~ Hat & Pi Day

  • March 15 ~ Western Wednesday

  • March 16 ~ Decades Day – wear your favorite decade

  • March 17 ~ Wear green (Saint Patrick’s Day)

 

• Math Tutoring with Dawn Boling is canceled for Tuesday.

 

 

• Report Cards will go home with students on Friday, March 17th

 

• A google form was sent to all 7th & 8th Grade Choir Parents attending the NYC trip.  It is gathering information about adult rooming scenarios and t-shirt size.  Please respond by March 17.  Let Mrs. Hatton know if you did not receive it.  Information about student rooming will be sent after Spring Break.

  • A coral colored medical form was delivered to students on Friday, March 9.  Please return the form by May 4.

  • A green colored permission slip was delivered to students on Friday, March 9.  Please return the form by May 4.

• The Highland Hills Middle School Spirit Wear online store has been launched. (Ends Midnight on 3/14)  The direct link for the store is: https://323ink.chipply.com/HHMS/

 

 

HHMS Spring Glow Dance – April 14th – Cost $5; Concessions will be available

    5th & 6th Grade will be 4:00 – 5:30pm (students will stay after school)

    7th & 8th Grade will be 6:30 – 8:00pm (Doors open @ 6:30)

    Students that have been in ISS or OSS starting March 6 through April 14th may NOT attend.

Look for envelopes to go home on April 7th.

• Visit yearbookforever.com to reserve your copy. We sold out last year, so make sure to place your order online!

 

• New student tour dates for 2023. https://forms.gle/bPRPrK8U3WDgTuPF6

  • This is NOT for students that are in 4th grade at our feeder schools: Greenville, FKE, or Georgetown.  They will tour with their schools in May.

 

 

Spring break for HHMS will be March 27 – 31 (Intercession will be March 20 – 24)

 

 

Save The Date…………. FIELD DAY!

We are planning Field Day for 7/8 grade on May 25 and 5/6  grade on 5/26. This event will be during school hours.

We WILL NEED A LOT of volunteers!  Please save the date on your calendars now and sign up to volunteer here:   https://bit.ly/hhmsvolunteers

 

 

 

Athletics Announcements (We also have an athletic bulletin board located in the Commons near the pool)

• There were several students that wrestled at the Indiana State Wrestling Association State Tournament. Congratulations to them!

  • Cole Biblehauser

  • Jackson Hinkle

  • Isaac Hodges

  • Jax Robinson

  • Aidan Fetz

  • Noah Ward

• The following wrestling placed at the tournament:

  • Max Kessinger – 4th

  • Anthony Kessinger- 2nd

  • Josie Price-5th

  • Addalyn Sisson – 1st Place!!

• There is no Girls Tennis practice today. (Monday)

• Attention any 8th grade girl interested in playing volleyball next year at Floyd Central: There will be a player and parent meeting at 4:00 in the library on Wednesday, March 15th.

• Girls golf team tryouts are CANCELLED for today Monday, March 13th. Tryouts are rescheduled for Tuesday at Wooded View Golf Course at 4:30pm and Wednesday at Valley View Golf Course at 4:15pm. Email Ms. LaDuke with any questions or concerns- sladuke@nafcs.org

• HHMS Boys Golf Team ~ Tryout dates will be March 13-15. All interested players need to have their own golf clubs and a physical on file. Parent meeting to be announced after tryouts. Thank you.

 

 

Clubs (We have a club bulletin board located in the Commons near the pool)

• Book Club ~ will take place from 4:00 – 5:00PM in the Library. (Gina Ransford)

  • Please fill out the attached interest inventory if you are interested.

  • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpvdwtNKovt_CqjPLZ1hYKZs8hXXg7-i3eBY9rbIK4acTHEw/viewform?pli=1

  • SPRING MEETINGS FOR 5th & 6th grades will now be held the Second Monday of the month.

    • March 13

    • April 10

    • May 8

• Spring Meeting for 7th and 8th grade will now meet the THIRD Monday of the month.

  • April 17

  • May 22

• Bowling Club:  One match a week (Tuesday) and practices (optional) every Sunday 5pm – 7pm (no practices on 3/19 & 3/26) .  If interested, please email Chris McCue @ christopher.d.mccue@gmail.com  All skill levels are encouraged to join, no experience needed or required.

  • Match dates:

    • Mar 14

    • Apr 4

    • Apr 11

 

• Campus Life  – for 5-8th grades meets on every Wednesday after school until 5:00pm in the cafeteria. Campus Life is a positive place where students can have fun with friends, talk about relevant issues, and be heard without judgment. It’s a place where you will be challenged to make good decisions and lead in a positive way here at HHMS.  See Kevin Becht with any questions @ kbecht@yfc.net

 

• Chess club (LAST ONE) ~ will meet on Tuesday after school until 5:00.  We will meet in Mrs. Schroeder’s room (A244).  No experience required.  See Mrs. Milliner amilliner@nafcs.org or Mrs. Schroeder jschroeder@nafcs.org if you have any questions. Chess Club ends once we return from Spring Break.  Thank you to Mrs. Milliner and Mrs. Schroeder!

 

• Dungeons and Dragons club will meet on Thursdays after school in the cafeteria.  Students should be picked up at 5:00.  Students are not allowed to come to Dungeons and Dragons if they do not have a completed club registration form signed by their guardians.   The forms can be picked up in the office or in Room 321.

 

• FCA ~   Meets on Tuesdays.  Everyone is welcome to join us.  Please contact Chris or Liz Smith with any questions (cesmith@nafcs.org or esmith@nafcs.org).

  • Tuesday, March 14th – full group in the gym!!  Food and games before Spring Break!

  • Everyone is welcome to come to all events and full-group meetings (even if you have not been to any meeting previously this year).  We’d love to have you!

• Fishing Club ~ We will be holding our first NAFCS Fishing Meeting on March 13th at 6:00pm, FCHS Room E101.  Students must have either a fishing boat or have access to a fishing boat, in order to fish tournaments.  Contact either Christna Mayfield (cmayfield@nafcs.org) or Matt Mayfield (mmayfield@nafcs.org) with questions.

• Intramurals ~ If there should be a 2-Hour Delay, Intramurals will be canceled.  Intramurals is for any student who is interested in playing different sports. Any questions, please see Ms. Fox or Mr. Michell. Students can enter the gym through door 28. Doors OPEN @ 7:30am

  • Our 7th and 8th graders meet on Thursday mornings from 7:30 – 8:35AM.

  • Our 5th and 6th graders meet on Friday mornings from 7:30 –  8:35AM.

  • The first semester schedule is posted on the club board.

•  Intramurals for 1st semester

INTRAMURALS for 2nd Semester

7th and 8th grade are on Thursdays from 7:30 – 8:40AM

5th and 6th grade are on Fridays from 7:30 – 8:40AM

If there is a 2 hour delay or a snow day, there will be NO INTRAMURALS on that day.

If you have any questions see Mrs. Fox or Mr. Michell

 

WEEK	ACTIVITY
March 16 – 17	Cricket
March 23 – 24	NO INTRAMURALS SPRING BREAK
March 30 – 31	NO INTRAMURALS SPRING BREAK
April 6 – 7	Flag Football
April 13 – 14	Soccer
April 20 – 21	Falcon Ball
April 27 – 28	Dodgeball

• Journalism Club ~ Journalism Club is open to Grades 5-8. We will continue to meet on Wednesdays in Room 185 from 4:00 – 5:00pm, meeting every other week.  Please check the new schedule in the classroom for the new schedule!  If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Taggart at staggart@nafcs.org.

• Lego Club ~ (Leslie Pendleton & Mendy Cavan).  You may bring your own legos to play with, or you can use the ones that have been donated.  They will be a meeting after school till 4:30 in the library on the following dates:

• Random Acts of Kindness ~ The Random Acts of Kindness Club will the first Thursday of the month.

• RC Club (Race Cars) ~ Starting after spring break on Wednesdays for now.

Students should email me if they are interested so I know how many kids to expect. Open to all grades from 3:45 – 4:45pm in room A232 to meet initially for the club.  Any questions, see Mr. Brad Finken bfinken@nafcs.org

• Sign Language (ASL) Club will continue to meet in the Safety Net Room (across from the cafe’) every other Tuesday from 8:15am.  See Deana Schaffer if you have any questions – dschaffer@nafcs.org

  • Here are the dates for our ASL Club meetings:

    • March 14

    • April 11

    • April 25

    • May 9

    • May 23

• Student Council will meet in A-386 on the following dates:

  • Apr 13

  • May 11

• Sudoku club –  will meet on Thursdays in Room A342 after school until 5:00.  Students in grades 5-8 are welcome to join.  Anyone interested should email Mrs. Jenkins (kjenkins@nafcs.org) for more information. The Sudoku club will be learning how to do more puzzles.  In addition to learning how to solve Sudoku puzzles, we will explore logic puzzles, Escape Rooms, Rubik’s Cube, Ken Ken, and more. Club meets on Thursdays from 4-5 in room A342. Contact Mrs. Jenkins with questions.

 

Good luck to any of our Jaguars that perform or play this evening.  Remember to go out and have a kind heart, a fierce mind, and a brave spirit.  Have a great afternoon.

 

OTHER Announcements

Follow or Contact the HHMS PTO!

Website: http://hhmspto.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HHMSPTO

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HHMSPTO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HHMSPTO

 

• Lunch Menu Links:

  • My School Menus Website (also has a phone app that can be downloaded): https://www.myschoolmenus.com/instance/1091/district/1105

  • Food & Nutrition Website (these menus are more printer friendly)*Scroll past the meal prices and click the arrows to access August: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2004121741184394&page=menus

  • Click on the Free & Reduced Meal Application Tab to access the form: https://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/food-nutrition-services/

 

• Bus Information 2022-23

 

   

• Volunteering in the building/field trips/guest speakers will require a criminal background check each school year.   Here is the google link for Background check – https://forms.gle/vuLRRKRZkPSoFydn7

 

• If you are anticipating being out of school for more 2 or more consecutive days, stop by the office to pick up a green Absence form from Mrs. Burger.

 

• Car Rider Reminder – please pull you vehicle all the way up (bumper to bumper) so that we can get as many cars in as possible when loading and unloading.

 

• No Students should be walking in the parking lot unless with adult supervision.  Thank you

Car Rider Pick-up and Drop Off

All car riders dropping off or picking up students will enter the Indian Creek Lane entrance (NOT our main entrance).  The front is for Buses and Staff Parking only.  Once you pass the tennis courts, you will use:

• Morning drop-off:

• To alleviate congestion on the main road in the morning, we will allow vehicles to use either the upper or lower car rider lines to drop off their students based on traffic flow.

• Only 5th-grade students will be allowed to go straight to their classroom at 8:40am.

• All 6th, 7th, & 8th-grade students using the upper car rider line will use the back stairwell with supervision to walk down to the Commons/Cafe’/Gym.  These students should NOT stop at their locker or their classrooms unsupervised.

• Please stay in your lane and remain in that lane.  If you are in the right lane, that will be taking you up to the upper car rider line.  If you are in the left lane, that will take you to the lower car rider lane.  For safety measures, you should NOT switch lanes at the 3-way stop.

• Don’t release students from your vehicle until 8:40am in both the upper and lower car rider lines. This is for their safety.

 

• Afternoon pick-up:

  • The right-hand lane to enter the Upper Car Rider Circle (5th & 6th  Grade ONLY)

  • The left-hand lane to use the Lower Car Rider Circle (for vehicles that have any 7th or 8th Grade students)

• All vehicles will NEED to stop at the 3-Way stop in the back.  (We are still waiting on the white lines to be painted)

• Both lanes will exit using the side parking lot (orange below)

• Cars attempting to enter the front entrance will be directed to the Indian Creek Lane for drop off.  We appreciate your cooperation.

• If you arrive at HHMS at 9:00, you need to use the front entrance and walk your student in for a Tardy pass. (The back doors will be locked for safety reasons)

 

 

• Highland Hills is actively seeking adult volunteers to join our Mentor Mii Program. If you are interested in becoming a mentor for a student in need, please reach out to Nicole Smith nsmith@nafcs.org. This would involve meeting with a student once a week for approximately 30 minutes.

 

• Did you know that there is a full service medical clinic that is open to all NAFCS students and staff, housed at New Albany High School and staffed by Lifesprings Doctors and Nurses. Right now they are taking same day appointments. No insurance, no worries. During a time that it is difficult to get in to any doctor, your kiddo can be seen the same day! They can prescribe routine medications and all the things any doctor’s office or urgent care can do. They also offer sports physicals. For an appointment call 812-981-7452. This is an awesome partnership and perk for all NAFCS students and staff!

Here is the flyer, but the “Lifespring” at the top seems to confuse people, thinking it is for mental health services, but it is not:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3ztpHRH4AxRllP5QkbCGPT09nLlOzTX/view?usp=sharing

 

• NEW: Indiana Launches New Platform to Connect Eligible Students and Families with Math, Reading Tutoring ~ Eligible families can now access the Indiana Learns family platform, an online portal where they can view their grant funds, see Learning Partner vendors, and schedule tutoring services for their qualifying student. Indiana Learns is a new statewide grant program that provides families, demonstrating both financial and academic need, with up to $1,000 to spend on math and reading high-dosage tutoring and approved out-of-school academic programs for their students. Families can visit the Indiana Learns website to check eligibility and log in. Please contact Seana Murphy from Indiana Learns with any questions.

 

• Cold and flu season is upon us.  Just a reminder that students need to be fever free without medication for 24 hours and vomit/diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school.  We want to keep everyone safe!  Thank you!