Hidden River Newsletter
Week of November 14 - 18, 2022
Weekly Reminders
- SAVE THE DATES:
Mon., Nov. 14th - Start of Quarter 2
Fri., Nov. 18th - No School (Staff Professional Development)
Next Week: (11/21-11/25)
Thurs. & Fri. Nov. 24th & 25th - No School
What's in the Newsletter?
- School Information
- FSO Fundraising
- Counseling Corner
- Foundations Lessons
- MYP IB
- Otters Read & Recommend
- FLIPSIDE
- Food Distribution
- Feedback Form
School Information
With the start of the new Quarter we are reviewing school-wide expectations with students, this week we are focusing on the two below. Complete Family Handbook here.
- Locker Expectations: In an effort to create more structure throughout Hidden River, and to increase safety and security, all Hidden River students are expected to place all personal belongings in their lockers and only carry the necessities for class. These items are allowable in student lockers: backpacks, purses, hand bags, drawstring bags, jackets, winter wear (gloves, hats, scarves, etc.) textbooks, school supplies and personal needs. Students are expected to learn their locker combination and not share their locker combination with others.
- Backpack Expectations: Backpacks can be used to carry belongings to and from school. During the school day backpacks, bags, draw string bags, belt packs (fanny packs) and/or purses should be stored in student lockers and are not be allowed in classrooms, gym, hallways or cafeteria during the school day.
FSO - Fundraising
FUNDRAISING:
We need your help to reach our fundraising goals this year!
Here’s one way your donation will be put to good use –
Mr. Sheridan, our super amazing librarian, has requested that the FSO fund a subscription to ComicsPlus- an online service that provides our students with access to over 8,000 comic books and graphic novels. Mr. Sheridan was able to fund a subscription through external funding last year and, it was well used by Hidden River students with over 3,420 logins since last January! But he must find another way to fund the $900 subscription this year and has asked FSO to consider. Please help us!!
If your family is able to help, donations can be made in a number of ways. You can find us online through the GiveMN donation platform at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Hiddenriver. Donations can be made here at any time during the year – but donations made between now and Give to the Max day next Thursday are entered into drawings to win additional prize money for non-profit organizations.
If you prefer to write a check, it can be made out and sent to
Hidden River Middle School FSO
1700 Summit Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105.
We are also able to collect cash, check and credit card donations in person at school events - just look for the FSO table. All donations are tax-deductible. We also appreciate corporate matches and Amazon Smile donations (we are still listed on Amazon as the Ramsey Middle School Parent Teacher Organization).
NOVEMBER FSO MEETING CANCELLED – SAVE THE DATE FOR JANUARY:
Our FSO meeting scheduled for next Thursday, November 17th has been cancelled (that’s Give to the Max day! In case you needed another reminder about our fundraising.) But please save the date for our next meeting on Thursday, January 19th at 5:30 PM where we will be discussing our kids’ online lives – screen time, technology, social media and parents’ roles - with a guest speaker and expert in the field. It will be a great discussion.
Counseling Corner
Q1 Final Grades
As Q1 officially ends, counselors have received questions regarding HRMS Grading Protocols.
Final Q1 marks will start showing up in Schoology and Campus Portal by Monday 11/14. For Core Classes- Reading, Writing, ELA Workshop, Math, Science, History and Elective Courses, grades can be A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- and NP. Foundations classes will earn students a grade or P or NP (Passing or Not Passing). Final grading marks of NP means the student will earn zero credit for the class in that quarter. For specific coursework deadlines in any grading period, please reach out to your child’s teacher to learn more.
Honor Roll Recognition
Honor Roll Recognition is how students are celebrated at HRMS for their hard work and dedication to their academics. Recognition includes, their names posted in the display case across from the school counseling office followed by a short ceremony presenting Honor Roll Certificates with cookies and punch at the end. Honor Roll classification consist of Highest Honors Honor Roll (4.0 gpa); “A” Honor Roll (3.99-3.667 gpa); “B+” Honor Roll (3.66-3.33 gpa). Honor Roll recipients will be notified by their counselor and will receive an invite to the HRR event in December. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
Accessing Q1 Grades
If you haven’t already done so, please let the counselors know how you would like to review your child’s grades for the 2022-23 school year, by completing a very short survey. Finalized grades will be available for review TWO WEEKS AFTER the quarter closes and grades have been posted to students’ transcripts.
Q1 Counselor Classroom Visit
Over the past 2 weeks, counselors visited 6, 7, and 8th grade science classrooms to discuss ways counselors support students at school. Students received a quick refresher on Q1 SEL lessons they received in foundations classes. In addition to chat about PLP’s (Personal Learning Plans) and SEL (Social Emotional Learning), the most significant piece of information we wanted students to walk away with, was how to access school counseling support at school. Students and families can reach out to Hidden River Counselors though in-person visits, email and online check-ins.
Email:
Ms. Woodruff can be reached at barbie.woodruff@spps.org
Mr. Nigatu can be reached at ayoub.nigatu@spps.org
Online forms (found on the Hidden River webpage)
Foundations Lessons
District-wide, students in grades 6-8th are participating in Foundations lessons aimed at increasing their Social Emotional Learning, Career Exploration through Personal Learning Plans and Academic Enrichment through the infusion of key AVID strategies to encourage college and career readiness and success.
Q2 themes will consist of Who I Am as a Middle Schooler (Gr6), Blossoming in Middle School (Gr7) and My Path Forward (Gr8). Topics include, AVID Strategy: Focused Note-Taking, Social Emotional Learning centered on Bullying & Cyber Bullying, the different types Harassment, What it means to be a friend, Having a Voice, Peer-Pressure, Decision-Making, Choosing Friend Groups and Self-Advocacy, to name a few. Additionally, students will continue their Career Exploration and PLP work through the online platform Xello (which families now have access to).
Let Us Know How to Help
Have other school-related questions or concerns regarding your middle school student and you just aren’t sure who to ask? The Hidden River School Counseling Office is a great place to start. Reach out to our team at any time. Thank you.
MYP IB
Also, if you missed my video about our school grading practices that I posted last week, here is the link again: https://www.spps.org/Page/36566 It will remain on the website. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to me at elisabeth.fontana@spps.org
FLIPSIDE
Registration still open for the following classes on Mondays and Wednesdays: ComMUSICation Choir, Fun in French, Student led GSA
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0F22Fx1QtZU9TNMQPA70NmBvLfKC8QvL_UWoU6RJlFDXdHA/viewform
Transportation available on Monday and Wednesdays. Tuesday and Thursday classes are now closed.
Thanksgiving Distribution 2022
Thanksgiving Baskets, he application is online, here is the link https://www.ugmtc.org/2022/09/thanksgiving-at-the-mission-2022/
If you are in need this Thanksgiving, please register here for a ticket to pick up your free bag of Thanksgiving groceries. All grocery bags must be picked up in person on the date and time given on your ticket.
Pickup will be Monday, November 21 and Tuesday, November 22. Tickets and correlating time slots will be available on a first-come/first-serve basis. Upon confirmation, you will receive your ticket via email. Make sure you keep your ticket and QR code accessible; you must have a printed or digital copy of your ticket to pick up your bag. We will not be able to give groceries to anyone without a ticket.
Limit 1 Bag per Family.