Hidden River Newsletter
Week of January 16th - 20th, 2023
Weekly Reminders
- SAVE THE DATES:
Mon., Jan. 16th - No School (MLK Jr. Day)
Thurs., Jan 19th - FSO meeting 5:30-7:00 in the Hidden River library
Next Week: (1/23-1/27)
Fri., Jan 27th - No School (Grading Day)
What's in the Newsletter?
- Principal's Note
- School Information
- Student of the Month (December)
- Counseling Corner
- FSO Update
- FLIPSIDE (after-school)
- Classroom Updates
- Phillips Eye Institute
- Boys Basketball
- Family Feedback Form
Principal's Note
Just wanted to share a note of gratitude as we are already midway through January and almost to the end of Semester I.
As I reflect on the first half of the year, I am grateful for all the support our families provide our middle school scholars. The help with homework, connecting with teachers, ensuring students are developing healthy habits, and your continued communication with me when needs arrive, really make working at Hidden River Middle School my pleasure. I truly enjoy your scholars and they continue to surprise me with their growth, not only academically, but socially as well.
Please continue to be are partners in your scholars education at Hidden River Middle School!
Sincerely,
Teresa M. Vibar
School Information
Quarter 2 Ending Soon: Quarter 2 ends Thursday, January 26th. Due to weather we had to cancel Quarter 2 conferences. Please use the link HERE to find contact information for your students' teachers to connect about your students' grades as the quarter ends.
Spring Field Trips: You may have heard bit and pieces of information from your middle schooler about an upcoming field trip. Planning is underway for an all-school field trip on Thursday, March 9th. This week students were asked to give feedback (via google survey) regarding their location preferences. Students were asked to pick their #1, #2, and #3 choices. The options were Buck Hill Skiing/Tubing/Snowboarding; Nickelodeon Universe-Theme Park Only; Urban Air-Indoor Trampoline Park; PINZ-Bowling/Laser Tag/Video Arcade and Vertical Endeavors-Indoor Rock Climbing. Later this month students will learn the voting results and more detailed trip info will follow.
Something different for this field trip:
- Not grade level specific: There will be 3 Field Trips and each will contain students in grades 6-8
- COST: Each location averages $20-$25 per student participant. We will be asking for CASH/Exact Change for field trip fees.
- Electronic Field Trip Forms: students will bring home a signature card that contains a QR code for quick and hopefully easy sign-up. Step 1 will be the online sign-up. Step 2 will be the return of the signature card, trip money and any related activity/attraction waivers as required by the event locations.
Questions, please feel free to forward them directly to School Counselor, Ms. Woodruff at barbie.woodruff@spps.org
Student of the Month - December
Archer Ochoco
Tiger Valliant
Morador Lor
Counseling Corner
Hello Hidden River Community there are many things going on in the Counseling Office in the coming days:
Hidden River Guest Students
We are hosting 5th graders (shadows) at Hidden River Middle School. They are getting a two hour glimpse of middle school and how to navigate Hidden River. They will get a tour of the building by our 6th grade hosts, see their classrooms, journey through passing time while answering questions their shadows have of them. This will be going on through April. A link for those interested in shadowing or touring.
Core Counseling Curriculum
Counselors will be going into classrooms next week to Humanities classrooms. We will be addressing themes around reputation and values, the importance of Grade Point Average and transcripts.
Counseling Office Supports & Resources
Students can access support in the Counseling Office. If students need planners, pencils, certain hygiene items, or a space to cool down or get work done this space can provide all those things. As the end of the quarter draws near, utilize the Counseling Office if those needs arise.
School Service/Student Teaching Assistants
Teaching Assistant (TA’s) positions are available for 8th grade students in Semester 2. TA’s support teachers in the classroom with daily tasks including supporting students. TA’s support teachers one period a day every other day (on A/B day schedule). TA’s receive a Pass/Fail grade. If you a student is interested in being a TA there is a signup process through a google link. Answer the questions to the best of your ability. Here is the link .
Saint Paul Right Track & Summer Youth Employment
8th grade students who are interested in working this summer can work through the City of St. Paul and its Right Track Program. 8th graders will hear a presentation in the middle of February from the Right Track Program around how to apply for employment in the summer. They will see the presentation during Foundations. More details to come in the coming weeks.
Quarter 2 End/Semester 2 Start
As previously mentioned the end of 2nd quarter is fast approaching. Getting your work done, receiving and maintaining good grades should be a priority for all students! The end of the quarter is January 27th (the 27th is a grading day so work is due on January 26th).
Quarter 2 grades available to be seen starting on February 10th. You can let Counselors know how you want to receive your child’s grades. A link to let the Counseling Office know how to access your child’s grades are here.
**No School January 16th and January 27th
Family Staff Organization (FSO) Update
Family-Staff Organization (FSO) Meeting – Thursday, January 19th at 5:30
Please join us on Thursday for this month’s FSO meeting. The agenda will consist of:
- Update from Principal Vibar on the results of the school climate survey taken by Hidden River students in October. We will get an update on what the data indicated, and how it is being used to make improvements moving forward.
- Tutorial on how to sign up for notifications from Schoology. This tool will allow you to customize an email providing you with your student’s current grades (and a heads-up on any assignments that are missing). PLEASE NOTE: To sign-up for notifications, you will need to have the parent login information. This is the username/password used for multiple SPPS tools and starts with the letter “g” followed by 6 numbers. If you are unable to remember this information, you may be able to retrieve and reset it using this webpage.
We will meet in the library at 5:30. Light snacks and childcare are provided – please feel free to bring younger siblings. Email any questions to HiddenRiverFSO@gmail.com.
Volunteer at Hidden River in 2023
Family and community members are welcome and appreciated at Hidden River. We have a couple of areas that need help:
- Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday Mornings in the Main Office: Do you transport your student to school in the morning and have a little extra time? Come volunteer in the main office! Extra hands are needed from 8:30 to about 9:30 – the work is easy, fast and fun.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday in the Cafeteria: Do you have fond memories of the exciting atmosphere in the middle school cafeteria? Are you passionate about making sure materials that can be recycled or composted are separated from the trash stream? Cafeteria volunteering is for you! Any time that you can cover over our lunch hour (11:57 – 1:16) is appreciated.
To get more information on the cafeteria or office, please fill out this form (click here).We also have opportunities in classrooms and our Volunteer Coordinator, Ida Streeto (reach her at hiddenrivervolunteers@gmail.com), can help you find an opportunity that fits your interests and availability.
If a weekly commitment doesn’t work for you – we will have plenty of one-time opportunities in 2023 too. Watch for more information in future newsletters (or on our webpage at https://hiddenrivervolunteers.weebly.com) about volunteering at the upcoming band/orchestra concert, honor roll ceremonies, and other events.
FLIPSIDE
Last day of Flipside Session 1 is Thursday January 19th. NO program January 23-27th!
Registration for Flipside Session 2 is now open! We have bussing ALL PROGRAM DAYS MONDAY TO THURSDAY! Session starts Monday, January 30th! We're offering a variety of classes including DRUMLINE, FUN in FRENCH, COMMUSICATION CHOIR, EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE FUN, ESPANOL and many more!
Check our ComMUSICation video: https://youtu.be/YHMxIDxLT8Q
Check out DRUMLINE video: https://www.chopsinc.org/allcitydrumline.
Classroom Updates
ELA 8 - Ms. Messar
History Day Students
Band/Music for next school year
Phillips Eye Institute Coming Soon
Otter Athletics - Boys Basketball
Boys' Basketball
Hello, here is some information about this year's Boys' Basketball season at Hidden River middle school. Practice starts on 01-23-23. Practice will begin right after school at 3:00 pm and end at 4:45 pm. Students will need transportation home from practice for the first week or two until the transportation is set up. Students will need transportation home from game days on Mondays and Wednesdays. In addition, students will need their own transportation to Saturday games. Games begin on 02-03-2023 and run until 03-18-23. This season's game schedule is TBA. Students must have a physical on file with the school nurse. In addition, students must have filled out the 2022-23 sports participation form and paid the fee. Students must pass all classes during the second quarter. Students with multiple referrals must be on a behavioral contract. Attached is the 2022-23 sports participation form (Click Here) and sports physical (Click Here). If you have any questions, please email Daniel.wathum-ocama@spps.org or call 612-568-3141.