Hughes Academy Weekly Update

February 16 - Essential Showcase for 6th and 7th grade students and scheduling cards go home

February 20 - Scheduling Cards due back to Advisory teachers

February 20-23 - 6th and 7th Grade Registration

February 22 - TDA #2 Testing

February 23 - TDA #2 Testing make-up

February 23 - RockStar Lunch

March 1 - Career Shadow Day

March 4-8 - High School Registration for current 8th graders

March 5 - 7th Grade Field Trip

March 6 - Student Council Meeting

March 7 - 7th and 8th Band and Orchestra Performance

March 8 - ACCESS Testing Window closes

March 8 - Spring Dance

March 11 - Community Book Night

March 15 - Teacher Work Day

March 18-22 - Spring Break

March 26 and 27 - CPA Music Festival

March 28 - March ROCKstar lunch

March 28 - PTSA Fundraiser Kick-Off

April 1-11 - PTSA Fundraiser

April 8 - Hughes Experience (Event for current 5th graders attending Hughes)

April 8-9 - Avant/STAMP Test (8th Grade Spanish Partial Immersion Students)

April 10 - School Play

April 11 - TDA Field Test

April 12 - Spring Fund Raiser Award Event

April 12 - Avant/STAMP Make-up Test (8th Grade Spanish Partial Immersion Students)

April 16 - 6th grade field trip

April 17-21 - Beta Club New York Field Trip

April 23 - Band Spring Concert

April 25 - Orchestra Strings Concert

April 26 - April Rockstar Lunch

April 30 - SCReady ELA 1 (Game Day - Wear your Team Jersey)

May 2 - SCReady ELA Day 2 (Super Best on the Test - Wear your Super Hero Gear)

May 6 - 10 - National Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7 - SCReady Math (Donald in Mathland - Wear Disney)

May 9 - SCReady Science

May 10 - 8th Grade Formal Dance

May 14 - EOC Algebra 1

May 14 - 6th Grade Field Day

May 14 - 8th Grade Awards

May 15 - 6th Grade Awards

May 15 - 8th Grade Field Trip

May 15 -7th Grade Field Day

May 16 - 8th Grade Day

May 16 - 7th Grade Awards

May 22 - Students Last Day

August 8 - Students First Day of School

All students are invited to the Spring Dance on Friday, March 8! Mark your calendars! The dance will be a "Pink Out" with a dj, snacks, amazing decorations and a few surprises! Your student won't want to miss it! Tickets will be on sale during lunch periods March 4-7 at a cost of $5. Cash only please! There will be no ticket sales at the door. Wristbands will be given out in advisory classes on Friday, March 8 for those who bought a ticket. Wristbands will be required for entry. The dance is for current Hughes students only, no guests will be admitted. We can't wait to celebrate with our students!

Will your child be attending Hughes Academy again next year? We are already planning for Hughes PTSA leadership positions for the 2024-25 school year, and we want YOU to get involved. Help make Hughes a great place for students to learn and grow! Please fill out the PTSA leadership interest form linked below. This form is specifically for leadership positions, and it is not a commitment to serve. Forms are due by February 23. Please contact us with any questions at hughesacademyptsa@gmail.com. Thank you and we look forward to serving with you!

Hughes PTSA Leadership Form

There are still a few more spots for volunteers at the March 14 Pancake Breakfast for the Hughes staff! We will be showing our staff a little love before Spring Break by serving fresh made pancakes, sausage, fruit and coffee! Please sign up below if you're able to help prepare or serve the meal on Thursday, March 14th. Volunteers would need to be at the school by 7am on Thursday, March 14.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4AAAAB28A5FB6-47885261-pancake?useFullSite=true#/

Business Sponsors

Charter Capital - Nicole Cheves

Theodore Group CPA - AJ Theodore

Pintail - Tyson Smoak, Ross Kester, Penn Williams

SPECO Contracting LLC - Evan Proffitt

PRODOH - Mell Proffitt

Carolina Pools - Mary Adam

Davis Orthodontist - Buddy Davis

Blair Miller - Wilson Associates Real Estate

United Community Bank - Michelle Seaver

Palmetto Family Orthodontist - Rush Baker Caldwell

ANVIS Alarm - Drew Sturtevant

Catharine Sturtevant Realtor with Coldwell Banker Caine

United Home Loan Services - Billy Howard

Lowcountry Male - Mario Menendez MD

Ashley Swann Coldwell Banker Caine land M Industrials - Tracy Mardre

Cintas - Lewis Lowry

Holder Electric Supply - Justin Blum

Cassidy Coates Price - Amber Glidewell

Amanda Harbin - McGehee Real Estate

HPL+P Law - Stokely Holder, David Padgett, Will Littlejohn and Lee Prickett Bell Carrington Price & Gregg Attorneys at Law - Johnny Walker Katharine Phipps LLC-Attorney at Law - Katie Phipps Todem Brands - Rhem Galloway

NAI Earle Furman - Jon Good

The Boardman Group - Farrah Redmon

Gossett Concrete Pipe Co. Inc - Janie G. Marchbanks

Savvy Inc - Caroline Kimball

Stanley Steemer

ARCooint Labs of Greenville - Byron Perry

SGC Surveying - Jason Henry Connelly

Senior Helpers - Courtney Bohman

Caroline Croft, Realtor - Coldwell Banker Caine Lucas Systems, Inc. - Brad Lucas Southern First Bamk - Sylvia King

Jeannette Schell / Realtor at Coldwell Banker Caine

Majestic Builders

Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey Attorneys at Law

Piedmont Orthopedic Associates – Shay Koch

Kellet Family Foundation

Hughes Heroes

Tara Langston

Monica Callahan

Julie Ball

Lacey Morgan

Ashley Swann

Sydney Mercurio

Jeanette Van Ginhoven

Kathleen Lominack

Lindsey Batavia

David & Janie Marchbanks

The Bryan Family

Commendable Cougars

Rebecca and Corey Gault

Eldon and Meredith Gowens

Ann and Cotton Clarke

Hedrick and Derek Lewis

Jonathan and Emily Cole

Jeff and Julie Wilson

Anna Blair and Price Cameron

Kristen & Andy Minaudo

Brooke and Eddie Smith

Mary Lois and Zac Freeland

Kelly and Charles Warren

Mae Todd and Bo Mullins

Radford and Kyleigh Jenkins

Billy & Kimberly Howard

Justin & Mary Douglas Hirsch

Kevin and Kristy Laird Emily and John Merrell

Meredith and Lee Prickett

Sheehy-Perry Family

February 23 Cougar Shack

February 23 Rockstar Lunch

March 8 Cougar Shack

March 8 Spring Dance (All Students)

March 28 Spring Fundraiser Kickoff

April 1-11 Spring Fundraiser

April 12 Spring Fundraiser Celebration

April 12 Cougar Shack

April 26 Rockstar Lunch

April 29 Spirit Day at Clare’s Creamery, Laurens Rd

May 3 Cougar Shack

May 6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week

May 10 Cougar Shack

May 10 8th Grade Dance

May 14 6th Grade Field Day

May 14 8th Grade Awards

May 15 6th Grade Awards

May 15 7th Grade Field Day

May 16 8th Grade Day

May 16 7th Grade Awards

We are in need of a corporate/individual sponsor to provide the photo booth for 8th grade day on May 16th. If you are willing to sponsor this booth, please contact one of our PTSA Co-Chairs, Mrs. Kelly Warren (Kellywarren1@aol.com) or Mrs. Anna Barnett (annagbarnett@gmail.com)

Arriving Late To School:

Punctuality is a critical work-related skill that a person can learn. It directly correlates to an individual’s success in the business world. Parents should have students at school on time each day. Furthermore, middle school students are expected to be in their individual classes on time. Late arrival (tardiness) interrupts the learning process – not only for the tardy student but also for the other students in the class. Additionally, the tardy student misses essential instruction.

Students who arrive after 8:30 a.m. must obtain a Late Pass from the front office. The tardy will be entered into the student’s attendance record.

Tardiness will be excused for medical appointments or a late bus. Parents are expected to provide a note if a late arrival to school occurs. Late arrivals may be excused or unexcused depending on the reason for the tardy.

Tardy to School

1. At the 3rd tardy to school, the Office/Attendance Clerk contacts the parent via email and by sending a letter home with the student.

2. At the 5th tardy to school, the Office/Attendance Clerk contacts the grade level counselor for a counselor/student conference.

3. At the 6th tardy to school, Office/Attendance Clerk enters a referral for tardy to the school administrator

Tardy to Class

1st Offense: Warning

2nd Offense: parent contact

3rd Offense: detention

4th Offense: referral to administration

Cutting class is an automatic referral to the administration

This will be our plan beginning 2/1/24

What is Avant STAMP 4S? https://avantassessment.com/

Avant STAMP stands for Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency and is a web-based test that assesses language proficiency. An Avant STAMP 4S test has four sections – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, and the results of this test inform test takers and educators about learning progress and program effectiveness. Avant STAMP 4S test items are based on real-world, everyday situations. Avant STAMP 4S measures a test taker’s language ability according to Benchmark Levels that are based on national standards. Test results will indicate the level of proficiency achieved for each section of the test.

Parent Guide - https://avantassessment.com/stamp-4s-test-taker-parent-guide-english

This test will be given on 4/8/24 and 4/9/24

More information will be coming through Parent Backpack.

Current 6th and 7th grade students are bringing home their scheduling cards home Friday afternoon. Please take the long weekend to review the scheduling card with your child and make the best decisions for your child's class requests for next school year. These cards MUST be turned into your child's advisory class on Tuesday, February 20th.

The School Counseling Department has created a Registration website to help answer any questions you may have. Use the link below to navigate to this website.

https://sites.google.com/greenvilleschools.us/hughescounselingdepartment/hughes-academy-registration?authuser=0

Remember, your child's counselor loops with them throughout Middle School. If you have questions, please refer to the website before you reach out to your grade level counselor. Coach Lilliston will be the 7th grade counselor next year and Mrs. Tenholder will be the 8th grade counselor.

More information regarding High School registration will be coming out soon!

Every year at Hughes we have an exciting event for the students that are going to attend Hughes for 6th grade. This event is called.. “The Hughes Experience.” Students will experience three middle school activities, have dinner with us, receive a t.shirt, see our school, socialize with other students, and meet faculty members. Please help us spread the word to your friends that have 5th graders attending Hughes next year. See the link below to register.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:8dfd6c48-efc8-30c8-814a-d2f1c0a7dd80

Greenville County Schools has released the 2025-26 calendars, which include the 5K-12 and 4K student calendars in both English and Spanish and the employee calendar. In accordance with state law, the calendars reflect 180 scheduled instructional days and ten professional development/teacher workdays.

As a reminder, GCS now releases calendars two years in advance so that families and staff can plan ahead, and the 2024-25 calendars for the upcoming school year were released in December 2022.

For 2025-26:

• Students will start the school year on Monday, August 11, 2025. The last day of school will be Friday, May 22, 2026.

• The last day of school before Winter Break will be Friday, December 19, 2025, and the first day back for students will be Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

• Spring Break is March 16-20, 2026.

• The day before Winter Break (December 19, 2025) and the last two days of school (May 21-22, 2026) will be half-days for students.

• Other holidays include Labor Day (September 1, 2025), Thanksgiving Break (November 26-28, 2025), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 19, 2026) and Presidents’ Day (February 16, 2026).

• Additionally, there is a student/teacher holiday on April 6, 2026, and students are out of school on three professional development/teacher workdays: October 13, 2025, January 5, 2026, and March 13, 2026.

• High school graduations are scheduled for May 18-22, 2026.

The Superintendent finalizes the school calendar after receiving recommendations from the Calendar Committee, which comprises parents, teachers, principals, and staff. The Calendar Committee solicits input from parent groups and school faculties, and its recommendations also reflect state requirements and factors such as testing dates set by the State Department of Education.

Hughes Academy offers an Extended Day Program (EDP). It begins at 3:45 pm and ends at 6:00 pm. Snacks, homework time, and playtime are offered. There is a $40.00 registration fee per family.

Click below for registration and prices of our EDP Program.

Online: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLUDDgApxCpS5FA5gjMJzgGU6gR4Vr7T9jWhmURr7dpI4AKw/viewform

Registration Forms are also available in the main office and on the Hughes Academy website under Hughes Links.

FREE TUTORING ALL THE TIME!!

Did you know that SC students can get free tutoring 24/7? Yes they can! there is a free service that we encourage you to offer and encourage your students to use!

https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/news-releases/s-c-department-of-education-and-s-c-state-library-announce-partnership-to-provide-virtual-tutoring-support-to-south-carolina-students/

Hughes Academy is looking for high schoolers who can help tutor middle school students twice a week before or after school. Morning tutoring goes from 8:00-8:30 or until 8:45 if you can stay later. Afternoon tutoring goes from 3:30-4:15. Students must have their own transportation. This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours!

• 6th Grade

• 7th Grade

• 8th Grade

We are now in ROUND 3 for applying to Greenville County Magnet Schools. Round 3 is from February 5 to March 4, 2024. Magnet applications will be available in “Parent Backpack.” For more information, visit the GCS Magnet Page .

For the entire Greenville County Magnet Round Schedule..click here.

Contact Mrs. Marsha Patry, Hughes Academy Magnet Coordinator, at mpatry@greenvilleschools.k12.sc.us or (864)355-6224 if you have any questions.

The School Counseling Department invites you to join us for our fall School Counseling Advisory Council meeting. They will talk about this year's data goals for the year and how they plan to work with ALL students this year. Please join them for a cup of coffee and give input on what you would like to see from your counseling department this school year! See the flyer below for the date, location, and time.

Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) are beginning for our 8th graders! Mrs. Torlay and Mrs. Gibson spoke to every 8th grader during their science class to chat about High School Graduation Requirements, Magnet programs, GPAs and more! Every 8th grader has to have an IGP meeting with a counselor and a parent or guardian. The goal of these meetings is to review each student’s goals for the future to make sure they are on track for promotion and graduation.

Parents play an important role in helping

students make good choices for high school. Every 8th grader received their IGP invitation with a date and time for their parents to attend their child's meeting. Please RSVP using the QR code.

Here is the link to the presentation:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFr0Ug0NlQ/_xYremKFcBvciYfS-H2lag/edit?utm_content=DAFr0Ug0NlQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
Have questions? Please email Mrs. Torlay at actorlay@greenville.k12.sc.us.

Thanks!

January 12th

January 26th

February 9th

February 23rd

March 1st

March 8th

April 12th

April 26th

May 3rd

May 10th

District School Calendars

Email: vmhams@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: www.greenville.k12.sc.us
Location: 122 Deoyley Avenue, Greenville, SC, USA
Phone: (864)355-6200
Facebook: facebook.com/Hughesacademyofscienceandtechnology
Twitter: @hughesacademysc