Tiger Time

Dear HFMS Families,

The 2024-25 School year is rolling along, and it is my sincere wish that this is a great school year for every student and their families. Success can be measured in many ways and while no one way will give a complete picture, things like attendance and grades do give us a pretty good idea. Please take time to periodically review your child’s progress using Canvas and also make sure to be mindful of their daily attendance. There is plenty of healthy data to indicate that the more kids are in school, the better they perform and the more solid foundation they lay for success later in life. At the same time, the overwhelmingly most positive indicator of academic success is student effort. When students fail, it is always due to missing assignments. Every time. When students show up every day and give their best effort they will succeed in the classroom. If the subject in question is not their strength- they might not get an A, but they will pass (likely with a C or above). In other news, teachers still assign homework. It’s a thing. I should add that in many scenarios, student homework is simply completing a task or activity that they began in class with teacher supervision and support. When I talk to parents, they frequently tell me that their child tells them that they never have any homework to which I generally reply “They’re lying”. There even used to be a time when a kid could bring home a bunch of textbooks and pretend to do their homework when they were really listening to Van Halen in their bedroom with headphones on. By the way, that’s just an example off the top of my head. It’s not like I ever did that. However, unlike my parents you have the unique capabilities thanks to modern technology to challenge any false claims of no homework or the sly student who tells you they already have it all taken care of. Canvas is your friend and can help dispel any mysteries involving student progress and completion of assignments. And while it’s true they might not have homework every day, it should be a fairly common occurrence. Please keep in mind that Canvas is not always “real time”. For example, if your child was given an assignment today, you would need to allow for a reasonable amount of time to pass for the assignment to be completed, turned in, graded, and then recorded. So don’t get carried away, but by the same token if you see multiple zeroes for assignments that were given weeks ago then your child might have some explaining to do. So, there you have it. Many of you are already aware of these dynamics and are on the case, but I also know that this whole technology thing is a lot to keep up with so I just wanted to put it out there for everyone. I hope this didn’t sound like a lecture because that’s not my intent. My goal is for the school, student, and family to form a partnership that is constantly striving for success and a positive future for your child. As always, the staff of HFMS and myself are here to help and we want to continue to work with you to ensure your child has the best year possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can assist in any way.

Sincerely,

Eric R. Vandell

Principal, HFMS

The attendance goal for 2024-2025 is 95%, as there is no substitute for active, engaged learning in the classroom. Our current attendance rate is 93%. Students have been doing a great job with attendance and we are looking forward to improving those last two percent!

Students who miss more than 10% of instructional time due to absences are considered chronically absent. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss:

• 3 or more days by September 30, 2024
• 8 or more days by the end of the first semester, December 20, 2024
• 18 or more days by the last day of school, May 30, 2025

Let's Roar to Success, and Miss 9 Days or Less!

The end of the first nine weeks is quickly approaching on October 11, 2024. Please take a few minutes to make sure you can access your child's grades on Canvas. You can access Canvas either on the computer or through an app on your phone.

Canvas Login: https://jeffk12.instructure.com/login/canvas

If you have difficulty logging into Canvas or need a pairing code, please reach out to Mr. Bauer, bbauer@k12.wv.us.

Hello Students and Families!

As we embrace the changing season, we’re excited to announce that Red Ribbon Week is just around the corner! Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign that raises awareness about the dangers of drug use and the importance of making healthy decisions. It’s a time for us to come together as a community to promote a drug-free lifestyle. This year, we’ll be celebrating from October 28 – November 1.

Events and Activities

Throughout the week, we’ll have a variety of activities, including:

• Spirit Days: Show your commitment to a drug-free lifestyle by participating in themed dress-up days.
• Monday, Oct. 28: Pledge to Be Drug Free (Wear Red)
• Tuesday, Oct. 29: Rhyme Without Reason Day (dress up as things that rhyme with your friends – example: Barbie & Army or Wild West & Best Dressed)
• Wednesday, Oct. 30: Workout Wednesday (dress for a workout)
• Thursday, Oct. 31: Band Shirt Day (wear the shirt of your favorite band)
• Friday, Nov. 1: Soccer Moms and BBQ Dads (wear messy buns, jorts and sneakers, etc.)
• Guest Speakers: Members of the local Drug Task Force will share insights on the importance of staying drug-free.
• Door Decorating Contest: Students will decorate a drug-free themed door during 4th period classes. Winners will receive prizes!

How You Can Help

• Encourage Conversations: Talk with your children about the importance of making healthy choices and staying drug-free.

Let’s work together to make this Red Ribbon Week impactful and memorable! If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to reach out.

Stay healthy and drug-free!

Warm Regards,

The Counseling Team –

Zoe Dreflak & Judi Himelrick

Our Fall Festival and Haunted House is quickly approaching on October 18th from 6pm-8pm. Any parent or guardian that would like to volunteer, please sign up using the following link:

Fall Festival