HAWK TALK

Back to School Information 2024-25

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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

August 1 - Open House 2-4 PM

August 5 - First day of School!

September 2 - Labor Day No School

September 3 & 4 - Teacher Workdays - students off

September 12 Annual Title I Meeting & Curriculum Night

Welcome Back Hawk Families!

It has been a wonderful summer vacation and we are looking forward to welcoming our Hawks back to school. We are excited to reunite our community for a new year of learning and growing.

In this back-to-school issue of Hawk Talk, we will be covering important information to support your family in being ready for the new school year. We are looking forward to seeing our families on Thursday, August 1 for Open House (see below).

Open House: Thursday, August 1, 2:00-4:00 PM

Students and families are welcome to visit the school on Thursday, August 1 between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. Keep in mind that parking is limited, so we encourage families to come throughout the afternoon window. Most families will need to plan for 20-30 minutes at the school. What can you do at Open House?

Receive a paper copy of class schedule
Meet teachers and visit classrooms
Join the PTA
Purchase a locker (optional)
Purchase HBMS spirit wear
Submit residence verification forms (required for rising 6th grade students, rising 7th grade students, new to HMBS students, and families who have a change of address)
Submit immunization records (7th grade and new to HBMS)
Visit the clinic to get forms for medications that will be given at school
Access bus information
Apply for Free/Reduced Meals
Enjoy a cool Kona Ice and visit our community partners
Ask questions!

More information about the above listed topics is included in this newsletter. Keep scrolling!

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School Hours and Important Times

Office Hours: 8:15 - 4:15

Instructional Hours: 8:55-4:05

Arrival: Please do not drop off students prior to 8:25 AM. We cannot provide supervision of students prior to 8:25, therefore students may not enter until this time.

Breakfast: 8:25 - 8:55 AM

Students should be in class by 8:50 AM.

Dismissal is at 4:05 PM.

Walkers/Car riders are dismissed first, followed by bus riders.

Bus students are dismissed in the order that buses arrive.

Car line: Students must enter/exit a vehicle at the sidewalk area. Please pull forward as far as possible to keep the car line moving. All students must be picked up by 4:25 PM.

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School Supplies

Recommended supplies for students:

3 inch Binder- (preferably canvas with zipper)
1 package of 8-Tab Dividers with Pockets
Loose Leaf Paper
Ear Buds (we do not recommend expensive Air-pod types, as they are easily lost!)
Pencil Pouch with rings to put inside binder
Pens, Pencils, Highlighters
Colored Pencils
Water bottle (label with name)

Teacher Wish List (Donations gladly accepted!)

Dry-erase markers
Pencils
Colored pencils/markers
Glue Sticks
Tissues
Hand Sanitizer

Donations to Staff "Sunshine" (deliver to front office)

Throughout the school year, we like to spread "sunshine" to our staff by raffling prizes and sharing tokens of appreication. Please donsider donating a gift card in any amount from $5 - $25 towards staff appreciation events. Suggestions include Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Walmart, Chick Fil-A, Chipotle, Jersey Mikes, or any favorite place you'd like to share with a staff member!

Bell Schedule 2024-25

We operate on a modified block schedule. Students attend all classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays (A Day) for 45 minutes each. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, students attend only four classes but for an extended period of 80 minutes each.

4th period Flex is daily. Students rotate between lunch, recess, and time for academic skills practice based on each student's academic needs. See the specific times for each grade level below.

On Wednesdays, students have an extra class (9th period) during which the FCS Stuent Success Skills curriculum is delivered. We also use this period for required assessments such as iReady and other special learning events.

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Please Support our PTA!

We are very thankful for the support of our parent leaders through the PTA. We encourage every family and staff member to join the PTA each year. Your membership supports additional student and staff programs including student and staff celebrations, field trips, classroom supplies and innovations, landscaping our campus, and much more. Supporting the PTA does not take as much time as you think!

Click here to join the PTA for just $10. You can also use this site to get information about being a volunteer, dontate the Hawk Fund, and become a community partner.

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Hall Lockers

Hall lockers will be available for this school year. The cost is $10. Lockers are entirely optional. Students may carry a backpack throughout the school day, which could eliminate the need for renting a locker this year.

About locker rentals:

Locker locations are assigned based on grade level.
Students should NEVER share a locker or provide their combination to other students. This is for security of valuable personal items, such as cell phones.
Access to lockers is limited during the school day. Each grade designates times for students to access lockers.
Lockers are school property; school administration may, at any time for any reason, inspect a locker without student consent.

Lockers can be purchased in person at Open House on August 1 and/or in the front office during arrival time or lunch the first two weeks of school.

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Breakfast/Lunch Prices

It is important to note that meals will NOT be free for all students this school year. We will have laptops available during Open House on August 1 for families who wish to apply and need access to a computer.

A new application must be completed every school year. Only one application is required per family, even if your children attend different schools. If there is an interruption in benefits or the household does not reapply, the household is responsible for payment of meals until the Free and Reduced Application is approved. Visit www.fulton.schoollunchapp.com to begin the online application process. Free and Reduced meal applications will be available beginning August 1!

Students who qualified for Free/Reduced meals last school year will continue eligibility through September 18. After this date, parents must pay for meals unless a new application is submitted and approved for the current school year.

Charges are not allowed in middle/high school. Students with no money to pay for meals may be given a courtesy meal. Breakfast - cheese toast/milk; lunch - cheese sandwich/milk.

2024-25 Meal Prices

Middle School Student Breakfast = $1.35 (Reduced Eligible = $0.30)

Middle School Student Lunch = $2.85 (Reduced Eligible = $0.40)

Extra Milk = $0.75

Menus and additional meal service information available on the FCS Nutrition Website.

Additional items are available for sale at additional cost. If you would like your child to have money on his/her account for additional purchases (such as snacks and drinks), visit https://nutrition.fultonschools.org/MyPaymentsPlusFaq .

2024-25 FCS Student Code of Conduct

Fulton County Schools is making its Student Code of Conduct & Discipline Handbook available online in PDF format (click the link below). Once you have read the electronic version and have reviewed the contents with your student(s), please take a moment to complete the Acknowledgement of Receipt Form by using the provided link below.

All parents and student (over 10 years old) MUST sign this form found within your INFINTE CAMPUS PARENT/STUDENT PORTAL ACCOUNT. If you would like a paper copy of the Handbook, you or your student can request one in your school's front office.
How to sign the Code of Conduct (full directions)

Parent & Student Code of Conduct Receipt Acknowledgement

Step 1: Log into the Parent Portal – Click “Documents”

Step 2: Select Needs Attention then scroll to the Signature Page

Step 3: Select the red signature box to complete the form

Step 4: Select with SIGN to agree or DECLINE to disagree

Step 5: Select SUBMIT

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Student Cell Phones -FCS Guidelines

One of the biggest distractions from learning that we deal with daily is students using cell phones during the school day. Please review the district guidelines below and talk to your child about the consequences of misusing a cell phone while at school. We will be strictly enforcing these expectations and may confiscate phones as necessary.

We strongly recommend that students leave cell phones at home. If it is necessary for your student to bring the phone to school, it is recommended to secure phones in a locker during the school day; if a student does not have a locker the phone should be kept in the backpack during the school day. The school is not responsible for the loss or damage of students' personal devices while at school.

Key Cell Phone Details:

Students may access their phones during their regular lunch and recess periods.
Students may not use their phones take photos or videos while on school property without permission from the administration. This includes the lunch/recess period.
Phones should remain out of sight/in locker during all other times of the school day.
We have phones available for student use in the case of emergency during the school day.

Per the FCS Student Code of Conduct

Rule 18f.II Prohibited Use of Personal Communication Devices (PCD's) During the School Day:

Possession of Personal Communication Devices (PCD) (e.g., cell phones, tablets, recording devices) by a student at school during school hours is a privilege that will be forfeited if a student fails to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.
In grades 6 through 12, the use of PCDs is not allowed during instructional time and will only be allowed when explicitly instructed to do so by a teacher or other school staff member.

Rule 18g.III Inappropriate Recording and Distribution Using Personal Communication Devices (PCD):

The use of cell phones and other PCDs for noneducational purposes, including but not limited to, recording staff and/or students without permission or other inappropriate content is strictly prohibited.
In addition, using a cell phone or other personal communication device to record a fight, battery, or any other inappropriate content and either sharing with others (e.g., airdrop, nearby share, ShareIT, etc.) and/or uploading the video to any other type of social media/web- based media is also strictly prohibited.
Consequences for doing so may result in up to a 10 Day suspension and a referral for a discipline hearing with a recommendation for long term suspension.

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Residence Verification - ALL 6th and 7th grade students

Per FCS policy, parents/guardians of ALL rising 6th and 7th graders must provide two proofs of residency at the beginning of the school year.

You can bring these documents with you to open house on August 1.

Families who have not submitted the required documents by August 5 (first day of school) will be given a 30-day provisional enrollment waiver. Documentation must be submitted by September 5 or your student will be withdrawn from school.

Requirements for residency verification documents:

Both proofs provided must be current within the past 30 days and have the name and address of the parent/guardian.

Proof #1 must be either an electric bill or water bill.
NOTE: Gas bills are not accepted.

The Proof #2 can be any one of the following:

Home Mortgage Bill;
Home Sale Contract;
Current Apartment/House Lease;
Section Eight/HUD Housing Document; or
Current HOA Bill
A current year tax bill or assessment

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Immunization Requirements - 7th Grade Students

In Georgia, all children born on or after January 1, 2002, who are attending seventh grade, and children who are new entrants into a Georgia school in grades eight through twelve, must have received one dose of Tdap vaccine and one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine to fulfill immunization requirements. Immunization information must be on the proper Georgia Department of Human Resources form; these are available through the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness or local physicians (Form 3231).

Visit https://dph.georgia.gov/schoolvaccines for more information or contact Ansel Comer at comera@fultonschools.org (bilingual/spanish).

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Student Dress Code

All students will be dressed appropriately and ready for instruction for the day. Students are expected to dress to reflect neatness, cleanliness and safety. All students shall dress appropriately so as not to disrupt or interfere with the educational program or the orderly operation of the school. Extremes in dress will not be permitted.

All Clothing

• You may not wear clothing that depicts gangs, alcohol, drugs, profane language, or violence.

Blankets are not permitted at school.

Tops

• Undergarments must be covered by tops and tank top straps.

· Stomachs/midriff must be covered. No crop tops.

Bottoms

• Pants and shorts must be worn at or above the hips and may not sag.

· Pants, shorts, and skirts must always cover underwear and backside while standing, sitting, and walking.

The principal or other duly authorized school officials shall determine whether any mode of dress or grooming results in a violation of the spirit and/or the intent of this rule. Parents may be called to bring a change of clothing, if necessary. Students without a change of clothing or whose parent cannot bring a change of clothing may remain in ISS for the remainder of the school day.

Consequences for violating dress code

Consequences for violating the dress code will first be handled through the Holcomb Bridge discipline cycle. Repeat offenders will receive additional consequences for insubordination according to the Fulton County Code of Conduct. The school dress code applies to all school activities unless otherwise noted.

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Bus Stop Information

Updated bus stop information for the school year is typically available the first week of August. Parents and students can search for bus stop locations and times at the FCS Transportation website.

Did you know that all FCS buses have a GPS tracker? "Here Comes the Bus" is a free, easy-to-use website and app that enables you to see the location of your child’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. This way, you know when the bus is near your stop, so you can send your child out at just the right time. No more worrying about whether your child has missed the bus! See the Transportation website for more details.