Hero Happenings!

When school starts, this will be a weekly update. Typically the update comes out on Sunday. There are multiple ways to see the update. You can always find a link to the update on our webpage, and our Facebook page. You can have the update emailed to you, to sign up for this, use the link below. We also send the update through text to numbers listed as primary contacts in our student information system.

Please help your friends and neighbors that have Hellstern students GET CONNECTED! This newsletter is a MAJOR communication piece. You will find a school calendar updated weekly, information about events at our school, pictures and information celebrating our students, and PTO updates...just to name a few things!

You can go ahead and complete the Free & Reduced Lunch form.

• Click this link for the 24-25 School Cafe website
• Click these links for the 24-25 printable paper applications (English, Spanish, Marshallese)
• The grace period ends on Monday, September 23

Immunization Information:

• Immunization deadline is Tuesday, October 1 - Students who miss this deadline will not be allowed to return to school until immunizations are scheduled

Complete your child's Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA).

• complete your child's AUA (link coming SOON)
• purchase insurance for your child's Chromebook (link coming SOON)

Parents - you may park in the following places:

• the lot behind Hellstern, next to the HBHS tennis courts.
• the faculty parking lot on the East side of the building.
• the lot directly in front of the building
• the Storms Orthodontics parking lot
• in the circle turn around which is closest to the HBHS stadium

Please DO NOT park in our grassy areas.

Our goal is to post teams on our front windows by 4pm on Friday, August 2nd. We will not post student names, we will post ID numbers (same as lunch number). On August 4th, students will get their team and advisor's name at tents on the 6th grade side (West corner) and 7th grade side (East corner). As always, schedules will not be given until the first day of school.

Students will then enter through the East & West doors (where car-riders are dropped off). All guests will then EXIT through the front entrance.

Once in the building, first you can:

• Practice your combination, make a goal to unlock it three times in a row (students will have PLENTY of time to do this during the first week of school also)
• Decorate your locker (no tape or stickers - magnetic or cling only)
• Walk the halls and familiarize yourself with the facility

Once you visit your locker, be sure and come to the cafeteria for the following:

• Complete your child's digital Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA) form so he/she can get his/her Chromebook when school starts (or do this early at home)
• Purchase Chromebook insurance (optional, but recommended) for $20
• Complete a meal application for the new school year (or do this early at home)
• Ask your questions about band
• Buy some PTO gear AND purchase a PTO sponsorship
• Get bus route information (pending routes being complete); click on "Register Your Student for BusQuest"
• Get an application for student council
• Deposit money in your student's cafeteria account (breakfast and/or lunch)
• Visit with the After-School Program and sign-up (optional)

PTO will be hosting two short meetings in the library. One parent can choose to attend (limited space). They will be sharing information at 1:30 & 2:15pm.

***If you can't make it on Sunday - don't worry!!! Team lists will be posted at the front of our building. Your student will have plenty of time to practice using his/her locker during the first week of school. You will also have every opportunity to purchase what you may need or ask questions. We will not be able to accept visitors the week before school starts as teachers will be VERY busy preparing for our Heroes arrival!

Campbell Walker, a seventh grade student, was one of two students chosen to be keynote speakers at the Office of Innovation Rally for educators in Jonesboro this summer. In 2022, OIE was approved as a TED-Ed Student Talks partner and worked with schools across the state to support educators and students in connecting with content standards, preparation of presentations, video submissions and the opportunity to present live at the OIE Rally. Campbell worked with Mrs. Casey and Mrs. Cobb one day a week preparing a TEDEd student talk and had coaching sessions with Nick Brown and Chrissy Waldhoer from OIE. In addition to her time working at school, she spent many hours working independently at home revising and editing her talk. In her talk, Facing Challenges with Positivity and Perseverance, she shared how she kept a positive attitude while dealing with her mother’s cancer diagnosis. This powerful speech was inspiring and enlightening and was heard by the over 300 OIE Rally participants including administrators and teachers from school districts in- and out-of-state and Arkansas DESE personnel.

Each team creates a school supply list. When you learn your team, you can click here to get the list for that team. Our goal is to have teams posted by 4pm on Friday, August 2nd. We will also be sharing assigned teams at the locker day event on August 4th (1-3pm).

7th grade students may have supplies needed for elective classes.

If you would like to drop-off medication for your child with our school nurse, you can do this on:

• Thursday, August 8th (12:30-3:30pm)
• Friday, August 9th (8-3pm)

If these times do not work, please email our Nurse, Laura Harkins (lboseman@sdale.org), to make an appointment.

Parents,

Learning is the priority at Hellstern. We want engaged learners that are not distracted by a device. At Hellstern, we have always held the expectation that phones are to be turned off and kept in a student's locker. A student is always welcome to request use of a phone, if he/she explains the need to our teachers. Students are also allowed to check phones at 3:30, once dismissal has started.

We have experienced an increase in distracted behaviors during class time when students have access to smart watches. Our recommendation is to leave earbuds/airpods, smart watches, and personal electronics at home. Every year, students lose these expensive devices. Wired headphones are on the school supply list for use in class. Our rules and procedures reflecting these beliefs are in our student handbook, which you will be receiving electronically.

Our goal is for students to be communicating with each other and with adults in face-to-face conversations. These skills are important for students in these critical "tween" years to practice and use daily.

A student’s appearance and dress should reflect an acceptable common standard in the interest of decency, cleanliness, safety, health, and learning.

The following guidelines should be followed:

1. All students are required to wear their team-specific (School ISSUED) lanyard and student ID at all times while on the HMS school campus.

2. Hats and hoodies pulled over head shall not be worn in the building.

3. All shirts must have a shoulder strap at least the width of the plastic ID case worn on lanyards (approximately 3 inches).

4. Shorts, skirts, dresses, and holes in jeans must be fingertip length. (No holes above fingertips)

5. Sleepwear is not permitted (pajama bottoms, houseshoes, etc.).

6. Clothing that reveals undergarments, a bare midriff or cleavage will not be permitted.

7. Clothing which by color, design or symbol is deemed suggestive, racist, violent, vulgar, or is interpreted as promoting tobacco, drug, or alcohol use, are not to be worn to school.

8. No student is to wear, carry, or display apparel deemed gang-related (“sagging” pants, head rags, bandanas, chains, spiked or studded jewelry), or exhibit behavior or gestures which symbolize gang membership.

9. A student’s appearance and dress shall not disrupt or contribute to disruption of the educational process or interfere with rights or opportunities of others to learn or teach.

Join the PTO Facebook page to get updates from PTO.

PTO will be hosting two short meetings in the library on Locker Day (August 4th). One parent can choose to attend (limited space). They will be sharing information at 1:30 & 2:15pm.

4 - Locker Day (1-3pm)

12 - Students first day back - school starts at 8:05am. We dismiss students at 3:30pm.

14 - Student early release day (every Wednesday) @ 2:10pm

20 - Band EXPRESS Lane (5:30pm) - If you ordered your instrument over the summer and had it delivered to the school, you can skip the parent meeting and go to the express lane to pick up your items. Afterwards, go to the band room to meet with a teacher for assigning your band locker.

20 - Band Rental Meeting (6pm) - If you missed the band parent meeting in May, this is for you.

21 - Deadline to have your band instrument at school or at least ordered. Deadline for band payments paid or payment plan communicated.

28 - Vision/Hearing Screening - 6th graders

28 - HMS Band Social at Lokomotion (6:30pm)

2 - Labor Day - no school

5 - Vision/Hearing Screenings

10 - School Board meeting

16 & 17 - Parent Teacher Student Conferences @ Hellstern

Football

8/29 - 5:30 - Fulbright - Home

9/5 - 5:30 - SMS - Home

9/12 - 5:30 - Ramay - Away

9/19 - 5:30 - Kirksey - Away

9/26 - 5:30 - HTMS - Home

10/3 - 5:30 - Ramsey - Home

10/10 - 5:30 - Chaffin - Home

10/24 - 5:30 - Elmwood - Away

10/31 - 5:30 - Washington - Away

11/7 - 5:30 - KMS - Away

Cross-Country

9/3 - Gravette Night Run

9/7 - Shiloh Invitational

9/14 - Elkins Invitational

9/21 - Sugar Creek Showdown (Bentonville)

9/24 - Alma Invitational (Tuesday)

9/28 - Chile Pepper

10/3 - Greenwood (Thursday)

10/12 - Springdale Invitational

10/22 - 7th-8th Conference

10/29 - Mountie Classic (9th Conference)

Volleyball - All HOME games played at CJHS

8/26 - 4:30 - Elmwood - Home

8/27 - 4:30 - Kirksey - Away

9/4 - 4:30 - Fulbright - Away

9/7 - TBA - Spikefest Tourney - SWJH

9/9 - 4:30 - Chaffin - Home

9/10 - 4:30 - Oakdale - Away

9/16 - 4:30 - KMS - Home

9/17 - 4:30 - Lincoln - Home

9/23 - 4:30 - Darby - Away

9/24 - 4:30 - Woodland - Home

9/30 - 4:30 - HTMS - Home

10/1 - 4:30 - Grimsley - Home

10/7 - 4:30 - Lingle - Home

10/8 - 4:30 - Ramsay - Away

10/14 - 4:30 - SMS - Away

10/15 - 4:30 - Washington - Away

10/21 - 4:30 - Kimmons - Away

10/22 - 4:30 - Ramay - Home

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View past editions of Hero Happenings!

Website: http://hellstern.sdale.org/
Location: 7771 Har-Ber Avenue, Springdale, AR, USA
Phone: 479-750-8725
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hellstern-Middle-School