
Panther Update Family Edition #30
April 4, 2025

A Note from the Principal...
Spring Break is Almost Here!
Spring Break is right around the corner! We hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved break, which begins this Friday, April 4th. Take this time to rest, recharge, and make wonderful memories with family and friends.
Before we head into break, please take a moment to check the picture of our Lost and Found collection. We have many unclaimed items, and all remaining belongings will be donated after Monday, April 14th. Encourage your child to stop by and see if anything belongs to them!
Thank you for your continued support of our school. When we return on April 14th, students will begin preparing for the ILEARN assessment. Until then, enjoy the break—we’ll see you soon!
Ms. Janie Ulmer
Principal
Library Update
Annual Bookmark Design Contest and BINGO Reading Challenge is Open
School Library Month and April have arrived, which means the library recently opened our Annual Bookmark Design Contest and Spring into Reading Bingo Challenge! The winning bookmark designs from the Bookmark Design Contest will become the featured bookmarks the library hands out to students next school year. The winning artists will be recognized this spring. The bookmark entry deadline is April 25. For the Spring into Reading BINGO Challenge, students can mark off boxes from books you finished between today and May 9 to earn a prize. Students can grab a Bookmark template and a BINGO sheet from the library. Students can find more details in Canvas or in the library.
Young Hoosier Book Award Program Wrap Up Soon
The Young Hoosier Voting party will be April 18 and invites with details will be sent to students who read 5 or more Young Hoosier Book Award nominees soon. Students can keep logging any Young Hoosier Book Award nominees they read in our age groups this year until April 17 at 11 AM.
Prairie Dash 5K
8th Grade Class of 2029 Picture
Don't forget to check out Tenth Street Photography for your 8th grade class photo
If you would like to purchase a copy the link and access code is below.
CHECK OUT THE 8th GRADE GROUP PHOTOS!
An Access Code is Need to View Photos:
Your Access code is: HIJH8GRADES25
Link to view images: https://tenthstreetphoto.gotphoto.com/login
FREE DELIVERY
Orders placed by 04/06/2025 will receive free delivery. Orders will be handed out at school.
Need more Photo Information:
CLICK HERE AND SELECT YOUR SCHOOL FOR MORE PHOTO INFORMATION
OR Go To: tenthstreetphotography.com
Click on ORDER PHOTOS AND Select your school.
Washington DC trip
Attention all parents of 7th graders:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: We will be having a MANDATORY meeting on Thursday May 1st at 8:30am in the main gym for all the student’s signed up for next school year’s Washington DC trip (in late August). Parents should NOT attend the meeting.
The purpose of this meeting will be to finalize roommate choices for the trip in August. If you forgot to sign up your kiddo for the trip, we still have a couple spots left.
Just go to https://worldstrides.com/register/ and us our trip ID# 217372. If you have any questions, please contact Eric Brown ebrown@hse.k12.in.us or visit my website at www.dctrip.info
HSE Girls Volleyball
HSE High school will host the HSE Girls Volleyball Call out Meeting Wednesday April 16th.
Rising 10th-12th grade players will meet 4:30pm-5:00pm.
Rising 9th grade players and families will meet 5:00pm-5:30pm in the Main Café.
Please enter Door 18.
please contact Jason Young with any questions @ jyoung@hse.k12.in.us
Lost & Found
Please have your student stop by the cafeteria to see if anything belongs to them by Monday 4/14.
Cheerleading Tryouts
Clinic Notes 🩺🥼
A friendly reminder from the Clinic for families to be vigilant for head lice. Head lice don’t jump, they don’t live on pets, and they have nothing to do with personal hygiene. The most common way head lice spread is by head-to-head contact. This means your child may get lice by touching heads with someone who has head lice. This may happen during sports, slumber parties or play time in or outside of school. A less likely way to get head lice is by sharing personal items that touch the head, such as coats, hats, hairbrushes, and hair accessories.
Additional info here:
https://www.cdc.gov/lice/treatment/index.html
Educate yourself about the risks of teens consuming energy drinks
Some of the dangers of energy drinks include:
- Dehydration (not enough water in your body).
- Heart complications (such as irregular heartbeat and heart failure).
- Anxiety (feeling nervous and jittery).
Insomnia (inability to sleep).
High blood pressure
Potential for addiction with regular use
More resources here:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/energy-drinks-and-kids
https://www.cdc.gov/school-nutrition/energy-drinks/index.html
The Buzz on Energy Drinks | School Nutrition | CDC
Sources. Seifert SM, Schaechter JL, Hershorin ER, Lipshultz SE. Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics. 2011:127(3), 511-528.; Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAPgOUoOe9k
This video 5:58-9:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH2qNZtxqMU
Rethink Your Energy Drink: Beware of Extreme Caffeine
Energy drinks are a great way to get a blast of energy, but are you aware of what that extra caffeine is doing to your body? Maybe it’s time to rethink your caffeine drink. SUBSCRIBE http://bit.ly/2VW2yV1 & HIT THE 🔔 Mayo Clinic Health System offers outstanding care close to home. Part of Mayo Clinic, we meet most of your health care needs ...
District Policy for Illnesses
- Fever of 100.4 should stay home for 24 hours and remain home until fever is normal without the use of medication.
- Vomiting should stay home for 24 hours and remain home until vomit free without help of medication.
- Diarrhea should stay home for 24 hours and remain home until diarrhea free without use of medication.
Injuries
Any injuries that need restrictions from a doctor, please let us know. We are happy to allow students to use elevator and to have a book carrier with a doctor's note showing the restrictions.
Orthodontist Visits
It may be beneficial to give your student a pain reliever an hour BEFORE getting braces tightened. It helps keep the pain down and makes their day easier when returning to school.
Panther Coffee Cart
Thank you so much for all of your contributions. This coffee cart is absolutely spreading cheer throughout our school!
A Message from the Cafeteria
Set or Update Your Student’s Spending Limit
Did you know you can set a spending limit on your student’s cafeteria account? It’s easy to do through Skyward! Simply:
Log into Skyward
Click on Food Service
Select Set Purchase Limit at the top of the Weekly Purchases box on
the right side of the page
If you’ve already set a limit, now is a great time to review and adjust it as needed.
Here’s a quick look at prices for popular extra items:
• Extra Entrée: $2.10
• Milk: $0.60 (extra or without a meal)
• Ice Cream: $1.25
• Chips & Snacks: $1.10–$1.15
• Water, juice & sparkling juice: $1.75–$3.00
Take a moment to check your student’s spending limit today!
Helpful Tips & Links from the Counseling Department
Overcoming Test Anxiety:
Avoid perfectionism - Don't expect things to be perfect when taking a test. Mistakes will happen, just do your best, and work hard.
Avoid negative thoughts - Push negativity away and replace with positive thoughts such as, "I can do this," "I studied," or "I know this."
Get sleep - Get a good night's sleep. Start settling down and relaxing about an hour before you need to fall asleep. This means no screens, while trying to calm down. Go to bed at a decent time. No caffeine close to bedtime.
Be prepared - Know how to study. Ask a teacher for help, if needed. Study early enough before the test, so you know the material. This will boost your confidence.
Deep breaths - Breathe deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Time - Take time to focus on each individual question. Read and re-read, if needed, for understanding and clarity.
Withdrawing Student from School
If your child is withdrawing from Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Junior High School, please notify the Counseling Department at least two days in advance of your child’s last day. Withdrawal forms must be signed by the parent/guardian.
Panther Spirit Wear Clothing Closet
New this year, we are collecting gently used Panther spirit wear to give to students in need or that move to our school during the year and want something. Please contact Mr. McCord at gmccord@hse.k12.in.us if you are interested in receiving items or have items to donate.
Snack Attack
Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP) offers a free weekend snack program for any student attending Hamilton Southeastern Schools who qualifies for the reduced lunch program or has an increased need currently. Snacks are delivered to schools each week and sent home with students. To be part of this free program, you must sign up your family online at https://forms.gle/ZDZ4mtJ2sXoaRRRx6.
Local Food Pantry
Northview Fishers has a mobile food pantry to serve the Fishers community. Some items available are meat, milk, fresh bakery items, fresh produce, pharmacy, and hygiene products. This resource is available to ANYONE. More information and dates are available at mobilepantry.info.
21st Century Scholars
The 21st Century Scholars program helps eligible students who meet certain high school requirements attend college for free, https://learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/enroll/.
Resources for 5th and 6th grade parents
HSE HS Boys Soccer
Any 8th grade boys attending HSE HS that is interested in trying out for boys soccer - There will be an informational meeting for players and parents on Monday, 5/31/25. The meeting will be from 8-9pm in the HSE HS CCA cafeteria.
SafeSitter
Safe Sitter Training is designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they're home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. The instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students even get to use manikins to practice rescue skills like choking rescue and CPR!
Register for a 1-day class. Choose from the dates below:
- April 6
- June 8
- July 13
- August 3
- October 5
- December 7
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Carmel Fire Department
Registration is $75. Pre-registration is required at least one week in advance. To register, call 317-840-0316 or email jrutherford@carmel.in.gov. Register early as classes fill quickly!
Call: Justin Rutherford 317-840-0316
Email: jrutherford@carmel.in.gov
Visit: www.carmel.in.gov
Indy Zoo Tickets for HSE Families
R.A.V.E. Reviews
Help us in recognizing and appreciating our talented, hard-working, and dedicated employees by submitting a R.A.V.E. (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) Review. All HSE staff members are eligible for nomination and may be recognized multiple times. To submit a R.A.V.E. Review, click here to fill out a quick and easy online form and share why the individual is a 5-Star employee.
Recipients will receive a R.A.V.E. Review window cling to proudly display their nomination in their workspace, a certificate and letter of recognition with their review. Each month, one R.A.V.E. Review recipient will be selected at random by the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation for a $100 gift card. Thank you for your support!
Student Handbook
HSE Intermediate and Junior High
12278 Cyntheanne Road, Fishers, IN, USA
Main Line: 317-594-4120
Attendance: 317-594-4126
Counseling: 317-594-4124
Fax: 317-594-4129
Website: https://hij.hseschools.org
Permitted use of school newsletters as required by the Equal Access Act is not an endorsement of this group or this group’s beliefs by Hamilton Southeastern Schools or the Board of School Trustees.
Follow Us On Social Media
Twitter:
@HIJPanthers
@hijhathletics