Hidden River Newsletter

SAVE THE DATES:

Mon., Nov. 11th - Quarter 2 Starts

Wed., Nov. 13th - Coffee with the Principal from 8:15-9:00am

Next Week (11/18-11/22)

Thurs., Nov. 21st - FSO Meeting 5:30-7:00pm in Media Center

Request from Music Dept: The Hidden River Music department is looking for instruments as our band and orchestra are growing. If you have a tuba or tuba case, trombone, or quarter bass and would like to donate it to our school, please bring it in to the office. Additionally, if anyone has expertise in wood wind we have instruments that could use some fine tuning please email Teacher Fischer emma.fischer@spps.org.

Volunteers: Hidden River loves to have families involved. We need help in the office, the lunchroom and we have a need for some creativity around how to raise FSO funds for Give To The Max Day. Can you help? Details about volunteer opportunites around the school can be found here. Thanks to a 6th grade parent, Cassi Hansen, who is helping us to coordinate volunteer opportunities this year! If you have any ideas or questions, you can reach Cassi at HiddenRiverVolunteers@gmail.com.

Tours for Prospective Families: If you know of a family who's interested in Hidden River, please let them know that we are offering tours! Details on our website.

Information for Families: As a school that receives Title 1 funding from the federal government, we put a lot of time and effort into thinking about how we can improve student outcomes both in and outside the classroom. The documents we use to guide these processes are always available to you on our website (https://hiddenriver.spps.org/about/title-i/documents-and-information) where you will find links to our Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Report Card and our School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP).

Hello Hidden River Families!

It is really hard to believe we are already one quarter into the school year! As we finish Quarter 1, it is not the only milestone made by our scholars! They have successfully:

* Transitioned to a new building with out missing a step!

* Mastered the new routines of arrival and dismissal at the Wilson building.

* Experienced an Activity Day and a Dance Day in the new spaces!

* And our Fall athletes had great weather for their practices, all onsite!

Quarter 1 grades will be available to view in Campus on November 15. If you need assistance with accessing Campus, please reach out to Wendy Caucutt, our Family Liaison (651-744-2007 or wendy.caucutt@spps.org). We look forward to Quarter 2 and are grateful to our families for all your support!

Parents dropping off and picking up students should be doing so on Blair Avenue only. During the day, parking is allowable in the bus loading zone on Albert St. in front of the main entrance. Please remember we are located in a residential area. Please monitor your speed and avoid parking in front of our neighbors' homes.

Finally, our WEB students took time this week for a Fall Community Clean up. (See pictures!) They wanted to take care of our neighborhood around the school. Let's follow their lead, and ensure we are respectful of our neighbors!

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Grateful to partner with you,

Teresa Vibar

Family-Staff Organization (FSO) Updates: Please stop by this Wednesday (November 13th) between 8:15 - 9:00 AM for "Coffee with the Principal". A time to chat with other staff, families, and community partners. And save the date for out next meeting on Thursday, November 21st at 5:30 where our partners from Change, Inc. and Search Institute will present on "Navigating Social Media with Your Middle Schooler". This is a workshop that Hidden River also hosted last year and many caregivers found the information to be helpful.

Information for Families: As a school that receives Title 1 funding from the federal government, we put a lot of time and effort into thinking about how we can improve student outcomes both in and outside the classroom. The documents we use to guide these processes are always available to you on our website (https://hiddenriver.spps.org/about/title-i/documents-and-information) where you will find links to our Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Report Card and our School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP).

Thank you for all of your support of Hidden River! We more than doubled our earnings in October thanks to all of you!! Please keep scanning receipts and referring friends and family members to help us reach our goal of $500! In November, if you link your Walmart+ app, HRMS will get 50 Box Tops ($5).

Use code SW407DT3 to get an even bigger bonus after scanning your first receipt.

Gracias por todo su apoyo de Hidden River! Hemos más que duplicado nuestras ganancias en octubre gracias a todos ustedes! Por favor, siga escaneando recibos y refiriendo amigos y familiares para ayudarnos a alcanzar nuestra meta de $500! En noviembre, si enlaza su aplicación de Walmart+, HRMS obtendrá 50 Box Tops ($5). Utilice el código SW407DT3 para obtener un bono aún mayor después de escanear su primer recibo.

Where did you grow up? St Paul MN / Wilmar MN

What is your role at Hidden River Middle School? Lead Clerk

What's your go-to karaoke song? Copacabana - Barry Manilow : )

What are your interests or hobbies?Time with family/Granddaughter/ Time with my dog Tucker and fishing up in Lake of the Woods Canada!

What do you like most about Hidden River? The comradery of the staff and focus on the best interest in our students.

Where did you grow up? Springfield, Ohio

What is your role at Hidden River Middle School? MYP Design Teacher

What's your go-to karaoke song? I play trombone and piano but don't sing!

What are your interests or hobbies? Reading, listening to music, watching movies, eating (& sometimes cooking) delicious food, exploring the world, going to community events

What do you like most about Hidden River? I'm new to the school, but I've a good hunch it's going to be the students!

We have two exciting updates this week! 1) 6th Graders will be participating in a 1/2-day literacy workshop on November 20 with local author and parent Kao Kalia Yang (insert this link please: https://kaokaliayang.com/) to learn from her perspective the powerful connection between being a reader and a writer. To enrich their learning experience, we are aiming to provide each student (250 total) with her new middle-grade novel. We're very close to reaching our goal with over 150 books already donated. Could you help by purchasing a book for a 6th grader? You can use the link below to add a copy to our school’s collection, which we’ll distribute to the students. 6th Grade Book Wish List - Purchase here (insert this link please as a button: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3F65T4VV3RTYX?ref_=wl_share)

Alternatively, if you prefer to purchase elsewhere, books can be delivered to the school office or given to 6th-grade ELA teachers Sonja Thorson, Kari Bronson, Olivia Wilsson, or Elisabeth Fontana

Thank you for considering this and for your support!

2) Do YOU have a 6th grader? The Author Visit will be a walking field trip to Hamline University on November 20. Your student will need a completed iUpdate (insert this link here please: https://www.spps.org/families/campus-parent-portal-onestop). Please use this form to get support with iUpdate (can you make this link a button?): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdV_W1oq36atcWMeKP9vsFPlQHbBKLGiue9fYPYesphB11jw/viewform?usp=sf_link or contact Family Liasion Wendy Caucutt Main Office at 651-293-8860 or Wendy.caucutt@spps.org for support or if you'd like to attend the Author Visit.

2) The Otters Read and Recommend Hall of Fame is growing! Hall of Fame Readers' families should have received a text and postcards coming soon with their photo entries. Celebrate our Monthly Winners here! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zs7mQudMDRBuSHzpfdt3l2HT7Ekw-A8v/view?usp=sharing

Keep Connected Family Engagement Partnership with Search Institute and Change Inc.:

We are honored to once again partner with Search Institute and Change Inc. to offer a pilot program to Hidden River families this year as we work to strengthen relationships within families and among Hidden River families through a generous grant. Keep Connected 360 offers resources to families, including tips, ideas, activities and learning opportunities to support strong family relationships.

What to expect:

• Family Talk Starters will be sent out in weekly school newsletters for caregivers to use in facilitating conversations with their student (see this week's below!).

• Trainers will facilitate workshops for caregivers at two of our FSO meetings this year (next one on November 21st).

• A 7-week workshop will be held later this school year for families who would like to explore innovative ways to maintain strong connections with their teenagers. More details on that program coming in the future!

Family Talk Starters - This Week’s Focus: Explore how members of your family enjoy being together. This is a great way to EXPRESS CARE through family relationships.

• When you have a few minutes, ask other family members a question or two. Enjoy the conversation!

• When are times you’ve felt closer than usual as a family? What made that time memorable?

• Who do you enjoy laughing with? Why?