SMS E-NEWS
December 6, 2024
Counselor's Corner
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Students who complete 60 hours of verified community service will be recognized during Awards Day in May. Community service should be documented on an orange community service card. Community service cards are due to the grade level counselor by Wednesday, April 16th. Cards can be found in each grade level office or each Counselor's office.
GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION
ATTENDANCE
Parents must write or submit a doctor's note, take a picture of it, and attach it to an email. The note must include your students legal first/last name and dates of absence to be excused.
Email all excuses to Simmons Attendance Office (smsattendance@hoover.k12.al.us).
Remember to submit an 2024-2025 Anticipated Absence Form
for planned vacations that occur during scheduled school days.
Students have 3 days after returning to school from an absence to bring/email an excuse. Email is preferred.
Parents are only allowed to write 9 notes for the school year.
Once a student reaches 5 unexcused absences, he/she will be placed on the district watch list. Please refer to the HCS attendance policy.
The following are excusable reasons ONLY:
illness
death in the immediate family
inclement weather
legal quarantine
emergency conditions as determined by the Principal/Designee or Superintendent/Designee
ANTICIPATED ABSENCE FORMS - If it is necessary for your student to be gone from school they must complete an 2024-2025 Anticipated Absence Form
and turn it in within 3 days of the absence. There is a section on the form to be completed and signed by the parent, then the student fills in his schedule and obtains the signatures of his teachers, and submits it to the grade level administrator for final approval. Approval is based on the student's grade averages and current attendance record. Please note: if the student only plans to be gone for part of a day, he or she needs to enter the time of checkout, and get the signatures of only the teachers whose classes they will miss. Please be aware that failure to complete this form and turn it in will result in loss of credit for work missed and made up.
NO DELIVERIES - Please make sure your student has all items needed for the school day and any after-school activities before leaving home. The Front Desk cannot accept deliveries for students.
CELL PHONE POLICY - Take a moment to look over our Cell Phone Policy as it has changed a little for this school year.
NO OUTSIDE FOOD ALLOWED ON CAMPUS - As a reminder, students are not allowed to bring food into school from restaurants. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
PARENT SQUARE -
Parent Square (PSQ) automatically translates the text for parents. The text language can be changed at any time by following these steps: Web Browser Directions: Log in to Parent Square. Click on your name in the top right corner. Click on "Language Settings" from the menu on the left side panel. Choose your language from the drop-down menu. Click "Save".
App Directions: Log in to the Parent Square (PSQ) App. Click the 3 lines icon in the top left corner. Click "Account" Click "Preferences"
Click "Language"
Click your preferred language
DIGITALLY SPEAKING -
November... Welcome Fall... but also, welcome flu, strep, & colds.
Please remind your children to wash their hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. They should also keep in mind personal space.
- Students are not sent home for cold symptoms (runny nose, headaches, for sore throats) unless they have a fever. If you feel that your student is in need of frequent pain relievers or cold medicine during this cold and flu season, please pick up (new, unopened) medication from your nearest pharmacy and bring it to the school (students cannot bring in any medication).
All medications must be brought into the health room by an adult. If you would like your child to have Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or other over the counter medication, please bring it in in a new, unopened bottle/package. Over the counter medications do NOT require a physician signature. Prescription medications (ex: inhalers, Epi Pens), must have a medication form filled out with a doctor AND parent signature. - If your student is sick (fever >100.0), please keep them home until they are fever free without the aid of a fever reducing medication for > 24 hours. Please let Nurse Epperson know if your child tests positive for flu, COVID, or Strep.
- Please email (nepperson@hoover.k12.al.us) or send a message through ParentSquare if you have any questions or concerns for the nurse.
-Nurse Epperson
HCS TRANSPORTATION
Use this link http://edulog.hoover.k12.al.us/liveweb/webquery/ to check bus numbers and routes for the 2023-24 school year.