Friendly Friday Update

Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer, and are ready for an outstanding year ahead. We are excited to welcome our students back into the building and to begin working with them over the course of the upcoming school year. You will find a lot of dates and information about various topics in this edition of the Friendly Friday Update, and know you can call our main office at 651-403-7600 with any questions you may have. I am looking forward to seeing you or meeting you as the school year begins!

• August 27 - 6th-8th Grade Open House, 4-6 p.m.
• August 29 - 5th Grade Open House, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• September 2 - Labor Day, No School
• September 3 - First Day of School (5th Grade ONLY)
• September 4 - First Day of School (6th, 7th, and 8th Grade)
• September 16 - Lifetouch Picture Day

This fall, tackle football will no longer be offered at the Middle School level.

All students entering 8th grade who do not already have association teams they play for (such as TRAA, EAA, or West Side Boosters), will be immediately absorbed into the Two Rivers High School program. We are thrilled to have them and will provide equipment, facilities, game options, and a coaching staff as well as transportation to and from practices (District Activities bus).

All students entering 7th grade who are not already involved in association football, are strongly encouraged to join the tackle program through our local Two Rivers Athletic Association. Program registration begins in summer (and will be shared through multiple avenues) and practices begin in August prior to the start of school. The high school program and TRAA are working together to provide accessible and competitive opportunities aligned with our high school philosophies and skill development.

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Families are encouraged to use the free TalkingPoints for Families app to stay in touch with Friendly Hills Middle School and classroom teachers. Please see the flyers below for more information and to get started.

In May 2024, Minnesota lawmakers passed a bill requiring school districts and charter schools to adopt policies regarding students' use of cell phones in school. It aims to reduce the risk of cyberbullying and minimize the negative impact of cell phones on students' academic performance, mental health, and behavior.

Please see the attachment below for our full cell phone policy and procedures.

The building is open to students beginning at 8:30 a.m. on school days. The front parking loop and lot quickly become places of high traffic where extra precautions are necessary during the drop-off and pick-up times. Student safety is our priority!

To cooperate in our efforts, please follow these parking loop and lot guidelines:

1. Use the left lane of the parking loop only to slowly pass the parked cars on the right. Do not park in the left lane to drop off your student(s).
2. Park only in the right lane, closest to the school building, to allow your student(s) to safely exit the car onto the sidewalk or grass. Encourage your student(s) to only walk on the sidewalk or grass, rather than through parked or moving cars.
3. Use the parking lot only for parking and escorting your student(s) to the school. Do not drop your student off in the main parking lot. Families are welcome to park along Mendota Heights Road. There is a crossing guard and sidewalk leading from the road to the school building.
4. Do not park in the handicapped parking spaces unless you have a valid hang tag/license plate to do so.
5. The parking zone behind the school building is for school buses and vans only.

Your participation helps the parking loop run safely and efficiently, thank you!

Students are not permitted to have outside food and beverages from coffee shops, restaurants, and food services (such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.). This includes special occasions such as birthdays.

Students may bring a hard-sided water bottle (not flexible plastic, which can be squeezed to shoot water) and bag lunch from home, but other food and beverages are not permitted. Hot breakfast and lunch are served daily to all students at no cost.

If your student brings outside food or beverages, it must be finished before entering the school.

At Friendly Hills, we prepare, challenge, and empower.

Friendly Hills Middle School educates students in grades 5-8 and is part of the tight-knit community of Independent School District 197.

Follow ISD197 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

#TogetherWeThrive197

Email: christopher.hiti@isd197.org
Website: friendlyhills.isd197.org
Location: 701 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights, MN, USA
Phone: 651-403-7600
Facebook: facebook.com/FriendlyHillsMS

Instagram: @friendlyhillsmiddle