Friendly Friday Update

Students in all grades have their iPads unless they did not turn in their AUP form. Please begin checking the Canvas and Campus portals at home to make sure students have their work completed and turned in. Our goal is to get our students to take responsibility for their school work (especially our 7th and 8th grade students), and not have to depend on others to make sure they are completing it. The routines you establish now with grades and homework completion will pay off later in the school year and will make a big difference on report cards and learning that takes place in classes.

Ask your daughter/son what they are reading. Students are beginning to make trips to our school library to check out materials. Help them find interests and enjoy reading. There is no better conversation to have with your son/daughter than to talk about an interesting read!

• September 18 - Picture Day
• September 30 - Warrior 5K @ Two Rivers High School, 9 a.m.
• October 2 - No school, Professional Development
• October 9 - Coffee with the Principal, 9 a.m.
• October 10 - Conferences (in-person), 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. (information coming soon)
• October 11 - National Walk & Bike to School Day
• October 12 - Conferences (in-person), 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. (information coming soon)

Next week is Spirit Week at Friendly Hills!

Monday, September 18: Dress Your Best (Picture Day)
Tuesday, September 19: Comfy/Cozy Day (PJs, sweats, hoodies)
Wednesday, September 20: "On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink"
Thursday, September 21: Color by Grade

• 5th Grade - Red
• 6th Grade - Yellow
• 7th Grade - Blue
• 8th Grade - White

Friday, September 22: Warrior Pride Gear!

Students enrolled in grades 6-8 at Friendly Hills Middle School are invited to participate in the Future City Competition. The first meeting will be held after school from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20 in room 123. Students work in teams to design a City of the Future. This year the theme is electricity.

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month FHMS! As a school we want to honor everyone's voices and ideas as we prepare to celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage Month. Here is a quick survey to fill out if you would like to participate in helping us plan the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Thank you for your contributions to making our school more inclusive and supportive to all students!

All students enrolled at Friendly Hills have a virtual student card for Dakota County Libraries that can be used in-person at the library or online. More information is available on the Instructional Media Center (IMC) page!

Please see the attached PDF for more information about FAST testing.

Parents/guardians often question if students should stay home or attend school. The following guidelines are provided to help with this decision.

Fever over 100 degrees

Stay home for 24 hours after temperature returns to normal without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Vomiting or diarrhea

Stay home for 24 hours after last episode.

Excessive coughing

Child can bring cough drops to school and self-administer if parents send cough drops and a note granting permission for child's use at school.

Rash with unknown cause

Check with physician before sending to school.

Eye redness with green/yellow drainage

Check with physician before sending to school.

If you are keeping your child home for any reason, please call the attendance line (651-403-7607) in the morning. Give your name, your child's name, and their grade. Please tell us if your child has a fever over 100, vomiting or diarrhea, or severe upper respiratory symptoms as we track these during flu season.

Summit Singers is an extracurricular group open to ALL 5th-8th graders who like to sing. (If you are in band or orchestra and would like to sing, you are welcome! If you are 8th grader in AVID/Spanish and still want to sing, you can join!) We will meet Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school from 7:55-8:30 a.m. in the choir room starting in October. We will have two concerts with the Jazz Band and the Fiddlers: Friday, February 9th, Winter Small Ensemble Concert, 7:00pm, FHMS new gym, and Friday, April 12th, Spring Cabaret, 7:00pm, FHMS new gym. We will also perform at the elementary schools in May (during the day field trip). Please click this link to register. Contact Ms. Pearson with any questions you may have.

Jazz Band and Fiddlers are extracurricular groups open to Band and Orchestra students who have at least one year of playing experience. We will meet Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school from 7:55-8:30 a.m. starting in October. We will have two concerts with the Summit Singers: Friday, February 9th, Winter Small Ensemble Concert, 7:00pm, FHMS new gym, and Friday, April 12th, Spring Cabaret, 7:00pm, FHMS new gym. We will also perform at the elementary schools in May (during the day field trip). Please click on the following links to register. Contact Mrs. Booth (Jazz Band) or Ms. Svitak (Fiddlers) with any questions you may have.

Friendly Hills Middle School is looking for a parent representative to be on the District Curriculum Advisory Committee. A description is below. If you are interested please call 651-403-7600.

The School District 197 Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) works with the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department to respond to curriculum updates, student achievement reports, and instructional material recommendations. Members also learn about and discuss curricular areas under review. The group is made up of district administrators, parent representatives, and at-large community members. Contact: Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Curriculum Advisory Committee Overview

PURPOSE
The CAC is designed to involve students, parents or guardians, and community members in decisions regarding implementation of the Minnesota Academic Standards and high academic achievement for all students. The role of the committee is to provide input and advice by making recommendations. The members of CAC include an equal mix of district parents, community representatives and school staff. The group meets four times a year.

2023 - 2024 Meeting Dates and Times

• October 9, 2023 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.)

• January 29, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.)

• March 11, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.)

• May 13, 2024 (District Office Conference Room, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.)

Respect. Readiness. Relationships. Responsibility.

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

Follow FHMS on Instagram @friendlyhillsmiddle!

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