Friday Memo - 4/29/22

Important dates
May 1 - School Principal's Day
May 2 - Faculty Meeting, 3:40 pm to 4:30 pm
May 2 - 6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 - 5 - 6 Bravery to Camp Wyman
May 5 - Jazz Concert, 6:30 pm
May 6 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
May 9 - 12 - MAP Testing
May 12 - Fine Arts Festival
May 9 - 13 - School Resource Officer Appreciation week
May 13 - 8th grade Six Flags Trip
May 16 - 20 - Panorama window #3
May 17 & 18 - NWEA Testing
May 23 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, Roberts Gym (WGHS), 7pm
May 25 - Regatta Races, 7 Unity & 7 Integrity; Band Pops Concert, 6pm
May 26 - Regatta Races, 7 Bravery
May 27 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visits Hixson; early dismissal at 12:32 pm, Faculty luncheon, 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm
August 9 - 6th grade Orientation
August 10 - 12 & 15 - 17: Teacher Work days
August 17 - Open House, 3pm - 7pm
August 22 - First day of school

112th issue of Hixson Happenings

Teacher Appreciation Week!
We are so excited to celebrate the amazing Hixson staff next week! Here's the schedule of events!

Monday, May 2 - Snack Attack Day! Snacks will be provided to you all day by Hixson Social Courtesy and PTO!

Tuesday, May 3 - Coffee, donuts, and fruit will be provided to you in the morning by Hixson administration!

Wednesday, May 4 - Roaming Hunger Food truck will visit during lunches. Courtesy of Hixson PTO!

Thursday, May 5 - Lunch catered by Hacienda provided by Hixson administration

Friday, May 6 - Every staff member will receive a mini herb plant from Roger's produce provided by Hixson administration. District administration will also be delivering desserts to each building.

Upcoming absences summary + high sub days

Monday, May 2 - 7 absences
Tuesday, May 3 - 7 absences 

Wednesday, May 4 - 1 unfilled absence
Thursday, May 5 - 7 absences (1 unfilled)
Friday, May 6 - 13 absences (5 unfilled)
Friday, May 13 - 11 absences (3 unfilled)

Staff updates
Last night, we recommended the following candidates for hire. They were approved by the BOE last night.

• Kathryn Marsh - 0.5 FACS
• Kelley Devine-Ramay - Office Secretary

The next positions we will work on hiring are ELA, Gifted Social Studies, 0.5 Library, and Clinic Aide. 

Hixson Parent University (HPU)

In an effort to improve our connection/outreach with Hixson families, we are exploring the creation of a community engagement event geared at providing pertinent information to new families surrounding the Hixson Middle School experience. The “Hixson Parent University (HPU)” would be largely geared towards our new 6th grade families, but also be open to any caregivers who would like to attend. We foresee this being an opportunity to provide information and guidance on topics such as (but not limited to, nor a conclusive list): how to navigate Canvas/SIS, how to assist students with homework/studying, PTO, Camp Wyman, how to navigate the social and emotional needs of adolescents, how arrival/lunch/dismissal works, effective monitoring of social media, etc. 

This would likely take place prior to the start of school on an evening in August and last for approximately 2 to 3 hours. If this is an event you would like to help with, in any capacity, please email Adam Vorel. This would not be a commitment to help at this time, only an expression of your interest. Also, please feel free to share ideas for topics you feel families could benefit from learning more about (this is also not a commitment to lead/develop any instruction around this topic). Please also email those ideas to Adam Vorel. Adam Vorel and Matt Geringer will be working with the administrative team, and interested staff, on this experience.

After School Activities - 22-23 SY We have had some AMAZING after school clubs and activities available to our students this year. Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors for creating unique opportunities for Hixson students to connect to school. Here are some clubs/activities that we would REALLY like to see start/return next year.

• National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
• Chess Club
• International Club (Hixson was on the verge of starting a partnership with Nahed Chapman New American Academy in St. Louis Public Schools prior to the pandemic)
• Student Council/Character Council
• Student Ambassadors (Counselors are working on this)
• Boys to Men and/or other mentoring programs
• other ideas?

If you have any interest in sponsoring any of these clubs/programs, please let Hixson admin know!

Transportation update
Please read the following transportation from Jason Mueller, Director of Facilities.

As many of you know this year has been especially challenging in regards to transportation due to a lack of staffing nationwide for qualified drivers. 

Because of this we have had to limit field trip travel times. For the remainder of the school year pickups for activities cannot occur prior to 8:30 am. Buses will need to have students back on campus by 2:45 pm, or if the event runs later they can pick up from a location after 4:30 pm for return to the school. This includes the district activity bus as it is used for covering routes when First Student has drivers that call out.

I appreciate your patience and assistance. Feel free to reach out to Beverly Brooks or myself with any questions.

Friday Memo - 4/22/22

Important dates
April 27 - Administrative Professional's Day; Choir Concert, 6:30 pm
April 28 - Retirement Pig Out breakfast; Orchestra Concert, 6:00 pm
May 1 - School Principal's Day
May 2 - Faculty Meeting, 3:40 pm to 4:30 pm
May 2 - 6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 - 5 - 6 Bravery to Camp Wyman
May 5 - Jazz Concert, 6:30 pm
May 6 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
May 9 - 12 - MAP Testing
May 12 - Fine Arts Festival
May 9 - 13 - Panorama window #3; School Resource Officer Appreciation week
May 13 - 8th grade Six Flags Trip
May 17 & 18 - NWEA Testing
May 23 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, Roberts Gym (WGHS), 7pm
May 25 - Band Pops Concert, 6pm
May 27 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visits Hixson; early dismissal at 12:32 pm, Faculty luncheon, 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm
August 9 - 6th grade Orientation
August 10 - 12 & 15 - 17: Teacher Work days
August 17 - Open House, 3pm - 7pm
August 22 - First day of school

111th issue of Hixson Happenings

Upcoming high sub days
Tuesday, April 26 - 11 absences

Friday, April 29 - 8 absences
Monday, May 2 - 7 absences
Tuesday, May 3 - 7 absences
Friday, May 6 - 13 absences

Staff update
Caroline Skoglund has been hired to teach math at Hixson for next school year. Caroline will join 6 Bravery next year. Caroline is also a former Hixson student, and she is looking forward to coming back to the Hixson community!

Budget update
Principals were informed last week at DLT that due to district budget challenges for the 22-23 SY, all building budgets will be reduced by 10%. Please take this information into consideration when making your budget requests for next school year (department chairs will receive this information soon). 

Library Collection for student materials (Not including Chromebooks):  

May 16th - 8th Grade 

May 17th - 7th Grade

May 18th - 6th Grade

The Chromebook collection will begin on May 19

We will be collecting during Science classes this year. The details of the process will be sent out as we get closer to the collection date.

Collection dates for teachers are as follows:

May 19 Kenney

May 20 Garwood, Vorel, Geringer

May 23 Tobey, Creath, Geringer, Oliver

May 24 Rodriguez, Meyer, Lopez, Williams

Friday Memo - 4/15/22

Important dates
April 12 to 14 - 6 Unity to Camp Wyman
April 19 to 21 - 6 Integrity to Camp Wyman
April 21 - 8th grade After School Dance Party, after school until 5pm
April 22 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
April 27 - Choir Concert, 6:30 pm
April 28 - Orchestra Concert, 6:00 pm
May 2 - 6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 - 5 - 6 Bravery to Camp Wyman
May 5 - Jazz Concert, 6:30 pm
May 6 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
May 9 - 12 - MAP Testing
May 12 - Fine Arts Festival
May 9 - 13 - Panorama window #3; School Resource Officer Appreciation week
May 13 - 8th grade Six Flags Trip
May 17 & 18 - NWEA Testing
May 23 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, Roberts Gym (WGHS), 7pm
May 25 - Band Pops Concert, 6pm
May 27 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visits Hixson; early dismissal at 12:32 pm, Faculty luncheon, 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm

110th issue of Hixson Happenings

Staffing updates
Please read the staff updates below.

• We had to repost the 0.5 Library Media Specialist position because the one candidate that we wanted to move forward to the BOE decided to continue pursuing a different opportunity with another school.
• We currently have no candidates for the 0.5 FACS position. Our search continues.
• We currently have no candidates for our 0.6 French position. Our search continues.
• We will start the interview process for our Office Secretary position next week.
• Angela Myles (Clinic Aide) has decided to move on to another opportunity. Her position is now posted.
• Math - We have a math candidate that we took to the BOE last night for approval. I will introduce her to the staff next Friday so that she has time to let her school know that she is leaving at the end of this year. This completes our hiring for the math department.

Library Collection for student materials (Not including Chromebooks):  

May 17th - 8th Grade 

May 18th - 7th Grade

May 19th - 6th Grade

Statesmen Time Teachers will get overdue notices starting Friday, April 8th and continue each week until library book collection begins. Please go over all missing and lost book titles with the students in your ST classes.  

The Chromebook collection will begin on May 19

We will be collecting during Science classes this year. The details of the process will be sent out as we get closer to the collection date.

Collection dates for teachers are as follows:

May 19 Kenney

May 20 Garwood, Vorel, Geringer

May 23 Tobey, Creath, Geringer, Oliver

May 24 Rodriguez, Meyer, Lopez, Williams

Late Start Days
Thank you to all who have confirmed your CLT Leader so far for next year! I am still waiting on some groups, while other groups cannot confirm until we finalize some staffing details. I hope to wrap this up by the end of next week. 

Here's a bit of info about late start days next year. On late start days, your CLT meetings will start at 8:05 am and end at 9:15 am. Doors will open to students at 9:25 am and school will begin at 9:40 am. Here are the dates for late start days for the 2022-2023 school year.

• September 12th & 26th
• October 10th & 24th
• November 14th & 28th
• December 12th
• January 9th & 23rd
• February 13 & 27th
• March 13th & 27th
• April 10th & 24th
• May 8th

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Friday Memo - 4/8/22

Important dates
April 11 - Mayes out of the building
April 12 to 14 - 6 Unity to Camp Wyman
April 19 to 21 - 6 Integrity to Camp Wyman
April 21 - 8th grade After School Dance Party, after school until 5pm
April 22 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
April 27 - Choir Concert, 6:30 pm
April 28 - Orchestra Concert, 6:00 pm
May 2 - 6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 - 5 - 6 Bravery to Camp Wyman
May 5 - Jazz Concert, 6:30 pm
May 6 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
May 9 - 12 - MAP Testing
May 12 - Fine Arts Festival
May 9 - 13 - Panorama window #3; School Resource Officer Appreciation week
May 13 - 8th grade Six Flags Trip
May 17 & 18 - NWEA Testing
May 23 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, Roberts Gym (WGHS), 7pm
May 25 - Band Pops Concert, 6pm
May 27 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visits Hixson; early dismissal at 12:32 pm, Faculty luncheon, 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm

109th issue of Hixson Happenings

Thank you assistant principals, Library staff, and paraprofessionals!
There were three appreciation days/weeks to celebrate this week! 

To our paraprofessionals, Karen Davis, Joan Carter, Andrea Metcalf, Catherine Goltermann, and Tamara Bauer, thank you for going above and beyond to support the unique needs of our students. Your job often has you all over the place and wearing multiple hats, and we are so grateful for excellent care you provide to Hixson students!

To our Library staff, Gail Tumminello, Jordan Haddock, and Sandra Quain, thank you for getting a brand new Library up and running in such a short amount of time! You handled this situation with grace and patience! The library continues to be an awesome and admirable space for students and staff because of your hard work each and every day! Thank you!

Thank you to our assistant principals, Mike Hazelton, Aimee Vogt, and Jeff Atterberry. Assistant principals take care of many "jobs" in the school that most people don't know about. These three have been consistent and they rarely complain about their workload that often seems insurmountable. Thank you to Mike, Aimee, and Jeff!

Hixson Middle School is so lucky to have these wonderful people as dedicated members of our staff! Thank you!

Library Collection for student materials (Not including Chromebooks):  

May 17th - 8th Grade 

May 18th - 7th Grade

May 19th - 6th Grade

Statesmen Time Teachers will get overdue notices starting Friday, April 8th and continue each week until library book collection begins. Please go over all missing and lost book titles with the students in your ST classes.  

The Chromebook collection will begin on May 19

We will be collecting during Science classes this year. The details of the process will be sent out as we get closer to the collection date.

Collection dates for teachers are as follows:

May 19 Kenney

May 20 Garwood, Vorel, Geringer

May 23 Tobey, Creath, Geringer, Oliver

May 24 Rodriguez, Meyer, Lopez, Williams

Late Start Days
Thank you to all who have confirmed your CLT Leader so far for next year! I am still waiting on some groups, while other groups cannot confirm until we finalize some staffing details. I hope to wrap this up by the end of next week. 

Here's a bit of info about late start days next year. On late start days, your CLT meetings will start at 8:05 am and end at 9:15 am. Doors will open to students at 9:25 am and school will begin at 9:40 am. Here are the dates for late start days for the 2022-2023 school year.

• September 12th & 26th
• October 10th & 24th
• November 14th & 28th
• December 12th
• January 9th & 23rd
• February 13 & 27th
• March 13th & 27th
• April 10th & 24th
• May 8th

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Friday Memo - 4/1/22

Important dates
April 7 - Band Concert, 6pm
April 12 - 14 - 6 Unity to Camp Wyman
April 19 - 21 - 6 Integrity to Camp Wyman
April 21 - 8th grade After School Dance Party, UNTIL 5pm
April 22 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
May 2 - 6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 - 5 - 6 Bravery to Camp Wyman
May 5 - Jazz Concert, 6:30 pm
May 6 - Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches
May 9 - 12 - MAP Testing
May 12 - Fine Arts Festival
May 9 - 13 - Panorama window #3; School Resource Officer Appreciation week
May 13 - 8th grade Six Flags Trip
May 17 & 18 - NWEA Testing
May 23 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, Roberts Gym (WGHS), 7pm
May 25 - Band Pops Concert, 6pm
May 27 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visits Hixson during lunches; early dismissal at 12:32 pm

108th issue of Hixson Happenings

Congratulations to Mr. Mack for being named Rock Hill Citizen of the Year!
https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/features/top-citizens-businesses-honored-for-2021/article_b59d255a-b124-11ec-847b-ab446d68cecd.html

Upcoming high sub days

• Wednesday, April 13 - 5 current staff absences due to Social Studies PD day; 1 unfilled
• Thursday, April 14 - 5 current staff absences; all currently filled
• Friday, April 15 - 15 staff absences; all currently filled
• Friday, April 22 - 5 staff absences; 2 unfilled

Staff meeting reminder, Monday, April 4, 2022
This is a reminder that we have a faculty meeting on Monday, April 4, 2022 from 3:35 pm to 4:30 pm. This meeting will be MAP Training led by Hope Strasser. Please make sure you are in attendance. Hope will also have some time at the May 2 faculty meeting to provide a refresher. That meeting takes place a week before MAP. 

League of Women Voters Candidate Forum + Targeted School List
I watched the League of Women Voters BOE Candidate Forum on Tuesday night. The forum was held here at Hixson. Towards the end of the forum, one or two of the candidates commented in a negative way about Hixson being a targeted school. I wanted to provide you with some talking points just in case anyone were to ever question you about us being a targeted school. Please see below. If you have any questions about this, please let me know.

* Hixson was designated a targeted school due to ELA and Math scores for students with IEPs in 2018.  

* 331 schools are targeted in the state of Missouri and 156 districts in the state have targeted schools. 

* To exit the targeted schools lists, a school must show two years of progress (out of three year of testing). 

2019 - Hixson did not make enough progress

2020 - No MAP testing

2021 - MAP testing did not count

2022 (current school year) - progress needs to be made

2023 - progress needs to be made