July 2025 Family Newsletter Horner

Dear Horner Families,

As we move into the month of March, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for being such positive and supportive partners in your child’s education. Our families consistently reach out with questions, concerns, and insights about their students, and that open communication makes an incredible difference. When parents and school staff work together, students feel supported from all sides — and that strong home–school connection is one of the most powerful tools we have to help children succeed both academically and socially.

We truly value the trust you place in us each day. Your involvement, responsiveness, and willingness to collaborate allow us to address concerns early, celebrate successes often, and ensure every student feels known and supported. Education works best when it is a team effort, and we are grateful to be on that team with you.

As a reminder, Spring Break is just around the corner. There will be no school from March 13th through March 22nd, and students will return to campus on March 23rd. We hope this time provides your family an opportunity to rest, recharge, and enjoy time together.

Please remember to check the school marquee, our school website, and ParentSquare regularly for any updates or last-minute school-wide information. These platforms are the best way to stay informed about important announcements and upcoming events.

Thank you again for your continued partnership and support. We appreciate you and all that you do to help make Horner such a strong and connected community.

Cindy Hicks-Rodriguez

Principal, Horner Middle School

All Wednesday's are minimum days with early dismissal at 1:17 pm. We will also have other days that we have a 1:17 dismissal that are NOT Wednesdays. Please not on these dates below there will be NO AC transit bus right after school. Students can walk to the Grimmer bus stop near IHS to catch the bus right after school. Thank you for noting these dates below.

5/29, 6/1

If your child is interested in trying out for a Winter or Spring sport please print out the forms that are attached prior to the school year. At MAZE day you are able to turn the forms into the athletic table if you have the physical form from your doctor attached. All students trying out for a sport MUST have all paperwork and physicals completed and submitted on the due dates below in order to try out. If you have any questions you can email Mr Sean Davis at Horner Middle School as he oversees the athletic programs.

Forms due for Boys Volleyball: March 4, 2026

Boys volleyball tryouts: March 9, 2026

All deadlines are firm and we cannot accept forms past the due date listed above. Thank you.

College and career presentations-Counselors in History classes

March 2 – 13, 2026

Boys volleyball forms due to office

Wednesday, March 4

PTSA meeting online

Wednesday, March 4⋅6:30 – 7:30pm

PTSA Talent Show in MUR

Friday, March 6⋅6:00 – 8:00pm

HORNER - Boys Volleyball Tryouts

March 9 – 10, 2026

No school on March 13 - Start of Spring break. School resumes on March 23.

Lockdown drill

Friday, March 27⋅11:15 – 11:50am

Boys VB game @ Centerville away

Tuesday, March 31⋅2:45 – 4:45pm

Boys VB game @ Horner (Thornton)

Thursday, April 2⋅2:45 – 4:45pm

No school

Friday, April 3

We’re excited to offer a fun way to celebrate your child’s birthday at Horner Middle School! Since we do not allow treats, balloons, or other birthday items to be brought to school due to the distractions they can cause, a marquee birthday greeting is a wonderful alternative to make your child feel special.

For just $10 cash, you can have a personalized birthday message displayed on our school marquee — a great way to make your child a “celebrity” for the day!

If you’re interested in purchasing a birthday greeting, please stop by the school office for more information.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our students in a fun, safe, and school-friendly way! All proceeds go towards our school safety supplies and technology needs.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to invite you to participate in our Annual College and Career Day on Thursday, April 10. This event provides students with the opportunity to learn about a wide range of careers and post-secondary pathways by connecting directly with members of our school community.

College and Career Day will be held during students’ lunch periods and will be set up as an expo-style event. Parents and guardians are invited to host a booth showcasing their career or profession. You are welcome to create any type of display you feel best represents your work and should be prepared to answer student questions about your career path, education, and day-to-day responsibilities.

This event is always very popular with students and creates a fun, engaging, and informative lunch experience. Students truly enjoy learning about real-world careers and exploring possibilities for their future.

If you are interested in setting up a booth and sharing your career with our students, please complete the Google Form linked below. Once submitted, the Assistant Principal or Principal will contact you with additional details and next steps.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for considering this opportunity to inspire and support our students as they explore their future goals.

Subject: March Reminder – Partnering Together to Support Our HORNET Expectations 🐝

Dear Horner Families,

As we enter the month of March, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to engage in a conversation with your student about our schoolwide expectations and Code of Conduct. When families and school work together, students thrive.

🐝 CHARACTER TRAITS – What Does It Mean to Be a HORNET?

At Horner, being a HORNET means striving to be your best self every day:

H – Hardworking
O – Open-minded
R – Respectful
N – Non-judgmental
E – Empathetic
T – Trustworthy

We believe success extends beyond academics — it’s about building strong character. When students demonstrate these traits, they contribute to a positive school environment and develop lifelong skills that support success in school, relationships, and future careers. Being a HORNET means showing integrity, kindness, and responsibility every single day.

👕 Dress for Success Guidelines

(Aligned with CA Education Code 35183)

We believe dressing appropriately supports a focused, respectful, and safe learning environment. Please review these expectations with your student:

✅ Stay Classroom Ready – Sunglasses should be removed while in class.
✅ Keep It Secure – Clothing must have straps and fully cover undergarments.
✅ Express Yourself Safely – Gang-related clothing, accessories, emblems, chains, or spikes are not permitted.
✅ Keep It Covered – Midriffs must be covered; lower-body garments must fully cover buttocks without exposing underwear.
✅ Step Safely – Shoes must be worn at all times. Sandals/flip-flops are worn at your own risk.
✅ Keep It Appropriate – Pajamas, flannel pants resembling pajamas, bathrobes, slippers, and blankets should remain at home.
✅ Avoid Confusion – Red or blue bandanas with handkerchief print are not allowed.

Dress Code Procedures:

• First infraction: Warning and change of clothing (or parent/guardian contacted to bring appropriate attire).

• Infractions are entered into the student’s behavior record.

• Repeated violations may result in progressive disciplinary consequences.

📱 Electronic Devices

District policy does not allow the use of personal electronic devices during the school day.

• Students may carry cell phones, but they must be powered off and put away once the bell rings.

• Phones may only be used before or after school.

• If students need to contact a parent during the school day, they may use the office phone.

• The school and district are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.

• Students may not take photos or videos during school hours without administrative permission.

Thank you for partnering with us to reinforce these expectations at home. When students understand and consistently follow these guidelines, it helps us maintain a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment for everyone.

We appreciate your support and your continued commitment to helping your student represent Horner with pride.

Together, we help every student be the best version of themselves. 🐝

Governor Newsom and the First Partner arrived in Fremont today, Feb. 27th at the Alameda County Library on Stevenson Boulevard to kick off an initiative the two are starting. This was a great opportunity for our Horner students to meet him and his wife and hear about the upcoming library initiatives.

The Governor asked for approximately 200 FUSD middle and high school students to attend this kickoff event at the Fremont Main Library from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Horner ASB group attended along with Mr. Shaffer and our librarian Avani Bhagat. There were games, entertainers and lunch provided.

See the great pics below of our students and staff engaging with Governor Newsome and team at this event!

🐝 Parent PBIS Connection Checklist

Supporting Our Three Tenets at Home

At Horner, our PBIS framework is built around three core tenets:

• Show Respect

• Make Good Decisions

• Solve Problems

When students experience the same expectations at school and at home, it creates clarity, confidence, and consistency. The home–school connection is powerful. When families reinforce the same language and values, students are more likely to internalize positive behaviors and make strong choices independently.

Below is a simple checklist to help you align home practices with what your student is learning at school.

✅ SHOW RESPECT

☐ Model respectful communication at home (tone, listening, patience).
☐ Encourage your child to use respectful language with siblings and adults.
☐ Ask: “What did showing respect look like for you today?”
☐ Reinforce respectful disagreement and calm conversations.
☐ Acknowledge when your child demonstrates empathy or kindness.

At Horner: Students are explicitly taught what respect looks like in classrooms, hallways, lunch areas, and online.
At Home: Reinforcing that same expectation builds character consistency.

✅ MAKE GOOD DECISIONS

☐ Talk through choices before difficult situations arise.
☐ Ask: “What are your options?” and “What might happen next?”
☐ Praise responsible decision-making, even in small moments.
☐ Set clear expectations and consistent consequences at home.
☐ Encourage independence and accountability.

At Horner: Students learn that every choice has a consequence — positive or corrective.
At Home: Consistent responses help students connect behavior with outcomes.

✅ SOLVE PROBLEMS

☐ Encourage your child to explain problems calmly before jumping in to fix them.
☐ Ask: “What solution could you try first?”
☐ Teach coping strategies (deep breathing, taking a break, asking for help).
☐ Reinforce perseverance when work feels challenging.
☐ Help your child reflect: “What would you do differently next time?”

At Horner: Students are taught structured problem-solving skills and conflict resolution strategies.
At Home: Supporting these same strategies builds resilience.

⭐ Reinforce Positive Behavior

☐ Notice and acknowledge positive behaviors regularly.
☐ Celebrate effort, not just outcomes.
☐ Use specific praise: “I noticed you solved that problem calmly.”
☐ Create simple home incentives that reinforce responsibility and kindness.

Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood that positive behavior continues.

🤝 Why the Home–School Connection Matters

Consistency makes everything tie together.

When students hear the same expectations at school and at home:

• Behavior improves

• Accountability increases

• Emotional regulation strengthens

• Confidence grows

PBIS works best when it is not just a school system — but a shared mindset between families and educators.

Thank you for partnering with us to build strong character, responsible decision-making, and confident problem-solvers. Together, we help every student grow into the best version of themselves — at school and beyond. 🐝