Falcon Update

Dear HMS Families,

We can’t wait to welcome our students to Heritage for the 2025-2026 school year. We know everyone is excited to be back in the building, see who their teachers will be, make new friends, and maybe see some old friends too! We wanted to share important information about the 2025-2026 school year and will continue to do so moving forward.

Heritage is excited to see new and familiar faces at the Back to School Picnic today, Sunday, August 17th, from 12 to 2 PM at Proksa Park. We are also excited to welcome families and students into the building at School Supply Drop Off on Wednesday, August 20th, from 1:30 to 3:00.

Our first day of school is Thursday, August 21st. It is a half day for students with a dismissal time of 11:15 AM. Students will spend the day participating in different activities throughout the half day. Friday, August 22nd, is our first full day, and students will be dismissed at the normal time 3:17 PM.

This school year we will be implementing our new bell schedule. Heritage doors will open at 7:45 AM so that students will be able to get a hot or cold breakfast before starting their day. Opening the doors earlier will also allow plenty of time before Period 1, which begins promptly at 8:15 AM. Students this year are expected to be in their classrooms ready to learn at 8:15 AM. Arriving on time is essential for setting a positive tone for the day and ensuring students don’t miss important instructions.

Throughout the newsletter below, you will find more information about procedures, including arrival and dismissal, uniforms, locks and so much more.

We are looking forward to working with the amazing Heritage community, families, and students this school year.

Thank you,

Michelle Hauer

708-303-4805

mhauer@bsd100.org

Additional Important Future Dates

8/17: Back to School Picnic at Proska 12:00-2:00 PM

8/20: Supply Drop Off 1:30-3:00 PM

8/21: First Day of School; Dismissal at 11:15 AM

8/22: First Full Day of School; Dismissal at 3:17 PM

9/2: No School

9/18: Curriculum Night

All families are invited to stop by the Back to School picnic on Sunday, August 17th from 12:00-2:00 PM at Proksa Park. Look for the HMS table and come say hi! You will be able to check to see if you are fully registered and check out our giveaways.

Any HMS student is welcome to come to Heritage Middle School on Wednesday, August 20th from 1:30-3:00 PM to pick-up their school schedule, see and set-up their assigned locker (if you have a school lock), purchase any items needed, submit additional paperwork to the main office, and meet the HMS staff. Please enter through the main entrance! Please check the link below to view the school supply list for the current school year.

Students are required to wear school uniforms on all days they are in the building unless it is a special spirit day or they have purchased a dress down from the PBIS school store. The dress code policy from the student handbook is as follows:

The dress code is mandatory and applies to all 6th -8th graders on the first day of school.

• All students shall wear a school-approved plain/solid navy blue collared polo shirt. The polo may be long or short sleeve and must be properly fitted. Any t-shirts worn underneath polo shirts may not be visible below approved polo.

• Students shall wear plain, solid khaki or black colored pants, skirts or shorts. Pants may not be sweat or velour and may not have oversized pockets.

• Plain, solid navy sweaters/sweatshirts (non-hooded) or school branded sweatshirts are allowed.

• IDs should be worn and visible at all times if required by school. Students must wear school-appropriate lanyards.

• For safety reasons, shoes must have backs. Flip-flops and slippers are not allowed.

• Items of clothing, including jewelry that advertises illegal substances, weapons, vulgar messages, gang identification and promotion are not allowed.

• Unless otherwise communicated by school staff, hats, caps, sunglasses should not be worn inside the building.

• School approved spirit wear may be worn during out of uniform days and at the discretion of the administration.

When the student’s dress interferes with the maintenance of a positive teaching/learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency the parent/legal guardian may be notified to bring a change of clothes or be asked to change into clothes provided.

Students will start changing for Physical Education class during the second week of school. Uniforms are available for purchase and can be done so on Supply Drop Off. Uniforms and spirit wear will also be for sale throughout the school year.

School locks are $9 and are needed for the student lockers. They can be purchased at the Supply Drop Off Event on August 21st or from the main office.

Los candados de la escuela cuestan $9 y son necesarios para los casilleros de los estudiantes. Se pueden comprar en el evento de entrega de suministros el 21 de Agosto o en la oficina principal.

Students may arrive no earlier than 7:45 AM to HMS unless they have a morning practice or a club meeting. All students should arrive at school by 8:10 AM. The first class begins at 8:15 AM. All students will enter through the main entrance and go to their designated area in the building. On the first day of school 6th grade will go to the gym and 7th and 8th grade will go to the MPR.

Students leave their last class of the day (Period 9) at 3:17 and then leave the building through the following doors

• MPR/Back Parking Lot Door: Students in 8th Grade

• Front Entrance: Students in 6th grade

• Side Alley Entrance: Students in 7th grade

If students ride the bus they will wait with the supervisor(s) inside the main hallway entrance area.

Students at Heritage receive free breakfast and lunch each day if they choose to participate, or they may bring their own lunch from home. As a healthy school, we ask that students do not bring pop, energy drinks, or large bags of snacks.

Breakfast will be served each morning before students head to their Period 1 class. Lunch will take place at the scheduled time according to the bell schedule, and students will also have the option to participate in recess during their lunchtime.

Below will be where you can find the menus for Heritage through OrganicLife.

This school year, all students will receive an assignment notebook on Monday, August 25th. The purpose of the assignment notebook is to help students stay organized, keep track of their work, and build strong study habits. Students will be expected to write down their assignments in every class (except PE) each day and bring the notebook to and from school. Using the notebook regularly will help students stay on top of their responsibilities and feel more prepared for each day.

Families can also use the assignment notebook as a tool to check in with their child about daily homework and upcoming assignments, projects and assessments.

All sixth grade and new students are required to have a school physical and copy of their updated immunizations in order to start the school year on August 21, 2025. The school physical form from a Doctor’s Office must be submitted to the school by Monday, August 18th. The forms can be dropped off to the main office. If you have questions for the nurse, please contact her at maria.torres@bsd100.org or 708-303-4810.

We’re excited to share our new website! We will continue updating it to ensure it’s helpful and user-friendly for families. If you need any assistance finding information, please don’t hesitate to contact the main office.

Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

Email: mhauer@bsd100.org
Website: https://heritage.bsd100.org/
Location: 6850 31st Street, Berwyn, IL, USA
Phone: (708)749-6110
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeritageMiddleSchoolBerwyn