Hixson Happenings

April 17 - 7 Unity to Main Event

April 17-18: EOC Testing (Algebra 1 only)

April 20 - Orchestra Concert, 6:30 pm

April 21 - Hixson Walk-a-Thon during PE classes; Model UN Field Trip

April 24 - Late Start Day

April 24-28: MAP Spirit Week

April 26 - Choir Concert, 6:30 pm; Administrative Professionals Day

April 28 - Art 3 Show, Old Orchard, 5pm

May 1 - School Principal's Day

May 4 - Jazz Concert, 6:30 pm

May 2-5: MAP Testing

May 8 - 12: Teacher Appreciation Week; Late Start Day

May 9-10: NWEA Testing

May 11 - Fine Arts Festival

May 12 - 8th grade to 6 Flags

May 22 - 8th grade Promotion Ceremony, 6pm @ Roberts Gym

May 24 - Band Pops Concert, 6pm

May 26 - Last day of school; Kona Ice visit; dismissal at 12:30 pm

August 8 - March to the Middle (6th grade orientation), 8:30 am - 11:45 am

August 17 - Open House + School Pictures, 3pm - 7pm

Please see the letter below that was sent to all Hixson families on April 13, 2023.

Dear Hixson families,

Missouri State Statute 170.045, implemented in 2019, requires that students in grades 6-12 receive trauma-informed developmentally appropriate, sexual abuse training. The school district shall notify parents or guardians in advance of the training required under this section, of the content of the instruction, and the parent's or guardian's right to have the student excused from the instruction.

In accordance with Missouri state law, every year our district will provide age and developmentally appropriate sexual abuse prevention education to students in 6th - 12th grade. The goal of this programming is to keep your children safe. Under Missouri law this education will include the following components:

1. Instruction providing students with the knowledge and tools to recognize sexual abuse,

2. Instruction providing students with the knowledge and tools to report an incident of sexual abuse,

3. Actions that a student who is a victim of sexual abuse could take to obtain assistance and intervention, and

4. Available resources for students affected by sexual abuse.
   
   

The video that we will use with students for the trauma informed sexual abuse education can be viewed here.

We will provide this education to students on Friday, April 28, 2023 during Statesman Time (1:14 pm - 1:43 pm). If you would like to opt your child out of this learning opportunity, please click HERE. Students who are opted out of the learning will report to the Cafeteria while the learning is taking place. Students can also opt themselves out by notifying their Statesman Time teacher. Counselors and administrators will be stationed in the Cafeteria while the learning is taking place, ready to support our students as always.

Should you need additional support, please visit these websites with resources for sexual violence and support for students and families.

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Learn more at www.rainn.org.

• Safe Connections is one of the St. Louis region’s oldest and largest organizations working to prevent and end domestic and sexual violence while helping survivors thrive. Learn more at safeconnections.org.
  
  

As a reminder to families, all school staff are mandated reporters but anyone can report suspected child abuse and neglect. Mandated reporters "who know or have reasonable cause to suspect" are required by law to report child abuse and neglect. The hotline number for making reports is 1-800-392-3738.

If you have further questions, please contact your child’s assistant principal or counselor.

Thank you,

Hixson Administration

We will start collecting Chromebooks on May 11, 2023. We will complete our collection process by May 19, 2023. Please see the schedule for collection below.

This year's collection will take place during ELA classes. Students are expected to return their Chromebook, charger, and case in good working condition. If equipment is damaged/does not function when it is returned, or if your student does not return some or all of the equipment, then fines will be assessed and entered into the Tyler SIS portal at the time of collection. Please note, your student will not be issued another Chromebook for next year until all fines (ie: library, 6th grade camp, Chromebook, etc) are resolved. This applies to rising exiting 8th graders/rising 9th graders as well. We will provide documentation of all equipment that your student turned in at the time of collection. Parents/guardians will receive this documentation as well.

Please be aware, Chromebook insurance will be required for all school issued Chromebooks next school year (23-24). Your student will not receive a Chromebook until the insurance fee is paid. Students will still be permitted to bring their own device to school, if they choose.

We are excited to announce the Inaugural Hixson Walkathon Fundraiser! Families register at the below link and can easily share a link on social media or through email/text to family and friends to get flat pledges for their student's walkathon through an easy-to-use website. The walkathon will be a fun event which will take place on Friday, April 21th during your student's PE class. The PE teachers and volunteers run the event, and you can help us raise money for your student's walkathon in the following ways:

1. Please register your student(s) at this website: https://getmovinfundhub.com/register?school_uuid=6402290a7d6b5

2. Personalize your student's fundraising page with a photo or video.

3. Share your student's personalized link (found on their FundHub profile) on social media or with your family and friends to raise money for Hixson's PTO. Donations are a flat donation to the student's participation, not a donation per lap like some walkathons.

The students are going to love the incentives we have created. They will be announced in announcements and in future social media posts and emails.

4. Sign up here to volunteer on the day of the event, April 21, 2023! We welcome parents to join us to monitor the walkathon which will happen all around the Hixson building/Moss field and we need snack table supervisors to help hand out snacks and rubber bands which is how the students will count their laps. You can register your student here to get started: https://getmovinfundhub.com/register?school_uuid=6402290a7d6b5

Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil Series is coming to Hixson for an all day author event on Tuesday, April 25. Each grade level will attend a one hour presentation from Soman Chainani.

If students own or would like to purchase a copy of his book(s) they will be able to enter a signing line to get it autographed! We are partnering with the Novel Neighbor for purchasing books; click here to purchase books online. We also have physical order forms in the library (as do all ELA teachers). All money and orders are due to the library by Friday, April 21st.

Click here to watch a book trailer for the first The School for Good and Evil book.

Click here to watch the trailer for the recently released Netflix adaptation.

Please contact Jordan Haddock at haddock.jordan@wgmail.org if you have any questions.

Six Flags Trip

• When: Friday, May 12th, 2023

• Departure from school: 9:00am

• Arrival back to school: 5:00pm

• Students will need money for food/drink

• Cost per student: $37; if students have a Six Flags season pass, they will only need to pay $7 to cover transportation.

To pay:

• Make check payable to WGSD: drop off at Hixson main office

• Cash payments can be dropped off in a sealed envelope marked “Six Flags” with student name on the envelope at the Hixson main office

• Follow the link below to make credit card payments

• Webster Groves SD (you will need to create an account to utilize this option: All questions pertaining to this option can be answered by Sarah Magruder, Administrative Assistant. You can reach her at magruder.sarah@wgmail.org

All students will ride the bus to and from Six Flags, returning to Hixson Middle School at 5:00pm. Park Hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm on this day. VICC transportation home is available for those enrolled in the program. Scholarships are available (on a limited basis). Please contact Mr. Atterberry (atterberry.jeff@wgmail.org) or Ms. Reif (reif.lynne@wgmail.org) for more information.

8th Grade Promotion Ceremony

• When: Monday, May 22, 2023

• Where: Webster Groves High School, Roberts Gym

• Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

-The 8th grade celebration is a time to honor the Hixson 8th grade class of 2023.

-If any parent is interested in volunteering to create a video presentation honoring the class of 2023 please contact Mr. Atterberry at atterberry.jeff@wgmail.org

More communication for all events will continue to come out as we get closer to these events. As always please feel free to reach out to Mr. Atterberry at atterberry.jeff@wgmail.org or by calling 314-918-4661 with any questions.

Help MAKE HIXSON HAPPEN! Make a gift today to support the PTO Annual Fund which enhances the educational experience for EVERY HIXSON STUDENT!

Click HERE to make a gift via Paypal or send in a gift by check to the Hixson office. All gifts are tax-deductible!

BRIDGing our Stories (Building. Relationships. Inclusion. Diversity. Growth) is a community advocacy storytelling project that aims to empower WGSD 6-12th grade students and staff to advocate for their needs, embrace and appreciate our diversity, and help everyone feel valued and welcomed. Students and staff members can express themselves through art such as poetry, photography, music, dance, painting, etc. These creative expressions will be placed in a Community Gallery for the public to view, learn, and appreciate. In addition, the art will be used in a professional development session for staff to learn about the power of storytelling, relationship building, and building community. Supplies will be provided to students to complete their project. Students will be asked a year later to share how being a part of the project impacted their classroom experiences. This program is grant-funded by the WG Foundation and Lindenwood University.

We hope that you will participate and share this exciting opportunity with your students.

Participation forms will be available the week of March 27th in the Main Offices of Hixson and WGHS and a link will be sent via email. For additional information or questions, please contact Dr. Williamson at williamson.shane@wgmail.org.

Thanks,

Shane & Amy

Email: mayes.shenita@wgmail.org
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Hixson
Location: 630 South Elm Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6450
Facebook: facebook.com/HixsonMiddleSchool