Miners in the Middle

It's hard to believe we're already a few weeks into the school year! Our routines are becoming more familiar, classes are well underway, and our students are settling into life at HMS.

As we move beyond the beginning-of-the-year adjustment period, this is a good time for all of us to refocus on the habits that make for a successful school year — working hard in the classroom, keeping up with assignments, making good choices, and treating others and our school with respect.

There is a lot happening at HMS this week, including school pictures, softball, our first home varsity football game, FCS, and continued benchmark testing. Let's have a great week, Miners! 💙🤍

— Mrs. Green, Principal

Please see the information below for picture details and ordering information.

We ran our first weekly eligibility report on Friday. Students who appeared on the list will be on probation this week.

What does probation mean?
Probation is a warning week and an opportunity for students to get back on track. Students on probation may continue participating in activities this week, but they must be passing ALL classes when eligibility is checked again on Friday in order to remain eligible.

Eligibility is checked every Friday, so students should not wait until the end of the week to address a failing grade. Students should check their grades, complete any missing work that is still eligible to be submitted, talk with their teachers, and ask for help early.

Parents/guardians: This is a great time to check your student's grades in Sylogist and help them make a plan for any class in which they are struggling.

Our goal isn't simply for students to stay eligible for activities — we want them developing the habits they need to be successful in the classroom.

We're a few weeks into the school year, and it's time for a quick reset on our building-wide expectations.

At HMS, we expect students to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Strong, and Be Safe — not only in the classroom, but everywhere on campus.

We've seen some of our beginning-of-year habits starting to slip, particularly in our common areas and cafeteria. Students will be reviewing expectations this week, including moving appropriately through the lunch line, remaining seated where directed, cleaning up after themselves, disposing of trash properly, following dismissal procedures, and treating our facilities and one another with respect.

These may seem like small things, but with nearly 200 middle school students sharing the same spaces, everyone doing their part matters.

Parents and guardians, we appreciate your help reinforcing these expectations at home. When school and home send the same message, our students benefit.

Lunch is a break in the school day, and we want you to be able to eat, talk, and enjoy time with your friends. That only works when everyone does their part.

1. ENTER & GET YOUR FOOD

• Enter the cafeteria calmly and go where you are supposed to go.

• If you are eating school lunch, get in the lunch line and stay in the line.

• No cutting, saving places, wandering in and out of the line, or going back and forth between tables and the line.

• Keep your hands, feet, food, and belongings to yourself.

• Be respectful to our cafeteria staff. “Please” and “thank you” matter.

2. SIT & EAT

• Once you have your food, choose your seat and stay there.

• Do not wander from table to table.

• Chairs stay where they belong. Do not drag or move chairs from other tables unless an adult gives you permission.

• You may talk with the people around you, but keep your voice at a reasonable cafeteria level.

• No throwing food, playing with food, touching someone else's food, or intentionally making a mess.

• Keep food and drinks in the cafeteria unless you have permission to take them elsewhere.

3. NEED TO GET UP? ASK FIRST.

You need permission before leaving your seat for something other than throwing away your trash when directed.

That includes:

• Going to the restroom

• Going to the office

• Leaving the cafeteria

• Going to another part of the building

• Visiting another table

Do not simply get up and disappear. We need to know where you are.

4. CLEAN UP YOUR AREA

Before you leave, look at your space.

• Pick up your trash.

• Throw away all food, wrappers, napkins, and other trash.

• If you spill something, clean it up or tell an adult so we can help you.

• Pick up trash from the floor around your seat — even if you aren't completely sure it is yours.

• Leave the table, floor, and chair ready for the next person.

Your mess is your responsibility.

5. THROW AWAY TRASH & DISMISS CORRECTLY

• Do not crowd the trash cans.

• Take your tray/trash to the correct place and actually put everything where it belongs.

• Do not toss trash toward the can or leave it sitting beside an overflowing can.

• Return to your seat if you have not been dismissed.

• Being finished eating does not mean you are dismissed.

• When dismissed, leave calmly and go directly where you are supposed to go.

THE EASY WAY TO REMEMBER IT

GET YOUR FOOD.

FIND YOUR SEAT.

STAY IN YOUR SEAT.

CLEAN YOUR SPACE.

ASK BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

RESPECT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

Lunch can be relaxed and fun without being chaotic. Everyone is responsible for helping keep our cafeteria clean, safe, and enjoyable. These rules apply to Breakfast as well.

Math benchmark testing is underway and will continue this week.

Just as we asked during our ELA benchmarks, students should give their best effort. These assessments help our teachers identify strengths, areas needing additional support, and instructional priorities for the weeks ahead.

Please help students come to school rested, on time, and ready to do their best!

• Monday, August 31

🏈 Middle School Football @ Coalgate 5:30

• Tuesday, September 1

• Wednesday, September 2

• Thursday, September 3

🏈 First Home Varsity Football Game! 💙🤍

• Friday, September 4

Parents/Guardians: Stay connected to your student's progress!

Sylogist is an important tool for monitoring your student's grades and attendance throughout the school year. We strongly encourage every parent/guardian to have an active parent account and check it regularly.

If you do not have access to your account or need assistance logging in, please contact the Middle School office and we will be happy to help.