Hornet News
It's a GREAT day to be a Hornet!
September Newsletter 2026
Our focus is to BE HERE, BE PRESENT~ Pursue Excellence in our academics and character. We are Driven, Bold, Kind, Proud, and Honest.
Hello Hedrick Families,
I’m excited to welcome you to a new school year full of growth, learning, and connection.
Our dedicated staff is eager to support each student’s success and celebrate their contributions through our continually evolving Advisory program, designed to foster deeper relationships, stronger support systems, and a sense of belonging across our school community. More information from our staff will be available at our Back to School nights. These are by grade level this year. We wanted to focus on grade level specific information.
Fall I Ready testing in ELA & Math will begin September 8th. Please encourage your child to do their best on these two assessments. These are important as it gives us a starting point for each student and how best we can support students individually.
Each month we will send home a Family Newsletter with important information on upcoming events, principal's message, classroom and school highlights, reminders, announcements and more.
It's a GREAT day to be a Hornet!
Lori Higgins, Principal, Hedrick Middle School
We look forward to seeing all our Hornet families!
6th grade Sept 14th
7th grade Sept 17th
8th grade Sept 8th
Attendance Matters - Every Day Counts!
Welcome back to school! Did you know students who miss two days a month, excused or not, are at risk of falling behind academically? Help your child develop strong attendance habits early. Every Day matters! Attendance will be a school wide focus at Hedrick. Please reach out to your child's Advisor or Administration team if you need support or have questions please reach out. The image below is one example of how families can track the maximum days a student should miss without being considered CHRONICALLY ABSENT. This image is in the front of student planners if you would like to use it as a family. We are also the Two Time reigning MS Attendance winner! Let's GO!!!
Hedrick MS and the Medford school district are working alongside our community partners: City of Medford, Medford PD, and our community neighbors to ensure student drop off and pick up are safer for all. Our buses are along Pearl St (between HMS & the market). Parents will use the old bus alley behind the school. Jackson St will be a ticketed area. Please do not use this area for before school or after school student drop off or pick up. There will be parking spots along N Kenne Way as needed during school hours. Please view the map below.
Bus Route information can be found here- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/148UmX4ZWPQg7cv5dPIPTi0AbrY16Hz5Q/edit?gid=2032707832#gid=2032707832
Hedrick Middle School is a place for all students to be safe and successful, both academically and socially. To support in this mission, we have an Off and Away for the Day cell phone policy for the 2026/27 school year in the Medford school district.
We ask that families and students use the main office when communicating messages from home or school.
Research:
Science supports an "Away For The Day" policy. When students do not have the freedom of accessing their phones during school hours, they are more engaged socially and academically. 97% of students aged 11 to 17 used their phones during the school day. Daily in-school phone use ranged from less than a minute to 6½ hours, with a median of 43 minutes of screen time.
Dear Hedrick Families,
As we prepare for the new school year, we want to share an update about Chromebook access at our middle schools.
Middle schools are transitioning from one-to-one Chromebooks to classroom carts and shared school devices. Students will still have access to district Chromebooks when needed for instruction.
This change will roll out in phases as devices are updated and placed in classrooms, with the goal of maintaining a reliable, well-managed fleet.
Families do not need to purchase a device for school use. Personal devices should stay at home, as they cannot connect to the district network. At home, students may still access HelloID and other district resources. Students with specific instructional, accessibility, or support needs will continue to receive appropriate technology access.
Thank you for your partnership as we work to provide students with reliable technology access while responsibly caring for district resources.
Welcome back, families! We’re excited for another school year and look forward to supporting our students. Mrs. Bri will support Team 72 and 8th grade, while Mr. Sam will support 6th grade and Team 71. As school counselors, we provide short-term, solution-focused counseling to help students navigate challenges, build skills, and feel successful at school. We also manage 504 accommodation plans, partnering with students, families, and staff to ensure students receive the support they need. We’re thrilled to work alongside you and help make this a successful year for every student! Mr. Elsdon & Mrs. Meyer
Welcome back! I am so excited for the 26-27 school year and look forward to supporting all of our students. As the Social Emotional Advocate here at Hedrick I serve students in all grade levels; providing a quiet, welcoming space where students can land, reset, build skills, and receive the support they need to have the most positive middle school experience possible.
Mrs. Robinson, SEA
The Fall athletic season is officially underway, with contests beginning the week of September 8th. Our Cross Country, Volleyball, and Football student-athletes have been working diligently, and we are proud of the commitment and effort they continue to demonstrate.
We are fortunate to have outstanding coaches guiding our programs. However, in order to make our home contests successful, we are seeking additional volunteers. Opportunities include serving as scoreboard operators for Volleyball and Football, working with the chain crew for Football, assisting as line judges for Volleyball, and supporting as course judges for Cross Country.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our athletic department at Hedrick.Athletics@medford.k12.or.us
September 2- Fall Athletics Parent Mtg XC 4:30 cafeteria, 5:00 Volleyball Gym, 5:30 Football Gym
Your support helps provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes.
Payments are online!
Hedrick Middle School has an online payment option for almost all things throughout the year. We are encouraging families to make the move to using our InTouch Payment Portal for all payments. Field Trips, Fundraisers, PE Uniforms, Chromebook fees, Yearbooks, prior year unpaid balances, and much more will be available online for payment throughout the year. If you have not created an InTouch Account, please do so! We are moving away from collecting cash and checks as much as possible. Use the link below to access the online portal for InTouch.
When these opportunities occur, the student’s image may be accompanied by his/her first and last name, classroom work, and information regarding the student’s participation in a program or activity.
If you DO NOT want your child’s photograph to be published for any or all of the uses described, please check the box below, sign the form, and return it to your child’s school. This form stays in effect unless you visit your child’s school to revoke the publicity denial.
Medford District 549c schools are always in the process of identifying students who are academically talented and/or intellectually gifted. Previously identified TAG students remain identified and their services will continue as needed. Students may be nominated for the Talented and Gifted Program (TAG) by the following: national or state test scores, district achievement tests (i-Ready), a teacher, parents, community members, or by self-nomination. After nominations are complete, information will be gathered and a screening committee will screen each student. Students and parents/guardians will be contacted if additional testing is needed. If you wish to obtain information on this program or you have any questions, please contact the school office with questions- 541-842-3700 or Rebecca Sha, the district Talented and Gifted Specialist at 541-842-1043.
Our PTSA is looking for more parents and students who want to get involved in what is happening at Hedrick Middle School!
From going on field trips to planning student socials, selling concessions at sporting events to monthly meetings to discuss fun ideas. There is room for everyone!!
Please join us as we kick off next school year at the Back to School Night on September 10th
We hope to see you there!
If you would like to volunteer or chaperone you must go through the district VIM process. Use this link:
September 2- Fall Athletics Parent Mtg XC 4:30 cafeteria, 5:00 Volleyball Gym, 5:30 Football Gym
September 3- School Pictures
September 4 & 7- No School- Labor Day Weekend
Back to School Night- times see above
September 18- Lockdown Drill- student friendly
September 28- School Bingo to support our Choir & Culinary Programs
Office Staff:
Office Manager- Karlie Blair hedrick@medford.k12.or.us
Registrar- Amy Morrell hedrick.registrar@medford.k12.or.us
Athletic Secretary- Libby Henry hedrick.athletics@medford.k12.or
Attendance- Jamie Hammell, hedrick.attendance@medford.k12.or.us
Administration:
Lori Higgins, Principal lori.higgins@medford.k12.or.us
Jeremy Durst, Asst. Principal jeremy.durst@medford.k12.or.us
Chad Johnson, Asst. Princpal/ AD chad.johnson@medford.k12.or.us
Karlie Blair karlie.blair@medford.k12.or.us
Hedrick MS- 541-842-3700
For information on the go, you can find us online on Facebook or our website
Website: https://hedrick.medford.k12.or.us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HedrickHornets