Eagle Eye

Hello, HVMS Family!

We are excited to be approaching the start of the 2025-2026 school year. We look forward to meeting our new students and seeing those who were with us last year!

The Eagle Eye E-Newsletter is an electronic newsletter that we send out twice monthly to communicate what is happening at HVMS. In this newsletter, we will share general school information, upcoming events, celebrations of students and staff members, and information on the instructional program at HVMS.

Please take a few minutes to read through our summer newsletter to see what is coming up at HVMS and learn more about our operating procedures before the first day of school. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Christopher Benson

Principal

Our mission at Hidden Valley Middle School is to cultivate knowledge, to promote civic responsibility, to provide opportunities for the exploration of interests and abilities, to foster positive attitudes, and to develop essential skills necessary for all students to become productive citizens capable of thriving in the dynamic world of the twenty-first century.

• July 31: Schedule Pick-Up Night
• August 7: New Student Orientation
• August 7: Back-to-School Open House
• August 14: First Day of School
  

We invite students and parents/guardians to attend our schedule pick-up night on Thursday, July 31, from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. At this event, students may pick up their schedules for the coming school year. Class schedules will include names of assigned teachers, classroom numbers, locker numbers, and locker combinations. The building will be open for students to find their classrooms and practice opening their lockers. Schedules may also be picked up after July 31 during regular office hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.). Due to confidentiality, students are not allowed to pick up schedules for other students. Schedules will also be available through StudentVUE/ParentVUE before the start of school (beginning on August 1).

All new students (including all 6th graders) and their parents/guardians are invited to attend an orientation at the school on Thursday, August 7, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The program will provide students an opportunity to meet each of their teachers and to locate their classrooms. Parents/guardians will meet with administration and the counseling department to learn about the middle school experience.

On Thursday, August 7, from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., HVMS will host a Back-to-School Open House to prepare students and their families for the upcoming school year. The building will be open to parents/guardians and students from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., and teachers will be in their rooms to meet you and your students.

Thursday, August 14, marks the first day of school for the 2025-26 school year. All students will report to their advisory room at 8:20 a.m. for attendance and opening routines. Plenty of assistance will be available in the hallways for our new students who might need some extra help finding their way. After meeting in advisory, students will attend all of their A-day classes. School is dismissed at 3:25 p.m.

Our HVMS administrative team looks forward to working with your kids this coming year to help them develop academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.

• Principal: Chris Benson (cbenson@rcps.us)
• Assistant Principal (Athletics): Ron Coleman (rcoleman@rcps.us)
• Assistant Principal (Scheduling): Heather Riganti (hriganti@rcps.us)

Beginning July 17, parents can log into their ParentVUE account to complete the Annual Verification of their student’s information. We ask that parents please complete this verification by August 8. This process is extremely important since this is where you update your contact information, emergency contact information, student health information, and accept all needed acknowledgments. If you do not have a ParentVUE account or need assistance logging into your ParentVUE account, please call our front office (540-772-7570).

ANVER/ ParentVUE Information

ParentVUE

If you are trying to get a head start on back-to-school shopping, below is our suggested supply list for each grade level.

The Hidden Valley Middle School culture is based on collaboration between the teachers, staff, administration, students, parents/guardians, and the school community. We strive to create a safe learning environment that is conducive to student learning and the creation of positive relationships.

If a student plans to be absent from school for a planned event (such as a vacation or travel), the parent/guardian must send the school written prior notification of the absence. These absences will count against exam exemption and chronic absenteeism. The student shall be responsible for contacting the teacher to arrange for completing the make-up work. The school administrator may require the student to attend before or after school remediation sessions if they have missed 15 or more cumulative days of school.

So many of our students give of themselves through community service and volunteering. These students do not seek recognition from others, but they serve as role models for all of us. We want to recognize students who volunteer 30 or more hours for a community organization during the school year. Such students should complete and submit a verification form no later than May 1. Verification forms are found at the link below. Hidden Heroes will receive a certificate at the end of the year to acknowledge their contributions to their community.

2025-2026 Prices:

Breakfast: $1.75

Lunch: $3.25

Families may deposit funds to student meal accounts with a credit or debit card online at LINQ Connect. This is a secure, third-party vendor, and payments made through LINQ Connect have a processing fee. Payments may be made at no charge in all school cafeterias by cash or check. There is no charge to maintain your LINQ Connect account, which allows families to view student meal transactions and set spending limits or restrictions.

Students are required to have the Tdap and Meningococcal ACWY vaccine prior to entering 7th grade. The HPV vaccine is not required but recommended. Please bring or send a copy of the immunization record indicating these vaccines to your child's school as soon as possible. The school must receive the immunization record prior to the start of school. You can arrange for your child to receive these vaccines through your child’s healthcare provider or through the health department.

Summer Vaccine Clinics at RCPS Schools:

The summer immunization clinics for rising 7th- and 12th-grade students are scheduled on the following dates and locations. All clinics will be from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. These clinics are only for the secondary students. VDH will not have vaccines with them that are required for the elementary level.

• 7/28 Cave Spring Middle Cafeteria
• 7/30 William Byrd Middle Cafeteria
• 7/31 Northside Middle Big Gym

Summer Vaccine Clinics at VDH:

Students of any age can attend these clinics with an appointment.

Salem Department of Health, 105 E Calhoun Street, Salem, VA

The following are by appointment only:

• Every Monday – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, August 1 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 6 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, August 8 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 13 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, August 15 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Vinton Health Department, 227 S Pollard Street, Vinton, VA

The following are by appointment only:

• Wednesday, July 16 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 23 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 6 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday, August 7 – 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 13 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 20 – 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Please bring a copy of your child's vaccination record, consent form, and your insurance card. More information and the consent form can be found on the RCPS website under Departments - Health Services (https://www.rcps.us/departments/health-services).

If your child cannot receive immunizations due to medical reasons, you need to provide a letter from their healthcare provider. If you require a religious exemption, you can find the form at the following link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/11/2016/04/cre_1.pdf or by contacting the nurse at your school.

Our school counselors are here to help our Eagles succeed as students and citizens. Students are assigned to counselors alphabetically by last name. If you have questions concerning your child during the school year, please contact the appropriate counselor as follows:

• A-K: Natalie Haire (nhaire@rcps.us)
  

• L-Z: Morgan Boswell (mboswell@rcps.us)

Counselors help students develop their educational potential through skill-based lessons and units that assist in developing competence in essential life skills such as self-confidence, motivation, decision-making and goal-setting, communication, interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, and responsible behavior. They intervene on behalf of students whose immediate personal concerns or problems put their continued educational, career, personal, or social development at risk. Counselors' primary tasks are to provide counseling to students individually or in group settings. They also consult with teachers, parents/guardians, and administrators on behalf of students.

The role of the LIFE counselor is to lead individuals and foster empowerment with our students. LIFE counselors provide individual and group counseling to students. Counselors also provide education on approved mental health, trauma, and substance topics to our students, staff, and parents/guardians. LIFE counselors focus on prevention and intervention to promote academic growth, personal growth, and well-being.

• LIFE Counselor: Shamani Jackson (sjackson@rcps.us)

RCPS Mission: To invest in our community's future by preparing our students with Opportunity Ready skills as defined in the RCPS Profile of a Graduate.

RCPS Vision: Preparing every student, in every school, and in every classroom to be Opportunity Ready.

Our HVMS students demonstrate Opportunity Ready skills on a daily basis both in the classroom and in the community. We are excited to continue our work with student portfolios and student-led conferencing this year so that students can showcase some of these skills!

Students who successfully complete their portfolios and conduct a student-led conference during our conference day in April will be recognized at the end of the year with an Opportunity Ready seal. Students, please take advantage of the time you have in advisory each week to showcase the hard work you do throughout the year!

Our PTSO is instrumental in providing support to our entire school community, and the success of the program depends on you! We will have opportunities to join the PTSO at our Schedule Pick-Up Night (July 31) and our Back-to-School Open House (August 7). Dues are $5 per individual who is joining. 100% of our membership fees go directly to supporting our school community.

Please click below to learn more about our HVMS PTSO:

https://www.facebook.com/hvmsptso/

Roanoke County Schools will be providing all middle school students a laptop they can use at home and school for the 2025-26 school year at no charge to students. Laptops will be distributed to students during the first few days of school.

As an added measure of safety, all schools in Roanoke County are receiving updated badge and visitor systems. All visitors will need to ring the doorbell outside to be let in instead of automatically coming into the front vestibule.

Mornings: If you drop off your child in the morning, turn right into the first entrance past the football field and follow the lane around the front of the building. Proceed to Door 2 near the end of the building, and your student may exit the vehicle anywhere along the sidewalk. All parents/guardians should use the drop-off lane in the mornings instead of parking in the lot and having their students use the crosswalk. When exiting the lot, be cautious of buses that are coming in to drop off students.

Afternoons: Please turn right into the second entrance and park in a space to wait for your child to exit the building. Please be very careful when leaving, and please watch for pedestrians and buses! Students may not be picked up from the car rider line in the afternoons.

To provide a safe environment for all, RCPS middle and high schools have introduced the following procedures for guest events (these include athletic competitions, performances, concerts, and any event where the public is invited to attend):

• Only clear bags allowed (exceptions made for small clutches 4.5” x 6.5”, medical supplies, and diaper bags may be searched)
• No outside food or drinks allowed
• All elementary and middle school age students must be accompanied by an adult at all times
• No re-entry for ticketed events (exception for events with all-day passes)

These restrictions exclude players, participants, officials, and authorized individuals.

Event staff, with the support of school administrators, will enforce these procedures. Those violating these procedures may be denied entry or may be asked to leave school property.

6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are allowed to compete on the middle school athletic teams. All participating students must have a current sports physical that has been completed within the past 14 months. No student will be permitted to participate in tryouts or practice without a completed physical form on file. Additionally, all students must have health insurance if they want to participate. Please see our website for the most up-to-date information regarding athletics: https://hvms.rcps.us/athletics

Athletic ticket prices: adult tickets will be $5, and student tickets are $2. These funds are used to help offset the cost for officials, transportation to away games, and team equipment.

Website: http://hvms.rcps.us/
Location: 4902 Hidden Valley School Road, Roanoke, VA, USA
Phone: (540) 772-7570
Facebook: facebook.com/HVMSConnect/