Falcon Update

Dear HMS Families,

What a great first week of school! It is wonderful to have everyone back in the building and to welcome our new 6th graders and new students to our Heritage family. This past week, we got accustomed to our new classes, learned about expectations, and participated in different activities to get to know one another. This upcoming week, we will continue to follow our normal bell schedule and dive into our curriculum.

This week, students will be receiving their iPads. 7th and 8th grade students will receive their iPads on Monday, and 6th grade students will receive theirs on Tuesday or Wednesday. Students must bring USB-C headphones to school every day. Here is an example, but this exact pair is not required.

Students will also receive their assignment notebook this week. 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 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.

This week, it is important that students purchase a lock from Heritage if they have not done so already. All students will need a school lock to ensure their belongings are secure throughout the day. PE uniforms, sweaters, and locks are still available for purchase in the main office. You are welcome to call the main office to purchase these items, or your student can stop by the office.

PE shirts: $15.00
PE shorts: $15.00
Locks: $9.00
Sweaters: $25.00

Thank you for helping us get the school year off to such a great start! We appreciate your partnership and support as we work together to make Heritage a positive place. Please continue to check our weekly newsletter for important updates, reminders, and upcoming events. We are looking forward to another great week at HMS!

Additional Important Future Dates

9/2: Extracurricular Fair during lunch

9/3: Fire Drill

9/7: No School

9/8: No School - Teacher Institute Day

9/9: NWEA MAP window opens - more information to come on testing dates

9/14: Fire Drill

9/16: Lockdown Drill

9/17: Curriculum Night - 6:00-8:00 PM

9/18: Picture Day

Please fill out this form so we can directly reach out to you about upcoming meetings and opportunities to get involved.

Arrival

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.

Dismissal

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 in students 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.

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 collared polo shirt in navy, white, or black. The polo may be long or short sleeve and must be properly fitted. Any t-shirts worn underneath polo shirts should either match the polo or be black or white.

• Students shall wear plain, solid khaki or black colored pants, skirts or shorts. Pants may be sweat pant material. Leggings, bike shorts, and oversized pockets are not allowed.

• Plain, solid navy, white, or black sweaters/sweatshirts (non-hooded) or school-branded sweaters/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. Crocs may be worn with the back strap in place.

• Items of clothing or jewelry that display images or text portraying illegal substances, weapons, or vulgar messages are not permitted. Additionally, attire that identifies or promotes gang activity is prohibited.

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

• Jeans and other approved attire may be worn during out of uniform days and spirit days at the discretion of the administration.

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 18th or from the main office.

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 19, 2026. The school physical form from a Doctor’s Office must be submitted to the school by Tuesday, 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.

Dear D100 Families,

Governor Pritzker signed a new law requiring all school districts to have policies banning cell phones during the school day. To help all students stay focused and succeed at school, District 100 will continue to maintain a cell phone-free learning environment through our Phones Off & Away All Day initiative.

Students in all D100 schools are expected to keep their phones turned off and out of sight from the start to the end of the school day.

Phones must be stored in lockers or backpacks, not in pockets, and cannot be used during lunch, passing periods, or in restrooms. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call the main office.

If a student uses their phone during school hours, it will be confiscated and held in a secure location until the end of the day. In situations involving repeated offenses or gross violations, a parent/guardian will need to pick the phone up from school staff.

Exceptions for medical or individual learning needs will be made in partnership with school staff and families.

The academic success and overall well-being of students is our top priority. Limiting distractions helps students remain focused, engaged, and ready to learn, while also preventing potential issues such as cyberbullying or conflicts between peers related to cell phone use. As we approach the start of the school year, please take a moment to talk with your child about these expectations. If you believe your child may have difficulty following these expectations, we recommend keeping their phone at home during the school day.

Thank you for partnership in creating positive learning environments where students can thrive academically and socially. We look forward to a successful 2026-2027 school year!

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
Twitter: @HeritageD100