Weekly Principal's Newsletter

As we celebrate National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day on February 15th, we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work of our very own Officer Hendrzak.

Officer Hendrzak is a vital member of our middle school family. His role goes far beyond traditional school security; he is a proactive partner in our community. Whether he is connecting with families to address concerns or working late into the evening to follow up on Safe2Say Something (S2SS) tips, his dedication ensures that our school remains a secure place for your children to learn and grow.

Because of his tireless focus on safety, our teachers and administrators can focus entirely on education and school operations. We are incredibly grateful for the peace of mind he provides to our staff and parents alike.

Thank you, Officer Hendrzak, for your commitment to our students!

• Feb. 13: No School for Students
• Feb. 15: School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
• Feb. 16: President's Day - No School
• Feb. 20: Marking Period 2 Awards Assembly
• March 4: 7th Grade Course Selection (for the 26/27 school year)

We are excited to celebrate our students’ accomplishments during the Second Marking Period Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 20, 2026!

• 8th Grade Ceremony: 8:30–9:10 AM

• 7th Grade Ceremony: 9:25–10:05 AM

Families of students receiving awards will be notified by Friday, February 13, and are warmly invited to attend. Please do not arrive prior to 8:15 AM, as we will be focused on safely welcoming students into the building at the start of the day.

Since school will be in session, all guests must sign in with the Attendance Secretary using a photo ID (driver’s license) to receive a visitor pass before entering the building. To help avoid long lines the morning of the event, guests may pre-check in on Wednesday (2/18) or Thursday (2/19) during normal school hours. We will print and hold your visitor pass for pickup on the day of the ceremony. For those unable to attend in person, we will livestream the event so all families can share in the celebration (link will be shared closer to the event).

Thank you for your continued support — we look forward to recognizing our amazing students and their hard work!

Rising 8th Grade

We are well underway with scheduling for the 2026–2027 school year. As part of this process, we are finalizing course offerings and reviewing student data to ensure a smooth and thoughtful scheduling process.

On March 4, 2026, current seventh-grade students will work with our school counselors to select courses for their eighth-grade year! Course offerings will be shared with students and families in advance for review.

Rising Freshman

Course selection info - student requests can be viewed on the Powerschool portal. Linked here is the HS program of studies to review the descriptions with your student.

We want to continue keeping you informed as our PRIDE period continues to evolve in ways that best support student growth, engagement, and access to meaningful opportunities.

Targeted Interventions Beginning February 17
Starting February 17, targeted ELA/Reading and Science interventions/Extensions will begin during PRIDE (in addition to the already established Math intervention groups). These sessions are designed to provide focused support based on student needs. Families of students who will be receiving this additional support will be contacted directly with more information.

Around the same time, we will begin opening up additional opportunities for students during PRIDE, including:

• NJHS activities

• PBIS opportunities

• Rehearsals for applicable groups

Expanded Opportunities During PRIDE

Starting early March, we are excited to expand our PRIDE offerings with new student opportunities focused on Leadership, STEAM, and Wellness. To manage these diverse options effectively, we are finalizing a new flexible scheduling system designed to give students greater clarity and ease when choosing their activities. We expect to launch this system by the beginning of March, ensuring plenty of time for both students and teachers to receive training and support.

As always, we appreciate your continued partnership and will keep sharing updates as plans are finalized.

The Request for Assistance Form should be completed if you have non-urgent concerns regarding an area of your student’s educational programming that may need attention from the school team. Submission of this form does not trigger immediate intervention, but it will alert the school’s MTSS team to review your student’s data and follow up with you regarding your concern.

Reporting Student Absences: Information on how to report student absences can be found under "Attendance Information" on our website.

Join the QCSD Team and make a difference in the lives of young people! Check-out the QCSD Employment Opportunities. Let’s build a bright future together.

We have lots of information on the community bulletin board. Please click here for the QCSD Community Opportunities.