Hixson Happenings

February 14 - Panorama survey window opens

February 16 - Orchestra Pops Concert, 6:30 pm
February 17 - Panorama survey window closes
February 18 - No School

February 21 - No School; President's Day
March 7 - 11 - School Board Recognition Week
March 11 - end of Quarter 3

March 15 - Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences, 4pm - 8pm

March 16 - Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences, 4pm - 8pm
March 18 - 25 - Spring Break

The time for our second School Climate survey is approaching. This survey will be administered through the Panorama survey platform just as it was in October 2021. Feedback from this survey will help us determine if our school climate is improving, and it will help us take the necessary steps towards ensuring all students feel safe, valued, and respected at school. Some important points to note about the survey are provided below.

1. Survey administration will take place during Statesman time from February 14 - 17, 2022.
   
   
2. The survey is not anonymous. If a student demonstrates that they need support through the survey, we will be able to follow up and provide additional support to your student.
   
   
3. The survey questions are as follows: (How well do people at your school understand you as a person? How connected do you feel to the adults at your school? How much respect do students in your school show you? How much do you matter to others at this school? Overally, how much do you feel like you belong at your school? The goal of Statesman Time is to provide time for students and staff to build relationships with one another and learn about our core values of positive relationships, respect, and teamwork. In your opinion, is Statesman Time achieving its goal? Do you have a trusted adult at Hixson? Please share the name of your trusted adult at Hixson. Do you have any questions, comments, or concerns about Hixson Middle School?)
   
   
4. All survey questions are optional. The survey can be submitted even if your student doesn't answer all the questions.
   
   
5. We sincerely value your student's feedback and want all students to take the survey. However, if you wish to opt your student out of the survey, please click HERE to add your student's name to the opt out list. This list will be shared with Statesman Time teachers prior to survey administration. Students who are opted out of the survey may read a book or work on homework while they wait for the other students in their Statesman Time class to complete the survey. A student can also opt themselves out of the survey by simply letting their Statesman Time teacher know.
   
   
6. Panorama does not market, sell, or rent any student's personal information, nor do they engage in, inform, influence, or enable advertising to students. Panorama does not use student data for purposes other than serving schools and districts pursuant with their written contract.

Gateway to Wellness: Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth is a free holistic mental wellness program for school-aged students. The program integrates evidence-based practices of yoga, social emotional learning, and restorative circles. This program aims to support the whole child by helping students cope with anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and other issues of mental health that are often exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If there is enough interest in this program amongst our student body, we will offer it after school, likely on Tuesdays. Please click the link below to express interest in Gateway to Wellness: Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth!

https://forms.gle/x7tuSdud8TAYYb868

Flag Football and Basketball is canceled until further notice. If we are able to resume these two activities this semester, we will contact the students who signed up to invite them back to the activity.

The window for Yearbook orders will open on Monday, January 24 and close on Monday, February 28. Please click the link below to place your order! Yearbooks are $20 each.

https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/hixsonmiddleschool

Click the link below to read WGSD's plan for school closings due to inclement weather.

Volunteers Needed!
The Hixson PTO is looking for volunteers for next school year. Please email if you are interested in serving on the executive board or on a committee: hixsonmiddlepto@gmail.com.

Assorted lumber, Cricut supplies, sewing machines, KitchenAid Mixers, IPad Minis . . .these are a sampling of supplies needed by Hixson teachers, and the Hixson PTO is organizing a collection of these supplies. Does your business have items to donate or sell at reduced cost? Do you have items at home that you don't need anymore? Does your child enjoy FACS/Sustainability and you want to make a special donation of a new sewing machine or chicken food so other students can enjoy these classes as much as your student does?

Please follow these steps:

1. Review the following Google Sheets to see the list of items needed. There are items big and small - ranging from used aluminum cans to new countertops.

2. Enter your name and comments in the far right column (for items with multiple quantities, more than one person can write their name).

3. Contact the teacher BEFORE you make any large purchases.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nxkWwPo2zT5R2jdj6rQkVqa7kQYZMpLZ8pq51rzUfgw/edit?usp=sharing

Coming Soon: Families can donate money that will be matched by the PTO's Fund the Need Grant Program. Look for more information on this soon.

Questions? Contact Hixson PTO Co-VP Sarah Middendorf sarahmdorf@gmail.com

WGHS Parents' Club Fundraiser

WG High School Parents' Club is having a fundraiser that is currently running called "Show the Love". They have WG phone grips for sale as part of this virtual fundraiser! See the pic of what they look like and the link to order below.

They are only $5 with free delivery!

https://wghsparentsclub.org/collections/show-the-love

Upcoming Fortnightly Events

February 11 - 7th Grade

February 12 - 8th Grade

February 17 - 7th grade Final Dinner and Dance at Olive and Oak

February 18 - 8th grade Final Dinner and Dance at Olive and Oak

PTO Committee Update
Join the Hixson Equity Parents PTO Committee on February 22 at 7pm as we participate in a book study on The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee. We are excited about this opportunity for parents to work together to build a community of learners interested in nurturing each other's perspectives, growth, and humanity. We will foster constructive conversations with nuance, seek multiple viewpoints, and consider the dividends that solidarity can yield. This book study is open to everyone, even if you haven't before participated with this committee before! We'll meet on February 22 at 7 pm, in-person, likely at Hixson, unless public health situations make a pivot to Zoom necessary. Discounted copies of the book are available at Novel Neighbor and Left Bank Books. The municipal library consortium has many copies available as well. Contact Elyssa Sullivan if you need help finding a copy.

Email: mayes.shenita@wgmail.org
Website: https://www.webster.k12.mo.us/Hixson
Location: 630 South Elm Avenue, Webster Groves, MO, USA
Phone: 314-963-6450
Facebook: facebook.com/HixsonMiddleSchool