School Newletter 2026-2027

Dear Horner Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I am so excited to welcome our students and families back to Horner Middle School. Whether you are joining the Horner community for the first time or returning for another great year, we are thrilled to have you as part of our Hornet family.

Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 11, and we are looking forward to seeing our campus filled once again with our amazing students!

Please Arrive on campus by 8:05 AM

Students are expected to be on campus no later than 8:05 AM each morning. Arriving by 8:05 gives students time to get breakfast if needed, connect with friends, and prepare themselves for the school day before the “Go to Class” bell rings at 8:10 AM.

Please do not plan to arrive at 8:10 or after the bell. The later students arrive on campus, the greater the chance that they will be tardy to class. A calm, on-time start helps set students up for a successful day!

Morning Drop-Off & Traffic Reminders

As you may already know, morning traffic around Horner can get very busy! The earlier you arrive, the less likely you are to get caught in the heaviest traffic. Students are welcome to arrive on campus by 7:45 AM.

Families are encouraged to consider dropping students off around the corner from the school in a safe and legal location rather than entering the very busy school drop-off loop.

For the safety of our students, staff, families, and neighbors, please remember to:

• Obey all traffic laws and posted road signs.
• Keep neighbors drive ways clear
• The church parking lot is not to be used for drop off or pick up
• Follow the directions of Horner staff members assisting with traffic.
• Drive slowly and carefully through the surrounding neighborhood.
• Be patient and courteous with other drivers and pedestrians.
• Do not drop students off in the AC Transit bus loading/unloading zone on Chapel Way, located next to our portable classrooms and gym. This area must remain clear for AC Transit buses.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe during our busy arrival time.

What Students Should Bring

Students should bring a copy of their class schedule with them on the first day so they know where to go for each class period.

Students should also have their Horner student ID card with them at all times. Please help your child develop the habit of keeping their ID card safely in their backpack so that it is available when needed.

Breakfast & Lunch

School meals are FREE for all Horner students. Students who would like breakfast should arrive early enough to eat and still be ready to head to class when the 8:10 AM bell rings.

Thank You for Your Partnership!

The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time, and we appreciate your partnership in helping our students start the year successfully. When families and schools work together, we create the supportive, safe, and positive environment our students need to thrive.

Please continue reading the rest of this newsletter for additional important information and reminders for the start of school.

We cannot wait to welcome our Hornets back on Tuesday, August 11!

Let’s make the 2026–2027 school year AMAZING together! 🐝

Warmly,

With Hornet Pride,

Cindy Hicks-Rodriguez
Principal
John M. Horner Middle School

All students are expected to attend school on Tuesday, August 11th
This policy applies to all students at the start of and throughout the school year. Students are expected to attend class on the first day of school unless they are absent due to illness. If a student is not present on the first day and remains absent for the first four days of school, they need to notify the school prior to the absences to confirm when they will attend. If no prior notification is made, the child may be dropped from both their school and the Fremont Unified School District. In such cases, the parent/guardian will be required to re-enroll the student, and placement will be determined based on space availability. Parents/guardians must notify the school on each day the student is absent.

Please note that the first day of school Tuesday, August 11 is a minimum day with dismissal at 1:16 pm. If your child rides the AC Transit, please know that there will not be any bus service immediately after school on Chapel Way. Your child can walk down to the Blacow bus stop to catch the Transit bus after school. Otherwise please make arrangements to have your child picked up after school on Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, August 12th bus service will resume immediately after school.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

AM and PM pickup and drop off is very tricky at Horner. There is a high level of congestion in the school loop both in the mornings and after school. It is highly recommended that parents find a location near the school to drop off students rather than use the school loop. The school loop gets very busy and please know that if you choose to use the school loop for drop off and pick up, wait times inside the loop can get extensive.

• Please follow the directions of staff on duty. They will be clearly marked with vests and signs.
• Please do not get out of your vehicle in the loop. Students should gather their belongings and exit while you remain in the car. If you have large items you need to get out of the car it is recommended that you arrive early in order to unload your items while not stopping traffic flow of the loop
• Please pull all the way forward when entering the loop. If there is room to move up, please do so to avoid blocking the driveway and pedestrian entrance.
• Please do not enter the parking lot. It is reserved for staff and is not to be used for student pick-up or drop-off. If you have school business the use of the parking lot is permitted but that should only occur if you have the need to enter the office for a meeting or assistance.
• Students should not use the loop crosswalk before or after school. Please either use the loop or park on the street for student drop-off and pick-up.
• Please only allow students to exit in the designated “drop-off zones.” Those zones are marked in the loop.
• Students must exit on the passenger side of the vehicle only. Exiting on the driver side is unsafe.
• Please do not stop, park, or block the AC Transit zone on Chapel Avenue. Fremont Police Department will issue tickets for parking in undesignated areas.
• Please stay alert and pay close attention to the flow of traffic while entering and exiting the loop.

Note: The picture below shows the AC transit bus pick up and drop off for both AM and PM times. Parking is NOT permitted nor any drop off on Chapel way. There are signs posted to keep this area clear. Thanks for not using the bus drop off area to let students out of cars or parking. Fremont

Horner Middle School Back to School Night – August 19, 2026

We are excited to welcome our Horner families to Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 19, from 5:00–7:00 PM! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child's teachers, learn about classroom expectations, and gain an overview of the exciting learning experiences planned for the school year.

The evening will begin with an Administrative Presentation in the MUR from 5:00–5:30 PM. We encourage all families to attend this presentation to hear important schoolwide information and updates for the 2026–2027 school year.

Following the presentation, classroom presentations will begin promptly at 5:34 PM. Parents should bring a copy of their child's class schedule so they can follow their student's daily schedule throughout the evening. Each class presentation will last 10 minutes, and parents will rotate from Periods 1–6, following the school bell schedule and announcements between classes.

We hope you will join us beginning at 5:00 PM for an informative and enjoyable evening. We look forward to partnering with you to make this a successful school year for your student!

Please see the Back to School Night schedule below for presentation times.

I want to take a moment to explain what PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) means for our middle school and the purpose behind our set behavior expectations for students.

What is PBIS?

PBIS is a framework designed to promote positive behavior and create a supportive school environment. It focuses on teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors, rather than simply reacting to misbehavior. The aim is to improve student outcomes by fostering a positive school culture.

Purpose of Set Behavior Expectations:

1. Clarity and Consistency: By establishing clear behavior expectations, we provide students with a consistent understanding of what is expected of them throughout the school day. This clarity helps reduce confusion and promotes a sense of security.

2. Positive Reinforcement: PBIS emphasizes recognizing and rewarding positive behaviors. This encourages students to engage in and model these behaviors, leading to a more respectful and cooperative school environment.

3. Improved Academic Performance: A positive and structured environment allows students to focus better on their learning. When behavior expectations are met, students are more likely to succeed academically.

4. Social and Emotional Development: By teaching students how to interact positively with their peers and teachers, we help them develop essential social skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

5. Support for All Students: PBIS provides a framework that supports all students, including those who may struggle with behavior. It allows us to identify students who need additional support and intervene proactively.

By working together, we can reinforce these expectations at home and help our students thrive both academically and socially. Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a positive learning environment for our children.

We will be providing parents with more information about our PBIS initiatives at MAZE day and Back to School night in the Fall.

At Horner Middle School, we use the 5-Star Students app as part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program to encourage responsibility, recognize positive behavior, and help students stay engaged in our school community. The 5-Star Students platform allows schools to track positive behaviors, manage digital hall passes, recognize student involvement, and reward students through an easy-to-use mobile app and web-based system.

How We Use 5-Star at Horner

Every student at Horner uses the 5-Star Students app throughout the school day. Students use the app to:

• Request restroom and hall passes during class on a classroom chromebook
• Earn positive behavior points for demonstrating our Horner expectations:
  • Show Respect
  • Make Good Decisions
  • Solve Problems
  • HORNET character traits
• Receive recognition from teachers and staff for positive choices, academic effort, citizenship, attendance, and participation.
• Redeem earned points for a variety of incentives and rewards, including school swag, treats, special activities, events, and other PBIS prizes offered throughout the year.

Our goal is to recognize students for making positive choices and to create a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment for everyone.

How to Download the 5-Star Students App

The 5-Star Students app is available free of charge for both Apple and Android devices.

1. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your student's phone.
2. Search for "5-Star Students."
3. Download and install the app.
4. Open the app and search for John M. Horner Middle School.
5. Students can then sign in using the login method provided by the school to access their account, view their points, use their digital hall pass, and redeem rewards.

We encourage all families to help their student download the app before the start of school so they are ready to use this important tool on the first day of classes.

We do a montly redemption for students to cash in their earned points for lots of things. Students would pre-order their items and they come pick them up in the breezeway on the specified day at lunch time.

Please take a moment to vote for a parent to serve on the Horner SSC team for the 26-27 school year. Ballots will close on August

If your son or daughter is interested in trying out for any of the sports teams at Horner, it is critical that you get them a sports physical now or over the summer as the paperwork is due to the school office when school begins. The sports that we have are: Boys and Girls Vollebyall and Boys and Girls Basketball. The first season is Girl's Volleyball. Below are the forms that are required to be completed each school year along with a copy of your child's physical clearance from their doctor. We will have a box for parents to drop off their forms at MAZE day in August. Students who do not meet the deadlinen to submit all forms will be ineligible to try out for that specific sport. Students are only required to get one physical per year so if they want to try out for multiple sports, they still only need one physical and one packet per year as long as the parent information is still accurate and up to date. Please be ahead of the game and get that physical done early! Deadline to turn in Girl's volleyball tryout packet is: August 27 by 4 pm. Forms should be turned into the school office. Thank you.

We are currently in the process of setting up our VAPA classes for the 26-27 school year. Please find the Google form link below to fill out if you are interested in having your student enter the lottery for VAPA classes. The deadline to submit the Google form is August 22, 2026 by 3 pm. There are a variety of classes your student could try and they are on Friday's for 6 week classes. Classes are free to students and there will be 3 different sessions throughout the school year.

Most all communication that comes home will be via parent square. Please make sure that you sign up for an account so that you don't miss any pertinent information. Newsletters will also be coming through parent square. Directions are posted below.

https://fremontunified.org/students-community/support/portals/

Support Horner's PBIS Program Through Donations!

At Horner Middle School, we are committed to recognizing and celebrating our students for making positive choices each and every day. Through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, students earn rewards for demonstrating our school expectations:

Show Respect, Make Good Decisions, and Solve Problems.

To help keep our PBIS incentive program thriving, we are seeking donations from our wonderful Horner families. All food items would need to be individually wrapped. If you are able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate donations of any of the following items:

• Individually wrapped chocolate candies
• Bags of Jolly Ranchers
• Sour jacks candy
• Sour patch candies
• Suckers
• Fruit snacks
• Fruit roll ups
• Ring pops
• Fun dips
• Capri suns
• Bags of cookies
• Bags of chips (Hot cheetos)
• School pencils
• Pens
• Highlighters
• School erasers
• Personal size pencil sharpeners
• Notebooks
• Pencil bags/pouches
• Small brown or white paper lunch bags (bulk amounts needed for student prizes)
• $5 gift cards to any Fremont business or retailer

Donations may be dropped off in the Horner Main Office during regular school hours beginning August 3. See below for the PBIS prize chart for ideas on things we would love to have donated.

Your generosity helps us recognize students for their hard work, positive behavior, and commitment to making Horner a safe, respectful, and welcoming place for all. We sincerely appreciate your support and partnership in making a positive difference for our students.

Thank you for supporting our Hornets!

First day of school

Tuesday, August 11

Minimum day

Tuesday, August 11

Girls VB meeting at lunch time in library

Monday, August 17

Back to School Night.

Wednesday, August 19⋅5:00 – 7:00pm

Duck and cover drill with evacuation

Tuesday, August 25⋅8:30 – 9:00am

Girls VB forms due in office by 3 pm

Thursday, August 27

Picture makeups in C133 (Math classes)

These makeups are for only students who did not attend MAZE day

Friday, August 28⋅8:00am – 3:00pm

Girls VB tryouts after school in GYM

Monday, August 31 after school

Girls VB tryouts in GYM (call backs)

Tuesday, September 1 after school

Girls VB team posted before school

Wednesday, September 2

Labor Day- no school

Monday, September 7