July 2025 Family Newsletter Horner
July 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Horner Families,
As we welcome the month of November, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the idea of gratitude. Talking with your student about what gratitude means — both in everyday moments and in special experiences — can be a meaningful family conversation. You might ask, “What are you thankful for today?” or “How can we show appreciation to others as a family?” These small discussions can have a big impact on your student’s social and emotional growth.
At Horner Middle School, we value the partnership between home and school. When we work together as a team, supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally, we help them reach their fullest potential. This collaboration is key to nurturing well-rounded, confident Hornets.
As a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) school, all of our students are held to the same high expectations for behavior and performance. This consistency helps create a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for every Hornet.
A friendly reminder that Thanksgiving Break is coming up, and there will be no school during the week of November 24th. We hope everyone enjoys this time to relax and spend quality moments with family and friends.
Looking ahead, we will be sending home information in December about the next round of VAPA (Visual & Performing Arts) signups for Semester 2. Be on the lookout so your student can continue exploring their interests and talents!
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Together, we are helping our students grow not only as learners, but as kind, responsible, and grateful members of our school community.
With gratitude,
Cindy Hicks-Rodriguez
Principal, Horner Middle School 🐝
Horner Vision and Mission Statement
Horner Vision Statement
We at Horner Middle School, envision a future in which every student receives an effective, equitable, and engaging education that allows them to reach their full and unique potential.
Horner Mission Statement
At Horner Middle School our mission is to provide students with the Knowledge, Tools, and Skills they need to master content standards, make effective decisions, and collaborate with others, which will enable them to be successful lifelong learners.
Knowledge, Tools, Skills = Master, Make, Collaborate!
All Wednesday's are minimum days with early dismissal at 1:17 pm. We will also have other days that we have a 1:17 dismissal that are NOT Wednesdays. Please not on these dates below there will be NO AC transit bus right after school. Students can walk to the Grimmer bus stop near IHS to catch the bus right after school. Thank you for noting these dates below.
11/20, 12/19, 5/29, 6/1
If your child is interested in trying out for a Winter or Spring sport please print out the forms that are attached prior to the school year. At MAZE day you are able to turn the forms into the athletic table if you have the physical form from your doctor attached. All students trying out for a sport MUST have all paperwork and physicals completed and submitted on the due dates below in order to try out. If you have any questions you can email Mr Sean Davis at Horner Middle School as he oversees the athletic programs.
Forms due for Girls Basketball: December 19, 2025
Girls basketball tryouts: January 6, 2026
Forms due for Boys Volleyball: March 4, 2026
Boys volleyball tryouts: March 9, 2026
All deadlines are firm and we cannot accept forms past the due date listed above. Thank you.
Hello Horner Families!
Time is really flying this year. Can you believe we are a quarter through the year?
Couple ASB announcements for you. It was awesome to see all the amazing costumes on Halloween! Thanks to everyone who dressed up and participated in the ASB costume contest.
ASB is hosting a door decorating contest for Halloween/Red Ribbon Week. Make sure you check out our site and instagram for some amazing pictures of spooky doors.
Lastly the big event for ASB for the month of November/December is our annual charity drive. Again please head to hornerhornets.org or follow us on Instagram @hornermiddle.hornets for more updates on this incredible event to help families in need.
Finally our next social will be taking place on December 5th. If you don’t have a gold card, to purchase a ticket, you must buy a ticket beforehand. This will be taking place on November 19th, 20th and December 1st and 2nd. Located in the C downstairs hallway near room C102 for 10 dollars. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving break and spending time with your families!
Mr. Shaffer
Activities Director
More Than Photos—It’s Your Story! Created by Horner students with creativity and care, the yearbook captures the moments that matter most. Preorder now for $55 (Sept–Dec) while supplies last! yearbookordercenter.com (Code: 7874) | Room C120
💛 A Heartfelt Thank You from the Horner Staff! 💛
To all the families who generously donated money or food items for our staff during the two Parent Conference Nights — thank you! Your kindness and thoughtfulness truly filled not just our stomachs, but also our hearts. ❤️
A huge shout-out to our amazing PTSA for sponsoring Wednesday night’s dinner — the yummy Chinese food was absolutely incredible and such a treat after a busy day of conferences!
Our staff truly felt valued, supported, and appreciated by our Horner community. Your partnership means the world to us, and together we continue to build a positive, caring school culture for everyone.
Because as we like to say...
🌟 Teamwork makes the dream work! 🌟
With gratitude,
The Horner Staff and Administration 🐝
Comprehensive Health, Puberty, and Sexuality Education Curriculum
On January 16, 2019, the Fremont Board of Education approved Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs) as the comprehensive health, puberty, and sexuality curriculum (CHPSE) for students in grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and high school Health (typically taken in 9th grade). The information below is designed to inform families about the curriculum and offer resources to help families support this learning with their children.
Student Learning
If your student is participating in in-person learning, these are the lessons they will receive:
CHPSE Lessons and Opt Outs - In Person
Opt out
Families may opt their child out of part or all of the curriculum by notifying the teacher or school in writing via Email to the students Science teacher. In your communication, please include:
- Your student’s name, teacher, and grade
- Parent name
- A statement indicating you wish to opt your child out of these lessons
- A phone number you can be reached if necessary
Horner will be delivering these lessons starting on December 2nd. Lesson days will include the following dates in December during your students Science class: 12/2, 12/3, 12/4, 12/5, 12/8, 12/9, 12/11, 12/12, 12/15 and 12/16. Please submit your request to opt your child out no later than November 17th so that we can arrange substitutes for the students who are not participating in these lessons. We will need to get a count of how many students will require a sub and will need time to plan for this coverage. Thank you in advance.
Parents who would like to view the curriculum can do so by either going online to the district website or they can come into the school office to view the materials. It is located in the front office.
Horner prides itself on implementing PBIS which stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Supports to all students throughout the school year.
Students have multiple opportunities to earn points for demonstrating school wide behavior expectations daily. When students earn specific amounts of points they are entered into a drawing for a gift card. We typicaly like to do the drawing quarterly for the gift cards and we like to try and give away anywhere from 10-15 per quarter to our students. We have a shortage of $5 gift cards for these drawings. If you can donate $5 gift cards from any business in Fremont that would be amazing for our students.
We also give out school supplies to students for drawings. If you can donate new markers, mechanical pencils, spiral notebooks, binders, lined binder paper and various other school supplies, that would also be amazing.
Our students really enjoy being the recipient of the prizes throughout the school year.
Thank you for your donation to support this student initiative at Horner.
We’re excited to offer a fun way to celebrate your child’s birthday at Horner Middle School! Since we do not allow treats, balloons, or other birthday items to be brought to school due to the distractions they can cause, a marquee birthday greeting is a wonderful alternative to make your child feel special.
For just $10 cash, you can have a personalized birthday message displayed on our school marquee — a great way to make your child a “celebrity” for the day!
If you’re interested in purchasing a birthday greeting, please stop by the school office for more information.
Thank you for helping us celebrate our students in a fun, safe, and school-friendly way! All proceeds go towards our school safety supplies and technology needs.