Hixson Happenings

March 1 - Summer School registration begins
March 7 - 11 - School Board Recognition Week
March 7 - 17 - Book Fair

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

March 30 - BOE Candidate Forum

Mr. Rachal is the Digital Multimedia Arts teacher at Hixson. He was recently awarded a $2,298.36 grant from the Webster Groves School District Foundation to purchase camera equipment for his class. This is just a quick note to congratulate Mr. Rachal and thank the WGSDF for their continued support of Hixson Middle School!

On Wednesday, February 23, Hixson's Best Buddies club joined our Special Olympics athletes for a unified bocce tournament at the Italia-America Bocce Club. Teams received a short tutorial from volunteers from the club and then spent the day playing in bocce tournaments and playing board games with friends. Students all received medals after the tournament.

Hixson’s Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences are March 15 and 16 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm via Zoom meetings. There is not as much time allotted for spring conferences as there is for fall conferences. Therefore, if you recently had a meeting with your child's teachers and/or do not have any concerns you need to discuss with your child’s teachers, we ask that you refrain from signing up for a conference at this time.

To sign up for conferences with your child's teachers, please visit: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Hixson_Middle_School_1

Summer school registration is now open! Click the link below to read all about our program at Hixson, and sign up for classes!

https://mo02202299.schoolwires.net/Page/23078

Please click the link below to read all about our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair!

Please see the following technology reminders from Mr. Heisel, Hixson's technology specialist.

• Students should charge their devices every night.
• Students should keep their Chromebooks in the case at all times.
• Students should not lend their chargers or devices to other students.

Please read the information below regarding the implementation of late start days for the 22-23 school year. This language can also be found in the most recent From the District publication sent to parents on February 25, 2022.

The Board of Education has approved adding “late-start” days to next year’s school calendar. Webster Groves High School currently uses late starts and this change would expand the model districtwide. Late starts will allow teachers collaborative planning time to look at data and monitor student progress. We believe the expansion of this model for Hixson and our elementary schools will positively impact instructional planning, as we continue to support the academic needs of every student.

Late start days will be the second and fourth Mondays, allowing teachers one hour at the beginning of the day to work together. On these days, the district will offer supervision for students at no cost. This opportunity is reserved for students who require supervision during this time. Supervision will be staffed by instructional aides and everyday substitutes who work in each building.

Families can register for supervision through the parent portal beginning later in the spring. Local school buses will shift their schedules for late start days to a late start schedule; VICC buses will stick to their normal schedules. Breakfast will be offered in two shifts so that all students who wish to eat will have that opportunity.

The schedule is as follows:

• For kindergarten through fifth grade, supervision will be offered beginning at 7:40. Arrival begins at 8:50 and school starts at 9:05.
• For Hixson and the High School, supervision will be offered at 8:15. Arrival will be at 9:25 a.m. and school begins at 9:40.

Two green and white collection bins have been placed in the circle drive (side of the building that faces hwy 44). These are for collecting used clothing and shoes. If you have clothes and shoes that you have outgrown or don’t want anymore, please place them in the bins. These items are collected and donated to developing countries around the world. The organization takes the items, bundles them, and sends them to struggling countries. This keeps the clothes out of our landfills and helps people and communities in need. In addition, they also plant a tree every time the bin is filled. Since 2013, they have planted over 800,000 trees! Please help Hixson support this organization with this easy and powerful program.

If you would like to read more about the program, please visit:

www.usagain.com

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.

We have generated enough interest so far to offer this program after school starting on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 from 3:40 pm to 4:20 pm. Please click the link below to express interest in Gateway to Wellness: Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth! It's not too late!

https://forms.gle/x7tuSdud8TAYYb868

The League of Women Voters will moderate a forum for candidates running in April for the Webster Groves School District Board of Education, to be held at 7 p.m. March 30 at Hixson Middle School. You can submit a question for the candidates at this link https://forms.gle/jzWRvTG8m6yNpp6L6

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

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