Huesken Highlights

Happy Summer!

It is hard to believe it is already August. As we get ready for the 26-27 school year, we have some changes to PowerSchool that will increase our parent communication and resources. Additional information will be coming from the district and the school teams; however, it is critical that all parents have a PowerSchool account and can access their account. If you are having difficulty, please contact the main office at 717-397-1294.

GHMS schedules and houses (teams) are now live in PowerSchool for students and families. Students and parents can log in to PowerSchool and review their 26-27 schedule. As a reminder, students and families are not able to request specific teams or teachers, as our scheduling process is designed to create balanced learning communities for all students. Students will need to know their advisory teacher/room number for Cruise the Halls and for the first day of school.

If you have not done so already, please take time to log in to PowerSchool and complete all required annual forms before the start of the school year. Completing these forms now helps ensure we have the most up-to-date information for your child.

• Annual Agreements
• Annual Health Data Sheet
• Contacts Update
• Student Address Change form (Only needed if address has changed)

Opening Building Activities:

• 6th Grade Cruise the Halls - Tuesday, August 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This is a casual, drop-in event—not a formal program—where students and families can explore the building, practice opening lockers, pick up student technology, and become familiar with the school before the first day. Additional event details are included below. If you are unable to attend or would like additional time, the building will be open for drop-in on August 13th from 1-5 p.m.
• 7th and 8th Grade Cruise the Halls- Wednesday, August 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This is a casual, drop-in event—not a formal program—where students and families can explore the building, practice opening lockers, pick up student technology, and become familiar with the school before the first day. Additional event details are included below. If you are unable to attend or would like additional time, the building will be open for drop-in on August 13th from 1-5 pm.

** Students will be able to select their lockers at Cruise the Halls. If you are unable to attend, students can come to the building on August 13th from 1-5 pm or contact the main office at 717-397-1294 to schedule another time. Otherwise, students will be able to select their lockers the first day of school.

Please save the date for our Parent Night on Thursday, September 24! Unlike Cruise the Halls, Parent Night is a structured informational program where families can meet teachers and learn more about grading, Schoology, PowerSchool, MyPowerHub, curriculum, communication, and what to expect throughout the school year.

Finally, please take a few moments to review the important Save the Dates listed below so your family is prepared for the start of another great school year.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Dr. Rachel Metzinger, Principal

Gerald G. Huesken Middle School

Rachel_Metzinger@conestogavalley.org

717-397-1294

Aug. 11th- 6th Grade Cruise the Halls from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Aug. 12th- 7th and 8th Grade Cruise the Halls from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Aug. 13th- Open House for families who cannot attend Cruise the Halls from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Aug. 14th- 9th Grade Orientation at the High School

Aug. 14th- 6th Grade Orientation at the Middle School

Aug. 19th- First Day of School

September 3rd- GHMS Picture Day and Health Screening

September 4th- Early Dismissal at 11:40 a.m.

September 7th- No School

September 17th- Early Dismissal at 11:40 a.m.

September 18th & 21st- No School for students

September 24th- GHMS Back to School Night from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

PowerSchool and Schoology- At GHMS, we use PowerSchool and Schoology to communicate assignments and grades with parents. Information about setting up accounts will be available at Cruise the Halls and GHMS Back to School Night. Please reach out to our main office at 717-397-1294 if you need assistance setting up a PowerSchool or Schoology parent account.

SCHEDULES: Each student will receive a schedule listing each of their classes, House (team), homerooms, locker, and lunch period. Schedules and team information will be tentatively released to families in August.

Houses (Teams): At the start of the school year, your son or daughter will be assigned a team (Red, Blue, or Gold). Each grade level at the middle school is comprised of three teams. Teams are created based on a variety of indicators but have the same number of students and the same course instruction. The model allows students to work closely with teachers and establish a smaller community within the larger school community. To keep teams as balanced as possible, we will not be able to honor team changes or specific team requests. If you have any immediate concerns, please get in touch with your child's school counselor.

SUPPLY LISTS: There are general supply lists in this newsletter by grade level. School supplies are not required for classes. Teachers will provide the necessary items needed for class. The lists are just general suggestions if students and parents should choose to purchase these supplies. Students may have backpacks, but they must be kept in their lockers throughout the day. Small purses or pouches are allowed to be carried for personal care items from class to class but may not hold cell phones.

NEWSLETTERS: Please be on the lookout for building and team communication through SMORE newsletters. Our staff at GHMS will be using this platform to send out consistent information and communication to parents. Each newsletter can be translated into 45 languages and will have specific information on your child's learning. Building and team newsletters will be sent out at a minimum one time per month.

CELL PHONES: All students in grades 6th-8th are asked to place their cell phones in their locker for the day (Away for the Day). This policy supports students by removing distractions and safety risks within the classroom. The potential for students to record and take pictures of others without their permission, bully other students, air-drop inappropriate images, or partake in social media challenges is too great. We are asking parents to join in this focus on keeping students and staff at GHMS safe. We understand parental concerns with safety and the urgent need to communicate with their children, especially in the event of an emergency. We have a number of emergency procedures in place at the middle school, including procedures in the event that students need to be in contact with parents. We encourage parents and guardians to utilize the main office and counseling office if a message needs to be communicated to students. Please see additional information on our cell phone policy and procedures below.

LOCKERS: Each student will have a locker at the middle school with a built-in combination lock. We ask that all personal belongings be placed in the locker and kept there throughout the day. Students are permitted to use backpacks to bring items to and from school, but bags must be kept within their lockers throughout the day. Students are permitted to visit their lockers in between classes. These procedures will be reviewed with your child on the first day of school. Students will be able to practice their locker combinations at Cruise the Halls and 6th-grade orientation. Additional assistance will be available throughout the first week at school.