Hixson Happenings
36th Issue, April 10, 2020
A Note from the Principal
I lost it yesterday when I received the news. It was inevitable (and absolutely for the best) and I was mentally preparing for it but it didn’t lessen the sting or stop the crack in my heart from growing. So much loss this season across our communities ranging from emotional to physical to financial. As we begin to embrace e-learning for the rest of the year, I know all of my educator friends are overwhelmed, heartbroken and nervous. Parents are overwhelmed, heartbroken and nervous. Our medical and essential frontline communities are exhausted, overwhelmed, heartbroken and nervous. Our world is overwhelmed, heartbroken and nervous. As we gather at this strange and surreal intersection, my hope is that our courage and bravery connect us in a new way as we travel this new journey together.
At the beginning of the year, we asked “How can we help”? The question still applies. Please reach out if you need anything. We are here.
With gratitude,
Grace
Grading and Expectations
E-Learning in the middle of a pandemic has been a learning experience for all of us. Below, we have outlined plans for grading and student expectations moving forward and shared this information with our teachers.
Our goals during this time:
• We want to stay connected to our students and keep them connected to learning experiences.
• Provide some normalcy for students through engagement in learning activities and relationships with their teachers.
Due to the diverse challenges associated with learning from home, we will minimize the impact of grades during this closure and focus on essential learning and growth for our students. In regards to grading, work completed during the 4th quarter will be assessed as Pass or Fail.
Students can also continue to improve the grades they had prior to Spring Break (3rd Qtr) and either turn in missing assignments or redo assignments. Only assignments that can improve the student’s grades will be recorded and calculated into the grade. The 3rd Quarter grades will also be the recorded 2nd semester grades for the year. The last day to submit 3rd Quarter work is May 8th.
As previously shared by Dr. Simpson in his memo (week of April 3rd), the Webster Groves School District has shifted learning to a 4 day week. Each teacher will continue to work with students during established office hours but no additional instructional material/lessons will be given in the effort to promote mastery of the essential work assigned for engagement.
Hixson Digital Kindness Wall & Spirit Week
Technology Support
Yearbook Order Deadline Extended to April 10th!
News from the library!
Attention current 7th grade parents:
Next year students will be using the Oak Bend Branch of the St. Louis County Library as one of their main sources for library books. Each team will take a field trip to the Oak Bend Branch once a month with both their ELA teacher and Mrs. Tumminello.
Please complete the application for a St. Louis County Library card: https://forms.gle/iJSNfYV5EXf4Y7c56
Free Kode with Klossy Program
Team & Department Weekly Newsletters
Please use the links below for your child's team, math and elective newsletters.
