The Hornet Weekly Update

Important dates and events for the week ahead. You can also check out our daily, weekly, and monthly events on our school website calendar!

📆 This Week:

• Monday, September 14th: Girls Volleyball @ Northwest MS (B Team @ 6:00 PM; A Team @ 7:00 PM)
• Tuesday, September 15th:
• Cross-Country Meet @ School 83, 6:15 PM
• Boys Tennis v Harshman @ Arlington, 6:45 PM
• Wednesday, September 16th:
• Girls Volleyball @ Arlington MS (B Team @ 6:00 PM; A Team @ 7:00 PM)
• Football @ Northwest, 5:30 pm

🗓️ Looking Ahead:

• Week of September 21st: District Writing Assessment
• Wednesday, September 23rd:
• Homecoming Football Game v Broad Ripple MS, 5:30 PM
• Dream Alive Field Trip to CE Solutions, 3:15 PM
• Friday, September 25th: 8th Grade to JA Job Spark, 10:00–12:00 pm

• Thursday, October 8th: 7th Grade College Visit to Marian University
• Friday, October 9th: 8th Grade College Visit to Indiana University, Indy
• Tuesday, October 27th: 7th Grade College Visit to Marian University
• Thursday, October 29th: 7th Grade College Visit to Marian University
• Monday, November 23rd: 6th Grade College Visit to Purdue University, Indy

Behind every great school day is a team of passionate, dedicated individuals working hard for our students. Each week, we’re excited to shine a light on one of our amazing staff members so you can learn a bit more about the people who make our Hornet community so special. This week, we are proud to feature our Social Worker, Claudia Arteaga!

• How many years have you worked in education? 4 years, my first as a social worker
• What inspired you to become an educator? When I was in high school, I saw the impact of the social worker and fell in love with helping the community.
• What is one goal that you have for your students this year? My goal is that every student feel safe at school and that they know they can use their voice.
• What is something that your students and colleagues might be surprised to learn about you? I know how to play the guitar and I am a good dancer.
• If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Brazil
• Who is someone you admire, and why? I admire my mom because she is the most brave person that I know.
• What are three words that best describe you? Shy, good listener, happy
• What is your favorite thing about working with junior high students? I love how often their moods change and they make me feel that I am in the right place.

As we see a rise in students being dropped off and picked up from school, please adhere to the following drop-off and pick-up procedures. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in citations issued by the IPS Police.

For Everyone’s Safety, Please Follow These Norms:

• Have students ready to be dropped off when you arrive. When you wait for the entry bell, this creates a back log of vehicles onto Bancroft Avenue. Staff will ask you to release your child and move your vehicle if you are idling.
• Drop off and pick up students between the designated area (look for the signage & cones). The drop-off and pick area begins at the "Please pull forward" signage, and continues through the coned area. Students will not be permitted to leave this area during dismissal.
• Remain in a single file line on Bancroft Ave. DO NOT pass other vehicles in the car rider line.
• Drive slowly - keep an eye out for other students.
• Have your student exit the vehicle using the car door closest to the curb/sidewalk as soon as you pull up.
• Follow the directives of the school staff.
• DO NOT use any of the parking lots.

Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe during arrival and dismissal.

This month at Thomas Carr Howe Middle School, our students are focusing on being Inquirers—curious learners who ask thoughtful questions, seek understanding, and explore new ideas.

In their classes, students will strengthen ATL Research skills by formulating and planning research questions and Thinking skills by applying prior knowledge to new situations. These skills are connected to important Employability Skills, including Lifelong Learning and Initiative.

Families may notice students:

• Asking more thoughtful questions
• Exploring new topics and ideas
• Connecting what they already know to new learning
• Taking greater initiative in their learning

Because these skills transcend individual classes and content areas, students will see the same habits of learning reinforced throughout the school day. Our goal is for students to recognize that being an Inquirer isn't just something they do in one class—it is a skill they can use everywhere.

Skills Today. Success Tomorrow. Stronger Learners. Bright Futures.

We are rolling out parent access this week to Toddle, or online learning management system. Please be on the look out for an email from the Toddle system.

What is Toddle and Why Are We Using It?

Toddle is our dedicated all-in-one learning platform built specifically for International Baccalaureate (IB) schools. While PowerSchool handles official school records and overall grades, Toddle gives parents a front-row seat to your child's day-to-day IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) journey.

Through Toddle, you will be able to see:

• Unit Plans & Class Projects: How teachers connect lessons to real-world contexts and IB themes.

• Student Work & Portfolios: Real-time growth, assignments, and learning reflections.

• IB MYP Criteria: Detailed feedback on how your child is developing key skills and subject competencies.

📆 Monthly Activity Calendar: You can view our full schedule of weekly practices, game dates, and club meeting times on our official monthly calendar here: Monthly Activity Calendar

ℹ️ Sports & Clubs Contact Information: You can view our roster of club sponsors and athletic coaches here: Athletic/Club Contacts & Meeting Cadence

💡 Predictable Scheduling: To help families plan ahead—and to give students the chance to try a variety of activities without overlapping—we host practices and club meetings on consistent nights each week. You can view the weekly cadence here: Athletic/Club Contacts & Meeting Cadence

❓ Questions About Athletics: If you have questions about Athletics, please contact William Clay, Athletic Coordinator (clayw@myips.org), or Ted Isaacs, Assistant Athletic Coordinator (isaacst@myips.edu).

Scope of Policy

In response to Indiana Legislation and Senate Bill 78, Indianapolis Public Schools has adopted the following personal electronic device policy (linked below). For purposes of this policy, a personal electronic device means any portable wireless device capable of voice, messaging, or other data communication, including a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, gaming device, or smartwatch connected to a cellular network, cell tower, or the Internet.

Prohibited Student Use

The use of personal electronic devices (PEDs; e.g., cell phones, headphones, earbuds, AirPods) is prohibited during the instructional day. All student PEDs must be off during the instructional day between 8:45 am and 4:00 pm, and stored in a secure location. All students are provided with a locker to store their personal items. Students are required by law to store their PEDs in their lockers.

Staff will follow the procedures below if a student fails to keep PEDs in their locker during the instructional period.

1st Offense:

• PED is confiscated and held in the front office for the remainder of the instructional day
• Student may pick up their PED at the end of the day
• Parent contact made

2nd Offense:

• PED is confiscated and held in the front office for parent/guardian pickup]
• Parent contact made

3rd Offense:

• PED is confiscated and held in the front office for parent/guardian pickup
• Parent contact made; conference scheduled
• Parent conference must be held to create a contract and release PED

If a student refuses to give the device to staff upon request, the behavior will be elevated to an administrator.

If you have any questions about the expectations set forth, please contact Principal Bletzinger at 317-693-5560 or bletzingerj@myips.org.

At TCHMS, regular and timely attendance is a foundational building block for student success and a vibrant school culture. Middle school is a critical period where students build the independent habits they will carry for the rest of their lives. When a student arrives on time every morning, they kick off their day with a focused mind, connect with their peers during Advisory, and establish a rhythm that sets them up for long-term success.

Achieving excellent attendance is a team effort—we are truly all in this together.

🎯 Understanding the Numbers: The 94% Target

Our school performance is collectively held accountable to a state attendance rate target of 94%. While that might sound like a flexible percentage, the reality of the math is eye-opening:

• The Limit: A 94% attendance rate means a student can miss no more than 10 days across the entire school year. Please view the Student Attendance Overview for Families PDF linked below.

• The Impact: Every day a student is absent, they miss crucial learning experiences and valuable interactions with their teachers. Keep in mind that we operate on an A Day/B Day schedule. When a student misses a day, they may not have that day's classes again for two to three days!

• On-Time Matters: Attendance isn't just about missing full days; it's also about arriving on time. Doors open at 8:45 AM, giving students the critical time they need to visit their lockers, secure their electronic devices, and settle into their morning Advisory class by 9:00 AM. Arriving late can disrupt a student's morning momentum and cause them to miss key community announcements.

🤝 Held Accountable Together

Because our school's overall rating is tied to meeting this 94% threshold, every single day your child is at school on time helps our entire Hornet community shine. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in making morning routines a priority, scheduling appointments outside of school hours whenever possible, and reinforcing the value of dedication.

Let’s work together to ensure every student is present, punctual, and prepared to learn every day!

We understand that illnesses and emergencies happen, and our top priority is keeping our Hornet community safe, healthy, and supported. This digital form is designed to provide families with a quick and convenient way to notify our main office of a student absence. Please ensure all required fields are fully completed so we can update our records accurately.

Before you submit your report, please keep these important health and state guidelines in mind:

• Fever & Illness Policy: To prevent the spread of germs on campus, if your child has a fever, they must remain home until their symptoms have improved and they are completely fever-free for more than 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• Excused Absences: Students who are kept home due to illness and are formally reported by their families via this form will be marked as excused.
• State Attendance Law: As a reminder, Indiana Law states that students may not miss more than 10 days of school within a single school year.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school healthy and ensuring we meet our attendance goals together!

Questions About Attendance?

If you have any questions or need to discuss your child’s attendance record, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to Assistant Principal Aaron Vest at vesta@myips.org.

• To Join: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/inpta-12711528
• BAND App Group: https://band.us/n/aba5035cJeY4e
• Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19Dq1LRNX6/

Shepherd is a faith-based organization committed to serving the community. This year we are offering before and after school programs to support students and families at Howe.

Both programs provide a safe, engaging environment where students can connect, grow, and have fun. Activities include games, guest speakers, college/business visits and life mapping-a hands on approach to help students identify their interests, create life goals and explore future career paths.

Before and after school care programs will begin shortly after the school year begins. If you have any questions about the program or would like to enroll, please call the Shepherd Center at 317-375-0203.

Please help to give back to our school. The Kroger Rewards Program gives a percentage of your shopping back to the school you choose. Download the Kroger app and register your Kroger account – go to top left corner and tap on the person icon. Go to Payments & Resources, then select Community Rewards and click. Search T.C. Howe Middle School and select. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to Principal Bletzinger at 317-693-5560 or bletzingerj@myips.org.