The Lion Times

• Wednesday, April 3rd: Paraprofessional Appreciation Dy
• Monday, April 8th: Solar Eclipse Day (see information below)
• Week of April 8th - 12th: National Assistant Principal Week
• Week of April 8th - 12th: STAAR Spirit Week
• Tuesday, April 16th: STAAR Reading- 4th - 7th Grades
• Thursday, April 18th: STAAR Science- 5th Grade
• Thursday, April 18th: 4th Grade Field Trip to Dewberry Farm
• Wednesday, April 24th: National Admin Professional Day
• Thursday, April 25th: STAAR Math- 4th - 7th Grades
• Tuesday, April 30th: 6th Grade Field Trip to NASA

Let's create a sea of blue on campus on Tuesday, April 2nd for World Autism Awareness Day! Let's help spread kindness and increase autism awareness by wearing blue. All staff, students, and families are encouraged to wear blue on this day.

Thank you to all of the families, vendors, and visitors for coming out to support our 2nd Annual STEAM Festival. Our students worked hard on their projects and were excited to share them with everyone. We would also like to thank the Fulshear Fire Department, the Fort Bend County Constables Office, and the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office for joining us at the festival. Here are a few pictures from our STEAM Festival. We are still compiling an album to share on social media so make sure to follow us if you haven't already.

https://www.facebook.com/HSAKatyMiddle

Our 7th graders will be touring Harmony School of Innovation Katy next Friday, April 5th. This is an exciting opportunity for your student to get a glimpse of what next school year will look like. All students must have a permission slip turned in to attend (please the permission slip below). The event will take place from 8-11am. School buses will be provided. Parents are not allowed to attend.

On Monday, April 8th, an exciting astronomical event- a total solar eclipse - is set to occur, and HSA Katy Middle is near the path of totality. This rare occurrence presents a unique educational opportunity for students to connect classroom teachings with real-world phenomena. For many students, this is a singular event in their lifetime and can offer an unforgettable experience. HSA Katy Middle will be taking part in this event during 3rd block/7th-8th period. All staff and students will be provided with safety glasses to share and witness this event. Students may also bring their own Solar Eclipse glasses if they wish. Please make sure that on the back the glasses, in small print, they say that they are ISO 12312-2 certified. Regular sunglasses, swimming goggles, and most camera filters are NOT safe for looking directly at the sun.

If you do not want your child to participate, please email Ms. Megan at mbajrovic@harmonytx.org.

With field trips beginning in April, we would like to remind parents that students MUST have their ID in order to attend the field trip. They are required to have their IDs on them while they are at school.

If your child has lost his/her ID, a replacement ID must be purchased. The ID can be purchased by using this link https://harmonytx.revtrak.net/houston-south-west/harmony-science-academy-katy-middle/harmony-science-academy-katy-middle-local/#/v/2023-2024-id-replacement

NO CASH can be accepted for the replacement ID.

We are excited to share that our Field Trips have been planned for each grade level and parents can now sign up to be a chaperone. If you have not registered to be a volunteer, you must create an account and complete a simple background check before you are able to sign up to be a chaperone.

Please see this link https://harmonyps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/harmonyps/Opportunity_List.aspx?app=74

2023-2024 Field Trips

* 4th Grade:

Date: Tuesday, April 18th

Location: Dewberry Farm

* 5th Grade:

Date: Tuesday, May 14th

Location: Bluebell Icecream Factory

* 6th Grade:

Date: Thursday, April 30th

Location: NASA

* 7th Grade:

* Date: Thursday, May 16th

* Location: Oil Ranch

Students will take their STAAR Assessments in April. Please see the flyer for the dates our campus will be testing. It is important that your child gets a good night's rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and arrives on time to school.

**Please note that on testing days, the campus is closed. This means that no visitors will be allowed on campus and this includes dropping food off at the front office.**

Happy birthday to our staff celebrating their special day this month! We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating!

Be prepared for the next school year and order your child's school uniform shirts now! Please see flyer for more details.

VIRTUAL SPRING CAMPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

Do you have a child interested in learning how to learn programming through game design, learn how to code, develop digital stories through Artificial Intelligence, produce videos, and interact with computer science experts? The University of Houston STEM Center, in collaboration with the UH College of Education, is providing VIRTUAL summer learning opportunities for students in grades 3-8. Please find details below for the spring camps.

LEADERS Spring Camp

Students in grades (3-8)

April 13, 2024, Saturday

April 20, 2024, Saturday

April 27, 2024, Saturday

9 am-1 pm, Workshops & Instruction

1 pm-3 pm, Lab Hours

Fee: $375*

Scholarships are available!

Coding with Scratch

Roblox Game Design

AI for Digital Storytelling

Video Production

Web/HTML/JavaScript**

Introduction to Phyton Programming**

*T-shirts are included.

**6-8th grades & eligible 5th graders only

The LEADERS program is supported by Department of Curriculum and Instruction and UH Stem Center at the University of Houston. The program consists of three weeks of Saturday “workshop labs” in April consisting of learning, teaching, and mentoring sessions in the spring semester with faculty industry experts to supervise and instruct students. The LEADERS project involves the following Domains: Digital Storytelling, Coding, and Game Development. UH students will teach and mentor students in grades 3-8 and serve the larger UH community.

Please visit the website below for further details: http://www.itechstem.org/LEADERS

and read the FAQ at http://www.itechstem.org/parents

We are excited to have our PTO active and looking for more parents to join this incredible group of parent volunteers. It's not too late to join! Please see the attachment for membership details. You can print the form out to complete and bring the completed form with the dues and turn into the PTO Box that is in our Front Lobby.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the PTO directly at hsakatymiddlepto@gmail.com

Do you have family members and/or friends that may want their child/children to attend Harmony?

Follow the steps on the flyer to enter in the referral program and you could earn incredible Harmony items!

We are excited to share with you the core values that form the character of our school. At HSA Katy Middle, we are driven by the value of "PROUD."

Our core values include the principles that guide us, shape our students' character, and inspire us to reach our goals. "PROUD" is at the heart of everything we do, and it is not just a word but a reflection of our commitment to your child's growth and success.

P- Persistent: We teach determination and resilience.

R- Respectful: We foster a respectful and inclusive environment.

O- Optimistic: We foster a positive perspective and promote optimism, even when facing difficult circumstances.

U- Upstanding: We promote moral courage and integrity, standing up for what is right and just, even when it's difficult.

D- Dependable: We promote trustworthiness and reliability in all our actions.

We encourage you to join us in reinforcing these core values at home. As partners in education, we are happy to work together to create a school environment where our students can grow, learn, and succeed.

Together, we will make HSA Katy Middle a place where our students can truly be "Proud."

Announcing our Birthday Package!

Would you like to celebrate your child's birthday at school?

Please fill the form out at least one week beofre the celebration day!

Parents can bring lunch to have with their child. Please, only 2 adults allowed during our lunch times. Parents MUST stop by the front office to check in first. Lunch will be with the Parents and student only. Please note that birthday cakes/cupcakes to share are not allowed.

Our lunch times are:

For 4th & 5th grades: Monday-Thursday @ 11:20 am - 11:45 am; Fridays @ 11:46 am - 12:07 pm

For 6th & 7th grades: Monday - Thursday @ 11:50 am - 12:15 am; Fridays @ 12:11 pm - 12:36 pm.

Please fill the form out at least one week beofre the celebration day!

https://forms.gle/NFNEZdV4WbfryZaaA

**Please note: Parents are not allowed to walk students to the gym or the main building. ALL students MUST be dropped off in the back of the building.**

Parents, shuttles, and daycare buses MUST enter Grand Corner Drive from 99 (Grand Parkway). ALL students, regardless of how they arrive to school, MUST be dropped off at the back of the building (see map). Please DO NOT drop off on the street, the gym/cafeteria area, nor in the front/side of our building as these areas are not drop off locations.

Students may be dropped off starting at 7 am. If you drop your child/children off prior to 7 am, they will not be supervised.

Parents MUST enter from 99 (Grand Parkway). If you only have children at our campus, please stay to the outside lane once in our parking lot (see red line on map). If you have children at BOTH campuses (ours and the elementary), please stay to the inside lane (see purple line on map) and drive to the back of the building.

Daycare buses and shuttles will need to go to the side parking lot (please see map) and please communitcate with the daycare or shuttle service as to where they will need to go.

IMPORTANT- Parents MUST stay in their cars during dismissal time. We ask that you respect the staff that is outside and listen to any instructions they may give you. Our priority is dismissing our students in a safe manner. Please have your child's car tag visible for staff and pull up to the car in front of you.

**For the safety of our students, if you do not have you child's car tag, we WILL NOT release them to you. You will need to park and wait unitl 4 pm in order for someone in the front office to help you.

You will need to provide proof of identification in order for us to release your child to you.**

We ask for your patience during the first days of school during dismissal.

Students are not allowed to remain on campus unsupervised after designated dismissal times. The school will NOT have adult supervision after school hours. A student who remains on campus unsupervised after dismissal time may be subject to state criminal trespass laws. Including but not limited to: law enforcement involvement and reporting to CPS due to negligence.

Disciplinary consequences for remaining on campus unsupervised after designated dismissal times within a school year are as follows:

Number of Times Unsupervised after Dismissal Time Consequences:

• 2–3 times- Warning notice sent to parent informing of loitering policy and possible consequences for continued loitering.
• 4 times- Meeting with parents, parents will now begin to be charged for after hour care.
• 5 times- Student assigned to Saturday detention; school contacts CPS.
• 7–9 times- Student assigned to one day in-school suspension
• 10–14 times- Student assigned to one day out-of- school suspension.
• 15 times and above- Student assigned up to three days out of-school suspension; school contacts local law enforcement.

Additionally, students who have not been picked up after the designated dismissal time may be placed in the school’s after school program. Parents of these students will be responsible for all fees ($30 per hour) incurred as a result of such placement, as allowed by applicable law.

All students must follow the dress code policy and be in the correct polo-type top. You can purchase these at

https://www.frenchtoast.com/schoolbox/schools/harmony-science-academy-katy-4-7--QS61WSC

For bottoms:

Students in 4th & 5th grade ONLY- may wear shorts or skorts. These must be long enough to be no shorter than 2" above the knee.

All students: Black, blue, or khaki pants may be worn. Jeans may be worn ONLY on Fridays with a spirit shirt from HSA Katy Middle. If students have the STEAM shirt from our STEAM festival, they may wear that on Fridays as well as the 5th grade graduation shirt. Spirit shirts from other campuses and college shirts are NOT allowed.

**Please note: NO HOODIES ARE ALLOWED for any reason!!**

If students get cold, they may wear a SOLID colored long-sleeve shirt under their uniform or a solid colored jacket with a zipper or buttons.

Failure to comply to our dress code will result in taking the non-allowable clothing and/or contacting parents.

Principal Sari - ssari@harmonytx.org

Dean of Student Culture, Mr. Rodriguez - erodriguez@harmonytx.org

Dean of Academics, Mr. Bulut - ybulut@harmonytx.org

Attendance Specialist, Ms.Horton - bhorton@harmonytx.org

Front Office Secretary, Ms. Liz - lizette.hernandez@harmonytx.org

Nurse, Ms. Knowles - mknowles@harmonytx.org

Child Nutrition Assistant, Ms. Jones, kjones01@harmonytx.org

ESL & Testing Coordinator, Ms. Gutierrez - glenda.gutierrez@harmonytx.org

Special Programs Case Manager, Mr. Khan - mujibur.khan@harmonytx.org

Engagement Coordinator, Mrs. Bajrovic - mbajrovic@harmonytx.org

If you haven't already, please like and follow us on Facebook to see the latest updates, events and achievements at HSA - Katy Middle.

Website: https://hsamkaty.harmonytx.org/
Location: 22400 Grand Corner Drive, Katy, TX, USA
Phone: 281 392 0052
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HSAKatyMiddle