Waggoner's Word - November 21, 2014

Friday, November 21^st, 2014

Dear Parents,

Calendar of Events for the Week of November 24^th-28^th:

Thanksgiving Break all week-No School

Calendar of Events for the Week of December 1^st-5^th:

Monday, December 1^st :  8^th Girls BBall vs. Canyon Vista, 7^th Girls BBall @ Canyon Vista 5:30PM

Tuesday, December 2^nd:  Winter Band Concert 7PM at the RRISD Hartfield PAC

Wednesday, December 3^rd: Early Release Day @ 1:30PM for teacher professional development

Wednesday, December 3^rd: 8^th Grade Boys BBall vs. Canyon Vista, 7^th Boys BBall @ Canyon Vista 5:30PM

Thursday, December 4^th: Girls 8^th BBall “B” Tournament @ Hopewell, Girls 7^th BBall “B” Tournament @ CD Fulkes5:30PM

Thursday, December 4^th: Theater Performance: 7PM Hopewell Cafeteria

Friday, December 5^th: Theater Performance: 7PM Hopewell Cafeteria

Our first No Homework Night was held this past Wednesday and hopefully our students and families were able to spend some time together without the stressors of school work-at least for one day.  We are revising our four remaining NHN dates in order to ensure that ALL subjects (including High School credit courses) are able to comply with the expectation on the designated nights.  Teravista is on board and the other elementary Hopewell MS feeders are considering it but are awaiting approval from their Campus Leadership Teams.

The REVISED dates are as follows so please take note and mark your calendars:

Wednesday, December 17^th

Wednesday, February 18^th

Wednesday, March 11^th

Wednesday, May 6^th

Our first annual 6^th grade Hotdog Cookout Tailgate Party was rained out a couple of weeks ago and unfortunately it was our last 8^th grade football game of the season!  SO, the PTA moms and I have decided to reschedule it for before the 8^thgrade boys basketball game on Thursday, January 15^th.  We are renaming this Hotdog Cookout “GAME NIGHT” and will be held from 4-5PM outside the gym entrance.  6^th grade students will be encouraged to attend the game after the tailgate and cheer on the 8^th grade boys.  More information will be coming home with the 6^th graders in January and in future Waggoner’s Words.

Students in grades 2-12 enrolled in a Round Rock ISD schools and district staff can get Office 365 FREE for their home and personal computers and tablets by visiting RoundRockISD.org/GetOffice365 and completing the registration process.

The program is a part of the district’s purchase of the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. This opportunity for our families came free of charge from Microsoft as part of this agreement.

All enrolled RRISD students in grades 2 and higher have RRISD email addresses, which are Gmail accounts. To access the student's district email account, go to mail.google.com.

The username for your student's email account is their email address: the letter "s" followed by his/her student ID number, @student.roundrockisd.org. (example:s123456@student.roundrockisd.org). 

The default password for that account is the student's birth date: mmddyyyy
(Some students have changed their password...it will be the same as the password they use to log onto a computer at their school)

Please contact your student's campus if you do not have his/her ID number.

Visit RoundRockISD.org/GetOffice365, register through either the student or staff portal, and start enjoying FREE Office 365 in your home.

Please make sure that if your child misses school that they bring in a note from you or the doctor/dentist and give to our Attendance Secretary at the front desk.  It is crucial that we get these absences documented and in our files.  The State of Texas Compulsory Attendance Law requires that students are in school at least 90% of the school year which amounts to no more than 18 school days.  Students that are absent in excess of 18 school days will have their absences reviewed by a Hopewell Attendance Committee and depending on the situation for the absences, will need to make up some of that instructional time lost.  We will hold Saturday School for students that have excessive absences and tardies, as well as for students that display persistent misbehavior in class.  Saturday School will be held at Hopewell MS from 8:30-11:30the following dates in December and January:  December 6^th, December 13^th, January 10^th and January 24^th.

Our 2^nd 6 weeks Student Attendance Rate was at 97.6% which is exceptional.   As we enter the flu season, please make sure that you encourage your child to wash their hands frequently and take other steps to help keep your child well and healthy!   I also commended the staff for creating a motivating learning environment and school climate where students WANT to be at Hopewell MS.  Our school is safe and our students are engaged in quality learning.  At this time of the year, for that we all can be thankful!
 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

Our students and staff will be off the entire next week recharging their batteries for the last three weeks of the semester!

Take care and be safe!
Karl

Please see the attached link to purchase discounted tickets for the Austin Spurs Hockey game December 6th. Last day to purchase tickets is December 2nd.

https://toros.wufoo.com/forms/hopewell-ms/   

Waggoner's Word - Nov. 14, 2014

November 14^th, 2014

Dear Parents,

Calendar of Events for the Week of November 17^th-21^st:

Monday, November 17^th: 7^th Grade Girl’s BB vs. Cedar Valley, 8^th Grade Girl’s @ Cedar Valley 5:30PM

Tuesday, November 18^th: Picture Retakes

Wednesday, November 19^th: Hopewell MS NO HOMEWORK NIGHT

Thursday, November 20^th: 7^th Grade Boy’s BB vs. Cedar Valley, 8^th Grade Boy’s @ Cedar Valley 5:30PM

Monday, November 24^th-Friday, November 28^th: Thanksgiving Break all week.  School resumes on Monday, December 1^st.

Congratulations to Hopewell MS Staff member for the month of November, Willie Kline-6^th grade math.  October staff member of the month was Vickie Bradford who is our building instructional technology coordinator.  Both are very well deserving of this staff generated honor!

We held our First Annual Hopewell MS Veteran’s Day Assembly this past Tuesday, November 11^th in our gym.  Our student council under the staff sponsorship of Veronica Mackey and Kay Oliver organized the event and it was an incredibly moving and successful event for our students and staff.  Our students were very well behaved, respectful and totally engaged throughout the 45 minute long assembly and made us all very proud.  Our student council president, Jennifer Alviar gave a terrific talk and introduced our first speaker, Cpt. Erika Courtier who is a Commander in the Texas National Guard.  Moryah Kline our 6^th grade student council representative introduced our second speaker, Martin Cudzilo who served in the United States Army and graduated from West Point.  Dejon McIlwain one of our 7^th grade student council reps announced the winners of our school-wide Veteran’s Day writing essay contest.  Additionally, our band, orchestra, choir and dance team performed to various patriotic songs throughout the assembly.   Several of our Hopewell MS teachers and staff that are also Veterans were also honored and sat in our designated VIP section for the event.  We were also honored that our RRISD Superintendent Dr. Stephen Flores and Chief of Schools and Innovation Dr. Daniel Presley attended our event along with community members that were Veterans of various wars and conflicts.  They all made our event a special one.  This event was important as it shined the rightful light on all those Americans that have served in the military to ensure that we can be free.  They and their families have put so much on the line and have sacrificed so much and for that we are grateful.

Thank you Sandra Logston and Gilberto Herrera for putting together another successful Family Fitness Night at Hopewell on a cold Thursday evening.  The event was well attended and all those that were there had a great time visiting the incredible vendor booths and participating in the events.  Thanks again for a terrific evening and we look forward to next year!

Our first NO HOMEWORK NIGHT will be this coming Wednesday, November 19^th.  There will be no homework assigned due the next day, nor will there be any tests or quizzes for our students on Thursday to study for.  I want to thank Teravista Elementary for their participation and support of our Hopewell MS NH Nights.  The spirit of NH Nights is to promote family time and to give the students a break from the rigors of school.

Please continue to support our School-Wide Reading Initiative here at Hopewell MS. We want all our students to bring books to each of their classes and to Advisory every day.  When students are finished with their class work, they are encouraged to get out their book and read.  When at home and they are finished with their homework and their day, encourage them to pick up their book and read a chapter. This initiative is crucial in our digital age to help promote fluency, comprehension and vocabulary.  Thanks!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Throw a log on the fire and stay warm!
 

Karl    

NOTE FROM THE NURSE:

Another Coats for kids event sponsored by the Junior League of Austin is underway. Please stop by the front office to pick up a flyer with information of eligibility. If you have any questions, please call the Coats for Kids office at (512) 467-8982, send an e-mail to cfkcoats@jlaustin.org, or visitwww.jlaustin.org. Proof of eligibility will be required on Distribution Day, Saturday, December 13th, from 8 am to 3 pm at the Palmer Events Center.

Waggoner's Word - November 7, 2014

Waggoner's Word - November 7, 2014

November 7^th, 2014

Dear Parents,

Calendar of Events for the Week of: November 10^th-14^th

November 10^th– 14^th. Book Fair in the Library 7:50AM – 3:45PM

Tuesday, November 11^th: Veteran’s Day Assembly Main Gym 8:30AM

Thursday, November 13^th: Family Fitness Night @ Hopewell MS-5:30-7:00PM (Book Fair will be open!)

Friday, November 14^th: GO-GREEN Positive Behavior Support reward event for students 11AM-1:30PM

It is with great sadness that I inform the Hopewell Community that one of our staff members, Jane Bohne passed away this week after a long battle with cancer.  She was an exceptional teacher who worked hard with our ESL students.  She dedicated her life to provide students an opportunity to learn the English language and see them become successful students and citizens.  Her loss is profound and we will miss her deeply.   Her memorial service is next Tuesday, November 11th at 4PM and we could use some parent help covering classes so that staff that want to attend, can.  Please email Eva Vick at:eva_vick@roundrockisd.org if you can be at Hopewell from 2:45-3:30 and help cover a class.  Teachers that will be going will be leaving work for their students to do and will need you to help monitor and supervise the students.  We could really use your help as we rally behind Jane’s family and offer the support that they will need during this very difficult time.  Thanks!

Our First Annual Veteran’s Day Assembly sponsored by the Hopewell Student Council is next Tuesday, November 11th at 8:30AM in our gym.  We will be honoring those men and women that have served our country in the armed forces and have sacrificed so that we can be free.  Remembering and honoring our Veterans is an import lesson for our students as they grow up and reap the benefits of this great nation.  If you know a Veteran please pass on the word that you and they are welcome to attend our school-wide assembly next Tuesday morning. 

Next Thursday evening is our 3rd Annual Family Fitness Night from 5:30-7:00 PM.  Come and meet representatives from the Texas Stars, Round Rock Express, Round Rock Fire, Round Rock K-9 Unit, The Main Event, Austin Aztex, and the Austin Toros now Spurs.  There will be plenty of fun games, great prizes and over 20 local businesses and organizations at the event to share all the wonderful ways we can get and stay active and fit within our great Hopewell community.  Complete a passport to be entered into a drawing for fitness equipment and passes to the Austin Sports Arena.  The first 50 students to complete the passport will be able to high five our Austin Spurs in the fan tunnel at a game in December.  Hope to see you all there!

As we continue to ensure that Hopewell remains a safe school for all students, we are communicating our expectations to our student body that we will not tolerate any bullying or harassing behavior, will investigate every reported incident, will assure the victim that the behavior will be stopped, and that the bully will be held accountable.  Students that persistently bully or harass other students will face serious consequences at Hopewell Middle School.  Additionally, any students that are caught fighting, throwing punches as the aggressor or in retaliation will be suspended from school for a minimum of two school days.  We will not tolerate this inappropriate and unacceptable behavior and we will continue to educate our students that handling issues through physical, harmful actions is not how we as a civil society operate.   Middle school is about experiencing a variety of “learning curves” and it is our job as educators to teach our students about acceptable and unacceptable behavior so they will grow up to be happy and productive citizens.  Please help support our efforts at Hopewell regarding this issue and reinforce our expectations with your child.  We are all in this together and are an effective team.  Thanks for your help and support.

We had a great High School 101 student/parent program Wednesday evening in the Hopewell cafeteria and lower commons area.  Over 150 people braved the rain, wind and cold and heard presentations by the Stony Point HS Academy Directors, IB coordinator, and ROTC coordinator about elective choices and structures for next school year.  One of our campus goals this year is to improve on our transitions both into middle school and into high school for our students.  I like to call the middle school experience “magic in the middle” because so much physical, emotional, and academic growth occurs during those years.  This First Annual High School 101 event gave our 8th graders and their parents a broad overview of high school electives and an opportunity to ask specific questions of the Academy Directors and the Stony Point students they all brought with them.  It was an exceptional experience and one that we will continue next year as well.  The next steps for our 8th graders will be to hear course selection presentations by the Stony Point Counselors in February.  We got the wheels turning this week and took our first steps to high school.  I also want to extend a very special thank you to our WONDERFUL PTA for providing cookies and waters to our guests and presenters last night.   That added a very special touch to a great evening.  

Hopewell MS now has our very own YouTube Channel!! We will  post videos throughout the year depicting various events and school life on the channel.  You may access our YouTube Channel via our school website main page.  The link is found on the left side of the main page toward the bottom of the link menu.  Click on the link and our channel will pop up!  The first video is a recording of the High School 101 8th – 9th grade transition student parent meeting held on Wednesday, November 5th with presentations by the Stony Point Academy Directors.  Check it out.  I’m sure that the next video posted will be of our Veteran’s Day Assembly next Tuesday, November 11th. 

We have had several complaints from patrons that parents are parking the fire lanes between Hopewell MS and Union Hill Elementary schools.  It is our mission to ensure that all our students are safe and that any emergency vehicles are able to access our buildings 24/7. Please help us by not parking in those fire lanes or leaving your vehicle unattended in a fire lane when picking up your students from school.  Thanks!
 

Lastly, at Hopewell Middle School we will be implementing 5 No Homework Nights this school year with the first one being Wednesday, November 19th.  That means that absolutely no homework will be assigned by any teacher at Hopewell that evening and that no tests or quizzes will be given the next school day.  Additionally, we will not be doubling up on homework the next school day.  We want our kids to have a break from the rigors of school and have time to just be kids, play outside, hang out with their friends, and have some quality family time.  One Hopewell feeder elementary school, Teravista Elementary will be supporting our efforts and will also not be assigning homework those nights nor give quizzes or tests the next school day.  One other feeder elementary is considering it and I thank them both for supporting our efforts to promote family time.  The dates for Hopewell No Homework Nights set for this school year are:November 19th, December 10th, February 11th, April 8th, and May 27th. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Karl

Waggoner's Word - October 31, 2014

October 31st, 2014



Dear Parents,



Calendar of Events for the Week of November 3rd-7th:

Saturday, November 1st: Region Band Auditions ALL day @ Canyon Ridge MS, Cedar Park MS, and Chisholm Trail MS

Sunday, November 2nd: Daylight Savings Time Begins early Sunday morning.  Fall BACK one hour.

Monday, November 3rd: 7th FBall vs. Deerpark 5:30PM @ McNeil HS

Monday, November 3rd: 7th VBall @. Grisham MS 5:30PM

Monday, November 3rd: 8th VBall vs. Grisham MS 5:30PM

Tuesday, November 4th: Election Day-Please vote!

Tuesday, November 4th: 6th Grade Tailgate Party 4:30-5:30PM @ Dragon Stadium in the parking lot by the baseball fields-look for the grills and smoke cooking the hotdogs!  Parents will need to drop off and pick up.  Students may the football game after the tailgate party.

Tuesday, November 4th: 8th FBall vs. Deerpark @ Dragon Stadium 5:30PM

Wednesday, November 5th: High School 101 6:30-8:00PM

Thursday, November 6th: Fall Choir Concert 7:00PM Cafeteria



Our first annual 6th Grade Tailgate Party will be held at Dragon Stadium this next Tuesday, November 4th at 4:30-5:30PM in the parking lot by the baseball fields.  Just follow the smoke where the hotdogs will be cooking on the grill!  Students will hang out with their friends, be led in cheers by our Hopewell MS Cheerleaders, and then go to the game for the B and A game vs. Deerpark.  Tailgate tickets will be on sale Monday and Tuesday during the 6th grade lunch for $3 and game tickets will be on sale for $1 at the tailgate.  Have them bring some extra money to spend at the concession stand if they are going to the game.  Parents please drop off and pick up your 6th grader from Dragon Stadium as there will not be a bus provided for this event.  You might want to carpool due to the distance to the game from Hopewell. The A game should be over by 8:00PM and you are all certainly welcome to join in the fun at our Tailgate Party!  Thanks!



High School 101 will be held at Hopewell in the Cafeteria from 6:30-8:00PM.  Stony Point Academy Directors, IB Director, and a representative from the ROTC will be there to present their programs.  Students from Stony Point will also be there to help explain each Academy’s requirements.  This is our first step towards the transition from middle school to high school and is open to all 8th grade students and parents.  Hope to see you there!


Mr. Spears one of our 7th grade math teachers has resigned for personal reasons effective October 31st.  I have hired a long-term substitute, Sandra Latham who is a math certified teacher to fill that position on an interim basis until Mr. Spears’ replacement can be found and hired.  We first need to post the position , screen applicants, and conduct interviews to get the best possible person in that crucial position for our students.  Your students are in great hands with Mrs. Latham! They deserve nothing but the best teacher possible and my mission is to do just that.  I will keep you posted!



Please do a double-check and make sure that your students have a good book to read and are bringing it with them to each class.  Our school-wide Reading initiative has been a terrific success so far and the vast majority of our students are participating on a daily basis.  Your help and support with this program will be greatly appreciated.  If they want to bring an electronic reading device that is fine too-just make sure that they have it labeled with their name and that they take great care of it throughout the school day.  Hopewell MS and RRISD are not responsible for stolen, lost or damaged eBooks or electronic devices.  Don’t forget that students are able to now download eBooks from our school website and library.  Thanks!



Don’t forget to mark your calendars!  Our 3rd Annual Hopewell MS Fitness Night is on Thursday, November 13th from 5:30-7:30PM in the gym, cafeteria, and commons area.  Come meet representatives from the Texas Stars, Round Rock Express, Round Rock Fire, Round Rock K-9 Unit, The Main Event, Austin Aztex, and the Austin Toros now the Austin Spurs.  There will be awesome games, prizes and over 20 local businesses and organizations at Hopewell that night to share all the wonderful ways we can get active and get fit within our own great Round Rock community.  Complete a passport to be entered into a drawing for fitness equipment and passes to the Austin Sports Arena.  The first 50 students to complete the passport will be able to high five our Austin Spurs in the fan tunnel at a game TBD in December.  Students will get more exciting details on the morning announcements and information on the event will be attached to their next progress report next week.  It will be posted on the PTA FaceBook page as well.  Hope to see you all there for this great Hopewell Community event!



Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Don’t forget to FALL BACK one hour Saturday Night!



Happy Halloween!
Karl