Waggoner's Word - September 25, 2015

September 25^th,  2015

Dear Parents

Calendar of Events for the Week of September 28^th- October 2nd:

Monday, September 28^th: 7^th Grade Fball vs. Chisholm Trail 5:30 PM @ Dragon Stadium

Tuesday, September 29^th: 8^th Grade Fball @ Chisholm Trail MS 5:30 PM 

Thursday, October 1^st: 7^th & 8^th Vball: 7^th @ Deerpark MS/8^th vs. Deerpark MS Hopewell gym 5:30 PM

Friday, October 2^nd: School Pictures

TECH LINK

Parents, please copy and paste the link below to you browser and check out the cool tech stuff on it posted by our incredible Instructional Technology Specialist Vickie Bradford!

http://techinhive.blogspot.com/2015/09/tech-tuesday-in-library-little-bits.html

Girls Volleyball Info

Our volleyball season is off to a great start! The 7^th and 8^th grade B team tournament was held last weekend where our Hopewell girls made it into the silver pool. The 7^th grade B team placed 3^rd out of a strong field of teams.  Please come and join us while we host the first portion of the A team tournament this Friday at Hopewell MS gym.  Hopewell plays Wiley MS at 5:30 PM and will play Cedar Valley at 7:30.  Good luck Lady Hornets!

Excused Absences in public schools per State of Texas

This is a FYI only>The State of Texas defines excused absences as those that involve a student being sick/Doctor’s appointments, death of a family member and funeral, and for those absences due to school related activities and events.  ALL other absences including trips are considered unexcused.  Under the state compulsory attendance laws, students must be in school 90% of the school year.  Student absences that accrue over 18 absences for the year will result in a referral to a school attendance committee. The attendance committee will review the absences and determine how and when that lost instructional time will be made up.  At Hopewell, we are looking at several options for those few students that have excessive absences such as Saturday School, Friday after school time, and community service.  Please make sure that each absence is covered by a note from parents/guardians, or by a doctor.  Have your child bring the note to the main office to Linda Zamarripa our Hopewell attendance secretary. 

7th & 8^th Grade Accelerated Math Policy

Students that were placed in an accelerated math course in 5^th and 6^th grades will automatically be placed in accelerated math the next school year if they have a minimum of an 80% grade average. However, those students that request to up level from an on level math curriculum to an accelerated curriculum must meet certain prerequisite criteria as listed below.   Concepts in accelerated math are taught at a much faster pace and provide greater opportunities for more in depth critical thinking and problem solving learning targets than in on-level math.  Some students are not developmentally ready for the rigors of accelerated math and will not experience the successes or the depth of knowledge if inappropriately placed in accelerated math.   Many students, as they grow through the middle school years, develop the necessary fundamentals and skills required for an accelerated math curriculum as they enter high school.  It is our responsibility as their teachers to ensure that their placement in math is appropriate for their individual math developmental and instructional level.  ALL students will have the opportunity to apply for accelerated math next school year and will be accepted if they meet the requirements outlined in the rubric below.  Additionally, students must maintain a certain level of mastery and achievement in order to remain in an accelerated math course. 

Maintaining ELIGIBILITY in 6^th & 7^th grade accelerated math for all students:

1.       Students must maintain a minimum of an 80% average to remain in 6^th  or 7th grade accelerated math.

2.       If students fall below 80% for one 6 weeks grading period then they will be placed on a probationary status for the following six week grading period.  Parents will be notified via a letter regarding their child’s probationary status for the next six weeks grading period. Students must regain at least an 80% average the next six weeks or will be placed in on-level math for the remainder of the school year.  Students may drop below 80% for only one six week grading period to remain in accelerated math.

FREE LITTLE LIBRARIES

We now have three Free Little Libraries mounted across our campus! A free little library is a cool way of encouraging students to read often, while also providing students, who may not have access to books for whatever reason, a place to obtain a book with no questions asked. A student (or teacher) simply browses the books within the little library, chooses one of interest to read, and either returns the same book at a later date, or replaces it with a book that they feel worthy of sharing with others. The Free Little Libraries are located in the upper commons we now have three Free Little Libraries mounted across our campus! A free little library is cool way of encouraging students (and people in general) to read often, while also providing students, who may not have access to books for whatever reason, a place to obtain a book with no questions asked. A student (or teacher) simply browses the books within the little library, chooses one of interest to read, and either returns the same book at a later date, or replaces it with a book that they feel worthy of sharing with others. The Free Little Libraries are located in the upper commons  (next to the art display case) , in the 7th grade Hall (between Mr. Crellin's room and the mechanical room), and in the 8th grade hall (between the science room and mechanical room). If you would like to donate books to the Free Little Libraries, either insert them into any of the little libraries yourself, or drop them off in the book donation box, situated outside Mrs. Hargrove's room (542). Thanks in advance! (next to the art display case) , in the 7th grade Hall (between Mr. Crellin's room and the mechanical room), and in the 8th grade hall (between the science room and mechanical room). If you would like to donate books to the Free Little Libraries, make sure that the books are appropriate for middle school students, and have your child bring them to school and they will either insert them into any of the little libraries, or drop them off in the book donation box, situated outside Mrs. Hargrove's room (#542).

This new Hopewell program will help support our school wide reading initiative where students will be required to read during advisory on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Thanks again for your support of our Hopewell programs.

PTA Membership Drive

PTA is proud to announce that we have been awarded the Head Start award for Membership for the 2015-2016 school year.  This means that we achieved 75% of our 2014-15 membership total before August 31st, 2015.  We are one of only 14 schools in our district to achieve this award so you should be very proud of yourself if you have joined and become a registered member!

Thank you to all who joined and are supporting PTA at Hopewell Middle School.

This however, is only the beginning of our year and we would like to continue to growing our membership and continue to achieve awards while we are doing that.  

It is RRISD's goal as a district to continue to increase membership until we reach the point where every child in our district (45,000 of them) has at least one member to advocate for them - last year our district had just over 22,000 PTA members so we have a ways to go.

BUT we can do this!  We at Hopewell can do our part in this!  We have lots of targets to achieve that will make this goal possible.

Mr Waggoner has agreed that 100% of teachers will be members by Monday next week.  We have 8 to go!

We want 14 more Dad's or Grandpa's by September 30th so we achieve 50 men on our membership database.  This is awarded as the MARS (Men are Really Super) award so let's do it!

We need 11 more students to join to grow our Student Membership to the first marked milestone.  If you have joined yourself, have you joined your student?

We need 23 more members to meet and match last year's membership numbers of 271.

RRISD has set us a personal goal of honoring 40 years of PTA by recruiting 40 new members who have not joined before.

We have Students on our Board this year in the position of Reflections Chair and Co-Chair, this is a recognition that RRISD acknowledge as students on a school PTA board is not a common situation - Go Hopewell!

Which category will you help out?  Please download the attached membership form and send it to school with the membership fee of $8.00.  Do it now, do it this week.  Your child can hand it into their Advisory Teacher who will get it to PTA!

The time to take action is NOW! 

Shop, Take a Picture, Earn $$$ for Hopewell with Shoparoo! 

DO YOU SHOPAROO?   WANT to help raise money for HOPEWELL the EASY way with nothing extra to sell or buy?  Just down the app and take pictures of your receipts when you shop for your household. Any receipt of any amount will earn points. Points are turned into MONEY for HOPEWELL  !!!!

Download the FREE phone app and start SNAPPING today! 

We currently have 58 supporters & we are at 31,500 Roo points = $60.00 It's the easiest way for you to support HMS! 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Karl

Twitter@KarlWaggoner

Waggoner's Word - September 18, 2015

September 18, 2015

Dear Parents,

Calendar of Events for the Week of: September 21–25:

Monday, September 21^st: 7^th Football vs. Ridgeview @ Dragon Stadium 5:30PM

Tuesday, September 22^nd: 8^th Football vs. Ridgeview @ Cedar Ridge HS 5:30PM

Wednesday, September 23^rd: Early Release for Teacher Professional Development 1:30PM

Thursday, September 24^th: 7^th and 8^th Volleyball vs. Walsh 5:30PM/ 7^th Home & 8^th Away

Friday and Saturday: A Volleyball Tournament / Locations times TBD

6^th OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16^th

We had a great turnout for our 6^th grade back to school night this week.  As parents strolled in with their 6^th graders, they were met with cheers by our 8^th grade WEB Leaders.  It was a great beginning to a terrific night where parents were able to glean some information from administration and then walk their 6^th graders schedule and meet their teachers.  We are changing the culture at Hopewell to one where the focus is on the best interests of our students.  Our WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) program helps ensure that our students are not only getting the best academic education at Hopewell but are also connecting emotionally with their school.  BOTH are critical to the overall healthy development of our children.  Thanks for your support!

STONY POINT HS HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME TONIGHT FRIDAY, SEPT. 18^th

 All Hopewell MS students and families are welcome to attend this exciting Stony Point Homecoming football game at Reeves Athletic Complex starting at 7PM tonight.  All our Hopewell students have to do is show up to the game, bring their school spirit, wear their Hopewell T- shirt and bring along a parent/guardian to cheer on the Tigers as they take on rival the Round Rock HS Dragons. Parents attending and students attending without their parents will need to pay full admission price.  There will be announcements made during the game, recognizing Hopewell MS.  Please join in the fun and excitement and take in a great high school football game and cheer on the Stony Point Tigers tonight at Reeves Athletic Complex!

MINOR BUS INCIDENT WEDNESDAY AM IN TERAVISTA

We had a minor bus accident in Teravista Wednesday morning where a brand new bus driver was having some difficulty navigating a specific portion of her route.  The bus bumped into a utility pole while backing up and thankfully it was at a low rate of speed and no students nor the bus driver were hurt.  All students arrived to Hopewell safely and continued their school day in great shape.  RRISD transportation was prompt in addressing the issue with the bus driver and appropriate action has been taken.  Student safety is the number one priority for RRISD transportation in getting your children to and from school.  A HUGE job that our bus drivers take very seriously and with great care.  I am sending a letter home to parents Friday with those students that were on the bus when the minor accident occurred explaining in more detail what happened. 

JOIN PTA!

Please take time to join our PTA.  PTA does so much for our students and your $8 donation will help us fund rewards and activities that will go directly to our kids.  Please go to the parent link on our school website and click on the PTA Website, then forms and docs then PTA membership form.  You will find information there on how to join.  Thanks!
 

STUDENT ABSENCES & DOCUMENTATION

Parents, please make sure that whenever your child is home sick that you send them back to school with a note from you explaining the absence.  Consequently, whenever your child has to go to the doctor or dentist, please provide a note and give to Linda at the front desk.  The State of Texas is really cracking down on student absences across the state and is implementing some stringent audits on the schools at the end of the school year.  We want to make sure that Hopewell does not have any negative marks against us for improper documentation regarding student absences.  Thanks for your understanding and support.

EARLY RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23^rd

Students will be released two hours early on Wednesday, September 23^rd for teacher professional development time.  Students will be released home and to busses at 1:30PM.

OLD FASHIONED HOPEWELL MS READING INITIATIVE

Please make sure that your child has a book to read at school for our mandatory reading time on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Advisory and when they have completed their work.  We are in the process of printing out interesting current event articles for our students to ready during one of those two mandatory reading days.  Below are some interesting facts regarding the power of reading:

1. If a student reads one minute each day then that’s 180 minutes in a school year or about 8,000 words in a school year.
2. If a student reads five minutes each day, then that’s 900 minutes in a school year or about 282,000 words in a school year.
3. If a student reads 20 minutes each day, then that’s 3,600 minutes in a school year or about 1,800,000 words in a school year.

Think about that—You can also help support this reading initiative that will help increase reading stamina, fluency, and develop vocabulary by having your child put away their phones or computers for an hour or so over the weekend and have them read.  The results in the long run is immeasurable!

HOMEWORK HIVE IS OPEN MONDAY-THURSDAY FROM 3:45 – 4:30PM

Do your students need a quiet place here at Hopewell to get some homework done?  WE HAVE A SOLUTION!  Ms. Moyer our new Algebra and Geometry teacher will be hosting Homework Hive in her classroom # 549 upstairs each Monday and Wednesdayafternoons.   Mrs. Roach our new 8^th grade Language Arts teacher will be hosting Homework Hive in her classroom #536 upstairs each Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.   Students will need to bring their homework to Homework Hive, just show up and find a seat and then get to work!  This is not a tutorial time but a space to get their homework done in a teacher monitored quiet zone.  The best news is that it’s free!

BLAST OFF with BOX TOPS

Our fall box tops contest begins October 5^th and ends October 30^th. Let’s see which Advisory class in each grade level can ROCK-IT with the most box tops!  Starting on September 16 -29, HEB has a great opportunity to blast off your box tops collecting efforts!! Buy 10 General Mills products in one shopping trip and get 60 bonus boxtops or buy 15 products and get 100 bonus box tops!! Send in all your box tops starting October 5^th by putting them in a baggie along with a slip of paper with your Advisory teacher’s name along with the number of box tops inside.  Box tops are picked up each Friday at noon.  A contest wall in the cafeteria will be updated every Monday to see what advisory is in the lead in each grade level.  Winners for each grade level will be announced the first week in November and will win a pizza party that will be out of this world!  If you have any questions, please email:DRangel01@hotmail.com  Check out the box tops website – earn five box tops when you sign up and you can help our school earn thousands of bonus box tops by entering sweepstakes throughout the year. Enter daily and it’s completely free.  Go to http://www.boxtops4education.com/ and sign up today!  Hopewell’s school ID is: 586175

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Karl

From PTA

Raise money by snapping a Picture!

SHOPAROO - Snap pictures of your receipts from any store, big or small, that sells grocery items to earn Roo Points (cash donations) for your school. Whether you’re shopping at a supercenter, dollar store, or local convenience store - it doesn’t matter where you shop or what items you buy - Shoparoo will make a cash donation for every receipt! Submit up to 20 grocery receipts within a rolling 7 day period. Download the APP and get started today.

REFLECTIONS Art Program and Competition - Competition starts October 5th, 2015

The National PTA Reflections program supports student success and serves as a valuable tool for building strong partnerships in your school community. We want to participate in that and celebrate arts learning in our school community with Reflections. 

National PTA Reflections welcomes all grades and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Annually, thousands of students will reflect on a common theme and create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. 

The theme for the 2015-2016 school year is Let Your Imagination Fly.   

Our 8th Grade Chair and 7th Grade Co-Chair for Reflections will be starting to promote this program within the next two weeks at school.  Put your thinking caps on and LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLY!  How could you enter this program?  GET EXCITED, talk to your friends, work alone or together to create something to best represent you!

Want to hear from the PTA via text message?

Simply text the message @jgeorges to 810-10 to be added to the PTA Parents Texting program.  It's INSTANT, SAFE (your number is kept private) and EFFICIENT.

Waggoner's Word - September 11, 2015

September 11, 2015

Dear Parents,

Calendar of Events for the Week of September 14-18:

Monday, September 14^th: 7^th grade football @ Canyon Vista MS 5:30PM

Tuesday, September 15^th: 8^th grade football vs. Canyon Vista MS at Dragon Stadium 5:30PM

Wednesday, September 16^th: 6^th Grade Back to School Night 6-8PM.  General Meeting in the cafeteria at 6PM then class and teacher visits following.

Thursday, September 17^th: 7^th Girls VBall @ Canyon Vista 5:30PM, 8^th Girls VBall vs. Canyon Vista 5:30PM

Friday, September 18^th: Stony Point HS Homecoming football game 7PM Reeves Athletic Complex

Friday September 18^th and Saturday September 19^th: 8B Girls VBALL tournament at a location/times TBD.

STONY POINT HS HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME NEXT FRIDAY, SEPT. 18^th

 All Hopewell MS students and families are welcome to attend this exciting Stony Point Homecoming football game at Reeves Athletic Complex starting at 7PM.  All our Hopewell students have to do is show up to the game, bring their school spirit, wear their Hopewell T- shirt and bring along a parent/guardian to cheer on the Tigers as they take on rival the Round Rock HS Dragons. Parents attending and students attending without their parents will need to pay full admission price.  There will be announcements made during the game, recognizing Hopewell MS.  Please join in the fun and excitement and take in a great high school football game and cheer on the Stony Point Tigers!

7^th and 8^th BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT RECAP

Thank you Hopewell parents for attending our 7^th and 8^th grade Back to School Night on Wednesday from 6-8PM.  It was great to see you all and hopefully you all had a great experience meeting your child’s teachers, hearing about their class structures, expectations and curriculum.  If you have any further questions, you are welcome to contact them via email or phone.  Hope to see our 6^th grade parents at their Back to School Night next Wednesday from 6-8PM.  General meeting in the cafeteria at 6PM with a special presentation by our WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) student leaders and two teacher sponsors then off to classrooms to visit the teachers and stars of the show!

FOLLOW THE PRINCIPAL ON TWITTER@KarlWaggoner

HOPEWELL GRADING POLICY HIGHLIGHTS

This Hopewell Grading policy can be viewed on the Hopewell MS website homepage along with our new Hopewell Honor Code. Our purpose in developing a standardized, consistently applied grading policy to so that ALL students in ALL grades are being graded the same way by ALL teachers.  We do not want one math teacher grading one way by having test count 75% of the grade and another teacher grading the same test but counting it 50% of the overall grade.  Below are some of the new grading policy highlights for your review. We will continue to monitor it, adjust it as needed, and ensure that our students are being assessed accurately for what they are learning. 

• 6th-8th Grades: 50% of the grade is formative assessments (quizzes, homework, daily grades, warm-up grades, participation etc..) and 50% is summative assessments (unit tests, projects etc...)
• < >of TEN formative assessment grades per six week grading period andMINIMUM of TWO summative assessment grades per six week grading period. < > will count no more than 10% of the formative assessment grade.  
  The focus is on grading for true authentic mastery of the learning and not taking off points for behaviors such as not putting a name on the paper, doing the work in pen instead of pencil for example. Grading penalties skew the true picture of what the student actually has demonstrated that they know. If a student receives a 90% on a test then they have demonstrated that they know 90% of the tested learning targets or objectives. If 20% points are taken off for being late or done in the wrong writing mode then the new grade of 70% is not an accurate reflection of the student’s learning. Consequently, giving points for extra credit is not an accurate reflection either. We will work in extra credit as an extra grade or will use some other means to reward student extra efforts.
• Make sure that opportunities are provided for students to re-take tests to show mastery of the concepts that are taught.  Students will be allowed to raise failing grades to a max of 70% credit for re-takes on tests, quizzes and homework.  

WE NEED MORE WATCH D.O.G.S.  (DADS OF GREAT STUDENTS)

There are two primary goals of the Watch D.O.G.S. program:

1. To provide positive male role models for our Hopewell MS students and demonstrating by example and presence that education is important.
2. To help provide Hopewell staff and administration and extra set of keen eyes and ears to help enhance security, reduce bullying at Hopewell MS, and to lend students a hand when they need help opening up a locker or giving them directions on where to go, and to be a positive male influence.
   If you have some time in the mornings from 8AM-10AM for a two hour shift we could use your help!
   Please email Karl at karl_waggoner@roundrockisd.org if interested or for more information.  Thanks Hopewell MS dads!
    
   PLEASE JOIN OUR HOPEWELL MS PTA! Your PTA needs YOUR Membership!

If you have not yet joined PTA please think about the benefits you offer the children of our school if you sign -up.  PTA advocates for your children, provides books for the library, puts on the much anticipated student dances twice a year, covers the costs of recognizing your children when they achieve great things at school, sells the spirit-wear that keeps our school pride alive and well, plus sells the snacks at game days so our kids can be enthusiastic supporters of our Teams!  The form to complete for your Membership subscription is available here:

http://teacherweb.com/TX/Hopewell/HopewellMSPTA/photo2.aspx 

then just send it into school with your $8.00 per person and you can know that you are helping our children this year!

NEW COOL APP FOR SMARTPHONE TO SUPPORT HOPEWELL MS!

This is such a cool app for your smart phone or tablet computer!  It’s such an easy, no-hassle way to raise money for our school by snapping a picture of a grocery receipt or other receipts.  Depending on the number of supporters and how much the app is used, we could receive a substantial amount of money for our kids at Hopewell MS!  ALL raised money will go directly to the student activity account to be used for student rewards, books, supplies, programs and events etc….It’s easy, efficient and profitable.  Check it out!

REFLECTIONS Art Program and Competition - Coming soon!

The National PTA Reflections program supports student success and serves as a valuable tool for building strong partnerships in your school community. We want to participate in that and celebrate arts learning in our school community with Reflections. 

National PTA Reflections welcomes all grades and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Annually, thousands of students will reflect on a common theme and create original works of art in the visual arts. 

The theme categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and for the 2015-2016 school year is Let Your Imagination Fly.   

Our 8th Grade Chair and 7th Grade Co-Chair for Reflections will be starting to promote this program within the next two weeks at school.  Put your thinking caps on and LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLY!  How could you enter this program?

GET EXCITED, talk to your friends, work alone or together to create something to best represent you!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Karl

Waggoner's Word September 4, 2015

September 4, 2015

Dear Parents,

Calendar of Events for the Week of September 7^th-11^th:

Monday, September 7^th: Labor Day Holiday-No School

Wednesday, September 9^th: 7^th & 8^th Grade Back-To-School Night 6-8PM

Thursday, September 10^th: Girls Volleyball vs. Cedar Valley 5:30PM 7^th Home/8^th Away

7^th & 8^th Grade Back to School Night is Wednesday, September 9^th from 6-8PM.  We will have a general parent meeting in the cafeteria beginning at 6:00PM then off to follow your child’s schedule from 6:20-8:00PM.  Please make sure that you bring your child’s schedule with you so you will be able to navigate through the building and find their class.  We will have eight, seven minute teacher briefs with four minute passing periods.  Teachers will be giving a general overview of their class, expectations, and curriculum activities that they will be covering this year.  The spirit of the evening is to get to know your child’s teachers and get a general sense of what the class is about and will cover.  It’s not a parent teacher conference night.  If you want to schedule a time to meet with the teachers or team of teachers you may do that at any other time.   Our WONDERFUL PTA under the leadership of Joanne Georgeson will be present at both our Back to School Nights and will be conducting a brief PTA meeting, approving the 2015-2016 PTA Budget, and an opportunity for you as parents to meet the PTA Board.  PTA will also have a table set up for you to purchase any Hopewell Spirit wear and sign up for volunteer positions for various events this school year.  We’re off to a GREAT start this year with lots of new staff on board to provide a wonderful learning experience for your children.  A new dawn of excellence has arrived at Hopewell.   The Back to School Night Schedule is attached to this Waggoner’s Word.

PLEASE JOIN OUR HOPEWELL PTA! ONLY $8!

If you have not yet joined our supportive Hopewell PTA please do so ASAP! PTA is a wonderful advocate for all our Hopewell students by providing books for our awesome library, helps organize and do two student dances during the school year, covers the costs of recognizing your children when they achieve great things at school, sells spirit wear that helps keep school pride alive, and sells snacks to patrons and students through our concession stand at our home Hopewell athletic events. They are an incredible group of parents that take many hours out of their own busy schedules to support Hopewell.  You too can do your part by joining PTA for only $8.00 per person.  You may access the PTA membership form by copying and pasting this link to your internet browser: http://teacherweb.com/TX/Hopewell/HopewellMSPTA/photo2.aspx

You may drop off your membership form and $8.00 to our main office or have your child bring it in.  Thanks in advance for your support! We just simply cannot do what we do for our Hopewell kids without PTA!

SIGN UP FOR REMIND 101 TO GET LATEST AND GREATEST HOPEWELL SPECIFIC UPDATES:

Please follow these directions to sign up for my Remind 101 updates throughout the school year. Remind 101 is a one-way text messaging and email system.  ALL personal information remains completely confidential.  I, nor any staff member will ever see your phone numbers nor will you ever see theirs.  These updates will go directly to your phones and email and I promise I won’t slam you with notices-only important info.  Other less urgent notifications or information will be through my Twitter account and the school website.  To sign up for Remind 101 and receive messages via a text just text @hopewellm to 512-960-1765 or to receive messages via email just email to hopewellm@mail.remind.com  It’s as easy as that! 

Please follow Karl Waggoner, Hopewell Principal on Twitter@KarlWaggoner to see both Hopewell School life and other comments and pictures throughout the school year.  Some Tweets will be me giving some shout outs to my senior daughter so bear with me on those!  Most Tweets though will be about Hopewell MS! Just one more mode of communication to keep you all as parents in the Hopewell loop!

ONLINE ENROLLMENT IS STILL OPEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 11^th!

We need your help!  Our records show that you have not completed the INFO-SNAP enrollment verification process yet.  Please help us streamline costs and time by verifying your child’s enrollment information.  You have received an INFO SNAP code by e-mail and conventional mail.  If you need additional assistance please visitroundrockisd.org/enroll for more information. If you don’t have computer access we can help you on campus.  If you’ve lost your INFO SNAP code, please contact the registrar’s office:  Sandra_Sanchez@roundrockisd.org  Our window for completing this process is September 11, so your prompt attention to this is greatly appreciated. 

REMINDER OF HOPEWELL STUDENT PHONE and ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY:

This is a reminder that we are requiring ALL students to have their cell phones turned off and put away from the time when they enter the building in the morning until they leave in the afternoon.  Students may use their phones during lunch periods to play games and listen to music or when a teacher allows it for instructional purposes such as research using the internet.  Please do not call or text your child during instructional hours.  If you need to get a hold of them or get them a message, please call the main office at: 512-464-5200.

NEW HOPEWELL LOCKER & BACKPACK POLICY

In order to reduce hallway congestion and to allow more time for students to get to class, we adjusted the locker policy for this school year. Students must put away their large backpacks in their lockers before 1st period. Students may use a small drawstring backpack to carry smaller items. Students may go to their lockers at the following times.

All students before 1st period

6th Grade - between 3rd and 4th period, 4th and 5th (after lunch)

7th grade- between 4th and 5th period and between 5th and 6th (after lunch)

8th grade-between 3rd and 4th and between 6th and 7th period (after lunch)

All students between 7th and 8th period

NEW HOPEWELL MS iDesign Lab led by Michelle McLaughlin our incredible librarian:

The library will be opening the iDesign Lab for students to use beginning the week of September 14th.  Every Tuesday, the library will be open before and during advisory/lunch for students to come in and work with circuits, coding, robotics, and gaming programs.  There will be a different activity each week.  

Some of the activities will involve students inventing and building structures, so I am in the process of collecting materials for them to use.  Below, you will find a list of items we could use in our lab.  Anything you could donate would be greatly appreciated! 

• recycled materials (water bottles, small dry food containers/boxes, paper towel roll, etc.)
• craft supplies
• duct tape
• fabric
• yarn
• ribbon
• Basically anything students can use to create with
  When you get a chance, stop by the library and check out our new iDesign Lab! 
  
  

THANK YOU TEQUILA BAR AND GRILL for providing a nice new Hopewell staff luncheon during in-service week.  We invaded the restaurant with our 22 new staff plus administrators located at the corner or University and Sandy Brook.  We were treated to great food and refreshing iced tea and sodas.  Tequila Bar and Grill also provided our all staff tasty breakfast tacos for our back to school faculty meeting that truly helped set the tone for a great start to the new school year.  The Tequila Bar and Grill staff was so nice and accommodating and I really appreciate what they did for our Hopewell staff.  It’s important to support our local businesses here in the Hopewell MS area.  Thanks!

Hope everyone has a wonderful three day weekend!
See all students back to school on Tuesday, September 8^th!

Karl