February 12, 2016
Dear Parents,
Calendar of Events for the Week of February 15th-19th:
Sunday, February 14th: VALENTINES DAY!!!
Monday, February 15th: President’s Day Student Holiday/Staff Professional Development
Tuesday, February 16th: Stony Point HS International Baccalaureate (IB) meeting for 8th grade parents and students 7-8PM Hopewell MS cafeteria
Friday, February 19th: Movie Night-Orchestra at Hopewell MS
Education: Go Get It Week (EGGI week) is coming
The week of March 7th –March 11th has been designated as “Education: Go Get It Week” for RRISD. The purpose of this week is to provide both information and encouragement to all students in regards to pursuing post-secondary education. Listed below are some of the activities that will occur during this week. Other classroom activities can be found on the HWMS counselor’s website. Hopewell Middle School is arranging a possible visit from an Austin Community College representative to talk to your 8th grade students about college awareness, career exploration and tips on being academically successful. We are also arranging for students to have some information to take home and share with you about planning for college.
HOPEWELL HORNET JAZZ BAND PERFORMANCE RECAP:
Our Hornet Big Band (Jazz Band) did a great job this past Saturday performing as one of only three middle school jazz bands at Texas State's Hill Country Jazz Festival. Dr. Jack Burt, from the University of Maine, came onstage and talked with the band and stated we had a great overall band sound, a strong fundamental sense of how to play jazz and complimented our program on having jazz as part of what we do. It was great validation for our efforts. The kids were also excellent guests of the University while visiting the student union, campus bookstore and enjoying performances by Brennan High School, Canyon High School and our neighbors, Hernandez Middle. We're so proud to have such great representatives of our program and outstanding musicians.
It should be possible to access recordings of our performance with this link:
5th Grade Student/Parent Night Recap:
We had an incredible turnout at our 5th grade student/parent night Tuesday, February 9th from 6:00-7:30PM in the cafeteria and lower commons areas. We estimated that we had about 500 in attendance to hear information on the core academic and elective course offerings, choice sheet review, and meet with our 6th grade elective staff. Parents and students also heard presentations from our WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) teacher sponsors and 8th grade WEB leaders as well from members of the I Am That Girl club. The evening was very positive and gave our 5th graders and their parents a great view of the programs within our great school. We are excited about having all our incoming 5th graders at Hopewell MS next school year and look forward to the WEB back to school event at a TBD date in August.
Twitter@KarlWaggoner for exciting Hopewell news. Sign up today and follow our principal on Twitter!
Monday’s President’s Day Teacher In-Service Agenda for your information:
We will have three 40 minute rotations on instructional technology on Monday morning for our Hopewell staff. Teachers will be teaching teachers on the following: iPad 101, Snap and Read (a text to speech extension tool for all teachers, students, and subjects), and debrief on the Texas Computer Educator’s Conference. In the afternoon, teachers will be in their grade level Professional Learning Communities planning lessons, supporting activities, and analyzing student assessment data to help our students be more successful. A full day is on tap Monday but one that will prove to be beneficial to our staff as they prepare for our students.
STUDENT SAFETY REMINDERS:
Parents, please talk with your children about the importance of using marked cross-walks and to be diligent when walking home from school. It’s important for our students before crossing roads, to stop, look, and listen as sometimes cars simply are going too fast or the drivers are not paying attention. Make sure that you as parents when driving around school zones slow down, not text or talk on the cell phones, and be alert for our kids! Thanks!
Parents, please talk with your children about the importance of using marked cross-walks and to be diligent when walking home from school. It’s important for our students before crossing roads, to stop, look, and listen as sometimes cars simply are going too fast or the drivers are not paying attention. Make sure that you as parents when driving around school zones slow down, not text or talk on the cell phones, and be alert for our kids! Thanks!
6th Grade Choral Fest RECAP:
On Saturday, February 6th, the 6th Grade Girl's and Boy’s Choirs attended the Round Rock ISD 6th Grade Choral Festival. Each middle school in the RRISD brings their 6th grade choirs to perform 3 selections for judges to critique. The festival seeks to prepare 6th graders for UIL contest that they will be a part of in 7th and 8th grade. Both the Girl's Choir and Boy's Choir received superior ratings in their performances. It was a wonderful opportunity for our Hopewell MS students to share their musical talents with family and friends, and other schools in the district! BRAVO Hopewell 6th grade choirs!
WINTER DANCE SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26th:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Our next school dance for 6th – 8th graders sponsored by the Student Council is on Friday, February 26thin the cafeteria. 6th graders will have their dance separately from the 7th and 8th graders from 6:00-7:30PM. 7th and 8th graders will have their dance from 7:30-9:00PM. Admission is $3.00 and all students must have their Hopewell MS ID in order to be admitted. Please make sure that your child has a ride immediately after their dance is over either at 7:30 or 9:00PM. This dance is only for Hopewell MS students. Information will be posted throughout the school and website beginning next week. If you want to help chaperone this dance, please email Bernice Alvarez (Student Council Teacher Sponsor) at: Bernice_alvarez@roundrockisd.
PTA NEWS:
BOXTOPS CONTEST
BOX TOPS pick up is today ... hope you got yours turned in! Let's see how many kids will win a cup of sweet treats. You still have 2 more weeks to turn them in. The more you turn in the more prizes you win.
REFLECTIONS
On Wednesday February 3d, Hopewell MS joined with Hernandez MS and Stony Point HS to celebrate our Reflections entries for the 2015/16 school year. The following students received gift cards, spirit sticks and certificates along with a specific medal or ribbon for their entry into the competition.
Jenise D - Grade 8 - for her Photography entry named 'Morning Sunrise' received an Award of Excellence,
Hannah W - Grade 7 - for her Visual Arts Entry named 'The Different Tree' received an Award of Excellence,
Aairah G - Grade 6 - for her Visual Arts Entry named 'Bluejay in the Trees' received an Award of Merit,
Trinity G - Grade 7 - for her Visual Arts Entry named 'Rainbow in the City' received an Award of Merit and
Alyson F - Grade 7 - for her Visual Arts Entry named 'Teleportation' received Honorable Mention.
On Tuesday February 9th, three of those students went on to receive awards at the RRISD Council of PTA's level with a ceremony held at the Performing Arts Center at McNeil High School.
Hannah W and Jenise D received an Honorable Mention at District level and Trinity G received an Award of Excellence at District.
Congratulations to all the students who entered the Reflections contest for this year, the theme for next year is "What's YOUR Story' so put your thinking caps on now and enter in November for the 2016/17 school year.
Please view the attachments and flyers attached to Waggoner’s Word.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Karl
Karl
