August 12th, 2016
Dear Parents,
IMPORTANT UPCOMING HOPEWELL MS EVENTS:
Tuesday, August 16th: ALL Hopewell staff returns from summer vacation
Wednesday, August 17th: Football equipment handout: 8th graders 8:30-11:30 & 7th graders 1-4PM in the lower commons/gym areas.
Monday, August 22nd: 6th Grade WEB orientation 8AM-Noon in the gym.
Monday, August 22nd: 6th Grade parent meeting in the cafeteria 8:30 AM
Monday, August 22nd HORNET HELLO Schedule pick up in the lower commons:
6th Graders: Noon-2PM
8th Graders: 2PM-4PM
7th Graders: 4PM-6PM
Tuesday, August 23rd: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Thursday, September 1st: 7th/8th Grade Open House 6-8PM
Monday, September 5th: Labor Day Student/Staff Holiday
Tuesday, September 6th: 6th Grade Open House 6-8:00PM
HORNET HELLO INFO:
All students will be receiving their class schedules and locker assignments/combinations in the lower commons. Students will be able to find their classes and walk their schedules according to the times for each grade level listed above. We will be asking that every 6th and 7th grader have a student planner to keep their assignments, projects, quizzes and upcoming tests documented and organized. Planners will be sold at Hornet Hello in the lower commons for $7.
All students will be receiving their class schedules and locker assignments/combinations in the lower commons. Students will be able to find their classes and walk their schedules according to the times for each grade level listed above. We will be asking that every 6th and 7th grader have a student planner to keep their assignments, projects, quizzes and upcoming tests documented and organized. Planners will be sold at Hornet Hello in the lower commons for $7.
PE uniforms will be on sale for $10 in the lower commons. Access to online registration will be available from noon to 6PM in the library. The school nurse will be available to collect immunization records. Please remember that ALL 7th graders must have updated immunization records turned in prior to the first day of school. All library and textbook obligations must be cleared in order to receive a class schedule. The cafeteria manager will be available for parents who want to put money in student lunch accounts. I have asked RRISD Transportation to also send a representative to answer any of your transportation questions. We will not be taking picture IDs at Hornet Hello. We will be doing that the first week of school. New students and incoming 6th graders will receive a free ID with lanyard. Returning students who wish to update/replace their ID, they will be charged $2.00 the first two weeks of school and then $5.00 beginning the 3rd week of school. If you are unable to escort your child to Hornet Hello then you may have your child go with a friend and their parents. We will not be issuing any student schedules prior to Monday, August 22nd at Hornet Hello. If you or your child cannot make the event, we will be passing out schedules the first day of school beginning at 7:45AM. Hope to see you all there!
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:
Our doors will be open the first day of school beginning at 7:45AM. PLEASE consider carpooling with neighbors and friends as traffic the first week of school will be very heavy. Unfortunately, there is really only one way in and one way out by car at Hopewell MS. With the Union Hill Elementary school traffic that week coupled with our own traffic, it will be VERY congested. I suggest that you leave early ALL week, drop off your child and beat that traffic. The earlier the better! Just a head’s up! Student drop off is on the East side of our school by the gym area. We again will have a crossing guard staff member on duty both mornings and afternoons to ensure that your child is able to cross that road safely. Students will head to Advisory class once they arrive on campus. We will be on a regular bell schedule for the first day of school and the rest of the week.
INTRODUCING NEW HOPEWELL STAFF AND ASSIGNMENT:
Keri McCarty- 6th Grade Assistant Principal
Ashley Ruhl- Spanish Teacher
Kadia Koch- Technology Applications Teacher
Kim Kennemer- Special Education FAC Teacher
Babs Campopiano- Special Education FAC Teacher
Hannah Tolleson- Orchestra Director
Rebecca Fleet-Texas History Teacher/Girl’s Athletics
Melanie Moore-7th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Margret Schaefer-ESL Teacher
Julie Barnes-6th Grade SPED Math Inclusion Teacher
Jessica Elrod-8th Grade SPED Language Arts Inclusion Teacher
Jo McGinnis-7th Grade SPED Language Arts Inclusion Teacher
HOPEWELL MS LEADERSHIP RETREAT & CAMPUS GOALS FOR 2016:
Last week, our Hopewell MS campus leadership team met for our leadership retreat at Top Golf near the Domain for a day of collaboration, a Fajita lunch, and some Top Golf fun. Our leadership team at Hopewell is made up of the following staff and parents: Julie Fleischmann-Assistant Principal, Laura Chambers-PTA Vice President, Denise Rangel-PTA member, Eric Sosa-SST Department Chair, Kristina Moyer-Math Department Chair, Pat Reese-Science Department Chair, Sherrie Maupin-Language Arts Department Chair, Terry Mireles-Special Education Department Chair, Margret Schaefer-Former RRISD Instructional Coach and now Hopewell ESOL teacher, Doug Morgan-Fine Arts Teacher, Kevin Crawford-Fine Arts Department Chair, Gilberto Herrera-PE Department Chair, Max Hargrove-Math Teacher, Melanie Moore-Former RRISD Instructional Coach and now Hopewell Language Arts Teacher, Heather Byrd-TAG Coordinator, Laura Stegall-Science Instructional Coach, and myself, KarlWaggoner-Principal. We worked in groups to develop Hopewell MS campus goals that are directly aligned to the RRISD goals approved by RRISD Board of Trustees earlier in the summer. We have many exciting initiatives and goal action steps that will be implemented this school year to help continue moving our school in a positive direction for our students. In the next month, I will be posting our Campus Goals on our website for your review and will be discussing them in more detail in future Waggoner’s Word newsletters.
HOPEWELL BOOK FAIR COMING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER:
The library will have a book fair beginning September 1st and running through September 9th. The book fair will be open throughout the day and during both Open House nights (doors will open at 5:00 pm). There will be a large selection of middle school books, posters, school supplies, required reading for Language Arts, as well as something for our younger friends. Please come out and support your Hopewell Library!
Lastly, my wife and I are currently in the process of getting our daughter ready for college. We shove off this weekend for Columbia, Missouri as she starts her new life as a nursing student. It’s definitely bitter-sweet as we head into one of life’s transition periods. We will miss her greatly but we also take great comfort in the fact that she is truly ready for this next big step in her life and she is excited to get on with it. As parents, what more can you ask for?
Hope everyone has a great end to the summer!
See you all at Hornet Hello!
See you all at Hornet Hello!
Karl
