from the assistant principal’s desk - horizon middle...
TRANSCRIPT
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Vol. 1, Issue 3 November—December 2016
Greetings Horizon families! I am Monica Garcia, and it has been my honor to serve as Assistant Principal at Horizon for the last four years. This year, a few of my responsibilities include overseeing sixth grade, Counseling, Deans, Student Achievement Services, English Language Support, safety, and attendance. I truly enjoy such a wide variety of responsibilities, as it has provided me the opportunity to work with and get to know many of our students and families. Additionally, it was wonderful to see so many of you at our beginning of the year check-in and Back-to-School nights, which kicked off such a strong start to our 2016-2017 school year. It’s hard to believe that we have already completed our first quarter and are now in November! Students and staff have been very busy at Horizon both in and outside the classroom exploring cells, constructing solar ovens, creating poetry for the third annual Poetry Slam, analyzing innovations, participating in our Trek for Tech Fundraiser, representing Horizon in the Walk for Sudan, and learning and growing through our PACK promise to Persevere, Achieve, Connect, and be Kind. Amid all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Thanksgiving, I would like to take a moment and share some of the many wonderful assets of our Horizon community for which we are so thankful. First and foremost, our Horizon students bring such energy to us every day! We are so thankful for the passion and curiosity they contribute in the classroom, in our after school clubs, and on our athletic teams. They inspire us daily. A huge shout out of thanks to our staff at Horizon! The tireless commitment they demonstrate to Excellence Every Day for Every one provides our students with a safe, positive, and motivating learning environment. We have had tremendous support from our staff in working with students during Saturday School, before and after school help sessions, and in supporting our students in extra-curricular efforts. Of course, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of you, our Horizon families. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring your children are well prepared each day to learn and grow. We look forward to meeting with you at our upcoming Parent-Teacher conferences on Thursday, November 10 and Friday, November 11. All families should have received an invitation from their student’s team of teachers. Parent voice and involvement in these progress discussions are critical to student success. Finally, I’d like to remind you that an additional way to stay connected is to regularly use Schoology and PowerSchool. Thank you for your continued support! Last, but not least, thank you to our Veterans and current military personnel who have so selflessly provided us protection to enjoy the freedom we have. Horizon will celebrate our veterans, reservists, and active-duty personnel on November 10, 2016. I hope everyone has a delightful Thanksgiving with family and friends! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming music performances, theater performances, athletic events, and PTO and PASS meetings.
Sincerely, Monica Garcia Assistant Principal
Horizon Middle School
3981 S. Reservoir Rd
Aurora, CO 80013
720.886.6100 (phone)
720.886.6253 (fax)
www.horizon.cherrycreekschools.org
From the Assistant Principal’s Desk...
Have you recently moved??? Be sure to update your home address when you move so you will continue to receive the
school and District mail. If your new address is within the District, please bring your
new proof of residency documentation to either of the District Admissions offices. If
you have moved out of the District, you simply need to submit the online Continuing
Non-Resident form.
Please visit the District Admissions website for additional information:
http://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Admissions/Pages/Student-Registration-Information.aspx
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Attendance Office 720-886-6111
If you have an appointment scheduled, your child
should take a parent note to the attendance office first
thing in the morning after the 8:00 bell rings. A yellow
early dismissal pass will be given in order for your child
to leave class quietly at the designated time. This
process allows parents to meet up with their students
in the lobby, present their ID, and sign them out
quickly and efficiently – especially when your time is
running short!
Important Info
Important Phone Numbers
720-886-xxxx Attendance 6111
Bookkeeping 6203
Counseling 6107
Deans 6113
Main Office 6108
Security 6399
Transportation 7400
School Closure Line 720-554-4701
2016-2017 School Hours & Dates
Start Time 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal Time 3:10 p.m.
Fall Break October 24-28
Winter Break December 19-January 2
Spring Break March 27-31
Last Day of School May 26
HMS Administration
Nickie Bell, Principal
Monica Garcia, Assistant Principal
Monica Zucker, Assistant Principal
Angie McConnell, Dean
Evan Henderson, Dean & Athletic Director
Patrick Blea, 6th Grade Counselor
Carolyn Redding, 7th Grade Counselor
Rebecca Restad, 8th Grade Counselor
HMS Mental Health
Lesley Hueman, Psychologist
Andrea Choi, Social Worker
Bookkeeping 720-886-6203
Welcome back for the 2016-2017 school year! Thanks
to everyone for getting things off to a smooth start.
Please remember to make checks out to HCMS. There
is also now an option to pay fees using a credit card.
Fees cover athletics, field trips, and other classroom
activities. Pay at the bookkeeping office or find the
online payment option on our website at
www.horizon.cherrycreekschools.org. Click on the
Online Payments button and follow the directions to
set up an account.
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Page 3 Parent Information Network
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Page 4 Water Safety
Page 4 Challenge School News
Challenge School is a K-8 magnet school in Cherry Creek School District charged with the mission of meeting the needs of academically advanced and motivated students. Any
student in the district may apply to Challenge. Challenge School is now accepting applications for the 2017-18 school
year. Applications are accepted online only until midnight on January 18, 2017. More information and the online application may be found at: http://challenge.cherrycreekschools.org/Pages/Prospective-Students.aspx
Testing for lead in the water at Cherry Creek Schools
After the Flint, Michigan water crisis, the Cherry Creek School District, like the majority of
school districts in Colorado, decided to undergo water testing, conducted by an outside, expert
entity, to determine whether there is lead in the water at any schools. We have posted
information about how and where the tests have been conducted so far along with a Q & A on
our website at http://www.cherrycreekschools.org/FacilityOperations/Pages/Lead-tests.aspx
You can find results for the schools tested so far and new results are posted as soon as they
completed, so please check back if your school has not yet been tested.
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Page 5 Horizon Fundraiser
MENTAL HEALTH
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Page 6 PTCO Your Horizon PTCO Board Members
Kim Sager & Dana Silva [email protected]
Debbie Dunlop [email protected]
Angie Monson & Jenn Peterson [email protected]
Cheryl Losten-Williams [email protected]
PTCO Meeting Schedule
September 8 October 13 November 15 December 8 (Holiday Party) January 12 February 9 March 7 April 13 May 11
All meetings are held at Horizon Middle School in room 178. Interpreters will be provided at any of our meetings, upon request. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
MENTAL HEALTH
In an effort to proactively address the growing issue of depression and suicide in adolescents, Horizon Middle School provided the Signs of Suicide prevention training to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students during the month of October. This training focused on the warning signs of depression and suicide, but also, taught students how to receive help if they or somebody they know are feeling depressed or suicidal. Please contact your student's counselor if you have questions or would like more information about the Signs of Suicide training.
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Page 7 Nurse’s Corner NOTES FROM THE NURSE
Please become familiar with HMS webpage. Under the “School Nurse” tab, you will find
information regarding immunizations, health concerns, CCSD procedures on medication
administration and forms you might need to have your student’s physician complete for
prescription medication(s) that need to be taken during the day (this includes inhalers for
asthmatics and epi-pens for any student with a severe allergy). If your student needs a special
procedure done during the school day; for example, G-tube feeds, please call the clinic for the
form the physician needs to complete.
Please communicate with us regarding any changes to your child's
health. If you give your child any over the counter medication
before the start of school, let us know. That way, if your child visits
the clinic, we’ll know what was given at home. You can do this by
calling, e-mailing, or even sending a written note with your child
indicating the name of the medication, the dosage given, and the
time given.
Flu season is quickly approaching! Influenza (known as the flu) is a respiratory infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused
by the influenza virus. Additionally, there are many different strains of the flu virus so it
is hard to combat.
The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly with symptoms of a
fever, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body/muscle aches, headache, chills and
fatigue. Other complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, ear and sinus infections can
occur. The flu might cause mild to severe illness, and occasionally even hospital stays
and death. So, how can you protect your student from catching the flu?
First, the Center for Disease Control recommends getting an annual flu vaccine. Your
child should get this vaccine as soon as it is available which is usually in October.
Second, encourage your student to cover their sneezes and coughs and to throw away
used tissues immediately after it is used. Third, have them stay away from people that
are sick. Fourth, talk to them about washing their hands frequently with soap and water.
Also, teach them not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
If your child gets sick, talk to their doctor ASAP, especially if they have a long-term
health condition or are immunocompromised. If your child does get sick, we
recommended they stay home from school for at least 24 hours until their fever is gone
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Page 8 Climate Survey
Start Dates
Girls Basketball - 7th & 8th Grade - Monday, October 6, 2016
6th Grade - Thursday, November 4, 2016
Boys Basketball - 7th & 8th Grade - Friday, December 2, 2016
6th Grade - Thursday, January 12, 2017
Wrestling - Friday, February 6, 2017
Girls Volleyball - 7th & 8th Grade - Monday, March 20, 2017
6th Grade - Friday, April 21, 2017
Athletics
As part Cherry Creek School District’s ongoing efforts to provide safe, supportive learning environments for
students and effective partnerships among students, families, and school staff, during the months of November and
December we will survey students, parents, and staff about the climate of safety, wellness, and support that exists
in our schools. A random sample of middle and high school students will be asked to report on bullying, school
climate, resiliency factors, and health/wellness. The student survey is available for parent review on the district
website and at your child’s school.
In accordance with district policy, parents of students who are to complete the survey will be notified in an email
sent November 9th. Parents who do not wish for their child to participate will be given instructions in this email.
Information on how to complete the parent survey will also be provided. Parents will be asked to provide their
feedback on student safety, bullying behavior, and overall school climate at their child’s school.
The district’s Safe Schools Design Team strongly believes that getting information directly from students, parents,
and staff is a very important part of making sure that schools are safe and inclusive learning environments for all
children. The information from the surveys is used to help guide future safety and prevention planning. All schools
will be given summary reports of their school’s data in Spring 2017.
If you have any questions about this survey, please call Monica Garcia, Assistant Principal at Horizon, at (720) 886-
6225. You may also contact Dr. Amy Plog, Research and Data Coordinator, at (720) 554-4289.
Thank you for your participation!
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Athletics
Girls Basketball Schedule 2016-2017 For Nov, Dec
8th Grade Girls Basketball Schedule For Nov, Dec
Thursday, November 17 @ Liberty
Monday, November 21 Falcon Creek
Monday, November 28 @ West
Thursday, December 1 Campus
6th Grade Girls Basketball Schedule For Nov Thursday, November 17 Liberty
Monday, November 21 @ Falcon Creek
Monday, November 28 West
Thursday, December 1 @ Campus
Coaches: 8th Grade: C. Wondercheck & E. Wilkins
6th Grade: K. Benzel & C. Redding
Games will run from approximately 4:30 pm - 6:15 pm (games could start sooner or later depending on
transportation). Transportation is provided from Horizon to the school at which the sport is played and then
back to Horizon after the game. A schedule will be given to each athlete at the first practice. Practices are held
each day after school, except Wednesdays. Practices will be completed in time for the athletes to ride the late
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Page 10 Department Of The Month
This month, we highlight our Information Technology (IT) department. Greetings from the IT Department at Horizon Middle School!
The quarter and semester long elective computer classes are in full swing! Our classes are designed to help students of
all experience levels (which, in this subject, range from the novice to the expert) learn and grow while continuing to
stress safe internet use and raise awareness of internet risks and dangers.
Students in our IT department begin the semester by first preparing a presentation about themselves that they eventually
deliver in front of their classmates. Luckily, they have a state-of-the-art visual aid to help them in the form of a Google
Slide presentation. Students use this tool as part of their in-class presentation. The knowledge, experience, and skills
they gain from this first unit will help them in high school and well into their college careers.
After students have successfully completed their Google Slide presentations, the class turns toward animation programs.
Stykz and SAM are two of the programs that students get to use. If the past serves as any indication, students will be
making incredible animation projects. I am patiently awaiting calls from Pixar and other big animated movie companies!
In addition to these primary units, we also devote time to learning and practicing typing skills. You read that correctly--
typing is again back on the menu! With so many standardized tests being administered on-line via computer access,
typing skills are once more very important. Students begin class each day with a short block of time devoted to
improving their typing skills. At the midway point of the semester, the focus switches from typing, to learning code.
Code is the language of computers. Through sites like code.org and Scratch, students get to learn about and experiment
with code.
A final component of our IT curriculum is the Digital Citizenship Curriculum from Common Sense Media. Common
Sense is the nation’s leading independent non-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids to thrive in a world of
media and technology. Families, educators, and policymakers turn to Common Sense for unbiased information and
trusted advice to help them learn how to harness the positive power of media and technology for all kids. Please explore
their website when you can—it is has an amazing wealth of information. We are currently working toward becoming a
Digital Citizenship Certified School. Be sure to look for more information in the future!
Have a great holiday season!
Scott O’Brien, Computer Technology Teacher
Computer club!
We meet every Monday after school in Mr Melius’ room (rm168)
and work with various computer programs and languages. If
you’re interested in creating a
world-changing invention, then
Computer Club is right for you!
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Page 11 Library News
Online Resources The Horizon Library has wonderful resources for student use both at school and at home. (Databases,
Encyclopedia, ebooks, etc.) Resources can be accessed from the library webpage. Please encourage your child
to explore the library webpage at home and use resources that are available for school activities and projects.
http://horizon.cherrycreekschools.org/Library/Pages/Resources%20Links.aspx
Scholastic Book Fair November 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 11th, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
November 10th, 8:00 am -8:00 pm
We will be open during parent teacher conferences.
Cash, Checks and Credit Cards are accepted.
Club/Student News
Page 11 Club/Student News
Congratulations to Alex Schultz and
his 2015-16 yearbook staff! The
Horizon Middle School yearbook
they produced last year won first
place out of 150 yearbooks!
Congrats on a job well-done Mr.
Schultz and your team!
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Page 12 Club/Student News
Computer ClubWe will be meeting every Monday
after school in Mr Melius’ room (rm168) and will be working with various computer programs and
computer languages.
If you’re interested in creating a world changing invention and becoming a billionaire, then
Computer Club is right for you.
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Page 13 Club/Student News
NJHSAll current NJHS students! We will have
our first NJHS meeting on Monday,
September 26th from 3:20p.m. to 4:10p.m.
in Room 277.
Please be prepared to have some fun!!!!
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Page 14 Month-at-a-Glance
November
Sign up for automatic updates to your iCal or Google Calendar at http://horizon.cherrycreekschools.org/pages/MainCalendar.aspx. Look for the following icon:
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Page 15 Month-at-a-Glance
December
Sign up for automatic updates to your iCal or Google Calendar at http://horizon.cherrycreekschools.org/pages/MainCalendar.aspx. Look for the following icon:
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Page 16 School News
Student Delivery Procedure
Our teachers need every minute of classroom time
for instruction, and our students need every minute
of classroom time to achieve their best!
Consequently, we have a delivery procedure in place
to reduce the number of classroom interruptions.
This is how it will work:
It will now be up to students to check for any deliveries and/or messages that may have
been brought in during the school day. When an item is brought in, the security
specialist at the front desk will take the item and write your student’s name and grade on
the rolling whiteboard to place in front of the commons during lunches. All messages
and deliveries will be kept secure at the security desk. Your student will have an
opportunity to check the board before lunch; and, if applicable, is able to check his/her
cell phone for any texts from parents regarding after school plans.
In addition, please review the early dismissal procedures as well.
If you have an appointment scheduled, your child should take a
parent note to the attendance office first thing in the morning
after the 8:00 bell rings. A yellow early dismissal pass will be
given in order for your child to leave class quietly at the
designated time. This process allows
parents to meet up with their students
in the lobby, and sign them out quickly
and efficiently – especially when your time is running short!
If you have any questions regarding this new procedure, don’t
hesitate to contact the main office at 720.886.6108.
Thank you for your help in assuring our teachers have ample
time with your students for instruction.
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Page 17 Traffic Information
Traffic Flow Information
Please note that there are two
designated areas for student pick-up
and drop-off: the upper lot near the
main office and the smaller lot nearest
the fire station. In partnership with
transportation, the flag pole area along
Reservoir Road will be reserved for
school buses only. Please observe all
signs and traffic cones which are
intended to direct traffic flow.
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Page 18 REMS
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS)
in Cherry Creek Schools 2016-17
As a result of funds received from the Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) grant from the
Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, all leadership and school safety/crisis teams in the Cherry Creek
Schools have been implementing this comprehensive school safety model. We have continued to develop
updated and effective emergency response plans and procedures that align with state and federal Homeland
Security Emergency Management and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Cherry Creek Schools has established responsive partnerships with our community agencies, trained key
staff to provide for the emotional impact of a crisis on students and staff, and developed sustainable training
materials and crisis response kits for our school safety teams. In 2011, the ERCM process was renamed
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) to reflect our continuous proactive approach to
school safety. We are committed to continuing this thoughtful and integrated effort with REMS training.
We would also like to take this opportunity to inform parents about new changes to the Cherry Creek
School District’s website that now give parents needed information about school safety and related issues.
The website explains the district’s efforts to provide for both the physical and psychological safety of our
children, and gives parents links to excellent online resources. This section of the district website continues to be under construction and materials will be updated as needed. You can view the information by going
to http://www.cherrycreekschools.org/SafeSchools/Pages/default.aspx and selecting the Safety & Security
Quick Links
Topics and information include:
What to Do in the Event of an Emergency
Information about the CCSD Comprehensive Safe Schools Plan
Raptor Visitor Management program
Care Line Information (Revised 2011)
Other Resources, Links and/or Handouts:
Bullying/Harassment
Crisis Resources
Internet Safety
Parenting
Personal Safety (neighborhood, strangers, etc.)
Violence Prevention
For more information about your school’s crisis and safety planning, please contact your school’s Principal.
For further information about REMS planning in the schools, please contact Randy Councell, Director of
Safety and Security, 720-554-4489, or Ronald Lee, Psy.D. Mental Health Director, 720-554-4252, co-chairs
of the Safe School Design Team for the school district.