nov. 2011

November

Newsletter

2011

Principal Notes From Perry Braunagel

This year we will be offering two sets of Parent / Teacher Conference dates, the first two dates will be

November 2nd

& 3rd

at the end of 1st quarter and the second set of dates will be March 27

th & 28

th at the end of

3rd

quarter. Parents will call the school to schedule a conference block that will be one hour long, during that

block parents will have the opportunity to visit with the individual teachers. We ask that parents limit their time

with each teacher to 5 minutes.

November 2, 2011 November 3, 2011

Block 1, Starts at 3:40 Block 1, Starts at 3:40



Please call the Hagen Jr. High office at 456-0020 to schedule a Parent / Teacher Conference.

From October 24 – November 11 all 7th

& 8th

grade students have been administered the North Dakota State

Assessment. I would like to thank the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Dickinson for their donation of 830

bottles of fruit juice that were provided to students during testing sessions. I would also like to thank parents

and students for their efforts to make this a great testing session.

I would like to remind students and parents of the “Favorite Links” section of our Hagen website @

www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/hjh/. The link contains hundreds of homework and research sites that include

encyclopedias, dictionaries, teacher references and homework links by subject to name a few.

American Education Week occurs from November 14th – 18th. This year’s theme is: Great Public Schools: A Basic

Right and Our Responsibility. During the week of Nov. 15, we will honor individuals who make our public schools a

great place to be.

Hagen Jr. High will not be in session on November 11th

for Veterans Day and November 24th

& 25th

for

Thanksgiving.

Counselor’s Corner From Sharon Hansen Greetings from the counselor’s office. By the time you read this most of our students will have completed the ND State Assessment. We will be scheduling makeup sessions for those who missed school during testing week. These will be done in small groups during the school day. Thank you to Coca Cola Bottling for donating bottles of juice for our students during testing week. The official end of the quarter was October 28. Report cards went out on November 1. Students who find themselves academically ineligible may do a grade report each week to try and become eligible to participate in extra curricular activities. Students who are “grounded” because of grades will be grounded until midterms of second quarter. Please remember that help is available to all students before, during and after school.

Library News Please remember to stop in the library and visit our Scholastic Book Fair during the Parent/Teacher Conferences on November 2nd and 3rd. We will be having a special drawing for students who bring a parent, grandparent or other adult relative to our book fair on during conference times on November 2nd and 3rd.Browse for books and other fun items at this time or send money for your student to make purchases. It’s not too early to Christmas shop and your purchases help us earn books for our library! (To learn more about our Book Fair please visit http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hagen.) Another way to help us earn ‘book money’, is to remember that whenever you shop Amazon.com; you can also earn money for our school if you remember to enter the

Amazon website by going through the link on the Hagen homepage. This is an

easy, painless way of helping our school; so please remember this especially during the coming holiday shopping season.

Important Announcements:

! No School: November 11, 2011.

! AMC 8 Math Test, November 15, 2011.

! No School: November 24 & 25, 2011.

! 2011-2012 Yearbooks can still be purchased for $27.00. Payments can be made in the office.

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hagen

Notes from the Superintendent Notes from the Superintendent Web site: www.dickinson.k12.nd.us

November 2011

American Education Week

Horace Mann was born in 1796 and is widely recognized as the father of American public education.

Throughout his life, Horace Mann was passionate about public education and believed that public education

was the great equalizer. In his view, public education could help to eliminate poverty, reduce crime, and

generally contribute to the improvement and welfare of society as a whole. Horace Mann believed that,

“Education then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men,

the balance-wheel of the social machinery.” Throughout his life he worked to establish and improve a

publicly funded school system that was open to all children of the Nation.

In an effort to recognize the value of public education and the many contributions it has made to our

society and country, schools across our nation will celebrate American Education Week. The theme for this

celebration is Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility. It reflects the calling upon

America to provide students with quality public schools so they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st

century. This is a time when the parents and community in general can join in expressing appreciation to all

individuals who contribute to the education of our children through the public school system. American

Education Week presents the community with an opportunity to thank all individuals who are critical to the

existence and success of the public school system. It is a time to thank the many individuals in the various

positions of the school district who contribute to public education and provide a safe environment for our

children.

American Education Week is scheduled to occur during the week of November 14-18. During this

time, the Dickinson Public School District will be working with local individuals to celebrate the school

district and the contributions its employees make to the education of our children and the general welfare of

our nation and community. During this week, I hope you will join with me in expressing appreciation to all

of the individuals in the school district who provide valuable service in educating the children of Dickinson.

Without their commitment and dedication the lives of our children and the quality of our existence would be

significantly diminished.

Sincerely,

Douglas W. Sullivan

Superintendent of Schools

Dickinson Public Schools

701-456-0002

[email protected]

Dickinson Public Schools

FOUNDATION NEWS Education is the Foundation for the Future

Issue 57 For information, call Karen Heidt at 590-0495. November 2011

Dr. Sullivan is shown with Berg Elementary staff and students and the

$5,115 check from the Foundation for their iPads/iPods for Success grant.

2011-2012 Foundation Grant Program The Dickinson Public Schools Foundation has

budgeted $20,000 for this year’s grant program.

Foundation grants are available to support unique,

challenging, innovative projects and programs which

enhance the educational experience. We fund projects

that go “above and beyond” the school district’s

budget. The Foundation has given over $192,000 in

grant awards since the Foundation was started in 1989.

“It’s from teacher’s special and innovative projects

that we learn about things that really engage

students….we need to nuture our most creative

teachers’ efforts. Basic public funding doesn’t usually

cover that kind of innovation.” said Karen Heidt,

Director of Development for the Foundation.

Teachers and/or administrators in the school district are

eligible to apply. Grant applications are due on

December 1. Grants will be awarded in January or

February of 2012.

“What I spent is gone:

What I kept, I lost;

But what I gave away

Will be mine forever.”

Ethel Percy Andrus

Foundation Highlights School district employees pledged $5,883 to the

Foundation through the payroll deduction program.

Thank you for your support!

The Foundation’s Annual Report will be distributed

in November. We hope you enjoy learning more

about the Foundation. Please consider making a

donation to the Foundation.

We have awarded over $192,000 in grants since the

Foundation was formed in 1989.

The Foundation has awarded over $15,000 in

sponsorships over the past 22 years.

We currently administer the Jack Carlson

scholarship and the Michael Callahn scholarship.

We are working with individuals on a few new

potential scholarships.

Our annual Mystery Dinner Theater which is held in

February is the Foundation’s signature event. This

is our 7th year. Watch for more information.

Help Wanted DHS alumni web site: www.dhsalumni.com We are looking for someone to take over the DHS

Alumni website. The developer of the website, Dick

Wilz, has stepped down. Dick said that it would take

about one hour a week. He is willing to train you over

the phone if you are interested. He can be reached at

540-967-3317 or you can contact Karen Heidt at 701-

590-0495. If you are really techy, he has some great

ideas that would improve the alumni website.

Gifts to the Foundation

Memorial Gifts Gifts were made in Memory of Lillian Leiss, Edith

Kudrna, Margaret Steffan, Michael Herberholz, Scott

Grossman and Rocky Kuhn – By Jim & Becky

Meduna

Thank you for your gifts to the Foundation!

Contact Information-If you would like to make

a donation, establish a scholarship, give a memorial

gift or discuss planned giving opportunities, contact

Karen Heidt, Director of Development at 590-0495.

© 2011 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

™Healthy Ideas for Middle and High School Students November 2011

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Tweens and teens are just a few years away from grocery shopping on their own. Give them a head start on making informed, healthy choices by encouraging them to ask questions like these.

Do I know what the ingredients are?

Your teen should be able to recognize the ingredients listed on food packages. Foods with a lengthy list of hard-to- pronounce chemicals or additives are usually less healthy.

What does “nutritious” really mean?Foods like cereal can be marked as

“nutritious” when they’re actually high in sugar or sodium. Encourage your child to read the Nutrition Facts box to figure out just how nutritious a product really is. For example, 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon—so for a cereal with 12 grams per serving, that’s 3 teaspoons of sugar in one bowl!

New flavors Herbs and spices give

foods a variety of interesting flavors—and they can be a healthy alternative to salt. Try basil on tomatoes, garlic or chives in mashed potatoes, thyme in omelettes, and nutmeg in pasta.

Drive less, walk more Once your teen gets his driver’s license, he may want to drive every-where. Remind him that walking or bik-ing for shorter trips is a good way to exercise. Tip: When

he does drive, suggest that he pick farther-away parking spots so he can still do some walking.

Strong ginger tea can soothe stomachaches

and prevent nausea. The next time your child isn’t feeling well, offer her a cup. Wash and thinly slice a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger (found in the produce section). Put the pieces in a mug, pour in boiling water, and steep 5–10 minutes. Squeeze in fresh lemon or lime juice, or stir in honey or sugar-free apple cider mix.

Just for funQ: What did one plate say to the other?

A: “Lunch is on me!”

Managing diabetes If your child has diabetes, she needs to monitor

her blood sugar carefully. Paying attention to exer-cise and eating habits can help her stay healthier, too. Remind her to:

●● Exercise regularly. Encourage her to get an hour of activity a day. It will burn calories and keep her blood sugar at safe levels.

●● Eat healthy snacks between meals. Between-meal snacking can help your teen maintain blood sugar levels. High-fiber, low- calorie snacks like apples and whole-grain breads take longer to digest, meaning her sugar levels will rise more slowly.

Note: Support groups may help your child stay on track and not feel alone. Check with her doctor’s office or a local hospital for groups where she can learn about eating right—and make friends.

Did You Know?

Grocery store know-howFASTTAKES

Is “nonfat” better for me?Suggest that your youngster be careful

with foods marked “low-fat” and “nonfat.” They can still be high in calories. For example, a nonfat cracker has plenty of calories from sugar.

Which types of meat are the healthiest?

Have your teen read labels for fat con-tent (example: look for ground beef that is 95 percent fat-free, or 95/5). He can also select chicken without skin. Try this: Ask the butcher to point out lean cuts to your teen.

Hagen Junior High SchoolMr. Perry Braunagel, Principal

O U R P U R P O S ETo provide busy parents with practical ways to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity for their children.

Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-4280 • [email protected]

www.rfeonline.comTeen Food & Fitness™ is reviewed by a registered dietitian. Consult a physician before beginning any major change in diet or exercise.

ISSN 1935-8865

November 2011 • Page 2Teen Food & Fitness™


Get out and play!

There are lots of good reasons for encouraging your youngster to

take up running. Here are a few:●● Finding a place to run is easy, whether it’s around your

neighborhood or on a high school track.●● You don’t have to be athletic to run—just step outside and go! Whether your child

is fast or slow, she can enjoy running and reap the benefits.●● T-shirts, loose-fitting shorts, and sneakers or running shoes are the only equip-

ment she’ll need. ●● She may have to add a jacket in the fall and winter, but in many areas it’s possible

to run outside year-round. If not, look for an indoor track at a local community col-lege, YMCA, or rec center.

Safety Note: When your teen runs outside, she should let you know what route she’ll take and carry a cell phone. Also, have her stick to sidewalks and avoid running after dark.

A running start

workout interesting. For instance, try a class in Pilates or spinning.3. Give yourself “wiggle” room. Your weight may change slightly daily. That’s normal, just as long as you stay within about three pounds of your target. If you go above

that, watch your diet more closely until you’re back in your range.4. Reward yourself. Find ways to celebrate your weight loss that don’t involve food. Maybe you could go shopping for a skirt or pair of pants at your new size. Or celebrate another month at your new weight with an outing to the ice-skating rink or bowling alley.

Keep the weight off

Has your teen worked hard to lose weight? Good for her! Help her stay at a healthy weight by sharing these ideas.1. Check your “fit” regularly. Paying attention to how your clothes fit can keep your weight in check. Maybe you have a favorite pair of jeans you can try on once a week. If they get snug, you may need to trim calories; too loose, and you might need to add calories. 2. Put fun in your exercise routine. Exercise is vital to weight control. But you might need to try new exercises to keep your

Q: My son James would rather do anything electronic—watch TV, go online, play video games—than

do something physical. How can I get him off the couch?

A: Start by setting limits on screen time—say, no more than an hour on school nights. Then, help your son come up with ideas for turning some of his old screen time into physical activity.

For example, consider desig-nating an evening a week for active family time. Take turns choosing the activity. You might go to a batting cage or tennis

ACTIVITYCORNER

Lighter Thanksgiving favorites

Try these easy recipes for healthier ver-sions of three traditional holi-day dishes.Cauliflower mashed potatoes. Peel 2½ lbs. potatoes. Boil with 1 cup chopped cauliflower until tender. Drain and add ½ cup fat-free milk. Whip with a mixer until creamy, and season with pepper.Walnut green beans. Snap the ends off 1 lb. fresh green beans, or thaw frozen beans. Sauté in 1 tbsp. olive oil. Mix with fresh lemon juice and ¼ cup chopped walnuts.Slow-roasted turkey breast. Place a boneless, skinless turkey breast in a slow cooker. Add 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 tbsp. paprika, and 1 tsp. garlic powder. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Q&A

In theK tchen

court. When your child has friends over, offer to drive them to the park to shoot baskets or walk the fitness trail.

Also, if you see an article in your local newspaper about an activity he might enjoy, such as a soccer league, share it with him. If teams aren’t his thing, sug-

gest active fun like indoor climbing, weight lifting, or in-line skating that he can do alone or with a friend. Finally, try sharing your favorite sport—maybe your teen can be your new golf, racquetball, or Ping-Pong partner!

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.rfeonline.com


November 2011

Your usually pleasant middle grader kicked his brother when he got frus-trated. Or he invited friends over when he was home alone. You know you need to discipline him, but what’s the most effective way at this age? The right consequences can be a useful tool to help your child improve his behavior. Here’s how.

Make it fit Decide on consequences before you

need them. That way, you can choose them carefully. If you wait until your child breaks a rule to announce what will happen, you’re more likely to overreact and come up with something that’s diffi-cult to enforce. (“You’re not going any-where for a month!”) Be sure to tell your tween about the consequences up front so he knows what to expect.

Make it matterTie the results of your middle grader’s

behavior to his actions (say, not being able to go out next weekend if he lied

The art of compromiseThe next time your mid-

dle schooler disagrees with a friend, use the opportunity to help her learn about compromise. Encourage her to think of solutions that are acceptable to everyone. For example, she might say, “So you pick the movie this week, and I’ll choose one next week.”

Attention, please Help your child get the most out of class time. How? Share the SLANT method with him: Sit up straight and near the front, Lean forward, Ask questions, Nod to show you under-stand, Track the teacher with your eyes.

Curbing foul languageMiddle graders might think swear words make them sound cool or grown-up. But explain to your young-ster that cursing gives others a bad impression of her and is not accept-able. To help stop it, consider creating a “swear jar”—it will cost a quarter each time a family member uses bad language. At the end of each month, donate the money to a charity.

Worth quoting“Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have than what you don’t.” Anonymous

Just for fun

Q: What do you lose every time you stand up?

A: Your lap.

Discipline that works

Teaming with teachers

about where he was last weekend). And choose consequences that matter to your child so he cares about their impact. For example, if he texts at the dinner table, he’s likely to be more upset about losing cell phone privileges than being sent to his room.

Make it rightLet your tween know that he must

make up for bad behavior. If he throws and breaks the controller after losing a video game, he will have to replace it with his own money. Having to correct the situation will help him stop and think before he does the same thing again.

To support your child’s education, put parent-teacher conferences high on your to-do list. Here are some tips:

■■ Review your middle grader’s schoolwork and interim reports before the conference. If you see areas where she’s falling short, ask her teachers for suggestions.

■■ Let teachers know about things that might be affecting your child (divorce, parent out of work, deployed family member). This can help teachers understand your child and offer support when necessary.

■■ If you need a translator at the conference, request one in advance. Or arrange to take along a friend or family member who can help.

ShortStops

Hagen Junior High SchoolMr. Perry Braunagel, Principal


To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement,

and more effective parenting.Resources for Educators,

a division of CCH Incorporated128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630

540-636-4280 • [email protected]

ISSN 1540-5540

O u r P u r P O S e

Middle Years November 2011 • Page 2

when she has a problem to solve, encourage her to think of several ways to handle it.

evaluating informationHave your middle grader read

an editorial in the newspaper. Ask questions to help her ana-lyze what she has read. Exam-ples: What are the writer’s credentials? Does he use facts

and statistics to back up his views? Are they logical? She’ll need to distinguish between facts and opinions and may have to do some research to answer those questions.

Drawing conclusionsLet your child choose a paragraph from a mystery and read

it out loud. What does she think is going on? Suggest that she use what she has read to draw conclusions. For instance, if it says, “His hands shaking, Mark turned the key,” she can con-clude that Mark is scared or nervous.

Clever cards Here’s a study technique that can

help your middle grader remember facts and formulas.

SequencingSometimes information needs to be

remembered in a certain sequence, such as steps in a scientific process or events in history. Suggest that your child write each step or event on a separate index card (without numbering the cards). To study, he can shuffle and reshuffle the cards, putting them back in order until he consistently gets it right.

MatchingYour young-

ster can also use cards to study facts. Have him write each term and its matching fact on separate cards. Examples: vocabulary words and definitions, coun-tries and their capitals. Then, he can shuf-fle the cards, spread them out facedown, and try to match up pairs.

Idea: Suggest that he make studying into a game by playing with a classmate or family member. Each person could create a set of cards for the other one to put in order or match.

Good thinking! Can your middle grader come up with

more than one solution for a problem? Determine whether something she reads is valid? Draw conclusions based on what she reads? These are all critical-thinking skills—and your child needs them to thrive in middle school and beyond.

Solving problemsShare issues that you’re trying to address (“I need to save

money on gasoline”). Let your youngster hear you brainstorm solutions: “I could carpool with a coworker, combine errands, or drive the smaller car that gets better gas mileage.” Then,

Our family had a habit of grabbing fast food

because it was convenient. After reading several articles that said home-cooked meals are healthier than most fast food, I decided to make a change.

I started with a goal of three home-cooked dinners a week. I made a list of the items I needed for each meal and went shopping.

One night, I made a tossed salad and salmon and added a loaf of hot, crusty

Help for ADHD My son was just diagnosed with ADHD.

How can I help him be successful in middle school?

If your child doesn’t already have an IEP (Indi-vidualized Education Plan) or a Section 504 plan, ask the school to create one. The plan should spell out what he needs academically (extra copies of textbooks at home, more time to complete tests, less homework).

Also, it’s more important than ever for your son to be organized. Having a daily planner or to-do list can be helpful. He should also sort through his backpack and locker on a weekly basis.

At this age, your child needs to be involved in managing his ADHD. Together, discuss strategies he can use to help himself. For instance, he might call a friend to double-check on assignments each evening or take a homework break every 20 min-utes. Suggest that he experiment with ideas and see what works best for him.

Cooking up healthy meals bread. For another meal, I put chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions in a slow cooker before I went to work, and dinner was ready when I got home.

We still get takeout sometimes, but we’re making healthier choices. Last

week, we ordered a thin-crust pizza with light cheese and vegetables.

Eating at home is a lot easier than I expected. And my family is eating foods that are more nutritious.

Parent to

Parent

Q&A

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.rfeonline.com

Hagen Junior High

November Breakfast/Lunch Menu

11/1/2011 11/2/2011 11/3/2011 11/4/2011Cereal/BEC Biscuit

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Breakfast Pizza

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Pepperoni Pizza

Fresh Veggies

Fruit Cocktail

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Milk

Spaghetti/Meat Sauce

Italian Bread

Corn

Apples

Milk

Sub Sandwich

Turkey/Ham/Cheese

Lettuce

Peaches

Milk

Chicken Patty/Bun

Green Beans

Pears

Milk

11/7/2011 11/8/2011 11/9/2011 11/10/2011 11/11/2011Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Caramel Rolls

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Yogurt

Juice/Milk

Hot Dog Wrap

Baked Beans

Fruit Cocktail

Milk

Popcorn Chicken

Rice

Peas

Applesauce

Milk

Crispitos

Lettuce/Cheese

Peaches

Milk

Hot Ham & Cheese

Sandwich

Green Beans

Pineapple

MilkNO SCHOOL

11/14/2011 11/15/2011 11/16/2011 11/17/2011 11/18/2011Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Muffins

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Fresh Fruit

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Chili with beans

Peaches

Cinnamon Roll

Cheese Crackers

Milk

Breakfast for Lunch

Sausage

Hashbrowns

Oranges

Milk

Corn Dog

Green Beans

Pears

Pudding Cup

Milk

Turkey & Dressing

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Cranberries

Buns

Pumpkin Bars

Milk

Chicken Strips

Rice

Peas

Pineapple

Milk

11/21/2011 11/22/2011 11/23/2011 11/24/2011 11/25/2011Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Scrambled Eggs

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Lasagna

Corn

Strawberries

Bun

Milk

Taco's Soft/Hard Shell

Cheese/Lettuce/Salsa

Apples

Milk

Tomato Soup

Grilled Cheese

Peaches

Cookies

Milk

NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL

11/28/2011 11/29/2011 11/30/2011Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Uncrustables

Juice/Milk

Cereal/Toast

Juice/Milk

Sloppy Joe/Bun

Chips

Pears

Pickles

Milk

Chicken Fajitas

Lettuce/Cheese

Peaches

Milk

Hamburger/Bun

French Fries

Applesauce

Milk

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 Parent/Teacher

Conference

3:40-6:40

3 Parent/Teacher

Conference

3:40-6:40

4 5

Wrestling (H)

Glendive

6 7 7th Basketball

(H) Trinity

8th Basketball

(H) Trinity

8 8th Basketball

(A) St. Mary’s

8th Basketball

(A) Trinity

9 10 11

No School

12

13 14 15 7th Basketball

(A) Mandan

8th Basketball

(H) Mandan

Wrestling (A)

Horizon

16 17 PAC Meeting

12:00 @ Berg

7th Basketball

(H) Simle

8th Basketball

(A) Simle

18

7th Basketball

(A) Trinity

8th Basketball

(A) Trinity

19

Wrestling (H)

Tournament

20 21 7th Basketball

(H) Horizon

8th Basketball

(A) Horizon

22 7th Basketball

(A) Wachter

8th Basketball

(H) Wachter

Wrestling (A)

Simle

23 24

No School

25

No School

26

27 28 29 7th Basketball

(H) Mandan

8th Basketball

(A) Mandan

30

Hagen Jr. High School Activity Calendar

November 2011