HJH is wrapping up the fall semester! We can't believe we are just two-and-a-half weeks away from the end of the first semester. Our students have been challenged in the classroom and have done a fantastic job so far. Over the next few weeks, our teachers will continue to introduce new material and spiral in previous skills as they prepare students for their semester exams. For more information on how you can help your child prepare at home and all other events taking place in December, please read the newsletter below. Your support and efforts on behalf of our students are greatly appreciated. Go Cats!

Clayton Farrell
HJH Principal

Check out our HJH December newsletter here.

This year, HJH will take Semester Exams in lieu of benchmarks. It is vital that students are present and prepared for these cumulative exams so that teachers can analyze the data collected and create specific, targeted intervention for students as we continue to approach STAAR testing this Spring. Our STAAR tests will take place in April and our MOCK Exams will be much earlier this Spring, beginning with RLA on January 30. This is why RLA will not take an RLA semester exam this month. Thank you for your continued support of our students and their academic success!

Please make sure your child is staying up-to-date in his/her Google Classrooms in the event they are absent. Lessons are uploaded daily. Students will be given an opportunity to make up work when they return, but we recommend staying current with their lessons so that way they are caught up when they return to campus.

Daily attendance is so important to a child’s success in school. We know parents want their children to do well in school. Did you know there is a connection between chronic absences and a student’s academic achievement? Showing up to school each day matters for R.E.A.L… because it is an opportunity to:

• Build Routines
• Increase Engagement
• Provide Access to Resources
• Support Learning

Routines: A daily attendance routine can help you reduce stress and develop habits that help you keep a job.

Engagement: Being in school gives you a chance to see your friends and build relationships with school staff.

Access to Resources: When you show up to school, you can get access to meals, health services, mental health supports and enrichment activities (sports, clubs, music, tutorials, etc.).

Learning: You are more likely to pass classes when you miss less than a week of school each semester.

The 12 Good Days of Attendance

In the days leading up to Winter Break, we want to encourage students to continue to be at school each and every day. There is still lots of learning happening and lots of fun to be had! Starting December 5 through December 20, we will have the "12 Days of Good Attendance" leading up to our holiday break. After the attendance announcement on those days, we will announce (2) 7th Grade names and (2) 8th Grade names to come to the office for their prize. What’s the catch you ask? YOU MUST BE PRESENT AT SCHOOL THAT DAY TO WIN! Prizes may include gift cards, food gift certificates, school supplies, snacks/drinks, holiday socks, hats, headbands, holiday goodies, blankets, etc. Set a goal to not miss a single day this December!

HJH Attendance Policies & Procedures

The school day starts at 7:50 AM and ends at 3:35 PM. At 7:45 AM, students will be released from the gym to their classrooms, and morning announcements will start at 7:50 AM. Attendance is taken every period at HJH. Any student arriving late or leaving early will be marked absent for the periods that he/she misses. All absences, full or partial, require documentation to be excused. If a student misses more than 20 minutes of a class without valid documentation, the student will be considered absent for this purpose. Parent notes must be turned in within three (3) days of the absence. Per the HJH handbook, early pick-ups are unexcused unless our nurse sends your student home, or we receive documentation from a doctor's office for that date. Any documentation needing to be turned in can be done through the reception desk or attendance office, or emailed directly to Mrs. Magallanes at emagallanes@hisd.com.

In an effort to practice our safety protocols, HJH will regularly perform safety drills to ensure our students and staff know how to respond in a crisis situation. Safety is our number one priority, and we will continue to practice all state-mandated drills throughout the school year so that our students and staff are prepared in the event of an emergency.

If your child is struggling in a class, HJH provides opportunities for them to receive extra support outside the school day. Teachers are available before and after school for tutorials. Even if the day you can bring your child early or pick them up late doesn't match with their teacher, someone in that department can help. Please contact your teacher if you feel your child needs the extra support to be successful this school year.

Medicine

Any medication to be administered to a student must be brought to the school by the parent/guardian in the new, original container. Please do not put medicine in a sandwich bag with a note and send it to school with your child or expect that your child can keep medication in their backpack. You may come to school and administer medication directly to your student if you do not wish to leave any in the nurse's office. The “Medication Consent” form must be completed and signed by the parent and physician for any prescription medicine to be administered during school hours.

Student Pickup

With the onset of allergy/cold/flu season, please make prompt arrangements to pick up your child when the school notifies you that your child is ill. Pick-up should be in less than one hour. We completely understand when there are times when a parent is out of town, is not allowed to leave work, etc., but please make sure there is someone who can pick up your student when you are not available. Any person who is allowed to pick up your student should be added to their nurse contacts in Skyward. If your contact information changes, or anyone else's on file, remember to change it in Skyward.

Contact Information

We look forward to the many opportunities this new year will bring to further interact with you and care for your children as needed. We understand this time of year can get hectic and children begin to see symptoms of various illnesses. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Nurse Barron at HJH by phone (ext. 242) or email (mbarron@hisd.com).

Students will be allowed three (3) restroom passes in their RLA/Math classes (90 minute blocks) and two (2) restroom passes in their SC/SS/Elective classes (45 minute block) each nine (9) weeks. This gives students up to 16 restroom passes within a nine-week grading period to use the restroom. We encourage students to use the restroom during one of their eight (8) transitions during the school day from class to class and/or during their lunch time. Students have a total of 58 minutes during their school day (not including before and after school) outside of their class time to use the restroom. Instructional time is critical to your student’s success. If a student has used all passes for a specific class they will be allowed to use the restroom in the event of an emergency or if they have specific documentation from a medical professional. These situations need to be communicated with their classroom teacher. Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this policy. Thank you.

Instructional time is essential to student success. Additionally, it is critical that students learn the importance of punctuality. In order to encourage this behavior, HJH has implemented the following campus policy regarding tardies.

Tardies will be tracked cumulatively each nine-week grading period, with the following consequences in place for repeated tardies:

• 3rd tardy - 1 day of Lunch Detention
• 6th tardy - 2 days of Lunch Detention
• 9th tardy - 1 day of After-School Detention
• 12th tardy - 2 days of After-School Detention
• 15th tardy - 1 day of ISS
• 18th tardy - 2 days of ISS
• 19+ - Discretion of Campus Administration

Please discuss with your child the importance of punctuality as we are preparing students to be responsible with their time. Please contact our office you if have questions. Thank you.