Highlander Way Middle School

PARENT SURVEY

Don’t forget to take time to complete a brief [we promise it's only 12 questions!] parent survey online!  Want to get started now?  Use this link !

Message from our PTO

Hey Parents!  Let's get in the game!  Please encourage our HWMS students to donate to the canned food drive.  The district-wide canned food and personal hygiene drive to support Gleaners Community Food Bank continues through Tuesday, November 26. All donations will support families right here in Livingston County.  Donations can be dropped off at HWMS.  The top Hawk Hour will receive a doughnut & cider treat and our top individual winner will win a Hydro Flask.

Our next PTO meeting is on Monday, November 18 at 6 pm in the HWMS media center.  Hope to see you then!

8th grade Washington, DC trip - April 29 through May 2, 2020

10/23/2019 

8th Grade Parents,

We're excited to tell you that we have so many students signed up for our 2020 8th Grade Washington DC Trip that when you sign up, you'll be put on the wait list!  Attached is the registration info and a step-by-step video to help you register and make payments using the online portal.  Please register your child today and hopefully there will be enough students interested for an additional bus.

8th GRADE WASHINGTON DC Flyer 2020.pdf 
https://youtu.be/KBle60XCdw4

Sincerely,
Mr. Hill & Mrs. Post


Washington, DC Trip Fundraiser begins on November 15.  Watch for more information.

The Michigan Attorney General’s office will be conducted presentations on student safety featuring the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (CSI) and the student safety hotline, OK2SAY.  The presentation was given to Highlander Way Middle School students in grades 6-8 on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.  

Students saw a video featuring peers who promote OK2SAY. Students will learn what the OK2SAY program is, how it works, what types of incidents they can report, how to submit a tip, and what will happen with the tip.  Students then heard a detailed explanation about bullying, cyberbullying, suicide, sexting, sexual abuse, predators and advice on how to protect themselves online. Students saw a video about the power of words, deceptive ways internet predators target teens, along with a segment featuring students from Michigan that have tragically died by suicide due in part to bullying.  The last two videos showed the negative impact of sexting and one provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Handouts used during our presentations, videos, and additional information, can be accessed at the Attorney General's website, www.mi.gov/csi.  More information about the OK2SAY program, including resources, is available at www.mi.gov/ok2say.

OK2SAY Opt Out 2019.pdf 

NEW SECURITY FEATURE

We have a new security feature in our main office.   At Highlander Way and Howell Public Schools, the safety of our students is our top priority.  That is why the district is implementing a new visitor management system from Raptor Technologies in all of its buildings. This system will enable us to screen visitors and volunteers in our school and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff.  

When visiting our school, you will still use the door buzzer to gain access to the building during the school day. However, the visitor sign-in process will look different. Once you enter the office to sign-in, our office staff will ask you for a government-issued ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. The system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school without our knowledge.  The system checks the visitor's name and date of birth using a national database. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded, and the information is not shared with any outside agency.  If for any reason you do not have a US government-issued ID, the office staff can use any form of identification and manually enter your name into the system. After your first visit, your information will be stored in the system for a quicker check-in on subsequent visits.

Once entry to the school is approved, the system will issue a visitor sticker with your name and photo, the date of your visit, and the purpose of the visit. After your visit is complete, you will return to the office to sign out, much like you currently do.

If you are just stopping by the office to drop something off for your child, or picking up your child, you will not be required to complete the check-in process.

As we use our new system,  there may be some hiccups along the way. While this may cause a slight inconvenience, in the end, it will be worth it, as we will be able to provide a safer school environment for our students and staff. Thank you in advance for your understanding, patience, and support as we launch the system to enhance the safety of our school and district.

NEW ADDRESS ?

Invitations to the honors programs, final report cards and summer packets will be mailed home and we want you to get them.  If you have a new address, please remember to provide proof of residency to either the HPS registration office or one of the HWMS offices, so that your address may be changed.  

Let it snow!  The Middle School Ski & Board Club is Ready!

Attached are the Information & Registration forms for the Middle School Ski/Board Club. We will run the club for both Middle Schools beginning January 15!

2019-20 Howell Middle School Ski_Board Club Informational Packet .pdf 

2019-2020 Ski_Snowboard registration & order form.pdf 

SPORTS

The archery and boys basketball teams have been chosen and their seasons starts soon.  Hopefully, you'll be there to cheer them on.

Competitive Cheer

Howell Middle School Competitive Cheer tryouts will be November 19th and 20th from 6:00-8:00 pm (will probably run longer on the 20th) at the Howell High School field house balcony.  Information packets that must be completed are in the main office.  

You MUST have a physical dated after April 15 of this year to try out, complete information packet that is available in the main office, and fill out the google form online at https://forms.gle/d40mqB64bh1nnFLu5. Please contact Leya Carstensen at leya.carstensen@howellschools.com with any questions.

HWMS Girls Basketball

HWMS Girls Basketball tryouts are 1/13-1/15/20 from 2:30-4:00 pm in the gym.  Registration will be available on-line closer to tryouts.

Robert Klein (7th), kleinr@howellschools.com
Jason Lounds (8th), loundsj@howellschools.com.

Parker/HWMS Combined Wrestling

 Parker/HWMS combined wrestling starts 1/13/20.  More Information soon....

Tony Tedesco, tedescoa@howellschools.com.

Howell Middle School Boys/Girls Swim Dive

Howell Middle School Boys/Girls Swim/Dive starts February 10.  We are still looking for a coach.  Watch for more information.

HWMS Boys/Girls Track

 Track starts March 18th, we are looking for a coach. More Information soon....

PTO

The HWMS PTO has their own Facebook account.  Please be sure to “like” them on Facebook, as they post a lot of good information about HWMS, PTO and our wonderful students.

PTO MEETINGS

September 16, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

October 21, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

November 18, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

December 16, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

January 27, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

March 16, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

April 20, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

May 18, 6:00-7:00, HWMS Media Center

HONORS AWARD PROGRAMS

Each year we recognize students for their academic achievement.  Our School Improvement Team and the Positive Behavior Support Team have elected to recognize students the following ways:  High Honors for Summa Cum Laude 3.9-4.0 GPA, Magna Cum Laude 3.7-3.89 GPA, and Cum Laude 3.5-3.69 GPA.  Students will also be recognized for All A’s 4.0 GPA for each year and all A’s 4.0 GPA for all three years 6th, 7th, and 8th.  Students taking Algebra and Geometry (high school level classes) will be recognized for All A’s 4.0 GPA based on the first three quarters.  The Presidential Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence will be awarded to 8th grade students who have maintained a cumulative 3.5 GPA or above while attending Highlander Way.  All honors will be calculated through the end of Quarter III of the current school year. 

Watch your mail!  Invitations are sent to families of those students who have met the above criteria.

GPA/LETTER GRADE SCALE

The table below lists letter grades and their numerical equivalents as used in calculating GPA (Grade Point Average)

A    4.00
A-   3.67
B+  3.33
B    3.00
B-   2.67
C+  2.33
C    2.00
C-   1.67
D+  1.33
D    1.00
D-   0.67
F     0