HOLMANHIGHLIGHTS

Summer 2014

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July 21, 2014

Dear Holman Parents,

Hopefully you are enjoying the final weeks of summer vacation! It is hard to believe that we are less than two weeks away from the start of the new school year. It is absolutely true that time flies when you are having fun! I have had a wonderful fun-filled summer with the Ashford girls- the oldest of which will be in 9th grade this school year—and am beginning to feel the excitement of a new school year in the air around my house as well as at Holman!

During the 2014-15 school year, Holman will continue to work toward achieving our three major school improvement goals. These goals are listed below:

Goal One: Holman students are proficient in english language arts, mathematics, and science. Goal Two: Holman students will be responsible citizens with positive relationships

Goal Three: Holman will establish high levels of home/school relationships. The Holman PTA is a great way to stay connected to your child’s education and life away from home. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities over the course of the school year, so please be sure to show your support for your child’s education by joining the PTA or by volunteering this school year. Also, we will continue to utilize email, Facebook, and the school website in order to keep parents aware of the many events that go on at Holman during the school year.

Inside this newsletter, you will find information about schedule pick-up days, school supply lists and lots of other information to help you as you prepare for another wonderful school year! Please contact me should you have questions about anything regarding school and your child.

I look forward to seeing you in August!

Teisha AshfordPrincipal

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Counselor Grade Level Assignments6th-Grade Ms. Campbell, 213-8209

7th-Grade Mrs. Evans, 213-8206

8th-Grade Mrs. Meyer, 213-8410

Who’s New at HolmanSarah Maksimovich--7th grade MathRachelle Moss--8th grade ScienceLisa Roth--iLearn Tech

Team Assignments6 North Striebel-ELALeonard-MKim-SCZangriles-SS

6 SouthSweda–ELAWillenborg-MCalva-SCArps-SS

6 EastHildebrand--MA/SCCombs-- ELA/SS

7 ExtremeWaisner-ELASpawr-MGragert-SCRutledge-SS 7 Exceed Cornell-ELAMaksimovich-MHutti-SC McAnulty-SS

8 EdgeSmith-CAMcKinley-MLuna-SC Stevens-SS 8 EliteBowersox-CAThomas-MMoss-SCPaluczak-SS

Key: M = Math SC = Science ELA = English Language Arts SS = Social Studies

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What’s Happening At HolmanSCHEDULE PICK-UP / YEARBOOK PHOTOS

Students may pick up their schedules in Gym A on the following dates:

Mon - Aug 4, 3:30-7:00pm --All 8th GradersTues - Aug 5, 3:30-7:00pm --All 6th and 7th Graders

Yearbook photos will be taken on these days and these pictures will also be used for student ID badges. An order form is included and can also be accessed on-line.

All Holman 8th Graders to Receive LaptopsIn assuring that our students are high school ready, I am excited to share that beginning in the 2014-15 school year our eighth grade class will be afforded a unique opportunity to begin the transition to a more digital learning environment. Students will be issued a laptop for their educational use throughout the school year.

This transition comes with all of the safety precautions that have proven successful at the high school over the past two years. During eighth grade schedule pick-up on August 4, 2014 from 3:30 to 7:00 PM, each student will be assigned a MacBook Air, carrying case, and charging cord. Students will be expected to sign a Digital Citizenship Contract and Off-campus Use of District Technology form. Each family will then enroll in the insurance program and be provided training for proper care and use of the laptop. Firewalls and other securities will be reviewed during orientation, as well as student behavioral expectations. For your planning purposes, please allow one hour for laptop pick-up and orientation. Details regarding insurance enrollment will be mailed in the upcoming weeks.

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HOLMAN’S PIRATE PRIDE PROGRAM &POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION & SUPPORT (PBIS)

PBIS is an acronym that stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Looking at each word of the title can give you a good idea of what the program is about. First, it’s positive: PBIS is a proactive, school-wide program that teaches and reinforces expectations through a visible matrix and advisory lessons. Students are introduced to the positive social and academic behaviors that are crucial to their overall school success. When a student is not meeting the school-wide expectations, a consequence may be given. Behavioral interventions are considered for students consistently struggling with behavior. The same is true for academics; specific academic supports are offered to students who are struggling academically for any reason. Overall, PBIS is a process that helps to create a safer and more effective school by structuring the learning environment to support the needs of ALL students.

During the 2013-14 school year, Holman received the Silver Award of Excellence from the State of Missouri for our PBIS program. We are extremely proud of our Pirate Pride program! This is a program designed to teach students our school wide behavior expectations, the importance of good character, and generally how to be successful students. Each week in advisory students participate in lessons that explicitly address these areas.

Our school wide expectations are: Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be Involved. Students earn Pirate Pride tickets by consistently showing these three characteristics in all areas of school. This year teachers and staff handed out 3000 Pirate Pride tickets for excellent behavior.

6th-GRADE JUMPSTART DAY: Wed – Aug 6, 2014Hopefully you've already heard, all Incoming 6th Graders to Holman are invited to attend Jump Start Day on Wednesday - August 6th. This is an opportunity for students to learn about Holman and meet their very own 8th grade WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) leader.

The day begins at 7:50am (buses will pickup at regular stops but time may be slightly different just for this day--so students can have a practice run before the first day of school). Students will load buses and depart from Holman at 11:45am. BRING WITH YOU: any school supplies you would like to leave in your locker and your lock.

Please RSVP by Tuesday - August 5th if your child plans to attend. You should've already received a postcard you can use to RSVP, but if not or if you can't find it, email us at jumpstart@psdr3.org.

We hope to see all incoming 6th graders August 6th!

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PHYSICALS & IMMUNIZATIONS• All 7th-Grade students must have had

a physical over the summer and turn in an updated form on schedule pickup day or when school starts (form mailed home with report cards).

• Before the first day of school, all 8th-Grade students must provide documentation from a healthcare provider that they have had the required DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis / whooping cough) vaccine and are up-to-date with all immunizations (letter mailed home with report cards). Can send the documentation with the student or fax to the nurse’s office (314-213-8247).

• Immunizations will be offered to students needing the DTaP vaccine by appointment on Friday, August 8th at Holman Middle School. They will be administered by the Peoples Health Center. Please call 213-8032 to schedule a time for your son/daughter for more information.

STUDENT FINESAll fines must be paid before Student Schedules are issued in August. Student fines were mailed with report cards in June. Please call the main office if you have questions about fines (213-8032).

PTA OPEN HOUSEPlease plan to join us for our annual PTA Open House on Wednesday - August 27th at 6:30pm in Gym A. This is a great opportunity to meet your student’s teachers and to get information about the many programs and activities available to Holman students. We look forward to seeing you at Open House!

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2014-15 IMPORTANT DATES

August 4 ....................................... Student Schedule pick-up 3:30-7:00 pm ALL 8th GradeAugust 5 .............................Student Schedule pick-up 3:30-7:00 pm ALL 6th and 7th GradeAugust 6 .......................................................... Jumpstart Day (for incoming 6th graders)August 11 .......................................................................................... First Day of School August 15 ......................................................................... No School - Staff DevelopmentAugust 22 ................................................................... Renaissance Back to School DanceAugust 27 ....................................................................................PTA Open House 6:30pSeptember 1 ...................................................................................No School - Labor Day September 23 ......................................................................... End of 1st Reporting PeriodOctober 3 .................................................................................................11:10 Dismissal Oct 9 ........................................................... Parent- Teacher Conferences-- 11:10 DismissalOct 10 ..........................................................Parent-Teacher Conferences-- 11:10 DismissalOct 11 ................................................................... No School Following Parent ConferencesNov 4 ................................................................................. No School- Staff DevelopmentNov 5 .................................................................................. End of 2nd Reporting PeriodNovember 27,28 ...................................................................... No School-- ThanksgivingDec 12 .....................................................................................................11:10 Dismissal Dec 19 .................................................................. End of 3rd Reporting Period/Semester 1Dec 22-Jan. 5 ..... Winter break for middle and high school students (Jan. 5 is a report day for staff; middle and high school students return to classes Jan. 6)Jan 16 ............................................................................... No School- Staff DevelopmentJan 19 ................................................................................. No School--Dr. King HolidayFeb 13 .....................................................................................................11:10 Dismissal Feb 16 .................................................................................. No School-- President's DayFeb 19 ..................................................................................... End of 4th Grading PeriodMar 4.......................................................... Parent- Teacher Conferences-- 11:10 DismissalMar 5 ...........................................................Parent-Teacher Conferences-- 11:10 DismissalMar 6 .................................................................. No School Following Parent ConferencesMar 16-20 ................................................................................. No School- Spring breakApril 3 ...................................................................................No School--Spring HolidayApril 10 ..................................................................................................11:10 DismissalApril 13 .................................................................................. End of 5th Grading PeriodMay 1 .....................................................................................................11:10 DismissalMay 25 ..................................................................................... No School-Memorial DayJune 1 ....................................... End of 6th Reporting Period/Semester 2-Last Day of School

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GENERAL INFORMATION AND REMINDERS 9 School Hours – The regular school begins at 8:05am and ends at 2:58pm and will consist

of seven periods with advisory on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 9 School Arrival / Departure - Students are not allowed to be on school grounds before

7:50am. Please do not drop off your child any earlier than the designated time. Students may stay after school only under the supervision of a teacher or administrator. Those students who are being transported by a parent/guardian must be picked-up by 3:00 pm.

9 Attendance Procedures – If your student is ill or will be absent from school for any reason, please call the attendance office at 213-8332 before 8:35am.

9 Bus Routes – When picking up your child’s schedule in August, please also pick up the bus route for your area.

9 Breakfast / Lunch Program – Breakfast is served from 7:50–8:00am and is free to all students. The price of lunch is $2.35 Students need to deposit money on a regular basis before school so the money is available on the same day as the deposit. Students are expected to have their ID badge with them in order to get lunch—it is used as a debit card for cafeteria purchases. Application forms for free / reduced lunch will be available on-line, at schedule pick-up in August, and in the Main Office.

9 Student Fines – If your child owes any type of fine, please pay at schedule pick-up in August. All fines must be paid before a student can receive a class schedule.

9 Textbooks – Textbooks will be issued during the first week of school. Students are responsible for their books, so they should put their name and teacher’s name in the front of each book!

9 Hall Lockers – All students will be assigned a locker the first day of school. Students are responsible for providing their own lock for the locker. Locks should be brought to school on the first day of school. DO NOT GIVE THE LOCK COMBINATION TO ANY OTHER STUDENT!

9 PE Lockers – Each student is assigned a locker and lock by the physical education instructor. A $5.00 fine will be charged at the end of the school year for EACH lost lock. Students may bring in their own lock for their PE locker if they so choose.

9 Immunizations – Missouri School Law requires that children who are not completely immunized will not be allowed to start school. Please call the school nurse at 213-8220 if you have any questions.

9 PTA Open House– Parents are needed in helping maintain the high quality educational programs here at Holman. Please become an involved parent in the Parent –Teacher Association. There will be membership registration tables available in August at schedule pick-up and at Open House on August 27, 2014 at 6:30pm.

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STUDENT ID’SStudents are not required to wear their ID badges while at school, however, they need to be carried on their person throughout the day. Students must show their IDs when passing through the cafeteria line to get lunch. Failure to comply will result in office consequences. The replacement cost for another ID will be $2.00.

ATTENDANCEAttendance Hotline:

213-8332Regular attendance is an integral factor in school success. PARENTS OR GUARDIANS MUST CALL SCHOOL WHENEVER A STUDENT IS GOING TO BE ABSENT. Please call the above attendance hotline number and leave a message. Inconsistent attendance or absences that constitute a pattern of behavior are concerns to school staff. While it is recognized that some absence from school may be necessary, excessive absenteeism will affect student achievement, performance, advancement, and self-esteem. Typically any absences above ten percent of the semester (9-10 days) would be considered excessive. Excessive absenteeism may result in the requirement of third party documentation to determine an absence as excused. The Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services will also be contacted and advised when absenteeism has reached this excessive point. Please refer to the Behavior Guide for more details.

TARDY TO SCHOOL/CLASS POLICYIf your child is tardy to school (arrival after 8:05am), he / she must report to the attendance office upon arrival at school. If the tardy is “unexcused,” the following consequences will apply:

Per Semester:• Up to 3 tardies: Warning• 4 tardies: 1-Hour Detention• 5 tardies or more: Administrative Intervention / Office Consequences

***The same consequences will apply for late arrivals to class.***

HOLMAN PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

At Holman Middle School we are fortunate to have a dynamic and active PTA! Stay in the know about upcoming PTA activities by checking out our PTA web page: http://ho.psdr3.org/pta. The PTA is currently in the process of updating this page to include activities for the 2014-15 school year. Be sure to check for updates!

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PROPER SCHOOL DRESSAs you are shopping for school clothes, you will want to keep the school’s dress code in mind. The school has a code of student dress based on the philosophy that students are expected to help promote a positive, healthy and safe school atmosphere. Please refer to the Behavior Guide for more details.

Some examples of inappropriate wear are:

A Any tight fitting, see-through, or suggestive clothing

A Tank top straps should be wider than 1”

A Short shorts / skirts / dresses--must be at least fingertip length

A Cropped / revealing tops—no bare midriffs (even when arms are raised), no low cut tops or backs

A Under garments should NOT show

A Sagging pants / dressing to one side

A Hats / hairnets / sweatbands / picks / combs / sunglasses / chains / bandannas

A Drug / alcohol / tobacco related items

A Hoods from jackets or sweatshirts cannot be worn on campus

A Obscene / profane messages on clothing

A Ripped or torn pants

A Chains with wallets or keys – chain belts

A Clothing and colors associated with gangs or violence

A Sleep or lounge wear / pajama pants, including house slippers

Students will be asked to change into appropriate clothing and / or a parent may be contacted if in violation of the dress code.

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6TH-GRADETeam Supply Lists

Both 6th Grade Teams: y Sturdy 2” 3-ring binder w/dividers (zipper preferred) y Pencil pouch for 3-ring binder y 2 packs wide-ruled notebook paper y #2 lead pencils (enough to last all year) y pencil-top erasers y 2 2-pocket folders (any color but black) y 2 large glue sticks (to be collected) y 1 box dry erase markers w/eraser (to be collected) y 2 large boxes of Kleenex (to be collected) y 1 box of color pencils (to be collected) y 1 combination or key lock for hallway locker*

In Addition:North Stars (Kim, Leonard, Striebel, Zangriles)

y 4 composition books (NOT spiral) y No pens allowed for classroom work

South Sharks (Arps, Calva, Sweda, Willenborg) and East Scholars (Combs, Hildebrand)

y 6 composition books (NOT spiral) y 2 highlighters (different colors) y 1 box of blue or black pens y 1 pen (not blue or black) y Access to a dictionary & thesaurus at home (online and/or books)

Please Note:

• We recommend that students have a pack of color pencils to keep at home as well as a pair of ear buds to keep at school.

• Other items (such as poster board) may be requested throughout the year for projects.

*A combination lock is also needed in PE, so a good recommendation is to buy a dual-combo pack that will give you TWO locks with the SAME combination, so you don’t have to remember two different combinations. Key locks are NOT permitted in PE.

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7TH-GRADETeam Supply Lists

Both 7th Grade Teams: y 1-sturdy 3-ring binder with tab dividers or folders (You may want to buy at least 2,

since one will not last the entire school year, due to daily wear and tear.) y 1,000 sheets of lined notebook paper (wide rule) y 1 combination or key lock for hall locker (PE provides gym locks or furnish your own) y 1 box of red pens y 2 boxes of #2 pencils and extra erasers y 2 large boxes of facial tissue (Advisory) y Color pencils y Tape (Social Studies) y 2 Composition Notebooks (Science) y 2 Spiral notebooks

Optional:The following items are not required but will make some school assignments easier for

your child: y flash drive for computer calculator

Elective Supply ListsFRENCH 3” Binder 1 Book Cover 1 Pkg Notebook Paper (150 count+)

GERMAN 1 2-Pocket Folder 1 Pkg Notebook Paper (150 count+)

SPANISH 3” Binder with pockets or large section of a multi-use binder 1 Pkg Notebook Paper (150 count+)

READING Single Subject Notebook 3-Prong 2-Pocket Folder Kleenex Small paperback thesaurus

SIGMA Notebook Paper Box of Tissues SIGMA binder with dividers from last year

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. . .

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.. .

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y Extreme (Gragert, Rutledge, Spawr, Waisner) y Exceed

(Cornell, Maksimovich, Hutti, McAnulty)

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8TH-GRADETeam Supply Lists

Both 8th Grade Teams: y Plenty of wide or college loose leaf paper for the ENTIRE school year y USB Drive y 1 pocket folder (science) y 1 3-subject notebook (soc studies) y 1 spiral notebook, 8 1/2” x 11” with 70+ pages, without perforated pages (Science) y Plenty of #2 pencils and blue and black pens for the ENTIRE school year y 1 box of markers y Black Sharpie y Erasers y 2 highlighters y Ear buds/headphones (for class use) y 1 pack of post-its y 1 large box of Kleenex (give to advisory teacher) y 1-combination or key lock for hall locker (PE provides gym locks or furnish your own) y 1 bottle of hand sanitizer (give to advisory teacher) y 1 pack/box of clear sheet protectors (for iAlbum project) y 1 box of color pencils

In Addition:Edge (Luna, McKinley, Smith, Stevens)

y 2 heavy duty/durable folders with pockets (ELA) y 1 5-subject notebook (ELA) y 2 spiral notebooks (Math)

Elite (Bowersox, Moss, Paluczak, Thomas) y 2-2” binders with dividers (Math and ELA)

All students will need the following items to use at home: . Scientific Calculator . Dictionary Thesaurus

An individual team or teacher may request other supplies when school begins or as the year progresses. You will receive notification from your student’s team or teacher as soon as possible to allow you enough time to obtain these additional supplies.

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SCHEDULE PICK-UP INFORMATIONStudents may pick up their schedules in Gym A on the following dates:

Mon - Aug 4, 3:30-7:00pm All 8th Graders Tues - Aug 5, 3:30-7:00 pm All 6th and 7th Graders

9 If you will be out of town or on vacation during the dates listed above your child will receive their packet on the first day of school: August 11, 2014.

9 Please go to Gym A to pick-up a class schedule, bus schedule, and information packet. The packet will have information on dress code, medication policy, free / reduced lunch, emergency contact form, supply lists, plus much more! This information was also emailed out and can be accessed on the Holman webpage.

9 Students must pay any outstanding fines before can pick up a schedule. Checks should be made payable to Holman Middle School. Cash will also be accepted (exact change is appreciated). Thank You!

9 Student Yearbook Pictures will be taken and used for student ID badges. If a student is not able to pick up their schedule on one of these days, ID pictures will be taken the first week of school. Yearbook pictures will be retaken later in the fall.

9 The PTA will have a table where you can join the PTA, order school spirit wear and complete volunteer forms.

9 Students and parents can walk around the building during these times to tour the building and locate classrooms.

** Use the following checklist to help ensure an organized pick-up!**1. Pay Outstanding Fines (books, library, cafeteria)2. Pick-Up Schedule & Information Packet (contains supply lists)3. Drop off Medical Information / Updated Immunization Records to Nurse4. Deposit Money into Cafeteria Account5. Have Yearbook / ID Picture Taken6. Order / Pick Up PE Uniform7. Sign-Up to be PTA Member / Order School Spirit Wear8. Check-In at the Jump Start Table (6th-Grade only)9. Get Your Powerschool Password Information (parent / guardian ID required)10. Pick Up Bus Route11. Drop off Completed Forms and / or Pick Up Miscellaneous Information12. Tour Building on Your Own or With a Student WEB Leader

School Starts Monday, August 11th

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2014-2015 Areas of Emphasis

The Pattonville School District Board of Education is committed to providing exemplary educational opportunities for ALL children. In order to accomplish this goal, quality professional development must be provided for all staff (new and experienced). Partnerships with parents, business leaders, and district patrons must continue to be actively developed in order to engage the entire community as the district strives for educational excellence. In addition to the above, the Board has adopted the following Areas of Emphasis for the 2014-2015 school year:

♦ All students will continue to improve their performance on all measures of academic achievement.

♦ Curriculum and instructional practices are research based and support students becoming proficient learners.

♦ Proactive strategies will be implemented to promote continued improvement in student responsibility, citizenship, and overall character with an emphasis on building relationships and an understanding of socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic differences.

♦ Safety for students, staff, and community will continue to be evaluated and improved.

♦ Parents, staff, and students will continue to develop, modify, and implement school improvement plans based on data and research.

♦ The District Technology Plan will continue to be implemented as appropriate.

♦ The District Facilities Plan will be updated as appropriate and implemented utilizing bond issue and district operating funds.

♦ The District Career Education programs will become a more integral component of the total educational program.

♦ The District will develop and implement a plan to increase the percentage of students involved in extra-curricular programs.

♦ District maintenance and grounds will continue to portray an excellent image of the district.

♦ The District will use resources efficiently to address decreased revenues from state and federal sources.

Board of Education Approved: June 24, 2014

Michael A. Fulton, Ed. D.Superintendent of Schools

Tami K. HohensteinPresident

Cindy R. CandlerSecretary

Robert W. DillonDirector

Ruth A. PetrovVice-President

Ralph K. StahlhutTreasurer

Andrea D. GlennDirector

Jeanne M. SchottmuellerDirector