HIll Country Middle School
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL KATHLEEN SULLIVAN
April 6, 2018
Mr. Grimmett, 504 Coordinator at Hill Country Middle School, is scheduling 504 annual reviews. If interested in revising your student's 504 plan that is in effect this year, please email Julie Lindley at jlindley@eanesisd.net to schedule a review meeting. If you are pleased with your child's current 504 plan, there is no need to schedule a meeting. Possible meeting dates are April 16-May 16, and available times are 8:30, 9:15, 10:00, 11:30, 1:30, 2:15, and 3:00. Meetings will last approximately 30 minutes. If your child is dyslexic and has a 504 plan, May 2 and 3 are designated dates for those 504 reviews. Once you request a time slot via email, Ms. Lindley will reply to confirm or suggest a different day and/or time.
UIL
Congratulations to all of our Academic UIL teams and their hard work preparing for the competition on March 21st and 24th. We hosted 7 schools and almost 1,000 students. For all of the hard work these students did, we celebrated at Main Event on March 28th. Students will receive medals and ribbons on April 12th during advisory.
To see a list of our winners, click here:
The BOOK FAIR is coming and we're looking for Volunteers!
We're looking for help with:
planning & decorating
setting up
working the fair registers
Clean-up
Sign up HERE!
TYPEWRITER RODEO
Yee haw! Do you like to plan events?
Well, then sign up HERE to help plan and organize our Typewriter Rodeo!
On May 3, Cedar Creek 1st and 2nd graders will be headed over to HCMS and our 6th graders will be creating impromptu poems for the students! It's our Typewriter Rodeo!
8th Grade Pedernales Expedition
Parents and Guardians of 8th Grade Students,
Information about our 2018 Pedernales Expedition was sent home with your student on Friday, March 23rd through their Social Studies teacher. The annual trip will take place on Monday, April 23rd and Tuesday, April 24th this year.
Please review the information packet with your student, return the Pedernales permission slip to their Social Studies teacher, and pay the $20 Pedernales fee through Skyward Student Access Fee Management by next Friday, April 6th. All payments are due April 6th.
IPC Screening
If your student meets the math requirements of concurrent enrollment or prior completion of Algebra I, and is interested in taking 8th grade IPC, then please sign your student up for the IPC Screener Assessment through the google form below by April 13th. Based upon the results of this assessment, students and parents will be notified of their science placement in late May via an email through Skyward.
This assessment will be given during school on April 24th from 2:15-4:15pm. Please note that this is an Early Release Day for all students. The exam will be administered in the HCMS cafeteria. Students should report directly to the cafeteria when school is dismissed.
https://goo.gl/forms/qZbZt5Jfw8Co8WuH3
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Lindsey Taylor.
Donate old iPhones and cords to the Library!!
Cougar Scoreboard
To keep up with Cougar Athletes in action visit https://twitter.com/HCMS_Athletics
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Westlake Hyline presents "Zenith 2018: Quoted"
April 19, 20 & 21, WHS Performing Arts Center
Tickets on sale now at www.whszenith.com.
You've seen them on the field at Chapparal Stadium, now come see them on stage! The Westlake Hyline dance team presents their annual spring show, Zenith, on April 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 at the WHS Performing Arts Center. This year's theme, "Quoted," was chosen because of the many ways dance can inspire, uplift and communicate in the way some of the most often-quoted words do, sometimes even more powerfully. The team, supported by the highly-acclaimed production talents of the WHS Technical Entertainment Crew (TEC), will perform a wide range of fresh, fun choreography: lyrical, hip-hop, modern, jazz and tap, in addition to their award-winning competition pieces and the beloved "Bob & Susie" dance featuring team fathers! Hyline is also proud to welcome to the stage the Star Steppers, the Dance Department Classes, the Madrigals, vocal and instrumental soloists, a high-tech light show, Cheer and the can't-miss "Gyline" to showcase the many performance talents that thrive at Westlake High School.
COUGAR CLUB NEWS
COUGAR CLUB NEWS 4/06/18
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Hello Parents!
CARNIVAL is a week away!!! We need at least 60 more volunteers to help pull off this annual, fun event. Find something that'll work for your schedule and join in the fun!
Thanks!
Alice Meadows
Cougar Club President
#rawr
COUGARS VIP NEWS
TIP OF THE WEEK
You know the end of the school year is around the corner when… we celebrate our year end party, Carnival! All students get to attend, and ALL parents get to attend too… so long as you volunteer! And as of today, we still need AT LEAST 60 more parents to volunteer.
Have you registered?
If you have registered, thank you!! Please spread the word with your friends that the only way they will continue to receive these newsletters after May 1st is to register with our new Cougar Club Website. They'll have to do it anyway to make purchases through the school store. Why not do it now, and not miss out on important school news? Hcmscougarclub.com
HCMS Carnival – Friday, April 13 11:00-4:00pm
Get a chance to view the elusive middle schooler in their natural environment! Sign up for a shift at carnival and see them in the wild! 8th Graders will attend during Volunteer Shift 1, and 6th/7th graders will go during Volunteer Shift 2. There are also ways to help before and after school including donating baked goods for the cakewalk! All times are listed! This is a great annual event but we can't do it without you!
Cougar Club Meeting – Wednesday, April 18 8:30am HCMS Library
This month Caitlyn Weeks, MA, LPC, adolescent therapist will be speaking on communicating with your teen. Caitlyn recognizes the unique challenges and expectations that shape our children. As young teens navigate the process of individuating, they often pull away from parents and rely on friends for support and advice. This can leave parents, hurt, and, lets face it, terrified!! 13 year olds don't have nearly the life experience we do!!! Join the Cougar Club and Caitlyn for an opportunity to explore what your student might be going through, what's happening developmentally, and how you can emerge from your child's early teens with a strong, empathic relationship.
As always, you can count on some hot coffee, yummy snacks and all the news from HCMS.
COUGAR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER NEEDS
STAAR Testing Monitors – 4/10, 4/11, 5/7, 5/14, 5/15, 5/16, 5/17
Lots of days and times available for parent volunteers to monitor our school hallways during testing. Bring a book for some enjoyment, or your computer for some work, but bring yourself. We need both moms and dads. Preferably, at least 2 dads per shift. Reserve your shift!
HCMS Carnival – Friday, April 13 11:00am – 4:00pm
The funnest day of the year and it CANNOT happen without parental support. Visit signup.com to register.
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – Tuesday, April 17
Last chance to shower our teachers with gratitude at the last luncheon of the year! We just need small beverage and dessert donations. Please consider signing up to support this event today! Sign up now!
Cougar Club Gen Mtg/Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast – Wednesday, May 2 8:30-10:30am
Lot's on the agenda! As always, we'll hear from our Principal, and we will also hear from a guest speaker who will share tips on communicating with those unique foreigners called teens! At this last meeting of the year, we also invite all volunteers to come join us for a breakfast so we can thank you for your time, energy, ideas, hands and legs (we all know how much legwork goes into parenting)! And finally, we will induct our new Cougar Club 2018-2019 Board Members.
School Store
The School Store is open during all 3 lunch periods so long as we have at least 1 (preferably 2) parent volunteers.
School Store Closings Week of April 9
Monday, April 9 B Shift
Thursday, April 12 C Shift
Friday, April 13 C Shift
COUGAR KUDOS – A Shoutout to the People & Places Who Make this School Exceptional!
This year, Dinah Street served as our Cougar Club Past President. In this role, she supported us, guided us and rolled her sleeves up and helped in numerous ways. We couldn't have gotten through this year without her!
COUGAR CALENDAR OF EVENTS
4/13: CARNIVAL
4/17: Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
4/18: PTO General Meeting
4/24: EISD Early Release/No Homework
4/30: School Holiday
5/2: CC Gen Mtg/Vol Appreciation Breakfast
SCHOOL CALENDAR
HEALTHY STUDENTS
One way to support your teen in growing into a successful adult is to teach responsible decision making. In order for teens to learn the skill of making responsible decisions, the teen must have the opportunity to make a decision and experience the consequences of his/her own decision. Young people may make quick decisions that are “rash, egocentric and short-sighted” without fully exploring the impact of their decision. They may even make a poor choice that has painful consequences. As parents it is difficult to watch our children struggle with consequences; however, it is our role as caring parents to do so.
Teaching decision-making is a “complex process that takes years to master”. Read the article Raising Good Decision Makers by Dr. Jim Taylor to learn more about how to teach your teen the skill of decision-making.
The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey and How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims are two books that address the importance of allowing children to experience the consequences of their actions.
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HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
1300 Walsh Tarlton, Austin, Texas 78746