April 15, 2024
Dear Indian Hills Middle School Community:
Today is Patriot’s Day, a uniquely New-England holiday celebrating the roots of the
Revolutionary War and the famous “shot heard round the world” in Concord, MA on
April 19, 1775. It’s traditionally celebrated on the third Monday in April each year.
Having lived in Boston for six years, I always think fondly on Patriot’s Day. It’s a time
when colonial re-enactments abound, a celebration of spring ensues, and the most
famous event of all: the Boston Marathon begins.
For four years I was a volunteer on the Boston Marathon race course at Mile 19. My
last year in Boston, 2013, was the year of the bombing, which left many of us
bewildered and angered. Fortunately, I was far enough away from the finish line that I
wasn’t directly impacted, but I did see a stream of emergency vehicles race towards
downtown as they abruptly pulled racers off the course. It was a sobering reminder
that freedom and security should never be taken for granted.
This week I am extra grateful for the many people in our school community who make
a difference to me: our students, our teachers and staff members, our parent
volunteers, our PTSA, our School Community Council. Thank you for all you do and
all you are!
✔ Intramural Soccer has begun! If your student is interested in participating,
practices continue this week on Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:00-4:00
p.m. until the tournament on May 9th. Students will meet in the gym and then play on
the back field. All students of any ability level are welcome. Contact Scott Murdoch,
our P.E. teacher for any additional questions.
✔ RISE Testing begins April 25th: A reminder that testing season is on the horizon
for our students. This is a time when students can showcase their learning in ELA,
reading, language, science, and math. These tests help us to determine how well our
students have mastered this content, and it also helps us to know where to improve
our instruction in the classroom. This information also provides a useful measure in
terms of how our students are performing relative to other students in our district and
throughout the state. The testing schedule is included below. Students will take
tests during their core classes. Please contact the Main Office at 801-826-7100 for
any questions about RISE testing. Thank you!
✔ Canyons 5K Event! It’s time for Jedis, Mandalorians, and droids to come together
for a day of fun in the sun — and a good cause. This year, the Canyons Education
Foundation’s annual Fun Run will be held on the biggest Star Wars day of them all,
Saturday, May 4. That’s right, “May the 4th be with you” and all those who choose to
participate in the 5k run benefitting CSD’s Unified Sports program. There is also a
one-mile option. To register for this year’s Fun Run, click here. Read more at
canyonsdistrict.org.
✔ Book Blitz: This past week our students completed in the district Book Blitz
competition, finishing in the middle of the pack. Students from the Rabbit-Turtle
Readers team (June Chandler, Phoebe Fullmer, Malia Woodward, Andrew Sweat) and
The Winning Reading Team (Audrey Bluth, Lizzie Frutos, Rachel Jones, Katelyn
Larsen, and Cash Nickelsen) had a great time at the competition!
✔ Digital Literacy for April: When everything claims to be educational, it can be
difficult to determine which media content is appropriate for your kids. We know that
reviewing everything on your own can be a very time-consuming and frustrating
process. Common Sense Media publishes reviews on movies, TV shows, books, games,
and apps to help families make educated decisions on content curation. They even
have a Star Wars Age-by-Age guide.to help you introduce your favorite characters in
an age-appropriate manner. Families can access 3 free reviews monthly without
creating an account. Consider including your children in the decision-making process
and let them pitch why they feel the movie, show, game, or app is a good use of their
time.
Upcoming Events:
• April 25th
o District Debate Tournament
• April 25th-26th
o Writing RISE Testing for 8th grade students
• April 29th-May 2nd
o ELA RISE Testing
• May 7th-9th
o Science RISE Testing
• May 13th-16th
o Math RISE Testing
• May 20th-23rd
o Make up RISE testing
• May 24th:
o Memory Book Day (more details forthcoming)
• May 28th
o Lagoon Day!
• More end-of-year dates, including activities, concerts, assemblies, and
Lagoon Day will be published in next week’s newsletter!
We are better together at Indian Hills Middle School!
Indian Hills Middle School Administration
Warrior Support
What it looks like for Students:
- ● Students MUST arrive between3:00-3:15 in order to participate inWarrior Support.
- ● Students sit at the front of the library at the tables.
- ● Students scan a QR code that takes them to a Google Form they fill out.
- ● Students ask the teachers questions and work on homework quietly.
- ● If teachers are not immediately available, students work on what they can while waiting patiently for help.
- ● Only students who need help stay for Warrior Support. Students who do not need the support will head home after 3:30.
- ● Students who are not following expectations for library behavior will be invited to return another day for help.
- ● Students should submit the Google Form at the END of the time they spend in the library to report what they accomplished with the time.
- ● Students must exit the library through the doors to the outside, not back into the building.
What it looks like for Teachers:
- ● Teachers come to the library immediately after 7th period.
- ● Teachers help students with the QR code to sign into the Google Form.
- ● Teachers circulate among students, offering help.
- ● Teachers invite students who are not following expectations to leave and try again another day.
- ● Teachers ensure that every students who is in the library after 3:30 is here for Warrior Support.
- ● Library doors will be locked at 3:30when Miss McGowan leaves. After this, teachers ensure that students in the library are here for Warrior Support only.
- ● Teachers have students submit the form to report what they accomplished during the Warrior Support time. Then students exit through the outside door (not into the hallways), tidy up the library, and turn off the lights before leaving.
Warrior Support Time is …
Homework time ⚫ Help Time ⚫ Study Time ⚫ Quiet time
Warrior Support Time is not …
Friend Time ⚫ Goof Off Time ⚫ Hang Out Time
Warrior Support
Tuesdays – Thursdays ⚫ 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Purpose: To give students extra support from a teacher to help with homework or concepts not understood during class time.
