October 16, 2023
Dear Indian Hills Middle School Community:
I hope that many of you had a chance to witness the annular eclipse over the weekend. It was inspiring to witness, especially with a pair of eclipse sunglasses. As I was watching the moon slowly cover the sun and turn it into a yellow crescent, I noticed the shadows from a tree nearby my house projecting hundreds of tiny little crescents through the leaves (see photo below). It was a sight nearly as magical as the eclipse itself.
This sight was a reminder that even though the grandest of events often capture all of our attention, it’s sometimes the smallest things that are the most amazing. In a school setting that includes students and staff expressing kindness to one another, turning in assignments on time, saying hello to a new friend, and teachers taking time to learn more about a student’s interests (and much more). The simplest things are sometimes the very best and they happen every day in our school in the smallest of ways!
✔ Fall Break is this week on October 19th & 20th: Some of you have called to inquire whether the day before fall break, October 18th, will be a regular school day. The answer is “yes’ that day will be a regular school day starting at 8:05 a.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m.
✔ Teacher Work Day/No Student Day: October 23rd We remind you that on the Monday following Fall Break, there will be a Teacher Work Day (approved by the CSD School Board last spring). No students should come to school on this day.
✔ 1st Quarter Ends on October 27th: A reminder that the end of 1st quarter is coming soon and that students should complete their assigned work in preparation for the end of term.
✔ White Ribbon Week: Canyons School District recognizes the importance and wants to celebrate Digital Citizenship for students of all ages as they navigate this increasingly digital world! To highlight this essential skill set, Digital Citizenship Week will take place this week. This year students will be engaging in activities and discussions that empower students to seek balance in their technology use and be aware of their online actions. Connect with us throughout the week! To continue the conversations at home, check out the resources from Common Sense Media as well as the outline below:
On Monday we will emphasize that good Digital Citizens are INFORMED and BALANCED. • Questions for discussion at home could include:
o What internet blockers do we have at home?
o Do we need to adjust our screen time restrictions? o How do you know if a source is credible?
On Tuesday we will emphasize that good Digital Citizens are INCLUSIVE. • Questions for discussion at home could include:
o How can we be respectful when we hear someone’s opinion that is different from our own?
o How do we decide what to post and what not to post?
o When we are emailing a teacher, what is the proper way to request help?
On Wednesday we will emphasize that good Digital Citizens are ENGAGED AND ALERT. • Questions for discussion at home could include:
o How can we use the internet to do good in the world?
o What should we share online? What should we not share online? o How are we monitoring the social media we have?
As students learn and grow throughout middle school, we know that many parents are concerned about the technology they are using and how it affects them. We hope these questions can help your family make decisions about how you use technology at home. Thank you for supporting us in our discussions of these important topics!
✔ Warrior Support: Our after-school academic support program continues to run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the school year. Any student who wishes to get extra help in math—or any subject—can go to the library from 3:00-4:00 p.m. for help from teachers. Our Warrior Support expectations are outlined below to ensure that this time is respectfully utilized.
✔ Internet Safety: Canyons School District has updated information regarding internet safety and student devices in schools. The flyer below includes specific information, including FAQ’s. The district has also provided valuable up-to-date information about Technology for Families on their website: https://www.canyonsdistrict.org/familyconnections/ .
✔ Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Intent to Continue: A Parent Square alert was sent a few weeks ago about the intent-to-continue process that all dual immersion learners in the 5thand 8th grades need to complete in order to continue with the program in middle and high school. The window to complete this application is September 25 – November 3, 2023.
✔ Thrive Time: Our district has worked with parents, staff members, and other stakeholders to develop a series of lessons that are designed to help your student develop important social skills that will benefit them, both in and out of the classroom. Click below to access to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade lessons on Resilience, the unit that we are focusing on at this time: https://www.canyonsdistrict.org/thrivetime/
- October 16th-18th
o Digital Citizenship Week/ White Ribbon Week - October 19th & 20th
o Fall Break: No School - October 23rd:
o Teacher Work Day/ No Student Day - o PTSA Reflections Due
- October 25th
o Make-up Picture Day
- October 27th:
o End of 1st Quarter - October 31st
o Costume Contest sponsored by our PTSA - October 30th-November 3rd
o Red Ribbon Week (see flyers below!)We are better together at Indian Hills Middle School! Indian Hills Middle School Administration:Shelly Karren Karlie Aardema Joeseph Olson
Warrior Support What it looks like for Students:
- ● Students MUST arrive between3:00-3:15 in order to participate in
Warrior Support.
- ● Students sit at the front of thelibrary at the tables.
- ● Students scan a QR code that takesthem to a Google Form they fill out.
- ● Students ask the teachers questionsand work on homework quietly.
- ● If teachers are not immediatelyavailable, 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 libraryimmediately after 7th period.
- ● Teachers help students with the QRcode to sign into the Google Form.
- ● Teachers circulate among students,offering help.
- ● Teachers invite students who arenot following expectations to leave
and try again another day.
- ● Teachers ensure that every studentswho 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.
