January 15, 2023
Dear Indian Hills Middle School Community:
I recently observed a group of children in the community who were learning a new concept. One young learner raised her hand during the lesson and said, worriedly, that she had forgotten a step in the process. The teacher responded positively, telling the child that it was okay to forget sometimes and that they would all practice together until they learned it. Reassured, the child happily settled back into the learning and was successful.
While we may have different expectations for young adolescents with regard to learning and behavior, it is helpful to remember that they still have a lot to learn too. Framing missteps with an eye to growth can help to build confidence in our students. Even when behaviors push boundaries, as they often will, we can find ways to reteach, to encourage, and to reaffirm our belief in what our students can do. Such reassurance with our adolescents might be met with a rebuff at times, but inside it is often empowering.
As the new term begins, it gives everyone a fresh start, and we are excited to get going!
Congrats Debaters! Our debate team did really well at our aptly named Snow Brawl tournament last Thursday at Jordan High School. The following students took home awards that qualified them for the state tournament.
- Varsity Extemporaneous debate: Tied for 1st Ellie Houtz & Miller McDonough, 5th Logan Butler
- Varsity Policy Debate: 5th Racer Buchmiller & Jonathan Olsen
- Varsity Policy Speaker awards: 1st Ashlyn Fry, 2nd Racer Buchmiller, 5th Jonathan Olsen
Dear Indian Hills Parents: Our Indian Hills PTSA Board is preparing for next year, and there are several opportunities to help out on the 2024-25 PTSA board. Please take a look at the attached signup, and see what could fit into your schedule and utilize your talents. We would love to have you join us! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FADA82DA2FC1-47067489-indian#/
Semester 2 Updates from Counselors: Remember that there will be no schedule changes at the semester if a student is enrolled in one or more of their top five elective choices. Lunch times may also change if a 4th period class is a semester elective class. Schedule changes are granted for level changes, support classes, 504 plans, and IEPs. A ParentSquare alert was sent last week with lunch updates.
Course Requests & Scheduling for the 2024-25 school year: At the end of this month and the beginning of February, students will begin filling out scheduling cards for the upcoming school year. For 8th grade parents, please note that Alta Counselors will visit Indian Hills to pick up 8th graders’ Scheduling Cards on Wednesday, January 31st. More information will be forthcoming about cards for our 6th & 7th grade students.
Incoming 6th Grade Orientation is on Tuesday, January 30th: On this date, we will host an orientation for next year’s 6th grade students and their parents from 6:00-7:30 p.m. A general session will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Kiva followed by an open house in the Commons.
Chromebook Policy Updates: We have noticed that more of our students are coming to school without charging their Chromebooks. For this semester, we have updated our Chromebook policy to encourage students to use the four available Chromebooks in their classrooms. Chromebook checkouts will no longer be available through the library. We encourage all students to give some extra focus to charging their Chromebooks as we anticipate this change.
Digital Citizenship Focus for January: Did you know? A whopping 59% of preteens and teens surveyed by Common Sense reported using their phones between midnight and 5 a.m. on school nights. Common Sense Media has practical tips to help kids establish a healthy balance between phones and sleep. https://cnyns.org/48k6C2P
- January 15th:
- No school-Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed
- January 16th
- 3rd Quarter Begins
- January 19th
- Citizen of the Month at 7:30 a.m. in the Warrior Room
- January 23rd
- 8th grade field trip for CTE tours of Alta High (during ELA classes)
- January 24th:
- 9th grade orientation at Alta High School at 6:00 p.m. for current 8th graders
- January 27th:
- PTSA Student Leadership Conference
- January 29th:
- School day visit for 5th grade students from elementary schools
- January 30th:
- 6th grade orientation at Indian Hills at 6:00 p.m. for current 5th graders
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 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 leaveand try again another day.
- ● Teachers ensure that every studentswho is in the library after 3:30 ishere 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.
