HUSKY HEADLINES November 7, 2019

Follow us on Twitter: @HTMSCobb #htmspride

Weeks at a Glance

November 7 6th Grade Student Council Dance CONCERT: 7th Orchestra School Picture Make Up Hearing & Vision Make Up – 7th Only

November 8 Color Battle 6th Grade Reward Pajama Day – school appropriate

November 11 - 13 6th Grade Parent Lunch with Student – see below

November 11 - 15 Beta Club Sponsored MUST Ministries Food Drive – see below

November 13 InterClub Council Meeting

November 14 CONCERT: 7th Band Chick-fil-A Biscuits

November 15 PNC Bank – Make a deposit!

November 18 - 22 Student Council Sponsored Kindness Week – see below Book Fair

November 21 School Council Meeting

November 22 Spirit Day: Pajama Day – Wear a Pair & Bring A Pair (to Donate)

November 25 - 29 NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK

From the Principal

Hello Hightower Trail Parents,

I LOVE the colder weather – coming from the “hills of Tennessee” and orange being a fall color and all. But this also brings up an idea of having growing children in your home. One of the ways that we are able to honor students is with the small checks we get from The Clothes Bin (recycling bins) at the end of the parking lot. If you are in the midst of shaking your head and realizing that …again!!...your child has outgrown everything – please consider placing the clothing that is now too small in The Clothes Bin. They are one of our Partners In Education. Thank you!

We are running a monthly HR attendance contest. Mr. Corbett’s HR won for the month of October with a 99% attendance rate - amazing!! Using money from the recycling bin, we will be furnishing breakfast for all students in Mr. Corbett’s HR Friday morning, November 8.

Thank you PTSA!! We are using the disinfector (smogger) they purchased for our custodial staff and the school – yes, we are at THAT time of year.

Very soon – due to the Husky Foundation’s hard work this year – we will be receiving (purchased by the Foundation) enough laptops and carts to assign a cart with 30 laptops to each grade level – this is a huge step forward! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED WITH THE FOUNDATION TO GET US TO THIS POINT! Any donation is significant and the benefit to our students is immeasurable. Remember that the HR Double Down Donation Competition ends next Tuesday, November 12.

As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday, I can’t help but think of the traditions in my family. I can’t wait to see my brothers and sister and be the receiver of their jokes – yes, I am the dork in the family! Traditions and understanding the far-reaching effect we have on our families is an important opportunity for children.

As always, thank you for your support.

Laura Montgomery

School News

MUST MINISTRIES FOOD DRIVE Beta Club will be sponsoring a FOOD DRIVE for MUST MINISTRIES from Monday, November 11th – Friday, November 15th. More details in Club News below!

SEND A PHOTO FOR OUR VETERAN’S PICTURE WALL If you would like to honor a special veteran who is in your family (or a friend), please make a copy of a picture and bring it to the front office beginning Friday, November 1. We will display them Friday, November 8 – Friday, November 15. The copies will not be returned. Please write the name of the veteran, branch of the military, rank, etc on the picture. Also include the student’s name. We hope to see many pictures for our Wall of Honor!

For example: The picture above might include the following in the corner: Calvin C Henson Navy during WWII Father of Principal Montgomery

6th GRADE NEON DANCE When: Thursday NOVEMBER 7th

Time: 4:30-6:30

Cost: $7.00

(includes slice of pizza, a soda, and admission to dance)

Tickets will be on sale Thu. 10/31 – Wed. 11/6 in the atrium!

Students will be able to purchase tickets starting on Thursday, October 31. They must have $7.00 and the permission form signed in order to purchase a ticket.

Questions that are always asked: 1. When and where will the dance tickets be sold? Thursday October 31st-

Wednesday November 6th from 8:45 - 9:05 in the atrium. (DO NOT PUT MONEY IN SAFE)

2. Can we go home and then come back to the dance? NO 3. Can we get dressed up before going to the dance? NO 4. What is included in the ticket price of a $7.00 ticket? (2 slices of pizza, soda, and

admission to dance) 5. How much is candy? $1.00 for big size candy bars 6. Do 7th or 8th graders go? NO, only a 6th grade dance 7. Can we buy tickets at the door? NO

6TH GRADE PARENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW Dear 6th Grade Parents,

Hightower Trail Middle School wishes to extend you an invitation to come and eat lunch with your child during November. Students eat on a specific time schedule, and due to space, we cannot invite all of you to come on the same day.

The 8th grade commons is reserved for you to meet your child and enjoy lunch together. You will need to sign in and obtain/wear one of our yellow visitor stickers in the front office and then meet your child at the designated time in the 8th grade commons. Tables will be set up for you to enjoy lunch. If your child wants to invite a friend from their lunch class to join the two of you that can certainly happen.

Please refer to the lunchtime schedule below and we hope that you can join your child for lunch.

November 11 November 12 November 13 Rudick – 11:15 O’Ryan – 11:15 Mann – 11:18 Fulton – 11:18 Howe – 11:21 Chadwick/Hahn – 11:21 Bonsecour – 11:24 Scott-Tompkins – 11:24 Foster/Henderson/Rospond – 11:27 Findling – 11:39 Jackson/Cilluffo – 11:40 Schorn – 11:42 Whittle – 11:43 Kauffman – 12:00

We look forward to hosting you on one of these days. Please ask your child in whose class they eat and make plans to enjoy lunch with us.

Sincerely,

Laura Montgomery

THE BOOK FAIR IS COMING! Our first semester Scholastic Book Fair is Friday, November 15 – Friday, November 22 in the Learning Commons! Book Fair hours are 8:30AM – 4:30PM Monday – Thursday, and closing early on Friday, November 22. We will need parent volunteers to work shifts throughout the day to man the cash register and restock the shelves.

Please check out our Book Fair Homepage for fair dates and times and volunteer opportunities. Click on the Sign Up link in the volunteer section of the homepage to view the volunteer times and to sign up!

The Book Fair Homepage also has links for online shopping and instructions on setting up a student eWallet.

LOST AND FOUND – ARE YOU MISSING ANY ITEMS? The Lost and Found bins are overflowing! Please ask your student to check the Lost and Founds bins located near the bus port entrance. We make every effort to return items when we know whose they are; so please put your name in your clothes, shoes, lunchboxes, etc.

CHICK-FIL-A BISCUIT SALES! Stop by the Atrium from 8:45 – 9:05 (or until we run out)! Thursday, November 14 Chick-Fil-A biscuits are $3.00 and cannot be purchased using money in your lunch account. Please bring exact change when possible.

YEARBOOK

Order a yearbook for $45 at www.yearbookordercenter.com with school code 13932 or https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=13932 The yearbook will be $45 until April 3, 2020. No orders will be taken after April 3, 2020. If there are any available, yearbooks will be $50 on distribution day.

Grade Level/Connections News

8TH GRADERS INTERESTED IN PEBBLEBROOK

8TH GRADERS MAKE GA RED CLAY MEDALLIONS 8th grade students are bringing home their Georgia red clay medallions that they created early this year. These medallions represent the red clay of the Piedmont Region which is where we live. Students embellished them with other Georgia symbols to provide a 3-D representation of our content.

Our wonderful Art Department helped throughout the process by firing them in the kiln. Then, they were glazed and fired a second time. It was great fun and the students enjoyed expressing themselves artistically.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISER WRAP-UP Thank you for your support with the Music Fundraiser! We had a great Pick-Up day on Tuesday. Enjoy your items over the holidays!

8TH GRADE TRIBUTE AD FOR YEARBOOK

8th Grade Parents - don't forget to order and design a tribute ad to honor your student.

This year, we’ve added a ½ page ad! Ads must be completed by December 31 to be

printed in the yearbook. NO EXCEPTIONS.

https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=13932

Counseling Department News

Autumn Westerman, 8th grade counselor, is facilitating a winter stress management group for 7th and 8th grade students. Over the course of the 7-weeks we will be working on positive coping skills to manage stress.

Week 1: Students will define stress and how it affects their body. Week 2: Students will differentiate between things in their life that are part of the responsibility vs. in their control, identify things that deplete their energy vs. things that restore their energy, and students will learn how to balance responsibilities and identify opportunities for self-care. Week3: Students will identify physical outcomes on stress on the body, reflect on how stress affects their everyday life and learning, and work to normalize stress. Week 4: Students will identify things they are grateful for and describe ways they show gratitude. Week 5: Students will identify coping skills that are most helpful for them and learn when and how to use the coping skills in their everyday life. Week 6: Students will learn mobile applications to incorporate mindfulness strategies into their stress management toolbox and students will practice deep breathing techniques. Week 7: Students will be able to identify coping skills that are most helpful for them and express how stress uniquely affects them and how they uniquely cope with stress. During our last session the students will also self-reflect on their growth.

TUTORING OPPORTUNITY (Not an HTMS sponsored program) The Cobb County Public Library has partnered with TutorATL, which provides online tutoring assistance from 4-11pm. With our PASS partnership with the public library, that means that all Cobb County students can use this feature by logging in with their PASS account credentials. Please see the attached graphic and flyer for more information

• Find TutorATL at http://www.cobbcat.org/students/or https://tutoratl.org/ • Students can use PASS credentials: student number and birthday (2-digit month,

2-digit day)

More about TutorATL: • One-on-one, on-demand homework help for K-12 students • Additional review and test-prep materials available 24-7 • Online tutors available daily, including bilingual Spanish tutors • Math help, essay writing assistance, SAT prep, and much more!

From the PTSA

PTSA ROLLS OUT PAPERLESS DIRECTORY As the PTSA strives to go paperless, we have created an online Membership Directory. To access this membership perk, simply log into your account on the PTSA website and click Directory. Only current PTSA members can access the directory.

We are excited to save on the expense of printing a Directory, putting that money back into the classrooms. We are offering a school excuse pad to families that purchased a Directory. Your student may go to the Husky Hut to request it.

To access the Directory, go to https://hightowertrailptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/, sign in, then click on Directory. For questions, please contact Patty Murphy or Holly McKinley at president@htmsptsa.org.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR REFLECTIONS WINNERS! Visual Arts 1st Place - Sandhya R 2nd Place - Angelina L 3rd Place - Savannah H

Photography 1st and 2nd Place - Sandhya R

Film Production 1st Place - Tyler D

Music Competition 1st Place - Elsa S 2nd Place - Senria N

Literature 1st Place - Sophie F 2nd Place - Kara M 3rd Place Kaeley S

HONORING OUR HEROES We want students to recognize someone who has made an impact on his/her life such as a family member, doctor, public safety officer, soldier or teacher. A famous individual such as a professional athlete or movie star CAN be a personal hero if they have made an impact on the student's life through their dedication, perseverance or other characteristics and NOT because of their fame.

The person each student writes about should display one or more of the following characteristics: generosity, persistence, dedication, leadership, creativity, caring, bravery, imagination, service, gentleness, courage or compassion.

All entries are due in the Learning Commons no later than Friday, January 17, 2020. Please attach an entry form (below) to your submission. http://ecccpta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HOH-student-entry-form.pdf

BIRTHDAY MESSAGES Want to wish your child a Happy Birthday? Fill out this form by the 25th of the month BEFORE you want the message. It'll be on the sign in front of the school for ONE day between 6am and midnight.

https://hightowertrailptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/19046

Questions? email Dallas Richey at schoolsign@htmsptsa.org HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE

From the Husky Foundation LAPTOPS UPDATE The second phase of the homeroom participation contest is just beginning. The homeroom in each grade level with the largest percentage of donations by Tuesday, November 12 will receive:

• Each child will receive a one-hour pass to Xdrenaline

• Each homeroom will receive an extended homeroom period

• Each winning homeroom teacher will receive a gift pass.

All donations received to date will continue to be counted. Any donation, no matter what the size, will count for the classroom percentage. Please, if you haven’t donated yet, can you help?

Donate here! https://huskyfoundation.org/donation/

From the Café DOES YOUR STUDENT KNOW WHAT A LUNCH IS? Many students are confused as to what they can or cannot take as they come through the lunch line.

At the very least, a student can take 3 different items, one of which must be a fruit or vegetable. Almost all our entrees consist of two items, usually a grain and protein. For example, if your student gets a slice of pizza and a sliced apple, that would be a complete lunch, containing a grain, protein and a fruit.

At the most, they may have an entrée, 3 side items and milk. In this scenario, they could get pizza, side salad, sliced apple, a juice cup and milk.

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to call the Café at 770-578-7226.

Do You Know?

BEHAVIORAL RATING SCALE FORMS FOR TEACHER INPUT All requests for teachers to complete rating scales or behavior scales for a student must go through the counseling department. Before a teacher can complete these scales, a release form must be completed with the name and address of the physician. Rating forms must be mailed directly to the physician. For additional questions please contact your grade level counselor.

Club News Additional club information may be available on the rolling announcements and on the HTMS website.

MUST MINISTRIES FOOD DRIVE Beta Club will be sponsoring a FOOD DRIVE for MUST MINISTRIES from Monday, November 11th – Friday, November 15th.

DID YOU KNOW? The Atlanta-metro area has one of the fastest growing poverty rates in the United States, leaving children and families in our communities going hungry. MUST Ministries food pantries give away an astounding amount of food daily. As we approach the Thanksgiving season the HTMS Beta Club would like to be a part of their season of giving. In 2018 MUST distributed 524,194 lbs. of groceries to 15,703 clients, including 3,196 students and their families coming to MUST school food pantries.

PLEASE HELP HTMS BE A BENEFIT TO THOSE IN NEED BY SENDING IN CANNED GOODS THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 11TH –15TH! Thank you so much!

Partners In Education

Good To Know

PARENTVUE Mrs. Harper is the contact person for all things StudentVUE and ParentVUE. Please contact her through email at Sandra.Harper@cobbk12.org.

DIRECT LINE TO THE CLINIC – ACTION REQUESTED! The clinic has a direct line! Please enter 770.578.7235 in your phone contacts so that you will know when your student or the nurse is trying to reach you.

CLASSROOM SNACK PACKS! You can now order special event snacks for your student’s class through the Café! Fresh Baked Cookies? Cream Filled Chocolate or Iced Vanilla Cupcakes? White Cheddar Popcorn? Rice Krispy Treats? Ice Cream Sandwiches or Cookie Cones? Click HERE for the order form. Please contact the HTMS Café at 770.578.7226 or contact Jennifer Turpin at Jennifer.turpin@cobbk12.org if you have any questions.

Husky Headlines & Rolling Announcements Husky Headlines is our school-to-parent e-newsletter! You should receive a weekly email/text (usually on Thursdays) with important school information. You can also view Husky Headlines on the HTMS website. This is a great source of information for “all things Hightower Trail”!

The Rolling Announcements are visible daily via closed circuit TV through-out the school. Your students are encouraged to note upcoming club activities, school events, lunch menus, etc. every day in homeroom and during lunch period. As a parent, these announcements are also available to you on the HTMS website.

Community News

Event: Dead Band Running 5K race/walk Date: Nov. 9 Place: Pope High School - 3001 Hembree Road, Marietta, GA 30062 Time: 5:00 p.m. Registration Fee: $25 students/$30 non students Register at: http://www.popeband.com/5k or www.active.com Join the Pope HS band for a great community Day of the Dead-themed glow 5k race/walk! We will have an awesome drumline start, live on-course music, and loads of family fun, including a Day of the Dead-themed costume contest, free glow items and food, raffle prizes and more! We are raising money for a new band truck and would love your help!

Follow us on Twitter: @HTMSCobb #htmspride