The purpose of this email is to share information regarding Harding Middle School. It is a monthly newsletter featuring HMS news and current events.

                                                                                                           In This Issue:

 A Message From Mr. Mills

What's Happening In January

A Look Into February

HMS Winter Sports Schedules

Message from our Principal:

Dear Parents & Families,

We here at Harding Middle School hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday season. As we begin a new semester, I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year! May this year bring you and your family great joy, peace, good health, and prosperity. As we celebrate this new year, it is always a great time for looking back to reflect on the past, but more importantly, look forward to committing to the changes we all desire to be more successful. Continue to set high expectations for yourself both in and out of the classroom and together we will get things done with BIG RED Pride the Stallion WAY!

There is no school on Monday, January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. I would like to draw your attention to one of Dr. King’s most famous quotes: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." It’s easy to point to those that disagree with us and say they are wrong. It is much more difficult to dialogue with them and comes to some sort of understanding of one another. Dr. King invites us to look to the light and to look to love when dealing with those with whom we disagree. What a great reminder on this National Holiday in his honor!

Finally, on behalf of HMS’s faculty and staff, thank you for your continued support of our students and the accomplishments they all work so hard to achieve. Working with your child is truly a privilege, and we take it very seriously. We also value the relationship between home and school and recognize their success is the result of this collaboration. With that said, we are hopeful that you may have an opportunity to attend our open house scheduled for Tuesday, January 10th from 3 - 6pm.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact a teacher or me directly. We are here to work together to provide the best possible education for your student! My e-mail address is bmills@rollred.org or you can reach me by phone at Harding Middle School, (740) 282-3481.

Sincerely,

Principal Bryan Mills

8^th grade students will be filling out their College Credit Plus applications on January 4^th and January 5^th at Harding Middle School with the assistance of Jackie Reeves and staff from EGCC. You must be an Ohio resident for 1 year to apply. 



DO NOT FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ON YOUR OWN.

Students need to have the following information with them:

• SS #
• Personal email address
• Address

If you have questions or concerns please reach out to Jackie Reeves at Steubenville High School. As a reminder, parents are not permitted to contact the CCP office at Eastern Gateway Community College, all communication must come directly from your student.

Current HMS students have been invited to sign a beam of the new HS Stem building. This unique experience will allow our students to become a part of SCS history.

Dates:

5th & 6th grade-Tuesday, Jan. 10th

7th & 8th grade-Wednesday. Jan. 11th

Please call HMS before the set date if you do not want your student to travel to the High School.

The Mobile Dentist is coming to HMS!

FORMS ARE DUE JANUARY 20TH

The Dentist is coming to Harding

on Feb. 14 & 15

Get in-school dental care at NO COST* to you

(* For patients covered by Medicaid, Healthy Start, or Healthy Families)

The mobile dentist takes all insurance and can do fillings, cleaning, and fluoride treatments. To have your child included, please return the paperwork that will be sent home or sign up online below.

For more detailed information, visit the HMS Drama Club website:

HMS Drama Club Website

Steubenville City Schools SBHC will be offering flu shots again this year. You can schedule your student an appointment with Change, Inc by calling 740-284-5712 Option 3.

Remember that washing your hands with soap for at least 30 seconds can save you from getting sick. If your child gets sick with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, they should not return to school until they've gone free from that symptom for 24 hours without medicine. Providing a Dr. note will help cover missed hours from school. Please make sure the office has an up-to-date working phone number in case we need you to pick up an ill student.

Thank you to the parents that are turning in the referrals sent home concerning vision and hearing screening. If the nurse sent home a paper, please follow up after this free in-school screening so that all of our students can continue to excel in the classroom.

Thank you

Amy Neely, RN, BSN, CSN

Mrs. Tracy and the 7th & 8th grade orchestra did a wonderful job at their concert.

Hat Day

Red/Green Day

Matching Day

PJ Day

Holiday Gear Day

HMS had a special guest. The Grinch!

During an Overcoming Obstacles activity, students and teachers discussed the importance of healthy relationships and showing gratitude towards the special people in our life. Students worked together to build a gratitude chain, each taking a turn to write something or someone they are grateful for.

HMS students helped wrap gifts and set up for Santa's Workshop at East Elementary.

Students of the Month for our December Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS). These students have demonstrated Pride The Stallion Way through their words, actions and interactions. Great Job!

Cole Carey (left) was the Top Speller at our school Spelling Bee. Nolan Greiner (top right) placed second and Tad Loot (bottom right) placed third.

Congratulations to Mr. Colabella. He is our State Farm teacher of the month.

HMS Band marching at the Christmas Parade.

Band performances. Students enjoyed Christmas songs from all 4 grades.

Please see the photo for our am drop-off and pick-up patterns. This must be strictly followed in order to avoid congestion and dangerous situations for our students.

In the am...

• All Students must enter through the cafeteria doors.
• Cars will be signaled to pull all the way down to the personnel on duty.
• Do not stop and drop off students in the middle of traffic flow.

In the pm...

HMS will dismiss in the following manner...

1. 2:30 Bus students will exit the building
2. 2:35 Walkers will exit
3. 2:39 Car riders will exit

• The cars must pull into parking spots while waiting on their student after school.
• Please observe directives from staff on duty.

Your compliance is necessary for the safety of our students. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.