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Horizon West Middle School |
HWMS Community Member,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break and you enjoyed this time off. Just a few reminders about upcoming events today. There will be no early dismissal on Wednesday, Dec. 7th, due to Hurricane Ian make-up days. We also have our upcoming Winter Break taking place December 19th to January 2nd and be aware that January 3rd is a Student Holiday/Teacher Workday. Students will return from break on Wednesday, January 4th.
Students will be completing some assessments in December. Students will be taking the PMA 2, Star Math, and CFE’s beginning this coming Monday, December 5th. Please see the block schedule for the two weeks prior to winter break below.
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Friday, December 16th is the end of our second marking period. Report Cards will be going home in mid-January. Please take time next month to sit down with your child and go over their grades as we will then already be halfway through the year. Please make a plan to finish the school year strong!
Thank you for all that you do to make our school wonderful!
Michelle Thomas
Proud Principal
Pictured very top: Princess Underwood of Advent Health at this year's Teach-In event addressing the class (please see story below).
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8200 Tattant Drive
Orlando, FL 37486
(407) 554-1570
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Dec. 2: "Reading Reflections" December reading contest underway (details below)
Dec. 5-9: Block schedule (Please make sure your student brings their laptop to school with the battery fully charged each day next week!)
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Dec. 5: Boys Volleyball Playoffs at HOME, 5:30pm (our boys finished the regular season as cluster champions)
Dec. 7: No early release on this Wednesday (this is a School Spirit Wednesday)
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Dec. 8: Coffee with the Counselors, 8:30am
Dec. 9: Last day of Toys for Tots drive
Dec. 9: Chorus Winter Concert - "A Bit of Holiday Cheer" (at Windermere HS)
Dec. 12-16: Block schedule (Please make sure your student brings their laptop to school with the battery fully charged each day this week!)
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Dec. 12-16: SPIRIT WEEK!
Dec. 12: School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting, 4:30pm
Dec. 14: Orchestra/Guitar Concert, 5:30pm in the cafeteria
Dec. 15: Band/Jazz Concert, 5:30pm in the cafeteria
Dec. 16: Last day to purchase a Yearbook at the lower price of $35.00 (please see below about purchasing ads to recognize your child in this year's edition!)
Dec. 16: End of the second nine-week quarter
Dec. 17: "Adopt an Angel" (please see story just below)
Dec. 19-Jan. 2: Winter Break
Jan. 3: No school for students (Teacher workday)
Jan. 4: Classes resume
Jan. 4: Basketball tryouts
Mid-Jan: Report Cards
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Continuing Hornet reminder about Wednesday Spirit Days . . . |
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Month of December Block Schedules |
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Week of December 5-9:
*** No early dismissal on Wednesday, December 7th ***
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Toys for Tots (runs through Dec. 9): |
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Coffee with the Counselors (Dec. 8): |
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Winter Spirit Week (Dec. 12-16): |
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PTSO Spirit Night (Dec. 12): |
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"Trunks of Kindness" and Upcoming "Adopt and Angel" |
National Junior Honor Society volunteered with the “Trunks of Kindness Event” (think outdoor thrift, everything is Free!) that our 6th grade level clerk, Mrs. Ford, puts together every year. The event helps many families in need get through the Thanksgiving Holiday. |
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Mrs. Ford will be hosting a Christmas event Saturday, December 17th called “Adopt an Angel." If you would like to find out more information or donate, please contact Kiquanta Ford at Kiquanta.Ford@ocps.net. Thank you! |
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Congratulations to our Students of the Week! |
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Nominated by Ms. Gutierrez-
“Sophia Boyce is a bright student who is always willing to help and wants to make an impact. She has to drive and compassion to make the school and the world a better place. We are lucky to have her.”
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Nominated by Mrs. Cabrini-
“Having Mila as my student is a pleasure! She is funny and sweet, she participates and she works really hard! She’s always ready to answer, always ready to help and exceeds expectations with the quality of her work! Mila is going places and I can’t wait to applaud her again and again!”
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Nominated by Ms. Gutierrez-
“Lyla is kind, helpful and a leader amongst her peers. She always comes to school with a bright attitude.”
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Nominated by Mr. Fluke-
“Talya is a pleasure to have in my first period English Language Arts class. She shows up energetic and upbeat every day despite this being her first class of the day. She comes prepared to learn and is willing and eager to participate in class instruction and activities. She is not afraid to take risks in answering questions she is not 100% sure of and shows a willingness to assist other students in class that might not be as on top of things as she is.”
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Congratulations to our Hornets of the Week!
Ms. Dunn (Science) and Mr. Skodnik (Math)
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Nomination by Ms. Ocampo: |
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Ms. Dunn (Science teacher in green) with Ms. Ocampo |
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"It is an honor to nominate Ms. Dunn for the Hornet of the Week award. She was the top teacher my students recommended when I asked who the award should go to next! From delivering lessons that stick with students in ways they remember, to cheering students on at their concerts, performances, and sporting events, to supporting any colleague with tech problems and creative ideas, Ms. Dunn gives it her all every day in and out of the classroom. Ms. Dunn is not just an exceptional teacher, but a mentor and coach to many! The lessons and labs she does in the classroom get rave reviews. Many students were excited to have their favorite science teacher from sixth grade once again two years later in eighth grade! She volunteers in the community, and for our school’s Boys and Girls Club. Her soccer team made their opponents eat their words at their last game, showing how far the team has come in just one season! Ms. Dunn’s compassion, sense of humor, professionalism, commitment, quick thinking, kindness, positivity, and genuine love for what she does serves us all as a reminder of what makes Horizon West Middle School an incredible place to work and learn." |
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Mr. Skodnik (Math) and Ms. Dunn |
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"For Hornet of the Week, I have chosen Mr. Skodnik. Mr. Skodnik works hard to make sure his students understand the material and explains math in a way that makes them know that he cares about their learning. Whenever a student needs help, he is right there to help them learn. When I asked my students who I should pass Hugo along to I had many students tell me Mr. Skodnik is the kind and the best! Along with being a great teacher, he is also a great coworker who I have enjoyed getting to know this year." |
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Congratulations to our girls and boys volleyball teams on a successful season! |
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The boys volleyball team completed their undefeated season as cluster champions. Their first playoff game will be at home on Dec. 5th at 5:30 PM. |
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Basketball tryouts will begin the week of January 4th for boys and girls. Completed physical packets must be on file in order to participate. Physical packets can be found on the school website under athletics. |
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Chorus Winter Concert "A Bit of Holiday Cheer!"
Date: FRIDAY, December 9th, 2022
Start Time: 6:30PM
Location: WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
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Cost:
$10 Adult
$5 Students
FREE for Faculty and Staff
This concert is sure to spread a bit of holiday cheer to everyone in attendance. Please come out and support our HWMS Chorus program and enjoy an evening filled with music that will fill your hearts with joy!
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All-State Chorus Students: |
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Congratulations to the following students for making it into the 2022-2023 All-State Honor Chorus! Anna Marciniak - 8th, Adele Whittlesey - 8th, Karelyz Serrano- Rios - 7th, Sarah Kron - 7th, Vaishnavi Mandadapu - 7th
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Guitar All-County Ensemble Students: |
Congratulations to the following students for making it into the 2022-2023 All-County Guitar Ensemble! Samuel Pessoa - 8th Grade and Alberto Vera - 8th. This is an auditioned group of students of the most skilled middle school players from around the county! |
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Congratulations to the following Concert Band Members who auditioned and were awarded spots in this year's All-County Concert Band!! Justin G, Steven G, Drew B and Ian C.
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Congratulations to the following Jazz Hornets who auditioned and were awarded spots in this year’s All-County Jazz Band!! Lucas B, Cody C, Justin G, Steven G, Drew B and Ian C.
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Upcoming Seasonal Concerts: |
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GET your TICKETS:
Horizon West Guitar and Orchestra Concert:
Horizon West Beginning Band, Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble:
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Congratulations to our dancers who performed in our Winter Dance performance! |
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Student art work displayed at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center downtown: |
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We are proud that three of our HWMS students had their digital art displayed at the RBELC for Hispanic Heritage Month. Congratulations to Monteserrat Pontigo (8th), Kaiya Irving (7th), and Hfsa Marraj (6th)!
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Eighth grade Science teacher Mr. Spangler demonstrated how mechanical waves move in two ways: transverse and compression waves. Using a slinky, he demonstrated how waves carry energy and not matter along its path. Students were able to see a form of frequency and see that waves travel through each other at different frequencies. |
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Celebrating our most active student readers! |
We had a fantastic time in the media center enjoying time with our amazing readers during the first reading celebration of the school year. Join us in congratulating following readers:
- Darien Amirtharajah
- Audrey Ayers
- Alianna Caswell
- Aaron Cortez Silva
- Estefania Goncalves Albornoz
- Georgette Khawan Yajure
- Sarah Kron
- Harshita Ramakrishnan
- Zoey Ready
- Karelyz Serrano-Rios
- Jillian Turpish
- Vidushi Venya
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December's Reading Challenge! |
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If your student missed the chance to participate in the last Beanstack challenge, the next contest, called Reading Reflections, will run the entire month of December!
Students can continue to compete over the break by logging their reading minutes in Beanstack from Launch. The top 10 students will be invited to join our next reading celebration in January based on minutes read and challenge participation!
For details on how to log minutes, check out the module called Beanstack for Students on the Student Body Canvas page. If your students do not have access to books at home, please check out the ebook options that we have online at Follett Destiny in the Library Research Tools folder on Launch.
I am looking forward to hearing all about the books our amazing students read over the December break. Please encourage your children to keep reading!
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SAC & PTSO Meetings (Dec. 12): |
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Next SAC meeting will be December 12th, 4:30 PM |
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Email ptosiegmann@gmail.com to be added to the list, if you would like to order this ornament. Limited quantity available! |
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Yearbook
Pre-Order Price Savings & Student Ads
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Share a special message to congratulate and recognize your child for all of their accomplishments this year. |
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Ads cost:
$20 for Business Card Size - Full Color
$30 for Quarter Page Size - Full Color
$50 for Half Page Size - Full Color
$100 for Full Page - Full Color
Yearbook Pre-Orders 2023:
Pre-Order and save - order your 2023 Horizon West Middle School Yearbook! Base Price: $40 Get your order in by December 16 and Base Price is $35!! You can also add: Personalized Name Plate to your yearbook for an Extra $5 Extra 4 Autograph pages for an Extra $2
**** Deadline for all orders 3/17/2023 ****
Base Price: $40
Get your order in by December 16 and Base Price is $35!
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Closing Images of the Week . . . |
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Thank you to all of our wonderful Teach-In guests!! We had presentations regarding Cyber Security, Engineering, Zoo Education, Grant Writing, Hospital Emergency Room Techniques & Codes, as well as Costume Design! |
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Laurel Noe, Walt Disney, Co. |
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Julie Tom, Avant Healthcare |
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Jay Bunner-Sorg, Full Sail University |
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Christian Liberato, Oracle Technology |
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Laura May, Junior Achievement
(Above and just below)
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your weekend!
Ms. Thomas, Principal
Horizon West Middle School
Friday, December 2, 2022
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Horizon West Leadership Team |
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This communication may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure, and intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail, and delete the message from their computer and any printout thereof. Please note that OCPS utilizes spam and junk e-mail filtration applications in its e-mail systems. That filtering process may prevent or delay delivery of certain e-mail communications. If you do not receive a timely response to an e-mail communication, please contact the intended recipient by phone. |
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Copyright Notice
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS-Horizon West Middle School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Orange County Public Schools and OCPS-Horizon West Middle School. Please contact Ms. Tiffany Stanley at tiffany.stanley@ocps.net with any questions.
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