Friday, September 15, 2023 |
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Horizon West Middle School |
HWMS Community Member,
We are already a little over halfway into the first quarter and our Hornets are still growing strong. Students and teachers are working together to create engaged learning experiences! Here are a few upcoming reminders:
Open House
Open House will take place next week on Thursday, September 21st beginning at 5:30 PM. There will be Pre-Open House events beginning at 5:00 PM, including Mr. Ryan’s MPLC Meeting. Please see more information in this edition.
Progress Reports
First quarter progress reports will be available on September 21st in Skyward. Please take time to review your child’s progress reports with them. Be sure to celebrate their success and encourage continued academic achievement. Simple words of encouragement can be very powerful in helping students stay focused and motivated. If your child is not doing well, then take time to talk about what he or she needs to do in order to get on track. There is still time between now and the end of the quarter. Communication with your student, as well as their teacher is imperative to their success. If you need more ideas on how you can help your child succeed, please contact your grade level school counselor. However, when it comes to grades please remember that open communication with your child’s teacher is the first line of protocol.
Student of the Week
We are excited to continue the tradition of our grade level “Student of the Week” recognition. Staff members will nominate “Students of the Week” each week. On Fridays, during lunch, a student’s name will be selected. The selected student of the week will be recognized in our “Hornet’s Buzz” Community Brief and will have lunchroom privileges and get to select friends to eat with in our outdoor pavilion. I’m looking forward to recognizing all the amazing students who are selected!
We wish all our Hornets a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Michelle Thomas
Proud Principal
Pictured very top: HWMS staff photo 2023-24.
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8200 Tattant Drive
Orlando, FL 37486
(407) 554-1570
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Communication is KEY to the SUCCESS of our SCHOOL, STUDENTS and FAMILIES. Stay connected to our school by following and liking our OFFICIAL social media accounts. |
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Parent Consent Forms need to be submitted |
In order for your student to be cared for at the School Health Clinic you must fill out the Consent forms.
We have tutorials and instructions on how to do this on our school website. |
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Sept. 15: Last day of the Buzzing for a Cause t-shirt pre-sale (please see our PTSO segment below for details) |
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Sept. 15: Start of Hispanic Heritage Month |
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Sept. 17: Constitution and Citizenship Day |
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Sept. 18: Beginning of Start with HELLO Week (please see details further below)
Sept. 18: Hornet soccer teams at HOME vs. Lakeview Middle
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Sept. 20: SPIRIT WEDNESDAY (Wear HMMS shirt or school colors)
Sept. 20: Hornet soccer teams at HOME vs. Bridgewater Middle
Sept. 20: PTSO Spirit Store Wednesday, Open from 10:54am to 12:48pm
Sept. 21: First quarter student progress reports available in Skyward
Sept. 21: MPLC, 5:00pm (please see details further below)
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Sept. 21: OPEN HOUSE (please see evening schedule details further below): |
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Sept. 22: Chess Club Friday with Mr. Fluke, 8:30am in room 3-108
Oct. 10: Monthly SAC meeting, 5:00pm
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Oct. 11: Volleyball season tryouts begin at 3:00pm |
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MPLC Meeting
Thursday, September 21
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Quién? Para todos los padres de los estudiantes de ESOL de HWMS
Qué? Reunión del Consejo de Liderazgo de Padres Multilingües. (MPLC)
Dónde? Horizon West MS Cafeteria
Cuándo? Jueves, 21 de Septiembre de 2023
Horario: 5:00-5:30pm
Presentado por Mr. Ryan, Especialista de Cumplimiento de ESOL @ HWMS
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Para quem: Para todos os responsáveis dos alunos do Programa de ESOL da HWMS
Sobre: Conselho de Liderança de Pais Multilíngue
Local: Na Cafeteria da Escola Horizon West Middle School
Quando: Quinta-feira, dia 21 de Setembro de 2023
Horário: 5:00-5:30pm
Responsável pelo evento: Mr.Ryan, ESOL Compliance
Specialist @ HWMS
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Open House Schedule
Thursday, September 21
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Congratulations to our TEACHER of the YEAR and our SUPPORT PERSON of the YEAR!
Mr. Boland and Ms. Gutierrez
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Mr. Boland, 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year |
Mr. Boland is our of our administrative deans and he works with 6th, 7th and 8th graders. This is his second year serving at HCMS. When asked about what he enjoys most about his position, he shared this for our community:
I enjoy all of the interactions with the students and staff. Last year was my first year at Horizon West. I walked into the best situation possible. I was surrounded by people who were willing to help me adjust to a new school. I have enjoyed getting to know our wonderful students and parents. I enjoy seeing the hard work of out PTSO and just how involved our parents are at the school. I can honestly say I get to work with the best students, teachers and leadership group that I have ever been around.
We also asked Mr. Boland if he had any suggestions for our Hornets to make this a very successful school year. Here is his advice:
Don’t lose focus of why you are here. To learn! It is possible to be a successful student and also have fun at school. Take advantage of our amazing staff and listen to their advice. We are all here to help make you the best version of yourself.
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Ms. Gutierrez, 2023-2024 Support Person of the Year |
Ms. Gutierrez is our wonderful front desk clerk and has been with us at HWMS since August 2021. We asked her what she enjoys most about her role and she said that would be getting to connect with all the students.
Ms. Gutierrez offered this suggestion for our Hornets to make 2023-2024 a very successful year:
Be positive and treat others how you would like to be treated.
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From left: Ms. Hargett (Assistant Principal), Principal Thomas, Mr. Boland (Teacher of the Year), Ms. Gutierrez (Support Person of the Year), Mr. Flanagan (Assistant Principal) |
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Start with HELLO Week begins Monday! |
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Our first Book Fair of the year is here! |
Students can shop the book fair Sept 18-22 through their ELA Classes and at Open House. Please click on the link below for more information and how to set up your e-wallet!
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Every Wednesday is our School Spirit Day! Wear your blue, yellow and black to show your Hornet spirit! And on Fridays our Hornet Teachers and Students wear College Gear to show their support for their favorite collegiate teams or the college they attended!
💙💛🖤
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6th Grade Science with McCallister: |
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Above and just below:
Students in Ms. McCallister's 6th grade science class studied the scientific method by designing an experiment to see if changing the mass of a dropped object changed the height the action figure flew in the air. They designed a teeterboard and the fulcrum, while also learning about potential and kinetic energy.
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The students playing tug of war during PE. |
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HMWS staff celebrates College Colors Day! |
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2023-2024 girls' soccer team. We have two home games next week!
Monday, 9/18 vs. Lakeview Middle
Wednesday, 9/20 vs. Bridgewater Middle
Wednesday, 9/27 vs. Sunridge
Monday games start @ 5:30pm
Wednesday games start @ 5:00pm
Boys play first, followed by girls.
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Volleyball tryouts beginning on Wednesday, October 11th @ 3:00 PM
* A current physical packet must be turned in prior to tryouts in order to participate.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: |
Hello Hornet Families,
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the PTSO has released a limited edition PINKtober spirit wear. PTSO will be donating part of the proceeds to the Advent Health Breast Cancer Care Fund. This organization provides essential support to breast cancer patients throughout Central Florida.
We would love for our Horizon West hornets and their families to show support by wearing our Pinktober spirit wear during the month of October.
Families can choose from two different Pinktober designs. We will also have a ladies fit available for one of our shirts. Ladies fit will be available for PRE-SALE ONLY so don’t miss out!
Pre-sale started Friday, September 1st and runs through Friday, September 15th. Order now on our store website. Order pick up will be on October 4th in the Hornet's Nest.
“Together We Swarm” and will raise awareness!
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School Advisory Council meeting dates: |
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SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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School-wide announcements will be sent to you through Talking Points. Teachers will also use this to communicate with you.
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Superintendent's Weekly Message
Monday, September 11, 2023
Dr. Maria Vazquez, Superintendent of Schools
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There's a new buzzword on school campuses this year: resiliency. This week Dr. Vazquez talks about Resiliency Standards and how this impacts teachers and students. You may submit a thought on Thought Exchange by clicking here.
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School Bus Delay Dashboard |
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Want to see the latest on bus delays? Check out the link below that you can click each day to see if there are any delays in the Horizon West area.
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Thank you for reading. Have a great weekend!
Ms. Thomas, Principal
Horizon West Middle School
Friday, September 15, 2023
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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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