 |
Horizon West Middle School |
HWMS Community Member,
Can you believe that November is right around the corner? Please continue to check Canvas Grades for assignments and then review grades in Skyward. Remember, the grade in Skyward is the actual grade you will see posted to progress reports and report cards. Power Hour Homework Help will be starting next week on November 6th! Please see information in this edition with content areas and times. Students can be dropped off at the Car Rider Loop at 8:00 am. Each day they attend, they can receive a HERO Point!
The school counseling team will be facilitating Teen Safety Matters through the Science courses. If a parent would like a student to opt out, please contact your grade level counselor. The dates of the presentations are as follows:
11/01 – 8th grade
11/08 – 7th grade
11/15 – 6th grade
A reminder that National Junior Honor Society Induction will take place on November 1st at 5:30.
Parent Action Needed
In order for your student to be cared for at the School Health Clinic you must fill out the Consent forms. Please login to OCPS Parent Portal at
Take some time, relax and enjoy this edition of our HORNETS BUZZ.
Sincerely,
Michelle Thomas
Proud Principal
Pictured very top and just below: Hornets celebrating National PINK OUT Day!
|
|
|
|
8200 Tattant Drive
Orlando, FL 37486
(407) 554-1570
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
Oct. 26: Report Cards distributed
Oct. 27: NO SCHOOL
|
|
|
Oct. 30: Volleyball teams away at Water Springs Middle
Nov. 01: SCHOOL SPIRIT WEDNESDAY (Wear blue, yellow, and black)
Nov. 01: The Hornets Nest (School Spirit Store) open Wed. during lunch
Nov. 06: POWER HOUR begins - Homework help 4 days per week, 8-9am (see below)
Nov. 06: Volleyball teams away at Ocoee Middle School
Nov. 08: SCHOOL SPIRIT WEDNESDAY (Wear blue, yellow, and black)
Nov. 08: The Hornets Nest (School Spirit Store) open Wed. during lunch
Nov. 08: Volleyball teams HOME vs. Lakeview Middle School
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 14: SAC and PTSO meetings for November (2nd Tuesday of every month)
Nov. 15: Willy Wonka KIDS performance, 5:30pm, cafeteria
Nov. 15: Middle Grade Mayhem author event at LBVHS, 7:15pm (see below)
Nov. 16: Annual Teach-In (parents and community members speak to students)
|
|
|
Our morning homework help sessions are starting Nov. 6th! |
Each day will be assistance for different content areas from 8:00-9:00 in the HWMS cafeteria.
- Mondays: Language Arts
- Tuesdays: Social Studies
- Wednesdays: Science & Spanish
- Thursdays: Math
Students that are attending need to come prepared with homework or classwork assignments and specific questions that they need support on.
|
|
|
Willy Wonka Kids (Nov. 15): |
|
|
Middle Grade Mayhem Author Event (Nov. 15) |
We are excited to announce the Middle Grade Mayhem author event on Wednesday, November 15, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Lake Buena Vista High School. While this event is geared toward middle school readers, we encourage upper-grade elementary and high school readers to join. Those interested may register for a free ticket using the link - https://shorturl.at/guzT4
Writer’s Block Bookstore will sell books at the event, and the authors will sign books after participating in a panel discussion.
|
|
|
Writer’s Block Bookstore will sell books at the event, and the authors will sign books after participating in a panel discussion. Participating authors include:
• Pam Muñoz Ryan (Esperanza Rising, Echo, Solimar, Mañanaland)
• James Ponti (City Spies, Framed, Dead City, upcoming Sherlock Society)
• Stuart Gibbs (Spy School, Fun Jungle, Charlie Thorne, Once Upon a Tim, Moon Base Alpha)
• Jasmine Warga (My Heart and Other Black Holes, Other Words for Home, a Rover's Story)
• Karina Yan Glaser (The Vanderbeekers, A Duet for Home)
• Morgan Matson (Fireflly Summer, Save the Date, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour)
• Christina Diaz Gonzalez (Invisible, Concealed, the Red Umbrella, Moving Target, The Bluest Sky
• Sarah Mlynowski (Best Wishes, Whatever After, Upside Down Magic)
• Jarrett Lerner (Work in Progress, Enginerds, Geeger the Robot, Hunger Heroes)
• Julie Buxbaum (The Area 51 Files, and many YA titles)
• Alyson Gerber (The Liar's Society (upcoming), Focused, Braced, Taking Up Space)
|
|
|
Great American Teach In (Nov. 16): |
Each November, in celebration of American Education Week, the Foundation brings business and civic leaders into the classroom- in a fun and engaging way- to talk with students about academics, careers, and the future.
Do you have a family member or friend that would like to participate in our annual Teach In Event? Please share the info below regarding this upcoming event!
“Teach In” at HWMS will take place Thursday, NOVEMBER 16th, 2023
|
|
|
We are looking for people to participate in Horizon West Middle School’s Teach-In Event on November 16th! This program is designed to give students an insight into different careers. We would like for you to be a teacher for the day and share your career/hobby/interest with our middle school students.
by November 3rd. If you have questions, please contact Teach-In Coordinator, Tiffany Stanley at tiffany.stanley@ocps.net
|
|
|
Every Wednesday is our School Spirit Day!
Wear your blue, yellow and black to show your Hornet spirit!
💙💛🖤
|
|
|
6th Grade-
Linda Bonventre
|
|
|
|
Nominated by Ms. McCallister-
“Linda is always helpful and encouraging.”
|
|
Nominated by Coach Bergin-
“Layla has such a positive attitude, she always tries her best and is respectful to both her peers and teachers.”
|
|
|
Nominated by Ms. McCallister-
“Kaitlyn is always helpful and encouraging.”
|
|
Nominated by Mr. Fluke-
"Kalyn is a very gifted writer who uses her talent and energy in class to improve her skills and help others around her with ideas that motivate. It is nice to have a student that can receive what a teacher is trying to give to the students."
|
|
|
8th Grade-
Victoria De Luca Da Silva
|
|
|
|
Nominated by Ms. Rodgers-
“Victoria has been nominated because she is always willing to participate in class. She has a great attitude and is a great student."
|
|
Nominated by Ms. D. Rodriguez-
"Olivia is a great member of our yearbook staff. She is always the first to volunteer for an after-school event!"
|
|
|
Coach Bergin loves her students and loves her job. She always has a smile on her face no matter how her day is going and her positivity is infectious. Her students absolutely adore her. Even past students will ask me about her and tell me how much of an impact she made on them. We are lucky to have Coach Bergin as part of our Hornet family. |
|
|
Ms. Van Bart is a great asset to our Horizon West Middle School Family. Her students are blessed to have her as their teacher. She has a positive energy that is contagious to everyone around her. Some of her students have commented “She understands us," “We like the way she teaches us," “She always communicated with her athletes and made us feel comfortable.” Congratulations Ms. Van Bart, you deserve to be Hornet of the Week!!!!!
~ Nominated by Coach Bergin
|
|
|
Basketball Open Gym will be starting soon. Any student interested in participating must have a completed Aktivate account including an updated sports physical. Official tryouts will begin January 10th. More details to follow. |
|
|
Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Video Gameapalooza for putting on a fun performance this past month! |
|
|
HWMS 8th Grade Dancers performing with the Windermere High School Wolverettes at the varsity football game: |
|
|
What's Happening in the Classrooms |
|
|
Student Government Association |
Students in Ms. Moore’s SGA class are prepping our garden beds on campus! |
|
|
Students in Ms. Rodriguez’s class helped paint a parking spot for our staff member “Hornet of the Week!" |
|
|
Portrait Drawings (7th & 8th Grade): |
To create the art pieces shown below, our Hornets studied the "grid method" technique. Students first started their work by picking their favorite celebrity. They were then asked to demonstrate their understanding of grids and shading by drawing a realistic portrait of their chosen celebrity. By drawing each section of the grid to scale, students learned how to think about the relationships between objects in the image and how they fit together. |
|
|
Hand Drawings (6th, 7th, & 8th Grades): |
With hand drawing art, students selected their work by picking a word or name that they found meaningful to them. They were asked to demonstrate their understanding of form and value by drawing hands that spelled out a word in American Sign Language. As illustrated, our art students used shading techniques to give their work form. |
|
|
After just 1st marking period, this is what is all is in “Lost & Found!”
Do you see anything that looks familiar? If so PLEASE ask your student to retrieve it.
|
|
|
HERO Student Recognition System |
|
|
Students have been earning HERO points for their positive attitudes, being responsible, safe and respectful! The HERO store will now be open periodically throughout the week so students can start redeeming their points! Students and Parents log into the Hero Program and find out how many points you have earned so far! |
|
|
2023-2024 meeting dates. All community members are welcome! |
|
|
Red Ribbon Week Highlights |
|
|
Students and staff have been having fun participating in our RED RIBBON WEEK events! Check out all of the Hornet’s below on TWIN DAY! |
|
|
Superintendent's Weekly Message
Monday, October 23, 2023
Dr. Maria Vazquez, Superintendent of Schools
|
|
|
On this week's "Mondays with Maria," Dr. Vazquez introduces a new and fun way for students, employees and parents or guardians to ask her a question. |
|
|
Cybersecurity Awareness Month |
|
|
Tips for the community from our new CIO, Mr. Draggon |
Maurice Draggon is the new Chief Information Officer for Orange County Public Schools. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, along with a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology & Educational Media from the University of Central Florida. He is also a former School Teacher of the year, as well as a 2013 Apple Distinguished Educator. Maurice is a lifelong educator who has experience as a Classroom Teacher, Resource Teacher, District Administrator, Director, and Senior Director. Using the knowledge gained within each role, he was able to collaborate in the development, implementation, and management of the 1:1 Digital Device program for Orange County Public Schools. Maurice is excited to apply all of his previous experience toward the opportunities brought on by the role of CIO. |
|
|
-----------
Have a great three-day weekend Hornets!
Ms. Thomas, Principal
Horizon West Middle School
Friday, October 27, 2023
|
|
|
Horizon West Leadership Team |
|
|
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. |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
