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 December

A Look Into January

HMS Winter Sports Schedules

Message from our Principal:

Dear HMS Families,

On behalf of Harding Middle School students and staff, we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. First, I would like to thank everyone that contributed to our most recent all schools toy drive. The annual Steubenville City Schools Stuff a Bus campaign was a huge success and will benefit many local students this Christmas. Also, I would like to thank everyone that supported our school fundraiser by purchasing HMS attire. We anticipate the clothing to be here soon and will get your purchases distributed to you before school closes for the holiday break.

December is a time to share weather-related school closings information. For your earliest convenience, we will communicate through our district school messenger system, radio, and local television stations to notify parents when there is a school delay or closing. Ultimately the decision to come to school is up to the parent and we respect the choices that each family has decided to make during inclement weather. December also signals the arrival of our Christmas break. All Steubenville City Schools will observe winter break on December 19 - December 30, and classes will resume Monday, January 2.

Please check out our latest newsletter to stay in touch with the happenings taking place around the school. If you ever have a concern or question, do not hesitate to call for assistance.  I also would like to take this time to wish each of you a Happy Holidays!!! Enjoy this season with your loved ones. Family makes the holidays special and each of our young Stallions makes Harding magical. We are so proud of them!!!

If you would like to contact me, my e-mail address is bmills@rollred.org. You can also reach me by phone at Harding Middle School, at (740) 282-3481.

Sincerely,

Principal Bryan Mills

It is $1 a day to participate in Christmas Spirit Week. All proceeds will go towards the PBIS (Positive Referral Program) to purchase gift cards that will go back to our students.

School Spelling Bee

Date: December 13

Day: Tuesday

Time: 9:30 am

Location: HMS

*Students only



The TOP 28 spellers will advance to our DISTRICT BEE on January 24^th at 6:00 pm in the HMS Gymnasium. Families are welcome to attend the DISTRICT BEE. 

National Twin Day on December 18th encourages healthy relationships and connection and will be celebrated on December 14th at HMS. Students and Staff can dress as twins to celebrate the unique connection they share. Twin day is an opportunity to discuss the importance of showing and expressing gratitude to those important people in your life. Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative. When you experience gratitude, you are more likely to respond with feelings of kindness, warmth, and other forms of generosity. Students will work together to create a gratitude Chain to celebrate all the people and things they are grateful for this holiday season. 

Winter Break

No school Monday, December 19 through Friday, December 30

Classes resume on Monday, January 2

Christmas Day

Date: December 25

Day: Sunday

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.

Please ask your doctor if your child is up to date on their vaccines. Nurse Neely checks certain grades and new students only. Please read this article to see that these diseases are not in far-off lands. .. As close as Columbus, Ohio. We all must do our part to protect our own children and thereby the susceptible people in the community. If there is no medical contraindication, please get your children updated with the required vaccines.

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

The Leo's Club donated over 50 shoeboxes filled with toys for the Samaritan Purse's Operation Christmas Child.

HMS students helped with food distribution at the Urban Mission

NJHS members helped the First Westminster Church deliver socks to SCS schools.

5th & 6th Grade Game Night

Veterans Day Brunch

Battle of the Bands. 7th vs 8th grade.

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.