Friday, February 18, 2022 |
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Horizon West Middle School |
HWMS Community Member,
We are just a few weeks away from Spring Break and the end of the 3rd quarter of school. With all the excitement in the air for warmer weather and a whole week off, we cannot lose focus of our mission to educate and keep our Hornets safe. Please be sure to take some time and review your child’s grades. Look in both Skyward for their actual grade and then check Canvas, for assignments they may need to complete.
Orange County Public Schools is inviting all students and families to participate in the 2021-22 annual stakeholder survey. This year, students and families will be surveyed on a variety of topics such as school climate, safety and engagement as we work to ensure every student has a promising and successful future. Surveys are available for any family with a student in grades K-12. They can be completed using any electronic device with internet access by clicking on the anonymous link on the district’s website, OCPS.net. The family survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday, February 21st, Presidents' Day!
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Thank you again to all our parents, students, teachers and community, you all are what makes it great to be a HORNET.
Your Proud Principal,
Michelle Thomas
Proud Principal
Pictured very top: LOVE THE BUS Month!
HWMS appreciates our wonderful bus drivers!!! We simply wanted to say THANKS!
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8200 Tattant Drive
Orlando, FL 37486
(407) 554-1570
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Each Friday in February SGA has a special event planned in recognition of Black History Month: |
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Feb. 1-28: For the Love of Reading - Feb. Reading Challenge (students log their reading minutes into Beanstack from Launch) |
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Feb. 18: HBCU Day - Wear Your favorite shirt or HBCU school colors
Feb. 22: SGA Movie Night registration deadline
Feb. 23: SGA Movie Night, 5:30PM
Feb. 23: Boys Basketball at home - playoff game vs. Liberty Middle
Feb. 25: Remembrance Day - Remembering those that contributed to Black history
Feb. 28: Deadline for OCPS Top Talent applications - Student artists
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Basketball Season Update . . . Boys Basketball advances to the next round in the playoffs! |
Congratulations to our Boys and Girls Basketball teams for a successful season! Also, a special congratulations to our Boys Basketball team for making the 2022 playoffs and then winning their first playoff game against Liberty Middle this Wednesday! Come cheer on our Hornets at HOME next Wednesday, March 23rd at 5:00 PM against Piedmont Lakes Middle School.
A huge thank you goes out to our HWMS Basketball Coaches- Boys Coach Ryan and Girls Coach DaVila. Also, thank you to our Athletic Director- Mr. Evans.
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Click on this link to register for the event:
Event Date: Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022
Event Time: 5:30 pm
Event Address: 8200 Tattant Blvd, Windermere, FL 34786
*** This event will max out at 250 people. Students are allowed to bring their immediate family members to the movie night up to 4 people. You will need to show your confirmation email when you arrive to gain entry to the movie.
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Ana Lima
Nominated by Mrs. Aulerich - “Ana Lima is such a wonderful young lady. She has a great personality as she is friendly, outgoing, kind, and helpful. She always has a positive attitude and a big smile on her face. If a peer needs help, she is the first person to step up. Ana works very hard in class and has maintained great grades throughout the year. When I shared some results that demonstrated proficiency, her first question was, “What do I need to do to be better?” She is such a pleasure to have in class and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get to know her.”
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Rafael Torres
Nominated by Mrs. Szuch - “It’s a real pleasure to have Rafael in my class. He is such a good student. He has a great personality and a positive attitude everyday. Rafael works very hard in class and always has very good grades since he is always trying his best.”
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Keane Taylor
Nominated by Ms. Warid - “Keane is an exemplary student. He works very hard and is ready to help his classmates. I can always count on him to be the leader during group work. He is very respectful. I’ve never heard him make an excuse. He has what it takes to be a successful productive citizen! So happy to have him in my class. 😊 Well deserved!”
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Leilia Jacobs
Nominated by Ms. Ayala De Cesar - “Leilia is a great student. She is always on task and helps her peers. I am amazed by her insightful contributions to class discussions. It is a pleasure to have Leilia as a student. She is awesome!”
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Sophia Molina
Nominated by Mr. Corneau - “Sophia is a second year band student. She plays alto saxophone and band and is also lead alto in our Jazz Band. Her dedication to our program has been outstanding, she is constantly working to make herself a better player and works with her section to help them gain confidence. She practices early in the morning and stays after school to play. Sophia always has a smile on her face and is happy to be in class! We are very fortunate to have her as part of our performing arts family!!”
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Michelle Santos
Nominated by Mrs. Sheets - “Michelle gets the 'Best All-Around' title. She is hard working, responsible, and kind and always goes the extra mile. She is always willing to step up and assist students who need additional help. Michelle always comes to class with a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn."
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Congratulations to our “Hornet of the Week”- Ms. Parrish |
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Nominated by Mrs. Lien (formerly Ms. Coliton):
I’d like to nominate Ms. Valerie Parrish as our Hornet of the Week! When given the opportunity to select a teacher to pass the award on to, I asked myself to think about someone who radiates positivity to students and staff alike, and I immediately thought of Ms. Parrish! She is a constant smiling face around Horizon West and you can always count on her to spread great energy when she is in the room! It is contagious!
Ms. Parrish does so much “good” for Horizon West. She orchestrates activities like caroling around classrooms during the holidays, the play, several performances, works with the Boys & Girls Club, and more. Aside from that, she brings joy to all of her students and seems to be a wonderful role model to them.
I asked some of her students what they think of Ms. Parrish, here is what they said:
- “She is so nice, the best person in the world!”
- “She is so helpful and always has a smile on her face.”
- “She is a really sweet teacher and has a fantastic taste in music. She deserves to be the Hornet of the Week because she is so kind, helps students with their problems and is very understanding. She thinks we are all stars!”
- “She is so nice. I wouldn’t have gone as far as I am today with the musical without her. She really gave me a chance. She helps us become better at singing but in a very fun way.”
With all this being said, Ms. Parrish is so deserving to be our Hornet of the Week!
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Chloe Farrell - OCPS Middle School Guidance Counselor of the Year! |
Congratulations to our own Chloe Farrell for being the recipient of Orange County School Counselors Association 2021-2022 Middle School Guidance Counselor of the Year! We are so proud of you and thank you for all you do for our students and staff at Horizon West Middle School! Way to go Mrs. Farrell!!! |
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February Reading Challenge / Black History Month Fridays |
Our February reading challenge, For the Love of Reading, continues to run the entire month! Students can compete by logging their reading minutes in Beanstack from Launch. The top 10 students will be invited to join our reading celebration in March based on minutes read and challenge participation! We can’t wait to celebrate our readers! |
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Students are also welcome to join us every Friday morning in February as the media center celebrates Black History month by recognizing works by black authors in book talks, read-alouds, and short discussions. This event will begin at 9:05 every Friday morning during February. We look forward to seeing them there! |
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SAVE THE DATE- BURGERFI Upcoming Spirit Nights
March 9th & May 18th
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PTSO is looking for volunteers to help out at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. Please click on the link below to sign up! |
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Literacy Week - Door Decorating Contest Winners |
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"Launch Into Literacy, Blast Off Into New Worlds!" |
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Teachers and students were encouraged to decorate their classroom door to represent this year’s literacy theme, “Launch Into Literacy, Blast Off Into New Worlds!” Thank you and great job to all who participated!
We are excited to announce the Door Decorating Winners:
- 1st Place – Ms. Hanson
- 2nd Place – Ms. Rodgers
- 3rd Place – Ms. Karim
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Celebrating Black History Month |
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Sixth grade ELA students' conducted their own BHM research. |
Sixth grade ELA classes researched videos for Black History Month, wrote key points and drew visual representations of what they learned. Mrs. Aulerich selected top winners who received a treat! Below are a few of the winners! |
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Excellence Day (Feb. 4) - Our Hornets Dressing Fancy! |
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Friday's Motivational Moment! |
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A lesson in perseverance from Abraham Lincoln at Presidents' Day: |
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Abraham Lincoln Didn’t Quit
A great example of persistence for our Hornets ahead of this Presidents' Day holiday was set by Abraham Lincoln. If you want to learn about somebody who didn’t quit, look no further.
1816: His family was forced out of their home. He worked hard to help support them.
1818: His mother died when he was only nine years old. This was especially tough on a struggling farm family.
1831: Lost his job in a general store when his boss ran it into the ground financially.
1832: Ran for state legislature – lost.
1832: Wanted to go to law school but circumstances were such that he had to learn law on his own by reading law books and observing court sessions.
1833: Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next several years of his life paying off this debt and that of his partner.
1834: Ran for state legislature again – won.
1835: Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
1836: Experienced great sadness after his fiancé's death and struggled for a while.
1837: Illinois Supreme Court licenses Lincoln to practice law after studying for years on his own.
1838: Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.
1840: Sought to become elector – defeated.
1843: Failed to win his party's nomination at the Whig district convention.
1846: Ran for Congress again – this time he won – went to Washington and did a good job.
1848: Wanted to run for Congress again, but told to sit out one term and wait.
1849: Sought the job of land officer in his home state – rejected.
1854: Ran for Senate of the U.S. – lost as he did not have the requisite majority.
1856: Received Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – got less than 100 votes.
1858: Republicans' choice for U.S. Senate – lost.
1860: Elected president of the United States.
1864: Re-elected president of the United States.
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Have a wonderful weekend and Presidents' Day holiday!
Ms. Thomas, Principal
Horizon West Middle School
Friday, February 18, 2022
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Horizon West Leadership Team |
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Judy Logan - Admin Dean 7th Grade and 8th Grade (M-Z) - judy.logan@ocps.net
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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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