Hughes MS Updates

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Principal's Message


August 2021

Dear Hughes Parents, Guardians, and Students,

Welcome to the 2021 - 2022 school year!  I hope that you have had a wonderful summer and are ready to take on the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead. We are so excited to welcome all of our staff and students back in person and into our beautiful brand-new school! The renovation is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of this school year.  We will continue to put the safety of our students and staff as a priority.  The county policies that guide our procedures can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/student-health-and-safety-guidance-document  Last school year the Langston Hughes staff and students showed their resilience, and we are ready to build on the lessons learned as we return in person. 

The academic achievements at Hughes are the result of the entire community: school staff, students, and parents working together to maintain the focus on performing at the highest level of academic attainment. I count it a privilege to work together with you on the mission to develop students that are outstanding scholars and thoughtful citizens. 

Included here is important information you will need to start the year off informed. The teachers will be arriving soon, and we anticipate all our students’ arrival on Monday, August 23, 2021August 23rd is a regular Blue day of school with classes scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The warning bell rings at 7:25 a.m. Students who are driven to school should be dropped off at Kiss & Ride on Ridge Heights Road, avoiding the faculty parking lot and the bus loop.

STUDENT OPEN HOUSE (Schedule Pick Up):  Students may pick up their class schedules during the Open House on Thursday, August 19th.  Please choose the session that is most convenient for your family: either from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. OR 4:30-6:30 p.m.  In order to pick up class schedules and access the Open House, we will need the Emergency Care and Health Forms.

ACTION ITEM: Please update online: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/parent-communication-overview/wecareschool

OR Complete, sign, date, and bring with you to Open House:

During Open House students and parents may walk their class schedules and meet teachers; parents are invited to confirm their ParentVue accounts, get acclimated to Schoology, and familiarize yourself with the PTA, and order a Yearbook.   

UNABLE TO ATTEND OPEN HOUSE? Student schedules will also be available on SIS ParentVue and StudentVue on August 19.  First period teachers will also be on wall lists when students arrive August 23rd.  All students will receive a hard copy of their schedule in 1st period the first day of school.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: Our Back to School Night will be virtual this year and launch on Wednesday, September 1st.  We will have a Back to School website with video introductions and information from each teacher. More information about our Back to School website to come.

SIS ParentVue ACCOUNT:  FCPS provides SIS ParentVue Accounts to each FCPS parent. This enables access to view your student’s attendance, grades of record, and additional information.  ACTION ITEM: Each parent who has not previously activated a  SIS ParentVue Account should contact Jackie Kerze at jmkerze@fcps.edu to receive an activation key. More information can be found here.  http://bit.ly/FCPSSIS

SCHOOLOGY:  We will not use Blackboard 24-7 Learning or Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (BBCU). Schoology will be our new platform, and Zoom will be used as the new web conferencing tool. Schoology works with Google drive, and students will still use Google tools. Through Schoology, parents can access student classes, class assignments, a calendar, and more! In order for parents to access Schoology, you will need a SIS ParentVUE account.  More information can be found here:  http://bit.ly/FCPSSIS . You can learn more about Schoology here: Welcome to Schoology, https://www.fcps.edu/schoology. Parent accounts will be available in mid-August, but information about how to log in to the accounts will be shared close to the start of the school year. 

LAPTOP DISTRIBUTION:  Each student will receive a laptop for use for schoolwork. Laptop distribution will be on the first day of school - August 23, 2021. Students will receive their laptops in their 1st period classes.  No technology fee will be charged this year.

LOCKERS:  Students may carry backpacks during the day to ensure that they have all of their school supplies with them in classes.  The classes have wall hooks for storage in classrooms.  Nevertheless, lockers will also be distributed on a request basis the first week of school if a student would like one.  ACTION ITEM: Students who wish to request one can visit the table at Open House or get the request form at lunches during the first week of school.  They will receive their locker number and combination from their counselor during the first few weeks of school.

RAISING THE BAR IN SOCIAL STUDIES:  We are excited to share with you our plan to raise the academic bar for all students at Langston Hughes Middle School for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond.  All students (with a few exceptions of students who need smaller group support) will be enrolled in Honors social studies classes – history and Civics. (Students receiving level IV advanced academics services will still be grouped together for “AA” courses in these subjects.)  Our social studies classes have already been designed as project and performance-based classes and past students have been overwhelmingly successful. We believe that all of our students can engage with the honors extensions and have the support needed to be successful. We believe that this plan will increase students’ access to rigorous instruction and open up future academic opportunities for all students. Please be sure to reach out to our Director of Student Services and Social Studies Administrator, Michele Beard, at  mbeard@fcps.edu  with any questions you might have.  . 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: On the first day of school students are expected to come prepared with a notebook and a pencil.  A grade level specific school supply list can be found on the Hughes Middle School website. Individual teachers may require additional supplies, and students will be provided with this information once school begins. You can find our school supply list here: https://hughesms.fcps.edu/about/supply-list.

LUNCH PROGRAMS: School lunches and breakfast will be free to all students for the 2021 – 2022 school year

CLINIC: For students who will need to take medications during school hours, parents may bring medication and forms to the Hughes Clinic on August 19 from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during our Open House.  The physician’s form must be completed, and the medication must be in the original container.  Over the counter medications (e.g. Tylenol) must be in the original package.  A form must be completed for students to carry an Epi-pen or an inhaler.  Students are otherwise never permitted to carry medications with them.   Forms are available at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/school-health-services. Parents/guardians may also bring medication and forms to the clinic once school starts.  Contact the Public Health Nurse, MaryEllen Wolf at mwolf@fcps.edu  with any questions about FCPS medication policy or if you need to make arrangements for an alternate drop-off date and time. 

UPCOMING DATES:

  • Thursday, August 19 - Open House 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm or 4:30-6:30 pm
  • Thursday, August 19, - 7th Grade AVID Binder Kick-off 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
  • Monday, August 23 - First Day of School and Laptop Distribution
  • Wednesday, September 1 - Back to School Night 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
  • Friday, September 3 and Monday, September 6 - Labor Day holidays - No school
  • Monday, September 13- PTA Meeting 7:00-8:00 pm, Pre-meeting Topic: Schoology and Fall SOLs

Please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of my administrative team should you have any concerns or suggestions throughout the year.  We look forward to working with your student this year! 

Director of Student Services - Michele Beard mbeard@fcps.edu 

7th Grade Administrator - Amy Smith aesmith2@fcps.edu 

8th Grade Administrator - Sharon Duncan-Hudspeth sdduncanhuds@fcps.edu 

Sincerely,

 

Aimée Monticchio

Principal

 

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