The New Desert Hills

HAWK EXPRESS

KSD WEB SITE FOR

SNOW INFO: www.ksd.org

Report Cards will go

home with students

on January 29th!

Desert Hills Middle School - January/February 2016

Our Web Site: http://deserthills.ksd.org

Please check the website for all school information BEFORE calling the office. All events, schedules, calendars,

homework calendar, etc. are updat-

ed daily. Thanks!!

Important

Phone

Numbers

Office: 222-6600

Attendance: 222-6614

FAX: 222-6601

The New Desert

Hills is coming right

along! The Class-

room areas are en-

closed from the

weather and have

been sheet rocked

and painted. Some

of the classrooms

have had cabinets

installed and are

ready for flooring!

Other areas still

need to have the

walls and roof com-

pleted. The building

is right on schedule

and should open on

time, weather per-

mitting!

In fact, August 26th at 10:00 a.m. has been selected as the time for our ribbon-cutting ceremony! It will be

here before we know it!

On another note, letters announcing your child’s boundary school were mailed home in November. If you would

like your child to go to a school other than his or her boundary school, please submit a transfer request form

before the January 29th deadline.

NAEP 2016 PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION LETTER DBA grade 8 pilot assessments - Desert Hills Middle School

January 5, 2016 Dear Parent or Guardian:

Some of Desert Hills Middle School’s eighth graders will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on January 26th. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common measure of student achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public.

Your child might take a mathematics, reading, or writing pilot assessment on a tablet. The assessment also asks students questions about their daily routine and their educational experiences. For example, students are asked if there is a computer at home and about the amount of read-ing they do. Student responses provide context and meaning to the assessment results. Please visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/booklets.asp to review sample questions. The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students. The results are completely confidential (in accordance with the Confidential Infor-mation Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347). The information collected is used for statistical purposes only, and the results are anonymous. Your child’s grades will not be affected. Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the as-sessment, and may skip any question. While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify me in writing by January 19, 2016.

There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. A brochure that explains what participation

in NAEP means for you and your child is available at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. Please contact Leslie Siev-

ers at (509) 222-6237 or at leslie.sievers@ksd.org if you have any questions.

Eighth grade students who have been chosen to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be notified with a letter the first week of January. We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that Desert Hills' students will show what our nation’s students know and can do.

Sincerely, Steve Jones,

Principal

Canned Food Drive

Congratulations, Desert Hills!! Although we did not reach our goal of 4500 cans, we did collect over 3800 cans for families in need with over 1000 coming in on the last day!! King still finished 1st with 8.6 cans per student for 6th grade but Pasma came out of nowhere to take the 2nd place spot from Kadinger, and Seffens came out of nowhere to take 3rd. Patterson finished way ahead of the pack with a whopping 12.9 cans per student guaranteeing him 1st place with Barnes still in 2nd and Rallens coming in at 3rd. In 8th grade the classes fought hard until the end with the Counse-lors coming in on top, Office at 2nd, the Library at 3rd, Murphy maintain-ing 4th and Phillips ending with a 5th

place finish.

The following 1st period classes will be served Hot Cocoa and Cookies by the Leadership Class sometime in January.

King Patterson Counselors Office Library Phillips

Thanks to everyone for their help making this years canned food drive

a success.

HAWK EXPRESS

LUNCH BUNCH SCHEDULE

7TH GRADE 8TH GRADE 6TH GRADE

Monday: R. Rallens, room 433

Otheim room 418 Sievers, room 400

Tuesday: Hanan, Tech Otheim room 418 Hanan, Tech Sievers, room 400

Wednesday: R. Rallens, room 433 Hanan, Tech

Taylor, room 417 Hanan, Tech

Thursday: Hanan, Tech Otheim room 418 Hanan, Tech

Friday Hanan, Tech Hanan, Tech Taylor, room 417

BOX TOPS

CONTEST

Natural Helpers are running their Box Tops contest, which will end January 7th. The con-test will occur in SLAM classes, and the win-ning class will get do-nuts on January 21st.

High School and

Transfer

Information

DEADLINE FOR IN-DISTRICT

TRANSFERS is January 29th.

Forms are available in our office or on the DHMS web site. If you live outside of the KSD district, you must reapply every year to be able to attend Kennewick schools.

“Like bacteria in a hospital, chronic absenteeism can wreak havoc long before it is discovered.” That’s a quote from a study, “The Importance of Being There: A Report on Absenteeism in the Na-tion's Public Schools.”

Scholastic Book Fair January 29th

and February 1-3, 2016

Thank you DHMS PTO for running the Scholastic Book Fair to support reading and the library. The Book Fair will take place a half hour before school, and throughout the day until a half hour after school. Further information will be coming home closer to the date of the fair. There will also be an on-line book fair where you can shop on-line and the books will be delivered to the school and given to your child to bring home. I would like to thank you in advance for your support of reading and the library. If you have any ques-tions please contact the DHMS Library.

End of First Semester

T-shirts or

Texas Roadhouse

Coupons

February 4 SLAM

January/February Star Highlighters February 18SLAM

March Smiley Pens March 17 SLAM

End of 3rd Quarter 1 student, 1 adult

Fever Tickets

April 14 SLAM

April Blizzard coupons April 14 SLAM

May/June Neon Sunglasses June 2 SLAM

End of 2nd semester Blizzard coupon and

Water bottles

June 2 SLAM

Homework Help

Students can stay after school to

get help from a math teacher every

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from

2:30-3:15 p.m. Mr. Grillo is the

homework help teacher, and his room

is 432.

Fever Game Night - April 3

Attendance Matters 7:05-10:00 p.m. The school with the most attendance wins a visit from the Tri Cities FEVER! (We won last

year and it was FUN!! ) Cost $9-16.00 at the

Toyota Center.

2015 HAWK TROT WINNERS

HAWK EXPRESS

The 37th Annual Hawk Trot took place on Wednesday, November 27, 2013.

The students ran the entire course on the back field in full view of all spec-

tators. Lots of supportive cheering took place as runners passed by the fans

at various times. The winners this year were:

6TH GIRLS 1st Alyssa Suh 7:30 6TH BOYS 1st Matthew Roth 6:19

2nd Elsa Young 7:37 2nd Andrew Holladay 6:20

3rd Lillian Hill 7:42 3rd Ray Chavez 6:25

7th GIRLS 1st McKinzi Teeples 6:49 7th BOYS 1st Cameron Gutierrez

2nd Maddie Morgan 6:53 2nd Cole Hinton 6:15

3rd Carli Jones 6:54 3rd Brayden Freitag 6:17

8th GIRLS 1st Keely McCormick 6:27* 8th BOYS 1st Jonah Franco 5:37

2nd Kahlea Sullivan 6:55 2nd Preston Glade 5:40

3rd Brooklyn Lowe 6:58 3rd Benson Smith 5:52

Thank you to PTO for providing the prizes!

PTO NEWS

Officers President: Angie Schwartz

Vice President: Lisa Howell

Treasurer: Michelle Swaney

Secretary: Wendy Cicotte

Volunteer Coordinator: Lisa Howell

8th Grade Rep: Kim Chen

7th Grade Rep:

6th Grade Rep: Kim Devere

Site Council Rep: Angie Schwartz

We appreciate the wonderful dinner you prepared for us at Conferences, and for the donations and time you gave for the Turkey Trot , Social, and Jingle Bell Walk!

LIKE us on FACEBOOK “Desert Hills

Middle School PTO” and check out volun-

teerspot.com when you get those emails.

(check your junk mail!)

Parent Volunteers PTO is recruiting Parent Volunteers for the following

events and projects:

PTO Meetings - January 5 @ 12:30 p.m. and

Feb. 2nd @ 12:30 pm

LAST SOCIAL OF THE YEAR: Chaperones needed

on February 10, 1:23-3:30 pm. (we’ll need 12 volun-

teers)

HONORS BREAKFAST: February 26th - 8th Grade

students who’ve been on the Honor Roll* for the last

5 semesters will receive an invitation. Would you like

to serve food? *with a 3.75 g.p.a. or better

SHOPAROO.COM: Please load the app, pick DHMS

PTO, and snap pictures of your receipts with the app.

It’s a super-simple way to earn money for the PTO

and the school!

The 38th Annual Hawk Trot took place on Wednesday, November 25, 2015. The students ran the entire course on

the back field. Lots of supportive cheering took place as runners passed by the fans. The winners this year were:

Thank you to Dr. Week at Signature Orthodontics and Yoplicity for providing the prizes!

6th Grade Girls Time 6th Grade Boys Time

1st Emily Gray 7:42 Isaac Teeples 6:34 1st

2nd Emily Larson 7:43 Albert Vierra 6:53 2nd

3rd KaiLi Knapp 8:09 Kase Ostler 7:16 3rd

7th Grade Girls Time 7th Grade Boys Time

1st Elysia Moore 7:21 Matt Metcalf 6:30 1st

2nd Rylee Franklin 7:22 Kolter Lynch 6:31 2nd

3rd Charly Scherbarth 7:30 Isaac Edwards 6:40 3rd

8th Grade Girls Time 8th Grade Boys Time

1st Jessica Dunlap 7:07 1st Matthew Roth 6:14

2nd Olivia Lee 7:34 2nd Jax Weide 6:16

3rd Nicole Anderson 7:35 3rd Andrew Holladay 6:23

BAND HAPPENINGS

Saturday, January 30th, 2016 (all

day) is the Annual CBMEA SOLO &

ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL hosted at

Ochoa Middle School in Pas-

co. This will feature students on

various instruments as a soloist and

many ensemble opportunities as well.

Thursday, February 25th, 2015 at 6:00 pm is the Annual WINTER

GUEST ARTIST CONCERT in our Gymnasium. This year’s guest artist

is: Jeff Adamson on the trombone. We’ll start with the Jazz Band I,

followed by the 7th grade Blue Band, Jazz Band II, and sixth grade

Hawk Band. There will be a jazz band matinee on Wednesday, Febru-

ary 24th in our Commons from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

ORCHESTRA

Saturday, January 30: CBMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest at Ochoa Middle School in Pasco. Select 6th, 7th & 8th grade only (requires a regis-tration fee for each entry.)

HAWK ASB

MEETINGS

All meetings are at 1:30-

2:10 p.m. in the Library.

January 20, 2016

February 17, 2016

Hawk News

is going

DIGITAL!

This will be our last

printed newsletter.

Coming in late Janu-

ary you can expect an

e-newsletter to be

delivered to your

email address - so make sure that we have the email ad-

dress you’d like us to use. E-newsletters will be sent once

a month so you’ll be up-to-date. There will also be links to

relevant web sites if you want additional information. All

Mixing Up Study Time

Playing sports and games, using

technology, and spending time

with friends are fun activities

your middle grader can use to

spice up his study routine.

Share these ideas:

Shoot and score:

Encourage your student to turn studying into a sport! He could

crumple up a used piece of paper for a “basketball” and shoot

it into a laundry basket after each review question he gets

right Or he might pretend it’s a hockey puck and use a broom

to sweep it between two chair legs when he answers correctly.

Read and listen

Have your youngster record himself reading a textbook chap-

ter or class notes into a smartphone or an MP3 player with a

microphone. He can play it back while he takes a walk or rides

in the car. Saying and then hearing the information will give

him two ways to study it.

Play and win

Your tween could play games while he studies. He might use

alphabet cereal to spell history or science vocabulary terms.

How many can he spell, and define out loud, in five minutes?

Or when solving practice problems for a math test, have him

draw a game board-style path and color in a space for each

right answer.

Film and review

Suggest that your child and his

buddies make a video study guide.

They can take turns filming each

other as they explain material

from their books and notes in

their own words. They’ll gain a

deeper understanding of the ma-

terial - and have a guide to review

later.

TRANSFER INFORMATION Out of district students, and those who wish to attend a school

other than their boundary school, must fill out and submit a

Transfer Request Form, available at www.ksd.org. Click on Par-

ents, Register for School, and Transfers Requests. Last day that completed forms will be accepted at the District Office is Friday, January 29th. In-district trans-

fer requests are usually accommodated

if there is space available, your child is

in good standing, and there are not ath-

letic implications. If you live outside of

the Kennewick School District, you must

reapply every year to be able to remain

in the Kennewick School District.

NURSE’S NOTES: This time of year there are increased cases of the Flu. Some of the symptoms of Influenza are: head ache, fever, dry cough, sore throat,

runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are also common. If your child displays flu symptoms please keep them

home until they are fever free, without fever reducing medications, for 24 hours.

Seek medical care if your child

Has difficulty breathing, ineffective coughing, or chest pain

Blue/ purple skin, lips or nailbeds

Vomiting and unable to keep liquids down

Signs of dehydration

Seizures

Confusion or less responsive

To minimize the spread of this and many other communicable diseases:

Encourage your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and to cough into their

elbow (If your child is unable to cover their cough, keep them home until the cough is gone.)

Wash hands frequently with soap and water when caring for your child.

Use waterless hand cleaner when water is not available

Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth. (If your child touches his/ her face frequently, they could be at higher risk for

getting ill.)

Discourage any sharing of drinks and utensils. (Use a dishwasher to clean cups and utensils

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT NOTIFICATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible stu-dents") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are: (1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the School principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The School official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. (2) The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the School to amend a record should write the School principal [or appropriate school official], clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the School will notify the parent or eligible stu-dent of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing. (3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is dis-closure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the School as an ad-ministrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit person-nel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using its own employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an ed-ucation record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. [Optional] Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. [NOTE: FERPA re-quires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.] (4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Schoo1 District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and ad-dress of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland A venue, SW; Washington, DC 20202-5920

[NOTE: In addition, a school may want to include its directory information public notice, as required by §99.37 of the regulations, with its annual notification of rights under FERPA.]

Kennewick School District's Non-Discrimination Policy The Kennewick School District provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or use of trained dog, guide or service animal by a person with a disability, and provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimina-tion:

January 2016 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

NO SCHOOL 1

New Year’s Day

4 5 6 7 8

Return to school

1:10 pm Early Release

Box Tops for Education

ends

11 12 13 14 15

1:10 pm Early Release

Hawk Spirit Day -

wear DHMS Hawk gear!

Club and Group Pictures

8th grade Class picture

18 19 20 21 22

Martin Luther

King, Jr. Day

NO SCHOOL

1:10 pm Early Release

1:15 ASB meets - Library

10:40 am EARLY RELEASE

(Report Card prep)

25 26 27 28 29

NAEP Grade 8 Pilot

Assessment

1:10 pm Early Release

BOOK FAIR STARTS

In-District Transfer Forms due

Report cards going home with

students

February 2016 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1 2 3 4 5

BOOK FAIR BOOK FAIR BOOK FAIR

1:10 pm Early Release

SPORTS-WEAR DAY!

8 9 10 11 12

VOTE!

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday

1:10 pm Early Release

1:30 pm “Friendship” Social

Box Tops For Education

starts

15 16 17 18 19

President’s Day

NO SCHOOL

1:10 pm Early Release

1:15 pm ASB meets—Library

22 23 24 25 26

1:10 pm Early Release

6:00 pm BAND CONCERT

Honors Breakfast