Hagen Junior High Newsletter

September 2014

Principal Notes

Welcome to Hagen Junior High School!

I would like to welcome you to the 2014-2015 school year at Hagen Junior High. We have many exciting

opportunities for students at Hagen Junior High School. Students not only have access to wonderful courses,

but a multitude of intracurricular and extracurricular activities. Please encourage your child to participate in at

least one intracurricular or extracurricular activity.

This year’s theme is BEST Opportunities. Students are divided into the four teams of Believe, Engage, Strive,

and Trust. If students and staff Believe in themselves by Engaging in opportunities and Striving to do their best;

we Trust everyone will have a great year.

Powerschool Online System

Monitoring grades and discipline at Hagen Junior high is easy. All parents need to do is log into Powerschool

(www.dickinson.k12.nd.us) using the username and password that was given to them at registration. If you have

misplaced your username and password, please call the office for a new one. Grades are updated on a weekly

basis usually on Friday.

At Hagen Junior High School we expect students and staff to be respectful, responsible, and cooperative. When

students are not respectful, responsible, and cooperative they may be given a behavioral intervention form or

disciplinary documentation form. The occurrence of these forms can be monitored by parents in PowerSchool

under discipline.

When positive behavior is observed students may receive a 200 club card. This card is mailed home indicating

what the student did to receive recognition and which teacher observed it. Student’s names are then put on a

board for a chance to win a t-shirt. Students may also receive “Gotcha” cards when they are “caught” doing

something great. They can turn in the gotcha cards for prizes on Friday at lunch in the school store.

Parent Advisory Council

I encourage parents to become involved in their children’s education by becoming a member of the Hagen/Berg

PAC (Parent Advisory Committee). The first meeting of the Hagen/Berg PAC will be on September 11th

at

noon in room 101 at Hagen Junior High School. Please contact the Hagen office at 456-0020 if you are

interested in becoming a member or you may simply just show up on September 11th

at noon.

Peanut & Nuts

We do have multiple students in our building that have peanut allergies. If you have a child that brings a sack

lunch or snacks to school please remind them to be very careful when bring anything with a peanut or nut

product. There are designated peanut free zones in the cafeteria and I expect the student body to be responsible

and sanitary when eating peanut or nut products.

Dress Code Expectations

Please take a moment to visit with your child about dress code at school. The Hagen dress code can be found on

page nine of the student handbook (student planner). A few items to discuss for boys might be no tank tops and

pants need to be pulled up and at waist level. For girls shoulder straps on blouses or tanks must be greater than

2” and no midriff should show. If your daughter wears leggings or yoga pants they must cover their front

private area and back side with a longer shirt, sweatshirt, or blouse. Girls should not wear low cut tops that

reveal cleavage. Any clothing that is vulgar, is gang relater, or belittles other races, genders, nationalities, or

religion has no place at school.

Pick up & Drop Off

Drop off is in the front (south side) of Hagen every morning. Students will go directly to the gym until 8:08

when they are dismissed to class, which starts at 8:15. Breakfast is served for those who wish to eat at school

from 7:45-8:00. For students who need extra time with homework they may get a pass from the supervisor in

the gym and report to the library. For pick up 7th

grader parents should use the front (south side) of the school

and 8th

parents the back (north side).

I look forward to a great school year,

Marcus Lewton

Important Announcements:

! Hagen/Berg PAC Meeting, September 11 at noon, Room 101 at Hagen

! School Pictures, September 25

! No School, September 29, Staff Professional Development Day

! Parent/Teacher Conferences, October 7&8, 3:40 pm – 6:40 pm

Dance Team at Hagen!

Dance Team will be starting in October. Please contact Mrs. Muckle if

you have any questions. More information will come later this month.

Extracurricular Activities

Tennis

Volleyball

Cross Country

Football

Basketball

Wrestling

Golf

Track

Dance

Intracurricular Activities

Academic Groups

Honor Choir

Jazz Band

School Paper

Science Club

Student Council

Technology Student Association

Yearbook

Counselor’s Corner: Who are we and what do we do? Mrs. Sarah Benson, M.S. Counselor: I am so happy to be at Hagen Jr. High this year! Prior to joining the

Hagen crew, I was a high school counselor in Minnesota. I am originally from Sandstone, MN but Dickinson

already feels like home. I am a proud Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and served in the Army National

Guard for seven years. My favorite thing about working with students is being able to watch their personal and

academic growth every day. I look forward to collaborating with students, staff and parents for the good of our

students. Mrs. Lynelle Urlacher, M.S. Counselor: I am very excited to be joining the staff at Hagen Junior High. My

home school is Berg Elementary, but this year I will be helping out at Hagen on Thursday and Friday

mornings. You may also see me around the building at other times as the need arises. I am in the cupboard

under the stairs on the main floor right next to Harry Potter, stop by and see me when I am in the building. I am

always amazed at how much students grow and mature between sixth and seventh grade and now I look

forward to seeing the social and emotional growth that emerges in the junior high years.

What we do

Classroom Guidance Lessons that teach skills such as healthy decision making,

resolving conflicts and respecting others

Work collaboratively with students, parents and teachers to identify and remove

barriers to learning

Support Students by teaching skills for achieving success

Help students to recognize and make the best of their abilities

Counsel students individually and in small groups

Provide support during personal crisis

Coordinate referrals to outside agencies if needed

Help student explore their learning styles and multiple intelligences

Design interventions to enhance student success

How does a student see a counselor?

Self referral

Request by the counselor

Parent referral

Administrative referral

Teacher or other staff referral

Referral by friend(s)

Dickinson Public Schools Experiences Growth: At the start of this year, 3,517 students were enrolled in our schools. This figure shatters the Dickinson Public School

enrollment record that was established in 1986 of 3,271. Our overall increase from last May to the start of school was 302 or

9.4%.

Parents, community members, students, teachers, staff, administrators and Board of Education members collaborated to

develop a community driven plan that will meet anticipated capacity challenges. A proposed solution to these growing needs is a

new 960 student middle school. This solution would involve moving our sixth graders a new middle school and repurposing Berg

into a K-5 school. As a result, the DPS Board of Education has placed a $65 million bond issue on the October 7th, 2014 ballot.

Residents are urged to get out and vote on this matter. The following polling locations will be open on October 7th:

Lincoln Elementary- 102 10th St. West, Dickinson

Jefferson Elementary- 599 11th Ave. West, Dickinson

Prairie Rose Elementary- 2785 10th Ave. West, Dickinson

Heart River Elementary- 720 7th St. Southwest, Dickinson

Dunn County Courthouse- 205 Owens St, Manning, ND

The proposed solution will result in a tax increase of $21 per month on a home assessed at $187,600.

Here is a summary of the driving needs of this initiative:

Information contained in the Hagen Junior High school’s monthly newsletter is available on our website:

www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/hjh. Anyone not having access to internet service may receive a hard copy by

indicating “yes” below.

__________ YES – I need to have a hard copy of the newsletter mailed to me at:

Name:______________________________________________________________

Mailing Address:______________________________________________________

HJH Student Names:___________________________________________________

(Signature of Parent/Guardian) (Date)

Please return to Hagen Junior High Office

Barb Bonicelli, Technology Integration Specialist

bbonicelli@dpsnd.org

PowerSchool Back Up and Running. Logins and passwords were given to parents and to students at registration for

accessing PowerSchool at https://dickinson.ps.state.nd.us/public/home.html. For the past 2 weeks, there has been some

updating tech work done behind the scenes which caused the website to be unavailable but everything is up and running

again. Please help your child (or have your child help you!) access PowerSchool to see grades, attendance, and behavior

updates as they happen. Schedule to receive grade-update emails at any time, if you wish.

Office 365. Most all of our 8th graders were working with Office 365 and OneDrive last year. Within the next couple of

weeks, 8th graders will be re-oriented, if necessary, to their accounts and features available to them at anytime, anywhere

using the Office 365 account they have been given. New students and any 7th graders who haven’t use this type of

account before will be also have a chance to get their accounts up and running for their use throughout the school year and

beyond.

Khan Academy & Read Theory. Our teachers--math, language, Title 1 and specialists, are incorporating some pre-

teaching, review and re-teaching of math skills using Khan Academy, and reading comprehension skills using Read

Theory. Their Hagen students have been given logins and passwords to use at school or at home any time to help students

achieve the best possible competency in the areas of language and numeracy.

Please donate coats and accessories from September 1

– September 24

to one of the following locations

RSVP+

117 1st Street East

or

Sax Motor

52 21st Street East

Coats will be available at Project Service Connect on

October 16 at Dickinson National Guard Armory from

9:00-3:00.

© 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

September 2014

What’s one of the biggest differences between ele-mentary school and mid-dle school? A greater need for organization! With multiple courses and more homework, your tween can bene-fit from strategies like these to keep her stuff straight.

LockerAn organized locker

will help your tween quickly grab what she needs. It’s a good idea to place textbooks in the order of her classes on a shelf with the spines showing. A shoebox could store extra supplies like pens, erasers, and calculator batteries. Periodically, she should clear out clutter and take home items she isn’t using.

Homework areaWhether your middle grader works at

a desk or the kitchen table, keeping sup-plies handy will make study time more efficient. Perhaps she’ll arrange them in a shower caddy or in clear jars. Also, have

Meet the teachers Touching base with your child’s teachers at the

beginning of the year helps establish a relationship that makes it easier to communicate later. Attend a back-to-school night or parent orientation ses-sion. If you can’t make it, send emails or notes to introduce yourself and share a little about your middle grader.

Last word Does your tween insist on having the last word during disagreements? If so, try working on her conflict resolution skills. The next time there’s an argu-ment, suggest compromising—and letting it go. (“Both of us should’ve remembered to return the movie. Let’s put a reminder on the door next time.”)

Family time—on foot When your child is going somewhere within walking distance, consider joining him for a walk instead of driving him. You might head to the library or to the store for project sup-plies. You’ll both get some exercise and a chance to catch up.

Worth quoting“Kindness is always fashionable.” Amelia Edith Barr

Just for fun

Q: What stays in the corner but travels the world?

A: A postage stamp.

A+ organizing

All set for class

her develop a system for storing old tests and assignments. She might cover empty cereal boxes with construction paper and label one for each subject.

Backpack Busy students tend to dump every-

thing into their backpacks and leave it there. Suggest that your child clean out her bag after school every Friday. Soon it’ll become a habit, and she’ll be ready for a fresh start each Monday.

Being ready before class starts lays the groundwork for your child to do his best in school. Share these tips:

■ Suggest that he get out books, notebooks, and supplies when he takes his seat. Preparing to pay attention right away will help him focus and catch important information announced when class begins.

■ If he has time before the bell rings, he might skim yes-terday’s notes or textbook chapter. Doing so can jog his memory and help him participate in class discussions.

After he does homework each night, he could peek ahead to the next day’s les-son. That way, he’ll be prepared for what the teacher will be presenting.

ShortStops

Hagen Junior High School

© 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement,

and more effective parenting.

Resources for Educators,a division of CCH Incorporated

128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com

www.rfeonline.com

ISSN 1540-5540

O U R P U R P O S E

Middle Years September 2014 • Page 2

weekend, for instance. It’s best to plan

ahead—if he waits until Friday after-noon to ask, they might already have plans. Tip: Encour-age him to stick to

his plans (even if something better

comes up) so people know he’s reliable.

Think of conversation starters. Help your tween come up with topics to talk about so he won’t feel tongue-tied. Stay-ing up-to-date on music or sports can give him things to dis-cuss that other kids are likely to be interested in. Also, include him in adult conversations so he’ll hear potential topics.

Word wise ■Q I’ve heard that a good vocabu-lary makes students better readers and writers. How can my daugh-

ter increase hers?

■A You’re right—a bigger vocabulary lets your middle grader understand more of what she reads and gives her new words to choose from when she speaks and writes.

Encourage her to use words she learns in school on a regular basis. Make it into a game by having her track how many times she says a new science term for a week—and then she can try to beat her “score” by using a social studies term the next week.

When she studies, she might have fun illustrating new words (say, a brick wall for a barricade). Or she could list related words, such as police and cautious for vigi-lant. Hanging the pictures or lists over her desk can make the words become famil-iar—and a part of her vocabulary.

It’s a middle school social life

Feeling accepted is important for middle graders. But your tween’s classes might be filled with students he’s never met, and old friends may have moved away or made new friends. Here is advice that can make it easier to navigate the changing social scene.

Be approachable. Tell your child to think of everyone he meets as a potential friend. By smiling and say-ing hi in the halls or cafeteria, he could strike up conversa-tions with people he may want to spend more time with.

Make (and keep) plans. Suggest that your youngster take a chance and invite new friends over for pizza and a movie on a

I was surprised when I took my son Sam for a

checkup and our pediatrician brought up cyber safety. My friends all seem to have different rules for their kids about com-puters and phones, so I was interested in hearing the doctor’s thoughts. He said he is in favor of keeping laptops in the family room or kitchen where parents can supervise children online, and he thinks it’s a good idea to set up paren-tal controls on kids’ phones.

At home, I brought up the issue again with Sam. I told him that he isn’t allowed to share personal

Jazzed about learning Help your child find fresh ways to get motivated for a

new school year. Try these three suggestions.

1. Talk about how classes will help her outside of school. For example, an economics unit could help her manage money. Or if she’s learning Spanish, she’ll be able to talk to neighbors or storekeepers who speak Spanish.

2. Enthusiasm is contagious, so show excitement about what your tween is study-ing. Ask about math topics she’s working on, or let her describe a new form of poetry that she read.

3. Point out connections to current events and the latest technology. You might show her an article about the Mars rover if she’s studying the solar system or sug-gest that she look for a drawing app if she’s taking art.

Cyber “health” information or chat with strangers online. And I explained that because it’s my job to make sure he’s safe, I need to be around when he uses the computer. He doesn’t have a phone yet, but when he gets one, I’m going to look into the safety features that are available.

It was good to hear this information from someone we trust. Now even though his friends might not have the same rules as he does, at least my son got to hear the doctor’s professional opinion.

Q&A

Parent to

Parent

© 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

Healthy Ideas for Middle and High School Students September 2014

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Getting healthy can be fun! Encour-age your teen to build healthy habits—and to be a nutrition and fitness trendsetter—with strategies like these.

Positive peer pressureIt’s hard to pass up

fries or pizza when you’re out with friends. Instead, let your teenager bring friends home for snacks or meals. Shop together so you have healthy food on hand for impromptu get-togethers (vegetables and hummus, flavored selt-zer water instead of soda). Another idea: She could steer her friends into activities where food isn’t the focus, such as going for a hike or to a climbing wall.

New movesLearning a new exercise each month

will keep fitness fresh. Your teen can search online for cardio and strength exercises that interest her. Have her make a list of new exercises she wants to try, and she can check them off as she becomes a “pro.” Tip: Let her teach you

Hungry or thirsty? Our brains can’t always

tell the difference between hunger and thirst. Rather than grabbing a snack each time he thinks he’s hungry, your teen might try drinking a glass of water. It’s possible his body is actually just thirsty. He’ll get hydrated—and keep from overeating.

Ignore the clock The clock can make workouts seem longer than they are. Instead of watching how much time is left in an aerobics or Zumba class, your teen could focus on the instructor. Or if she’s on a cardio machine (treadmill, stair-stepper), she might cover the timer with a towel and concentrate on her music playlist.

Heavy backpacks add stress to growing spines.

Have your child weigh his book bag—it should be only 10–20 percent of his body weight. Suggest alterna-tives like leav-

ing books at home or in his locker when he doesn’t need them. Also, he should wear both backpack straps to distribute weight evenly on his shoul-ders and back.

Just for fun

Q: What do you get when you cross a potato with an onion?

A: A potato with watery eyes!

Let your meals do the traveling It’s a big world out there, and food can help

your teenager connect to new countries and cultures—an important skill in today’s global workplace. Consider these suggestions.

Grocery store. Visit ethnic markets together. Encourage your teen to notice interesting products and ask the storekeeper questions. (“Where is this grown?” “How could I use it in a recipe?”)

School travels. Talk with your child about the countries he’s studying in history or social studies. Have him research their food and customs (like eating with their fingers or with chopsticks), and try them at home.

Did You Know?

It’s cool to be healthy FASTTAKES

the new exercises—she’ll enjoy sharing what she’s learned.

EncouragementSuggest that your child make an

“inspiration board” for healthy eating and fitness. She could search magazines and websites for uplifting and healthy messages and images. Example: “I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.” Then, she should assem-ble them on an online board or on a poster to hang in her room. Seeing these inspiring messages can keep her on the right track.

Hagen Junior High School

© 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

O U R P U R P O S ETo provide busy parents with practical ways to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity for their children.

Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com

www.rfeonline.com

Teen Food & Fitness™ is reviewed by a registered dietitian. Consult a physician before beginning any major change in diet or exercise.

ISSN 1935-8865

September 2014 • Page 2Teen Food & Fitness™

Pair fruit with yogurt, nuts, or gra-nola for protein to keep your kids ener-getic and focused for homework and after-school activities.

Yogurt berry barkSpread nonfat yogurt in a dish,

and press blackberries or raspberries throughout. Freeze for one hour, and break off pieces for a healthy bark.

Dipped fruit sticksTake strawberries, kiwi,

grapes, or other fruits your teen likes, and skewer them with toothpicks. Dip

After-school fuel

showing up and participating in practices and games. As a bonus, he’ll get friendlier with kids who choose to be active in their free time.

Find your own. Discuss the types of physical activity he likes best.

No matter what he chooses, there’s a “group” way to do it. Even the more

solitary sports like swimming and golf have teams. Or he could ask a few friends

to set up a workout group or tennis round-robin. They can arrange to meet at the gym or tennis court a few times a week. He won’t want to let his friends down by not showing up—or to miss out on the fun.

Get your group on

When your child blends fitness with friends, he’s more apt to stick with the program. That’s because working out with friends holds him accountable—and makes exercise part of his social life. Here are two ideas.

Join a team. Encourage your teen to try out for a sports team or to join a recreational league at his school or community center. If he’s part of a team, he will be held responsible for

Buying fi sh on a budget Q: I’ve read that we should have fish twice a week, but it’s expen-

sive! How can I buy fish on a budget?

A: With a little planning, you can put fish and seafood on the table a few times a week without break-ing your budget. Generally, white fish like tilapia and haddock will be cheaper than other varieties. Keep an eye out for seasonal offerings or specials in the fish section, and ask when to expect sales on your favorites.

Look beyond the fresh fish counter, too. Frozen fish can be less expensive—and it’s just as healthy. Also, canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines) is a more eco-nomical option. Choose tins that are low in sodium and packed in water. Finally, you can hold costs down by watching portion sizes (one serving of fish is 3 ounces).

On your mark… Running is a great way

to build fitness and to learn to set personal goals. Start your child on the path to running with these steps.

1. Find a mentor. Have her reach out to a rela-tive or neighbor who runs. An avid runner will probably be happy to share his knowledge and may even offer to run with your tween. Athletic stores often sponsor running programs with volunteer coaches who can provide guidance, too.

2. Make a plan. Suggest that she create a calendar with the days she’ll run and her target times or distances (she can find guides in running websites or magazines). Remember, developing a new exercise program takes time. She should start slow and work her way up to longer times or farther distances.

3. Choose a race. There’s nothing like the applause of a crowd to spur her on. Encour-age your teenager to sign up for a 5K race a few months away. Then, be sure to cheer her home at the finish line—unless, of course, you’re running it yourself!

Q&A

In theK tchen

ACTIVITYCORNER

one end in fat-free yogurt and then in granola, chopped nuts, or even shaved chocolate.

Frozen PB & banana sandwichesSpread 1 tsp. peanut butter between

banana slices to make a sandwich. Dip into nonfat yogurt, and freeze for an hour. Store in the freezer in a zipper

bag. Note: If your child is allergic to peanuts, substitute another nut or seed butter like almond or sunflower.

SEPTEMBER 2014 DICKINSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12 MENUMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1 2 3 4 5No School French Toast Sticks Mini Corn Dogs Grilled Cheese Sandwich Egg Roll

Sausage Baked Beans Tomato Soup RiceYogurt Coleslaw Potato Wedges Stir-Fry VeggiesSweet Potato Puffs Carrots Broccoli Fruit ChoiceFruit Choice Fruit Choice Fruit Choice Milk, varietyMilk, variety Milk, variety Milk, variety

8 9 10 11 12Peperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes on Whole Grain Bun Stuffed Breadsticks with Sauce Turkey and Gravy Hamburger on Whole Grain BunWhole Grain Breadstick Baked Beans Broccoli and Carrots w Ranch Dip Mashed Potatoes Romaine Lettuce and Tomato Slices Marinara Sauce Potato Wedges Fruit Choice Whole Grain Roll Sweet Potato FriesGreen Beans Cauliflower and Broccoli w Ranch Dip Milk, variety Steamed Peas Baked BeansFruit Choice Fruit Choice Fruit Choice Fruit ChoiceMilk, variety Milk, variety Milk, variety Milk, variety

15 16 17 18 19Hot Dog on Whole Grain Bun Crispy Chicken Nuggets Taco on Whole Grain Shell BBQ Pork Sandwiches on WG Bun Crispy Chicken Patty on WG BunBaked Beans Mashed Potatoes Refried Beans Tangy Coleslaw Romaine Lettuce and Tomato Slices Corn Glazed Carrots Shredded Cheese Baked Beans Broccoli w Ranch DipFruit Choice Fruit Choice Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Salsa Fruit Choice Fruit ChoiceMilk, variety Milk, variety Cauliflower Milk, variety Milk, variety

Fruit ChoiceMilk, variety

22 23 24 25 26Meatballs and Gravy Popcorn Chicken Pizza Quesadilla Spaghetti w Meat Sauce Bean and Cheese BurritoMashed Potatoes Crisp Romaine Salad w Dressing Steamed Carrots Cold Peas Shredded CheeseWhole Grain Roll Whole Grain Breadstick Broccoli w Ranch Dip Whole Grain Garlic Toast Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, SalsaCorn Baked Beans Fruit Choice Fruit Choice Fruit ChoiceFruit Choice Fruit Choice Milk, variety Milk, variety Milk, varietyMilk, variety Milk, variety

29 30No School Cheese Lasagna Rolls with Meat Sauce

Whole Grain BreadstickCornFruit ChoiceMilk, variety

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Labor

Day

NO

School

2 3 4

Sports

Pictures

5

School

Dance

6 Cross Country-

Dickinson/

Heart River

7 8 9 8 VB @ Simle

7 VB vs. Simle

10 11 PAC Mtg at

noon at Hagen

8 FB @ Wachter

7 FB vs.Wachter

8 VB @ Wachter

7 VB vs.Wachter

12 13 Cross Country

@ Mandan

14 15 16 8th gr VB @

Mandan

7th gr VB vs.

Mandan

17 18 7 FB @ St.

Mary’s

8FB vs. St.

Mary’s

7 & 8 VB vs.

St. Mary’s

19 20 Cross Country

@ Bismarck

12 22 23 8th gr VB @

Horizon

7th gr VB vs.

Horizon

24 25 School

Pictures

7FB @ Simle

8FB vs. Simle

26 27

28 29 In-Service

NO School

7 & 8 VB @

Trinity

30 7 VB @ Simle

8 VB vs. Simle

Hagen Jr. High School Activity Calendar

September 2014