Monday, February 10, 2014

Welcome to the second semester!


Welcome to the second semester!  I trust that all of you enjoyed a relaxing Winter Break a few weeks ago.  It certainly was good to get some time away from schoolwork, and it was great to see how refreshed our students and staff looked as they returned in January.

This time of year is always a busy one for us at HMS.  We’ve just finished up all of our eighth grade exams and we’re already beginning our preparation for next year.  Teachers are busy making course recommendations, and our ParentPortal will be opened up at the end of January for parents and students to select their courses for the 2014-2015 school year.  January will bring our first ever “Seventh-grade Shindig,” a special evening of fun activities just for our seventh grade students.  Spirit week will hit in February with students dressing up in crazy costumes and then challenging our staff in volleyball and basketball games.  This marking period also brings our first foray of the year into SOL testing with our eighth grade students taking their writing test in mid-March.  There seems to always be something happening at Henley, and I hope that your children are finding some ways to take part. 

The first semester officially ended on January 17, and current semester grades should now be available via ParentPortal.  We will be mailing printed report cards to all students later this month.  Please take some time to sit down with your son or daughter and discuss their progress to date.  If they are doing well, what plans to they have to keep their strong work going?  If their grades have slipped, how can they get back on track in marking period three?  I think that the third marking period is always the most difficult one to keep students motivated.  Please be sure that you are checking on their progress regularly and encouraging them to do their best.

This school year has been an outstanding one so far.  I can’t wait to see what the second half of the year will bring!

Go Hornets!

No comments:

Post a Comment