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Friday, August 5, 2022

Friday Memo - 8/5/22

Important dates
August 8 - Training for 6th grade Transition mentors
August 9 - 6th grade orientation
August 11 - District Opening Day and Hixson Opening faculty meeting August 12 - 4E & Safe Schools Trainings, work in classrooms, team/department meetings August 15 & 16 - Uninterrupted teacher work days August 17 - Professional Learning Communities professional development August 18 -
8th grade Band plays National Anthem at Busch Stadium (approx 12pm); Staff Pictures, Open House prep, Open House (3pm - 7pm)
August 22 - First day of school!
September 5 - No School; Labor Day
September 16 - Early Release Day; dismissal at 12:32 pm
September 16 - PLC Mini Conference presenter expression of interest email due to Mayes

Proposition S PASSED with 80.7% of the vote! Thank you voters!

Building access-Come on in!
All staff may access the building start Monday, August 8, 2022. New staff may get their keys and key card from Sarah Magruder. 

22-23 SY Staff t-shirts are in!
You can pick your shirt up starting on Tuesday, August 9, 2022! We hope you love it! PLEASE WEAR YOUR STAFF SHIRT TO DISTRICT OPENING DAY ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022!

Staff update
Dr. Heather Brown-Hudson was approved by the WGSD BOE last night! She will be our new, full time French teacher. Heather is coming to us with a wealth of experience teaching at the secondary and higher ed level, as well as a deep understanding of the French language! She is very excited to be joining our staff!

Laurie Forsythe (former counseling aid) will not be returning to Hixson Middle School this year. She has decided to move on to new opportunities. We thank Laurie for her service to Hixson last year, and wish her the absolute best! An instructional aide (Counseling) position has been posted so that we can replace Laurie.

Staff Recognition Committee & PBTE Committee
Human Resources is currently seeking volunteers for the Staff Recognition Committee and the PBTE Committee. If you are interested in serving on either of these committees, please email Shenita Mayes and she will submit your name to HR.

  • Staff Recognition Committee - Teacher, support staff, and admin committee designed to plan end-of-year staff recognition celebration for all staff.
  • PBTE Committee (Performance Based Teacher Evaluations) - Teacher and admin committee designed to preview and evaluate the teacher evaluation tools.

First two weeks of school schedule
Click the link below to access the first two weeks of school folder. Thank you to Jeff Atterberry for putting this all together. We will run the late start schedule during the first two weeks to allow time for community building and setting school norms for the first hour of the school day through Statesman Time. All of the lessons etc have already been prepared for you. 

First two weeks of school schedule and materials

Professional Development Opportunity for Salary Credit or Stipend
Please read the information below regarding a salary credit opportunity at Hixson this year!

Equity is defined as a state of existence that is reached when our social identities, and the intersections thereof, do not predict our outcomes. As educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that ALL students receive an education that allows them to thrive and reach their fullest potential. This means that our work with students is purposefully loving, affirming, challenging, and empowering. 


In this salary credit course, participants will learn and implement specific strategies/techniques/approaches to instruction that will yield equitable outcomes for the students they serve. The course will begin with an immersion experience that will give a glimpse into the history of education in St. Louis, connecting the equity issues that we see today to their historical origins. Then, participants will meet every six weeks after school to continue their learning, reflect on what they’ve implemented, and discuss the results of the implementation. The salary credit course will culminate in a celebration and an opportunity to assist building administration with planning professional development for the 23-24 school year. 


Facilitators: Mike Hazelton, Shenita Mayes, Jason Heisserer (consultant + former Hixson principal)


Meeting Schedule:

  • Saturday, September 24, 2022: History of education in STL Immersion Experience; 9am to 2pm

  • Tuesday, November 1, 2022: 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

  • December 13, 2022: 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

  • January 24, 2023: 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

  • March 7, 2023: 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

  • April 18, 2023: 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

  • May 16, 2023: 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm (celebration)

  • May 31 OR June 1, 2023: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (professional development planning)

  • Four “on your own” assignments will be embedded throughout the year. They will each require one hour of time. 


Based on this meeting schedule, this course is worth 2 salary credits or a $360 ($15/hr for 24 hours) stipend. If you would like to sign up for this professional development opportunity, please email Mike Hazelton and Shenita Mayes. All staff are welcome!


New Staff Devices
Last year, former Steger staff received new teaching laptops. This year, our 7th, 8th, elective teachers and support staff (who did not receive one last year) will be issued new devices. This process will require you to backup your current laptop to the cloud/GoogleDrive. If you need assistance with this matter, please submit a technology request here: New Tech Req System

The devices will be rolled out through the library this year. Once your device is ready for pick up you will be emailed. When you come to get your new teaching laptop, please bring your current device to be turned back in. Please note, devices will not be fully wiped until summer 2023.

Things to know about your new teaching laptop:
  • They use a USB-C (flat) charger which you will be issued.
  • They work with your current docks so keep the charges connected to your docks.
  • You will need to add printers to your new device after you log in: Directions can be found here: Connecting to a Hixson Printer
  • If there is any specific software you use on your current laptop you will need to install it on your new one (send tech req if assistance is needed).
  • New devices have a camera cover should you want to cover your camera when not in use (please do not use tape/stickers/post it etc on your laptops)
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Jason P. Heisel, our building technology specialist, to assist you.

Crowdsourcing Application
If you decide to use a crowdsourcing website for something for your classroom, please be sure to complete the application below prior to posting the request on the crowdsourcing website. This is a directive from our CFO, Pam Frazier. You need to complete the application, turn it in to me, then I will sign it and turn it in to Pam. Thank you in advance for cooperating with this process.


Work Orders
The district transitioned to a new work order system in July called Qware. As a result, you can no longer submit work orders in School Dude. Please view the instructions for submitting work orders (below) that Bill K (District Tech) provided to all staff on July 7, 2022. 


If you come across something that needs to be repaired in or out of your classroom, please be sure to contact Mike Hazelton and/or Jeff Atterberry prior to submitting a work order so that they can assist you. It is the responsibility of building administration/maintenance to assist teachers in initiating the process of getting repairs done in classrooms. 

PBTE Memo
Please be sure to read the PBTE Memo from Dr. Wiley-Skinner, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. 

Middle School THRIVE Program
We are excited to announce that we will be offering an after school WG Thrive entrepreneurial enrichment program for Hixson students starting September 2022, and are currently seeking applicants for after school program teachers. Please click the link below to read the job description, and use the After school activities sponsor sign up to express interest in being a sponsor!


A Call for After School Activities

We have had some AMAZING after school clubs and activities available to our students this year. Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors for creating unique opportunities for Hixson students to connect to school. If you are interested in sponsoring an after school activity, please click the link below.


After school activities sponsor sign up


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