November 7, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

I hope your snowy and cold week was a good one! Thank you for continuing to model patience and flexibility as we as a district navigate the extremely difficult decision-making related to weather and school delays/closures. And I hope today has been fun!

AND, we are excited to celebrate that the CCSD community has supported the passing of ballot measures 4A/4B! Thank you for investing in our students and each other.

Finally, we are excited to be hiring an additional Security Specialist to join our staff. If you/someone you know is interested in learning more, please check out the posting here.

Please see below for information related to our Veterans Day Celebration, Book Fair, View of the Hill, and more.

Have a great weekend!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)
 

HCMS Military/Veteran Celebration

We will be recognizing veterans and active-duty members of the military from our community on Tuesday, November 12th (8:30am – 9:45am). Events will include a breakfast reception and a recognition ceremony. If you or someone you know would like to attend to be honored, please check out this invitation which includes a link to RSVP.

Mobile Food Truck – Free Food Market

There will be a mobile food truck at Summit Elementary School on Tuesday, November 12th  from 4:00 – 5:00pm in the bus loop (this is a new date). This market is open to the Smoky Hill feeder area! There will be free, fresh and shelf stable food items offered on a first come, first served basis. See attached for more information.

Scholastic Book Fair

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair: 

Dates: November 11-15th
Location: HCMS Library
There’s even more info on our school’s Book Fair homepage. While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds.

8th Grade Families – View of the Hill & IB Presentation

Smoky Hill High School will be hosting A View of the Hill on Tuesday, November 12th. This is an opportunity to learn about SHHS as students begin setting their sights on high school for next year. Please check out the accompanying attachment.

Additionally, students and staff members from Smoky Hill's International Baccalaureate (IB) program will soon be visiting Horizon Community to share information about the IB Program. The IB Program is a comprehensive and rigorous program designed to help students develop critical thinking skills, become confident and self-motivated, and learn to collaborate effectively. Smoky Hill is the only high school in Cherry Creek Schools that offers a full four-year program: IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for 9th and 10th graders and the IB Diploma Program (DP) for 11th and 12th graders. There is an application process for 8th grade students who are interested in being part of the IB Program.

PTCO Feedback

Our PTCO has created this Class Pass Fundraiser Feedback Form. Please complete it when convenient.

November 1, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

As we wrap up our semester 1 conferences, please remember that if you could not attend a conference this week, you are always welcome to call a teacher at any time. Some additional topics for this week:

1. As the weather changes, please ensure that your child is dressed warmly. Other than days when the weather is exceptionally poor, students will still remain outside until 8:40am, and we have outdoor recess on most days.
2. Our PTCO has created this Class Pass Fundraiser Feedback Form. Please complete it when convenient.
3. Please see information below regarding our upcoming Book Fair.
4. On Monday, November 4^th, we will be distributing ice cream to students who earned the Honor Roll from Quarter 1. This will occur during the last 15 minutes of Advisory classes (see Advisory class times below). Honor Roll certificates will be distributed to students when they arrive to Advisory class, and they will be sent to the Design Studio/Courtyard for a sweet treat and celebration. We have four levels of Honor Roll at HCMS:
   • Academic Excellence: 4.0 GPA
   • Academic Distinction: 3.75 – 3.99 GPA
   • Academic Achievement: 3.0 – 3.74
   • Academic Growth: Increase of .5+ GPA (awarded following Quarters 2, 3, and 4)

If you are interested in volunteering to help pass out ice cream, please contact Robert Jefferson, Assistant Principal, at rjefferson2@cherrycreekschools.org.

• 6^th Grade Advisory: 10:40am – 11:31am
• 7^th Grade Advisory: 11:35am – 12:26pm
• 8^th Grade Advisory: 12:30pm – 1:21pm

Thank you!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold

Principal

Horizon Community Middle School

720-886-6101 (office)

720-767-2352 (cell)

HCMS Military/Veteran Celebration

We will be recognizing veterans and active-duty members of the military from our community on Tuesday, November 12^th (8:30am – 9:45am). Events will include a breakfast reception and a recognition ceremony. If you or someone you know would like to attend to be honored, please check out this invitation which includes a link to RSVP.

Scholastic Book Fair

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair: 

• Dates: November 11-15^th
• Location: HCMS Library

There’s even more info on our school’s Book Fair homepage. While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds.

Mill & Bond Information

Cherry Creek Schools is looking to make investments in safety and security, teachers, innovation, technology, and major construction and maintenance projects at schools all across the district. Learn about the proposed projects in our community here.

Mobile Food Truck – Free Food Market

There will be a mobile food truck at Summit Elementary School on Wednesday, November 6^th from 4:00 – 5:00pm in the bus loop.  This market is open to the Smoky Hill feeder area! There will be free, fresh and shelf stable food items offered on a first come, first served basis. See attached for more information.

8^th Grade Families – View of the Hill & IB Presentation

Smoky Hill High School will be hosting A View of the Hill on Tuesday, November 12^th. This is an opportunity to learn about SHHS as students begin setting their sights on high school for next year. Please check out the accompanying attachment.

Additionally, students and staff members from Smoky Hill's International Baccalaureate (IB) program will be visiting Horizon Community on Friday, November 8^th to share information about the IB Program. The IB Program is a comprehensive and rigorous program designed to help students develop critical thinking skills, become confident and self-motivated, and learn to collaborate effectively. Smoky Hill is the only high school in Cherry Creek Schools that offers a full four-year program: IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for 9th and 10th graders and the IB Diploma Program (DP) for 11th and 12th graders. There is an application process for 8th grade students who are interested in being part of the IB Program. 

After School Activities & School Departure

To ensure student safety, expecially as days begin to get shorter in the months to come, we are asking that students who stay after school abide by consistent guidelines. Students who engage in after school athletics, activities, or academic tutorials should be in these spaces from 3:50pm – 4:40pm. Late buses depart at approximately 4:45pm, and rides should be arranged to pick all students up by 5:00pm. Students not engaged in these after school events should plan to leave campus at the end of the schol day (3:45pm).

Morning Traffic Information

We want to extend a heartfelt thanks for making our before school drop-off such a success! Your cooperation has helped create a smooth and efficient process, and we truly appreciate your efforts. As we move forward, here are a few reminders to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our students:

• Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, students may be directed indoors, and staff will be inside supporting them. Staff may not be outside directing traffic during these times. Please continue with the same drop-off procedures, being mindful of pedestrians.
• Be Patient: Please be patient with families as they drop off their students. It is important that we all work together to make this process as safe as possible.
• Exiting the Drop-Off Zone: Once you’ve dropped off your child, please allow cars in front of you to pull out safely before moving forward.
• Speed Limit: For the safety of all, please observe a speed limit of no more than 5 miles per hour in all driving areas.
• Drop-Off Zone: Students should only be dropped off in the designated drop-off zone. This ensures their safety while exiting vehicles.
• Pedestrian Safety: Always yield to pedestrians. Our students’ safety is the top priority.
• Special Circumstances: If you need to park or if your child requires special assistance (e.g., using crutches), please notify our staff, and we will assist you.

Thank you for your continued cooperation. Together, we can ensure a safe and smooth start to the school day for everyone.

Judi’s House

Judi’s House, a local nonprofit bereavement center, is collaborating with our school to offer a grief support group called Pathfinders. Any middle school student who is grieving the death of a significant person in their life is welcome. There is no cost for families to participate in the Pathfinders program. Pathfinders is a curriculum-based peer support group that meets 10 times for about an hour each week. Group facilitators from Judi’s House are trained counselors who partner with school staff and remain in contact with parents/caregivers throughout the program via email and phone calls. Please contact Elizabeth (Lys) Adler, School Psychologist, at madler2@cherrycreekschools.org if you are interested in learning more.

October 25, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

We are capping off our first week back today with a whole school assembly. In addition to playing fun games, promoting school spirit, and recognizing students who received PACK awards in the first quarter, the Smoky Hill High School Dance team is performing! Moving forward, we plan to have whole school assemblies on the Friday of the week we get back from breaks.

This week you should have received an automated email containing your student’s Quarter 1 report card. We apologize for any typos and the generic messaging. If you have any questions about your student’s report card, please contact our registrar, Terry Altman, at taltman3@cherrycreekschools.org. 

Next week our Student Council is sponsoring a Spirit Week! Fun dress up days for the week include:

• Monday: Hat and Silly Sock Day 
• Tuesday: Country vs Country Club
• Wednesday: Sports/Jersey Day
• Thursday: TV/Movie/Book Character Day

As a reminder, there is no school next Friday due to conferences (see additional information below).

Finally, in addition to other reminders below, please take time to read through information related to our morning drop off procedures. As weather begins to change, we will be asking for teamwork as a community to ensure safety for all.

Thank you, and welcome back!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)

Guest Speakers – 6^th Grade

6^th grade students had the opportunity to engage with four guest speakers from the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau on Thursday. Students heard from Amani from Tanzania/Burundi, Sara from Syria/Iraq, Lojohomoi from South Sudan, and Tetiana from Ukraine. These speakers shared their journeys from their home country to Colorado and what re-establishing their lives in the United States has been like. Their stories helped students build connections between what they had read in Language Arts through the fiction book Refugee by Alan Gratz and current refugees' real-life experiences in our world.

Medicaid and CHP+ Enrollment

The automatic renewal process for individuals and families enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) has ended. This means families must actively re-enroll or they will lose their Medicaid and CHP+ health coverage. CCSD is hosting a free sign-up event where Servicios De La Raza is offering Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment assistance at specific CCSD school site locations. Uninsured residents of Colorado may also apply for Medicaid and CHP+ enrollment assistance. Please see the attached flyer for details. 

Morning Traffic Information

We want to extend a heartfelt thanks for making our before school drop-off such a success! Your cooperation has helped create a smooth and efficient process, and we truly appreciate your efforts. As we move forward, here are a few reminders to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our students:

• Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, students may be directed indoors, and staff will be inside supporting them. Staff may not be outside directing traffic during these times. Please continue with the same drop-off procedures, being mindful of pedestrians.
• Be Patient: Please be patient with families as they drop off their students. It is important that we all work together to make this process as safe as possible.
• Exiting the Drop-Off Zone: Once you’ve dropped off your child, please allow cars in front of you to pull out safely before moving forward.
• Speed Limit: For the safety of all, please observe a speed limit of no more than 5 miles per hour in all driving areas.
• Drop-Off Zone: Students should only be dropped off in the designated drop-off zone. This ensures their safety while exiting vehicles.
• Pedestrian Safety: Always yield to pedestrians. Our students’ safety is the top priority.
• Special Circumstances: If you need to park or if your child requires special assistance (e.g., using crutches), please notify our staff, and we will assist you.

Thank you for your continued cooperation. Together, we can ensure a safe and smooth start to the school day for everyone.

HCMS Military/Veteran Survey

HC Families: Please complete this survey if you (or a family member) are an active-duty member of the military or a veteran. We want to recognize you at our ceremony on November 12^th (8:00am – 9:45am).

CCSD & HCMS Donation Drive

Horizon Community Middle School and the Cherry Creek School District are hosting a Donation Drive to support students and families this month. Smoky Hill High School and its feeder schools will be collecting individually-packaged snacks, shelf-stable items, and toiletries to stock our school-based community pantries until October 31^st. If you would like to make a monetary donation instead, please use this link. To purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist, click here. Donation drives are one of many ways we support students through our strategic plan, which includes a focus on literacy, whole wellbeing, and disproportionality. Visit CherryCreekSchools.org/DonationDrive for more information.

Mill & Bond Information

Cherry Creek Schools is looking to make investments in safety and security, teachers, innovation, technology, and major construction and maintenance projects at schools all across the district. Learn about the proposed projects in our community here.

8^th Grade Families – View of the Hill

Smoky Hill High School will be hosting A View of the Hill on Tuesday, November 12^th. This is an opportunity to learn about SHHS as students begin setting their sights on high school for next year. Please check out the accompanying attachment.

After School Activities & School Departure

To ensure student safety, expecially as days begin to get shorter in the months to come, we are asking that students who stay after school abide by consistent guidelines. Students who engage in after school athletics, activities, or academic tutorials should be in these spaces from 3:50pm – 4:40pm. Late buses depart at approximately 4:45pm, and rides should be arranged to pick all students up by 5:00pm. Students not engaged in these after school events should plan to leave campus at the end of the schol day (3:45pm).

Judi’s House

Judi’s House, a local nonprofit bereavement center, is collaborating with our school to offer a grief support group called Pathfinders. Any middle school student who is grieving the death of a significant person in their life is welcome. There is no cost for families to participate in the Pathfinders program. Pathfinders is a curriculum-based peer support group that meets 10 times for about an hour each week. Group facilitators from Judi’s House are trained counselors who partner with school staff and remain in contact with parents/caregivers throughout the program via email and phone calls. Please contact Elizabeth (Lys) Adler, School Psychologist, at madler2@cherrycreekschools.org if you are interested in learning more.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Our second round of semester one conferences will take place next week on Wednesday, October 30^th (virtual conferences from 4:00-7:30) and Friday, November 1st (drop-in, in-person conferences from 8:00-11:30, and virtual conferences from 1:00-4:00).

Click here to sign up for a virtual conference. Once on the bookings page, select the staff member you would like to conference with and the time slot you would like to book. You will receive an email with a Microsoft Teams link for the meeting. Please be sure to enter your email address correctly and sign up for the correct staff member.

No appointments are needed for drop-in conferences.

Please contact Clare Dardis, Campus Administrator, at cdardis@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6271 if you need assistance signing up for a virtual conference.

October 4, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

As we look ahead to the final week of the quarter, we are excited for students to engage in our Class Pass Fundraiser. Payments must be made by this Sunday (10/6), and we are still looking for parent volunteers (please see additional information below).

Also, while our next round of parent-teacher conferences is at the end of October (additional information is below), please do not feel you need to wait until then to speak with a teacher. You are welcome to contact any teacher at any time to schedule a meeting or call for an update on your student’s performance. Please also remember to check PowerSchool and Schoology on a regular basis.

Finally, as a reminder, our first quarter (and related grading) ends next week. Please make sure that your student is aware of exact due dates from each teacher for any outstanding work and/or test retakes.

Thank you!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)
 

Class Pass Fundraiser

Our teachers and staff deserve the best, and our upcoming Class Pass Fundraiser is a chance to show them how much they are appreciated. This will be our only large-scale PTCO fundraising event for the year, and funds will support teacher grants and appreciation efforts. AND, 100% of donations will go toward HCMS (as opposed to other fundraisers where portions go to the supporting company).

Here are the details:

• On Tuesday, October 8^th – Thursday, October 10^th, students will have the opportunity to participate in our “Class Pass” Fundraiser.
• Each grade-level will have their own day filled with fun activities (10/8 – 6^th grade, 10/9 – 7^th grade, 10/10 – 8^th grade).
• Students will make a donation of $5 for each class period that they opt to engage in alternate activities instead of attending class. Activities will include silent reading, tech time, games, and more! Students must “pass on” consecutive classes, starting with period one (not pick and choose which classes).
• Here is a link to submit payment for the Class Pass Fundraiser. Families are also welcome to make an additional donation to sponsor a student who might need assistance.
• Families, we will need your help on these three days! We are looking for volunteers to engage with students in each of the activities throughout each day. Please click on one of the grade-level links below to sign up for a slot.

6th GRADE

7th GRADE

8th GRADE

• Finally, we are also in need of “loaner” board games and video games for the day(s). If you are able to send these items with your child for them and others to enjoy on their day, please contact Natalie Rymer, our PTCO President, at hcms.ptco@gmail.com.

Judi’s House

Judi’s House, a local nonprofit bereavement center, is collaborating with our school to offer a grief support group called Pathfinders. Any middle school student who is grieving the death of a significant person in their life is welcome. There is no cost for families to participate in the Pathfinders program. Pathfinders is a curriculum-based peer support group that meets 10 times for about an hour each week. Group facilitators from Judi’s House are trained counselors who partner with school staff and remain in contact with parents/caregivers throughout the program via email and phone calls. Please contact Elizabeth (Lys) Adler, School Psychologist, at madler2@cherrycreekschools.org if you are interested in learning more.

Writing at HCMS

We would like to highlight one area of our academic plans, writing. To support our students’ growth as writers, we have significantly increased the amount of writing students do in all classes. We have also chosen the schoolwide writing format of Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) as a consistent way to teach and provide feedback on writing. We believe this clarity and focus will support our continuous improvement efforts as a school. Interested in learning more? Just ask your student! Please have them share samples of their writing with you, and please ask them to tell you about Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER). You are also welcome to ask any teacher at any time how your student’s writing is improving in their class.

HCMS Military/Veteran Survey

HC Families: Please complete this survey if you (or a family member) are an active-duty member of the military or a veteran. We want to recognize you at our ceremony on November 12^th (8:00am – 10:30am).

Horizon Community Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Please mark your calendars with our conference dates for this school year. Based on community feedback, we will offer a combination of in-person and virtual conferences this year. Please select one date per semester to attend conferences so that all families have a chance to meet with teachers. Teachers are also available outside of these time frames for individual conferences with families via phone, Microsoft Teams, or in-person; please reach out to your student’s teacher if you need to schedule a conference at a different time.

2024-2025 Conference Dates:

Semester 1

Please select one date per semester to attend conferences so that all families have a chance to meet with teachers. 

September 19th, 4:15pm – 7:00pm: In-person conferences. All teachers will be in the gyms for these conferences. Come by anytime to meet with teachers individually. We will also be distributing individual student assessment results this evening. Stop by to pick up your student's CMAS and Star scores and learn more about our school's academic data. 

October 30th, 4:15pm – 7:30pm: Virtual conferences. Families will sign up for time slots to meet virtually via Microsoft Teams with teachers (link to sign up coming soon!).

November 1st, 8:00am – 11:30am: In-person conferences.  All teachers will be in the gyms for these conferences. Come by anytime to meet with teachers individually.     

November 1st, 1:00pm – 4:00pm: Virtual conferences. Families will sign up for time slots to meet virtually via Microsoft Teams with teachers (link to sign up coming soon!). 

September 13, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

Today’s message is full of updates and information. I know it’s a long one, but we have so much to share! Here goes:

Conferences: Our first round of conferences is next week on Thursday night. Please see below for more information. These conferences are "drop-in" style (no appointment needed). And while families are at HCMS for conferences, we will have multiple opportunities for our families to engage in additional academic conversations. Look for break-out rooms presenting on the following topics:

• HCMS School Rating & Academic Plans
• CMAS & Star Student Reports
• PowerSchool, Schoology, and Talking Points Tutorials

School Dance: We have our first school dance on Tuesday. It will be brief, but fun! The dance starts right after school in the gym and will conclude by 4:40pm. Tickets are $2 and are being sold during lunch periods; please note that no tickets will be available at the door. To build school spirit, students are encouraged to wear their class colors: blue for 8th grade, white for 7th grade, and gray for 6th grade. Late bus shuttles will depart from Horizon Community at 4:50pm, and all students must be picked up by 5:00pm. We look forward to a fun event for our students!

No School Friday: Next Friday, September 20^th, is a non-contact day. Students will have a three-day weekend.

Instructional Observation Day: Please see below regarding an important event on Wednesday, September 25^th. All families are invited to join!

Class Pass Fundraiser: On Tuesday, October 8^th – Thursday, October 10^th, students will have the opportunity to participate in our “Class Pass” Fundraiser. Each grade-level will have their own day filled with fun activities. Students will make a donation of $5 for each class period that they opt to engage in alternate activities instead of attending class. Activities will include silent reading, tech time, games, and more! Stay tuned for more information in the weeks to come.

Social Emotional Screener: All CCSD families received information this week about our upcoming Social Emotional Screener. We are very excited to gain a better understanding of student perspectives, and this information will directly impact our continuous improvement as a school. If you have any questions about our Social Emotional Screener, which will be administered in Advisory class in the upcoming weeks, please contact Mrs. Shayna Buckman, HCMS Administrator, at sbuckman@cherrycreekschools.org.

There are also several additional reminders below. Thanks for reading, as always, and thanks for your engagement and support!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)

Instructional Observation Day

On Wednesday, September 25^th, we will host an Instructional Observation Day. This is an opportunity for family members to observe instruction inside the walls of HCMS and provide us with feedback. We welcome all families to join for this day. The approximate time is from 8:00am – 12:00pm. Please email Dr. Brad Weinhold (bweinhold@cherrycreekschools.org) if you would like to attend.

PowerSchool, Schoology, Talking Points

Have questions about accessing and navigating PowerSchool, Schoology, and/or Talking Points? Check out our webpage HERE for more information.

Academic Tutorials

Academic Tutorials are now available after school. These occur in the library from 3:50pm – 4:40pm, Monday – Thursday. Students can receive support in any academic class.

CCSD Veterans & Military Appreciation Event

Please see this link for information for this event on October 5, 2024.

HCMS Military/Veteran Survey

HC Families: Please complete this survey if you (or a family member) are an active-duty member of the military or a veteran. We want to recognize you at our ceremony on November 12^th!

SHHS Junior Buffs Dance Team

Please see the attached flyer for information on the Smoky Hill Junior Buffs Dance Team.

CCSD Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

Please see this link for information on the CCSD Special Education Advisory Committee.

CMAS State Rating

Last year our state rating (related to the CMAS test) was Priority Improvement. The four possible ratings, from highest to lowest, are Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement, and Turnaround.

The three main factors that inform the School Performance Framework (SPF), which is the document from the State of Colorado that summarizes our school performance on CMAS and contains our annual school rating, are the participation rate, academic achievement, and academic growth. Last year, we made a concerted effort to improve in all three areas. AND……. It paid off!

Please join me in congratulating our students, staff, and entire community as we have reached the Performance level on our SPF, the highest possible rating! We jumped not one, but TWO levels on the rating scale, which is extremely impressive. We are so proud, and thankful, and we cherish our partnership with our families.

Facebook Page

In addition to sharing information on our website and through email, we also post important school information on our Facebook Page. Join our Facebook Group here.

Suicide Prevention Curriculum

Over the next few weeks, the Horizon Community Middle School Mental Health and Counseling Team, in conjunction with all Cherry Creek middle schools, will be presenting an evidence-based, suicide prevention curriculum called Signs of Suicide (S.O.S.) to students. This curriculum is designed specifically for middle school students and proactively addresses how to recognize the difference between normal adolescent turmoil and the warning signs of depression and suicide. 

The S.O.S. lessons will be conducted by Horizon Community’s mental health and counseling professionals during your student’s Social Studies (6th & 7th grade) or Language Arts (8th grade) class period on the dates identified below:

These lessons teach students positive coping strategies as well as how to recognize warning signs, how to respond when others may be struggling, and how to report safety concerns.  Our mental health and counseling team will also be available to support students who need to discuss the topic further.  

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s participation in this presentation, please contact your child’s school counselor at the applicable email address or phone number below. 

6th Grade

• Tanya Ilela at tilela@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6112

7th Grade

• Kristina Danielson at kdanielson2@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6124

8th Grade

• Giselle Bustamante at gbustamante2@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6207

GT All Grades

• Jessica Colson at jcolson4@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6119

We appreciate your support as we strive to share this very important information with our students.

King Soopers Fundraiser

Did you know you can support Horizon Community every time you shop at King Soopers? The Community Rewards program donates to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day! To sign up, all you have to do is go to the King Soopers website or app, login to your account, and search for Horizon Community Middle School PTCO under “Community Rewards.” More info can be found here.

Horizon Community Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Please mark your calendars with our conference dates for this school year. Based on community feedback, we will offer a combination of in-person and virtual conferences this year. Please select one date per semester to attend conferences so that all families have a chance to meet with teachers. Teachers are also available outside of these time frames for individual conferences with families via phone, Microsoft Teams, or in-person; please reach out to your student’s teacher if you need to schedule a conference at a different time.

2024-2025 Conference Dates:

Semester 1

Please select one date per semester to attend conferences so that all families have a chance to meet with teachers. 

September 19th, 4:15pm – 7:00pm: In-person conferences. All teachers will be in the gyms for these conferences. Come by anytime to meet with teachers individually. We will also be distributing individual student assessment results this evening. Stop by to pick up your student's CMAS and Star scores and learn more about our school's academic data. 

October 30th, 4:15pm – 7:30pm: Virtual conferences. Families will sign up for time slots to meet virtually via Microsoft Teams with teachers (link to sign up coming soon!).

November 1st, 8:00am – 11:30am: In-person conferences.  All teachers will be in the gyms for these conferences. Come by anytime to meet with teachers individually.     

November 1st, 1:00pm – 4:00pm: Virtual conferences. Families will sign up for time slots to meet virtually via Microsoft Teams with teachers (link to sign up coming soon!). 

English:
Please contact Jhohana Avila Romero at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:
እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት
thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى االتصال بـ )جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي( على ) org.cherrycreekschools@jsebbahi أو
org.cherrycreekschools@jdajanialami للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية.

Chinese:
如有需要,请经由 ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系,以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Dari:

برای کمک در مورد اين منابع به زبان خودتان با قزافی مهرزاد
لطفا با اييمل org.cherrycreekschools@qmehrzad تماس بگيريد . ً

Hindi:
अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर्नथ के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Nepali:
कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम्पकथ
गननहथ ोिा।

Russian:
Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью
этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:
Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:
Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en
ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Carmen Vargas-Ball en
cvargasball@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org.

Ukrainian:
Будь ласка, зв'яжіться з Зоряною Герман по електронній пошті zherman@cherrycreekschools.org, щоб отримати
підтримку з цього ресурсу на українській мові.

Vietnamese:
Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.

File attachments:
Junior Buffs.pdf

August 30, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

Well, HCMS, on this Friday we have an incredible announcement! It involves our state rating as a school based on performance on the CMAS assessment last spring. As you may recall, last year our rating was Priority Improvement. The four possible ratings, from highest to lowest, are Performance, Improvement, Priority Improvement, and Turnaround.

The three main factors that inform the School Performance Framework (SPF), which is the document from the State of Colorado that summarizes our school performance on CMAS and contains our annual school rating, are the participation rate, academic achievement, and academic growth. Last year, we made a concerted effort to improve in all three areas. AND……. It paid off!

Please join me in congratulating our students, staff, and entire community as we have reached the Performance level on our SPF, the highest possible rating! We jumped not one, but TWO levels on the rating scale, which is extremely impressive. We are so proud, and thankful, and we cherish our partnership with our families.

While we will certainly be celebrating this big accomplishment, I also want the entire community to know that we are far from “done.” There are no limits to what our students can achieve, and we will continue the strong academic plans we have in place. This includes a focus on reading strategies in all content areas, as well as writing in all subjects through the format of Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. This work is aligned with both our HCMS and CCSD Literacy goals.

We are so excited to share more information about our academic plans and goals, as well as all aspects of our school, and we invite you to attend our Instructional Observation Day next month (see details below).

But for now, please join me in recognizing our talented staff. They have worked so hard, and they deserve to be commended for these outstanding results. Feel free to send a thoughtful email to any of your student’s teachers (from this year or last).

Thank you, as always, and have a great long weekend!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)
 

Q & A With Dr. Weinhold – Date Change!!

If you’d like to stop by and ask any questions about our school, please join for Q & A with Dr. Weinhold on Tuesday, September 10^th from 4:00pm – 5:00pm. This is a change from the previously advertised date. If you are not able to attend but still have a question, please contact Dr. Brad Weinhold at bweinhold@cherrycreekschools.org or Jhohana Avila Romero at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org anytime.

Instructional Observation Day

On Wednesday, September 25^th, we will host an Instructional Observation Day. This is an opportunity for family members to observe instruction inside the walls of HCMS and provide us with feedback. We welcome all families to join for this day. The approximate time is from 8:00am – 12:00pm. Please email Dr. Brad Weinhold (bweinhold@cherrycreekschools.org) if you would like to attend.

Facebook Page

In addition to sharing information on our website and through email, we also post important school information on our Facebook Page. Join our Facebook Group here.

Contacting Your Student

To support high levels of student engagement at HCMS, we ask that families do not text or call their students during class time. Students are allowed to communicate with families during their passing periods and while at lunch. Just like in pre-cell phone days, families can call our school during the day, and we will find your student if you need to speak with them urgently.

CCSD Athletic Event Spectator Expectations

Please see the attached flyer that details expectations for middle school students when attending CCSD Athletic Events.

Suicide Prevention Curriculum

Over the next few weeks, the Horizon Community Middle School Mental Health and Counseling Team, in conjunction with all Cherry Creek middle schools, will be presenting an evidence-based, suicide prevention curriculum called Signs of Suicide (S.O.S.) to students. This curriculum is designed specifically for middle school students and proactively addresses how to recognize the difference between normal adolescent turmoil and the warning signs of depression and suicide. 

The S.O.S. lessons will be conducted by Horizon Community’s mental health and counseling professionals during your student’s Social Studies (6th & 7th grade) or Language Arts (8th grade) class period on the dates identified below:

These lessons teach students positive coping strategies as well as how to recognize warning signs, how to respond when others may be struggling, and how to report safety concerns.  Our mental health and counseling team will also be available to support students who need to discuss the topic further.  

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s participation in this presentation, please contact your child’s school counselor at the applicable email address or phone number below. 

6th Grade

• Tanya Ilela at tilela@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6112

7th Grade

• Kristina Danielson at kdanielson2@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6124

8th Grade

• Giselle Bustamante at gbustamante2@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6207

GT All Grades

• Jessica Colson at jcolson4@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6119

We appreciate your support as we strive to share this very important information with our students.

English:
Please contact Jhohana Avila Romero at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:
እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት
thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى االتصال بـ )جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي( على ) org.cherrycreekschools@jsebbahi أو
org.cherrycreekschools@jdajanialami للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية.

Chinese:
如有需要,请经由 ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系,以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Dari:

برای کمک در مورد اين منابع به زبان خودتان با قزافی مهرزاد
لطفا با اييمل org.cherrycreekschools@qmehrzad تماس بگيريد . ً

Hindi:
अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर्नथ के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Nepali:
कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम्पकथ
गननहथ ोिा।

Russian:
Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью
этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:
Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:
Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en
ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Carmen Vargas-Ball en
cvargasball@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org.

Ukrainian:
Будь ласка, зв'яжіться з Зоряною Герман по електронній пошті zherman@cherrycreekschools.org, щоб отримати
підтримку з цього ресурсу на українській мові.

Vietnamese:
Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.

File attachments:
sports expectations.pdf

August 23, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

Star Assessment…. Students began taking the Star Assessment in school this week in both Math and Language Arts classes. The Star Assessment is given three times per year, and it typically is completed within one class period. This data will serve as critical baseline information as we support student learning at HCMS.

Student Pictures…. Looking ahead to next week, student picture day is Tuesday, August 27^th. Orders can be placed online now, and all purchases will be mailed directly to students' homes. Visit mymiddleschoolpictures.com and select Horizon Community Middle School to place an order. For any questions about school photos, parents or guardians can contact our photographer at customercare@cidmphoto.com.

Some attendance reminders:

1. Please support our students by ensuring that they are in their first period class and ready to learn by 8:50am each day.
2. Further, please try to limit the times that you pick your student up early. Learning continues at HCMS through 3:45pm.
3. See below for additional information regarding attendance at HCMS and in the Cherry Creek School District.

Morning Drop Off…. Thank you to our community for your support with our morning drop off procedures. Please remember to pull all the way forward to the end of the Unload and Go Zone before dropping off your student.

2024 Mill & Bond…. On August 12^th, the CCSD Board of Education unanimously voted to put a mill and bond measure on the November 5, 2024 ballot for CCSD residents. For both measures, residents would pay less than $3 a month for each $100,000 of property value. Please join us at Laredo Middle School next Thursday, August 29^th, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm to learn more, and please see the attached flyers.

HCMS Vision & Mission…. Learning: Every Day for Every One! is our vision. We learn in all sorts of ways in middle school, including academically and socially. Our mission statement is as follows: We are an authentic, empowered community that believes in opportunity for all. These words were carefully chosen as they represent who we are and what we stand for.

It has been a very strong start at HCMS, and we know that the best is yet to come. Thank you for your partnership!

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)

Q & A With Dr. Weinhold

If you’d like to stop by and ask any questions about our school, please join for Q & A with Dr. Weinhold on Thursday, September 12^th. There will be two sessions to choose from: 8:45am – 9:45am and 4:00pm – 5:00pm.

Instructional Observation Day

On Wednesday, September 25^th, we will host an Instructional Observation Day. This is an opportunity for family members to observe instruction inside the walls of HCMS and provide us with feedback. We welcome all families to join for this day. The approximate time is from 8:00am – 12:00pm. Please email Dr. Brad Weinhold (bweinhold@cherrycreekschools.org) if you would like to attend.

Facebook Page

In addition to sharing information on our website and through email, we also post important school information on our Facebook Page. Join our Facebook Group here.

Contacting Your Student

To support high levels of student engagement at HCMS, we ask that families do not text or call their students during class time. Students are allowed to communicate with families during their passing periods and while at lunch. Just like in pre-cell phone days, families can call our school during the day, and we will find your student if you need to speak with them urgently.

CCSD & HCMS School Attendance Information

In the Cherry Creek School District and at Horizon Community Middle School, our top priorities are your child’s safety, academics, and whole wellbeing. In order to maintain and excel in these areas, it’s critical that our kids come to school every day.

Did you know that 1 in 3 students in CCSD in the 2023-24 school year were chronically absent? Chronic absenteeism is defined by the state as missing more than 10 days in the school year.

Chronic absenteeism has a significant impact on the academic performance of a child and their classroom. Over 4 out of 5 students who miss more than 10% of kindergarten and first grade are unable to read on-level by third grade. By 6th grade, chronic absenteeism is a critical warning sign that a student may not graduate high school. Missing just one lesson or period in class can have a serious impact on a student’s understanding of academic concepts.

We also know that strong attendance improves our students’ Whole Wellbeing. Our students who experience anxiety about school often find care in our counseling staff and their support team in our school building. Missing school often exacerbates anxiety when our students then need to make up work that they missed, causing them to fall further behind.

To improve this process and best support our families, this year CCSD is shifting the way that attendance is tracked and changing the notification process to guardians.

If your child is chronically absent, or misses more than 10 days of school, parents or guardians will receive a letter from the district on behalf of our school notifying them of the issue. You will receive a second letter if your child misses more than 15 days of school. Our hope in automating this process at the district level is to provide our school staff with more time to meet with caregivers and problem-solve if your child or family needs extra support to attend school every day. We understand there can be challenges and barriers that we would like to work together to address.

In order to accomplish our goals of student safety, literacy, and wellbeing, caregivers and staff will need to work together to support our students. If your family anticipates an issue with attendance this year, please reach out and we will make a plan to ensure your student gets to school.

Morning Drop Off Information

Below you will find essential information regarding our student drop-off procedures.

Drop-Off Times:

• Morning Drop-Off: 8:30am - 8:50am. Students enter the building at 8:40am. School Starts at 8:50am.

Drop-Off Location:

• Unload and Go Zone: Please utilize the designated "Unload and Go" area for dropping off your students. This area is designed to keep traffic moving efficiently and ensure student safety.

Important Safety Guidelines:

1. Speed Limit: The speed limit within the school drop-off zone is 10 miles per hour. Please adhere to this limit to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and parents.
2. Stay in Your Vehicle: For a quick and efficient drop-off, please remain in your vehicle while your student exits. This helps keep the line moving smoothly.
3. Use Designated Drop-Off Zone: Ensure your student exits the vehicle in the designated "Unload and Go" zone. Do not drop off students in other areas as it can disrupt traffic flow and pose safety risks.
4. Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff will be present to assist with the drop-off process. Please follow their directions to maintain order and safety.
5. No Idling: Once your student has safely exited the vehicle, please make room for other families.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making Horizon Community Middle School a safe and welcoming environment for all of our students. Your adherence to these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and safe school year.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Main Office at (720)-886-6108.

English:
Please contact Jhohana Avila Romero at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:
እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት
thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى االتصال بـ )جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي( على ) org.cherrycreekschools@jsebbahi أو
org.cherrycreekschools@jdajanialami للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية.

Chinese:
如有需要,请经由 ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系,以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Dari:

برای کمک در مورد اين منابع به زبان خودتان با قزافی مهرزاد
لطفا با اييمل org.cherrycreekschools@qmehrzad تماس بگيريد . ً

Hindi:
अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर्नथ के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Nepali:
कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम्पकथ
गननहथ ोिा।

Russian:
Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью
этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:
Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:
Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en
ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Carmen Vargas-Ball en
cvargasball@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org.

Ukrainian:
Будь ласка, зв'яжіться з Зоряною Герман по електронній пошті zherman@cherrycreekschools.org, щоб отримати
підтримку з цього ресурсу на українській мові.

Vietnamese:
Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.

File attachments:
Smoky Hill Bond Presentation Flyer.pdf
Bond One Pager_August 2024.pdf

August 16, 2023

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

What a great first week it has been at HCMS! Energy and morale are high, and we LOVE seeing our amazing students in the building again. We have spent a lot of time this week focusing on relationships, connections, routines, and expectations. Students have been co-collaborating with their teachers to develop social contracts for each class. These agreements are driven by student voice, and they will be critical foundations for engaging classroom environments throughout the year. Please ask your students about the social contracts in their classes!

Quick Pro Tip: Get into a routine of checking PowerSchool and Schoology with your student. As assignments and grades begin to populate over the next few weeks, help your student develop a proactive plan to stay ahead. Questions? Contact our teachers anytime.

Some reminders/requests:

1. To support high levels of student engagement at HCMS, we ask that families do not text or call their students during class time. Students are allowed to communicate with families during their passing periods and while at lunch. Just like in pre-cell phone days, families can call our school during the day, and we will find your student if you need to speak with them urgently.
2. We believe that high levels of engagement and achievement occur when students are on time to school. Please support our students by ensuring that they are in their first period class and ready to learn by 8:50am each day. If you drop your student off, please have them to school well in advance of 8:50am.
3. Below are our morning drop off procedures. Please remember to pull all the way forward to the end of the Unload and Go Zone before dropping off your student. Thank you for your support as we work to ensure student and community safety.
4. Lunch lines: At the beginning of the year, lines are typically a little longer than normal. Students knowing their ID number or having their ID card (coming in a few weeks for 6^th grade) is the best way for the lines to move efficiently. We are also serving pizza from both lines this year, which will help! Families are also welcome to send food with their student so they can begin eating right away.

Here we go, HC. Learning: Every Day for Every One! is our vision. We learn in all sorts of ways in middle school, and we are honored to be in partnership with you as we support all of our students as a community.

Have a great weekend!

Morning Drop Off Information

Below you will find essential information regarding our student drop-off procedures.

Drop-Off Times:

• Morning Drop-Off: 8:30am - 8:50am. Students enter the building at 8:40am. School Starts at 8:50am.

Drop-Off Location:

• Unload and Go Zone: Please utilize the designated "Unload and Go" area for dropping off your students. This area is designed to keep traffic moving efficiently and ensure student safety.

Important Safety Guidelines:

1. Speed Limit: The speed limit within the school drop-off zone is 10 miles per hour. Please adhere to this limit to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and parents.
2. Stay in Your Vehicle: For a quick and efficient drop-off, please remain in your vehicle while your student exits. This helps keep the line moving smoothly.
3. Use Designated Drop-Off Zone: Ensure your student exits the vehicle in the designated "Unload and Go" zone. Do not drop off students in other areas as it can disrupt traffic flow and pose safety risks.
4. Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff will be present to assist with the drop-off process. Please follow their directions to maintain order and safety.
5. No Idling: Once your student has safely exited the vehicle, please make room for other families.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making Horizon Community Middle School a safe and welcoming environment for all of our students. Your adherence to these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and safe school year.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Main Office at (720)-886-6108.

Building Hours & Activity Bus

Our school building will open at 8:40am each morning. Breakfast will be available at 8:30am (students enter through the cafeteria). School hours are from 8:50am – 3:45pm each day. Our Activity Bus, which departs HCMS at 4:45pm, will be available Monday – Thursday throughout the school year.

Family & Community Liaison

We are so excited for our Family & Community Liaison, Mrs. Jhohana Avila Romero. She is a parent in the community, and she is thrilled to support all HCMS families throughout the year. Please contact her at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org with questions. Ella puede ayudarles en Español.

Husky Community Market

The Husky Community Market is here to assist families by providing non-perishable food, some household items, and school supplies. If you are interested, contact Jhohana Avila Romero at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6139 to schedule a time to pick up some items.

Athletics & Activities Information

We are excited for all students to participate in our sport offerings of track, basketball, wrestling, and volleyball. Please visit our Athletics Page for registration information and season schedules, and please direct any questions to Mr. Jason Harper, Athletics Director, at jharper7@cherrycreekschools.org. Our first season, track, started on Thursday, August 15^th.

Interested in checking out our clubs? Visit our Activities Page, and contact our Activities Director, Mrs. Kerri Benzel at kbenzel@cherrycreekschools.org with questions.

Q & A With Dr. Weinhold

If you’d like to stop by and ask any questions about our school, please join for Q & A with Dr. Weinhold on Thursday, September 12^th. There will be two sessions to choose from: 8:45am – 9:45am and 4:00pm – 5:00pm.

Instructional Observation Day

On Wednesday, September 25^th, we will host an Instructional Observation Day. This is an opportunity for family members to observe instruction inside the walls of HCMS and provide us with feedback. We welcome all families to join for this day. The approximate time is from 8:00am – 12:00pm. Please email Dr. Brad Weinhold (bweinhold@cherrycreekschools.org) if you would like to attend.

Facebook Page

In addition to sharing information on our website and through email, we also post important school information on our Facebook Page. Join our Facebook Group here.

English:

If you need support with translating this message into your language, please contact Erin Taylor at etaylor7@cherrycreekschools.org

Amharic:
እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ
እሜይል ያግኙዋት thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:
يرجى الاتصال بـ (جميعة صباحي أوجاودة العلمي) على (jsebbahi@cherrycreekschools.orgأو
jdajanialami@cherrycreekschools.orgللحصول على الدعم مع هذا الموردباللغة العربية .

Chinese:
如有需要，请经由 ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系，以您的语言获得此资源 的支持。

Hindi:
अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर् थ न के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로문의하십시오.

Nepali:
कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम् पकथ गननथहोिा।

Russian:
Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения
поддержки с помощью этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:
Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:
Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Helena Gognat en hgognat@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org

Vietnamese:
Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên nàybằ

August 9, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

It’s official – school starts next week! Thank you for a GREAT turnout at Back to School Night last night. It was so fun to have our students and families back in the building.

As we prepare for Monday and Tuesday, please remember that Monday is only for 7^th and 8^th grade students and Tuesday is only for 6^th grade students. All students (6-8) will attend on Wednesday.

Also, we are excited to begin the school year with a proactive and positive phone call home. Each Advisory teacher will call all of their students’ families in the next couple of weeks. We will be asking about your child’s assets, your hopes for the year, and anything you’d like for their teachers to know. This information will then be shared with all of their teachers. Please expect a call home soon.

Lastly, we will continue to focus on safety and efficiency related to our morning drop-off plans in the upper parking lot. Please see below for more information.

Thank you! It is going to be an amazing year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)

Morning Drop Off Information

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to ensure that student drop-off runs smoothly and safely. Below you will find essential information regarding our student drop-off procedures.

Drop-Off Times:

• Morning Drop-Off: 8:30am - 8:50am. Students enter the building at 8:40am. School Starts at 8:50am.

Drop-Off Location:

• Unload and Go Zone: Please utilize the designated "Unload and Go" area for dropping off your students. This area is designed to keep traffic moving efficiently and ensure student safety.

Important Safety Guidelines:

1. Speed Limit: The speed limit within the school drop-off zone is 10 miles per hour. Please adhere to this limit to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and parents.
2. Stay in Your Vehicle: For a quick and efficient drop-off, please remain in your vehicle while your student exits. This helps keep the line moving smoothly.
3. Use Designated Drop-Off Zone: Ensure your student exits the vehicle in the designated "Unload and Go" zone. Do not drop off students in other areas as it can disrupt traffic flow and pose safety risks.
4. Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff will be present to assist with the drop-off process. Please follow their directions to maintain order and safety.
5. No Idling: Once your student has safely exited the vehicle, please make room for other families.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making Horizon Community Middle School a safe and welcoming environment for all of our students. Your adherence to these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Main Office at (720)-88-6108.

Important Dates

• Monday, August 12^th – First day of school for 7^th & 8^th Grade students (6^th at home)
• Tuesday, August 13^th – First day of school for 6^th Grade students and 6^th Grade WEB Orientation Day (7^th & 8^th at home)
• Wednesday, August 14^th – All students attend HCMS

Students will not need academic school supplies on their first day of school, as this will be more of an orientation and welcome day (for all grade levels). Students will need to be prepared to engage academically beginning on Wednesday, August 14^th. Please see additional information regarding school supplies below.

Check-in Procedures & Back to School Hub

Each year, all HCMS families are required to complete Parent Forms by visiting my.cherrycreekschools.org and accessing the PowerSchool tile. For students returning to Horizon Community Middle School, or for incoming 6^th grade students who attended a Cherry Creek elementary school, completing Parent Forms is the only registration requirement before school begins. Parent Forms are now available, and we encourage you to complete this step as soon as possible. This step is required in order for students to be able to attend classes in August. All families should also visit the CCSD Back to School Hub, which includes information pertaining to Food & Nutrition, Technology, and Transportation. Please contact our Registrar, Mrs. Terry Altman, at taltman3@cherrycreekschools.org or call 720-886-6240 with questions.

Family & Community Liaison

We are so excited to introduce our Family & Community Liaison, Mrs. Jhohana Avila Romero. She is a parent in the community, and she is thrilled to support all HCMS families throughout the year. Please contact her at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org with questions. Ella puede ayudarles en Español.

Husky Community Market

The Husky Community Market is here to assist families by providing non-perishable food, some household items, and school supplies. If you are interested, contact Jhohana Avila Romero at javilaromero@cherrycreekschools.org or 720-886-6139 to schedule a time to pick up some items.

6^th Grade WEB Orientation Day

Our WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) Orientation Day is designed to assist incoming 6^th graders with their transition to middle school. This will occur on Tuesday, August 13^th during the first day of school. The day begins at 8:50am. This will be a great opportunity for students to engage in fun activities, meet new friends, and learn from 8^th Grade WEB Leaders. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle and dress comfortably as the day will be active. WEB Orientation Day is for students to independently experience getting to know their new school. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hailey Wilkinson at  hwilkinson@cherrycreekschools.org or Ms. Shyla Strickler at sstrickler@cherrycreekschools.org.

School Supplies

Please click here to view our school supply list. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Clare Dardis, Campus Administrator, at cdardis@cherrycreekschools.org.

Grading at HCMS

At HCMS, we believe that grades should represent a demonstration of learning and growth. Grades should not be a reflection of student behaviors. Gradebooks are used as a tool to communicate student progress towards understanding of subject-specific skills. Please check out this HCMS Grading Video to learn more, and please ask your student’s teachers specific questions about grading and their gradebooks. Grades in middle school are assigned on a quarterly basis, and are reset at the beginning of the next quarter (after fall, winter, and spring break).

Cell Phone Plan

In response to the numerous distractions to the learning environment that cell phones can cause, we will continue to follow our cell phone plan. Please check out this Cell Phone Video to learn more.

Also, to support high levels of student engagement at HCMS, we ask that families do not text or call their students during class time. Students are allowed to communicate with families during their passing periods and while at lunch. Just like in pre-cell phone days, families can call our school during the day, and we will find your student if you need to speak with them urgently.

Athletics & Activities Information

We are excited for all students to participate in our sport offerings of track, basketball, wrestling, and volleyball. Please visit our Athletics Page for registration information and season schedules, and please direct any questions to Mr. Jason Harper, Athletics Director, at jharper7@cherrycreekschools.org. Our first season, track, starts on Thursday, August 15^th!

Interested in checking out our clubs? Visit our Activities Page, and contact our Activities Director, Mrs. Kerri Benzel at kbenzel@cherrycreekschools.org with questions.

Family Engagement

Please visit our Family Engagement Page to learn about ways to engage at HCMS. We welcome and encourage all families to participate in all aspects of the schooling experience of their children.

TalkingPoints

We are excited to continue to use TalkingPoints as one of the ways we communicate with families. More information can be found here. Families are able to receive and send text messages to their student’s teachers using TalkingPoints. The messages can be translated into a preferred language. Families can download the optional TalkingPoints App.

Q & A With Dr. Weinhold

If you’d like to stop by and ask any questions about our school, please join for Q & A with Dr. Weinhold on Thursday, September 12^th. There will be two sessions to choose from: 8:45am – 9:45am and 4:00pm – 5:00pm.

Instructional Observation Day

On Wednesday, September 25^th, we will host an Instructional Observation Day. This is an opportunity for family members to observe instruction inside the walls of HCMS and provide us with feedback. We welcome all families to join for this day. The approximate time is from 8:00am – 12:00pm. Please save the date if you are able to attend.

Facebook Page

In addition to sharing information on our website and through email, we also post important school information on our Facebook Page. Join our Facebook Group here.

Lockers

While the vast majority of HCMS students do not use lockers, students are able to use lockers if they choose. If a student is interested in using a locker, their parent/guardian should complete this Locker Request Form. Upon completion of the form, students will be contacted by our Security Team during the first week of school with their locker assignment.

Building Hours & Activity Bus

Our school building will open at 8:40am each morning. Breakfast will be available at 8:30am (students enter through the cafeteria). School hours are from 8:50am – 3:45pm each day. Our Activity Bus, which departs HCMS at 4:45pm, will begin on Thursday, August 15^th, and will be available Monday – Thursday throughout the school year.

Morning Line-Up Locations

Students should gather at the following entrances as they prepare to enter the building each morning:

• 6^th Grade: East Entrance (near bus loop & STRIDE Clinic)
• 7^th & 8^th Grade: Main Entrance

All students who arrive after 8:50am should enter the building through the Main Entrance. Students who arrive after 9:00am should check in with the Main Office before attending their first class.

We believe that high levels of engagement and achievement occur when students are on time to school. Please support our students by ensuring that they are in their first period class and ready to learn by 8:50am each day.

English:
Please contact Erin Taylor at etaylor7@cherrycreekschools.org for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:
እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ
እሜይል ያግኙዋት thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:
يرجى الاتصال بـ (جميعة صباحي أوجاودة العلمي) على (jsebbahi@cherrycreekschools.orgأو
jdajanialami@cherrycreekschools.orgللحصول على الدعم مع هذا الموردباللغة العربية .

Chinese:
如有需要，请经由 ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系，以您的语言获得此资源 的支持。

Hindi:
अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर् थ न के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로문의하십시오.

Nepali:
कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम् पकथ गननथहोिा।

Russian:
Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения
поддержки с помощью этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:
Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:
Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Helena Gognat en hgognat@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org

Vietnamese:
Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên nàybằ

May 24, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

As the 23-24 school year concludes, I would like to say congratulations to all of our students. We have risen the academic bar at HCMS, and our students have persevered and achieved. And a big shout out goes to our 8th graders! Your time in middle school started in the midst of a global pandemic, and you have modeled for our community what it means to connect and be kind. Your growth has been remarkable. We wish you all the best on your journey into high school and beyond!

And thank you to our hard working and student-centered staff for another strong year. We have continued to deepen our work as a school, and our optimistic team brings a growth mindset each day. Learning: Every Day for Every One is our vision. Our mission statement is we are an authentic, empowered community that believes in opportunity for all. These beliefs drive our work. As I conclude my third year as principal at HCMS, I am so proud to be on a team with so many exceptional educators.

Looking ahead to 24-25, we will continue to focus on learning. Learning certainly includes academics, but we also learn about other people, we learn to navigate conflict, and we learn to self-regulate and advocate for what is right. We will keep a spotlight on academic achievement and growth on our large assessments (CMAS and Star), as these tests matter. No, they aren’t the only data points that define our school and students, but they are biggies. We will continue to push our students and expose them to productive academic struggle. Why? Because this is how we learn and grow. We will continue to expand our staff and student equity work, as we know that engaging in complex conversations and creating action plans for change is our responsibility as citizens. And our doors will remain open to families each day, as we believe in a community partnership where parents and caregivers are welcomed into school to engage in our collective work.

Horizon Community is a great school. What happens each day inside of our walls is inspiring. I am so thrilled to serve our community as principal, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead next year!

Have a great summer!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold

Principal

Horizon Community Middle School

720-886-6101 (office)

720-767-2352 (cell)

CCSD Summer Food Program

Please check out the attached flyer which details how families can access food throughout the summer.

Mental Health Resources

As we approach summer break, we want to ensure that you have quick and easy access to mental health resources for your family. Please follow this link to learn about some wonderful organizations making therapy, mentorship, and community resources accessible. You will also notice emergency resources for use if you, your student, or a loved one were ever undergoing a mental health crisis. This is a great document to have on hand, so we hope you will check it out.

Thank you so much for your partnership and collaboration this school year. We are wishing you a beautiful summer!

-Your HCMS Mental Health and Counseling Team

Community Liaison Position at HCMS

We are excited to continue to grow our staff, and next year we will be adding a full time Community Liaison! This person will support all families, including those who speak Spanish. If you or someone you know is interested, please check out the job posting here.

Summer Hours

Starting next week, our summer hours are from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Feel free to call our Main Office with questions (720-886-6108).

HCMS Website Please stay up to date on HCMS happenings by periodically visiting our school website.

Save the Dates: 24-25

· Thursday, August 8th: Back to School Night

· Monday, August 12th: First day for 7th & 8th Grade (only)

· Tuesday, August 13th: First day for 6th Grade (only)

· Wednesday, August 14th: All students (6th – 8th)

· Thursday, September 19th: Parent-Teacher Conferences

May 17, 2024

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

Dear Horizon Community Middle School Families,

Next week is our last week! It has been a great year overall, and we have spent time deepening our systems and expanding opportunities for students. Our CMAS participation appears to be MUCH higher than in years past, and we are hopeful that our more targeted focus on learning will be displayed on Star and CMAS scores. As you’ve heard me say before, I know that large assessments are merely one of the many ways that reflect our students’ brilliance. That said, they do matter, and we will continue to push our students to experience productive academic struggle – because that is how we learn! Thank you for your support and engagement as a community.

Please see below for plans for our field days and special events for 8^th grade students next week. 

Thanks!

Brad

Dr. Brad Weinhold
Principal
Horizon Community Middle School
720.886.6101 (office)
720.767.2352 (cell)

Yearbooks

Have you ordered your yearbook? Please CLICK HERE for more info.

Next Week Plans

Our last day for 8^th grade students is on Thursday, May 23^rd. 6^th and 7^th grade students have a ½ day on Friday, May 24^th, with school ending at 12:00pm. Lunch will not be served on Friday the 24^th. On Tuesday, May 21^st, our 7^th grade students will have lots of fun at their field day. 6^th grade students will do the same on Wednesday, May 22^nd. We will also have our Quarter 4 PACK assemblies on Wednesday, May 22^nd as well as the 8^th grade dance after school. We have planned an exciting final day for our 8^th graders. We will be walking to Movie Tavern to watch the movie "IF," rated PG, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. The cost for this event is $5.00 and includes popcorn and a drink. Students have received permission slips that must be turned in prior to the event. Upon our return, we will have a BBQ and games for the students. Please note that students must be in good standing with the Deans’ Office to participate in the field trip to the movies. Additionally, students are requested not to bring backpacks to school that day. Please contact Shayna Price, 8^th Grade Administrator, at sprice@cherrycreekschools.org with questions.

Mental Health Resources

As we approach summer break, we want to ensure that you have quick and easy access to mental health resources for your family. Please follow this link to learn about some wonderful organizations making therapy, mentorship, and community resources accessible. You will also notice emergency resources for use if you, your student, or a loved one were ever undergoing a mental health crisis. This is a great document to have on hand, so we hope you will check it out.

Thank you so much for your partnership and collaboration this school year. We are wishing you a beautiful summer!

-Your HCMS Mental Health and Counseling Team

Community Liaison Position at HCMS

We are excited to continue to grow our staff, and next year we will be adding a full time Community Liaison! This person will support all families, including those who speak Spanish. If you or someone you know is interested, please check out the job posting here. 

Save the Dates: 24-25

• Thursday, August 8^th: Back to School Night
• Monday, August 12^th: First day for 7^th & 8^th Grade (only)
• Tuesday, August 13^th: First day for 6^th Grade (only)
• Wednesday, August 14^th: All students (6^th – 8^th)
• Thursday, September 19^th: Parent-Teacher Conferences