The purpose of this email is to share information regarding Harding Middle School. It is a monthly newsletter featuring HMS news and current events.

In This Issue:

A Message From Mills

What's Happening In August

Welcome Back

Message from Principal Bryan Mills

We are thrilled to welcome back all our returning students and extend a warm shoutout to our new staff and incoming 5th-grade students! We hope you enjoyed a summer filled with fun and adventure. Now, let’s buckle up for an unforgettable school year at HMS! Our staff is recharged and ready to dive back into the full swing of school.

Student schedules are nearly complete and will be distributed during the grade-level orientations. Please attend your grade-level orientations with a parent or guardian on August 12th and 13th. Specific times are detailed below in this newsletter. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to complete student forms and pay the $10 student fee. The forms include bus sign-ups; all students planning to ride a school bus must register. Students may not change buses without approval from HMS administration.

*If your child is in 5th grade or is a new student unable to attend orientation, please call the office to schedule a convenient time.

If you are eligible to use the waiver form, please have your CareSource or UnitedHealthcare card number ready.

New for this school year will be the implementation of another added layer of security to our school. We will be monitoring our entrance points with a metal detection system. You find more information and some useful tips in this newsletter about the devices. Also, we are excited that every classroom will be refurnished with brand new 75" touch screen smart boards to help support staff with the delivery of instruction.

Let’s make this year the best one yet at HMS!

Everyone at Harding Middle School is grateful for the opportunity to educate your child(ren). It is a true honor that we take seriously, and we appreciate your ongoing support.

If you would like to contact me, my email address is bmills@rollred.org. You can also reach me by phone at Harding Middle School at (740) 282-3481.

Sincerely,

Principal Bryan Mills

Attention parents of incoming 7th graders,

The Meningococcal and T-dap vaccines are required for entry into the 7th grade. This is an Ohio Department of Health mandate. Proof of the vaccines or an exemption must be on file by the 3rd week of school in 2025 or they will not be allowed to return to school until it's done. Please be aware attendance and truancy procedures will still take place if your student is missing school. Check with your child's physician to make sure all immunizations are up to date.

Change, Inc will take appointments for 7th-grade shots. The School-Based Health Center is open every day from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.

You can schedule an appointment for your child to be seen during school by calling 740-284-5712 Option 3.

Harding will have a back to school orientations for the students by grade. Students must be accompanied by their parents or guardian to complete the student forms. Students must be registered to ride a school bus. If your student rides a bus and you can not attend orientation or pick up the forms to have returned before school starts, please call the school to have your student(s) scheduled for a bus.

Thank you! 740-282-3481

Class schedules will be distributed after all forms are returned.

• *If you are eligible to use the waiver form, you must have your CareSource or UnitedHealthcare card number for the waiver

Back-to-school orientation dates & times will be as follows:

Location: Harding Middle School



Tuesday, August 12th - 

5th Graders @ 9:00 am

7th Graders @ 12:30 pm

Wednesday, August 13th - 

6th Graders @ 9:00 am

8th Graders @ 12:30 pm

If you have students in multiple grades, you are welcome to choose a time to serve your children at once.

If you would like to fill out the orientation forms and bring them, click the links below.

Metal Detector Implementation at Orientation

As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, we will be introducing metal detectors at this year's orientation. This will give everyone a chance to get familiar with the process before the school year begins.

What You Need to Know

1. Who: All parents, guardians, and students attending orientation will go through the metal detectors.

2. When: August 12th and 13th during orientation hours

3. Where: Main entrance of Harding Middle School

How to Prepare

To make the process smoother for everyone, please:

- Try to bring only necessary items to orientation

- Be ready to place keys and electronic devices in plastic bins before going through the detector

Why We're Doing This

Your child's safety is our top priority. These metal detectors will help create a more secure environment for learning and growing.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new safety measure.

Thank you for your support in keeping Harding Middle School safe!

Go Stallions

Mr. Bryan Mills

Principal, Harding Middle School

Mornings:

Breakfast is free and served to all HMS students from 7:00 to 7:50 am daily.

All students must be seated in class by 7:57 or they are considered tardy.

Lunch Time:

*Parents may drop off lunches ONLY and must be on time. Otherwise, the student will be given the meal after school. NO delivery services will be allowed to drop off lunches!

Lunch 1 (5th & 6th) 10:44 - 11:14

Lunch 2 (7th & 8th) 11:18 - 11:48

*Please ensure their lunches arrive in the main office at least 10 minutes before their lunch starts.

School Lunches:



*All students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch at SCS

School Supplies

Students can start with basic school supplies. Notebooks, pencils, folders. Teachers will let their students know what supplies are needed for their class during the first few days of school.

Please see the photo for our am drop-off and pick-up patterns. This must be strictly followed in order to avoid congestion and dangerous situations for our students.

In the am...(Follow the green arrows)

• All Students must enter through the cafeteria doors.
• Cars will be signaled to pull all the way down to the personnel on duty.
• Do not stop and drop off students in the middle of the traffic flow.

In the pm...

HMS will dismiss in the following manner...

1. 2:35 Bus students will exit the building
2. 2:40 Walkers will exit
3. 2:45 Car riders will exit. Students will walk to your car. No front door pick up (2:40 - 2:50)

• The cars must pull into parking spots while waiting on their student after school. If you are parked in the way while waiting for your child to come out, you will be asked to pull around.
• Skip the first row that faces Sunset (Buses start lining up in that row).
• Please observe directives from staff on duty.

Your compliance is necessary for the safety of our students. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.