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

August 2024

Welcome Back

Message from our Principal:


We are excited to welcome back all of our returning students and give a massive shoutout to our new staff and incoming 5th-grade students! We hope you had a summer filled with fun and adventure. Now, it's time to buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable school year at HMS! Our staff is recharged and ready to dive back into the full swing of school.


I want to invite our upcoming 5th graders to our 1st ever "Popsicles with the Principals" day! Please join us in front of the school for a sweet treat. This casual gathering will serve as an opportunity to get to know your principals. Students and parents are welcome to join us from 12:30 - 1:30 on Thursday, August 8, 2024.

Student schedules are almost completed and will be distributed at the grade-level orientations. Please attend your grade-level orientations with a parent or guardian on August 13th and 14th. See below in this newsletter for specific times. Students must be accompanied by their parent or guardian to complete the student forms and pay the $10 student fee. Included in the forms are bus sign-ups. All students planning on riding a school bus must be registered for the bus. Students may not change buses without approval from the HMS administration.


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


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


If at any time you have a question about what is occurring in your student’s class, please contact your student’s teacher. Your child’s classroom teacher is always the place to start. If you still have concerns, then you should contact the administration staff for support. We all need to work together to benefit our students.


Together, let's make this year the best one yet at HMS! 


Everyone here at Harding Middle School is very thankful for the opportunity to educate your child(ren). It is truly an honor that we take very seriously and thank you for your constant support.

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


Sincerely,

Principal Bryan Mills

New Staff at HMS


Please help us welcome the new staff members who are joining us here at HMS. We are excited to have them on board!


Miss Reagan Arlesic

Mrs. Mahogney Fleming

Ms. Seana Ragusa

Miss Juanita Slappy

Mrs. Alisa Wolfrom

Mrs. Stephaine Zimmer

Mrs. Amy Waggoner

7th Grade Vaccines


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 2024 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.

What's Happening in August

Tax-Free Holiday Is Coming! No Sales Tax on Back-to-School Stuff


The 2024 sales tax holiday will take place from midnight Tuesday, July 30 until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

Ohio's sales-tax holiday is being supersized this year, expanding to 10 days.


And it's not just an opportunity to save on school supplies and children's clothes. Now, almost any sale is tax-free for 10 days. 


Click the link below for more details.

Ohio Department of Taxation

5th Grade Popsicles with the Principals


Date: August 8

Day: Thursday

Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Location: HMS Main Doors

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


Dates:



Tuesday, August 13th

5th Graders @ 9:00 am

7th Graders @ 12:30 pm


Wednesday, August 14th - 

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.

Student Emergency Cards
Student Information For Office pt 1
Student Information For Office Pt.2
Emergency Medical Form
HMS General Permission
Student Application Agreement Form
HMS Parent Email Request

Urban Mission Back to School Bash


Date: August 15

Day: Thursday

Time: 10 am - 1 pm

Location: Urban Mission Parking Lot

234 North 7th Street

Steubenville, OH 43952


The SHS Band is playing at 10 am. Come out and listen to the Best Band in Buckeye land!

First Day

Begin 1st Nine Weeks


Date: August 20

Day: Tuesday


All students must enter through the cafe doors between 7:00 am and 7:50 am.


The tardy bell rings at 7:57 am

September

19

HMS Parent Informational Meeting

8:30 am @ HMS

October

24

7th & 8th Fall Fest Dance

2:30-4:30 pm @ HMS

October

30

5th/6th Grade Trunk or Treat

5:30-7:00 pm @ HMS

Register Here- Flag Football Link 2024

HMS Daily

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

PM Latchkey


~ HMS has PM Latchkey only &

building doors open at 7 am


~ Fees are $10 per day, per child

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. 2:39 Walkers will exit
  3. 2:43 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.


August Lunch Menu

Fall Sports Schedules

HMS 24-25 Football Schedule
HMS 24-25 Volleyball Schedule
HMS 24-25 Cross Country Schedule
Steubenville City Schools Webpage