This year the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is going to VIRTUAL. You can see our students contributions online at the link below starting March 15th.

Our students will have the opportunity to attend a grade level Writing Workshop to help them prepare for the FSA. SPACE IS LIMITED SO SIGN UP SOON!

If you would like your student to attend, visit our FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THE LINK TO SIGN UP.

Spring Break is supposed to be fun, but be sure to have SAFE fun. For more information on Covid-19 visit, cdc.gov/coronavirus

If you would like to change your child’s learning modality for the 4th nine weeks from LaunchEd@Home to Face to Face or vice versa, please fill out the google form at https://tinyurl.com/HWCCQ4 by Thursday, March 12th. This link is also located on our school website.

Your student will be able to return to campus on Monday, March 22nd.

Horizon West would like to congratulate our February Reading Challenge Winner, Madelyn C. Madelyn was recognized by our Assistant Principal, Ms. Hutchinson and Media Specialist, Ms. Moody. Madelyn logged the most minutes for February and was our overall school winner earning her a pair of AirPods.

Please join us to congratulate our Horizon West Middle School February 2021 Teacher of the Month Mr. Spangler.

This award was presented by Majestic International Pageant/UCPD scholarship program.

Khan Academy is one of the many great digital resources that is available to our students. When our Hornets move to high school they will be taking the PSAT, however students can start practicing for the PSAT now and learning several other subjects in Khan Academy. Every student has access to Khan Academy on Launchpad.ocps.net. This is a great practice and stretch activity when you want to see your students working on something academic.

Hornet Families,

Be sure to mark your calendars now for the following dates that we have testing:

On testing days it is important that your student is on time to school and remains in school for the entire day. Most tests will be completed by lunch, however technology issues can happen and sometimes testing may take longer than expected.

For additional resources, please visit https://fsassessments.org/students-and-families/practice-tests/studentpowerpoints.stml

Congrats to Ian, Andrew and Madison for representing Horizon West at this years 20-21 All County Middle School Band Festival. The students auditioned and were selected to perform in this top county ensemble.

At OCPS, student social and emotional well-being is a pillar of the district-wide 2025 Strategic Plan. To support this objective, OCPS has partnered with Character Lab since 2017, a nonprofit co-founded and led by Dr. Angela Duckworth, scientist, author, and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Character Lab connects schools to leading researchers with shared interests to generate insights about developing the character strengths (like gratitude, curiosity, and growth mindset) that help all children thrive.

On March 25th, our school will participate in 30 minutes of research activities. Students complete these online, interactive activities individually on their school laptops, with a teacher available to support them. Horizon West Middle School will use data from these activities to identify and support the social, emotional, academic, and physical needs of our students. Participation in Character Lab activities is voluntary, and families may choose to opt their child out of participating. To learn more, visit ocps.net/clab.

Yearbook Ads are on sale – please go to schoolpay.com and click on yearbook-ads if you’re interested if bragging about your child in our yearbook. You can order now through March 12th.

Students and parents - Would you like to add some pictures to our yearbook? If so email those pictures to [email protected] and some of your great memories may be selected to add to this one of kind yearbook.

If your student is interested in Intramural Sports, please know that all Face to Face and LaunchEd students can participate as long the student meets the following criteria:

1. An Annual Sports Activity Participation Form is completed prior to the 1st day of each sport. Note that 1 form requires a doctor’s signature and stamp. This form can be found on the HWMS school website under Athletics, then under, Athletic Physicals. Completed forms can be turned into the front office or directly to Mr. Evans. Incomplete forms will be returned and your student will not be able to participate until it’s complete.

3. Students are demonstrating proper behavior in class. Please contact Mr. Evans, our Athletic Director, if you have any further questions.

As we approach the start of our last nine weeks, we want to offer you the opportunity to start fresh with some new Spirit Wear!!! Whether your are finishing out your HWMS days, just starting, or even have soon-to-be Hornets, there is something for everyone! Shop at Studio 19 HWMS

for our newest styles and designs. Shipping can be to your house or school pickup (school orders will ship in groups).

Additionally, the PTSO will be discounting current t-shirt and sweatshirt inventory by 50% on our website, www.hornetsptso.org, for a limited time! Orders will be available for pick-up at the HWMS front office.

We hope that you have a safe, fun, and relaxing spring break!

Sincerely,

President

We greatly appreciate all of the hard work and dedication our OCPS social workers do for our families.

The Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department is excited to host the virtual Big IDEA Conference April 17, 2021 for families of students with exceptionalities.

P2020-2021 Exceptional Student Education Survey Results can be found at click here.