Indian Hill Middle School Newsletter | August 8, 2025

Meet Me in the Middle is a weekly blog by our principal, Ms. Gentene, connecting you to our middle school!

This week she highlights our student leaders whom have planned and will lead our 6th grade orientation this Monday, August 11!


CLICK HERE to read this week's post on Substack!

HERE

Important Dates

  • August 11: 6th grade Orientation and pictures 1:00 p.m.
  • August 13: First Day of School
  • August 26: Parent Information Night 6:00 p.m.
  • August 25-27: Fall MAP Testing

Bulletin Board

Cell Phone Policy Reminder


We believe in cultivating a school environment where all students are physically and emotionally safe while intellectually inspired and challenged. As a part of this, we have no-phones policy at Indian Hill Middle School.


Students’ cell phones should not be used or seen at school (including classrooms, hallways, lunch, and recess) during school hours unless the student has received direct permission from a staff member. Smart watches with communication features can be worn, but should not be utilized to send messages, access social media, etc. during the school day. Phones can be carried in pencil pouches, kept in lockers, or in backpacks - but should not be carried on the person's body (ie, in pockets) and must remain out of sight at all times. Students can use their communication devices before school, after school, in the main office, or if given specific permission by a staff member. 


Additionally, for the safety of our students, headphones and earbuds (like “Airpods”) may not be used during school unless a teacher has given students permission during a learning activity. 


  • 1st Offense - Phone is sent to the office for safekeeping and can be picked up by student after 2:45 p.m.
  • 2nd Offense - Phone is sent to the office for safekeeping and can be picked up by the parent or guardian
  • 3rd Offense - Phone is sent to the office for safekeeping and a team meeting is scheduled with administrators, parents, and student for support plan


Parents, we need your help! If you need to get your child a message, you can email them at their @ihsd.us email address or call the main office. When parents text their child during school hours our students struggle to maintain the balance between the impulse to check and wanting to stay out of "trouble" at school.


Please remind your child they cannot have their phones out during school hours, and let them know you will email them or contact the main office if you need them to get a message.

2025-2026

IHMS School Supplies


Please use the attached list and send school supplies in with your student on our first day back.



We encourage all families to help us stock the classrooms with tissues and wipes for the school year.


  • Family Size Tissue Boxes (5) - to be given to advisory teacher for the year
  • Clorox Wipes Family Sized (3) - to be given to advisory teacher for the year



Thank you!

6th Grade Orientation - August 11 1-3 p.m.
Sixth graders are encouraged to come to orientation on Monday, August 11 from 1-3 p.m. During this time they will get their school pictures taken, pick up their schedules, take a tour of the building, and learn more about what it means to be a Brave at IHMS. This event is for students only - they'll need dropped off prior to 1pm and picked up at 3 p.m.

6th grade Picture Order Form

First Day of School Reminder
Our first day back-to-school is Wednesday, August 13. School starts at 8 a.m. and dismisses at 2:45 p.m. In middle school, strongly encourage students to ride the bus to and from school. Students who are car riders need to ensure they arrive by 7:55 a.m. so that they can get to class for our 8:00 a.m. start time.

Please send all supplies with your student on the first day of school, these will be collected in their advisory bell-thank you!


IHMS School Fees are changing this year!


Our sixth grade students will have a flat school fee to cover classroom expenses and technology.


The 7th and 8th grade student fees will be determined by the classes they are taking, mirroring how fees are assessed at the high school.



Fees will be available for payment through PowerSchool later this fall.

Please reach out to the office with any questions, thanks!

Drop Off and Pick Up Traffic Patterns


Here are the Middle School traffic patterns for morning drop off and afternoon pickup. Thank you for your help keeping our students safe!


Morning Dropoff

  • Pull into the parking lot and follow the arrows on the image below.
  • Students may only be dropped off on the sidewalk
  • Please pull up along the sidewalk as far as possible so more vehicles have access to it.


Afternoon Pickup

  • Anyone picking up a student must get in the car line. Students will not be permitted to enter the parking lot to enter a vehicle and parents will not be able to walk through the car line to pick up their child.


  • When you arrive at the sidewalk, please pull forward as far as possible so as many students as possible can access their vehicles. Staff members will be on the sidewalk directing vehicles forward and instructing students to look for their vehicle.


  • Some High school students have been assigned spots closest to the gym (you may not see them until later in the year). Any student riding with a high school sibling will need to utilize the sidewalk and crosswalk to access their sibling’s vehicle.


  • The image below shows the traffic pattern:
  • Red arrows show the line entering. You’ll notice there are two red lanes once you get closer to the school. This allows more vehicles in the lot in order to keep vehicles off Drake Road. A staff member will direct traffic near the sidewalk.
  • White arrows show the line leaving after you pick up your child. Please use all three lanes to exit as this helps keep the line moving.


IHMS Lunch Information


Our cafeteria is supported by a wonderful team from Aramark Food Services!


Click here to view our lunch menus and daily offerings.

 

MySchoolBucks- Fee Increase


The MySchoolBucks program fee will increase to $3.50 for all cafeteria credit/debit card payments beginning on August 1st. You are still able to pay via check in the front office to avoid this fee. Additionally, the maximum meal payment limit will increase to $150 per transaction.

Bravesline


Looking to update your Indian Hill Spirit wear selections? The Bravesline store is open! You can shop all your favorite Braves items Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. You can access the Bravesline store through the foyer of the

Sue Harder Memorial Performing Arts Center.



You can also check out the online store using the link below.



Click Here to shop online!

Quick Links

Our Team

Lauren Gentene, Principal

Lauren.Gentene@ihsd.us 

Twitter: @IHMiddle

 

My #IHPromise - to learn from and serve our Brave community while keeping our students at the center of everything we do.

Alex Fries, Assistant Principal

Alex.Fries@ihsd.us 

Twitter: @IHMS_AP

 

My #IHPromise is to serve the Indian Hill community by providing an environment that allows all students to be successful.

IHMS Snapshot

Indian Hill Middle School

6845 Drake Road

Cincinnati, OH 45243


Car Rider drop off 7:40 a.m.-8:00 a.m.

Classes Begin at 8:00 a.m. and dismiss at 2:45 p.m.


Phone: 513-272-4642

Fax: 513-272-4690

Attendance: 513-272-4700

School Safety: 513-272-4701

Transportation: 513-272-4531


We are a campus committed to kindness; click here to report an incident, and administrators will be notified.