November 2024

Fall Fundraiser

The pick-up date for all fundraising items from the fall fundraiser is November 6th starting at 3:00 p.m.  All frozen items, no matter if sold online or in person will need to be picked up on that day unless the customer chose a ship to home product online.  Customers that purchased popcorn online had a choice between paying extra and having them shipped to their home or shipping them to school for free.  Those items sent to school will also be available for pickup at that time.  Please keep in mind that we do not have freezer space to store frozen product.  If you are unable to pick up the items on November 6th, please make arrangements for someone else to pick it up for you.

Book Fair

Harter's annual Book Fair is here (October 31-November 7).  Students will attend the Book Fair during the school day and it will be open during Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences.  Don't forget to visit the Book Fair in the library while you are here for conferences.  #KanelandReads

Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  Our purchasing deadline will be in February.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

PTO

The next PTO meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 13th (virtual) at 7:00 p.m.  McTeacher Night and Winterfest are back. See below for more details.   

McTeacher Night is Back

PTO Winterfest

The KHMS PTO is excited to host Winterfest for the 3rd year.  Gather your friends and family and come join us on December 7th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. for shopping, raffles, crafts, and more!

Student Music Performances: Do you have a student that loves to sing, dance, or play music?  This year we are featuring student performers!  Sign up today to reserve a time slot for solo or group holiday music performances.  

Student Vendors: KHMS students are invited to host their own vendor table.  They can sell student created items such as art work, stickers, 3D prints, bracelets, etc.  This is an excellent opportunity for students to work on entrepreneurial skills while also earning some money of their own.  Use code "student" on the vendor application to receive a discounted vendor rate of only $5.

Community Vendors: Do you or someone you know own a craft/vendor business?  Our Vendor Application is currently open.  Register today to reserve your spot.

Raffles: KHMS PTO is seeking donations from local businesses for raffle items.  If you or someone you know is interested in donating items or gift cards, please email khmspto@gmail.com

We can't wait to see you at Winterfest! 

KORT Hours and MobileServe

Did you know that if your child completes 30 hours or more of documented community service in their time here at Harter Middle School, they earn a Knights of the Round Table (KORT) award? Students can earn these hours by doing things at community events, helping out the elementary and middle school parent-teacher organizations (PTO/PTA/PTN), Performing Arts Boosters, and Kaneland Arts Initiative, as well as doing things within the community and neighborhood like working at a food pantry, serving a meal at a place of worship or just helping an elderly or disabled neighbor with yard work or snow removal.

Even more exciting is the fact that KHMS has partnered with an online app called MobileServe to help make tracking these hours easier than ever before.  No more paper forms that can get lost or torn.  Instead, simply have your child log the hours on the app on their phone, include the supervisor’s email address and an email is sent to the organization for verification.  Once approved, the hours will appear on your child’s dashboard so that you know exactly how many hours they have completed.

Signing up is easy, but we do ask that you help your child to ensure that they sign up with the correct code.  Codes are based on a student’s anticipated Kaneland High School graduation year. KORT hours that your child may have logged via a paper form since beginning at KHMS will be uploaded to the platform so that you know how many they have logged, but please be patient as this will take some time to get done.

If you would like to create an account for you child, you may follow the directions below:

Step One: Open the app or go to app.mobileserve.com & select Sign Up.

Step Two: Enter your name, birthday, and create a password. You can skip the Employer / School box.  Please use your Kaneland email address for your email. Select Next.

Step Three: Add an optional photo to your profile or skip. Select Next

Step Four: Enter the 6-digit code that applies to your child:

KHS Class of 2029 - 766D33

KHS Class of 2030 - BE3233

KHS Class of 2031 - A9E503

Select "Join".

Step 5: Select any activities that you are part of at HMS - Athletics, Student Council, Snowflake, Drama/Music

Step 6: Start logging your activities!

How to Log Hours (video)

How can my child find opportunities?

MobileServe partners with some local organizations to post opportunities. Those can be found on the Opportunities tab on the mobile app or the web app. Additionally, KHMS will send out invitations to students for community service opportunities that are happening at Kaneland district schools, events, etc.  Students will receive those invitations via email and through push notifications on their mobile device where their app is loaded.

Harter Middle School is currently working on getting these opportunities loaded into the MobileServe App

Kaneland CUSD 302 Referendum Town Hall Meetings

Kaneland Connects

Grade Check Form

At this point in the school year, you should have received a Grade Check Form from your child.  We formally do grade checks twice a month, but some teams are using the form more often.  These forms are a way for our students to track their progress in how they are doing academically.  We ask students to email these forms to their parent.  

Awesomeness Around Harter

Twin Day

Disney Day

Homeroom Pop Tab Winners

Fall Play

Fall Play

IESA Cross Country State Finalist

1st Term Incentive

1st Term Incentive

1st Term Incentive

Social Studies Project

Halloween Fun in PE

Halloween Fun in PE

Homeroom Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Homeroom Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Important November Dates

Nov 5 - No School Election Day

Nov 6 - Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Nov 7 - Parent-Teacher (Student-Led Conferences 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Nov 8 - No School

Nov 11 - Veterans Day Assembly

Nov 13 - PTO Meeting (Virtual Link)

Nov 19 - McTeacher Night @ Sugar Grove McDonald's 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Nov 25 - No School - Teacher Institute Day

Nov 26 -No School - Teacher School Improvement Day

Nov 27-29 - No School Thanksgiving Break

Proud to be a Knight!!!

 October 2024

Fall Fundraiser

The tentative pick-up date for all fundraising items from the fall fundraiser is November 6th starting at 3:00 p.m.  All frozen items, no matter if sold online or in person will need to be picked up on that day unless the customer chose a ship to home product online.  Customers that purchased popcorn online had a choice between paying extra and having them shipped to their home or shipping them to school for free.  Those items sent to school will also be available for pickup at that time.  Please keep in mind that we do not have freezer space to store frozen product.  If you are unable to pick up the items on November 6th, please make arrangements for someone else to pick it up for you.

PTO

Our next PTO meeting will be Wednesday, October 9th at 7:00 p.m.  It is a virtual meeting and you can join the meeting by clicking here.  The PTO is continuing to offer a prize to the homeroom that has the most parents attend the PTO meeting.  

The next No Cook Knight is Thursday, October 17th at Paisano's (both Elburn & Sugar Grove locations).   You can find more information on the KHMS PTO website.     

End of 1st Term & Report Cards

The End of the 1st Term is October 11th.  Report Cards will be viewable in Infinite Campus on October 18th.  A separate email will be sent with instructions on how to view and print the report card.

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Since Parent-Teacher Conferences take place right away in November, we wanted to send out information now.  P/T Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 6th (3:00-7:00 p.m.) and Thursday, November 7th (10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.).  Students do attend school on November 6th, but do not have school on November 7th & 8th.  More information, including how to sign up for a conference, will be communicated from your child's team and teachers in the near future.    

We will follow the student-led conference format.  To learn more about this process, an informational doc has been created: Student-led conferences 

KORT Community Service Program

Kaneland Harter Middle School has a long tradition of celebrating student commitment to community service.   Not only does this program give students the opportunity to learn more about the services of the community and supports the district's mission of graduating students who are college, career and community ready, it also supports the Kaneland Core Values of Citizenship, Responsibility and Commitment to Excellence. Students who accumulate at least 30 hours over their career at Harter are recognized at the end of their 8th grade year and are given a Knights of the Round Table chenille shield and certificate of recognition.  If your child is interested in participating in this program, please read the information here.

Halloween Dance

The Harter Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a Halloween dance on Friday, November 1st   from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  All Harter Middle School students are invited to attend and dress in a costume.  Costumes must be school appropriate as outlined in the student handbook and students should not include any toy or fake weapons.  Masks will not be allowed as it is imperative that staff are able to see students' faces.  Face paint is allowed.  

Entry to the dance will cost $5 and students must present their ID.  Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be available for purchase.  Only Kaneland Harter Middle School students are allowed to attend the dance.  Students from other middle schools, high schools, or elementary schools will not be allowed to attend. 

Halloween Day

Due to the fact we are offering a Halloween Dance, Halloween costumes will not be allowed to be worn at school on Halloween day.  Costumes present a distraction to the learning environment.  Students are asked to attend the Halloween Dance to show off their costumes.    

Awesomeness Around Harter

Fundraiser Assembly

Fundraising Winner

Coding

KHS Traveling Pep Assembly

KHS Traveling Pep Assembly

October Important Dates

October 9 - PTO Meeting (Virtual Link)

October 11 - End of 1st Term

October 11 - Fall Play - The Mystery Club (cafeteria) 7:00 p.m.

October 12 - Fall Play - The Mystery Club (cafeteria) 2:00 p.m.

October 14 - No School

October 18 - Report Cards Available in Infinite Campus

November 1 - Halloween Dance (gym) 7:00 p.m.

Proud to be a Knight!!!

 September 2024

Beginning of the Year Team/Staff Presentations

Are you looking to meet your child's team and teachers?  Click here to access a document that houses all of the information you'll need to better understand your child's day at Harter.  Rather than receiving multiple emails, we put all links in one document.    

How to Observe Your Student in Canvas

If you want to observe the work your child is doing in Canvas, linked here are directions on how to create an account.  Please note that all grades will be housed in Canvas this year.    

Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  Our purchasing deadline will be in February.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

PTO

Our next PTO meeting is September 18th at 7:00 p.m.  It's a virtual meeting and you can join by using this link.  

Our next No Cook Knight will take place on September 19th at Open Range in Sugar Grove (website).   A portion of the proceeds will be donated to our fabulous PTO.  

Kaneland 302 Resources 

Kaneland CUSD 302 Information

Get ready for an exciting update!  Kaneland parents/guardians will receive our newsletter directly in your email every Monday morning.  Stay in the loop with all the latest news and updates.  Not a school community member?  No problem!  You can still catch the action by visiting our social media accounts or the website to view the newsletter every Monday.  Don't miss out on what's happening at Kaneland.  

Links:

First Issue

new.express.adobe.com/webpage/6mvISHQLXacfu

Website

www.kaneland.org

Social Media

www.facebook.com/kaneland302/

x.com/Kaneland302/

www.instagram.com/kaneland_d302/

2025-2026 Kaneland IgKnight Academy Information

If you're interested in learning more about KIPLA and/or have been thinking about enrolling your child next year, please click here for more information.  

KHS Football Games

Kaneland High School will not have a middle school section this year.  Any student not of Kaneland High School must be accompanied by an adult and sit with that adult at the games.  Students who arrive unaccompanied will not be allowed in the gate.  Students found attending without an adult will be required to call parents to be picked up.  Students will not be allowed to play football in or outside the stadium at any point and will be asked to sit in the bleachers.  Your cooperation is appreciated.  

8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip

If you have an 8th grade student and you are interested in learning more about the Washington D.C. trip for 8th graders, we are hosting a meeting on Thursday, September 5th at 6:30 p.m. in the HMS cafeteria.  At the meeting, parents will receive pricing information, travel information, and there will be time for a Q&A session.  You can enter through door 20 (back parking lot).  

The Washington D.C. trip is scheduled for April 11-13, 2025.    

Awesomeness Around Harter

Golf Invitational Champs

Open House

Open House

6th Grade Jump Start

First Day of School

PTO 6th Grade Gift

KHMS Marching Band

Important September Dates

September 2 - No School Labor Day

September 18 - PTO Meeting (virtual link) 7:00 p.m. 

September 19 - PTO No Cook Knight at Open Range in Sugar Grove (website)

September 25 - School Picture Retake Day

Proud to be a Knight!!!

 August 2024

From the Desk of the Principal

Here we go again!  Another school year is upon us and as always, I can't wait to welcome our students and staff back to Harter.  I know I repeat myself often when I say it's a privilege and honor to serve as the principal at KHMS, but it's truly a great place to learn and grow and I'm proud to be a member of the Harter family.  It's going to be another great year and I'm glad we are partnering on this journey!    

While this newsletter contains a large amount of information, please review it carefully.  I'm certain that the information found within this newsletter will help you successfully transition into the 2024-2025 school year.  My goal each year is to use our monthly newsletter to communicate important events and all of the awesomeness around Harter.  I'll send individual emails and texts from time to time, but I try to avoid sending too much information in bits over time.  Please refer to our newsletter or website if you are looking for information.    

Enjoy the last days of summer!

Proud to be a Knight!

Brian Faulkner, Principal 

Important Dates & Information to Start the School Year

***Schedules and bus route information will be available in Infinite Campus on August 2nd after 3:00 p.m.  

***Please note that schedule requests or schedule changes cannot be accommodated.  The scheduling process takes time and involves numerous variables and our team has worked hard to provide each student an individualized schedule based on student need and data.

Jump Start to Middle School for 6th Graders (August 5th - 9th - 8:00-10:00 a.m.)

• Due to the requirements for staffing Jump Start, we are not taking walk-ins and a 6th grade student must be registered to attend.    
• Jump Start is a full week program that prepares 6th grade students for their middle school transition.  Our students will get to know the building, learn their daily schedule, practice opening their locker, make new friends, and better understand a typical day as an KHMS student.
• Students should be dropped off and picked up at door 20 (student entrance).    
• More specific information will be sent on August 2nd to the parents that have registered their child for Jump Start.  

Jump Start for New 7th & 8th Grade Students (Thursday, August 8th - 10:30 a.m.)

• All new 7th and 8th grade students are invited to our New Student Jump Start that starts at 10:30 a.m.
• Students should enter door 20 and head to the cafeteria

Open House (Thursday, August 8th - 9:30-11:00 a.m. & 4:00-7:00 p.m.)

• Open House provides our students an opportunity to self-tour the building, locate their classes, find and practice opening their locker, and put away school materials in their locker.  
• Please have Infinite Campus available on your phone or print your child's schedule and locker information before coming in.  We will not have a table with schedules or locker information.    
• There are no formal presentations as this is simply an opportunity for students/parents to come into the building before the school year starts and be prepared for the first day of school.  This is not a drop your child off event and we expect parents to be with their child.     
• Our Health Office staff will be here for Open House.  Please feel free to use this time to drop off physicals, immunization paperwork, medications, and other health related items.  

   

First Day of School 

• Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 14th.  Our school day is 7:25 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.  You can view our daily schedule here.  

Picture Day (Thursday, August 22nd)

• More information regarding pictures will be emailed soon.   

Finding Your Child's Schedule & Other Information

Schedule - Bus Information - PE Uniform & Lock - Food Service

• Linked here is the Campus Parent Portal informational doc.  It contains all the information you would ever need when navigating Infinite Campus
• On Friday, August 2nd after 3:00 p.m., you should see your child's schedule when you login to Infinite Campus

• Linked here is specific information on purchasing PE items, which will then be handed out the first few days of school during PE class 

• Linked here is specific information on the Food Service feature in Infinite Campus (view food account, add money, etc.)  

Schedules

Schedules will be available through Infinite Campus beginning August 2nd.  We often receive requests for certain teams or teachers.  While we would love to honor requests, we simply can't.  Scheduling is a complicated process with numerous variables.  Changing one schedule will create other changes to other schedules and there is a large trickle effect with any changes.  We carefully plan and create schedules and a lot of work goes into the scheduling process.  Students can sometimes feel anxiety over their schedule (not knowing anyone, not having a certain friend on their team, etc.), but the beauty of middle school is making new friends and learning how to navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.  We also have times for students to be together when they are not on the same team (i.e., lunch, PE, exploratory classes, music).  Our staff does a fabulous job of helping students get to know one-another through team building activities.   

School Supply Lists

Grades 6-8 lists can be found by clicking here.

KHMS is using www.schooltoolbox.com for a one-stop shopping experience for school supplies.  You can order your child's school supplies and they will be shipped directly to your house.  

• Go to www.schooltoolbox.com
• Enter school name: Kaneland Harter Middle School
• Select your student's grade level

6th Grade Health Requirements

In order to begin their middle school career, all 6th grade students will need to have their health requirements submitted to our Nurse's office, which requires a physical and dental examination.  Below are links to the forms.  

Physical 

Dental

New Staff

Please help us welcome our new staff to Harter Middle School.  We are excited for our new staff to contribute to and enhance our tradition of excellence.

• Kaitlyn Almazan - Physical Education/Health
• Matthew Anderson - 6 Crimson Social Studies
• Annie Cullen - 7th Grade Special Education
• Sara Fisco - 8 Silver Science 
• Amelia Hudetz - 6th Grade Special Education
• Mary Jandris - School Nurse
• Stephanie Ortegel - 6th Grade MTSS 

PE Uniforms 

PE uniforms can be bought online through Infinite Campus (use this doc for assistance).  Students/parents will need to purchase a shirt and a lock (school issued lock).  Uniforms and locks will be distributed the first few days of school in your child's PE class.  If your child already has both items, there is no need to purchase new ones.   

Lunch Guidelines - Bringing in Lunch For Your Child

Parents are permitted to bring outside lunches for their child ONLY, not for other students.  This rule is strictly enforced due to food allergies and the potential disruption it will cause in our cafeteria.  Even if you know the other students (even with parent permission), we will still prohibit anyone bringing in lunch for any child other than their own.  

We also do not allow students to bring in treats for other students to be shared for the same reasons as above.  Your cooperation is appreciated.  

Lunch Account

Students can purchase a lunch or bring in their own lunch each day.  If your child plans on purchasing lunch, please see the below information.

• Hot lunch is $3.40 or students can purchase ala carte items.  Ala carte items range in price depending on what is being purchased.   
• Money can be put on your child's lunch account.  Money or checks can be taken at the register, but no change will be given back.  Change will be applied to your child's account.  Credit cards/debit cards will not be taken at the register.  
• Deposits through Infinite Campus are credited to a student's account immediately, which means no student should have a negative balance.  If a student has a negative balance, they will be provided the hot lunch of the day.  No child will be denied a lunch, but please note that their account will be charged for the meal.   
• Each transaction of purchased food will show up almost immediately on your account.  We will deny a student ala carte items if funds are not available or if they have hit their daily/weekly limit.  If you would like to set a limit on what your student can charge, please contact Gigi Statler.  Once these limits are set, they will not be removed without notification from parent or guardian.    
• Contact Gigi Statler (10629@kaneland.org) with any questions.   

How to Add Money to Your Child's Account

PTO

Our PTO is always looking for volunteers.  Information on how you can support our PTO will be housed at tables during our Open House.  Make sure you stop by and check out all the wonderful things the PTO does for the students and staff at Harter.  You can also find more information on their website (khmspto.org)  

Extra-Curricular Offerings at Harter

At Harter, we offer numerous extra-curricular offerings and they are listed below.  Other offerings may be added during the school year based on interest.  Please note that some athletic teams and after-school offerings require a student to tryout or audition to make the team/activity.  All athletics/activities that require a tryout or audition have an asterisk next to it.  

Athletics

• Cross Country (grades 6-8) - August (Registration Information)
• * Girls Volleyball  (grades 7 & 8) - August (Tryout Information)
• Boys & Girls Golf (grades 6-8) - Fall
• * Boys Basketball  (grades 7 & 8) - October
• Wrestling (grades 6-8) - October
• * Girls Basketball  (grades 7 & 8) - January
• Bowling (grades 6-8) - Winter
• Track & Field (grades 6-8) - March 

* Tryout Required  

More information regarding sports at Harter can be found on our athletic website.  For all athletic teams, students are required to have a current physical on file to tryout or be a part of a team.  Physicals are considered valid for 13 months.  Physician's offices fill up quick and it is encouraged to get your child's physical done well before the first day of tryouts or practice.    

Activities 

• * School Play (grades 6-8) - Fall
• * School Musical (grades 6-8) - Spring
• * Jazz Band (grades 7 & 8) - All Year
• * Jazz Lab Band (6th grade) - All Year
• * KnightShift Acapella Choir (grades 6-8) - All Year
• Art Club (grades 6-8) - All Year (info)
• Snowflake (grades 6-8)  All Year
• Knight Writers School Newspaper (grades 6-8) - All Year
• Student Council (grades 6-8) - All Year
• Yearbook (grades 6-8) - All Year

*Audition Required 

With any afterschool athletic team or activity, announcements will be made during the school day and we will also post the information online.  

Parent Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures 

If you are a returning parent, drop-off and pick-up procedures have not changed.  Morning drop-off occurs in the front circle (door 1) and the afternoon pickup will occur in the south lot by door 20.  

Please make sure you read our procedures (click here) to familiarize yourself with our process.  

 

School Expectations 

Attendance - Start of the School Day

Please note that students are marked as tardy to school if they arrive after 7:25 a.m.  We want all students to start school on time.  Consequences may be issued for excessive tardiness.        

Behavior Expectations

Our staff and students will extensively review our school expectations in all areas of Harter at the beginning of the year and throughout the year.  We want to prepare our students for success and teaching our expectations explicitly will help our students.  We know the more structure we provide, the more our students will thrive.     

Cell Phone Expectations 

While we've always advocated for students to learn how to utilize technology appropriately, including cellphones, we have experienced numerous distractions and disruptions over the years.  Due to this, we are continuing our expectations regarding students' use of cellphones during the school day.  All phones must be put away during the school day (not seen, used, or heard) unless a teacher gives permission.  Students will still be allowed to use their phones at lunch.     

We realize that cellphones make it easy to communicate with your child and this is why we will continue to allow them at lunch. This will be the time when students can check in with you in case you message them.  If there is an emergency or you need to get a hold of your child, please call the main office (630-466-8400) and we will relay the message or call them to the office to reach out to you.  

Our expectations will reduce the amount of distractions phones have caused and allow our students to experience success at higher rates.  Thank you for your understanding in this matter.  

District Communication Information

Lunchroom Supervisors Needed

Harter is looking for lunchroom supervisors (paid position).  If you are interested, please fill out an application and contact Kris Weiss (10535@kaneland.org).  

Important August Dates

August 5-9 - Jump Start for 6th Grade Students 8:00-10:00 a.m. 

August 8 - New to Harter Student Orientation 10:30 a.m. (meet in cafeteria)

August 8 - Open House - 9:30-11:00 a.m. & 4:00-7:00 p.m.

August 14 - First Day of School 

August 22 - Picture Day

August 26-30 - i-Ready Testing

Proud to be a Knight!!!