| Harold B. Dawson Jr. Middle School |
Week of January 18th, 2026 |
|
|
-Be Respectful - Be Responsible - Be Safe - Be Kind -
|
|
|
Invention Convention is underway! |
|
|
From the Principal's Desk |
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
HBD Raiders' Families,
On Monday, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday. Dr. King’s commitment to non-violence and peaceful action brought meaningful social and legal change—and his message remains just as important today. Our youth must learn the power of resolving conflict through respect, courage, and understanding. Dr. King reminded us of the true purpose of education when he said:
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” Our Work at HBD This message speaks directly to the work of schools and educators today. Each day, we strive to prepare students to pursue their personal dreams—work that can be challenging when students choose not to fully engage. Even so, we remain committed to our mission.
At Harold B. Dawson, Jr. Middle School, we prioritize: Safety first Academic achievement Social-emotional learning Strong community values
We also encourage students to explore interests beyond academics—sports, music, chess, student council, House leadership, and more. Having something they enjoy helps students stay connected and motivated. Family Partnership We ask families to encourage scholars to: Attend school daily Come prepared to learn Take advantage of opportunities Respect all staff Give their best effort each day When students do this, growth follows. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our Raider Family. ❤️💙🤍 Principal Evans |
|
|
We are focusing on our chronically absent students who have missed 10% or more of the school year. As of Friday, 1/16 if your student has missed 10 or more days of school (excused and/or unexcused), they are considered chronically absent.
Students who are chronically absent are at risk of falling behind their peers academically. If you are unsure of your student's attendance or need assistance getting your student to school consistently, please contact the school. |
|
|
Our goal is 100% Attendance - Every Day!
|
|
|
Week 1.06.26 - 88.8% Week of 1.112.26 - 85%
|
| |
|
|
Students continue to earn one jibbitz charm per week for being at school every day that week.*Bracelets will not be replaced, so students need to be responsible for them! |
|
|
| Friday, 1/23: Honor Roll Breakfast |
5th & 6th grade: 8:30 a.m.
7th & 8th grade: 9:15 a.m. |
|
|
| Sunday, 2/1: Boundary Waiver Window Closes |
Families have until 7:00 p.m. on 2/1 to apply for a Boundary Waiver. For more info, click HERE. |
|
|
Boys' Basketball
1/21 @ Rolling Acres 3:45 p.m. 1/23 vs. Rolling Acres 3:30 p.m.
See the full game schedule here. As a reminder, students must have an adult/parent/guardian with them to attend games. |
| Student Council: Tuesday, January 20th 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Future Teacher Club: Mondays 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Art Club: Wednesdays 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
Chess Club: Wednesdays 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Horizons Club: Thursdays during lunch |
|
|
|
A Note of Appreciation to Our PPS District 150 Bus Drivers & Monitors At Harold B. Dawson, Jr. Middle School, we want to take a moment to say thank you to our PPS District 150 bus drivers and bus monitors. The important work you do each day often goes unnoticed, but it never goes unappreciated.
Your commitment to safely transporting our students, maintaining order, and caring for our scholars makes a difference every single day. We are grateful for your consistency, professionalism, and dedication to serving our school community. Thank you for all you do to keep our HBD students safe.
— The HBD Raider Family 🚌❤️💙🤍 |
|
|
School Counselor: Kelly Craig Edwards |
| |
|
All Students: --Cartwheel: Online counseling support. Ask Mrs. Craig if you have questions
--Wrap Around Center: Offers counseling, food, rent assistance, and other supports 6th-8th Graders:
Thinking about becoming an adult and planning for your future can be overwhelming! We are very excited to introduce your school’s college and career readiness platform, SchooLinks, to help you reduce that anxiety and fear about your future! All of SchooLinks’ features are designed to step-by-step help you plan for your future plans (don’t forget to make back up plans too). SchooLinks has taken years of student feedback to make sure your experience using it is friendly, fun and most importantly helpful! SchooLinks can be accessed on your phone, tablet, or computer.
SchooLinks allows you to: --Take swipeable surveys and quizzes to learn more about your interests and what careers might be right for you 🤳 --Research careers and watch mentor videos to help you navigate the college and career planning process 👨🔬
--Explore college profiles to learn information about campus life, the student body, and more 👨🎓 --Learn about financial literacy and how decisions you make can financially impact you after you graduate 💰 --Create course plans based on your career pathway 👩🏫
SchooLinks can be an amazing tool to help you decide and prepare for your path after high school even if you’re not 100% sure yet! We offer more than 80 experiences, such as career interest inventory assessments, college and career search, scholarship matching, college application tracking, and more. We look forward to getting started and helping you map your future! |
|
|
All students participating in school sports must have an up-to-date sports physical (dated within a year). |
|
|
|
Parents and Guardians are welcome to join our HBD PTO in working to ensure that our students are provided with the best possible middle school experience. Next Meeting: Tuesday, 2/10 @ 6:00 PM
Location: HBD Library and MS Teams President: Jessica Marksity
Vice President: Suzanne Linsley Secretary and Treasurer: Meghan Moody |
|
|
HBD's PTO is selling the $1 chocolate bars again! You have 3 options for purchasing:
Students were sent home with pre-order forms before break. Simply fill it out, return it to school with your cash payment, and your chocolate bars will be sent home with your student the following day.
If you'd like to pay online, visit: https://bit.ly/HBDPTOchocolate Students can purchase bars directly from Mrs. Moody throughout the day.
|
| |
|
Parent Message: Raider Sportsmanship Expectations Raider Families,
As we continue to support our students in athletics, clubs, and school activities, I want to take a moment to remind all families of the importance of good sportsmanship. Our goal is to create safe, positive, and encouraging environments where every student—whether on the court, in the stands, or performing on stage—feels valued and respected.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sets clear expectations for conduct during school-sponsored events. While HBD is a middle school, we proudly follow these same guidelines to model excellence for our scholars. Key IHSA expectations include:
Show respect for all players, coaches, officials, and spectators—at all times. Cheer positively, avoiding negative comments, taunting, or distracting behaviors.
Allow officials to officiate. The use of abusive, harassing, or inappropriate language toward referees is strictly prohibited. Promote a safe, family-friendly atmosphere where students can learn, compete, and grow.
Remember that school activities are extensions of the classroom, and the same standards of respect and responsibility apply. Our students are watching us, learning from us, and modeling our actions. Thank you for helping us demonstrate what true Raider Pride looks like—respect, courtesy, and unity.
Together, we can ensure that every event reflects the strong character of our school community and supports the success of all students. With appreciation,
Mrs. Evans
Principal, Harold B. Dawson Jr. Middle School |
|
|
| The Village of West Peoria has asked us to remind our families that the north side of Rohmann is a no parking zone. Vehicles should only be parking on the school-side of the street. |
|
|
|
All students are required to remain in uniform on school grounds and while on the bus. This includes after-school events unless performance attire is required. See Student Handbook for details.
Exceptions: Birthdays, Spirit Days, Buy-Outs |
|
|
|
Bus and school safety remain our top priority. Our bus drivers carry a critical responsibility and should not have to manage student misbehavior. Please remind your student to follow all bus safety rules and the driver’s directions at all times. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure every ride is safe. |
NOTICE: Please speak to your student about bus and school safety and the importance of following the directions of those in authority, school staff, bus drivers, police, etc. Thank you. |
|
|
| Please review the information at the following links: |
|
|
Mrs. Mary Newman-Evans, Principal
Email: mary.newman-evans@psd150.org Phone: 309-672-6506 |
| Mrs. Cathy Wiggers, Asst. Principal
Email: cathy.wiggers@psd150.org Phone: 309-672-6506 |
|
|
|
