Hill Gustat Middle School

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring test that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards. Your student will participate in the first administration (PM1) of the Grade 6-/7/8 FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments on Tuesday, September 15th and Thursday, September 17th. Any student who has not completed the session by the end of the allotted time may continue working up to the length of a typical school day. The results from PM1 are for informational purposes only. You will be provided with information about how to see your student’s results after testing is completed.

FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how your student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test (PM1, PM2, and PM3) has 35–40 items that cover the test “blueprint,” meaning students will see items that measure the standards within the subject and grade level. For more information about the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. You or your student can practice using the online testing platform or review sample items at home at https://flfast.org/families.html.

Please see our website for more information!

7 days ago, HGM Facebook Team

🥎💙💛 Meet your 2026-2027 Hill-Gustat Lady Eagles Softball Team! 💛💙🥎

The roster is set, the schedule is ready, and our Lady Eagles are preparing to take the field! 🦅

Our season kicks off September 10 at home against DeSoto, with home games played at the YMCA fields.

Save the schedule and come out to support these student-athletes!

Let’s go, Lady Eagles! 🥎🦅💙💛

Dates and times are subject to change.

14 days ago, HGMS Social Media

🏈 WE WANT PLAYERS!

Hill-Gustat Football is looking for 10–15 more players to join the team this season!

Interested in playing? Contact Mr. O’Berski for details about participation.

Let’s fill the roster and get ready for some Eagle Football! 🦅

15 days ago, HGMS Social Media

Hill-Gustat football graphic featuring an Eagle football player and the words “We Want Players.” Contact Mr. O’Berski for participation details.

🔋 Tonight’s homework: CHARGE THOSE CHROMEBOOKS! 💻⚡ Students, plug in your Chromebook tonight so you’re ready to go tomorrow morning. 🔌 Plug it in. ⚡ Charge it up. 💙💛 Come ready for a great day at HGMS!

16 days ago, HGMS Social Media

Blue and gold graphic reminding students to charge their Chromebooks tonight.

Mark your calendars and come out to support our Eagles this season! 🏈 2026 Football Schedule 📅 September 1 | 6:00 PM | at Lake Placid 📅 September 8 | 6:30 PM | at LaBelle 📅 September 15 | 6:00 PM | at DeSoto 📅 September 22 | 6:00 PM | vs. Clewiston 📅 September 29 | 6:00 PM | at Hardee 📅 October 6 | 6:00 PM | vs. Sebring 📅 October 13 | 6:00 PM | vs. Avon Park Save the dates, wear your blue and gold, and help us cheer on our Eagles all season long!Home games are played at Hill-Gustat this year! 🌟 Student Spotlight: A special shoutout to our Digital Creator, Sirenity Daniels, who designed this football schedule graphic herself! We love seeing our students use their talents to help tell the HGMS story. 🦅 GO EAGLES! 🏈

16 days ago, HGMS Social Media

Hill-Gustat Eagles football schedule: Away Sept. 1 Lake Placid, Sept. 8 LaBelle, Sept. 15 DeSoto, Sept. 29 Hardee. Home Sept. 22 Clewiston, Oct. 6 Sebring, Oct. 13 Avon Park.

📅 Mark your calendars, Eagle families! Our first Early Release Day is coming up on Wednesday, August 26. Students will be released at 1:15 PM. We’re sharing early so families have plenty of time to make arrangements for the earlier dismissal. Please plan accordingly, and help us spread the word! 🦅

17 days ago, HGMS Social Media

Graphic reminder for Hill-Gustat Middle School: Early Release Day is August 26, 2026. Students will be released at 1:15 PM.

🎶 Band Instrument Rental Night is coming up! 🎺🎷

Band families, join us on Thursday, August 20 at 7 PM in the Band Room to learn more about instrument rental options for your student!

Representatives from Carlton Music and Heartland Band Supply will be there to present their rental offers and help families find the best fit.

We hope to see you there! 🎵

19 days ago, HGMS Social Media

Navy and gold graphic for Band Instrument Rental Night on August 20 at 7 PM in the Band Room. Carlton Music and Heartland Band Supply will present instrument rental offers. Musical instruments and notes decorate the graphic.

🥎 SOFTBALL TRYOUT UPDATE 🥎 Please note the updated tryout schedule and location! 📅 Thursday, August 13 & Friday, August 14 ⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM 📍 YMCA Fields Due to our school field not being ready, tryouts will be held at the YMCA fields. These will be the only two tryout dates. Before tryouts, please make sure your sports physical and all required clearance paperwork are complete and updated for this school year. Players should bring: 🔵 Glove 🟡 Bat, if you have one 🔵 Helmet, if you have one 🟡 Water bottle 🔵 Appropriate softball/athletic shoes Come prepared and ready to work. We’re excited to see our Eagles on the field! 🥎

22 days ago, HGMS Social Media

📚🦅 First Day & First Week Reminders! 🦅📚 We’re excited to welcome our Eagles back to Hill-Gustat! 💙💛 Here are a few important reminders as we get the school year started: ⏰ Drop-off begins at 7:45 a.m. Please do not drop students off earlier. 🥣 Students should arrive in the cafeteria by 8:00 a.m. to enjoy breakfast. (Unless their bus transportation is late.) 🔔 The tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m.! 🏠 Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home each day. Here’s to a great first day and an even better first week at HGMS! 🦅💙💛

22 days ago, HGMS Social Media

First Day and First Week Reminders for Hill-Gustat Middle School: Drop-off begins at 7:45 a.m. Students eating breakfast should arrive by 8:00 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m. Families should make sure students know how they are getting home.

🥎 SOFTBALL TRYOUTS ARE THIS WEEK! 🥎 Interested in trying out for HGMS Softball? Make sure you’re ready! 📅 Tryout Dates: August 13, 14, & 17 ⏰ 3:45–6:00 PM ⚠️ IMPORTANT: All athletes must have their sports physical and required forms uploaded and cleared for the 2026–2027 school year before participating. Even if your physical from last school year has not expired, all required forms must still be uploaded for this school year. ❓ Having trouble with your athletic clearance? Coach Gill will be available Tuesday and Wednesday after school to help students with clearance issues. Get cleared and get ready to hit the field! 🦅🥎

24 days ago, HGMS Social Media

Illustrated female eagle softball player in a blue and gold Eagles uniform, holding a softball and glove.

Attention, Parents!

If your child still needs their Tdap booster, take advantage of this FREE Immunization Clinic:

📍 Sebring Health Department
📅 Friday, August 7
🕗 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

No appointment needed. Walk-ins are welcome!

27 days ago, HGMS Social Media

🦅 Need a back-up student ID badge?

Families will have the opportunity to purchase a back-up ID badge during Open House for $5 in the Media Center.

💵 Cash will be accepted for this purchase.

Having a spare ID badge can be helpful if your student's original is ever lost or damaged. We look forward to seeing everyone at Open House! #EaglePride

28 days ago, HGMS Social Media

💻 Chromebook usage fees must be paid online only. No cash will be accepted. Pay your fee here: https://highlands.revtrak.net/hill-gustat-middle/hgm-chromebooks/#/v/hgm-chromebook-usage-fee When paying, please enter your student’s first and last name exactly as it appears in Skyward. Thank you for helping us prepare for a great school year!

28 days ago, Channing Dettman

Hill-Gustat Middle School flyer about Chromebook usage fees. Fees must be paid online only using the QR code. No cash will be accepted. Families should enter the student’s first and last name exactly as it appears in Skyward.

Our office will be closed on Monday, August 3rd so that all staff can attend mandatory trainings. Thank you for understanding.

about 1 month ago, HGMS Social Media

Graphic reads: "Office Closure – 8/3/26." Hill-Gustat Middle School's office will be closed on Monday, August 3 so all staff can attend mandatory training. Thank you for your understanding.

The School Board of Highlands County is excited to launch Highlands PLUS, a brand-new way for non-enrolled and non-traditional students in our community to access high-quality district courses. Students can take as little as one course or several. Courses can be taken in person or virtually through Highlands Virtual School (HVS)! Please note that course availability varies by school.

Whether your student is looking to explore a new passion or get ahead, we offer incredible courses in:
🔬 STEM
🎨 Fine Arts
💼 Career & Technical Education (CTE)
📚 Core Academics (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies—including Honors!)
💻 Virtual Learning

We are an authorized StepUp for Students provider! We accept payments directly through the EMA portal as well as direct pay options. This program is specifically designed for non-traditional students who may be utilizing the FTC or FES school choice scholarships.

Access to a district Chromebook is fully included in your course enrollment price. Accidental Chromebook damage is covered by paying an annual $10 use fee.
Note: Highlands PLUS is for non-enrolled students, meaning SBHC acts as a contracted service provider. Participants are not enrolled as full-time public school students.

👉 Ready to customize your child's education? Log into your StepUp EMA portal or visit our district website at https://www2.highlands.k12.fl.us/plus to explore courses and begin enrollment today!

#HighlandsPLUS #StepUpForStudents #SchoolChoice

about 1 month ago, The School Board of Highlands County

Reminder!
Chromebook collection is this week. 7th-grade students will be turning theirs in on Wednesday, as well as any 8th graders who still need to turn theirs in. 6th grade will turn theirs in on Thursday.

**Check under the bed, couch, or in the car for those missing chargers. Items not turned in or turned in and are broken will receive fines and a notification from the tech dept. about how much a student owes.**

4 months ago, HGM Facebook Team

🐠🪼🎉 DON’T FORGET YOUR DONATION! 🎉🪼🐠

📅 Thursday and Friday before school
🥫 Bring 3 non-perishable food items.

🎟️ Your three donations will earn you:
✅ A ticket out of class on Tuesday, May 19th
🎮 Access to games and prizes!

🍦 The grade level with the most donations wins ice cream!
🍿 Waffle s’mores, drinks, and popcorn will be available for purchase.
🐋 Let’s make a splash and help our community! 💙💛

4 months ago, HGMS Social Media

Alt text: Blue ocean-themed donation flyer with jellyfish, whales, coral, and fish. Large text says “Don’t Forget Your Donation.” Students should bring 3 non-perishable food items Thursday and Friday before school. Donations earn a ticket out of class on Tuesday, May 19, plus access to games and prizes. The grade level with the most donations wins ice cream. Waffle s’mores, drinks, and popcorn will be sold.

Please fill out the correct form to help select your electives for next year! Remember this needs to be completed by Monday, April 20th, before you arrive on campus! This is only for students who are currently in 6th or 7th grade.

Current 6th Graders: https://forms.gle/CfsMb2XZv91RhLks7

Current 7th Graders: https://forms.gle/jpHgVUmDYJJS9F3a7

5 months ago, HGM Facebook Team

Eagle Students making a decision on their elective choices for next year.

Tomorrow, all 6th and 7th-grade students will receive a half sheet about next year's elective choices. Please look this over, review the Course of Study, and then sign this paper and return it to school. At 5 pm on Friday, the course offerings will be released online for students and their families to fill out. Please complete this by Monday, April 20th, before students arrive on campus. To see the course of study go here: https://sbhcschools.org/HGMCourseDirectory

5 months ago, HGM Facebook Team

All information is posted below in text.

🦅 HGMS Testing Dates Announcement 🦅
State testing will take place on the following dates:
Tuesday, May 5 – 1st Period
Wednesday, May 6 – 4th Period
Thursday, May 7 – 2nd Period
Friday, May 8 – 5th Period
Tuesday, May 12 – 3rd Period
Wednesday, May 13 – 6th Period
Thursday, May 14 – 7th Period
Tested subjects include ELA, Math, Algebra, Civics, and 8th Grade Science.
We are sharing these dates well in advance so families can plan accordingly. It is highly beneficial for students to test with their regular testing group, as this provides a familiar environment and helps support their success.
#TraditionOfExcellence #EaglePride

5 months ago, HGMS Social Media

ALT Text: Yellow and blue school graphic titled “Testing Dates.” Lists tested subjects as ELA, Math, Algebra, Civics, and 8th grade Science. Testing schedule: Tuesday, May 5 – 1st period; Wednesday, May 6 – 4th period; Thursday, May 7 – 2nd period; Friday, May 8 – 5th period; Tuesday, May 12 – 3rd period; Wednesday, May 13 – 6th period; Thursday, May 14 – 7th period.