H-D Elementary News 🎒

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We are off to a great start at North and South Side Elementary Schools! Classes spent the first days building connections and getting to know each other. We are now digging in and learning great things! This week and next, our students are taking FAST tests. These assessments will give us useful data, allowing us to track growth throughout the year. Thank you for encouraging your child to do their best!

Our start time has changed a bit this year. The first bell will ring at 8:00 at both North Side and South Side. The second bell, indicating the start of our day, will ring at 8:05. Breakfast will begin at 7:40, and non-breakfast students will enter at 7:45. It is important to be to school on time each day. Every minute of class and instruction is important to your child's learning.

We are excited to see what the month of September brings. We will have new adventures and new stories to tell!

To ensure the safety of all students and follow district guidelines, parents/guardians are to remain at the school entrance and allow staff to help students to class at the start of the day. We have several staff members on duty to help students to their rooms. The same is true at dismissal. If you need to speak with a teacher, please email them to set up an appointment or leave a message with the office. We will happily have the teacher call you at their next availability.

It's very important that all family and friends follow our drop-off and pick-up procedures. The safety of our students depends on it. Please follow the correct flow of traffic and drive slowly!

Follow these expectations in the car drop-off and pick-up line:

North Side - Car drop-off and pick up takes place on the south side of the building, moving east to west. All vehicles must use the north side (school side) of 11th Place NE. Staff will help to load students into vehicles. Do not park on the south/residential side of the road. No students will be released to cross the road. See map below.

South Side - When arriving at South Side, pull all the way forward on the left/north side of the driveway. Students should get out on the left/driver's side and use the sidewalk to meet the crossing guard. The guard will help all students across the road. The right/south side of the drive must be left open for busses. Do not use the staff parking area. See map below.

Gradual Release of Responsibility

In the early years of school, it is important for parents to begin the year helping their child make a smooth transition into Preschool and Kindergarten. As September begins, it is important for parents to try to give their child a sense of independence by allowing their student to do some things BY THEMSELVES. You will notice your child developing a great sense of pride! Allow your child to walk into the building and find their locker independently.

In Kindergarten, we are learning to read, write and spell our first names. We have a NAME "toolbox" with letters we can mix and fix.

Mrs. Westhoff's Preschool class will soon begin their apple unit. The students will learn about apples and apple trees. They will also get to help make different apple treats, taste test different apples, and participate in an experiment to see how an apple browns when cut depending on what type of liquid it’s in.

The second graders have been working hard at building their stamina for reading and writing independently in the classroom. Students have leaned that stamina is how long they can do something before they get tired, bored, or distracted. They started the year being able to read and write for just a few minutes and after a couple of weeks, they have built their stamina up to around 10 minutes! They will continue working on this until they reach their goal of 20 minutes. This independence allows students to continue practicing while the teacher works with small groups and individual students. Keep working hard, second graders!

3rd Grade students will attend the annual AgFair at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, September 26. They will get learn all about agriculture and farm life, see live animals as well as modern and vintage farm equipment.

We are working on learning the Zones of Regulation to help student learn to share their feelings. These awesome kids are showing that they are in the “green” zone! One student was feeling a little off one day and said “I think I am in the yellow now!!” They are learning!

We are learning so much about academics and MORE at South Side!

You may notice that your child’s library books no longer have due dates stamped inside. Library books are checked out for two weeks, but since students get to go to the library about once a week, checkout is much easier if we use verbal reminders for book returns rather than stamping each book. We recommend that they bring their books to school each week on library day so they can decide if they want to turn it in or renew it.

Reminder, if you find library books at home from last year, they can still be turned in anytime. We appreciate getting books back no matter how long they’ve been checked out or misplaced.

Picture Day: Tuesday, September 12

North Side Picture Day Information

South Side Picture Day Information

Homecoming week is September 11-15. Both elementary schools will participate in Spirit Week dress-up days.

Monday, September 11 - Class Color Day

• Preschool - green
• Kindergarten - blue
• 1st grade - yellow
• 2nd grade - orange
• 3rd grade - purple
• 4th grade - blue
• 
  

Tuesday, September 12 - Fancy Day (Picture Day!)

Wednesday, September 13 - Crazy Sock/Hair Day

Thursday, September 14 - Hat Day

Friday, September 15 - Spirit Day - wear red and black

Mini pep-rallies at each school

Homecoming Parade and Community Pep-Rally

Kindergarten through 4th grade students will attend the Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 15. We will return to school for regular dismissal procedures. NO STUDENTS WILL DISMISS FROM THE PARADE OR PEP-RALLY.

North Side Homecoming Parade Note (Kindergarten)

South Side Homecoming Parade Note