

What's Buzzing at the Heights
Week 16: December 4 - 9, 2023
Campus Mission Statement:
Campus Vision Statement:
Message from the Principal
Dear Hornet Families,
Wow! 74 days of INSTRUCTION are in the books!
This past Saturday, we participated in an honored tradition, the Horizon City Christmas Parade. A special thanks to our Cheer Sponsors: Ms. Andrea Ferro & Ms. Diane Renteria for their work with our Pom Squad. The Pom Squad spread Christmas cheer with their chants and dance to get us ready for the season. Thanks to our Pom Squad parents for driving, decorating, brining the music & boom box and keep our team safe! It was great to see everyone along the parade route!
This week, we will begin to call and hold Loss of Credit Meetings. We have many scholars with excessive absences. Any scholars with 10 or more absences will be on the list. We will set up a conference to review documentation and collaborate of how to keep them healthy and in school to learn. The meetings will be about 15 minutes in length. We thank you in advance. The attendance goal is 98%. We are currently at 96.60%.
This Saturday, we will host our final Saturday Learning Camp on Dec. 9 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM for the semester. These sessions allow our scholars to get "caught up" on skills they may have missed or need to revisit through small group and engaging activities. Please check with your child's teacher to see if your child is required to attend. Scholars have free dress and are asked to bring a snack. The building will open at 7:15 AM.
This month, we ask for your support to help our scholars with the following:
- read daily for 20 minutes (anything of interest to child);
- complete 5 units of Lexia daily,
- practice addition & subtraction facts (these bring confidence);
- practice multiplication & division facts (upper grades need for problem solving);
- go to bed early enough to be ready to learn the next day; &
- continue to communicate with classroom teachers
Lost & Found.
Please stop by the school and check the Lost & Found bin in the cafeteria if your child has lost a jacket, coat or scarf. We have over 5 bags full of lost items. Parents may come into the building between 8 AM and 1 PM to look for items. All items not pick up will be donated on Friday, Dec. 15. Please ask your children to go check the lost and found bin for their item.
Arrival & Dismissal.
Arrival and Dismissal will be our greatest challenges. Please be patient and kind. We will have all staff on duty to assist and create a system that is safe and efficient.
For Dismissal, we do ask families to ensure their SIGN with child's name in posted in the front windshield so that we can read & call out the name.
Attendance.
If your child is absent, we must have a doctor's note or a personal note explaining why they were absent upon their arrival. For doctor's appointments, take your child to appointment, but bring them back with a doctor's note the same day and it will be counted as present.
NEW: This year, district policy indicates parents/guardians have 72 hours to submit excuse notes justifying child's absence.
Attendance in vital to our scholars success. Every day gone from school, they lose 7 hours of skills, strategies and support for learning. Help us by keeping your children healthy.
We track attendance daily and will communicate with families when children have 5 absences & tardies to establish a Loss of Credit Contract. Our goal is for your child to be healthy and at school without losing credit.
Reporting Absences.
If you need to report an absence, our PEIMS Clerk will be able to assist you. Our team will be receiving the email to help assist you. I will forward all of your messages to the classroom teachers so they are aware of the absence.
Email: attendancehorizonheights@sisd.net
Please include as much detail as possible:
- Child's name
- Grade
- Teacher
- Student ID
- Reason for the absence
All notes will be collected via this email as well. Be sure to include details in the note as the child returns to class.
Tardies.
Children will be counted TARDY whey they enter the building at 7:45 AM. Please ensure you are allowing enough time for your child to arrive to school on time. After 3 tardies, children will be given lunch detention. The traffic is hectic. We begin to receive children at 6:45 AM. Help your child to arrive on time and start their day ready to learn.
Birthday Snacks.
We ask parents to please refrain from bringing in cupcake trays. If you would like for your child to share a treat, it must be a treat individually packaged by the manufacturer. Candy bags, individually wrapped snacks are allowed. Call or email Ms. Hansen and we can help to clarify. We appreciate you!
Thank you for your continued support! We are blessed with an amazing learning community!
Together, we are better!
Respectfully,
Jenifer Hansen
Proud Principal of Horizon Heights ES
Office Number: 915-937-7402
Arrival & Dismissal Times
Picking Up Scholars Early
We are asking for your assistance when picking up children early from school. We need your support to be able to process your request in a timely manner.
For Doctor's Appointments:
If possible, pick you your children before 1:00 PM.
For PK & Kinder:
Children must be picked no later than 2:00 PM.
For 1st-5th Grade:
Children must be picked up no later than 2:30 PM.
Thank you for your support!
Skyward Parent Portal
The Socorro Independent School District is implementing Skyward Family Access for parents and students for the 2023-2024 school year. Skyward Family Access will replace the Tyler360 portal.
Skyward Family Access is an easy-to-use website that allows parents and guardians to access information about their students, such as attendance, grades, assignments, schedules, progress reports and report cards. Skyward Family Access is available on any device with an internet connection.
Skyward Family Access is now available to students and parents. Click here to learn more about how to use Skyward. Information also will be shared with parents via email.
SISD appreciates parents’ patience and understanding during the transition to Skyward Family Access.
Attendance Incentive for Each Grade Level
Lexia Celebrations, Week 11
Scholars are encouraged to reach their weekly goals. Scholars must work independently to make the progress necessary to become proficient in their reading skills.
Goal: Scholars should be working towards 5 units a day, each week.
Thank you for your continued support for Lexia.
School Uniforms
Pre-Kinder students:
- Red polo tops only
- Khaki or blue pants/shorts/skirts
Kinder -5th Grade Students:
- Hunter green, navy blue or white polos
- Khaki or blue pants/shorts/skirts
The school uniform does NOT have to have the school name or logo.
Monday-Wednesday: School uniform: uniform shirt & uniform slacks/shorts/skirts
Thursday: College Day (attire from your favorite college) with jeans/slacks
Friday: Spirit Day Shirts and jeans (with no holes, no tears/ripped)
Military Active Spouse Meeting
Attendance, Week 15
Our goal as a school is to reach 98% attendance each week. We know that staying healthy is as important as learning each day.
This week's attendance percentages as as follows:
- PreKinder: 92.10% to 92.34%
- Kinder: 93.68% to 95.79%
- 1st Grade: 95.27% to 96.07% (Super Work, 1st Grade!)
- 2nd Grade: 95.22% to 95.98%
- 3rd Grade: 94.25% to 96.08%
- 4th Grade: 93.83% to 96.88%
- 5th Grade: 97.32% to 96.86% (Way to Go, 5th Grade!)
Week 15: 95.92%; YTD: 96.60%, We had a TOUGH week!
We are 4th highest in the district. Let's aim for 98% and reach 1st place! We can do this!
Stay healthy and make it count! Be at school daily! We will have a great year Hornets!
Classes with Perfect Attendance
Way to go Hornets!
The following classes have FREE DRESS on Wednesday:
- 4th Grade: Ms. Perez, 100%
We will ask that our PK still wear their RED shirt as this is a safety protocol to know that an adult must be with them. They can accessorize with hats, glasses, etc. Thank you!
Stay healthy! We can do this Hornets!
Winter Drive 2023
Technology Updates...
Classes come to the Library every other week, and books are checked out for those 2 weeks. Students need to keep books safe and clean in a Ziploc bag. Fees are charged for lost/damaged books based on the cost of the book. Fees will be paid on My School Bucks through the Web Store on our school web page.
Parents may come in to sign up for a library account with a valid Driver's License and email address. Parents may check out 5 books at a time. The library hours for parents are:
7:45am-8:15am and 2:00pm-3:15pm
Student devices have been distributed to PK-5th grade students to use in class. There are still a few of our new scholars needing devices. They have been requested and will be distributed as soon as they arrive.
HOLIDAY Free Dress, Dec. 11-15, 2023
Team Members Ready to Assist
Here is a list of phone numbers, emails and the team members that will assist you with any questions you may have:
Horizon Heights Office 937-7400
- Any questions or concerns
Mrs. Hansen, Principal, email: jhanse@sisd.net, 915-937-7402
Mrs. Carrillo, Assistant Principal, email: ecarri@sisd.net, 915-937-7403
Ms. Luna, Assistant Principal, eluna01@sisd.net, 915-937-7427
Ms. DeBretto, Principal Fellow, mdebre@sisd.net, 915-937-7402
Mrs. Salazar, Counselor, email: asalaz12@sisd.net, 915-937-7421
Mrs. Valdez, Counselor, email: bvalde@sisd.net, 915-937-7420
Ms. Ortega, Librarian, email: sorteg@sisd.net, 915-937-7414
School Nurse
Our school Nurse, Diana Barrera, will continue to serve our learning community. She has been with us for one year and loves our scholars and working with our parents.
Time: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Phone: 915-937-7407
Email: dbarre02@sisd.net
December Kindness 2023
Administrators' Contact Information
Jenifer Hansen, Principal
Email: jhanse@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7402
Edith Carrillo, Assistant Principal
Email: ecarri@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7403
Erica Luna, Assistant Principal
Email: eluna01@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7427
Miranda DeBretto, Principal Fellow
Email: mdebre@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7402
As always, we are honored to work with each of you! Do not hesitate to ask any question which you have about the new school year!
Eastlake Feeder Schools
https://www.smore.com/1akh6-eastlake-high-school
Col. John O. Ensor MS, Mr. Stephen Fernandez:
https://www.smore.com/v05rn-ensor-eagle-news
Eastlake MS, Ms. Gabriela Elliott:
Desert Wind School, Ms. Leticia Terrazas:
Ben Narbuth ES: Mr. Fernando Miranda:
Dr. Sue Shook ES: Ms. Cristina Chavira:
Mission Ridge ES: Mr. Jesus Mendez:
Calendar of Events
Here is a calendar of events that will take place at our school for our scholars. Mark your calendars at home and let's make it a great year!
Please keep your children healthy and in school. We are missing the mark on our 98% attendance goal. Currently, we are at 96.60% on attendance.
Week 16, Monday, December 4:
- 16th Week of School
- Hour of Code (in the Library)
- Afterschool Tutoring, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Check your teachers' schedule for tutoring
Tuesday, December 5:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Afterschool Tutoring, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday, December 6:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Afterschool Tutoring, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Thursday, December 7:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Wear your favorite college shirt & jeans
Friday, December 8:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Wear your school spirit shirt & jeans
Saturday, December 9:
- Saturday Learning Camp, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Week 17, Monday, December 11:
- 16th Week of School
- Afterschool Tutoring, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Check your teachers' schedule for tutoring
- Attire: Headgear, festive socks & jeans
Tuesday, December 12:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Afterschool Tutoring, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Attire: Dress in Grinch or Green Attire & Jeans
Wednesday, December 13:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Afterschool Tutoring, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Superintendent's Holiday Open House, DSC, 4:00 PM
- Attire: Dress in Plaid Shirt/Scarf & Jeans
Thursday, December 14:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Wear your favorite college shirt & jeans
- Attire: Dress in Favorite Holiday PJs
Friday, December 15:
- Early Release for Scholars
- PK & Kinder: 11:15 AM
- 1st-5th Grade: 11:35 AM
- Announce 1 Winner at each Grade Level for Giant Stocking, 10:30 AM
- Attire: Wear Ugly Holiday Sweater/Shirt & Jeans
Jenifer J. Hansen
Email: jhanse@sisd.net
Website: https://www.sisd.net/horizonheightses
Location: 13601 Ryderwood Avenue, Horizon City, TX, USA
Phone: (915) 308-6570
Twitter: @HHeights_ES