H-D Elementary News 🍂

The last month has gone by so quickly! Our awesome students have been learning great things through reading, math, science experiments, art, music, physical activity, you name it! The students amaze me each time I step into their classrooms. It's thrilling to hear students read their favorite book or teach me their newest math skill. I have heard 3rd graders sing on pitch, 4th graders use teamwork while learning a new game in PE, and Preschoolers counting like champions. No matter where you go in our elementary schools, great things are happening! We have the best kids and the most outstanding teachers and staff around!

Check out our newsletter to see a few of the COOL things we have been doing at H-D!

Excellence Every Day!

Sincerely,

Beth Frenchick, Elementary Principal

Morning arrival:

7:45am - Doors open

8:00am - First bell

8:05am - Final bell - school day begins

Dismissal:

1:15pm - Preschool dismissal

3:00pm - Dismissal bell for grades K-4

(1:30pm - Wednesday dismissal bell for grades K-4)

Breakfast:

Served 7:45-8:15am

October is National Bullying Awareness Month. This is an opportunity to encourage the nation to take action at the local level to create safe and supportive organizations.

It is important for children to understand the difference between bullying and conflict. All bullying is mean, but not all mean behavior is bullying. Conflict is a struggle between two or more people who appear to have different goals or desires. Conflict occurs naturally as we interact with one another. It is a normal part of life that we will not always agree with other people about the things we want, what we think, or what we want to do. Bullying, however, is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

In this month of October, we will learn the difference between conflict and bullying. We will remember our Bulldog Way expectations while speaking, playing, and working with peers.

Every minute of our school day is filled with important lessons and experiences. Being present and on time allows for your child to participate and learn from each of these experiences.

Chronic tardiness or absenteeism negatively impacts learning. Missing just 2-days a month equals at least 30-hours of math and 60-hours of reading over a school year. Frequent tardiness results in fewer hours of instruction than peers while missing important early morning academic activities and opportunities to connect with peers. Frequent absences have a lasting impact on academic and social success.

Thank you for helping your child arrive to school on time and ready to learn!

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. Please do not block staff vehicles in the parking lot. 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.

In Mrs. Wehrhan’s preschool class, we just finished an apple study where students did multiple hands-on activities. Students helped peel apples to make applesauce and they sorted different types of apples. We read numerous books about apples and learned all about the parts of an apple as well as the life cycle of an apple. They had so much fun with these activities that they didn’t even realize how much learning was happening! Now we are working on a quick intro to fall before moving into a pumpkin study. Students will be able to explore the outdoors and collect leaves to do activities related to science, math, literacy, and art. With our pumpkin study, students will do experiments, bake pumpkin muffins, and we will incorporate our five senses into our study.

One of the goals in Kindergarten is writing our numerals to 30. Look at these students! They have surpassed the Kindergarten goal already and it's only October! Keep working hard, kiddos!

Mrs. Lewis' Kindergarten class celebrated Ms. Mikyla with a sweet gift. The class made a card with all of their signatures included. We are so grateful for Mikyla. She is an Administrative Assistant EXTRAORDINAIRE at North Side. Thank you, Mikyla!

Who wouldn’t like to read with a friend? Students in the second grade classrooms have the opportunity to do exactly that. The RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) trains and sends volunteers into our classrooms to listen to students read. The kids make a wonderful connection with an older adult from our community and practice their reading skills at the same time.

The 3rd Grade field trip to the Ag Fair was a success!

Ms. Cate Meader, School Counselor

North Side & South Side

cmeader@hdcsd.org

Ms. Meader's Website

Kindergarten through 2nd grade students have been learning about the parts of a book in library class.

3rd and 4th graders have been working on finding “good fit” books that interest them and are at their reading levels. One strategy they’ve practicing is called a 5-Finger Test as a way to figure if the book is at their reading level.

• Franklin County Public Health will be at the Hampton-Dumont High School on October 11th, 1:00-2:30pm. Preschool through 12th grade students needing to update vaccinations are welcome.

• Flu shots will be available for students during Parent/Teacher Conferences in November.

October 13-14, 2023

Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza

This is a first-come-first-served event

Students are invited to participate in Franklin County Clover Kids! This group meets monthly at South Side. To join or for more information, contact:

Laela Ragsdale

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Franklin County Youth Coordinator

6 2nd St NW

Hampton, IA 50441

laela@iastate.edu

641-456-4811

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/franklin/