Tiger Tales for Parents

¡Feliz año nuevo!, Happy New Year and welcome back to school! We hope you had a safe and healthy Winter Break, and that your holidays were filled with warm, happy and memorable moments with your children. Thank you for all of your holiday wishes and generous support before the Winter Break. Your kindness is truly appreciated by our staff.

The new year is always a time of reflection. I would like to acknowledge our amazing staff for the countless ways they work to guide and teach our students with creativity and kindness. Thank you to all our families for your ongoing support. We are grateful to be able to do what we love - and that is working with your children.

On Tuesday, Jan. 2nd, teachers and staff will begin planning for second semester. The leadership team met in December at Cox Enterprise to review school-wide data and make adjustments where needed. We will continue to focus on Reading comprehension and math problem solving but will also have a focus on writing and the science of reading (phonics, spelling and phonemic awareness). Please help us by having your child read every night for 20 mins.

The colder weather is here! A reminder to bundle up your children very warmly! An extra pair of labelled hats and gloves in the backpack is always a great idea!

Proud to Serve,

Mia Bradshaw, Principal

#AimingHigh

#WeRunAsOne

Twitter

Huntley Hills is a part of the DCSD School Choice for our Montessori program. The Montessori program and its diverse community assist in establishing a strong educational foundation for all students by providing a safe, nurturing learning environment. Montessori programs feature multi-age classrooms where children learn at their own pace through hands-on experience, using materials especially prepared for investigation. This environment enables our students to become life-long learners in a rapidly changing society. The Montessori program stresses the importance of adapting the child’s learning environment to his/her developmental level and of the role of physical activity in absorbing academic concepts and practical skills.

2024-2025 School Choice Open Enrollment

January 5, 2024—February 9, 2024

DCSD School Choice website

Lottery Notification | March 29

1st Round of Seat Expirations | April 15

Late Application Window | April 1—August 23

Last Date for Placement | August 30

Montessori philosophy is based on the work of Maria Montessori who was the first female physician in Italy. Each classroom is a lively and supportive learning environment that meets unique and growing developmental needs of each child. Age-mixed classrooms provide plenty of opportunities for the children to help others and learn from each other. The children learn by initiating and repeating activities followed by individual or group lessons given by teachers.

We offer tours every Wednesday in January. The visit begins with a welcome from Montessori students, followed by a tour of each classroom. The tour ends with a Q & A session with Dr. Bradshaw, principal.

Tours are for the following:

• DCSD K-5 School Choice
  
• Pre-K Bright from the Start Montessori (neighborhood families
• HHES Traditional parents interested in Montessori
  

**Note: Current Montessori families are highly encouraged to attend the Montessori Open House and/or the Silent o Journey through Montessori

Montessori Tour dates starting @9am

January 10

January 17

January 24

January 31

Huntley Hills Elementary and Montessori is hosting an Open House for Montessori education on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 from 6pm-7pm. This is a great opportunity for current and interested parents to learn about Montessori education. Parents are encouraged to come who have children in our Montessori program, parents of traditional students, parents of DCSD School Choice (K-5), upcoming Pre-K, and parents who are new to the neighborhood.

Open House will be a student led, tour of the Montessori program where parents can observe how our children learn and how their learning progresses from Primary through to Upper grades.

Experience the Montessori journey through each level and observe how the Primary experience carries forth into a child’s Elementary years, culminating as self-awareness, independence, and self-reliance. Step into your child’s shoes and explore the entire continuum of the Montessori curriculum offered at HHES!

• This is your chance to enjoy a hands-on experience of the beautiful Montessori materials that develop a deep conceptual understanding in our students.
• You will walk away with a rich understanding of what your child does at school every day.
• Learn more about the “spiral curriculum” that Montessorians talk about.

We will start our morning with a light breakfast and a short introduction, followed by a silent walk through each of the different Montessori levels. A silent journey gives participants an opportunity to observe and absorb all the details in the classroom environment at each level. The discovery portion of our day will include an opportunity for participants to receive a lesson, given by an HHES Montessori guide on the materials laid out at each Montessori level.

Please plan to participate in the entire journey (approx. 2.5-3 hours). It will not be possible to drop in for only a portion of the day. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move up and down with ease. We look forward to guiding parents as you explore and begin your own Montessori learning journey!

We have a new staff member to introduce! We are happy to have Mrs. Kristen Stay join our HHES family as a special education paraprofessional. She is a parent and has been substituting for us this year. She is a great addition to the team!

Thank you for having your child at school every day. Attendance is a major part of a student's education. We celebrate students each month with perfect attendance. Check out the grade level percentages for October. The goal is over 90% for each grade level.

K-91% (same as September)

1st-93% (down 1% from September)

2nd-95% (same as September)

3rd-92% (down 1% from September)

4th-94% (same as September)

5th-95% (down 2% from September)

Congratulations to 2nd and 5th grade the TOP percentage at 95%!

We appreciate your continued partnership.

Congratulations to HHES 1st place winner-Arham Mamun and 2nd place winner- Keegan Roney!

Jan. 3-Students return to school

Jan-MAP Testing

Jan 10, 17, 24, 31-Montesori tours

Jan 12-PAC @ 7:30a-8:30a

Jan 15-MLK Jr Holiday-No School

Jan 20-Silent Journey through Montessori 9am-noon

Jan 23-Montessori Open House @6pm

Jan 25-GA Milestones Parent Meeting @6pm

Feb. 1-Black History Month kick off!

Feb.6-Clas Pictures

Feb 9-PAC @ 7:30a-8:30a

Feb. 15-Valentines Dance @6pm

Feb. 16 & 19-No School

Mar 1-Read Across America

Mar 7-5th Grade Transition night @6pm

Mar 22-Career Day!

Mar 25-29-FUN RUN fundraiser

1. Join our PTA by making a donation here
2. Volunteer for a Leadership Role here
3. Sign up for Tiger Talk emails here
4. Explore our *updated* PTA website here

*NEW* Join our private Facebook GROUPS designed to unify and support our families! Choose your group(s) based on the grade your student(s) Find your groups here.

We welcome your support and look forward to serving our school together!

ptahhes@gmail.com

PTA President, Amanda Hall

SciGirls is a club that encourages girls to consider a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM. Each month we will learn about a particular scientist and will experiment with materials related to their profession.

This year we will be meeting on Wednesday mornings from 7:00 until 7:45. We will begin in September and the club will go through February. Students will come once a month, during their grade level week. The schedule is as follows:

Jan. 10: K

an. 17: 1st

Jan. 24: 2nd and 3rd

Jan. 31: 4th and 5th

Feb. 7: K

Feb. 14: 1st

Feb. 21: 2nd and 3rd

Feb. 28: 4th and 5th

I look forward to working with your girls!

Amy Chandler

If you plan to volunteer as a reading buddy, field trip chaperone, help in the media center this school year, you will need to be approved by public safety.

Level III volunteers must be approved by Public Safety AND the local school principal prior to the volunteer participation in activities involving direct, unsupervised interaction with students. Examples of Level III volunteers include chaperones on overnight field trips, chaperones or volunteers for local school events, volunteer tutors, office/media center volunteers, or any other volunteers who will have any unsupervised interaction with students. Level III volunteers shall be fingerprinted by the district and have GBI/FBI criminal background checks on file prior to rendering volunteer services.

Directions for Level 3 Volunteers!

DeKalb County School District’s Volunteer Training By signing on as a volunteer, you become a member of our team of professionals that proudly provides educational services to more than 93,000 students in our DeKalb County School District. This webpage is designed to assist you in registering to be a volunteer with the DeKalb County School District. Please complete the following steps to become a DCSD Volunteer.

1. Complete the Volunteer Application And Release Form (see qr code below, #1)

2. Complete the DCSD Volunteer Code of Conduct (see qr code below, #2)

3. Complete the Mandated Reporter Video & Quiz (see qr code below, #3)

Create an account (no cost)

Choose State: GA

Click Child Abuse and Neglect Course: Mandated Reporter

Click Start Course

Complete Quiz Save or print your certificate.

4. Send a Copy of your certificate to DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org

5. Attend Volunteer Training (either in-person or via Zoom) Weekly Face-to-Face Volunteer Training is available at the IMPACT HUB every Thursday at 1:00 PM. 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard Stone Mountain, GA 30083 OR Zoom meeting of your choice https://dekalbschoolsga-org.zoom.us/j/85757845773

Time: August 30, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

September 13, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

September 20, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

September 27, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

October 4, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

October 11, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

October 18, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

October 25, 2023, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM

6. Background Check -Once you have completed the Volunteer Training (either face-to-face or zoom) you will be emailed a link that will direct you to get your background check (offered Tuesdays & Thursdays at NO COST). You will be given a picture ID badge that is to be worn when you volunteer.

Please contact Demone Gunter via email @ DCSDvolunteer@dekalbschoolsga.org if you have any questions

You may view Board Policy IFCD: School Volunteers by clicking below.

Afterschool Program "Tiger-Time"- Tiger time will have a table in the Cafeteria to register your child for after school care. After care is 2:45-6:00, M-F. The registration fee is $25.00 and $60.00 each week. Tiger time begins the first day of school, August 7th. Please bring cash, money order, or check for registration fee and first week of payment. Ms. Camille Harvey is the After School Director. Her email address is camille_harvey@dekalbschoolsga.org.

To register submit your application to the front office M-F; 7:30am-3:00pm.

MUST HAVES:

School Dojo: The school code is here to receive message from the school (text messages from Dr. Ford)

Weekly Tiger Talk: (https://hhespta.square.site/#ZEQvWw) emails from PTA/school)

School Messenger-See flyer below to opt-in to receive text messages/emails from DCSD (text messages/emails from DCSD)

Optional:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/huntleyhills?lang=en (follow me)

PTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huntleyhillselementary/ (follow PTA)

If your child needs to take prescription medication at school, please complete the form below, notify your child's teacher and Nurse Faiza Khan at faiza_khan@dekalbschoolsga.org.

PTA President -Amanda Hall-ptahhes@gmail.com

Principal Advisory Council Chair-Yane Yoo

School Counselor (504's & SST)-Sonya Nelson sonya_nelson@dekalbschoolsga.org

Registrar (registration & withdrawals)-Brenda-brenda_zendejas@dekalbschoolsga.org

Title I Parent Liaison (Spanish)-Rebeca Arbona rebeca_arbona@dekalbschoolsga.org

Nurse-Faiza Khan faiza_khan@dekalbschoolsga.org

Assistant Principal & Testing Coordinator-Amanda Moss amanda_moss@dekalbschoolsga.org

Principal-Mia Bradshaw mia_ford@dekalbschoolsga.org