Hollywood Hill Happenings
September 18 Edition
From the Principal
Bees Update
Once again our campus has been struggling with our annual infestation with bees and other flying stinging insects. Northshore School District’s grounds department has carefully examined all locations on campus that can be a source of the insects and sprayed all identified locations. In addition, it has been our experience traditionally that once the rains return the problem abates. It appears that we have reached that turning of the season and it appears to have had the traditional effect.
PTA Coffee
I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for hosting the coffee event for our families. Your dedication and efforts in bringing our school community closer together are genuinely appreciated. Events like these create cherished memories and foster connections among families.
Thank you for your time, enthusiasm, and unwavering support for our school community.
Pop Keeney
Our fall sports season has kicked off, and the Pop Keeney staff would like to remind parents and students about the standard rules that apply when attending ANY sporting event at Pop Keeney.
All bags, purses & carry-in items may be subject to search
No alcohol, tobacco, or drug products are allowed (this includes vape pens)
All Students must have photo ID (ie. School ID card or drivers license)
A paying adult must accompany any middle or elementary school student for the entirety of the event
No backpacks allowed inside the stadium
No sporting equipment allowed in spectator sections (this includes small toy soccer and footballs)
No Fighting pushing, or running.
There are no re-entry privileges, once you leave the inside of the gated area you are not allowed to return without purchasing another ticket
All students are subject to all school rules, regulations & discipline.
Any situation that requires security and/ or police involvement will result in students or visitors being asked to leave the premises immediately
Upcoming Dates
September 18th: Curriculum Night
Kindergarten+4th EAP 5:00 pm
5th grade Gen Ed and EAP, incl. 4/5 Gen Ed Split 6:00 pm
September 19th: Curriculum Night
2nd grade 5:00 pm
4th grade 6:00 pm
September 26th: Curriculum Night
1st grade 5:00 pm
3rd grade 6:00 pm
2/3 EAP 6:00 pm
October 3rd: Picture Day
November 13th Picture Re-Take Day
cross country
You are Invited!!
What? Cross Country
When/ Where? Tuesdays and Fridays - 9/19 - 10/24
Tuesday, 9/19: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Friday, 9/22: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Tuesday, 9/26: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Friday, 9/29: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Tuesday, 10/3: Meet- 4:45 at East Ridge Elementary
Friday, 10/6: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Tuesday, 10/10: Meet- 4:45 at HH
Friday, 10/13: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Tuesday, 10/17: Meet- 4:45 at Northshore Middle
Friday, 10/20: Practice- After school until 5:00 at HH
Tuesday, 10/24: Meet (Finals)- 5:00 at HH
How?
Register on Touchbase:
https://wa-northshore.intouchreceipting.com/ -OR-
Visit the elementary sports page on the district website:
https://www.nsd.org/schools/enrichment-activities/athletics/elementary-sports
*There is a $45 fee, but we can help you with that. EVERYONE IS INVITED!! More information on Touchbase and on the elementary sports page.*
Questions? Erica Wark: ewark@nsd.org
From the Health Room
VISION AND HEARING SCREENING AT Hollywood Hill
Each year in Northshore schools, students in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 receive hearing and vision screenings. We are currently scheduled for vision and hearing screenings on 10/12/23. If you would like to exempt your child from either of these health screenings, please contact the school nurse.
It is important to understand that these are basic screenings and are designed to identify students who may require further testing. They are not intended to replace regular exams by qualified health care providers. A student who does not pass any screening will be rechecked in a few weeks, and you will be notified only if there are concerns after the second screening.
Vision screening uses the PlusOptix. The PlusOptix is an autorefractor that takes a measurement of the refraction of the eyes. The result is a baseline refraction measurement. The illumination technique used by PlusOptix, is totally harmless to the child's eyes. If your child wears glasses or contact lenses for distance or near vision, please be sure they have them on the screening day.
If your child has a hearing loss and is being followed by a healthcare provider or specialist and you do not wish for them to participate in the screening, please let the school nurse know. If you have concerns about hearing loss and school accommodations, contact your student’s teacher or the school nurse.
As in past years, we do rely on the assistance of parent volunteers to work with our screening team. There are a variety of important jobs that parents do, including assisting the team with the screenings, record keeping and “crowd control”. Please consider this opportunity to work with us and email the school nurse at dmatheson@nsd.org. Thank you.
HEAD LICE
If you find lice or nits in your child’s head, keep them home and treat the lice. Call and let the nurse know when you found the lice/nits. She will send you a letter.
You can find instructions and treatment options for getting rid of head lice at this CDC webpage. Lice treatment products help remove lice, but you must still physically remove the lice and nits by combing or picking them out. To completely rid a case of head lice you must do two things; remove the live lice and remove all the nits. By removing nits, the possibility of nits hatching new lice is minimized.
For your child to return to school the bottom section of the letter must be signed and returned. In addition, the treatment must be judged to be adequate by the school nurse or other trained staff. Adequate treatment is evident by no live lice, and removal of most of the nits. School staff may continue to check the students for evidence of lice and nits as needed. Please accompany your child to school following treatment. If your child returns without the form and/or treatment is inadequate, your child will not be permitted to return to class. If you have any question or concerns, please feel free to call me at 425 408-4706.
From PE
Dear HH Families,
Now that the school year is in full swing, we would like to take a moment to introduce ourselves. We are Milena Westford and Victoria Gray. We are the Physical Education teachers at Hollywood Hill. Mrs. Westford is here on Monday and Wednesday and Mrs. Gray is here every day, all day. Your student’s classroom teacher has hopefully communicated their specialist’s schedule to you.
One of our main goals for HH students is to have them moving for the majority of their time in PE. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, and on students’ PE days we will be able to provide some of that activity time. Please review your child's daily schedule for PE and make sure they are dressed appropriately on those days. Shoes are our biggest concern for active and safe participation. Good athletic type shoes with support and traction of any kind are great. Please avoid boots, sandals, flip-flops, Crocs, dress shoes, and flat-soled shoes. Students who do not have the proper shoe attire may have to sit out of PE for their safety. We also encourage a labeled water bottle that can be brought to PE on their scheduled days.
In order to ensure a quality and safe learning environment in PE class, we have a set of guidelines students are expected to follow. Please help reinforce these guidelines with your child so we all can have a great year.
S- Safety First (Correct equipment and use of)
T- Trying my best (Effort and Attitude)
A- Always Active (Physically and Listening/Learning)
R- Respect (Myself, Others, Rules, Equipment
S- Sportsmanship (Integrity and Teamwork)
We plan to introduce HH students to a variety of fitness skills, games, and activities. The overall goal will be to inspire students to adopt a healthy and physically active lifestyle. In our classroom students will acquire health-related fitness skills, physical competence, and positive attitudes about physical activity. Physical education helps improve a child’s mental alertness, academic performance, and self-esteem just to name a few benefits. PE is an academic subject so you will see three grades on your child’s semester report card that relate to Fitness class.
Students will be encouraged to participate to the best of their abilities every time they are in PE. If for some reason your child cannot participate, please send a note to let us know. We would prefer to modify our lesson to fit their needs rather than have them sit out, but please let us know what is best for your child. If we do not receive a note, students will be encouraged to participate. We are eager to provide a safe and successful learning environment for all Hollywood Hill students. We are so excited about this year and eager to get up and running (literally!).
Sincerely,
Victoria Gray
Milena Westford
from the library
Library classes and recess are off to a great start!. For information about library policies and procedures, please use this link. If you are interested in volunteering, please keep reading.
Library Volunteers Needed!
For Primary and 2/3 Split Classes: Either one volunteer to come weekly or two volunteers to alternate (Only one volunteer at a time). Responsibilities include book Circulation (check-in/out), shelving, straightening shelves, assistance with class activities, and other random tasks such as organizing materials for activities or recess.
Volunteers needed during the following times:
Tuesday: Kristen White 1:25-2:10
Wednesday: Taylor 9:40-10:25
Callie White 12:35-1:20
Thursday: Garinger 9:40-10:25
Blaser 1:25-2:10
Ward 2:25-3:10
Friday: Brittingham 1:25-3:10
Mus 2:25-3:10
For Book Processing: Looking for one or two volunteers to process books (get new books shelf ready) and complete a few other library tasks at a time when no students are in the library (preferably Tuesday morning). Does not need to be every week. Training provided. Attention to detail is a must.
Interested? Contact Lea Roberts at lroberts@nsd.org or fill out the form linked below.
From the Music Department
This year, we will be offering choir experience to both primary and intermediate grades again! YAY!!
HHE Intermediate Choir: This Choir is for 3rd-5th graders at Hollywood Hill Elementary and will be taught by Ms. Lin. This year the choir rehearses on Friday before school @8:30am-9:15am. Our first rehearsal will be Friday, September 29th. The choir will end in the end of February (after the WHS Pathway Concert). If you decide to join, please complete this google form by Friday, September 22nd. HHE Intermediate Choir Registration Form
HHE Primary Choir: Hello, my name is Elaine Hoffman. I am the overload music teacher at Hollywood Hill Elementary. This year we will offer two choir experiences, an intermediate and primary. As Mrs. Lin will be leading the intermediate choir (grades 3-5), I will be directing the primary choir for grades K-2nd. The choir practices will begin Friday, Sept. 29th right after school. If your child is interested in joining the primary choir, please fill out the google form and submit it by Friday, Sept. 22nd. HHE Primary Choir Registration Form
Thank you,
Elaine Hoffman
Musically yours,
---------------------------
Yuh-Pey Lin, D.M.A.
Music, Hollywood Hill Elementary
ylin@nsd.org
From the Counselor
Hello, wonderful families of Hollywood Hill Elementary!
I hope this letter finds you well and excited for the school year. It will be a year filled with growth, learning, and wonderful experiences!
As your student's School Counselor, I am happy to be a resource and partner in helping students flourish emotionally, socially, and academically. With a warm smile and listening ear, I want to help create a supportive, nurturing, and inclusive environment where every child can navigate challenges and develop crucial life skills. Using a positive and compassionate approach, I hope to provide a safe and caring space where students feel heard, understood, uplifted, and empowered. Whether it's through short-term individual counseling, small groups, or classroom guidance lessons, I aim to equip students with essential tools and mindsets to overcome obstacles and build resilience.
As the year kicks off, I wanted to share some steps students can take to build friendships along with some additional caregiver tips. If your child is interested in making new friends, you can encourage your student to follow these steps:
Observe
Look around and notice:
What others are doing
How they treat other people
What they might be interested in
Think about who you might like to form a friendship with.
Introduce
Introduce yourself! Tell the other person your name.
“Hi, my name is _______. What’s your name?”
Invite
Invite someone to do something with you!
“Do you want to play jump rope with me at recess?”
“Do you want to be my partner during classwork?”
Ask
Ask the person questions about themselves. Find out what they like, don’t like, and what their life is like!
“What do you like to do?”
“What is family like?”
“What is your favorite thing to do after school?”
Listen
Listen to the other person’s answer to your questions! Try to remember facts about their life and family.
Continue
Make more plans to do things together again!
Friends spend time together doing things that they enjoy!
Here are a few additional caregiver tips for helping your student develop positive social skills:
Be Kind and Inclusive: Encourage your child to treat everyone with kindness and respect. Remind them to include others in activities and conversations, ensuring no one feels left out.
Find Common Interests: Help your child discover shared interests with peers. Participating in clubs, sports, or hobbies can be a great way to connect with like-minded friends.
Active Listening: Teach your child the importance of listening attentively when others are speaking. This shows that they value their friends' thoughts and opinions.
Initiate Conversations: Encourage your child to take the initiative in starting conversations. Simple greetings and asking open-ended questions can lead to meaningful interactions.
Empathy and Understanding: Help your child develop empathy by discussing feelings and perspectives. When they can understand others' emotions, it becomes easier to form connections.
Practice Patience: Making friends takes time. Remind your child that building strong relationships is a gradual process that requires patience and effort.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. I appreciate your partnership!
With care,
Hayley Azadmanesh
School Counselor
From the PTA
Message from PTA Board- Volunteers Needed
We are excited for our new school year and all of the wonderful school events for our school community. We are still looking for Co-Chairs for our PTA board, Art Docents, Room Parents, and event volunteers. Please contact: volunteer@hhillpta.org. We are excited to celebrate our stars!
HHE Spirit Wear (orders close by Sept 24)
Click on the ordering link: https://www.createmytee.com/Join/195501
The link doesn't always function properly on mobile devices so we recommend using a desktop/laptop.
2) Click on "Preview Items" to see all options.
3) Click on "Get Started" to commence your order.
4) Add your preferred size(s) and quantities for each item.
5) Once through all the items, click on "Next" to create an account (or use Facebook to login).
6) Add payment details and click "Next" to reach the confirmation page.
-The store is open NOW and will remain active through Sun, Sept 24.
-Orders will be distributed to students at school the week of October 9.
-All items are unisex.
-Pricing is based on the number of items purchased. The more we order, the less they'll be!
Please direct any questions you may have to VP of Community Outreach, Lindsay Saeed, outreach@hhillpta.org.
Fall Festival- October 6 @ HHE Gymnasium
Join us for our Annual Fall Festival with mini carnival games, a cupcake walk, ice cream (for purchase), balloon twists, air brush tattoos, and more!
We are still looking for volunteers, please see the links for cupcake donations and volunteer opportunities: SIGN UP HERE
Cupcake Donations SIGN UP HERE
For more information contact: outreach@hhillpta.org
Join the PTA
Join our 50+ new members and growing, the PTA is a parent-led organization that partners with HHE to provide opportunities to all the teachers and students at HHE.
This group organizes events, after-school enrichment, and funds to provide opportunities to students & teachers at HHE. Join here:
Join us for our first meeting Thursday, September 21 @ 6:30 pm in the Library or via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86286956009
Any questions: president@hhillpta.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 21: PTA Membership Meeting
September 24: Spirit Wear Orders DUE
October 6: Fall Festival
October 18: Dine Out: Pizza Coop
November 3: Cultural Night
November 14: PTA Membership Meeting