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Husky E-News
January 7, 2024
From the Principal
Hillendale families,
I hope your huskies reported a terrific first school week of 2024! I want to take a moment to point your attention to two quickly upcoming events:
Family Luminaria Night, TOMORROW - 1/8 - 5:00 - 6:00 PM: Lower Parking Lot/Trail
It looks like the weather will be perfect for our annual Family Luminaria Night tomorrow evening! We will meet at 5:00 PM on the lower trail and take a walk together in unison through our beautifully lit trail just after 5:00 PM. If you plan to sponsor a luminary but haven't had a chance to yet, you may still send in cash along with your child's form with your child to school tomorrow (Monday) or bring cash with you to the event on Monday evening. Families are welcome to continue to walk the trail from 5:00 - 6:00 PM or to catch up with one another on the lower parking lot with some delicious hot chocolate!
MLK Jr. Day of Service at Hillendale with Pocopson Elementary - 1/15 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: GYM
We are looking forward to welcoming students and families from Pocopson Elementary to partner with us for our annual day of service! See the attached flyer and get excited! Whether you can or cannot attend that morning, please consider supporting the event by sponsoring items critical to the event's success on this Amazon Wish List created by our PTO. The deadline to purchase for our Wish List is this Friday. All items purchased will be used that day by students and families and support the organizations we are partnering with. Thank you in advance!
Excited to see many of you tomorrow night!
Joshua Leight
Hillendale Elementary Principal
Hillendale Updates
Smartwatch & Device Guidance
As a parent, I completely understand the need to stay connected with your child. Although my boys are still only 1 & 4 years old, I can already imagine the conversations that will take place in our house around how we communicate with each other before, during, and after school. I also appreciate that, from a safety perspective, families wish to be able to communicate with and know the whereabouts of their children at all times.
We have learned over the past few years as cell phones and smart watches become more prevalent in our elementary school classrooms that we need your partnership to help us minimize distraction and avoid communication breakdown between home and school.
We ask that, at the elementary level, students and parents not engage in back and forth communication via a smartwatch, cell phone, or similar device during the school day.
If your child is not feeling well, they should alert their teacher or closest support staff member rather than reaching directly out to you via a smart device. The teacher or support staff member will ensure your child is seen by our school nurse. At that point, communication home via the school nurse will be initiated if warranted.
Thank you for your support in reinforcing this message at home and keeping our students safe and engaged in the classroom!
For reference, please see the information within our UCFSD Elementary Parent Handbook regarding electronic devices and see UCFSD Board Policies #237 and #815 regarding electronic devices.
CHIP Renewal Notice
Thousands of Pennsylvania kids under 19 could lose their CHIP health plan coverage if they fail to renew their eligibility now that the public health emergency has ended. This has a direct impact on the health and wellness of our students. CHIP families are again required to complete their renewal information using the state COMPASS system to maintain their child’s State coverage.
Highmark HEALTHY KIDS can provide helpful details and assistance for those families who need to complete their CHIP renewals or no longer qualify for Medicaid. CHIP coverage, an HMO offered by Highmark Healthy Kids is affordable, comprehensive health insurance. All kids who are under 19, residents of PA, are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or qualified alien, and do not qualify for Medicaid are eligible for CHIP, regardless of income.
HES Clearances Guide
In an effort to simply and streamline information about clearances required across different events at HES, we created an "HES Clearances Guide" in partnership with our PTO. Please refer to it as you need and reach out if you have any questions about specific events or specific clearances. Click the button below to access the document that will eventually live within the E-News near our weekly lunch menu.
4th/5th Grade Afterschool Event (run by UHS students)
From the PTO
Calendar
January
8 - Luminaria Trail Walk (see flyer)
9 - Chipotle Dine and Donate (see flyer)
10 - PTO General Meeting - 6:30pm on zoom
15 - MLK Day of Service (see flyer)
16-26 - Penny Drive (see flyer)
26 - Bingo Night (see flyer)
Chipotle Dine and Donate
MLK Day
Coat Drive
We are continuing to accept donations for the Winter Collection through MLK Day, January 15.
Penny Drive
The penny drive will run January 16-26! The Penny Drive collects your loose change - any coins or spare dollars are welcome! Money raised goes directly to purchase food for our Bag Lunch program which provides bagged lunches (packed by our students) to local food kitchens.
This is also a fun activity for grades 3-5 as the math classes will count the cash collected each day! We will need parent volunteers to help the students count the change. See the SignUp HERE to volunteer! If your child switches teachers for math class, keep this in mind when you select your spot.
Start collecting your loose change - dig down into your sofa, empty those cup holders, and send it in! Collections and counting will start on the morning of Tuesday, January 16th (pm Kindergarten can send their day 1 collections in on Friday January 12th).
At the end of the 2 weeks, the homeroom classes with the highest 3 donations will be recognized - a special day to choose from in coordination with their teacher (e.g., pajama day, popsicle day)!
Bingo Night
NEW this year, you can also pre-buy raffle tickets.
They will be waiting for you to fill out when you check in on Bingo Night.
Volunteers needed! - sign up here
(Earn 5 free raffle tickets and get in the doors early if you volunteer!)
Yearbook
Yearbooks are on sale - Order Yearbook Here
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Our Yearbook Chairs are looking for volunteers to help plan pages for the yearbook.
Get more info and sign up HERE
Also, please upload any pictures you've taken at events to this Google Drive
Any Questions, email yearbook.hillendale@gmail.com
Questions or comments for the PTO? Email us at HESPTO@ucfsd.net