Simmons Elementary School

October 4, 2023

Mrs. Karen Kanter, Principal kkanter@hhsd.org

Dr. Robert Campman, Assistant Principal rcampman@hhsd.org

Mrs. Jillynn Parsons, Administrative Assistant jparsons@hhsd.org

Mrs. Lynn Doan, Attendance Secretary ldoan@hhsd.org

Our guidance counselors and classroom teachers use the Zones of Regulation to help teach children how to recognize and regulate the emotions we feel throughout the day. Students learn the feelings associated with each of the zones (blue, green, yellow, and red) and how to get back to "green" so that they are ready to learn and interact with others. This month's Counselors' Corner Newsletter (below) shares more information about the Zones and ways that you can incorporate strategies for self-regulation at home.

October is filled with family activities at Simmons Elementary School. Please take a moment to check out the upcoming events listed below. We are excited to continue our annual Fall into Fitness 5K and One Mile Fun Run through our Home and School Association on October 15th. We will kick off the week leading up to the big event this Friday with an All-School Meeting focused on healthy habits and the annual Walk-a-Thon during the school day. New this year, the HSA is sponsoring a Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 19. This activity offers our students an opportunity to dress up in their Halloween costumes and visit decorated vehicles in the school parking lot for special treats, followed by a movie in the gym. The following week is our annual STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, Music) Family Night, in conjunction with the fall Book Fair. Join us on October 26 for family-friendly activities led by our amazing teachers and special guests, such as the Hatboro-Horsham High School Robotics team. We wrap up the month with our classroom parties on Halloween afternoon.

Friday, Oct. 6 - Fall into Fitness Walk-a-Thon during the school day

Friday, Oct. 13 - Early Dismissal for students at 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 14 - HSA Kindergarten Fall Fest, 1 - 3 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 15 - Fall into Fitness 5K & 1 mile Walk at 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 19 - HSA Trunk or Treat, 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 20 - Friday, Oct. 27 - Scholastic Book Fair

Wednesday, Oct. 25 - Early Dismissal for students at 1 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 26 - STREAM Family Night, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, October 31st, Simmons Elementary School students will be having Halloween activities and parties in their classrooms. Your child’s teacher will send home more specific information about their class activities. Please take a moment to review the information below regarding our Halloween plan.

2:15 – 2:30 p.m. Preschool, Kindergarten and Grade 1 Parade in the gym

For the Halloween parade, family members are invited to come to the school gym and sit on the bleachers. Please leave extra time to park in a legal parking space, then enter the gym through the exterior door under the overhang. The students will parade around the gym a few times, then return to their classroom for their parties. The exterior gym doors will be open beginning at 2 p.m.

2:30 p.m. Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 classroom parties

The Simmons Home and School Association will arrange with each homeroom to provide snacks and festive activities to each classroom. Classroom party volunteers need to wear their valid HHSD volunteer badges.

*** 1:30 p.m. Grade 2 classroom parties***

Please note the earlier time for our grade 2 parties. The students will have their special area classes beginning at 2:15 p.m.

Costumes

If your child’s class is dressing up for Halloween, please remember that all costumes need to be appropriate for an elementary school setting. No face paint, hair dye or weapons should be brought to school as part of a costume. Thank you for helping us make this event fun and safe for everyone.

If you would like a gently used Halloween costume for your child, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/dK5mRtiMVe

We are in need of volunteers to help in the school library. With so many students developing good reading and research habits, we love to have volunteers to help us shelve books and to help students check out books. If you have a few hours to volunteer, it would be greatly appreciated.

Volunteers are asked to work either a morning or afternoon, weekly or every other week. Morning hours are from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM and afternoon hours are 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our librarian, Mrs. Vagnoni, at tvagnoni@hatboro-horsham.org.

Please note: All school volunteers must have Hatboro-Horsham School District volunteer credentials. Please refer to the volunteer information on the district website here: https://www.hatboro-horsham.org/domain/445