The Principal's Pen February 2025

January is behind us, and we only have four months left in this school year!

Thank you for continued support at HES! We appreciate all your support in ensuring that your child is successful, not only academically but socially and emotionally as well. Please take the time to read this month's family newsletter to be better informed of all that we have planned at your child's school for this month. You will find reminders, updates, procedures, and upcoming events in our monthly newsletters. Come engage with us!

DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES

Students may be dropped off between 7:15 and 7:50 am, no earlier and no later. We will close the cafeteria door at drop-off promptly at 7:50 am. If you are still in the drop-off lane or arrive later than 7:50 am to drop off your child, you must drive them around to the front of the building and walk them in through our front office.

Bus drivers have also expressed extreme concern with parents parking in the bus lane and/or children running in front of or between busses. Therefore, please park in a designated parking spot if you are dropping off your child after 7:50 am.

When you are dropping off and picking up your child, please remain in your vehicle and move promptly through the line to respect everyone's time.

TARDIES

The bell rings at 8:00 am, and class instruction will begin promptly at 8:05 am. Please help us to ensure that your child arrives to school on time and ready to learn. If your child is consistently tardy, it will be at their teacher's or principal's discretion to address the tardy concerns with you and/or to schedule a meeting to address the importance of getting your child to school on time.

ATTENDANCE

We will continue to closely monitor student attendance. If your child is absent for three consecutive days, you will receive a phone call and will need to provide our office with a doctor's excuse.

All absences, both excused and unexcused will be reported to the state. We need your help in ensuring that students are at school every day, except only in extreme emergencies. Please review the student district calendar below when scheduling appointments and vacations.

Our attendance team will also be issuing letters for 5, 7, and 10 absences, and an attendance meeting will be scheduled after 7 absences. Your child will be placed on an attendance contract at 7 absences. After 10 unexcused absences, notification will be made to CYFD.

To avoid accrual of absences, please ensure that your child arrives to school ON TIME every day, unless he/she is ill. If this is the case, you will need to provide the office with a doctor's note within 3 days. We need students to come to school, on time, in order to learn. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in making this possible!

SPRING PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES AND FOUR-DAY WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY

We will be holding parent/teacher conferences during the week of February 10th - February 14th. Please be on the lookout for a schedule of available times from your child's teacher.

There will be no school for students on Friday, February 14th. Students and staff will also be off on Monday, February 17th in observance of President's Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 18th.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Progress reports will be sent home with students on Wednesday, February 12th.

HVPS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The HVPS regularly scheduled school board meeting will be on Wednesday, February 12th at 6:00 pm at the Student and Staff Training Center. The public is welcome to attend all school board meetings.

VALENTINE'S CLASS PARTIES

Because school will not be in session on Friday, February 14th, teachers will arrange a convenient time for class parties on Thursday, February 13th. Please contact your teacher to find out what time your child's class party will be.

MONTHLY FAMILY NIGHTS

Our next family night is scheduled for Monday, February 24th. Our theme will be "Love for Math"! Join us to learn more about how you can support your child in the area of mathematics! The event will begin at 5:15 pm.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATIONS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING KINDER IN 2025

Hatch Elementary will be holding a final Kindergarten Registration on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm. All students turning 5 before September 1, 2025 are eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2025. Please bring the following to registration:

• Birth certificate
• Immunization record
• Proof of physical address.

WEEKLY AWARDS ASSEMBLIES AND SNACK SHACK

We will have our weekly Awards Assembly at 8:10 am every Friday, unless otherwise noted. If your child is receiving an award, his/her classroom teacher will reach out and notify you.

We will now be having Snack Shack EVERY Friday that school is in session!

THERE WILL BE NO SNACK SHACK ON THE LAST FRIDAY OF FEBRUARY (2/28). ALL STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A FREE POPCORN!

• The bell to begin class is at 8:00 am. Please make sure that your child arrives to school on time every day.
• Any time your child is absent from school, he/she will need a doctor's excuse to have the absence excused. Kids need to be in school to learn, but if they are not feeling well, we encourage you to have them seen by a doctor. Thank you for your understanding.
• Students are not allowed to bring toys, lip gloss, chap stick, candy, or sodas to school.
• Snacks are allowed but should be single portion and only eaten during lunch (or at snack time if the classroom teacher has designated that).
• We appreciate all of our families and everything that you all do for your children! Thank you!

Kindest regards,

Ms. Amy Lytle

All students and staff of Hatch Valley Public Schools are encouraged to participate in our "Theme Day Wednesdays"! Wear your bear colors (red, black, and white) and dress with the theme every Wednesday this school year!

We will begin Istation testing for the month of February on on Monday, February 10th. Please make sure that your child gets a good night's rest, attends school, and arrives on time to school. Thank you for your cooperation!

Parent/Teacher conferences will be held during the week of February 10th - February 14th. Please keep an eye out for a schedule of available times from your child's teacher.

Progress Reports will be sent home with students on Wednesday, February 12th.

The HVPS regularly scheduled monthly school board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at 6:00 pm in the Student and Staff Training Center.

Because school will not be in session on Friday, February 14th, teachers will arrange a convenient time for class parties on Thursday, February 13th. Please contact your teacher to find out what time your child's class party will be.

There will be no school for students or staff on Monday, February 17th in observance of President's Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 18th.

Please join us at 5:15 pm in the Hatch Elementary gym for a night of family math fun!

Hatch Elementary will be holding a final Kindergarten Registration on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm. All students turning 5 before September 1, 2025 are eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2025. Please bring the following to registration:

• Birth certificate
• Immunization record
• Proof of physical address.

HVPS Spring Break will be from March 10, 2025 - March 14, 2025. Classes will resume on Monday, March 17th.

Awards Assemblies will continue, every Friday at 8:00 am in the cafeteria, unless otherwise noted.

Parents are welcome to attend. We just ask that you do not park in drop-off or bus lanes. Thank you!

Snack Shack will continue, every Friday that school is in session. All items will be sold for $1.00 or $2.00 each. If we need to cancel at any time, we will try our best to notify parents ASAP.

WE WILL NOT BE HAVING SNACK SHACK ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH. HOWEVER, EVERY STUDENT WILL RECEIVE A FREE POPCORN ON THIS DAY.

Ms. Lytle

Website: https://es.hatchschools.net/
Location: 801 Herrera Road, Hatch, NM, USA
Phone: 575-267-8270
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HatchElementary/