Emerald Hills News

Hello Laker Families,

Welcome to October! As the leaves begin to change, we’re embracing the theme of responsibility as this month’s character trait. Responsibility is not just about doing what’s expected—it’s about understanding that our actions, big or small, have an impact on our community. Whether it’s turning work, being a dependable friend, or showing up to school every day, we’re encouraging students to recognize and take pride in their own responsibilities. This month, we’ll be celebrating students who show responsibility in and out of the classroom. Be sure to ask your child what responsibility means to them and how they’re practicing it at school.

In addition to our focus on character, we have several exciting things lined up, including our fall benchmark assessments, club activities, and some festive fun provided by our PTA! It’s a busy, exciting time of year, and we appreciate your continued partnership in making EHE the best place to be.

Looking forward to a fantastic month ahead!

Mr. Gould & Mrs. Schneider

This month, we’re focusing on Responsibility! Responsibility means being dependable, making good choices, and taking ownership of your actions. It’s an important trait to help students grow into thoughtful and capable individuals. We hope this month sparks conversations in your home about what it means to be responsible and how each family member can practice it together.

Practice Responsibility as a family! One way to do this is by setting family goals for the week, like completing tasks on time or sharing responsibilities around the house. Encourage everyone to follow through on their commitments, then come together at the end of the week to talk about how it went. Reflect on what went well and where you can improve, showing that responsibility is a habit we all work on!

Conversation Starters:

• What does it mean to take responsibility for something?
• How can you show responsibility at home or school?
• What are some ways we can help each other be more responsible?

Join us for the EHE Community Work Party on Saturday, October 19th, from 12-3pm as we work together to "put the land to bed" for the season! We’ll be spreading mulch, pruning trees, and removing invasive weeds. This is a great opportunity to come together and care for our school grounds.

Please bring water, work gloves, and any gardening tools you have to share. It’s a wonderful way to give back and get to know other members of our community while enjoying some time outdoors! For any questions, feel free to contact Laura Young at laura_young@sumnersd.org. We hope to see you there!

On October 17th from 5:30-6:30 we will be having our annual Watch D.O.G.S Pizza Night at our school. You will meet in our school multi-purpose room at 5:30pm for FREE pizza and drinks. At 6:00pm we will have a presentation about our WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) Program.

WATCH D.O.G.S.® is an innovative program being used by schools across America which helps them to be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father-figures in their student’s life. Our goal is to have you in our school as a positive male role model and to provide an extra set of eyes and ears.

Please fill out the form by clicking below if you are interested in being a Watch D.O.G this year!

On October 22nd, we are conducting our annual vision and hearing screenings for all students in K-3rd and 5th grade. Students in 4th grade are not screened annually. The vision screenings take place in the classroom and the hearing screenings take place in the library. The screenings will be performed by our wonderful District Nurses. The results are not a formal diagnosis, but a tool to help identify possible concerns.

If you receive a referral paper stating your child failed the vision or hearing screening, please schedule an appointment with their pediatrician and take the screening results referral form to this office visit. Once the doctor has filled out the examination report, please return the referral form back to the Health Room.

*Students who already wear glasses: Parents please make sure your student brings their glasses to the screening to ensure we are getting the most accurate results possible.

Parents/guardians may decline any mandated health screening for their child by contacting the school before this date.

Thank you,

Health Services

Excused and unexcused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom. Students are at risk academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days. Once too many absences have occurred, poor attendance can affect learning, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused.

Sporadic, not just consecutive, absences matter. Before you know it – just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year. Avoid unnecessary absences. We know that some absences are unavoidable as children get sick and need to stay home. What is important is getting children to school as often as possible.

How can you help your child have strong attendance?

• Schedule non urgent appointments for after school or during school holidays

• Only let your student stay home if they are truly sick.

• Develop a back-up plan for getting to school incase of the unexpected

• Talk to your student about the importance of attendance.

• Talk to your students’ teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be signs of an underlying issue.

• Update your student’s information at school if your address and/or phone number(s) has changed.

• If your student is going to be absent, please contact your school. If prior notice is not possible and you are notified that your child was absent through ParentSquare, please reply to the attendance notice, call or email your school, or send a written note upon the student’s return to school.

Calling all artists! The time has come for our annual STEM Fair and Art Show poster contest. Students of all grades are invited to submit an original piece of artwork to be considered for this year's promotional materials. The winning artwork will be featured on posters and flyers for the event, and the artist will be recognized on district social media and at the STEM Fair itself.

Check out last year’s winning art here: Click here

This year’s STEM Fair and Art Show will be held at Sumner Middle School on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025.

Don't forget to check out our PTA Newsletter, linked below, for important updates and upcoming events! The PTA plays a vital role in supporting our school, and this is a great way to stay informed about how you can get involved, volunteer opportunities, and fun activities for the whole family. Your support makes a big difference!

• 10/10: Choir Begins
• 10/16: Unicycle Club Begins
• 10/17: Watch DOGS Pizza Night
• 10/19: Community Work Party
• 10/22: Vision and Hearing Screening
• 10/23, 10/24, 10/28: Ready for Kindergarten
• 10/24: PTA Fall Family Event
• 10/25: Picture Retakes

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