Getting Into the Dr. Seuss Spirit
Kiwanis Battle Ground Member Specialist Val Arbacauskas and HHES Associate Principal Bess Colpron in front of the HHES Vision, which is focused on student literacy.
Celebrate Reading
The birthday of beloved author Dr. Seuss kicks off Read Across America Week (March 2-6) and is designed to promote the love of reading among children.
Jazzercise Group Has Huge Heart for Hockinson’s Kids
Again this year, Sue Thompson and her Jazzercise friends continued their tradition of donating to a Valentine’s Day fund for Hockinson’s students in need. Thompson, a retired HSD counselor, spearheads the annual “Heart for Kids” campaign to help Hockinson’s students-in-need. This year, donations were made in honor of Colleen O’Brien, former HSD Food Service Director, who passed away last fall. O’Brien was committed to making sure no Hockinson student ever went hungry and often covered student lunch fees out of her own pocket.
This year’s donation, totaling over $900, will help cover outstanding lunch balances and the cost of school-related fees and supplies. Hockinson’s Jazzercise group has donated nearly $4,000 over the past five years.
Join Us in a Week-long Salute to HSD Classified Staff!
March 6-10 is Classified School Employee Appreciation Week in the HSD and school districts across our state.
Every day, our classified employees perform important jobs that ensure our students are safe, supported, and learn at high levels. These jobs fall under categories such as: Secretarial, Custodial, Transportation, Security, Paraeducator, Health Room, Aides, Grounds, and Nutrition Services.
A lot goes into fulfilling our mission of "preparing every student for lifelong success." It requires a team effort and our teachers and students are lucky to have our amazing classified employees on the HSD Team. They are truly in a class all by themselves!
We will be profiling classified staff members on social media this week to illustrate these special people and the difference they make in our schools every day. HSD families are invited to express their appreciation for our dedicated classified staff by sending an email, writing a note, or by saying “thank you” in person.
ICYMI - Hockinson’s Transitional Kindergarten Program: A Springboard to Early Learning
Hockinson's Transitional Kindergarten program was featured in the February 22 edition of The Columbian. Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a full-day preschool program that gets each student ready for a successful kindergarten year by providing a high-quality early learning experience.
The TK program at Hockinson Heights Elementary School closes opportunity gaps through play-based instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, and social skills for four-year-old children who do not have access to high-quality early learning experiences prior to kindergarten. TK students also participate in specialist lessons in art, music, and PE. The students are immersed in an elementary school experience and have lunch and recess at HHES every school day. The TK program is free to Hockinson families.
TK was established in line with the HHES vision of preparing every student to read at grade level by 3rd grade. A recent longitudinal study showed that this was a critical turning point that determined a student’s academic and post-secondary trajectory.
With TK, HHES is continuing its tradition of innovative and student-centered programs. The school was named an outlier in a 2020 Center for Educational Excellence Study for demonstrating exceptional improvement in student learning.
Spotlight on: Jennifer Sawyer, HSD Teaching & Learning Coordinator
There is some truth to Superintendent Steve Marshall’s quip that, “When it comes down to it, school systems are largely big people working with little people.” So it makes sense that nearly 85% of school budgets go toward salaries and benefits, teacher-student relationships are critical to learning, and the professional training of educators has a direct and positive impact on students.
This year, HSD changed its staffing model and invested in the professional development of its staff by bringing Jennifer Sawyer on board as its Teaching and Learning Coordinator. Sawyer comes to Hockinson with fifteen years of experience as a classroom teacher and teacher-librarian. She spent the past two years in the Ridgefield School District as their teacher on special assignment for teacher professional development. Her well-rounded background (Sawyer is a National Board Certified Teacher with endorsements in early childhood, elementary education and literacy as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership with an administrative credential) enables her to understand teacher needs, classroom dynamics, and district-level planning.
When asked about the impact she hopes professional development has on both Hockinson’s teachers and students, Sawyer responded: “My hope is that professional learning provides our teachers with an opportunity to reflect on current practices and student needs, to be informed with current educational research, and use that to add to their professional toolkits. I also want our trainings to be a time of collaboration with colleagues. Teaching can be a solitary profession, but when we connect and share, we learn from and support each other and that helps us better meet the needs of all Hockinson students.”
Sawyer said she loves working in Hockinson because there is such strong community support for its students - both outside and inside the schools. “One of the most rewarding parts of my role is having the opportunity to come alongside Hockinson educators and engage in really thoughtful, student-focused conversations. Their heart and passion for our kids is incredible.”
As she heads into the second round of professional development trainings with all HSD teachers, Sawyer looks forward to supporting both sides of education: “I wholeheartedly believe in what we tell our students - that we are all learning and growing every day, even us adults. Teaching is an awesome job and responsibility. When we as educators support each other and develop our teaching skill sets, we are undoubtedly improving student learning.”
HMS Job Fair Previews Future Options for HSD Students
It’s big, it’s open to all HSD families, and it’s all about lifelong success. It’s the HMS Job Fair. This student-led event features representatives from 41 diverse career fields including video game design, trucking, and medicine. Circle March 13 from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. on your student’s and family’s calendars.
The HMS Job Fair will give HSD students the chance to interact with over 50 members of our community and get an inside view into an array of professions. Professions represented include: Pilot, nurse, firefighter, teacher, veterinarian, lawyer, construction project supervisor, armed forces, IT specialist, chef, electrical engineer, photographer and more!
Participants will also be able to view a semi truck, street sweeper, an electric automobile, and performance race car! The fair is being organized by HMS 8th grader Sydney Aldridge and HMS Counselor Nicole Schneider.
HMS Student Artwork
HSD Art Teacher Spotlight
Thank you to Heather Christian (21-22), Lori-Ann Marano (HMS), Nancy O'Neill-Bratt (HHES), Tanya Hochhalter (HSD), and Sonja Einerson (HHES) for inspiring our students' artistic creativity.
HSD News Bites
March 17 is Now a School Day: Friday, March 17 was originally designated as a snow make up day - a student non-attendance day. Due to our three snow days, the revised 2022-23 HSD Calendar now includes March 17, June 16 and June 20. (Families: Next year's school calendar will be adopted at the March 27 General School Board Meeting.)
Grant-funded Energy Projects Underway: During the 2020-21 school year, the HSD applied for a Washington Department of Commerce 1-to-2 matching grant that many considered a longshot. However, the district ended up receiving the largest Energy Efficiency Grant of the 2021 cycle based on demonstrated need and now we are applying those grant dollars to lower energy costs, while improving comfort and air quality in our buildings. Millig Design Build of Tigard, OR started an HVAC retrofit at the Hockinson Community Center and District Office on Feb. 20. Within the next week, workers will be in HHES and HHES after school to begin controls work and lighting replacements.
HHES Students Prepare for 2023 Solar Car Challenge: The Clark Public Utilities Solar Car Challenge is a STEM competition for over a hundred local elementary, middle and high school students. It’s described as a “pinewood derby with the presentations from [a] science fair, built on a monthslong foundation of…[content relating to] renewable energy, mechanical engineering and creative design.” HHES teacher Hollie Rose is coaching a team of Hockinson elementary students who will compete in the challenge next weekend at Hudson’s Bay High School. Read more here.
Mock Trial Steps Back into the Courtroom: Last week, the HHS Mock Trial Team competed for the first time since 2020 in person at the Clark County Courthouse. A number of students were nominated for best witness and best attorney for the competition. Nominees for best witness: Elijah S.R. Austen, Grant Berg, Amelia Dansie, and Connor Vukelich. Students nominated for best attorney included: Sofia Solari, Liam Soot, Arianna Gish, and Finn Henwood. The team is coached by Heidi Morris.
HHES Receives Robotics Materials: This week, HHES received a special delivery: VEX robotics kits. These kits will be used in the school’s library “maker space” as well as in an upcoming after-school robotics activity. Exposing students to robotics at the elementary level will complete a K-12 high tech pipeline consisting of after school robotics (HHES), STEM classes and Tech Ambassadors Club (HMS), and FIRST Robotics (HHS).
HHS Spring Sports Participation Grows: Over 180 students turned out for a sport this spring at HHS - the highest number in 5 years - prompting the addition of JV Boys Soccer and Girls Softball. Local levy dollars and your fan support make HHS sports a memorable experience for all. Thank you! Check out hockinsonhawks.com to view sports schedules.
Contact Us
Email: justine.hanrahan@hocksd.org
Website: https://www.hocksd.org/
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606, USA
Phone: (360) 448-6400