Welcome Back Letter to Families
Let's Get Rolling, 2024 - 2025!
Message From the Principal
Hillis is a place where Dreamers Learn To Dream Big! Our focus at Hillis Elementary School is centered on learning, leading, and growing. We believe we do our best in service to student success when we team together. We are excited for the upcoming school year and are ready for our Hillis learner- leaders to begin their amazing journey of learning, leading, and growing this year. Please accept this invitation to partner with us as we support each child toward success.
Mrs. O’Hara
The Hillis Hounds Happenings
The Hillis Hound Happenings is an electronic newsletter that is sent to families throughout the school year. We share important information, and teachers share pictures and things going on in their classrooms. Please make sure you are reading these, so you do not miss out on anything important!
Kick-Off to Kindergarten
KINDERGARTEN BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT and SPECIAL EVENT– Our kindergarten team will greet our new kindergarten families and students at BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT on August 22, 2024, from 3:00pm-4:30pm, in our school cafeteria. Families will hear about how the first week of school is set up for students in various groupings and how each child will be working with each kindergarten teacher during the first week of school. Parents/guardians will hear about how student placement for classroom and teacher for the school year is determined and when communication regarding classroom placement and teacher assignments will be made and shared. Kindergarten students do not drop off supplies on August 22, 2024, however, they do bring them to school at the “Meet my Kindergarten Teacher “event on September 3, 2024.
Meet My Kindergarten Teacher
Kindergarten parents/guardians and students are invited to attend our special event, “Meet My Kindergarten Teacher”, on September 3, 2024 from 4:15pm-5:30pm in the teacher’s classroom. During this event, families will hear about the routines, practices and new learning for the school year that is planned for all kindergarten students. Kindergarten families may drop off school supplies at this event. This is a great opportunity for kindergarten families to establish strong home to school and school to home connections and to get important information from the classroom teacher that will help each student have a successful year.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Grades 1st-5th
Please join us at the Hillis BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT scheduled for August 22, 2024, from 3:00pm-4:30pm at Hillis Elementary School. This open house style event is an informational event, held by our Hillis staff, and will help our team set the stage for a successful year! Parent/guardians will be able to visit classrooms, meet teachers and staff and drop off any items prior to the first day of school. Come receive information about the upcoming school year, the exciting learning that is ahead for your child and the many ways you can become involved in the Hillis community. We look forward to seeing all our families and students!
2024-2025 School Year
New School Hours
Our school year begins with new elementary school hours.
Doors open at 7:25am.
School begins at 7:40am.
School ends at 2:35pm.
Important Information for the First Day of School
Starting a new school year is an exciting time. We are encouraging all students who have been at Hillis in the previous grades to walk into the building on their own. If your student is new to Hillis and would like your support coming in and finding their classroom, you are welcome to walk in with them. With limited parking available, it is very important to save the parking spots for the families of the students who really need some extra encouragement to start the year on the right foot.
We will ask that after the first week of school, all parents allow their students to walk in on their own. The exception to this would be if the student is tardy, in which case an adult will need to sign them in in the office.
Attendance Matters
Our goal is to have EVERY student here EVERY DAY and on time! Our day starts promptly at 7:40AM which is the time the students have to be in their classrooms. Please plan to drop your child(ren) off in time for them to walk to their rooms by 7:40 am.
Did you know?
‐ Starting in preschool and kindergarten, absences may cause children to fall behind in reading and math.
‐ Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
‐ Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
‐ Being 5 minutes late to school every day will cause a student to miss 15 hours of instruction in just one school year!
If your child must be absent, you must notify the school office.
You must sign in your student in the office if they are tardy.
Thank you in advance for making sure that your child(ren) is here every day and on time! Our school is not the same without them!
Calendar
Please click below to see the 2024-2025 school calendar. Keep non-school days in mind as you are planning student's appointments and family functions.
Cell Phones at School
As you might have heard, many schools across the country are implementing cell phone/personal electronics policies. Numerous mental health professionals, including the Surgeon General of the United States, have highlighted the detrimental effects of excessive phone usage. These effects include increased rates of depression, lower self-esteem, impaired social skills, inability to focus on schoolwork, and feelings of isolation among many others. This year, Hillis will implement the following cell phone/personal electronic devices practices:
- students will be expected to be off their devices while on school grounds during the hours of 7:15am and 2:50 pm unless there is an emergency
- all students must turn in their cell phones to their classroom teacher at the beginning of each school day.
- if a student has their phone out during any part of the school day, the device will be taken to the office and a parent, or another family member will need to come pick it up.
- continued violation of these expectations will result in meetings with the school administrators and potential suspension or other disciplinary measures.
*We understand that sometimes cell phones are used to support the medical needs of a student. Exceptions will be made for these cases.
Arrival and Dismissal at Hillis
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during the drop off and pick up procedures. It is a great opportunity for all of us as adults to model respect and teamwork to our students! To keep traffic flowing and keep everyone safe, please enter the U-shaped drive going northbound on 56th street. The right lane of the drive is the only lane where you can stop to drop off or pick up your student(s). You must remain in the vehicle and wait for your student(s) to exit the vehicle in the morning or to load into the vehicle in the afternoon. Please pull through as close to the exit as you can. Students will be loaded along the whole U-shaped drive including the grassy areas. If you are planning to exit your vehicle any time during drop off or pick up, please drive along the left lane of the drive and park your car in a parking spot. Once your car is safely parked, you may walk your students to the school door or pick them up! With your child(ren) safely loaded (or unloaded) from your vehicle, slowly get into the left lane and proceed to exit the drive turning RIGHT onto 56th street.
Remember:
Vehicles are not allowed to be parked in the right lane of the drive at any time during arrival and dismissal!
Students will be allowed to exit or enter vehicles on the right side ONLY.
Family members other than Hillis students must remain in the vehicle.
This is for the safety of our students, staff, and families.
We will continue to refine the process and will keep you updated on any changes!
Notes from the Nurse
Illness- Students who are sick must STAY HOME until they are free from symptoms of illness for 24 hours and/or if any test results are pending. This helps reduce the risk of spreading the illness to others in our school. Notify the school of your student's absence/illness. The nurse follows district policy and guidance from public health in determining when to exclude students due to illness.
Examples include:
· Fever of 100.4 degrees F or greater
· Illness that disrupts the student's learning or poses a risk of spreading to others. ( e.g. vomiting, diarrhea, persistent cough, etc.)
· Illness that results in a greater need for care than staff can provide without affecting the health and safety of others.
Medications- Only medications approved and prescribed by a healthcare provider may be given at school. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications. Medications need to be in the original container and include the child's name, name of medicine, dosage, and time to be given. If you have any questions/concerns regarding medication administration at school, please feel free to contact me at 515- 242-8412. Thank you and I look forward to working and caring for your students! Holland Seiberling, Hillis School Nurse holland.seiberling@dmschools.org
Hillis Staff
New Staff:
Holland Seiberling- School Nurse
Allison Sherwood- Special Education Teacher
Ashley Ver Schuer- 5th Grade Teacher
Teghan Gevock- 3rd Grade Teacher
Melissa Nordell-Earp- Community Coordinator (shared with Moore Elementary)
Ashli Buckley- Instructional Coach
Sonia Villalba- Head Custodian
Sara Von Arb - K-1 Integrated Special Education Associate.
Need School Supplies for Your Students?
Don’t worry! We have a lot to share! Reach out to Melissa Nordell Earp, our new community and schools coordinator at melissa.nordellearp@dmschools.org. Feel free to connect for assistance.
Meals at School
All Hillis students receive a FREE breakfast and lunch every day. Click here to see the menus. Students may add money to their accounts to receive additional milk or a la carte items.
Important Dates
August
August 22nd - Back to School Night 3pm - 4:30pm
August 26th - First Day of School
September
2nd- NO SCHOOL- Labor Day
3rd- Kindergarten parent “Meet your teacher” night 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm
19th- Hillis Field Day- families are welcome to attend after checking in at the main office. Please bring a valid ID so that we may provide you with a visitor pass.
- 3rd- 5th -9:00am-11:00am
- Kdg-2nd – 12:30am-2:30pm
20th- NO SCHOOL- Educator professional development day
20th - PTO Movie Night (more info will come out later)
24th- School Picture Day
27th- Field Day rain date, if needed