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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
