Ranger Families,

What a wonderful first month! Thank you for all you are doing to ensure students are ready and excited for each school day. As we quickly approach the fall season, we are working to assess every student so we can have a detailed baseline of information in order to plan to meet each child's academic needs this year. You may hear your child talk about "STAR tests" over the coming weeks. This along with additional follow up assessments provide teachers with specific information on areas of strength and need in both reading and math. Please encourage your child to do their best, put in all their effort, and show what they know. Often, when students know these are important to their parents and teachers, they will show their best work.

Monthly, we hold safety drills with all our students. This is an important practice to ensure we are always prepared as a building. In both August and September, our students have done an amazing job with evacuation drills, following the lead of their teachers calmly and quietly each time. We couldn't be prouder of our littlest Rangers, especially those doing this for the first time.

Finally, we hope to see you at our HES Football Tailgate on Friday, September 27th. This free event is the first of many school sponsored events this year, and we are excited to have our students and families join us at Walnut Hill Church next to the high school starting at 5:00pm. Immediately following, all elementary students will receive free entrance to watch our HTHS Ranger Football Team take on Amanda Clearcreek. See you there!

Thank you,

Mr. Rush & Mrs. Seiler

In Successful Habits, Mrs. Heidlebaugh's first grade class learned about Habit 6: Synergize. This habit teaches us that working together is better! Students drew their strengths on a link of a chain. When we put these strengths together the chain represents the strong classroom we are together.

This month we are focusing on communication skills. Elementary school children are learning how to interact with classmates and make friends. All children need our help learning conversation skills and to better communicate thoughts and feelings. Communication skills are critical in school success and success with peer relationships. Watch this video below for 10 ways to help children learn and develop communication skills.

In the lunchroom, our second and third grade students are being leaders with our Big Stars,Little Stars. These students have been setting wonderful examples of how we can be Ready Rangers in the lunchroom. They are reminding their Little Stars to stay in their seats, use inside voices, etc. New Big Stars will be picked each week.

We had our first group of Ready Ranger winners! These students were spotted being responsible, respectful, and safe. The following students were our Ready Rangers: Ellie Sprouse,Cody Thomas, Damia Johnson, Charlie Hockinberry, Brydon Croom, Aspen Orange,Bryce Dutcher, and Myla Montgomery.

Third Grade students from Mrs. Starkey and Mrs. Allinder's are helping students each afternoon find the correct bus with bus animal signs. Here is Cydnee Cummings doing a great job being a bus helper!

We are excited to share the 7 Habits with our family members and caregivers. Try this activity as a family: Write down the names of the members of your family. Record two or three talents or strengths for each person. As we learn about the habits, We invite you to use the habit homework menu and challenge your family to engage in the activities!

September is Attendance Awareness Month! We have partnered with Stay in the Game to focus on the importance of being at school on time everyday. Check out below for tips and all the ways we are celebrating attendance.

You can help support our school when your child purchases a sticker from our spirit vending machine. The machine is located by the front office and stickers cost 50 and 75 cents.

Use Payschools to pay student fees, activity fees, and add funds to your child’s lunch accounts online.

Reports will be available September 19th online. Please login to Progress Book to view your child's interim grades.

The end of 1st Quarter is October 11th.

If your child requires a medication to be administered at school we must have a Medication Consent Form on file. You may send the form in your child's green folder or email to kbennett@hlsd.org

Students in Kindergarten started their vision/hearing screenings September 3rd and will be completed by September 20th. If your student didn't pass any portion of their screening a referral letter would come home the day of their testing. If you don't receive a letter, your student passed both their vision and hearing screenings. 1st grade will start September 23rd with 3rd grade starting October 15th. 2nd graders aren't required to have these screenings. All new students will be screened as well, they will start soon after.

EVERY RANGER. This phrase is meant to include everyone—every student, every staff member, every graduate and every community member. All of us working together.

EVERY REASON. The primary focus of every school system is the academic achievement of all students. Our staff and, by extension, our community take on the challenge of doing even more for our students. We educate the whole child. Whatever the need, whatever the issue, whatever the REASON we are going to work together and do the best we can for each other.

EVERY DAY. Thank you to our HLSD community for making our students a priority every day, and for always pitching in to help one another