Our incredible cafeteria staff, joined by district leaders Mr. Ice and Mr. Rainey, served up a delicious Thanksgiving lunch to our students! 🍁🦃 Their smiles and teamwork made the celebration even more memorable. A huge thanks to everyone for making this day so heartwarming and festive!

Happy Friday!

I hope you and your loved ones have enjoyed the break! We have missed our students and are looking forward to the the next 3 weeks of learning, teaching, growing, and serving with our students. Together we learn, forever we grow!

New in this issue of the newsletter, you can find more information about the following in the Parent Information section below:

• Book Fair Information
• December 19th/20th Early Release Day Afternoon Engagement for Students Sign Up Form
• DHS Theatre Character Breakfast

Have a great week!

Andrea Hare

Principal

Hodge ES - Denton ISD

New or Returning?

Check out this new Parent Information Flyer below. Click the Green Button.

You can also pick up a pamphlet of the same information from our front office.

🦅 Hodge Hawks Update! 🦅

First games of the season are in the books!

Game 1: Tough loss to McNair, 5-2.

Game 2: Major comeback with a dominant 5-0 win over Rivera!

The team took the lessons from Game 1, made the adjustments, and came back stronger. Great work, Hawks! Let’s keep the momentum going! 💪⚽

Parents, here is a Virtual Calming Room that you could use at home or one the go to support your children in regulating their emotions. This amazing resource was shared with us by MHMR and they asked us to share it with everyone. It is in both English and Spanish!! We hope that you find this tool helpful for your families!

Next week we will launch our Character Strong topic: Empathy and continue the 2nd 9-Weeks Essential 8 topic: Relationship Skills. Empathy is a cornerstone of healthy relationships. When we can put ourselves in somebody else's place or see things through their perspective, a powerful shift in understanding takes place. This shift allows us to connect with others in a different way, a stronger and a more lasting way.

For ideas and information about how to talk about the importance of Gratitude at home, check out these CharacterStrong Parent Newsletters:

Character Strong Newsletter - Empathy

Character Strong Newsletter - Empatía (español)

In the next few weeks, the counselors will be joining classrooms to cover our Emotional Wellness, Bully Prevention, and Healthy Choices topics for this year. All topics are mandated topics from The State of Texas and parents have the option to preview these lessons. Please click on this link to preview the information for these lessons. Thank you!

December

12.3 Parent Title Meeting, 9 AM in Cafeteria

12.7 Hodge GOAL Game 10:00 @Strickland

12.11 - 12.17 Book Fair

12.17 Winter Wonderland, 5:30 - 7

12.19 Half Day of School: Dismissal is at 12 noon.

12.20 Half Day of School: Dismissal is at 12 noon.

12.20 Last Day of the 2nd 9 Weeks

12.23 - 12.6 Winter Break for Students: No Classes

January

1.07 Classes Resume/First Day of the 3rd 9 Weeks

1.11 Hodge GOAL Game 12:00 @TBD

1.17 Half Day of School: Dismissal is at 12 noon.

1.20 Student Holiday - No School

February

2.1 Hodge GOAL Game 11:00 @TBD

2.14 Half Day of School: Dismissal is at 12 noon.

2.17 Student Holiday - No School

The Book Fair Is Coming!!!

Denton ISD will provide engagement for students on the upcoming TWO early release days, December 19th and 20th, 2024, from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm for elementary children. The Extended School Day program will coordinate with each campus to provide engaging activities for students while teachers are participating in Professional Learning Communities. In addition, Denton ISD transportation will be provided at both the early release time (12:00pm) and the regular release time (3:00 pm) for all eligible elementary bus students. If you indicate on the form that your child will ride the bus, please notify the ESD office 24 hours prior to the Early Release Day if there has been a change in pick up plan.

Parents must sign up each month to participate. If your student currently attends ESD, you do not need to sign up.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the Extended School Day office at 940-369-0080.

Participation in this opportunity will require completion of the form below. All forms must be submitted no later than midnight on Friday, December 13th, 2024 to participate.

English

español

DHS Theatre Character Breakfast

This Thursday, CIS/ACE partnered with Hodge and the Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas to provide the parent information session "Crucial Conversations About Keeping Your Kids Safe." Thank you to all the families who were able to come out and learn with us about internet safety. If you missed the session or would just like to review the information that was presented again, the have shared the following resources with us for you to review:

We will now have a food pantry on our campus available to anyone that is interested! All you have to do is sign up through this link https://forms.gle/d7YEjpSFQhPzBd6u8 for a slot to pick up on Wednesdays or Thursdays between 3:20 and 4:20pm. You will park at the back bus lane, closer to the last pole, for pickup. All you will need to do when you come is fill out a quick form one time and then you can pick up every other week, if needed. You are welcome to bring your own bags, although we will have some available. If you have any questions or the pickup times do not work, please contact Mrs. Galicia by phone at 940-369-2888 or by text at 940-268-3194.

We have a homework help line available through Zoom with the help of Denton ISD, TWU, and UNT for free. This is a great opportunity for Bilingual students and families to get some extra support with their schoolwork!

See flyer above.

How it works:
Students can easily schedule a time to meet with a tutor, who will reach out to help them with any homework questions they might have.

The First 9 Weeks Report Cards will become accessible to parents on Friday, October 18 through the Home Access Center (HAC). Please review these instructions for how to access that information:

English

Spanish

Please know that due to Hodge piloting a new reading and writing resource, the students may also have a report card insert sent to you (by email, dojo, etc.) in addition to the report card in HAC. If you have questions or concerns about your child's grades, or need additional help in accessing them, please reach out to your child's teacher or our front office.

We have opportunities for parents and community members to mentor on a weekly basis, as well as volunteer on a regular basis or for one-time events. Volunteer opportunities could include attending field trips, assisting in classrooms, helping in the lunchroom, working with student clubs and organizations, and helping with STEM or Reading Nights, Fall Festivals, and Field Days. Please click on the volunteer application icon to start the application and background check.

Here is a link to the volunteer website:

https://www.dentonisd.org/volunteer

Here is the link to the application:

https://forms.dentonisd.org/Forms/volunteerapplication

Please watch this Parent Information and Awareness video for an overview of the assessment procedures and services for gifted and talented students in Denton ISD. If you would like to know more about the gifted and talented program, you access additional information on the district EXPO website: https://www.dentonisd.org/expo . Here you find detailed information about the EXPO program including the identification process, forms, testing dates, etc.

SPANISH NOW AVAILABLE! On the district EXPO page, a short “tutorial” demonstrating how to change the captioning to be in Spanish (or other languages as well) has been added. Look for this:

This year looks a bit different in the Library. Mr. Boyd has had a helper in the library in the past years and unfortunately this year he does not. There is a big need for volunteers in the Library. PTA has created a sign up for the year to get some volunteers to assist with Book repairs and special projects.

Things may change and more needs may be asked.

If you can, please take the time to review the sign up and help out!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AABAE22A4FCC07-51696327-library#/

Per Denton ISD, Volunteers must have a Volunteer background check completed each new academic year. https://www.dentonisd.org/volunteer

We also ask that you log your volunteer hours here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrsmXsYqSfcny-O6kipoVETjQq7UcMLbdaoUAZWfKF7pSmeQ/viewform

For Spanish Translation of Image: 2024 Denton County Toy Store

Ages: Infant - 12 years old

Registration Dates:

• Saturday 11/9/24 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Thursday 11/14/24 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Thursday 12/5/24 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Required:

• Photo ID
• Utility Bill
• Pay Stub
• Proof of Age
• Report Card and Birth Certificate for Each Child

Toy Store Day: Saturday, December 14, 2024

Asbury United Methodist Church

117 Hercules Ln. Denton, TX 79207

Email: toyshotre@asburydenton.org

See flyers below.

Please be informed of our campus telecommunication device policy, including cell phones and smart watches:

• Students are not allowed to use telecommunication devices while on campus, except when a school staff member gives explicit permission to do so while the staff member closely monitors the student’s use.
• Students must keep all telecommunication devices turned off and/or on silent and stowed away in their backpacks at all times. Students may wear their watches on their wrists while on campus as long as they do not use it to make phone calls, text, access the internet, or any other telecommunication features.
• The first time a student does not adhere to our telecommunication device policy, the device will be confiscated by the school and it will remain in the office until a parent or guardian comes to pick it up.
• The second time a student does not adhere to our telecommunication device policy, the device will be confiscated by the school, it will remain in the office until a parent or guardian comes to pick it up, the parents will be charged a fee of $15, and the student will be required to keep their device at home or check it in and out with their homeroom teacher at the beginning and end of each school day.

This policy is congruent with our district policy and the Denton ISD Code of Conduct.

Be sure to join the Hodge PTA at our Meet the Teacher event on Monday (8/5), from 6 to 7. The PTA will be selling T-shirts for $10, and you will be able to buy one for half price, only $5, if you join the PTA as well! Here are some other amazing perks to being a Hodge PTA Member throughout the school year:

• Preferred Seating for Grade Level Performances, End of Year Ceremonies and Graduation
• Quicker Sign Ins for Party Days and During the Day School Events
• Ability to Attend Exclusive During the School Events, such as Half day Assemblies, the Holiday Singalong, and Hodge Podge (Field Day)

So, it will definitely be worth the $10 membership fee to join!

In case you don't know, The Family Center is a counseling center that provides Denton ISD students, their families, and Denton ISD staff members with 10 free counseling sessions per semester. Did I mention that it's FREE?! Our center is run by graduate-level interns that are currently getting their master's in a counseling-related field. We operate at two locations: Braswell High School and Strickland Middle School. You do not have to go to/work at those schools to qualify for services. The Family center provides services to those 4 years old and up.

RESOURCES

• A link to the Denton ISD Family Center Website (click here)
• Flyer for the Family Center (Below)

Check out the flyers below.

Do you have concerns about your child’s development? If so, please contact the special education department at your child’s school. Special education and related services are available to all eligible individuals ages three through 21 years of age. Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) agencies provide services to children ages from birth to their third birthday for learning, speech, behavior, or other delays. Your child’s school and ECI agencies provide services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, have visual impairments, and/or have deaf blindness.

Early intervention is key to children's future successes!

For more information click here: English Spanish

DISD has partnered up with ParentGuidance to offer the following FREE parent resources:

• On-demand courses
• "Ask a Therapist"

Denton County created a navigator to assist residents with mental health resources. It is available in English and Spanish. Residents can complete the DCPH Links Intake Form that you can find here for assistance.

Please know that all families are expected to follow our school procedures for pick up and drop off:

• Drop Off: No students are permitted to be dropped off before 7:15. Please use the front car line to drop off. However, please know that we ask that no cars pull into the circular drive prior to 7:15. This is to assure that once cars are driving on campus, we have staff present to ensure everyone's safety. Once staff are present, please be sure to pull all the way up and leave space in the cross walk. Staff will open the car door or students can get out on their own--you do not have to wait for a staff member. If you want to park and walk your child to the door, you can. Children are not permitted to cross the crosswalk without a parent. Our staff is not permitted to allow students to cross the crosswalks without parents. Parents must walk them across the crosswalk. Students must be entering the building at 7:38, to get to class by 7:40, to be on time. If students arrive after 7:40 they will be considered tardy which can result in truancy issues. If your child is tardy, please park and walk them into the building and sign them in with the front office staff.
• Pick Up: Dismissal is at 3:00. All parents must have a car tag and use the designated car lane (Front Lane for Grades K - 5 and the Back Lane for PreK, PABS, and COMS) to pick up their child in a car. Parents may park and walk across the crosswalk to pick up their child with a car tag. Or parents can check their child out of the office with a photo ID. Parents who are picking up their child without a car tag will be asked to check them out of the office. If the child walks home, our staff will walk them across the street in the front of the building and at the back of the building, but they will not walk them any further. It is not permissible for walkers to be picked up by car on the other side of the street.

If you have questions about our procedures, please contact your child's teacher or the front office.

All changes in transportation (how the child is getting home) or early pick ups must go through the office. Please do not tell your child's teacher or send a note to the teacher. Parents are required to call or email the front office prior to 2:00 PM to make changes to how their child is going home. This is very important so that we can make sure that all changes are communicated to all the staff that need to know before the dismissal process begins. Similarly, if you are picking your child up early, please pick them up before 2:00. This is important so that we can communicate the change to all staff that needs to know before dismissal systems begin.

All adults will need to provide a government issued photo id in order to enter the building during school hours. No exceptions will be made. This is for any and all events that occur on campus during school hours.