HSD News Round-Up

The theme for the upcoming school year speaks to our collective commitment to make sure every HSD student feels known, respected, and involved:

Hockinson Schools: You belong here.

We want our families to feel the same! It all begins with communication and connections. This year's back-to-school newsletter contains information that we hope will help parents be aware of events, key contacts, and opportunities that will get the year off to a positive start.

We understand that starting elementary school and transitioning from elementary to middle school and middle to high school can be a little scary. This is why our schools created back-to-school programs that support the success of incoming students and help them get excited about their next chapter. Click HERE to learn more about your school’s transition and orientation programs.

The HSD aims to continue to climb “Upward Together” during the 2023-24 school year. Upward Together is our staff campaign to advance the three main goals of the HSD Strategic Plan: Academics, School Culture & Facilities, and Community & Communications.

We assessed the third area, Communication & Community, through a parent survey last spring. Nearly 60 families responded to the anonymous survey, providing valuable perspectives on methods of communications utilized by our schools and district. You can view a summary of the survey results HERE.

We invite you to help inform us how the HSD is doing overall and, in particular, in the areas of Academics and School Culture & Facilities by participating in the Hockinson School District Parent Perception Survey. Survey results will help inform our HSD Vision, Goals, and School Improvement Plans.

This short, anonymous survey will take approximately 3-5 minutes to complete. Most of the questions involve rating concepts on a 1-5 scale with optional opportunities for "Comments." We want to hear from you so we can maintain our areas of strength and make improvements wherever needed so we can elevate HSD schools this year and beyond. Click HERE to share your thoughts.

We encourage every secondary student to participate in sports and clubs. Research studies consistently show a positive correlation between extracurricular involvement and attendance, GPA, and happiness with school.

Since we are just a few days away from the start of the Fall Sports Season at HHS and HMS, we wanted to send out a registration reminder:

Click HERE to sign up for a HHS Fall Sport (Football - starts 8/16; Boys & Girls Cross Country, Boys Golf, Girls Soccer, Girls Swimming, and Girls Volleyball - start 8/21).

HMS athletic registration is now open. You can sign up your 7th or 8th Grader for a HMS Fall Sport HERE (Boys and Girls Cross Country and Girls Volleyball start 8/28).

A list of active student clubs and activities will be available at school orientations.

While classroom activities pause for summer vacation, our schools shift into summer mode with our custodians and maintenance personnel tackling a variety of routine and large-scale projects. This summer, these projects included: Sanding down and completely refinishing the HHS Gym floor (pictured); installing a new playground safety fence at HMS; painting play areas and adding new cedar chips and rubber safety mats on the HHES playground; remodeling the HHES lunch kitchen; inspecting and repairing bleachers and backboards at all three schools; exterior cleaning and sealing of HHS; resurfacing of the Hockinson Community Center parking lot; and the aerating and sanding of HSD playing fields.

Whenever possible, the HSD endeavors to contract with local businesses for our facility maintenance and improvement projects. For example, we would like to thank Pruitt Hardwood, Clark County Paving, Cornerstone Masonry, Able Fencing, and Superior Sweeping for their assistance with keeping our facilities safe and looking their best.

HMS has a new position - and a new addition - in its main office this fall. Sid Slom will join the middle school as its Dean of Students. Slom assumes a new role created by the departure of Caleb Millay, who last year served in a split position of Assistant Principal and Student Services Coordinator. Like Millay, Slom will also oversee the school's athletic program.

Slom, who originally hails from Hawaii, came to the Pacific Northwest for college. After graduation, he worked in the Vancouver School District in a number of different capacities: Paraprofessional at Discovery Middle School, Basketball and Football Coach at Fort Vancouver HS, and a Teacher and Coach (of multiple sports!) at Hudson's Bay HS. At Bay, Slom also stepped in as a substitute administrator.

These diverse experiences have prepared Slom for his forthcoming role as Dean of Students - a job that includes student support, discipline, staff evaluations, campus supervision, and what he really enjoys most: School culture building. When asked what he is looking forward to most, Slom replied: "Meeting staff, students, parents and being part of the HMS community. I will do whatever is needed to support and build up HMS. I'm so excited to get started."

Slom knows that any healthy school culture starts with students feeling connected and valued. "One of my goals is to help each student feel like they belong and have a sense of pride in their school community. Relationships are critical, but so is making sure every student is involved in classes and activities and feels like they play a role in making HMS a positive place for everyone."

Slom plans on being visible on campus both during and after school. He knows this will occasionally require "family nights" on which he will be joined by his wife, Kit, and their three children, ages 10, 3, and 1.

With his focus on belonging, family, and community, Slom will be a great fit with HMS and Hockinson School District. Welcome to Hockinson, Mr. Slom!

Families, please note that applications for the federal free lunch program (and fees/services covered by HB 1660 such as ASB and sports fees) must be submitted in the first 30 days of each school year. Parents can access the Free/Reduced Lunch application HERE or apply through Skyward Family Access.

2023-24 Breakfast and Lunch prices are: Elementary - Breakfast: $1.75/Lunch: $3.25; Middle School - Breakfast: $1.95/Lunch $3.65; High School - Breakfast: $2.25/Lunch: $3.80.

Families in need of supplementing their student’s school supplies can find confidential assistance at the HSD Care Closet. The Care Closet, located at the HSD District Office, is available on an appointment-only basis. Please contact your school’s counselors by email:

• HHES - vickie.hermann@hocksd.org;
• HMS - nicole.schneider@hocksd.org;
• HHS - wayne.svilar@hocksd.org (A-K) or chantelle.henry@hocksd.org (M-Z)

to set up an appointment.

You are in luck! We have put together a one-page Quick Reference Guide (eg, start/end times, office staff, calendar) for each school:

• Hockinson Heights Elementary School
• Hockinson Middle School
• Hockinson High School

Click HERE to view the reference guide for the HSD District Office. Also, here is a LINK to the 2023-24 HSD School Calendar.

Be on the lookout for online ordering information for HHES and HMS spirit wear in upcoming school newsletters. Hockinson and HHS branded clothing is available now online and at the Back-to-School Pop Up Shop on Aug. 28 and 29 at Hockinson High School. Thank you for showing your Hockinson school spirit!

- Aug. 24: HHES Open House & Community Fair at 5 pm

- Aug. 28: HMS 6th Grade Orientation 8 am - Noon; HHS Orientation (Grades 12, 11, 10) starting at 9 am; and Regular HSD School Board Meeting at 6 pm (HCC and Zoom)

- Aug. 29: HHS 9th Grade Orientation 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

- Aug. 30: First Day of School!

- Sept. 4: Labor Day (No School)

- Sept. 5: HMS Open House at 6 pm

HHS Fall Sports Schedules available HERE

Email: amelia.holmes@hocksd.org
Website: https://www.hocksd.org/
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606, USA
Phone: (360) 448-6400