Hopkins Elementary School Update

With winter weather in the forecast (this weekend and early next week), please make sure you send your students to school with the correct attire for outdoor recess. As a reminder, students will go out to recess each day unless the wind chill (taking the temperature and wind speed into account) is below zero.

The Epic Toy Drive at Hopkins Public Schools is officially off and running! The toys collected will be donated to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. The toy drive will conclude on Monday, December 2nd. If you would like to participate, you can drop off your donation to Hopkins Elementary School any time before 3 PM on Monday, December 2nd.

Hopkins Public Schools will be holding a hat day for $1 (or more) on Thursday, December 5th. All profits will be given to the family of a HES student (and sibling, former HHS student) who suddenly lost their mom. HPS invites you to wear a hat for a donation of $1 (more will be graciously accepted). Join in on this fundraiser to help a Hopkins family, and to show your Viking Pride!

During the 23-24 school year, Hopkins Public Schools hired nurses through Community Caregivers to provide nurse services to the district. Over the last year, we have been working on ensuring our policies and procedures match what is required from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS).

A few notes that have come up.

• If you would like our office to keep over the counter medications in the office. We need this form completed by the family. For these types of medications (ibuprofen, Tylenol, topical ointments), we do not need a physician to sign off. https://www.hpsvikings.org/wp-content/uploads/fm5330-f1a-Permission-Form-for-Non-Prescription-Medication-revised-5-26-2023.pdf
• If our office is required to dispense prescribed medications or treatments, we will need this form completed, which requires a physician's signature: https://www.hpsvikings.org/wp-content/uploads/fm5330-f1-Permission-Form-for-Prescribed-Medication-revised-5-26-2023.pdf
• Our offices do not keep a supply of medications in the office to hand out (ibuprofen, Tylenol, allergy medicine). If you child needs these, you will need to fill out the first form and bring in a brand new, not opened, not expired bottle for us to use only for your child.

The Hopkins Middle School PARTNERS PTO group is selling fleece Hopkins Vikings blankets for $25. You can order them by going to this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedNhzzbeCN5nINo-GjyNId8qRWdvkPDiJ9k14GIfRbGC30Ig/viewform

The Mobile Dentist will visit HES on Tuesday, January 21st. The Mobile Dentist is through the Michigan Dental Association and to show their commitment to provide the best oral health care across Michigan, they provide this opportunity to schools. Parents who want their kids to be seen should fill out this form: https://www.myschooldentist.com/Default.aspx

For anyone interested in information about Bittersweet Ski Area Club Cards, there is information in the office for you or your child to pick up. Cards can be used for one beginner lift ticket and rental equipment discounts.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Hopkins Elementary School and Sycamore Elementary School revamped their handbooks. Earlier in August, the Hopkins Board of Education approved the changes. You can view the handbook here: https://www.hpsvikings.org/wp-content/uploads/24-25-Elementary-Handbook.pdf

A couple changes of note:

• Behavior Expectations - Page 15 - includes levels, consequences, and shows you the progressive discipline implemented.
• Student Appearance - Page 18 - updated language.
• Field Trips - Page 19 - includes information on how discipline effects field trips.

Please take a few minutes to make those changes so we have everything we need for your child!

You can access FinalForms by selecting this link.