![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/handeducation31.3a8d657c.jpg)
Propel Hazelwood
Hawk Talk- Family Update for April 2024
Greetings Propel Hazelwood Families!
We are speeding into Spring and the final three months of the 2023-2024 school year! We've accomplished a lot, and celebrated a lot, but there is so much more to do!
Families should check their child's scores in JumpRope (directions below) as we approach the midterm of third trimester and we head into state testing season. We encourage parents to speak with their children about their progress in classes and on recent CDT tests, and their goals for the rest of the school year.
We continue to be grateful for the strong culture we are building this school year, and for the collaboration and participation of families in ensuring this is a great school. We appreciate your support, engagement and partnership with us here at Propel Hazelwood as we work together for your children's success.
There are many celebrations to recognize and important dates and upcoming events on the horizon. We continue to work toward increasing opportunities for families to support our academic, social and arts programs here at the school. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
The Propel Hazelwood Leadership Team
Meryl Johnson - Principal
Lacey Macchia - Assistant Principal
Darnell Bonner - Assistant Principal
Upcoming Events and Dates to Note
Coming up...
April 8 School wide Eclipse Experience
April 11-15 Spring Spirit Week and PSSA Prep Week
April 22 Community Health & Safety Fair @ Propel Hazelwood
April 23-May 5 PSSA State Testing
Reading 4/23 - 4/26
Math and Science 4/30 - 5/3
Mark your calendar...
- 5/13 Mother's Day Tea
- 5/23 Science Fair and Exploration
- 5/27 No School- Memorial Day
COMING UP in APRIL
School wide Solar Eclipse Experience - Monday April 8
Spring Spirit Week and PSSA Prep!
Students should be at school every day in April as we prepare for the annual Pennsylvania state testing (PSSA) scheduled for mid to late April. We will have a Spring Spirit Week and Pep Rally to keep up the enthusiasm! We are excited by the growth we've seen this year and want to keep encouraging students to work hard and do their best on these important assessments.
Hazelwood is OWNING IT with our Spring Math intervention
We are excited to be seeing growth in our students’ mastery of fundamental math skills to help them grow in their math proficiency. Students report that they enjoy Spring Math and are excited to share their growth scores.
Check out some of this growth that we've seen in second grade on the growth graphs below.
While we know it is a long term solution, we are confident that this program is going to give our students the foundation needed to be successful as they advance in math, but also to be confident in math as they continue to grow. Please call or email your child's math teacher or Ms. Johnson, the building principal, any time if you have questions about this or anything else related to your child’s academic progress.
Are you DOING YOUR PART?
Check Your Email
Information is regularly shared with families through email. Please be sure you are keeping up with news from our school. Soon we will send emails about PSSA testing, the Health and Safety Fair, and a Save the Date for our annual Mother's Day Tea event in May. If you missed any information, please reach out to the school.
Coming Soon....Family Feedback Survey
We need your help to keep improving! Please be on the lookout for a Family Feedback Survey coming from our central office at the beginning of next week. Primary guardians will be emailed a survey link where they will select the school for which they are responding (Hazelwood for us). You will be instructed to submit additional surveys if you have additional scholars attending other Propel Schools.
Attendance Matters...Regular Attendance is critical for academic growth and achievement
Regular attendance is the calculation of days a student has attended in the school year. Our goal is to increase regular attendance at Propel Hazelwood in order to increase academic success. A student who has missed 10 days of school, just 2 days missed a month, has actually missed 10% of the instruction so far this year.
At Hazelwood, we have recognized two students who have each attended school every single day this school year! Congratulations to Zahra Smith in 8th grade and Angelina Risko in 2nd grade for Perfect Attendance so far. Both students will receive a season pass to Kennywood!
If you child does need to be out, please provide a written excuse upon their return or email our Attendance Specialist, Ms. Tiffany Stamps. Per state regulation, after 10 absences, only medical excuses will be accepted. Please reach out to Ms. Stamps if you have questions or need support around attendance.
How's My Child Doing? Log in to JumpRope to find out and keep up with Standards Based Grading
As you know, Propel is no longer using a traditional grading system (As, Bs, Cs, etc.). We have transitioned to Standards Based Grading, which means your child will be regularly assessed on their progress towards end of year benchmarks. Scholars' progress towards mastering these end of year targets will be scored on a scale of 1-4. This grading system allows us to have a more clear picture throughout the school year of where scholars are in their understanding of content and mastery of skills required for the next grade level.
You don't have to wait until Progress Reports to find out how your child is doing! Log in to our digital platform JumpRope using your child's school email address and lunch code, to see missing assignments, grades on various assessments, where they stand overall, and to connect directly with their teacher. Here are the directions for logging into JumpRope.
Want to Help Out?
Contact Mr. Peeks (justinpeeks@propelschools.org) or Ms. Johnson to get connected with our Parent Action Team and support Propel Hazelwood thorugh this year's charter renewal process and beyond.
Have you heard about the Habits?
This year Propel has introduced a set of academic and behavior Habits that help us all to be successful within our school community. If your child hasn't talked about the Habits much, please ask them to share what they know about these five:
Own It!
Walk Through the Door!
Look in the Mirror!
Treat Others the Way You Want to be Treated!
Do Your Part!
These Habits are graded weekly and show up as 10% of scholars' overall grade for each content area. We also have monthly House Party celebrations to recognize students meeting and exceeding expectations.
Family Resource Center
School Uniform
As you help your child get ready for their day, please keep our dress code in mind. Propel has a uniform scholar dress code in order to provide an environment where the focus is on learning and the distractions of dress are kept to a minimum. All scholars are expected to be properly dressed in the school uniform every day. Hoodies and jackets are not part of the uniform, so students should bring school sweaters or long sleeved collared shirts to combat the cooler weather. Additionally, leggings, bike shorts, and jeans and black jeans are not permitted. Scholars are not permitted to wear crocs or slides for shoes.
You can purchase uniform items through this online store. If your family needs assistance with uniforms please contact the school. You may also drop off gently used uniforms to the school office.
Here is the updated school uniform for all scholars in grades K-8. We expect all families to support their scholars in adhering to the dress code.
Dismissal Changes? Use PikMyKid App or Call the office before 2:45pm!
For any changes to your child's regular dismissal plan, please make the changes in the PikMyKid app or call the main office. These changes must be made before 2:45 p.m. so we can ensure all scholars make it safely home. If someone else is coming to pick up your child, it needs to be logged in the app. All adults coming to the school to pick up scholars may be asked to show valid ID.
There will be no Early Dismissals after 3 p.m. per the Family Handbook. If you need to pick up your child early, that must happen before our dismissal process starts. This is the busiest time of day for our office and our priority is ensuring that all scholars make it home safely. Thank you for your support with this.
School Hours
Dismissal begins at 3:30pm. Thank you for your patience as we help all of our students safely exit the building and head home each day.
Family Parking
Important Dates
No School for Scholars (mark your calendars)
5/27
The full 2023 - 2024 calendar is attached below for your reference.
Propel Hazelwood Leadership Team
Darnell Bonner, Assistant Principal
Lacey Macchia, Assistant Principal
Propel Hazelwood K-8
Website: propelschools.org
Location: 5401 Glenwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phone: 412-325-0492