Dear Families and Friends of the Hollys,

Welcome back! I hope that you were all able to enjoy fall break and spend some quality time with your loved ones. It was incredible to see students enter on Monday with renewed energy and excitement to be back at school and ready to learn.

Fall conferences are coming up. Please stay tuned for communication from your child’s teacher. Conferences are a great way to stay informed about your child’s academic progress. As we come to the end of our first trimester, it is a great time to reflect on all of the wonderful learning that students have accomplished and plan for future learning goals and growth in the upcoming months.

We are a “Title I” school. Each year we host a school accountability meeting to explain what the Title I program is and how parents can become involved. The following items will be addressed at the Annual Parent Meeting:

• Explain school participation in Title I
• Explain the Title I requirements
• Provide description and explanation of the school’s curriculum and new initiatives
• Provide information on the forms of academic assessment
• Explain the district and school parental involvement opportunities
• Explain the school-family compact

If you are interested in learning about Title I, please join us this Thursday, October 24 at 5-6pm in the Holly Hills Elementary gymnasium.

This Friday, October 25 is our Fall Community Celebration at Holly Hills! We invite you to join us for this special event that brings our community together for fun food, games and crafts for all ages! Our Holly Helpers have planned a joyous event. They are still seeking volunteers. If you would like to lend a hand please email: hollyhawksptco@gmail.com, or by clicking the link below to participate!

Please get involved and join us for community events, parent nights, and teacher conferences. We value your partnership! The Hollys caring community is dedicated to excellence and it shows!

Together in education,
Molly Drvenkar
Principal

Please note that progress reports will be emailed on Friday, October 25. The email will include detailed information on how to access them. Thank you!

There will be no school for students on Friday, November 1, due to a professional development day for staff. Also, for those celebrating, Happy Diwali!

A friendly reminder that Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up the week of Monday, November 4. This is a great opportunity to hear about your child’s progress, discuss next steps, and share any thoughts you have with their teacher. We’re all in this together, working as a team to support your child’s success!

Your child’s teacher will be reaching out soon to schedule your conference time. If you need an interpreter for the meeting, just let the teacher know, and we’ll make sure one is available.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help! If you would like to provide support, please sign up using the link below. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for helping us inspire a love of reading!

Please click here to sign up

Dear Families,

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming K-5 Science Fair on Monday, November 25th! This event is a fantastic opportunity for students to dive into science, unleash their creativity, and present their discoveries to the school community. Participation is optional, but we encourage all families to support their children if they are interested in joining this exciting experience.

How to Participate: Each student will create a science fair project following the scientific method. To assist you and your child, we've included a simple guide to help them develop a successful project.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Science Fair Project:

1. Question:

• Help your child choose a topic that sparks their curiosity. This topic should lead to a question they want to explore.
  Example: "Which type of soil helps plants grow the fastest?"

1. Research:

• Encourage your child to research their topic by reading books, exploring online resources, or talking to knowledgeable individuals.

• Take notes on the research to help deepen their understanding of the question.

1. Hypothesis:

• Based on their research, ask your child to predict the outcome by making an educated guess.
  Example: "I believe plants will grow the fastest in sandy soil."

1. Experiment:

• Work together to design an experiment that tests their hypothesis. Ensure they list the necessary materials and steps to follow.
  Example: "Plant seeds in three different types of soil: sand, clay, and garden soil. Water them equally and observe their growth over two weeks."

1. Data Collection:

• Help your child document their experiment results. They can use measurements, photos, or drawings to capture the data.
  Example: "Measure the height of the plants every three days."

1. Conclusion:

• Once the experiment is complete, ask your child what they learned. Did the results match their hypothesis? Why or why not?
  Example: "The plants grew the fastest in garden soil, not sandy soil, as predicted."

1. Display Board:

• Assist your child in creating a presentation board that showcases their project. The display should include:

• Project title

• The question, hypothesis, and experiment details

• Data/results (charts, graphs, photos)

• Conclusion (what was learned)

Important Dates:

• Express Your Interest By: Friday, November 8th

• Project Submission Deadline: Monday, November 25th

• Science Fair Date: Monday, November 25th

If your child is interested in participating in this optional event, please let us know by November 8th. Should you need assistance with materials, feel free to contact (Mrs. McNew or Ms. Moore).

We will provide more details about the Science Fair in the coming weeks. We can't wait to see the amazing projects your children will create!

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,
Mrs. McNew (Grades 3-5)
Ms. Moore (Grades K-2)

The Holly Helpers are in need of VOLUNTEERS! Please consider the following opportunities to help us.

Dinner for teachers and staff during fall conferences

What: Soup Potluck Dinner held at each school

When: Tuesday, November 5th

Why: Keeping our teachers and staff fueled during their long conference days!

Click here to sign up.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

• Fall Festival - This Friday Oct 25 @ 5-7pm
• Skate City - Nov 11 @ 6-8pm
• Holly Helpers Meeting - Nov 13 @ 5:30-6:45pm

- Holly Hills and Holly Ridge PTCO - hollyhawksptco@gmail.com

Please note that we have early dismissal every Wednesday. Holly Ridge will dismiss at 1:45 PM, and Holly Hills will dismiss at 1:35 PM.