One of Hamilton Elementary School's longest standing traditions is our Winter Holiday Concert. Hamilton Township High School band and choir joined us this year, as they do every year, to spread a little holiday cheer during two assemblies. Students clapped and sang along while our wonderful high school musicians played and sang holiday favorites and shared their talents with our Elementary Rangers. We also had our own student leaders help during the concert! Students made thank you notes, helped classes sit as ushers, and did introductions on the microphone! This connection between buildings has helped inspire students to look forward to their opportunity just a few years away when they get to join band and choir. Thank you to the HTHS Team, Directors Heather Chute and Riley Robey, and all our volunteers who made this possible.

Click the link below to watch a short video of our students singing and clapping along with the music!

During our second ever 2nd and 7 visit, 2nd grade students were able to develop positive connections with role models from their surrounding community. The 2nd and 7 program has been around for 25 years and has donated almost 1 million books to students in need across the nation. Students were able to meet and listen to personal stories from current and former OSU athletes, former NFL players, and a former NBA player. These individuals inspired a love for reading by sharing why reading is important to them, how their education helped lead to their success, and then read a book aloud to students. All students were given a free, signed book to keep.

During indoor recess and physical education, our students created and colored holiday cards for members of our armed forces. We were able to send out 4 packages to military members stationed overseas, in Alaska, and a package to our Navy cadets. As a Purple Star school and district, our goal is to continue to share holiday joy with those who are fighting for our country.

Holiday shop was a HUGE SUCCESS! So many of our students were able to purchase gifts for their family, teachers, and friends. The holiday shop raised around $7,500 for our school! A big thank you to our PTO, the volunteers, and Mrs. Griffiths who made all of this possible.

Our students at HES collected over 1500 non-perishable food items to donate to our Community Partners to help families in need. Thank you Ranger Families! You make a difference!

Grade Taught:

Elementary Art

How many years have you been teaching?

This is my seventh year!

What is your most memorable teaching moment?

I don't know if I have a singular moment, but a compilation of many small moments. The quiet kid who fully immerses themselves in a project, the rowdy kid who whips out a complete masterpiece, the unexpected leader who shows kindness to struggling classmates. All those things together are why I do this.

Who was your favorite teacher growing up?

When I was nine, I took art classes with Mark Gingerich. In typical artsy kid fashion, I struggled in school. Mr. Gingerich made me feel validated in my skill set. His encouraging words and the way he made me feel valued 25 years ago, has ultimately guided my career pathway today.

Favorite place to shop?

Farmers markets are my jam in the warmer seasons. But year round I love local antique shops and T.J Maxx.

Fun fact about yourself?

I competed as a bag girl for Kroger in college.

Position at school:

Educational Aide

How many years in your field?

3

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love coming to work and seeing my kids faces everyday. Everyday is a different day with my kiddos and I love it. Working with kids is my passion and look forward to coming to work every day!

Who was your favorite teacher growing up?

Mrs. Bock was my favorite teacher growing up because she was accepting of each and every one of her students and went above and beyond the expectations of any teacher.

Favorite place to shop?

]Target

Fun fact about yourself?

I got married and February and we went on our honeymoon in October!

In the library, students listened to The Littlest Yak. They worked together to build a structure that would help Gertie, the littlest yak, climb from the floor to the chair. Students had to problem solve to make sure their structure was study, tall, and a yak could actually climb. Here is Mrs. Dillon’s class synergizing together to create their structure.

Respect is critical in healthy relationships. Respectful behaviors are learned from adults who teach and model self-respect and respect for others. Teaching self-respect requires honest conversations with children about acceptable behavior. Focus on what a child does and not the child personally is important when teaching respect.

• Set good examples for your child. “Do as I do.”

• Teach them early. It is never too late but start as early as possible.

• Teach good manners by modeling “Please” and “Thank you” and giving attention to the person speaking through eye contact.

• Show appreciation when they show respect and disapproval when they show disrespect.

• Show them respect. It is important to establish that every person deserves dignity. Respect is not only for our elders but for everyone we encounter.

Watch the read-aloud below, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? Treating people with kindness and respect fills others buckets and our own too! Ask your child ways they have filled someone's bucket.

This week, the class created and reflected on a Weekly Plan that assisted us in accomplishing our Big Rocks. Weekly planning is a great way to keep us on track and to stay focused on our big rocks! Work together as a family to create a plan for the week! Post the plan in a visible location and check on your progress throughout the week! Here are second graders, Nora and Alexander working on planning ahead and creating a weekly calendar of their Big Rocks!

This week the Intermediate Student Lighthouse Team visited to help in our classrooms. The student lighthouse team is a part of Mrs. Smith's Successful Habits class and the Leader in Me program. Eighteen student leaders read a book related to the 8 habits, answered questions about a leader, and assisted teachers and students in the classroom. Thank you to all our staff who made this great collaboration possible!

Our multilingual students in Mrs. Case's groups are learning to write about their opinions and give reasons to explain what they think. This month, they read the book Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali together and learned about special days that people celebrate such as Eid, Rosh Hashanah, Pi Day, and Las Posadas! Then they had the chance to write about their own favorite day of the year. Some of our students' favorite days were their birthdays, Christmas, or the day they get to travel to their family's home country to visit! They did a wonderful job explaining why they love their favorite days, and were able to share some of their family's unique traditions with their classmates.

Over winter break, take some time with your family to talk about each of your favorite days and why they are so special to you!

The following students were spotted being Respectful, Responsible and Safe at school: Angel Comey Contreras, Charlotte Mudrich, Damia Johnson, Bentley Klempner, Nora Chau, Ana Sagastume, Leiran Hernandez, and Jaylen Khammachone. Congratulations Ready Rangers!

The following classes are our lunchroom winners and have done a great job being responsible, respectful, and safe during lunch:

Kindergarten- Miss Olson

First Grade- Miss Hayes

Second Grade- Mrs. Baker

Third Grade- Mrs. Dillon

Congrats to all our lunchroom winners!

December 23-January 6th- Winter Break & Teacher Professional Day

End of 2nd Quarter: Friday, December 20th

Report Cards: Thursday, January 9th

We are so excited to see you back at school on Tuesday, January 7, 2025!

Thursday, January 9th at 3:40 in the Elementary school library.

EVERY RANGER. This phrase is meant to include everyone—every student, every staff member, every graduate and every community member. All of us working together.

EVERY REASON. The primary focus of every school system is the academic achievement of all students. Our staff and, by extension, our community take on the challenge of doing even more for our students. We educate the whole child. Whatever the need, whatever the issue, whatever the REASON we are going to work together and do the best we can for each other.

EVERY DAY. Thank you to our HLSD community for making our students a priority every day, and for always pitching in to help one another