HUSKY PRESS

Hello Hillpoint Family,

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the parents and students who joined us on Friday for our Black History Program. Your presence and support made the event truly special.

Our students did an incredible job showcasing their hard work, and I couldn't be more proud of them. A huge thank you to our dedicated staff for their efforts in preparing our students and putting together such a meaningful program.

It was a wonderful celebration of history, culture, and achievement, and I appreciate everyone who played a part in making it a success.

Thank you for being part of our Hillpoint family!

Sincerely,

Dr. Shaka Miller

Join us on February 11th from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Texas Roadhouse (6130 College Drive, Suffolk, VA 23435) for a delicious way to support our school!

Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of your total food purchases to benefit our school. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a meal with family and friends while giving back to a great cause!

Make sure to mention the fundraiser when ordering!

Open Nomination for Spring Gifted Testing. Window opens February 18th, 2025 and closes February 28, 2025. Open nominations for testing can be made by parents, guardians, teachers, staff, and community members. Nomination forms will be in the front office.

Join us for an exciting STEM Family Engagement Night on Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 PM!

Event Highlights: 🎭 Mad Science Presentation – A thrilling live demonstration of the wonders of science! 📚 Student Gifts – Each student will receive a book and a STEM activity to take home. 🔬 Interactive Science Stations – Hands-on learning fun for the whole family! Important Details:

Registration: Attendance is free, but registration is required. Use the provided link to sign up. Dinner Option: When registering, please indicate if you would like a beef hot dog dinner to be provided. We can't wait to see you there for a night filled with learning, discovery, and fun!

King's Fork High School is looking to introduce more young athletes to the wrestling and believe this could be a great opportunity for students who may be interested. Please see the flier below.

Important Hillpoint Clinic Reminders:

If your child is sick or has a fever, stay home. Continue to do daily temperature and symptom checks at home before coming to school. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact Nurse Connolly at 757-923-5252

• Please keep your child's emergency card up to date. If your child gets sick or injured at school, these cards are our means of contacting you without delay. Please make prompt arrangements to pick up your child when the school notifies you that your child is ill. Pick up should be in less than one hour.
• Any medication to be administered to a student must be brought to the school by the parent/guardian in the original container. Please do not send medication with your child. The “Request for Administration of Medication In Hampton Roads Schools” form must be completed and signed by the parent and physician for any medicine to be administered during school hours.

Hand Hygiene Reminders

Proper hand washing and sanitizing is the number one way to prevent the spread of germs at home, at school or work, while navigating your everyday activities, and when receiving health care. Good hand hygiene prevents diarrhea, strep throat, the flu, and many other illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses. Wash frequently. Handwashing will ensure health and wellness for yourself and those around you.

Here’s a quick resource to add to your parenting toolbox! Check out the full article through the link below.

For Preschoolers (Ages 3-4):

• Teach about seasons: Use natural changes like leaves turning colors to help children grasp the idea of time.
• Create picture schedules: Use visual cues (e.g., an apple for snack, a book for story time) to help kids understand their day’s order.
• Encourage waiting: Practice delaying gratification (e.g., waiting for a special event) to build patience and understanding of time.

For Grades K-2:

• Organize school supplies: Help kids keep their workspace tidy, and create clear routines for schoolwork and homework.
• Use visual timers: Use timers to show how much time is left for tasks, helping kids pace themselves.
• Set clear consequences: Teach kids that completing tasks results in rewards (e.g., "Choice Time"), and missing deadlines has consequences (e.g., no choice time).

For Grades 3-5:

• Teach time estimation: Have kids plan their after-school schedule, and reflect on how their time was spent to improve future planning.
• Break long-term projects into steps: Help kids break big tasks (e.g., a book report) into smaller, manageable pieces.
• Set priorities: Use a "rock, pebble, water" analogy to teach kids to prioritize important tasks (rocks) over less essential ones (pebbles and water).

By teaching these time management skills early, children develop habits that set them up for success in school and beyond!

🛑 Please do not move any parking lot cones or drive-through an area where a cone was moved.

🛑 Prior to 9:24 please do not let students out of your vehicle to walk across the parking lot independently. You’re expected to wait in line and drop students at the curb.

🛑 Starting at 9:24 parents should plan to park and walk their student to the door to sign a tardy slip beginning at 9:25.

Students exiting the car should do so on the passenger side, not the driver side.

Students should also be able to open their own door, however, if they're unable, please turn on your flashers and we will know to come assist.

🛑 Anyone needing to go to the office or the nurse's office before 9:25 is required to park in the parking lot.

🛑 No one should be parking along the drop off area.

We want to share some important reminders about school hours, traffic safety, and dismissal procedures to ensure everything runs smoothly for our students, staff, and families.

Student Arrival & Attendance:

• Arrival: School doors open at 9:00 a.m. Students should not arrive before this time, including waiting by the main entrance. The instructional day begins at 9:25 a.m. Students arriving after 9:25 will be considered tardy.
• Attendance: We understand that doctor’s appointments and other commitments may require students to miss school. We ask that, whenever possible, appointments are scheduled with our school hours in mind to minimize disruptions to learning.

School Hours:

• Office Staff: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Teachers: 8:50 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.
• Students: 9:25 a.m. – 3:50 p.m.
  • Drop-off begins at 9:00 a.m.
  • Early Release: 1:15 p.m.
  • Dismissal: 3:50 p.m. (PikMyKid, walkers, and bus riders)

Parking Lot & Traffic Safety:

• Parking: For the safety of everyone, please follow all traffic rules and parking directives. Park in designated spaces and avoid parking along the sidewalk.
• Bus Parking Lot: Parents are not allowed to enter the bus parking lot during the school day. When using the parking lot for drop-off or dismissal, please enter and exit by making a right turn only.

Walker Dismissal:

• Parents wishing to have their child walk home must complete the SPS Notice of Disclaimer form and receive approval each year. Students in Early Start, Kindergarten, or those who do not live in the immediate Hillpoint Farms neighborhood will not be approved for walker dismissal.

Dismissal Changes:

• Requests to change your child’s dismissal method must be submitted in writing. Phone requests will not be accepted.
  • A signed parent note sent with the student or an email to the office staff and classroom teacher is required.
  • The email must include a picture of the front and back of the parent/guardian ID and be sent by 12:00 p.m. to ensure we can accommodate the change.
  Office Staff Contacts:
  • Administrative Assistant: Jaime Sanders – jaimesanders@spsk12.net
  • Bookkeeper: Susan Pendleton – susanpendleton@spsk12.net

Consistent and punctual attendance is essential for your child's academic success. Regular school attendance helps ensure that students can fully participate in learning and achieve their best. Excessive absences can significantly hinder progress.

If your child is absent, written documentation from a parent or guardian must be submitted to the teacher on the day the student returns or within five (5) school days after the absence. This documentation is required to excuse the absence.

Please be aware that school board policy states that elementary students who miss more than 20 unexcused days in a school year may be retained in their current grade.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and your support in ensuring your child's success.

We believe in fostering strong communication between home and school to support your child's success. We encourage you to maintain an open line of communication with your child’s teacher. However, please be mindful that during instructional time, it may be difficult for teachers to speak directly with you. We recommend scheduling a convenient time to contact the teacher, or you can always reach out via email.

If you need immediate assistance and it’s urgent, please contact the main office. Our front office staff will help direct your call to the appropriate person. While administrators are available to address concerns, we encourage you to first discuss any issues with the classroom teacher. In cases that require immediate attention, administrators will make every effort to meet with parents as soon as possible.

We strive to respond to parent emails and phone calls within 48 business hours.

We’re excited to share more about our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative. PBIS is a research-based approach that helps improve student behavior and academic success. It focuses on teaching positive behavior, reducing disruptions, and creating a better school culture for everyone.

PBIS isn’t a one-size-fits-all program, but rather a framework of proven strategies that help us support students in making positive choices. It focuses on setting clear behavior expectations and teaching students the right way to behave, which reduces time lost to office referrals and suspensions.

At Hillpoint, we emphasize our PBIS motto: "Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible." Students and staff follow a behavior matrix that outlines expectations for each day.

We ask that you support your child in following these behaviors at home, too. Please take a moment to review the HES Behavior Matrix together. We look forward to celebrating positive behavior with your child throughout the year!

Thank you for your continued support.

Join the HES PTA today! Joining the PTA helps to build a stronger Hillpoint Elementary community! Support us today!

Click the link below to join!

$6 for staff

$10 for families

Each day, 5 time slots are available for families in each grade level to join your child for lunch. Please see the details below, and click the attachment below with more details.

Sign up by clicking the link below:

• You must sign up to have lunch with your student
• You must bring your own lunch--lunch will only be provided for students
• Two adults allowed for one time slot--please sign up for one slot at a time
• You must adhere to scheduled times
• 5 slots available for grade level

Please contact your child's teacher for specific lunch times.

At Suffolk Public Schools, ensuring the safety of our students and staff is a top priority. As part of this commitment, we conduct regular safety, intruder, and lockdown drills, including monthly fire drills and random metal detector searches, to monitor what is being brought into the school and to prepare for any emergency situations.

Additionally, we ask for your support in ensuring that your child comes to school with only the necessary items in their book bag and lunchbox. Please remind your child not to bring toys or other non-essential items unless instructed by their teacher.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe learning environment!

On July 9, 2024, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 to establish cell phone-

free education to promote the health and safety of Virginia's K-12 students. Executive Order 33 is focused on eliminating cell phone use during instructional time and addressing the mental health issues arising from children's social media and cell phone addiction, such as increased anxiety and depression. As a result of this Executive Order, Suffolk Public Schools will be cell-phone free from “bell to bell” beginning January 6, 2025.

The use of cell phones, including but not limited to making calls, sending text messages, browsing the internet, and accessing applications, is strictly prohibited within classrooms and during the school day. Students should turn off and stow their cell phones before entering the building. With input from educators, parents, and legal guidelines, our SPS Cell Phone Policy ensures a balanced approach to technology use within our classrooms and school grounds.

🟢 The link to the full policy is below. Families, please ensure your child follows the cell phone policy, which is in line with both state and SPS guidelines.

We are committed to ensuring our students’ safety both at school and on the bus. To help with this, we partner closely with the Transportation Department and need your support to ensure students are safe, on time, and follow the expected behavior while riding the bus.

Bus Safety Expectations:

• Be on time at the bus stop.
• Remain seated at all times and keep the aisle clear.
• Keep the bus clean – food and drinks are not allowed.
• Respect others – use kind, respectful language and keep hands and feet to yourself.
• Follow the student code of conduct

Buses:

• Riding the bus is a privilege and can be revoked for inappropriate behavior. If this occurs, parents will need to provide transportation for their child.
• Bus Departures: Buses depart at 3:50 p.m. Students must ride their assigned bus unless a written notice is provided by 12:00 p.m. Bus changes cannot be made over the phone.

If your child misses their bus, you cannot drive them to a different bus stop. For example, if your child rides Route 3 and misses the bus, they cannot be taken to a stop for Route 8. However, the bus driver may allow your child to board at a stop on the same route.

If you have concerns about bus service, please bring them to the bus driver or the school administrative team. For some issues, you may need to contact the Transportation Department directly. Here’s how:

Transportation Department Contact Information:

• Phone: (757) 925-5573
• Options Available:
  • Option 1 - Dispatch
  • Option 2 - Routing
  • Option 3 - Safety and Training
  • Option 4 - Accounting
  • Option 5 - All Other Calls

Transportation Supervisor: Jessica Allen (Southern Supervisor) supports our school. If unavailable, you can leave a message at their direct extension.

For additional information, we’ve also included a link to the Transportation FAQs for your reference.

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and respectful experience for all students!