Husky Herald

Here we are in the last 2 months of school! Young and old are excited as we prepare for Field Day, state testing, and the many other end of year events. Please keep watch on Remind and Facebook for additional communication concerning these events.

Don't forget that students will be out of school April 21-25 for Spring Break. Students will enjoy a full week of rest and relaxation before coming back on Monday the 28th ready to learn. We are looking forward to finishing the school year HUSKY STRONG!

All third and fourth grade students are required by state law to take SCREADY during the last 20 days of the school year. Hunter Street will be testing on these dates:

May 6 - Reading part 1 (Grades 3 & 4)

It is so VERY important that students are present each of these days in order to participate in the testing sessions with their classes. It is particularly important for 3rd grade students due to the mandatory retention section of the Read to Succeed Act:

The Read to Succeed Act

The Read to Succeed Act ensures that all students gain the reading skills necessary for college, career, or military readiness. The law requires that third-grade students who do not demonstrate reading proficiency—scoring Does Not Meet Expectations on the SC Ready reading assessment—be retained for additional support.

You can help us most by making sure your students - both 3rd and 4th graders - are present each day and get plenty of sleep the night before. We need students at their very best!

I just wanted to give you a heads up that on Friday, May 2, all of our "graduates" (Montessori, 5K, and 4th grade) will have the opportunity for a graduation photograph and a hat for the ceremony. Watch for an informational flyer to come home with your student soon!

I am sure that some of you are already planning for end of year events, and sometimes that means asking for time off work. Here are the big dates for the end of the year. Hope to see you there!

Thursday, May 22

Montessori Bridge Ceremony 8:30 am

Preschool Awards (Lawton, Root) 10:00 am

Friday, May 23

Kindergarten Graduation 8:30 am

First Grade Awards 10:00 am

Tuesday, May 27

Second Grade Awards 8:30 am

Third Grade Awards 10:00 am

Wednesday, May 28

Fourth Grade Graduation 8:30 am

Third grade is a critical year for our students as they transition from learning to read to reading to learn. We are committed to supporting your child’s reading development and helping them succeed. Below are key details about the Read to Succeed Act and how it impacts third-grade reading expectations.

Why Third Grade Reading Matters
Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is essential for your child’s academic success. At this stage, students use reading skills to learn other subjects like math, science, and social studies. Developing fluency and comprehension now lays the foundation for future learning and success.

The Read to Succeed Act
The Read to Succeed Act ensures that all students gain the reading skills necessary for college, career, or military readiness. The law requires that third-grade students who do not demonstrate reading proficiency—scoring Does Not Meet Expectations on the SC Ready reading assessment—be retained for additional support.

Good Cause Exemptions
Students who qualify for specific Good Cause Exemptions may still be promoted to fourth grade. These exemptions include:

• Limited English proficiency (fewer than two years of English instruction).
• Disabilities requiring alternative assessments or interventions (as outlined in their IEP).
• Receiving reading interventions for two years and previously being retained.
• Demonstrating reading proficiency on an approved alternative assessment.

Please contact your school if you believe your child may qualify for an exemption.

Summer Reading Camp (SRC)
Students who do not meet the required reading level by the end of third grade will be invited to attend Summer Reading Camp. This program offers intensive, small-group instruction to help students strengthen their reading skills. Successful completion of the camp could lead to promotion to fourth grade.

How We Support Your Child
We are committed to helping every student become a confident, independent reader through:

• Additional instructional time focused on literacy.
• Small-group and individualized reading interventions.
• Specialized teacher training provided by literacy coaches.

We also monitor progress regularly and communicate results to keep you informed.

How You Can Help at Home
Your involvement is key to your child’s reading success. Here’s how you can help:

• Read Together Daily: Encourage your child to read aloud and ask questions like, “What happened in the story?” or “Why do you think that happened?”
• Communicate with Teachers: Stay in touch with your child’s teacher about their progress.
• Use School Resources: We’re here to provide tools and materials to support your child’s reading journey at home.

By working together, we can make this year a success for your child. If you have questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.

Thank you for partnering with us to make third grade a year of growth and learning!

April might be one of the year’s best reading months: With spring comes a mix of mild sunny days and cloudy rainy ones that seem suited to match any bookish mood. It’s also National Humor Month and National Poetry Month, which makes it the perfect time of year to dive into funny stories and all kinds of verse (or, funny verse, a magnificent two-fer)!

Here are 10 challenges for kids of all ages to enjoy this month:

Congratulations to this month's Hunter's Heroes! In February, students were challenged to demonstrate ways in which Huskies are Trustworthy. Each child was rewarded with a book from our vending machine! We are very proud of our Little Huskies!!

The word for April will be Responsible. We can't wait to see how our boys and girls meet this challenge as they live the Husky Way!

September is Attendance Awareness Month, a nationwide recognition of the connection between regular school attendance and academic achievement. Did you know that starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, regular attendance is essential for students gaining the academic and social skills they need to thrive? Research shows that when students are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year or 18 days over an entire school year), they are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, achieve in middle school, and graduate from high school.

Let's take a look at what happens when students miss one day of school at Hunter Street:

• Socially: They are truly missed! Staff and fellow classmates notice when your child is not at school. We take a personal interest in the well-being of our students. We want them here so that they can learn the social skills, along with the academic skills, that lead to productive lives. Practicing those skills begins early.
• Academically: In the typical school day, a student receives between 90 and 120 minutes of language arts instruction, 60-75 minutes of math instruction, and 30-45 minutes of science and social studies instruction. Students miss out on discussion, collaboration with peers, and assistance from their teacher; all of which are so crucial for a deep understanding and application of skills. When they come back the next day, they have a gap in their learning and are not ready to move to the next step with their classmates.

Is there a time you should keep your child at home? Absolutely! When your child is sick, we certainly do not expect him/her to come to school. To read more about when you should keep your child at home, take a look at page 17 of Hunter Street's Parent Handbook. We also have a full-time nurse on staff. She will be able to help you if you have questions.

Your child will be the most successful when we work together. Please help us by insuring your child attends school regularly, and we will deliver the best possible instruction while he/she is here! Three things to keep in mind:

• Even if the absence is "excused," your child still missed the instruction.
• Even if the absence is "excused," the days count toward "chronic absenteeism".
• Chronic absenteeism is tracked by the state.

Chronic absenteeism is legally defined as "any students who misses 50% or more of the instructional day for any reason for 10% of the enrollment period." For elementary students, that equates to being absent for 18 days - whether excused or not - during the school year. Again, all absence types contribute to this number - excused, unexcused, suspensions, tardy arrivals, and early dismissals.

Another consideration with absences is whether they meet the threshold of truancy, which then becomes a legal matter. Truancy is defined as "a student between the ages of 6-17 who has accumulated 3 consecutive or a total of 5 or more unexcused/unlawful absences during the academic year. Continued unexcused absences after the truancy intervention process begins may result in referral to family court and/or the involvement of the Department of Social Services."

We understand that circumstances at times can be challenging. If you are in need of some assistance, please reach out. It is our desire to work with you and help you if you are in need. We have access to resources that may be able to provide support for you and your family.

Bottom line: We want and need your child at school each and every day!

When your child must be absent, you have a maximum of 3 days to send an excuse. Excuses may be sent to the teacher, or you may click the button below for our convenient online form. Please note that per YSD 1 policy, excuses will no longer be accepted after the 3-days.

Mrs. Ryerson’s class engages in academic groups each day in order to work on math, reading, and writing skills. In math, activities include sorting and naming colors and shapes, pairing the number of objects to the correspond number, and solving addition problems. In reading, students participate in read-alouds using our Read it Once Again curriculum; learning the parts of a book, how to follow along, and “read” the repeating phrases in the stories. Students complete hands-on activities teaching letter and letter sounds, worksheets, and booklets. In handwriting, students engage in a curriculum called Handwriting Without Tears; building the letter of the week with wooden sticks, playdough, and complete a worksheet of the letter. Students work on writing their name (tracing, copying, or independent) and cutting (squares, circles, triangles, or stars). Additionally, some students use bingo dotters and put ins to develop their fine motor skills. Each activity is assigned based on the student’s needs and the groups can appear very different each time.

Lawton/Lemmons 4k Class has enjoyed seeing Signs of Spring! Our class read the book In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer and learned how the month of March can be a mix of Winter and Spring weather. Students voted on if they thought March would come in like a lion or lamb and created a lion or lamb craft to match their prediction and wrote about it. Then, we added a lion face or a lamb face to our calendar each day depending on the weather. We found that March has had many more lamb, Spring days this year. Our students created binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and took a nature walk to look for signs of Spring. Students found flowers, new grass, insects, and lots of pollen on our walk. We spread bird seed during our walk and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Students also had their parents send in photos of them finding signs of Spring at home. We are excited about the fun and learning we can have outside now that it is Spring!

In spring, living things seem to breathe new life! Montessori is excited to experience nature’s growth through gardening, planting flowers, and incubating baby duckling eggs! There is something special about the peace and excitement this time of year brings. Stay tuned as we share with you the result of our works!

This month our Kindergartners explored nature through their senses by engaging in hands-on experiences- shell investigations, acrylic encapsulated insects, weather research writing, just to name a few! Through our readings and investigations, they were able to make rich discoveries, ask questions and make connections to the world around them!

This month, the Fabulous First Graders at Hunter Street Elementary School enhanced their collaboration skills through Reader's Theater projects. They identified and explained figurative language, including alliteration, onomatopoeia, descriptive phrases, and imagery. Additionally, they practiced retelling texts both orally and in writing, focusing on key story elements in literary texts and central ideas with supporting details in informational texts.

In second grade we have been practicing telling time. We have learned to tell time to the nearest 5 minutes. We have learned some new vocabulary such as “quarter after, have past, and quarter to” when telling time. We are also learning to determine whether a time should be labeled as am or pm when given a specific event.

Tons of excitement in 3rd grade! We have enjoyed observing our caterpillars every day. We have been learning all about the paint lady butterfly life cycle and are currently observing stage three of the life cycle: the chrysalis. Our caterpillars have grown from the size of a grain of rice to over two inches long! They ate & ate for days and are now transforming into butterflies inside their chrysalis. Now we will patiently wait for them to transform into beautiful butterflies! 🦋

Fourth graders have been LOVING our animal studies during the month of March! Through various activities, students have learned about internal and external animal structures, animal behaviors and adaptations, and what impacts functions such as growth, survival, and behavior.

*Our classes have applied this knowledge to the creation of their own creatures, built from their imaginations to demonstrate special functions and adaptations.

*We have also researched an animal of our choosing to create our own nonfiction books using the Book Creator App! Students loved sharing their knowledge with classmates through formal presentations.

*Excitement filled the room as we conducted our ‘Bird Beak Experiment’ to learn about the adaptations of various birds in respect to their beaks! As pictured below, students became 4 types of birds and attempted to retrieve various organisms to see which beak types were most successful with specific organisms and which bird was overall best adapted to survive in the pond ecosystem versus which bird would likely struggle the most!

April 8

YSD 1 School Board Meeting 6:30 pm

Boosterthon Fun Run (The Husky Hustle) Kickoff

April 10

School Improvement Council Meeting 2:45 in Room A-8

April 11

PTO Birthday Lunch

April 14

Domino's Pizza Spirit Night

April 17

4th Grade Visits to YIS

April 18

Boosterthon Fun Run (The Husky Hustle)

YCHS Grad Walk

April 21- 25

Spring Break

April 28

Student Transfer Requests - portal opens

April 29

4th Grade Math Competition at YCHS

April 30

Midterms

May 1

Spring Musical - Music Man, Jr. - 6:00 pm

May 2

"Graduation" Pictures (Montessori, 5K, and 4th Grade)

School Lunch Hero Day