January Edition

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for a successful start to the new year. Here are some important updates and events happening this month.

Upcoming Events:

• January 8th: Report Cards
  

• January 9th: Math Night 5:30- K, 2nd, and 4th and 6:15-1st, 3rd, and 5th

• January 20th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School

• January 23rd: 4-8 PM PTA Spirit Night at Texas Road House and Internet Safety Presentation at Bowen's Corner Elementary 6:00 PM

Important Reminders:

• Winter Weather: Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the cold weather. Layers are recommended. Be sure to put your child's name in each item.

• Attendance Matters: Regular attendance is crucial for student success. If your child is going to be absent, please inform the school as soon as possible.

• Healthy Habits: Please remind your children about the importance of handwashing and covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Stay Connected:

Don’t forget to check our school website and follow us on social media for the latest updates and announcements. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. We look forward to a fantastic January!

We have received an update on the chameleon structure from Mr. Doster! As you can see from the picture the head is starting to take shape. We are so excited to see this piece of art work start to come to life.

This year, we are excited to announce that the students at Howe Hall AIMS will have an extra P. E. class once a week. During these classes, students will participate in team sports and running or walking laps with the goal being to have run 26 miles prior to January 25, 2025. Now you may be wondering, “What is so special about January 25, 2025?” It is the date of the Charleston Youth Marathon! Our goal is to have all students at HHA run/walk enough laps during their extra P.E. classes that they would each have gone a total of 26 miles by the time January 25 rolls around. Then they will only need to run the final two tenths of a mile in order to have completed an entire marathon, which is 26.2 miles. The teachers in charge of the P.E. class will be recording each student’s mileage while at school. We encourage all of our parents to register their children now for the Charleston Youth Marathon using the link listed below. Go to the orange box that says, “Register Today”. Under the categories tab, click Youth Marathon. The event is free and children who register will receive a free t-shirt and finisher medal. This goal of running/walking 26 miles is a great opportunity to begin to create a healthy lifestyle of physical activity in our children.

On Friday, Dec. 6, Ms. Sanders and Ms. Liebenow's 4th graders used Makey Makey, celery, and their bodies to create electrical circuits and play musical notes. Students applied their knowledge of conductive matter, grounding, and closed circuits to play assigned notes on the celery like a piano keyboard while singing The Preamble to The Constitution! The room was full of experimentation, trial and error, wonder, laughter, and learning.

On Friday, December 6th, the Chameleon Choraleers performed at the Hanahan Tree Lighting ceremony. It was a cold evening, but that didn’t stop their nice, singing voices. The Choraleers sang two songs and played two different kinds of bells to accompany themselves. They looked and sounded great!

Our 4th-grade students recently participated in our first-ever Wax Museum! Students had to choose a famous person to research. They then generated thoughtful questions to ask their chosen figure and wrote and memorized a monologue based on their findings. To bring their characters to life, students dressed up in costumes and created a Wax Museum in our classroom. Each student stood frozen until an audience member pressed a button to activate their presentation.

The Wax Museum was a fantastic showcase, featuring athletes, inventors, artists, war heroes, and musicians. It was wonderful to see the students engage with history and develop their research and presentation skills in such a creative way.

We kindly ask that students refrain from bringing electronics or toys to school. These items can be distracting and disrupt the learning environment. Additionally, for the safety of all students, we remind families that any item resembling a weapon, including toys, is not permitted on school grounds. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and focused on learning!

Dear Parents,

As we strive to help our students develop essential life skills, we ask for your support in teaching them the importance of perseverance and stamina. These qualities not only enhance academic success but also foster resilience in all areas of life. You can help by encouraging goal-setting and celebrating your child's progress, modeling resilience through your own experiences, promoting a growth mindset by reminding them that mistakes are learning opportunities, and practicing patience by engaging in activities that require sustained effort, such as reading a book together or completing a challenging puzzle. Together, we can nurture these valuable traits in our students, helping them to face challenges with confidence and determination. Thank you for your partnership in this important endeavor!

Sincerely,

Ms. Knight

As a part of HHA's College and Career Ready plans we would love to build a database of the careers/occupations represented by our families. Please complete the Google form linked below for Ms. Knight, our School Counselor. She would like to schedule career visits and opportunities for students to explore South Carolina's 16 career clusters throughout the year.

If you have a family member or friend with an exciting career/occupation (especially anything arts-related) we would love to have that information as well. Please email Ms. Knight at knightb@bcsdschools.net and share their contact information.

Happy New Year and welcome to a year filled with successful and happy readers! I encourage you to make one of your New Year’s Resolutions something that will enhance and encourage reading in your home. Sit down as a family and write out a resolution together that will help your family make reading a priority in your home in 2025. Here are a few ideas: We resolve to…

1. Visit the county library more frequently.

2. Read aloud a book or a chapter of a book at bedtime.

3. Set aside a fifteen-minute time block for family reading.

4. Read books in the car instead of only watching movies.

Please mark your calendars. I will be holding some reading information sessions for parents on the following dates:

- Thursday, January 9 at 5:00 P.M. right before the HHA Math Night

- Friday, February 7 at 8:00 AM

- Friday, March 14 at 10:30 AM

- Thursday, March 27 at 5:00 PM before STEAM Night at HHA

I would love to have you attend any or all of these sessions in order to gain helpful ideas on how you can help your child with reading skills at home. Happy reading!

Third graders explored different watercolor techniques such as glaze, wash, resist, salt reaction, etc.

Fourth graders explored different clay techniques, pinch pot, slab, slip, score, glaze, etc. to create owl figurines and picture frames.

Fifth graders explored different materials and techniques that can be used to weave, including paper weaving, basket weaving, and weaving with yarn to make textile art.

Art Chameleons have been busy creating artwork for several local, national, and international art contests. We had a schoolwide contest for the cover of this year’s yearbook (Congratulations to Evelyn O. in 5th Grade). They have entries into the Home Telecom elementary art contest and the Charleston Youth Marathon T-shirt Design contest. The students are also currently working on entries for the SEWE poster contest, the Palmetto Pride art contest, the 2025 FAI International Aviation art contest. Additionally, they designed and collectively painted a giant Holiday card for the Celebrate the Season Festival of lights in Moncks corner. We’ve been busy!

Students need to wear tennis shoes every Monday as well as their regular PE day. We have been seeing a lot of slides, flip flops, and crocs. All of these can be dangerous to walk/run or play games on their PE day.

We had a great first semester in library exploratory classes!!

In today's digital age, it is essential for parents to supervise their children's online activities. The internet offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for learning, but it also comes with risks. By staying engaged with what your child is doing online, you can ensure their safety and well-being.

Here are a few tips for effective supervision:

• Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules about when and how long your child can use the internet.
• Use Parental Controls: Consider utilizing parental control software to monitor and restrict access to inappropriate content.
• Talk About Online Safety: Discuss the importance of privacy and the potential dangers of sharing personal information online.
• Encourage Open Communication: Let your child know they can come to you with any questions or concerns about their online experiences.
• Periodically Check In: Take time to periodically check what your child is doing online. This can include reviewing their browser history or having them show you the websites and apps they are using.

Your involvement plays a vital role in helping your child navigate the digital world safely. Together, we can foster a secure online environment for our students.

In December, your child took the Winter i-Ready Diagnostic. This assessment helps us monitor your child’s progress in reading and math. On January 8, you will receive a growth report comparing the fall scores and the winter scores.

How can parents help?

Teachers recognize that many students struggle with stamina. Reading stamina is critical to developing reading comprehension and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Stamina is simply the attention and effort required to continue doing something. Any sort of prolonged task requires stamina, including reading. Maintaining reading stamina is becoming increasingly difficult today, and not just for struggling readers.

Ways Parents Can Help Increase Their Child's Reading Stamina at Home

1. Set a Regular Reading Time: Establish a daily routine where reading is a prioritized activity. Consistency helps build habits.

2. Create a Comfortable Reading Environment: Designate a quiet, cozy space with good lighting and minimal distractions where your child can focus on reading.

3. Provide Access to a Variety of Books: Encourage your child to explore different genres and topics. This keeps their interest piqued and allows them to discover what they enjoy most.

4. Encourage Gradual Increases in Reading Time: Start with short reading sessions and gradually increase the duration. For instance, begin with 10-15 minutes and add a few minutes each week.

5. Model Reading Behavior: Show your child that you value reading by setting aside time for your own reading. Discuss what you're reading to spark their interest.

6. Engage in Discussions About Books: After reading, ask open-ended questions about the story and characters. This encourages deeper thinking and comprehension.

7. Use Incentives: Consider setting up a rewards system for reaching reading goals, like completing a certain number of books or reading for a specific time.

8. Participate in Reading Activities Together: Join your child in reading-related activities such as visiting the library, attending book fairs, or participating in reading challenges.

9. Be Patient and Supportive: Celebrate progress, no matter how small. Encourage your child and provide support if they find certain books challenging.

By implementing these strategies, parents can effectively help their children build their reading stamina over time.

Michelle Power, M.Ed.

Instructional Coach

Howe Hall AIMS

Important Reminder for Parents and Guardians

We want to ensure the health and well-being of all our students. If your child experiences a medical or hygiene issue while in your care, we kindly ask that you do not send them to school on their own for assistance from our Nurse or teachers. Please note that our school does not have shower facilities, and we may not always have clothing available that fits your child's specific needs. For instance, if your child becomes carsick on the way to school and needs a change of clothes or cleaning up, please accompany them into the school through the front office. Our staff will be happy to assist you in accessing a bathroom for this purpose.

If you are ever unsure whether your child is well enough to attend school after a medical or hygiene issue, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to help! Additionally, you can find guidance on school attendance and health recommendations from the SC Department of Public Health (formerly SC-DHEC) at this link: SC Department of Public Health School Exclusion.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community healthy and for helping us maintain a comfortable environment for all students!

Clothing Donations Needed!

As you clean out your children’s closets and drawers during the holiday break, we kindly ask you to consider donating any shorts or pants that your child has outgrown. We collect clothing donations to have on hand for students who may become sick or soil their clothing while at school, allowing them to change into something clean while they wait for someone to pick them up.

Currently, we have plenty of shirts and tops, but we are specifically in need of bottoms in boys and girls sizes 5-10. Your generosity will greatly help our students in need!

Thank you for your support and kindness!

Amber Foiles, BSN, RN

Howe Hall AIMS

115 Howe Hall Road

Goose Creek, SC 29445

(843)820-3899

foilesa@bcsdschools.net

If your child needs to pay for lunch, please send the money with the student or add it through My School Bucks https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain.action?clientKey=&requestAction=home. Contact the school if you need assistance. For information about Free and Reduced Lunch Applications please go to https://berkeleynutrition.net/?page=lunchapps.

Happy New Year HHA Families! I hope you had a wonderful holiday break. We are so excited to jump back into all things PTA with our students, staff and families. It was awesome to have so many parents volunteer for our two Duty Free Lunches and Helping Hands this past month. A very special thank you to our Room Parents who helped coordinate all of our classroom holiday parties. We know all of our children enjoyed every minute of it! We are so thankful for everything this school community does. Our students also went all out for our Lowcountry Food Bank drive. Together, they donated 1,237 items to help our Lowcountry families in need! Ms. Lawhon’s class won our friendly classroom contest with 140 donated items. As promised, they got to silly string Ms. Henson. Thank you

Ms. Henson for being such a great sport! We are looking forward to another great year with our Chameleons! We can’t wait to see all of you at our next Spirit Night at Texas Roadhouse on January 23rd!

Sincerely,

Tina Wright, HHA PTA President

Come learn how to support your student with grade level math.

We would like to kindly remind you that students are not permitted to bring weapons or toys that resemble weapons to school, even if they are for show and tell or part of a costume for our dress up days. This includes items such as toy guns, swords, water guns, or any other objects that may be perceived as weapons. Our priority is to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all students, and we appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Additionally, please note that plastic knives, regardless of their intended use, should not be included in lunch boxes. We encourage parents to opt for safe and appropriate utensils for their child's meals.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a secure and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone!

In June 2024, the South Carolina Legislature passed Proviso 1.103 in the state budget, requiring school districts to adopt policies that ban student use of personal electronic devices during the school day. The goal is to foster a more focused learning environment and help students develop critical skills. In response, the South Carolina State Board of Education enacted a policy to ban cell phones and other personal devices in public schools, effective January 2025.

To comply with this mandate, the Berkeley County Board of Education adopted Policy JICDB – Student Access to Cell Phones and Personal Electronic Devices on December 2, 2024. This policy aligns with the state board's model policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day.

The Berkeley County School District administration will present an administrative rule to supplement Policy JICDB in January 2025. This rule will outline procedures, compliance expectations, and consequences for violations.

More information from the SC Department of Education available here: https://ed.sc.gov/initiatives/free-to-focus/

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) and Fast Facts: https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/bcsd/page/phone