HIDDEN SPRINGS ELEMENTARY

October 11th NO SCHOOL End of 1st quarter

October 14th Picture Day

October 16th Evening Parent Teacher Conferences

October 17th All day Parent Teacher Conferences

October 17th & 18th NO SCHOOL

October 31st Happy Halloween--Harvest Day Parties

November 5th No School Election Day

Dear Hidden Springs Elementary Parents/Guardians,

Can you believe October is already here and with that comes the end of the first quarter of school on October 11th, 2024 (no school for K-6 students). Parent/Teacher conferences will be the following week on Wednesday Oct 16th in the evening and on Thursday, October 17th all day. Teachers will be reaching out to you in the coming weeks to schedule your conference(s) for your child(ren). Teachers will be offering either an in-person conference here at school or a virtual conference if that works better for your schedules. Please let your child's teacher know if you have any other questions as Parent/Teacher conferences get closer.​

This is a reminder to be vigilant in your households on internet, social media, and gaming safety, etc. As kids become more used to interacting with others through their devices it becomes more difficult to keep track of what or where they are searching and also difficult to keep track of who they are interacting with. Online gaming safety is particularly important to monitor as more kids are playing remotely instead of with someone in their house.

The Board approved a revision to the 2024-2025 school year calendar. Tuesday, November 5, 2024, will now be a non-school day for students, allowing many school campuses to serve as polling locations for the upcoming General Election. With a high voter turnout expected for the presidential election, this change will help ensure a safe environment for both voters and students while assisting Ada County Elections in managing the polling process.

While students in grades Pre-K through 12 will not have school on November 5. Regular school schedules will resume on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

The Boise School District remains committed to fostering a safe and secure educational environment for all students and staff. For more information about safety measures or the school calendar, please visit our website at www.boiseschools.org.

Dear Boise School District Parents/Guardians & Staff:

We recently sent you a communication promising to provide resources on how to discuss school safety and social media with your children (students). As educators, parents, and caregivers, these conversations can be challenging, especially when rumors and misinformation create additional confusion. Honest, age-appropriate conversations about school threats can help us better understand how our children feel and reassure their sense of safety.

While schools remain among the safest places for students, our leaders and staff take safety concerns seriously. Any report of a threat is thoroughly investigated to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community.

If you're looking for ways to start a conversation with your child (student), here are some ideas:

Starting the Conversation:
Ask open-ended questions without unnecessary details:

• "I heard some kids were worried about safety at school. Have you or your friends been worried?"

• "How did it feel to be at school today?"

Responding to Worry:
Reassure them with facts about safety protocols:

• "There’s a team of experts who work with the police to investigate threats. They’re careful to separate rumors from real dangers."

• "Your school has done everything possible to make sure you’ll be safe today."

Responding to Rumors:
Help them understand the importance of verifying information:

• "The things you’ve heard sound scary. Let’s report it and wait for the facts."

• "We shouldn’t spread rumors online because they confuse people. The police or the school will give us accurate information."

To learn more, here are several helpful resources about talking to your student and social media:

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators

• How to Talk to Your Children About a School Threat

• Infographic - Talking to Kids about Violence

• Communicating Online Tip Sheet

• Common Sense Media: Website with information about Snapchat, Discord, Dark Web, etc.

Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.

Boise School District Administration

Happy fall parents! It's wonderful to be back in the swing of things. I wanted to let you know that I talked to all of the students in my opening lesson about the importance of coming to school regularly. I think we can all agree that the past few years have been tough for adults and children alike. Many kids have missed more school than usual. According to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics, chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools rose from about 13% pre-COVID to over 30% in the 2021-2022 school year and I believe it’s important to talk about why this happens and how we can help.

For me, it boils down to a few reasons: normal sickness, travel, and school avoidance. I assured all children that I know they aren’t the travel agents for their family so don’t worry about that piece. We talked about reasons to stay home when you’re sick like fevers, vomiting, and diarrhea but that it’s ok to come if you have a sniffle or are getting over your cold. The messaging was mixed for so many years with changing guidelines but things are back to mostly normal now. Travel is a personal family choice and I’m not going to address that one, but school avoidance is something I can help with. If your child is worried about something at school or with their peers, please reach out to me or their teacher so we can support them and make school accessible!

It’s important for everyone to work together—parents, teachers, and students—to help kids get back to school and feel good about learning. Please reach out with any questions or ideas about attendance. Here are some ideas to help support your family.

PFA Support Opportunities

Help Support students

• PFA Membership Donation $20

• Yearbook $25 each

• General Donation
  

Payment Options

• Cash and Checks made out to HSES PFA may be dropped at the school office.

• Venmo – @HSESPFA24-25 (please include student name and brief payment description)

Current Volunteer Opportunities

• Art Parent

• Walking Club

• Giving Back Drives
  

• Other_____________________________
  

Show Your Cougar Pride

Every Friday students that wear their HSES Spirit Wear have an opportunity to earn tickets for a monthly prize drawing.

Stay Connected

Email - pfa.hses@gmail.com

Website - https://hiddenspringselementarypfa.wordpress.com

Facebook - Hidden Springs Elementary School PFA

Instagram - @hses_pfa

Art Program - Jennie Hurley - jhurley73@yahoo.com

Student Enrichment and STEM - Mary Rose Standlee - maryrose749@gmail.com

Our NEXT exciting sports-related fundraiser is a BIG one. How about enjoying a 10AM Friday Boise State Broncos football game as they take on Oregon State University?? On November 29, you can make it happen! All seats are located in section 11 and $5 from each ticket sold goes directly back to our school. How awesome is that?!?! Click the link below and get your tickets now!

(These tickets are available to all HS and CR residents, you do not have to have a student at HSES to attend the game.)

https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/HiddenspringsPFA