We are off to a great start here at Hillcrest Elementary School! It's been amazing to see everyone back in classrooms, engaging in the learning process, and settling into a rhythm for this school year. I want each of you to know I am thankful to be part of this school community and look forward to meeting each of you as we work together throughout the year to make sure all students are learning at high levels.

As we move into September, I just wanted to provide you all with some important information and few updates:

• Arrival: Our start time each morning is 7:45am. Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will be dropped off in the back and 3rd through 5th grade students will be dropped off in the front. If students arrive after 7:45am, they will be marked tardy and you will need to walk them into the office to sign them in for the day.
• Dismissal: We dismiss at 2:45pm. If your child is in K-2nd grade, you will pick up in the back of the building. Third through 5th grade students will be picked up in the front. If you have children in both grade bands, the older child will be picked up with your younger child in the back. If you pick up your child early, we will ask to see your drivers license before allowing you to pick up your child. If your child is a car rider, you must have a car tag. If you do not have one, you will be asked to park and come into the office so we can verify your identity and issue a car tag.
• Attendance: Regular attendance is extremely important and greatly impacts student success. Please make every effort for your child to be at school on time each day and to stay for the duration of the day.
• Fiesta Block Party: We will have a Block Party on October 4th. Please mark your calendars! We hope everyone will join us for a night of fun. If you would like to sponsor this event in some way, please let us know!
• Douglas Cherokee Afterschool Program: We do have spots available for Douglas-Cherokee's afterschool program. If you are interested in this opportunity, please request a packet from your child's teacher or the front office.

We are dedicated to providing every child in this building high-quality instruction every single day and consider it a privilege to be entrusted with this responsibility. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in any way!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lindsey Cochran

Pre-K has been off to a great start! Our littlest cowboys have had the best time getting to know our school and school family. We are so excited to get to know your child better and watch them be successful learners this school year. This month, we will be learning about various nursery rhymes, focusing on letters M and A, identifying numbers 1-5, identifying 2D shapes, counting various quantities of numbers, and exploring our five senses. We will also be discussing our feelings and emotions and how we can work together to regulate those appropriately. Just a reminder that we currently have limited Pre-K spots available. If anyone is interested, please let the school office know by picking up and filling out an application. Your..0 child must be 4 years old by August 15, 2024. Happy September!

In September, we will be focusing on the following skills:

Foundational Skills:

-letter sounds

-letter formation

-segment sounds in words

-segment words in sentences

ELA:

-Characters, setting, main events of a story

-writing (with tracing/sentence starters)

Math:

-numbers to 10

-counting, quantities, numeral formation, ways to show numbers

First grade is working on number patterns in Math. Please work on counting and writing numbers to 120 with your child. To help with number sense, you may count and add everyday objects.

In reading, we are discussing character and setting. Please watch for sight word lists and spelling words to be coming home soon.

This month in reading we are focusing on story elements (characters, setting, and events). Please ensure your child is reading for 20 minutes each night. As you listen to your child read, ask them questions about what they’re reading such as “who is this story about?” or “where did this story take place?"

Our math focus for the month is addition and subtraction strategies. You can help your child with this by practicing their addition and subtraction facts within 20.

Please be sure to check your child’s folder nightly. Spellings words are sent home on Mondays and fluency passages will be sent home to practice throughout the week. Thank you for your help and support with this matter!

General Notes:

Homework is given in third grade and needs to be completed at home. Parents should be listening to their child read and signing off on this each night.

We need the students to be attentive and know their role in the classroom.

ELA:

The text we read in class will address the essential question for Module 5.

Teamwork - “What can sports teach us about working together?”

We will mostly be reading passages and stories that are fiction and some narrative nonfiction. Narrative nonfiction is a text that is told in the form of a story but meant to teach the reader information.

We will be focusing on using text evidence to support our answers and looking at how characters have different points of view.

We are using the SRSD writing curriculum. I encourage parents to look into this if they are curious. We are focusing on opinion writing. Parents can ask their students to tell them about POWer and TREE. These are two strategies they use to organize their opinion essays.

Social Studies:

We have been covering maps, globes, continents, oceans, major countries of the word, and major US cities.

Math:

Review concepts of place value and practice writing numbers in word form and expanded form.

Addition and Subtraction using three digit numbers with and without regrouping.

Begin practicing multiplication and memorizing multiplication facts.

Science:

Animal adaptations - external and internal structures, living in groups to survive

We have had a wonderful start to our year. In ELA we have already covered plays and dramas, as well as text structure. In September, we will focus on author's claims and then poetry. In math, we have been working on adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers and we are moving on to multiplication next. In social studies, we are studying the French and Indian war and moving toward the Revolutionary War, and, in science, we are learning about photosynthesis and then moving to food chains.

Please make sure you check your child's folder each night for any important papers, as well as homework. Also, please make sure your child is reading a book of choice for 15 minutes each night and practicing their multiplication facts.

ELA: We have had a wonderful start to the year! Over the first few weeks, we have focused on establishing procedures, annotating text, and referring back to the text to find evidence to support answers. Our essential standards have been related to central idea and author's purpose. We are also off to a great start with our new writing program. Over the course of this year, we will learn strategies to help improve our writing skills!

Math: We have spent the first few weeks focusing on volume. We have been able to pull in several real life applications for these skills. We have now completed Unit 2 (Volume) and have moved into Unit 3 which focuses on Place Value.

Our class has been working hard during testing, and learning new routines. We are excited to learn new things this year.

What is Bullying?

• Unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.

• Behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time.

• Imbalance of power which may involve use of physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity to control others.

TDOE Bullying & Harassment webpage

Verbal Bullying: Saying or writing mean things

• Includes – teasing, name calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting or threatening to cause harm

Social Bullying: Hurting someone's reputation or relationships

• Includes – telling other children not to be friends with someone, purposely leaving someone out, spreading rumors about someone, or embarrassing someone in public

• Includes - hitting/kicking/pinching, spitting, tripping or pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, and making mean or rude hand gestures

• May include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.

WHAT IS NOT CONSIDERED BULLYING?

There are many types of aggressive behaviors, but they do not all fit the definition of bullying.

Peer Conflict

• It is not considered bullying when individuals with no perceived imbalance of power have an argument, disagreement or fight.

• Examples: not liking someone, single act of telling a joke about someone, accidentally bumping into someone, or incidents of exclusion.

Teasing

• Teasing usually involves two or more friends who act together in a way that seems fun to all the people involved. Often individuals will tease each other equally, but it never involves physical or emotional abuse.

Hazing

• Hazing is the use of embarrassing and often dangerous or illegal activities by a group to initiate new members. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-120, hazing means,

• Any intentional or reckless act in this state, on or off LEA property, by one (1) student acting alone or with others, that is directed against any other student that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student or that induces or coerces a student to endanger that student’s mental or physical health or safety.

• Hazing does not include customary athletic events or competitions and is limited to those situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with an organization.

WHAT IS HARASSMENT?

Harassment is any unwelcome conduct based on a protected class under the federal civil rights laws that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment with or limits a student's ability to participate in or benefit from services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school.

Harassment meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Is an act directed at one or more students that is received as harmful or embarrassing;

• Substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one or more students;

• Substantially affects the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the school district’s educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing emotional distress;

• Is based on a student’s actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic, or is based on an association with another person who has or is perceived to have any distinguishing characteristics;

• Is repeated over time – is severe, persistent, and pervasive; causes mental duress, or psychological trauma to the victim. TDOE Bullying & Harassment webpage

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BULLYING AND HARASSMENT?

Both involve behavior which harms, intimidates, threatens, victimizes, offends, degrades, or humiliates someone.

• Bullying is considered a relationship issue that involves an abuse of power.

• Harassment is a human rights issue.

• Discrimination against another on the basis of a protected class, such as age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, or disability

Reports of bullying and harassment are investigated by our School Counselor, . The investigation can take a few days in order to speak to all students involved. (including witnesses, victims, and aggressor)

Each school year, Bullying prevention is taught to grades K-5 during Guidance classes. Students are taught the definition of bullying/cyberbullying, how to report bullying/cyberbullying. They are taught the importance of treating others with dignity and respect.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope this newsletter finds you well. As we embark on a new school year, we are excited to share some updates about our Elementary Physical Education program and how we're committed to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for your children.

Why Physical Education Matters:

Physical Education is an integral part of your child's education. Not only does it provide a break from classroom learning, but it also contributes to their overall well-being by improving physical fitness, motor skills, and cognitive function. Regular physical activity has been shown to boost mood, increase focus, and enhance academic performance.

What Your Child Will Learn:

Our PE curriculum is designed to be engaging, inclusive, and fun for all students. Throughout the year, your child will have the opportunity to:

- Develop fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching.

- Participate in team sports and cooperative games to foster teamwork and sportsmanship.

- Learn about the importance of warm-up exercises, stretching, and cool-down routines.

- Discover different forms of physical activity, from traditional sports to dance and creative movement.

Safety First:

Your child's safety is our top priority. We ensure that all activities are age-appropriate and conducted in a safe environment. It is important that your child wears tennis shoes in the gym to prevent injuries!

How You Can Support:

While your child will be enjoying PE classes during school hours, there are ways you can support their physical activity journey at home:

- Encourage outdoor playtime and family activities that get everyone moving.

- Provide a variety of sports equipment and toys that encourage active play.

- Set screen time limits and prioritize physical play.

- Model a healthy and active lifestyle by participating in physical activities as a family.

Upcoming Events:

We have some exciting events planned for this school year including Field Day and more. These events not only promote physical fitness but also encourage teamwork, friendly competition, and school spirit.

We look forward to partnering with you to provide a well-rounded education for your child. Together, we can help them develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Coach Ramsey

Hillcrest Elementary School

bunchm9@hcboe.net

Boletín de educación física:

Queridos padres y guardianes,

Esperamos que este boletín le encuentre bien. A medida que nos embarcamos en un nuevo año escolar, nos complace compartir algunas actualizaciones sobre nuestro programa de Educación Física Primaria y cómo nos comprometemos a promover un estilo de vida saludable y activo para sus hijos.

Por qué es importante la educación física:

La educación física es una parte integral de la educación de su hijo. No solo brinda un descanso del aprendizaje en el aula, sino que también contribuye a su bienestar general al mejorar la condición física, las habilidades motoras y la función cognitiva. Se ha demostrado que la actividad física regular mejora el estado de ánimo, aumenta la concentración y mejora el rendimiento académico.

Lo que su hijo aprenderá:

Nuestro plan de estudios de educación física está diseñado para ser atractivo, inclusivo y divertido para todos los estudiantes. A lo largo del año, su hijo tendrá la oportunidad de:

- Desarrollar habilidades de movimiento fundamentales como correr, saltar, lanzar y atrapar.

- Participar en deportes de equipo y juegos cooperativos para fomentar el trabajo en equipo y la deportividad.

- Aprende sobre la importancia de los ejercicios de calentamiento, estiramiento y rutinas de enfriamiento.

- Descubre diferentes formas de actividad física, desde los deportes tradicionales hasta la danza y el movimiento

creativo.

Seguridad primero:

La seguridad de su hijo es nuestra principal prioridad. Nos aseguramos de que todas las actividades sean apropiadas para la edad y se lleven a cabo en un entorno seguro. ¡Es importante que su hijo use tenis en el gimnasio para

evitar lesiones!

Cómo puede apoyar:

Si bien su hijo disfrutará de las clases de educación física durante el horario escolar, hay formas en las que puede apoyar su proceso de actividad física en casa:

- Fomente el tiempo de juego al aire libre y las actividades familiares que hagan que todos se muevan.

- Proporcionar una variedad de equipos deportivos y juguetes que fomenten el juego activo.

- Establezca límites de tiempo de pantalla y priorice el juego físico.

- Modelar un estilo de vida saludable y activo participando en actividades físicas en familia.

Próximos Eventos:

Tenemos algunos eventos emocionantes planeados para este año escolar, incluido el Día de campo y más. Estos eventos no solo promueven la aptitud física, sino que también fomentan el trabajo en equipo, la competencia amistosa y el espíritu escolar.

Esperamos asociarnos con usted para proporcionar una educación completa para su hijo. Juntos, podemos ayudarlos a desarrollar hábitos saludables que durarán toda la vida.

Gracias por su continuo apoyo.

Atentamente,

Entrenador Ramsey

escuela primaria hillcrest

A few important dates in the Library:

Book club will begin Sept. 3 for 2nd and 3rd graders and Sept. 5 for 4th and 5th graders.

Book club is held in the morning from 7:10-7:40.

Book Fair will be the week of Sept. 30- Oct. 4.

Please encourage your child to read 15-20 minutes each evening.

Keep reading,

Mrs. Seal

We would like to introduce the Hillcrest ESL team: Dr. Neil, Ms. Upton, Mrs. Costner, Mrs. Guzman, Dr. Witt, Mrs. Kris, Ms. Hess and Mrs. Hodges. We have a new location this year and classes will start very soon. We are so excited to work with the Hillcrest students to reach their goals this school year!

K-4 Spanish speaking students will receive free bilingual books through the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation. Your student received information about this at school- Only return the signed portion if you wish to opt out of the program. Your student will begin receiving books in the fall.

We are excited to announce that approximately 12 students will be chosen to be on the Hillcrest Gratitude Team this school year! The purpose of the “G-Force Team” is to promote the spread of gratitude throughout the school year, not just on appreciation days. These students will be nominated by their teachers and must have great behavior, good grades, and have leadership skills. They will lead monthly meetings, plan activities and initiatives, and carry out the plans within our school.