page background

Husky E-News

August 25, 2024

Husky E-NewsAugust 25, 2024

From the Principal

Hillendale families,


Welcome back! It was wonderful to see and meet so many of you at our various events this past week. The energy in the building was palpable! As one 2nd grader put it best at Sneak-A-Peek, Hillendale is "home sweet home." We are ecstatic to all be back together again so soon!


As you prepare for the first day, please take special note of the section below on Parent Handbook Updates including details about wearable devices and absences.


As a reminder, school will be closed on Friday, August 30th.


We are so excited to see you on Monday!


Joshua Leight

Hillendale Elementary Principal

Back to School Night & PTO General Meeting - 9/5/24

Below is our schedule of events for our annual Back to School Night on September 5th from 5:00 - 6:30 PM.

Schedule for the Evening:

  • 5:00 – 5:15 PM – Welcome Remarks & Faculty Introductions (HES Gym)
  • 5:15 – 5:25 PM – PTO Presentation (HES Gym)
  • 5:30 – 6:00 PM – Classroom Presentation 1
  • 6:00 – 6:30 PM – Classroom Presentation 2

BTSN Reminders:

  • The event is for 1st - 5th grade parents and guardians only.
  • Kindergarten Orientation on August 22nd took the place of BTSN for K families.
  • This is an in-person event without a "livestream" option.
  • If arriving between 5:00 - 5:30 PM, please come through the lower gym/cafe doors.
  • If arriving after 5:30 PM, please enter through the main office/lobby.
  • Parking is available in our main parking lot, in both of our playground lots, and in the grass on the lower portion of our campus to the east of our playground.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

General Arrival & Dismissal Information:

Hillendale's arrival and dismissal procedures will remain the same as we begin the 2024-25 school year. As a reminder, please communicate with our office regarding dismissal changes from your typical routine using HESattendance@ucfsd.net. "Hillendaledismissal@ucfsd.net" is no longer being used as we transition to a new email address that mirrors other schools across UCF. Please see more information below regarding our process for parent drop off and pick-ups.


Parent Drop-Off Arrival Information:

All parents dropping off their students should enter the car line to drop students off at our lower entrance closest to our cafeteria. Doors open for parent drop-offs at 8:50 AM and close at 9:10 AM. Please refrain from getting out of your vehicle to assist your child as he/she exits the car. If you do need to exit your vehicle to assist your child, please pull out of the car line to do so to help create an efficient flow of cars.


Parent Pick-Up Dismissal Information:

All parents picking up their children in the afternoon should enter the car line that will snake around the back of our building to our gymnasium entrance/exit. Students will exit the building as parents arrive in our lower loop. Dismissal occurs at 3:40 PM. Students will receive a last name placard to hang in your car window for the second day of school and beyond. For the first day of school, simply state your child's name to the staff member outside facilitating the car line. Please bring photo ID for confirmation purposes. We thank you for your patience in our car line as we expect a heavy volume these first few days of school in particular.

Parent Handbook & Policy Updates

UCFSD Elementary Parent Handbook

We would like to bring to your attention several important updates to the UCFSD Elementary Parent Handbook linked here. Below are a few highlights regarding important changes in this year’s handbook:


Personal Electronic Devices:

In alignment with UCFSD Board Policy 234, students in elementary school must keep smart watches and other personal devices, such as cell phones, turned off in their backpacks during school hours. Communicating on personal electronic devices is prohibited. This is not a change to policy, however, it is a point of emphasis this school year due to the increase in popularity and prevalence amongst student devices. We appreciate your support in limiting classroom distractions and helping ensure smooth communication channels between families and the school. You can review the policy in detail using this link.


Attendance:

In alignment with Board Policy 204, a maximum of ten (10) days of cumulative lawful absences verified by parental notification shall be permitted during a school year. All absences beyond ten (10) cumulative days may require an excuse from a licensed practitioner of the healing arts. This includes pre-approved family trips. This is again not a change in policy but a point of emphasis this school year to create alignment amongst UCF schools and between elementary and secondary practice. Your child’s principal and office team will be more than happy to help you navigate complex situations, illnesses, and other unique situations that arise and require your child to be away from school. Read more regarding attendance within UCFSD Board Policy 204 using this link.


Party Invitations:

Elementary students are now permitted to hand out invitations to personal parties at school, provided that every child in their homeroom receives one. This is to ensure inclusivity and kindness within our community and acknowledge the challenge associated with helping our families build community with one another without having access to each other’s personal information: email addresses, etc. especially in the primary grades.


We strongly encourage all families to read the handbook in full to familiarize themselves with all the policies and procedures. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's principal. Thank you for your attention to these important updates. We are looking forward to a fantastic school year ahead!

Student Code of Conduct

Please take a few moments to acquaint yourself with the Student Code of Conduct (as outlined in Board Policy #218, AG-1). This essential document serves as the compass for our decision-making regarding student behavior and disciplinary measures. We appreciate your partnership!

Annual Return Registration

To receive the most up-to-date information about your student’s educational experience, we recommend that you complete our annual Return Registration form now! Children whose parents/guardians have completed the Return Registration process by Monday, September 2, will be entered into a raffle for one of three family fun packs!

To get started, parents/guardians with an account on our PowerSchool Parent Portal should:

  1. Visit the Portal,
  2. Log in,
  3. Select “Forms” on the lefthand side,
  4. Select “Returning Registration” to confirm your contact and other critical information,
  5. Select “Submit” and
  6. If you have not already, text “Yes” to 67587 to opt into our text messages.

To create an account:

  • Visit the Portal,
  • Select “Create Account” and
  • Follow the prompts to add your student(s).

To reset your password or to request your child’s Access ID and Access Password for account creation, call their school Monday - Friday during normal business hours.

From the PTO

Calendar

August

26 - First Day of Scool

30 - School Closed

September

2 - School Closed

5 - Grades 1-5 Back to School Night (5:00-6:30pm) & PTO General Meeting

16-20 Start with Hello week

25 - Husky Hayride at Ramsey Farm - 6:00-8:00pm

Buy Tickets Here

Spirit Wear

Looking for new styles of spirit wear? Our new spirit wear store is open for orders until September 9th. Orders will be delivered to classrooms approximately 2 weeks after the store closes.


Shop Spirit Wear Here


Spirit wear that the PTO already has in in stock (limited quantities/sizes) is available for order on square (orders will be delivered to your child's classroom). Some SALE items still available for a great deal! Shop Here: https://hillendale.square.site

Let's Stock the Teachers' Lounge

We would love to stock the Teacher's Lounge with snacks and drinks to kick off the year! Items can be dropped off at the Hillendale office or use the Amazon list and ship directly to school. Sign up Here!

Volunteer Opportunities

PTO Volunteer

The Hillendale PTO would love to have you as a parent volunteer. We have many opportunities for you to choose from to contribute. Whether you have a few hours per year or a few hours per month you are important to us. Investing and giving back to your child’s school is such a great way to invest in our youth. Come join us and help make memories.


All Hillendale families are automatically members of the PTO and we encourage you to take an active role in your child's experience. There are over 30 committees that need your help and support. If you're interested in volunteering, please complete the PTO Volunteer Form Here.


Clearances are required for some volunteer positions. Click here to find information on obtaining clearances.

Homeroom Parent

Are you interested in being a homeroom parent for the school year? Please click here for more information and please fill out the form if you are interested in volunteering.

PTO Board Members 2024-25

Co-Presidents: Amanda Biggs and Renee Rawlins

Vice President: Claire Van Eps
Co-Treasurers: Heather Aungst and Maryna Kanopchanka

Communication Secretary: Jodie Lamb
Recording Secretary: Kelly Gentile

Questions or comments for the PTO? Email us at HESPTO@ucfsd.net

Hillendale PTO
Hillendale is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters