Hillrise Happenings

We are inching closer and closer to the start of the school year. Teachers will be coming back on August 7th for pre-service days. This allows them time to prepare for students' arrival. We focus on analyzing data and making informed decisions about how to deliver high levels of learning for all students. In addition, teachers will be working to create a classroom environment where students feel welcomed and valued; an environment that is both stimulating and respectful.

We have a few new staff members joining our team! Miss Josoff will be teaching fourth grade, Mrs. Weel and Mrs. McNamara will be joining as teacher assistants, Mrs. Bohlken will be serving as our Occupational Therapist, Miss Weiss will be student teaching in second grade, and Mrs. Papp will be serving part-time as a Speech-Language Therapist.

We hope families will be able to join us for Open House on Thursday, August 8th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for students and families to visit classrooms and meet teachers before the first day of school. In addition, students are welcome to bring school supplies and leave them in classrooms. If your child ordered school supplies through Hillrise, those supply packs will be on your child's desk at Open House.

• We are dividing the Open House into two time slots. If your last name starts with A-M, your designated time for Open House is 5:30-5:55. If your last name starts with N-Z, your Open House time will be 6:05-6:30. There will be a 10-minute transition time between the two sessions.
• You will receive your family's car tags at Open House. Please hang these tags from your rearview mirror or another location so it is easy for staff to identify your number and call your child(ren) to the front of the building for dismissal. These numbers change each year as we welcome new families to Hillrise. Please be sure to grab your car tags at Open House so you have them starting the first day of school. If you are not able to attend Open House, we will send car tags home with your child on August 13th.
• Curriculum information will be communicated by your child's teacher prior to Open House through email. Please watch for this information.

Reminder: Teacher assignments will become available in PowerSchool on Monday, August 5th.

• The first day of school for students is Tuesday, August 13th.
• Students in grades 1-5 will begin school at 8:10 a.m.
• Our incoming kindergarteners will have a 9:00 a.m. start on August 13th ONLY. Parents are welcome to walk kindergartners to the entrance of the building and help them find their teacher. Starting August 14th, kindergarteners will arrive for our normal start time of 8:10 a.m. and head to the west playground to locate their teacher.
• At arrival on August 13th, students entering grades 3-5 will head to the east playground. Teachers will be wearing Hillrise t-shirts and holding name signs so you can easily identify your child's teacher. First and second graders will go to the west playground to locate their teachers.
• Students can arrive beginning at 7:55 a.m., as there will not be supervision prior to that time.
• Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:35 a.m. If your child chooses to arrive for breakfast, they will be directed to the cafeteria.
• At 8:10 a.m., teachers will escort students inside the building to begin a memorable first day of school!
• These same protocols/directions will be followed for the second day of school, August 14th. Starting August 15th, we will begin Walking Club. Instead of students being directed to classrooms at 7:55, they will move to the east playground for Walking Club.

• Children must exit the vehicle curbside. Do not allow them to get out on the driver's side of the vehicle. Please view the video below for more details to ensure we keep all students safe during drop-off and pick-up!
• If you must get out to open your child's door, please pull into a parking space first and walk with your child across the parking lot.
• At no time will any child be allowed to cross the parking lot alone.
• Respect members of our safety patrol and encourage their leadership opportunities by following their directions. As a pedestrian, please cross with the guards and as a driver, abide by their traffic control.
• Please be sure your child does not arrive before 7:55 a.m. (unless it is for breakfast which begins at 7:35 a.m.) and that you pick them up immediately following dismissal at 3:06 p.m. There is no supervision outside of these hours.
• Families will be receiving a car tag to hang from your rearview mirror during pick-up. The number assigned to you on your car tag will ensure Hillrise staff members contact your child's teacher for dismissal from the classroom. This procedure will allow us to follow safety protocols and dismiss students as quickly as possible.
• Please watch the video below for more details regarding drop-off and pick-up.

If you walk to drop-off or pick-up your child please do not bring along your dog. We appreciate you being cognizant of those with allergies or fears. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe.

Walking Club is a daily activity that begins at 7:55 a.m. Students arriving at school between 7:55 and 8:10 will participate in this supervised exercise. Supervision is not provided before 7:55. Please do not drop off your children before this time unless they are coming for breakfast. When students arrive, they will walk towards the east side of the building near the playground and then we will guide them to the walking path. Staff will bring students into the building at 8:10 a.m., and students should go directly to their classrooms. Walking Club and recess will occur outside if the temperature is 10 degrees or above.

At Hillrise, the doors will remain locked during the school day, and all visitors will gain access using the security camera/access panel outside of the school’s main entrance. Office staff will grant access after you do the following steps:

1. Push the button and wait for an identification request.

2. Give your name and purpose for entering the school.

3. When you hear the door unlatch, enter the vestibule. Over the summer, a Sally Port was installed. This is a safety measure that allows for another check prior to entering the building. Once you are in the vestibule, you will wait at the door until it is unlocked and then enter the office.

4. Sign in on the visitor sheet and take a visitor sticker/badge.

5. When leaving the building, return to the office and sign out.

If you have brought something that your child has forgotten, please drop it off in the office. We will be happy to take it to your child. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us to minimize classroom interruptions.

Parents are welcome to come to have lunch with their children during lunchtime; however, the students need time to learn and practice lunchroom procedures before visitors join us. We ask that parents do not start joining us for lunch until after Labor Day. This will give us time to ensure all students learn the correct lunch procedures along with having an opportunity to socialize with their classmates. Thank you for your cooperation!

Grade Level Lunch Times:

Kindergarten: 10:45-11:05

First Grade: 11:05-11:25

Second Grade: 11:25-11:45

Third Grade: 11:45-12:05

Fourth Grade: 12:05-12:25

Fifth Grade 12:25-12:45

As was shared with all families in an email from Elkhorn Public Schools on July 24th, updated cell phone expectations will be implemented at all EPS schools for the 2024-2025 school year. The expectation is that cell phones, Gizmos, cellular watches remain in backpacks during the school day in order to minimize disruptions to student learning. Please take a moment ahead of the first day of school to review the updated expectations as outlined in the handbook, and discuss them with your student.

USE OF ELECTRONICS: Cell Phones, and Cell Devices

1. Cellular phones and devices, including cellular watches, are strongly discouraged at school to minimize distractions to the learning environment. The use of cellular devices is not permitted throughout the day. Students must keep the devices powered off and in their backpacks or the office area, and they are to be used only after dismissal at the end of the day. If this procedure is not followed, the device will be kept in the office area and a parent/guardian may collect the device from the office.

Birthdays are important milestones in each child’s life. At Hillrise, we look forward to sharing in students’ excitement over their special day. Each morning, birthdays will be announced over the morning news and students will be invited to come to the office to select a birthday prize. Summer birthdays will be announced on the student’s half birthday to ensure each student enjoys this special recognition during the school year.

If you would like to send a special treat or token for your child to pass out to classmates, please send only NON-EDIBLE tokens or treats to school. For example, your child could provide each student with a pencil. Classroom teachers may also offer other suggestions. This decision has been made with considerable thought given to healthy eating habits, food allergies, and convenience for parents. I appreciate your support as we create a healthy and welcoming environment for every student at Hillrise.

According to District Policy, invitations to birthday parties and other events that are held off school grounds are not allowed to be distributed to students at school.

School Picture Day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4th!

Elkhorn Public Schools partners with SchoolPay for student lunch accounts. To add funds, go to www.schoolpay.com and log into your user account. If you do not yet have a SchoolPay account, instructions to create one can be found by clicking here.

Breakfast and lunch prices for the 2024-2025 school year are as follows:

Breakfast:

• Breakfast
• Elementary: $1.80
• Middle School: $2.00
• High School: $2.15
• Lunch
• Elementary: $3.00
• Middle School: $3.65
• High School: $3.85

Additionally, a free and reduced lunch application must be submitted in order to receive free/reduced meal prices and the additional benefits that can be provided to families who qualify. Instructions for completing online or hard-copy applications can be found at https://www.elkhornweb.org/parents/lunch/. A hard copy of the application can be found attached to this email. Families who qualify for free/reduced meals may also request the waiving of student fees by completing the waiver application found at https://forms.gle/b2fewM19yQH1GBeGA or hard-copy waiver forms are also available in your school’s office.

EPS utilizes text messages to efficiently share important information with parents, including weather-related school closings and bus route delays. To receive EPS text messages, please text “Yes” to 67587 to opt in.

Safe2HelpNE is a report system designed for students, staff, and parents to anonymously report concerning behavior which could impact the safety of students or schools across Nebraska.

(531) 299-SAFE (7233)

www.Safe2HelpNE.org

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Email: mmehlmann@epsne.org
Website: www.elkhornweb.org/hillrise
Location: 20110 Hopper Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 289-2602
Facebook: facebook.com/ElkhornPSHR
Twitter: @ElkhornPS_HR