HES Parent & Family Newsletter

As the cooler temperatures approach, please remind your student to bring a long sleeve shirt or light jacket for recess when the temperature is below 50 degrees. Once temperatures drop below 30 and snow is on the ground, the 'magic 5'—a hat, jacket, snow pants, gloves/mittens, and boots—will be needed to keep everyone warm and ready for outdoor fun!

In an effort to reduce milk waste and manage costs more effectively, we are making some changes to our milk distribution at snack time for students in grades 1-6. Moving forward, we ask that families who wish to purchase milk for their children at snack time complete the attached form. This will allow us to distribute milk more accurately and ensure that funds are collected appropriately.

Please take a moment to fill out the form and indicate which of your students you would like to receive milk during snack time It's important to note that students receive a free carton of milk each day during school breakfast and lunch. However, milk is only free at lunch if the student takes the school meal. Otherwise, students in grades K-6 will be charged $0.60 at lunchtime for their milk.

Milk distribution at snack will begin September 9th, 2024. We will add students to the list and milk will be delivered to students during their scheduled snack times.

Cost per milk $0.60:

• Quarter 2- 11/5/24-1/17/25 (41 school days)= $24.60
• Quarter 3- 1/21/25-3/21/25 (42 school days)= $25.20
• Quarter 4- 3/31/25-5/28/25 (40 school days) = $24.00
• Total cost for milk = $96.00

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to make this process more efficient.

Snack Break Milk Request

Kind regards,
Angela McQuinn
Assistant Principal, Houston Elementary School

• Monday, November 18th
• Fire Drill at 8:45 am
• Lunch today is Italian Stromboli
• Tuesday, November 19th
• Lunch today is Chicken Patty Sandwich
• Wednesday, November 20th
• Lunch today is Beef Chili
• Thursday, November 21st
• Lunch today is Chicken Alfredo w/Pasta
• PTA meeting tonight- 6pm @ Preschool on the 2nd Floor
• Friday, November 22nd
• Lunch today is Beef Hot Dog

The alternative this week is a soft pretzel with cheese sauce. All lunches are served with vegetable and fruit options and milk.

We are excited to announce that quarterly One-Minute Meetings will be held with all students at Houston Elementary. Inspired by the book One Minute Meetings by Mary Hemphill, these brief but impactful meetings provide an opportunity for students to sit in the "principal" chair and share how they are feeling, what they are proud of, and any challenges or concerns they may be facing. These personal check-ins help us celebrate their successes and ensure we are supporting each student in their journey. We look forward to hearing from all of our students and building even stronger connections with them!

This week’s Hurricane FORCE Positive Office Referrals of the Week come from 6th grade! Congratulations to Eisley C. and Bree L., who were nominated by their teachers, Mrs. O'Hare and Mr. Hoff. Both students consistently bring positive energy, kindness, and helpfulness to their classmates, serving as excellent role models for others. Keep up the great work, Eisley and Bree!

We are excited to share that the Student Leadership Committee at Houston Elementary School held their first meeting this week! Led by third grade teacher Mrs. Lambrecht, the committee took important steps in defining their role in our school community. Together, they established their norms, which are: be respectful, be responsible, and have good manners. These guiding principles will help ensure that they work together to make a positive impact.

The students also identified their top priorities and areas of leadership and support they would like to focus on throughout the year. This includes being involved in school activities, offering support to peers, and promoting positive change within the school community.

The committee is proud to introduce the following student leaders for the year:

• President: Savannah Stinson
• Vice President: Eisley Conway
• Secretary: Hailey Tostenson

As part of the Houston Area Public Schools’ pillar of continuous improvement and growth, this committee embodies the values of leadership, responsibility, and collaboration. We look forward to seeing the great things these young leaders will accomplish as they work to make Houston Elementary an even better place for all students!

Thank you for supporting our students as they develop their leadership skills and contribute to our school community.

We are excited to share the achievements of our 6th-grade students in the Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest! This year, our students were invited to express their visions of peace through art, embracing the theme "Peace Without Limits."

Congratulations to the following winners from Houston Elementary School:

• 1st Place: Keahna S.
• 2nd Place: Taya E.
• 3rd Place: Mara K.

These talented students showcased incredible creativity, and we are so proud of their work. The Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest has provided children worldwide with an opportunity to use art as a way to inspire peace, and we are thrilled that our students had the chance to participate.

A big round of applause to Keahna, Taya, and Mara for their hard work and dedication!

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Emme C. and Kyler W., whose posters were recently recognized by The Houston County Fire Department. Their hard work and creativity earned them special recognition for their contributions to fire safety awareness.

This morning, Brandon Olson from the Houston County Fire Department was on hand to present the students with their awards during a special ceremony. We congratulate Emme and Kyler for their outstanding work and thank them for representing Houston Elementary so well in this important community initiative.

Keep up the great work, Emme and Kyler! We are excited to see more of your accomplishments in the future.

A heartfelt thank you to all veterans, their families, our students, staff, and the community for making Monday’s Veterans Day program truly special. Your presence and participation made this event a meaningful reflection of the sacrifices made by those who have served our country.

It was an honor to come together and recognize the bravery, dedication, and service of our veterans. The program was a beautiful reminder of the freedoms we enjoy, thanks to the courage and commitment of those who served. We are deeply grateful to our veterans for their sacrifices, and we are equally thankful to our families, students, and staff for helping to create a respectful and memorable tribute.

Together, we continue to honor the legacy of these heroes and strengthen the bonds of our community. Thank you for making this Veterans Day unforgettable!

Boozhoo! which means "hello" or "greetings" in Ojibwe.

We are excited to share that Scott Wilkie, an esteemed American Indian Educator and Advocate, recently visited Houston Elementary to speak with our 6th-grade students about Native American history in Minnesota.

During this insightful session, Scott covered several important topics, including:

• Minnesota History: A deep dive into the rich history of the state, highlighting the contributions and impact of Native American communities.
• Minnesota Boarding Schools: An exploration of the history and legacy of boarding schools and their effect on Native American families and cultures.
• Place-Based History of Winona, MN: A focus on the unique history of the Winona area, including its Indigenous roots and the significance of the land.

We are grateful to Scott Wilkie for his time and knowledge, which helped enrich our students’ understanding of local history and the experiences of Native American communities.

• November 27-29: No School - Thanksgiving Break. Thanksgiving break - No School - Hurricane Watch will NOT be available.
• December 9: HHS Concert at the Houston High School, 7:00 PM
• December 12: 4th-6th Grade Band and 5th & 6th Grade Choir Winter Concert
• December 16: K-4th Grade Mini-Musical
• December 17: Preschool Programs, 9:00 for the AM class and 12:45 for the PM class at the preschool.
• December 23-January 1st: No School, Holiday Break. Hurricane Watch will NOT be available.
• January 2 & 3: No School, Holiday Break. Hurricane Watch will be available. Students attending HW must bring sack lunch.

Please check the school website calendar for more information as well as other events/opportunities.