Stallion Stampede

Dear Stallion Families,

April is here, and that means state testing season is in full swing! Our students have been working hard all year, and this is their opportunity to showcase their learning. To help them do their best, pleasure ensure your child arrives at school on time each day, well-rested and ready to focus. Your support in making attendance a priority is greatly appreciated.

Due to weather, we had to move the Stallion Showcase. We invite you to join us on the new date, April 1st, from 5:00–7:30 PM. This special evening will highlight our students’ incredible talents through art displays, musical performances, grade-level exhibits, a PTSA silent auction, and delicious food from local food trucks. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together as a school community and cheer on our students as they shine!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

With Stallion Pride,
Brittany Dyer-Hurdon

Principal

Due to state testing, there are NO early release Fridays in April.

Spring Break Day - April 18th - No School

State testing is here! Below you will find the dates of testing for each grade level, 3rd through 8th grade. Please try not to schedule appointments or planned absences during this time. If appointments are necessary, afternoon times are preferrable, as most testing occurs in the morning each day. On testing days, please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and is to school on time. If a student is too late to school, they may be held in the office if the testing session has already begun in their classroom. We appreciate your help in this matter in order to ensure all of our students are tested in a timely manner.

Please note our campus will be closed to all visitors and volunteers for the duration of testing, as well as for make-up testing sessions. Closed campus will begin upon our return from Spring Break.

April 1 - Grades 3-8 Writing

April 2, 3, 4 - Grades 5 and 8 Science and 3rd grade Oral Reading Fluency

April 7 - Grades 3-8 ELA Part 1

April 8 - Grades 3-8 ELA Part 2

April 9 - Grades 3-8 Math Part 1

April 10 - Grades 3-8 Math Part 2

April 11-April 25 - Make Up Testing

5:15 5th & 6th Grade Band

5:30 3rd Grade Recorder

5:45 4th Grade Music

6:00 2nd Grade Music

6:15 Middle School Band

6:35 1st Grade/Kinder Music

7:00 Middle School Choir

Art GLOW Room (art on display for all students K-6 and middle school art)

Athletics Awards

Gifted Showcase

STEM Showcase

Grade level showcases

Photobooth

PTSA Silent Auction

Food Trucks

Assistant Principal Appreciation Week is April 7-11th!

This Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, we celebrate and honor Mrs. Medlock as she prepares to retire at the end of the school year after an incredible 26-year career in education. Her journey has spanned 21 years in DVUSD and 5 years in the Washington School District, with 16 years as a dedicated classroom teacher, 4 years as an instructional coach, 3 years at the district office, and the last 3 years as our amazing Assistant Principal at Stetson Hills.

Mrs. Medlock’s passion for education and unwavering support for students, staff, and families have left a lasting impact on our Stallion community. While we will miss her leadership and kindness, we are excited for her as she embarks on a well-earned retirement filled with travel, family time, and crafting.

Please join us in thanking Mrs. Medlock for her years of service and wishing her all the best in this next chapter!

Attention all 8th grade parents! Promotion will be here before we know it! A few important pieces of information for you:

• ALL students must be in attendance for 8th grade promotion practice. This will take place on Wednesday, May 21st at 9AM in the Stetson Hills MPR.
• We will have an 8th grade Clap Out immediately following promotion practice. This is a surprise for 8th grade students. You are welcome to attend this celebration. It will be held around 9:30 AM on May 21st (depending on how long practice takes). We do recommend you arrive by 9:15 to sign in and head to the staging area.
• May 21st is a 12:05 PM release for 8th grade only.
• Promotion will be at Sandra Day O'Connor High School at 5:00 PM on May 21st.

Check out the PACE Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/xkba2

PACE is our school-wide Behavior System at Stetson Hills. To create a culture that inspire minds, cultivates success, and fosters excellence, Stetson’s mission, we expect all staff and students to be responsible, respectful and safe. When students exhibit these characteristics they are given a PACE ticket and are then placed into a weekly drawing to win a visit to the Friday PACE Cart for a prize and recognition in the PACE Smore link on the website. Additionally we have PACE prizes given quarterly, names drawn from the tickets the teacher accumulate as the year progresses. Click this link to see the matrix with our behavior expectations in more detail.

Keep the Pace, the Stallion Way - Be responsible, Be respectful, Be safe!

April 1 - Stallion Showcase 5-7:30PM

April 2 - National Paraprofessional Day

April 4 - National School Librarian Day

April 7-11 - National Assistant Principal Week

April 8 - PTSA General Meeting 3:45 PM in Library

April 8 - Governing Board Meeting 7PM

April 18 - No School Spring Break Day

April 22 - Governing Board Meeting 6PM Awards Ceremony (Stetson will be recognized for A+ School of Excellence!)

April 24 - A+ School of Excellence Celebration Assembly 9:30 AM @ Flagpole

It's a busy time a Stetson Hills! State testing is underway, students are preparing for end of year concerts, and parents are making summer plans. The 8th grade promotion is approaching quickly, and the PTSA is selling yard signs to celebrate this achivement! To purchase a sign, please visit https://stetsonhillsptsa.givebacks.com and click on our store. All orders must be received by 5PM on April 11th.

We are also excited to announce the long-awaited Stallion Showcase, which will take place on April 1, 2025, from 5PM to 7:30PM. It promises to be a fun-filled night featuring musical performances, art, and food. Be sure to stop by the PTSA table to participate in our silent auction and raffle. We have a variety of prizes, from sports tickets to pampering services and family-friendly experiences - something for everyone! The funds raised will support our Stallions, so come prepared to shop!

Click below to read the full PTSA Newsletter for April!

Thank you so much for your help in keeping our parking lot running smoothly both before and after school!

A few key reminders:

• For pick up and drop off, you may choose to utilize the blue lane OR you may park in a designated parking space and walk your child across the cross walk. Please do NOT park on the blue line, as this is a moving lane only.
• Reminder that you may not drop off your children in the street in the school zone. The buses are not legally allowed to pass you and it blocks up traffic on the road if you are dropping off within the school zone. Please pick a side street or the front parking lot to drop your children off at instead.
• Once you pick up your child(ren), please either pull all the way forward to merge or pull completely into the other lane to merge. If you cannot fit the entire length of your car into the other lane, please do not block traffic by sitting in both lanes. Please pull all the way up and then merge so that traffic can continue to flow behind you.
• Pull ALL the way forward on the blue line. We will help your students find their car if you are at the top of the line. Your student will walk down to your car. Please do not stop at the ramada for drop off or pick up.
• Please put away your cell phones when entering our parking lot.
• Grades 1-8 parents, please do not enter the parking lot until 3:25. This helps our community to be able to access their homes by not blocking Stetson Hills Loop prior to dismissal.
• School zones are NO passing zones and you may not park in the bike lane within the school zone.

WHAT IS NOT BULLYING? Adults must realize that not every unkind thing a child does constitutes bullying. For example:

• Being left out is not always bullying. It’s natural for kids to have a select group of friends. Although they should be kind towards everyone, it’s unrealistic to expect them to be close friends with every child they know, and be invited to every function or event.

• Experiencing conflict is not bullying. Learning to deal with conflict is a normal part of growing up. The key is for children to learn how to solve their problems peacefully and respectfully.

• Not playing fair is not bullying. Wanting a game to be played a certain way is not bullying. Children understand the concept of sharing, and should take turns being in charge of the game.

When observing the unkind behaviors your child experiences, be sure to label them correctly. This will help you know how to handle the situation appropriately so that your child can learn and grow from it.

(Ref. Policy JICK, JICK-R, JICK-EA, JICK-EB)

Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engages in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that:

• has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property,

• is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment,

• occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength, or

• may constitute a violation of law

SRR handbook 2023-2024 (pages 2-4)

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