Hawks' Highlights
October Newsletter
Note from Mrs. Beiswenger
Did you know that we have a new Reading curriculum called Wit and Wisdom? It utilizes diverse complex texts to build knowledge in all learners. Students will be working through 3 modules throughout the course of the school year all based on an essential question to tie all of the learning together for that particular module. Here is a website that shares more information for families. We are also utilizing new phonics and word study programs for all grade levels. Students in K-2 are learning phonics through a resource called Ufli and students in grades 3-5 are learning word study through a resource called 95%. These resources follow an explicit teaching model which is systematic. You will find the new reading standards here. If you have any questions about these or other curriculum resources, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher.
Conferences are coming up soon! We look forward to sharing and hearing from you. Please sign up using the online system that was sent out last week.
-Mrs. Beiswenger
Upcoming Events
October
1st - PTO Meeting - 7:00-8:00 PM in the library
10th- Activity Night-6:15-7:15 pm
14th - Parent Teacher Conferences 3:45-7:45 pm
15th - Parent Teacher Conferences 3:45-7:45 pm
17th - No School
18th - No School
22nd- Breakfast with Buddies 7:30-8:15 am
24th- Activity Night-6:15-7:15 pm
24th - Picture Retakes
November
5th - PTO Meeting - 7:00-8:00 PM in the library
8th - No School
11th - No School - In honor of Veterans' Day
21st - Highland Acres Activity Night - 6:15-7:15
28th - No School - Happy Thanksgiving
29th - No School - Happy Thanksgiving
Student Support Report
~ with Ms. Jones, School Counselor & Mrs. Misek, School Social Worker
Welcome to our monthly family connection where you can find updates on what your students are learning with the counselor, our schoolwide Team program, monthly life skill connection to home, as well as other topics as they arise.
Counselor Connection:
We are off to a great start for the school year. I enjoy going into each classroom every week to do a lesson with all the students! We focus on one of three areas with every lesson- social, emotional, and academic. I will be sharing monthly what each grade level is working on so that you can reinforce these skills at home. I encourage you to ask them about the “I Can” statements we review each week!
With our life skill being respect for the month of September, we focused our first few lessons in 2nd-5th grades on the importance of respect and how we can show respect for others at school, at home, and in the community. We also created a respect chain! In Kindergarten and 1st grade, we focused on and practiced our listening skills, which we connected to showing respect for others.
For all grades, we also tied respect in with being responsible.
If you ever have questions, feel free to contact me at any time! ~ Ms. Jones
Schoolwide Team Update:
We are continuing our schoolwide Team program with a few updates. This program allows our students to develop skills and build relationships with students across grade levels. Students can earn HAWKS stickers for their Team by showing the HAWKS expectations of honesty, attitude of respect, work ethic, kindness, and safety. This year instead of Teams competing for the highest number of stickers every month, all Teams will be working together to meet a monthly and end of school year goal. There will be whole school rewards each month for meeting the goal, and a trip to Midway Lanes for bowling at the end of the year for meeting the school year goal.
Team meetings will be held 1-2 times per month where there is a focus on the life skill of the month and building relationships. This year the life skills will change each month and will feature a culture that values the chosen life skill. We will also be doing Team lunches again most months where members of each Team eat and have recess together.
In August we focused on strengthening our school spirit, and in September we focused on the life skill of respect. Each Team completed their own unique Team chant and pennants and voted on 2 Team Council members to represent their Team.
In October we will shift our focus to the life skill of teamwork, and we will learn more about the culture of Guam and how they use teamwork in their daily lives.
Monthly Expectations Connected to Home:
Developing teamwork within a family will help strengthen your relationship with your children and will provide a good example for teamwork in activities outside the family home. Project Management for Parents has ideas of activities you can do at home to help your child further develop the life skill of teamwork.
Students of the Month
Kindergarten- Jace & Kinley
First- Ethan, Adelyn, & Mara
Second- Ruby, Aspen, & Neveah
Third- Lester & Lucy
Fourth- Adelaide & Hazel
Fifth- Lennox & Gloria
This month's recipients will eat lunch with Mrs. Beiswenger in the office on Friday, October 4th!
Meet Our New Library Media Specialist
Hello this is Mrs. Clark, I am your child’s Library Media Specialist. My job is to teach your child all about using media responsibly. I have been a LMS teacher in our district for 5 years now, and I love being able to connect with kids on books and being creators online.
A great website to learn more about the media your child is consuming Commonsense Media. It has helpful tips and reviews so that parents are aware of age recommendations. If you ever have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.
PTO Meetings
Our PTO would like to welcome and extend an open invite to attend our monthly meetings which are held in the school library. Here is the agenda for the upcoming meeting this evening:
- budget review
- popcorn Fridays
- volunteer needs for Breakfast with Buddies (October)
- raffle prep (October)
The PTO also coordinates our Highland Acres Hawks' gear ordering. Please see the link if you would like to order any school spirit items.
MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES
Our Mission: "Empower every learner to thrive."
Our Vision: "Together, our strong relationships build inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environments that create agency and inspire a passion for learning, excellence, and discovery."
Our Values: Excellence, Innovation, Inclusion and Leadership.