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Husky E-News
April 6, 2024
From the Principal
Hillendale families,
I hope you are having a great weekend!
Please pay close attention to a special section of our E-News below that has complete information as it relates to our Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on 4/8 from 2:30 - 3:30 PM (Students will come out at 3:00 PM.). Information within is slightly updated from last week, so please review everything within including all safety information.
As a reminder, our typical "car line" will be closed on Monday due to our eclipse viewing event - all families will park and pick up their children from the field if not taking the bus. If you are planning to attend the Eclipse event and/or pick up your child from school on Monday (4/8), please email hillendaledismissal@ucfsd.net ASAP but by Monday at 10:00 AM AT THE VERY LATEST to let us know of your plans.
Have a great week!
Josh Leight
Hillendale Elementary Principal
Solar Eclipse Viewing Party Information
Hillendale is planning a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party for students, staff, and families on Monday, April 8th at from 2:30 - 3:30 PM! At 3:23 PM, the eclipse will be nearly total. This is a once in a multi-decade opportunity right in our own backyard! See more information about the eclipse in Chadds Ford on 4/8 using this link!
The Unionville Chadds Ford School District is excited that parents, family members, students, and staff can come together to share in the once in a generation event to observe the total solar eclipse on April 8th. While the District is providing viewers with eclipse glasses to enhance the experience, we want to remind all participants of the need for safety in observing a total eclipse and that each individual is responsible for ensuring that proper safety measures are taken. Information about safety measures all participants should take is linked below:
All family members planning on attending must review these brief instructions on how to properly wear your eclipse glasses. Students will be taught how to safely wear their glasses in school. If you have any questions about how to properly wear your glasses, please ask an adult at Hillendale when you arrive on Monday when you pickup your glasses from the school and before looking up at the eclipse. Any family member that wishes to come in early to the office on Monday prior to the event to learn how to wear the glasses is welcome to do. Of note, if you typically wear glasses you should wear your eclipse viewing glasses overtop of your typical glasses OR remove your typical glasses and wear the eclipse viewing glasses.
We will close our typical parent pick-up car line that day and asking families to park, join us on the lower field, and enjoy the eclipse with our student body prior to taking students home or sending them home on the bus at 3:40 PM. Please plan to arrive by 2:30 PM. Parking will be available in the grass by the playground or along Hillendale Rd. Families will assemble on the field near the area designated and marked for your YOUNGEST child's grade level OR with the homeroom teacher for which you have arranged to be an official volunteer. Students will join families on the field from 3:00 - 3:35 PM prior to dismissing from the field. As long as you have properly indicated that you plan on attending by emailing hillendaledismissal@ucfsd.net by 10 AM on Monday, older siblings will be able to come stand with you and your younger child during the event.
A local astronomical organization and our PTO have generously donated safe viewing glasses for our entire school community including parents/family members who are planning to come. Thanks to our incredible PTO, we have enough glasses for at least the first 250 family members in attendance! ALL HES STUDENTS BE REQUIRED TO USE THE GLASSES PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT IF PARTICIPATING IN OUR VIEWING EVENT.
If you are planning to attend the Eclipse event and/or pick up your child from school on 4/8, please email hillendaledismissal@ucfsd.net ASAP but by MONDAY, 4/8 AT 10:00 AM at the latest.
For the Viewing Event on 4/8 HES will ensure:
- All participants have a pair of viewing glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standards.
- All students & staff are instructed on the proper use of viewing glasses prior to the event
- The School has warned everyone of the dangers of staring at the sun, especially if their eclipse viewing glasses are not being used properly. (See safety info linked above)
- The School has provided safety and proper use instructions both in class as well as home again instructing parents/children. (See instructions on how to wear glasses linked above)
- All viewing is done with adult supervision.
- That the school provides an opportunity for direction instruction on the proper use of glasses and viewing of the eclipse to families prior to the event.
- Parents have an opportunity to opt their children out of the eclipse viewing event (see below). Please submit this form by Sunday, 4/7 or CALL OUR OFFICE ON MONDAY (4/8) BY 10 AM.
We look forward to this special opportunity and hope you can join us!
From the PTO
Calendar
April
8 - Solar Eclipse Viewing Party @ 2:30 PM - families welcome (glasses provided for first 250 guests)
10 - School Closed
13 - UCF Centennial Gala
14 - 4th Grade skating party
15 - PTO general meeting
19 - Wellness Day & Clean-Up Day
22 - 30 - PSSA Testing
23 - School Closed
Bus Driver Appreciation Day!
See below for more information about how you can help us make this a special day for our drivers!
Open Volunteer Positions
We are currently recruiting volunteers to lead several important committees for next school year (2024-2025) and we are looking for people interested in joining the PTO Board. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please send an email to heptovp@gmail.com and let us know how you can help. Open positions include:
- Hillendale Spirit Wear
- Penny Drive
- Family Bingo Night
- Husky Hayride Family Event
- Husky Hustle 5K/Fun Run
- Running Club
- Staff Appreciation Days
- Staff Appreciation Luncheon
- PTO Board position
Family Fun Night at the Blue Rocks
4th & 5th grade chorus members have the opportunity to sing a pre-game song on the field! Please complete this Google sign up form if you are interested in participating.
Additional tickets can be purchased for $13/ticket. Please complete this form to order.
Spiritwear Sale
(Sale Prices on select items)
4th Grade Skating Party
All 4th Grade families should have received information about the 4th grade ice skating party.
If you haven't already,
by Monday, April 8th
Any questions?
Contact Renee Rawlins (reneedursky@gmail.com)
Yearbook Orders
Order today if you haven't already - Order Here
Also, please upload any pictures you've taken at events to this Google Drive
Any Questions, email yearbook.hillendale@gmail.com
Questions or comments for the PTO? Email us at HESPTO@ucfsd.net