Howbert Happenings

Please take some time to complete the 5 Essential Parent Survey beginning

Tuesday, January 14th

This completely anonymous, 20-minute survey is designed to give your principal, teachers, and staff a better understanding of how you feel about your school, the school district, and how connected you feel to your child's learning. This information is used by the superintendent, principals, and teachers. It will help us know where we need to improve communication and engagement with you so that we can all be on the same team to support your child. Your name and contact information will never be used and results will be reported directly to the school. We really appreciate your time to help us become better at partnering with you and supporting your child.

Please complete a survey for each of your children that attend Howbert.

Click here to access the 5 Essential Parent Survey

I wanted to share with you the process we take to determine whether or not we have outdoor class/grade and lunch recess based on the weather. Decisions about whether to go outside are first based upon making sure students are safe.

There are a couple of factors that are considered:

• "Feels Like" temperature. This is the primary factor that is considered.
• Wind gust speed. We look at current speed as well as the "Gusts" speed.
• Precipitation. Will the precipitation cause students to get overly wet?
• First-hand. Someone will go outside to the playground to get a first-hand observation.
• Previous weather. The weather prior will be considered and whether or not students brought proper clothing for the current weather.

You can utilize our weather station website to see the current weather statistics right at Howbert. There is also an app available for your phone (Ambient Weather Network, AWN) that you can utilize to check the weather using our school weather station.

Below is the link to the Howbert Weather Dashboard.

Howbert Weather Dashboard

What’s Happening?

Colorado Springs Utilities is beginning the next phase of installing a natural gas main. This work will require the closure of the southbound lanes of N 31st St. from W. Fontanero St. to W. Bijou St. starting Monday, January 13th. Until the completion of the project, which is expected April 2025 (weather permitting). This project is essential for improving the safety, efficiency and longevity of the natural gas system.

Drivers in this area will need to access the detour onto 30th and avoid using Echo Lane and Valley Road as detours. All traffic will be detoured to N. 30th St. Please refer to the map below for more details.

District 11's school choice open enrollment has begun. If you will have a new student attending Howbert, we welcome you to enroll today for next year.

If you know someone who will have a new student attending elementary school or may be looking at other school options, please let them know your families experience at Howbert. Parents trust other parents and Howbert families are our greatest advocates.

Please share this info with families you know that have incoming kindergarteners! This is for families that have decided to come to Howbert, as well as families that are considering Howbert.

These are the fabulous clubs that are coming up at Howbert! Please gauge your child's interest and remind them to get a permission slip from their teacher if they would like to join. Spots in clubs are very limited so please try to only sign your child up if they can make it to all of the dates and if they are truly interested in attending. Thank you!

🟥Lego Club (1-2 grades) - Tuesdays, January 27 & 28 and February 4th. Permission slips coming soon.

The Cougars Care Corner Market is now open for the 2024-2025 school year!

The Corner Market is a food distribution site partnered with Care and Share to help meet the tangible needs of the community.

Everything is free, you just take what you need and leave enough for others. Everyone may come on Thursdays from 3:00 - 6:00 when the Corner Market is open to the community.

The Corner Market supplies fruit, veggies*, non-perishable goods, snacks, school supplies, toiletries, hygiene products, clothing items, etc. when available.

*We have a limited amount of fresh produce but will supply what we can.

The Corner Market serves our entire community, so please utilize it!

The staff and students at Howbert love to have volunteers at the school supporting learning. If you would like to volunteer, please speak with the classroom teacher or contact the front office to share with us how you would like to help.

One of the first steps all volunteers must take, is to complete the Colorado Springs School District 11 Volunteer Application.

It is best to complete the application prior to visiting the school to volunteer.

Below is the link that will take you directly to the online volunteer application.

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda-Jo in the front office (719-328-4211).

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

🔽SIGN UP USING THE LINKS BELOW🔽

• ⭐School Dance Volunteers needed - "Dancing with the Stars" on Jan. 31st 5:30pm SIGN UP HERE
• Please contact your student's teacher or the front office for additional volunteer opportunities.

Click here - Colorado Springs School District 11 Volunteer Application

Next PTO Meeting: Thursday, January 16th at 3:30pm

About the Howbert PTO

Your Howbert Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has evolved from a PTA, which has been active since the 1980s and hosts many of the fun events that Howbert offers! We also facilitate the fundraising efforts for the school. With these we have provided such opportunities as:

• Family Game (BINGO) Nights
• Field Trips
• Supplies
• Tables & Shade Structures for outdoor classroom spaces
• So much more!

PTO Contact Info

howbertpto@gmail.com

https://howbertpto.wixsite.com/info

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HowbertPTO

Ways you can support our school without spending extra money!😊

Brush Strokes🎨: Mention "Howbert" when you go and 10% of pottery sales or 30% of sticker sales will come back to Howbert. 935 Fillmore St * 719-219-1880

King Soopers Community Program: Select Howbert PTO to tie to your loyalty card and the school receives a percentage of the sales!

Safeway Community Giving Program: reloadable gift card that the school receives 3-5%. Available through our PTO.

Box Tops: Scan your receipts into the box top app, and turn in any physical box tops to the school.

American Furniture Warehouse: Mention Howbert Elementary when you purchase and a portion of the profits will come to Howbert!