An Update from Hough Elementary

Halloween at Hough is something special! We will follow the same schedule as last year, which means a fun-filled afternoon on Thursday, October 31st with an all-school parade, assembly for 1st-5th graders and our wonderful classroom parties (thank you, Room Parents). Below are some details that may be helpful.

Costumes should be easy for the student to change into by themselves with minimal adult assistance. Students are encouraged to wear as much of their costume to school as possible. Each teacher will work with their class to find an appropriate time when students may “change”/ add final costume details (wings, crown, etc.). Costumes should be elementary-age appropriate (no gore, no weapons, etc.). If make-up is part of the costume, this must be applied at home, prior to school.

We will adhere to the existing lunch/recess schedule on October 31st. We strongly discourage students from going home during lunch to change into costumes.

The all school parade will begin at 12:15PM, outside, weather permitting. Spectators are welcome to line the sidewalks along the route:

• Begin at the south gate on the large playground

• West on Lincoln Avenue to Dundee Avenue

• North on Dundee to Lake Street

• East on Lake Street to Hough Street School Main Entrance

An assembly will take place immediately following the parade for 1st - 5th graders.

Parties will begin at the conclusion of the assembly, approximately at 1:30PM. Room Parents and party volunteers will set up in classrooms after the assembly has begun. Dismissal is at the normal time of 2:40PM.

Kindergarten teachers will communicate directly with families to discuss their party plans.

I hope everyone is having a great year so far! With classroom parties and birthdays going on throughout the year, we just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that food items are not allowed to be brought in for birthdays. With so many different allergies, this remains the district protocol. Feel free to email me at clis@barrington220.org or give me a call at (847) 620-4711 with any questions. Thank you all so much for your understanding and assistance in this matter.

We are continuing to focus on Responsibility this month! When a staff member notices a student demonstrating responsibility in a "Specials" class (P.E., music, etc.), their classroom, or common spaces such as the hallway, cafeteria or playground, that student signs their name on the Responsibility bulletin board. Our goal is to fill up the board with names of responsible Hawks this month!

Applications for the Hough Variety Show are due by this Friday, October 18th. The Variety Show will be held at Station Middle School on Friday, 11/15 at 6:30 PM. Please contact Mrs. Goitein with any questions.

If your laundry has lessened (yeah, right!), it is possible that we have your child's sweatshirt! The Hough Lost and Found is record breaking at the moment. Click here to see the recent items. We also have loads of beautiful water bottles, lunch boxes and various other treasures. Please feel free to stop by the front vestibule before October 18th, as we will be donating any unclaimed items to Barrington Giving Day after conferences.

Vote for the Hough Scarecrow: Show your support for the 2024 Hough Scarecrow by voting on the Village of Barrington website. Scroll down until you find the Hough Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow. Please vote by November 1st.

Family Fun Night: Gather your ghosts and goblins for an evening of spooktacular family fun on Friday, October 25th. We will assemble in the hallowed halls of Hough for pizza, bingo and treats from 5:30-7:00PM. The cost is $10 per monster or $50 for a family clan! Children under 5 are for free. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Please register soon. Be there or beware!

Book Fair Sign-up: There are a few spots left to help with the fall book fair in the evening during conferences! The evening shift provides a relaxed experience in the Hough library, with the occasional shoppers, and it helps our PTO tremendously! Thank you to everyone who has signed up thus far!

Playground Committee Update: GREAT NEWS!! District 220 has committed over $210K toward a new large playground at Hough, with a plan to break ground in the Summer of 2025! This is incredibly exciting for our students, our committee and for our entire school community. In order to install the playground of our students’ dreams, we will be increasing our fundraising efforts throughout the school year!

Thanks to a very successful fundraiser last year, we are already on our way! In addition to The Hough Fundraiser, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025, we have some new fundraising plans in the works.

Also, stay tuned to the Hawkline and keep an eye out at PTO events for playground plans, renderings and other visuals! We are already working with Imagine Parks to explore the possibilities, and we will rely on feedback from our Hough community before making final decisions.

PTO Email Scams: WARNING! There have been some fake emails going around the district from generic PTO emails requesting gift cards, and along with some potential Facebook hacking attempts. Please double check the email address from the sender and always exercise caution. Feel free to check with a PTO member before purchasing items. The Hough PTO will not ask you to send gift cards.

Hough Welcome Parent Event: The Welcome Parents event is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th from 5:00-7:00PM @ Neoteca. More information coming soon.

POP Packs of Plenty: Many hands make light work! Please sign up below to help our students have equal opportunity for meals. Hough parents help assemble meals or approximately 30-45 minutes every Thursday at 9:00AM. Please consider signing up on November 21st or December 5th, if possible. Packs of Plenty Sign Up

Sign Ups-

Join a committee: PTO Committee Sign Up

Help our Community: Packs of Plenty Sign Up

Stock the Teacher’s Lounge: Stock the Lounge Sign Up

-Wednesday, October 16th: Picture Retakes at 8AM & Book Fair/Parent Teacher Conferences from 3:30-7:30 PM

-Thursday, October 17th: NO SCHOOL for Students

Book Fair/Parent Teacher Conferences from 1:00-7:00 PM

-Friday, October 18th: NO SCHOOL and deadline for Variety Show registration.

-Monday, October 21st: Cross Country Meet (5th Grade Mile & K-4th grade 1/2 Mile) at Beese Park

-Tuesday-Wednesday, October 22nd-23rd: 5th Grade Camp Timber-lee

-Friday, October 25th: PTO-sponsored Family Fun Night from 5:30-7:00

-Thursday, October 31st: Parade, Assembly & Classroom Parties

-Friday, November 1st: NO SCHOOL for Students/Inservice Day

-Monday, November 4th: NO SCHOOL

-Tuesday, November 5th: NO SCHOOL/Election Day