Friday News - May 13, 2022

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

May 13, 2022

Dear Hillcrest Families,

This is the point of the school year where we all look at the calendar and think, “Where did the time go?”  With just five weeks left in the school year, we all have so many things on our To Do Lists!  Families are juggling spring sports, dance recitals and family celebrations while teachers are thinking about each student’s transition to the upcoming school year.  One very important focus area for our teachers at this time of year is building class lists.  This is a very thoughtful, comprehensive process that involves collaboration among all of our grade level teams.  Our class lists are not finalized until mid-August, but the process is well underway and I can assure that we take great care in building well-balanced classroom groups.  

A few important news items:

• As you know, it was quite a warm day today!  Many of our students have gotten into the very good habit of bringing a water bottle to school and they are keeping themselves well-hydrated throughout the day.  Please keep sending a water bottle each day.  It gets quite warm in our building and on our playground, so hydration is really important.  You may also want to send your student with a baseball cap or sun hat for recess and P.E.  Our playgrounds have very little shade, so a hat can be really helpful.  As always, please be sure to label water bottles and hats with your child’s name.

• As the temperatures rise, you may be thinking about cooler footwear.  Please keep in mind that flip-flops and backless sandals are not allowed at school.  For more information about footwear, check out this excerpt from our Family Handbook: 

  • Students should wear sturdy shoes safe for outdoor play.  Footwear must fit securely to the foot for safety on the playground and stairs.  High heels, flip-flops and other backless sandals are not permitted. Slick-soled dress-up shoes are not safe on the playground. Sneakers are ideal for all school days and are required on days when students have physical education.

• It’s been great to see so many students and families enjoying our Diverse Books Family Lending Library!  If your student has borrowed a book, please be sure to return it by Monday, May 16th so that we can get ready for our next lending session:

  • Tuesday, May 17th from 2:55 - 3:15 for our Kindergarten & First Grade Bus Students

• For your summer reading fun, we will be holding a Summer Reading Kick-Off on June 8th. Each Hillcrest student will bring home a collection of new picture books to enjoy during the summer months. We’ll also include a reading log and response pages for students who want to extend their reading experience.  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend –

Sarah Burstein

Sarah Burstein, Hillcrest Principal

Important dates

May 30th – Memorial Day/No School

June 8th - Summer Reading Kick-Off

June 15th - Last Day of School