Friday News - November 6, 2020

Friday, November 6, 2020


 

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

November 6, 2020

 

Dear Hillcrest Families,

November has arrived! In a typical school year, many of us look at the November calendar and wonder why there are so many days off from school.  With important holidays like Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving happening alongside Parent Conferences, November is one of the most interrupted months! This disruption feels even more extreme given the challenges of Remote Learning.  We all appear to be experiencing a level of Remote Learning fatigue right now and it can be very difficult for students, teachers and families to maintain a high level of energy and momentum!  Let’s try to keep in mind that we are all working toward the common goal of providing the best possible learning experience for our students. The challenges are significant for everyone and when we work together, our students will make steady progress.   

 

A few updates to share: 

  • Taking good care of your student’s Chromebook is essential.  Ms. Hopp, elementary technology teacher, met with many classes this week to review the expectations for Chromebook Care.  These include washing hands before use, refraining from eating or drinking near the device, keeping it on a flat surface and treating the charger carefully.  Please check out the attached infographic for details. 

  • If your child is going to be absent from Remote Learning, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 863-9526. And, keep in mind that our school nurse, Melissa Bednarski, is available to answer any of your questions about illnesses requiring a school absence or about ongoing health concerns. 

  • Please be sure to respond to teachers’ emails about Parent Conferences. These meetings are very important to supporting your child’s academic progress.  If you think you may have missed the conference email, please reach out directly to  your child’s teacher to arrange your meeting time.

  • First Grade Families -- Don’t forget about your child’s IReady account.  Short daily practice (15 to 20 minutes) on IReady is a great learning tool for boosting your child’s literacy skills. IReady provides individualized learning experiences based on your child’s responses.  

  • Some important dates to keep in mind:

    • Veteran’s Day/No School Wednesday, November 11

    • Parent Conferences/Half-Day Thursday, November 12

    • Parent Conferences/Half-Day Friday, November 13

    • Thanksgiving Holiday/Half-Day Wednesday, November 25

    • Thanksgiving Holiday/No School Thursday, Nov. 26 & Friday, Nov.27

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ---

Sarah Burstein

Sarah Burstein, Hillcrest Principal