Hound Dog Huddle
January 30, 2026
Principal's Message:
Hello Hilton Families!
What a great, and chilly, week we have had here at Hilton! Below are a few updates as we move towards the second half of the year.
ELA Pilot Curriculum Update:
Our district is continuing the process of piloting new ELA (English Language Arts) resources K-5 to ensure we are providing the strongest literacy instruction for our students moving forward. During this time, some classrooms may be using different instructional programs or materials.This is a normal and crucial part of the pilot process and will not disrupt student learning. Our teachers play an important role in this work and have strong ownership in the process, using their professional expertise to select and implement strategies that best meet the needs of their students. All instruction remains aligned to grade-level standards and focused on building strong reading and writing skills. Thank you for your continued support as we work to strengthen literacy instruction for all students!
Student Progress and Interventions:
We are already at the half-way point for the 2025-26 school year! This means that teachers are continuing to take a pulse on student growth and achievement, and one way we have done this over the past month is through our DIBELS benchmarking. This data is taken three times a year, and gives teachers a small “snapshot” on how students are progressing. This, along with classroom diagnostics, assessments, and observations, is used to help design interventions students need at each level to ensure their growth. Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at our WIN time groups, and adjusting accordingly to make sure each student is receiving “What I Need” during this time.
Neighborhood Reminders:
As a reminder, while the district has instated that we have no left turn out of the Hilton Elementary School parking lot during drop off and pick up times to alleviate more back ups, we do ask that you try not to cut through the neighboring subdivisions on your way out. We are getting reports of people speeding through these areas after leaving our parking lot. Thank you for your cooperation in this.
Thank you for your continued support, and have a wonderful weekend!
Warmly,
Erin Belanger
Hilton Elementary Principal
Important Dates to Remember
- Tuesday, February 10th & Wednesday, February 11th: JK/K/2nd/4th Hearing Screening
- Friday, February 13th & Monday, February 16th: No School for Students
- Tuesday, February 17th: JK/Kindergarten Round Up at Hilton at 6pm
- Monday, February 23rd: PTO Meeting at 9:30am
- Wednesday, February 25th: Incoming 5th Grade Parent Night at Maltby at 6pm
STEAM Lab Needs Creation Station Supplies!
We are looking for items that students can repurpose for creative projects, such as:
Clean containers and lids
Flattened cereal or cracker boxes
Paper towel or toilet paper tubes
Buttons and craft supplies
Any other materials you no longer need that can be reused in projects
Items can be dropped off at the front office, or your child can bring them directly to Mrs. Lewicki.
Thank you so much for helping us keep the Creation Station stocked and inspiring student creativity!
Virtual Tutoring Opportunity Through BAS
Virtual Tutoring Opportunity Grades 2 - 8: Reading or Math
For the past few years, Brighton Area Schools have offered invite only Virtual Tutoring for students who may need additional support in reading or math (based on assessment data). This winter, we have a limited number of seats available for additional students in grades 2 - 8 to take advantage of this program.
This 10-week structured program will provide high-dosage one-on-one online tutoring with a live teacher (provided by our partner, Littera) two times per week for 30 minutes utilizing high quality online content. The Virtual Tutoring runs from February 17 through May 1. When registering, families will be able to pick the days and times that work best for them.
This is a virtual program; therefore, students will meet with their live teacher online for only 30 minutes a day, two times per week. Based on the online nature of the program, students can connect from wherever they have internet access.
Complete: Winter Virtual Tutoring Interest Form to express interest in participating in this program. Please complete the form for your student as soon as possible and on or before Friday, January 30, 2026 to express your interest in this opportunity. Space is limited.
Please click on: Informational flyer for details or Littera for additional information about our tutoring services provider.
A Message From Dr. Outlaw
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the brand-new, improved Brighton Area Schools website! This project represents six months of dedicated work, including thousands of hours spent building approximately 300 pages to better serve our students, families, and staff.
To finalize the move to our new platform, the website will experience scheduled downtime this Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During this window:
The main website will be temporarily unavailable.
Access to specific school web pages and hosted resources will also be affected.
Other core school systems (such as email or ParentConnect) should remain functional.
While we have meticulously reviewed every page, a transition of this scale may initially experience a few "glitches." We appreciate your patience as we settle into our new home. If you encounter any issues, please let us know by using the ‘Report an Issue’ link located in the bottom footer of the site.
This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of Brady Butcher. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Brady for his technical expertise and the thousands of hours he contributed to building this modern resource for our community.
We can’t wait for you to explore the new site!
Drop Off and Pick Up
Interested in Volunteering - Background Check Link
One volunteer form is required per school year.
Parents, please be sure to check ALL buildings where your children attend, so you only need to complete one form to volunteer for any school event.
If you have questions regarding this form, please contact the Human Resources Department at 810-299-4090
All responses are kept confidential. If there is a problem processing your background check, you will be contacted by phone or email.
Medication Including Over the Counter
Sign up for the whole school Remind!!! Get instant updates on school closing and upcoming events
If your child is sick...
They have a fever.
They must be fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT the aid or use of medication.
They must be vomit free for 24 hours.
They must be diarrhea free for 24 hours.
Please do not send medication in with your student.
Staff is not allowed to dispense any medication without a signed Medical Authorization Form signed by a physician.
For more detailed information:
Important Phone Numbers
Hilton Attendance Line - 810-299-3954
Hilton Fax - 810-299-3960
Hilton Friendship Center - 810-299-3996
BAS Transportation - 810-299-3890
BAS Central Office - 810-299-4000
Daily Start Times
School Times
Elementary Start and End Time - 9:05 a.m. to 3:58 p.m.
Students will be allowed in the building at 8:55am and then released at 3:58 when school ends. Parents will be allowed into the building at 3:59 or 4:00 depending on how quickly we can get students to the gym. Drop off and pick up informational links are above!
Lunch and Recess Times
JK (Ms. Jusino/Ms. Grabowski) & Kindergarten
11:10-11:30 - Lunch Time
11:35-11:55 - Recess Time
JK (Mrs. Spaanstra) & 1st Grade
11:40- 12:00 - Lunch Time
12:05-12:25 - Recess Time
2nd Grade
12:40--1:00 - Lunch Time
1:05-1:25 - Recess Time
3rd Grade
12:10-12:30 - Lunch Time
12:35-12:55 - Recess Time
4th Grade
1:10-1:30 - Lunch Time
1:35-1:55 - Recess Time
Hilton Elementary School
Email: belangere@brightonk12.com
Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/113
Location: 9600 Hilton Road, Brighton, MI, USA
Phone: 810-299-3950