The Weekly Update Panther Pride

Dear Hillcrest and Pine Avenue Families,

As we finish up our final days of the school year, I want to pause to recognize what a remarkable year this has been for our students, staff, and families. From the first day of school to the final celebrations of spring, your children have grown in confidence, curiosity, and character. Their progress is the direct result of the partnership we share with you—your encouragement at home, your presence at school events, and your belief in the work we do each day.

Our staff has invested their passion into creating classrooms where students become seen, supported, and challenged. They have celebrated every milestone, big and small, and they have shown up for your children with unfaltering commitment. I am sincerely appreciative of the care, creativity, and professionalism they bring to our school environment.

To our families: thank you for trusting us, for cheering alongside us, and for being such strong partners in your child’s learning. Whether you volunteered, attended events, sent encouraging notes, or simply made sure your child arrived ready to learn each day, you made a difference.

As we head into summer, I hope your family finds time to rest, explore, and enjoy the long days ahead. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in August, ready for another year of progress, joy, and learning together.

This year, all student report cards will be mailed home rather than sent on the last day of school. With the additional end‑of‑year responsibilities and the start of our bond construction project, teachers have an increased amount of preparation work to complete. Mailing report cards allows staff the time needed to finish grading and end‑of‑year tasks accurately and thoughtfully.

We are grateful to our community for approving the bond and for the exciting improvements coming to Hillcrest and Pine Avenue. Thank you for your continued support.

First Grade Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Second Grade Drop-Off & Pick-UP

Third Grade Drop-Off & Pick-Up

1st Grade Creativity

2nd Grade Creativity

3rd Grade Creativity

4th Grade Creativity

5th Grade Creativity

Student of the Week and Month:

Earning Student of the Week or Month honors as part of a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school acknowledgement program can be an exciting and motivating way for students to be recognized for positive behavior. Here are the ways in which students can earn Student of the Week or Month honors:

This week marks an important milestone as we close the 2025–2026 school year and celebrate our students' growth, accomplishments, and transitions.

One of our most meaningful traditions will take place as our third and fifth-graders walk the halls of Pine Avenue and Hillcrest. These walks are more than a celebration—they are a moment for students to reflect on how far they’ve come and to feel the pride of their school community cheering them on. For our fifth graders, this walk symbolizes the end of their elementary journey. Next year, they will step into middle school with confidence, curiosity, and the strong foundation they’ve built here. We are incredibly proud of the leaders they have become.

At Pine Avenue, fourth- and fifth-graders enjoyed their Field Day, a joyful afternoon filled with teamwork, laughter, and friendly competition. Students also came together for their Trimester Awards, where we recognized positive character and the many ways students add to a caring school community. These celebrations highlight the hard work and heart our Panthers bring to school each day.

As we wrap up the year, these times for all our students at Hillcrest and Pine Avenue remind us why elementary school is such a special chapter—rich in discovery, friendships, and milestones that shape who students are becoming. We are grateful for the families, staff, and students who make our school community so strong, and we look forward to celebrating these final days together.