Weekly Family Newsletter

Dear Holly Tree Families,

What an exciting week ahead at Holly Tree Elementary! This Wednesday, we will officially launch WIG Wednesday—an opportunity for our students to celebrate and stay focused on their Wildly Important Goals (WIGs).

Our WIGs help students take ownership of their learning by identifying a meaningful goal and the steps they can take to make progress. We encourage you to join us at home by asking your child about their WIG: What is your goal? How are you working toward it? What progress have you made?

When students know what they are working toward—and have adults cheering them on—they are empowered to Learn, Lead, and Soar!

Thank you for being such an important part of our Holly Tree family. We are excited to see our Cardinals set big goals, celebrate progress, and continue getting 1% Better Every Day!

Go Cards!
Learn. Lead. Soar.

📅September 21st-25th: Start With Hello Week (See below)

📅Wednesday, September 23rd:

• WIG Wednesday Launch
• Interim Reports Go Home

📅September 25th: (9/25): Dolly Day (see details below)

📅September 30th: PTA Membership Drive ends

📅October 2nd: Dads at the Doors (sign up below)

📅October 5th-9th: Student-Led Conferences (See details below)

📅October 6th: Public PTA Meeting 8:30am All are welcome!

📅October 7th: Cardinals Night Out- Chipotle

📅October 9th: School Store 7:15-7:40

📅October 16th: Holly Tree Hoedown Fall Festival 5-7pm

📅October 22nd: McTeacher Night 4:30-7PM

📅October 23rd:

• School Store 7:15-7:40
• Fall Picture Day (Retakes on November 12th)

🌎 MEET & GREET MONDAY — September 21

Say hello! Challenge yourself to greet others with a “hello” from around the world.

❤️ TRUSTED ADULT TUESDAY — September 22
Take a moment to thank a trusted adult who supports, encourages, and cares about you. Let them know how much they mean to you!

💚 WEAR GREEN WEDNESDAY — September 23
It’s a GREEN OUT! Wear green as a symbol of unity, connection, and solidarity.

📣 UPSTANDER THURSDAY — September 24
Think about how you can be an UPSTANDER this school year. Stand up for others, include someone who may feel left out, and choose kindness!

🤝 FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY — September 25
Celebrate the friendships you’ve made so far this year! Keep reaching out, meeting new people, and adding new friends to your Cardinal family.

This is a special opportunity for our students to take the lead, share their learning and growth, and celebrate their accomplishments with their families. 🌟

📅 Conference Schedule:

• Monday, Oct. 5: Kindergarten
• Tuesday, Oct. 6: 1st Grade
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: 2nd Grade
• Thursday, Oct. 8: 3rd Grade
• Friday, Oct. 9: 4th & 5th Grade

⏰ Grades K–4: 7:45–8:15 AM
⏰ 5th Grade: 10:30–11:00 AM

We can’t wait to see our Cardinals LEARN, LEAD, and SOAR!

Every membership helps us achieve more for our school!

Get your commitment-free membership by Sept 30th to have it count toward your student's class for the drive! -->> https://hollytreepta.givebacks.com/shop?category=335

Dads! Surprise your kiddo by signing up where they enter!

K-2, 3-5, main, or back doors -->> https://signup.com/go/QnUzJhf

Volunteer and Donation Opportunities on our website now! Hollytreecardinals.com

We’re celebrating another strong week of showing up, learning, and growing at Holly Tree Elementary!

Here’s how our Cardinals showed up this week:

• Kindergarten — 98%
• 1st Grade — 97%
• 2nd Grade — 96%
• 3rd Grade — 98%
• 4th Grade — 98%
• 5th Grade — 98%

**We met our Schoolwide Attendance gor for the week: 98%!**

Our goal for next week is 99%!

A great school year starts with great attendance! Being at school every day and arriving on time gives students the best opportunity to build strong relationships, develop confidence, and stay connected to learning. Each day includes valuable instruction, hands-on experiences, and classroom discussions that cannot be fully replaced when a student is absent.

At Holly Tree Elementary, we believe that consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. We encourage families to establish routines that help children arrive at school on time, schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible, and communicate with us if attendance challenges arise. Together, we can ensure every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, one day at a time.

At Holly Tree Elementary, we believe every great day starts with a great breakfast!

Our Breakfast Program offers students a variety of delicious hot and cold choices, along with fresh fruit, juice, and milk. From pancakes and French toast sticks to breakfast pizza, cereal, and more—there’s something for everyone!

Breakfast is a great way to make sure our Cardinals are fueled, focused, and ready to learn each morning.

👉 Please have your child join us for breakfast each morning!
And don’t forget—students can also take items to go to help supplement snack time or after-school hunger.

New Hanover County is inviting eligible residents to apply for the new Food and Medication (FAM) Delivery Program (English flyer/Spanish flyer), a free program designed to make it easier to access groceries, fresh food, household essentials and prescription medications from home. Through this two-year pilot program, eligible households can receive an Instacart+ membership at no cost, which includes waived delivery fees on qualifying orders. Participants will also receive $120 per year in Fresh Funds to help purchase fresh produce and grocery items.

What the program offers:

• Free annual Instacart+ membership

• Waived delivery fees on qualifying orders

• $120 per year in Fresh Funds for eligible grocery purchases

• Access to participating grocery stores and pharmacies through Instacart

• Convenient delivery of groceries, household essentials and prescription medications directly to your home

Who may qualify? The program is available to eligible New Hanover County residents who:

• Live in one of the county's identified food desert areas; and

• Meet household income eligibility guidelines.

Older adults and residents who experience transportation or mobility barriers are especially encouraged to see if they qualify.

Ready to apply? Visit the New Hanover County Food and Medication Delivery Program webpage to learn more, check eligibility and complete an application: NHCgov.com/FAM

Need help applying? In-person application assistance is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at New Hanover County Health and Human Services, 1650 Greenfield Street, Wilmington. For questions or assistance, call 910-798-3500. Don't miss this opportunity to make accessing groceries and medications easier. Apply today and see if your household qualifies!

• Food and Medication (FAM) Delivery Program — Learn More & Apply

In order for our arrival and dismissal to run smoothly, and to provide the safest environment for our staff and students, please review and follow these important procedures:

• Approved Drop-Off Locations: All car riders must use one of our designated car lines. For safety reasons, students may not be dropped off at the back of the school or along the sidewalk on Web Trace where no staff are present. Only walkers and bike riders are permitted to enter the buildng at the back door.

• Morning Drop-Off: When using the car rider line, pull your vehicle as far forward as possible before stopping, and place your car in park while your child exits the vehicle. Staff members are on duty to assist and ensure a safe and efficient process.

• Late Arrivals: All students that arrive after 7:40, must be accompanied by an adult to our front office to check in. Please do not drop students off, after 7:40, without checking them in.

• Afternoon Pick-Up: For everyone’s safety, please do not wait for your child at the front entrance or walk up to meet them during dismissal. All students should be picked up through the car rider line or walk/ bike home following the procedures established for walkers/ bikers.

• Parking: Do not park or leave your vehicle unattended in the driveway in front of the school. This area must remain clear to ensure the safety of students and to keep traffic flowing efficiently during drop-off and pick-up times.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep every Cardinal safe during arrival and dismissal!

If a change in transportation is necessary, follow the procedures below:

1. Write the change on a note to the teacher. Have your child submit to the teacher during morning arrival time.

2. Call the front desk 910-790-2250 (no later than 1:00 p.m.)

When parents send a note with a transportation change or call the school, it must include:

Student Name

Teacher Name

Date(s) of change

Normal Transportation

Transportation Change (note bus number, van name, or name of person picking up student)

Name and contact # of person requesting change

If the phone number requesting the change does not match the number we have on file, we will call the parent to confirm.

At Holly Tree Elementary, we know that great intentions only become great results when we execute what matters most.

This year, we are putting the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) into action by identifying our Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) and focusing our collective energy on the work that will make the greatest difference for our students.

• Our Reading WIG: Increase reading proficiency from 70% to 75% by the Spring 2027 EOG.
• Our Math WIG: Increase math proficiency from 80% to 85% by the Spring 2027 EOG.

But our WIGs are about more than numbers. They represent a commitment to focus, consistency, teamwork, and purposeful action. Every classroom, every teacher, and every student has a role to play in moving these goals forward.

We will track our progress, celebrate our wins, learn from our challenges, and keep our eyes on what matters most.

Because at Holly Tree, we aren't trying to do everything—we're committed to doing the right things exceptionally well.

Help take the lead at home by teaching and modeling principles of effectiveness for all family members.

Our school is a proud Leader in Me School.

At Holly Tree Elementary, we focus on developing the whole-child by:

• teaching LEADERSHIP to every student,

• creating a CULTURE of student empowerment,

• and aligning systems to drive results in ACADEMICS.

The Leader in Me prides itself of being a process which equips students with the self-confidence and skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. It creates transformational results such as higher academic achievement, fewer discipline problems, and increased engagement among teachers and parents. This is done as students learn to become empowered through leadership, accountability, initiative, critical thinking, goal setting, listening and speaking, self-direction, responsibility, teamwork and problem solving.

What is the best way that parents and families can support our "Leader in Me" leadership initiative? By using the 8 Habits" language at home!

As the school year unfolds, the students are learning the language and meaning of the 7 Habits. By hearing the same language at home and at school, you send your child a message of what is important and that we are all on the same team—the team that wants to help your student succeed. When parents and schools support one another, the sky is the limit!

Our 8 Habits:

• Habit 1: Be Proactive (I’m Responsible for Me)

• Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind (Have a Plan)

• Habit 3: Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)

• Habit 4: Think Win-Win (Everyone Can Win)

• Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Listen Before You Talk)

• Habit 6: Synergize (Together Is Better)

• Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (Balance Feels Best)

• Habit 8: Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs

In order to encourage the 8 Habits language at home, here are some questions you can ask your child:

• How were you proactive today?

• What is your end in mind with this project/work/task?

• How do you plan to put first things first in this situation?

• What would be a win-win for us?

• I want to hear what you think first and then I will share. How do you know when you are being listened to?

• How can we work together on this?

• How would you like to sharpen your saw today?

Is your child modeling the 8 habits at home? We want to recognize and spotlight it! Share your examples by sending them to info.hollytree@nhcs.net.

We would also like to share these here in our Weekly Newsletter and on our social media platforms, so make sure to let us know if you prefer that we don't share publicly.

We welcome volunteers at Holly Tree. As a reminder, NHCS Orientation/Training shall be completed each school year and as needed to review policies and procedures on safety, sexual harassment, child abuse, discrimination, security, internet and software use, etc.

All 2026-2027 Volunteer Training Materials and Background Check information can be found by clicking the image below.

All necessary links for volunteer training are contained at the end of the presentation under "Required Steps for Becoming a Volunteer". This includes completing the "Volunteer Orientation Assessment" quiz at the end of the powerpoint presentation.

Click below for more informatiton and/or to complete the Orientation Training. Please feel free to reach out to our volunteer coordinator, Catherine Harkema, with any questions.

Helping your child at home with literacy

Digital Children's Reading Initiative Website

mCLASS Home Connect Website

K-2

Reading-Wit & Wisdom, Fundations, Heggerty & Geodes

Math-Eureka Squared

SS-Social Studies Weekly

Leader In Me

3-5

Reading-Wit & Wisdom

Fundations (3rd)

Math-Eureka Squared

SS-Social Studies Weekly

Leader In Me

Doors Open at 7:15*

Classes Begin/Tardy Bell Rings at 7:40

Dismissal Begins at 2:35

*Please remember, in our efforts to help our students build independence, we do not allow parents to walk their students to class in the morning following the first week of school. We also remind parents NOT to drop students off unattended before 7:15. Please wait until 7:15, when our staff is on duty to greet them.

Holly Tree Elementary School

Asst. Principal: Lauren Applewhite

Main Office: Tammy Zachrich

Data Manager: Barbra Entremont

Nurse: Kerry Fitzgerald

Treasurer: Wanda Del Rio

Email: info.hollytree@nhcs.net
Website: https://hollytree.nhcs.net/
Location: 3020 Web Trace, Wilmington, NC 28409

Phone: (910) 790-2250
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HollyTreeElem