Hardy Happenings

I hope you had a great three-day weekend! This week’s Hardy Happenings is a bit longer than usual (thank you in advance for reading!), and it includes several important updates, so please take a few minutes to review it carefully, especially the items below:

• Impact Aid Survey (mandatory), due Friday, January 30
  This is the most important to-do item right now. Our goal is 100% completion, and every form helps bring important federal funding to support our students and school programs.

• Great Kindness Challenge is next week (January 26–30)
  
• We’re excited to kick off a week focused on kindness, community, and living our Hardy SOAR values. Check below for our daily spirit themes, including Monday’s Dalmatian Day to celebrate 101 days of learning.
• Monday: 🐾 Dalmatian Day (black and white, spots encouraged)
  Tuesday: ⚽ Sports Day (team jersey or sports attire)
  Wednesday: 😁 Kind Shirt Day (wear a shirt with kind words or symbols)
  Thursday: 🎩 Hat and Hair Day (crazy hair, a hat, or fun hair accessories)
  Friday: 🧦 Fun Socks Day (wear your fun socks and a Hardy shirt)
• Dad’s Club Movie Night is Friday, January 23
  Our first Movie Night of 2026 is this Friday evening, and families can vote for the movie using the link below. We hope to see you there for a fun night together.

With Gratitude,

Principal Aragon

The Federal Impact Aid Survey is required for all families and helps our district receive important funding (about $10 million each year) that directly supports students and schools. Families with a parent who is active duty military or works on federal property may qualify the district for additional funds, and the district may also receive additional support for federally connected students with an active IEP. Our goal is 100% participation.

Please complete the survey through the PowerSchool Parent Portal if possible. If you’ve already submitted it online, thank you, you will not receive a paper copy. If you cannot complete it online, a paper form will come home today. Please return it as soon as possible, no later than Friday, January 30.

Paper form reminders: the form lists October 27, 2025 as the opening date, but the Hardy deadline is January 30. Forms must be completed in blue or black ink, signed by a parent or guardian, and dated.

How to complete

1. Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal (or use the mobile app)
2. Go to Forms
3. Select 2025–26 Impact Aid Program Survey Form
• Complete the 5 questions, sign and submit
4. Select 2025–26 Family Resource Guide Confirmation
• Complete the 1 question, sign and submit
5. Select 2025 - 26 Universal Form
• Complete the 5 questions, sign and submit

Need help with Parent Portal?

If you need help creating or accessing your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, we’re here to support you.

You can:

• Visit the Parent Portal resource webpage
• Contact our Site Tech, Marlene Curtin at mcurtin@sandi.net for one-on-one support.

Our teacher’s union has announced a one-day strike on February 26, 2026 regarding Special Education staffing issues as part of a statewide California Teacher’s Association initiative to bring educator pay and benefits in alignment with school districts like San Diego Unified.

In order to maintain a harmonious learning environment for our students, we will honor the strike and close schools on that day. We apologize for any inconvenience this will cause you, but closing schools will ensure that students are not placed in situations where adequate supervision, instructional continuity, and campus safety cannot be reliably maintained.

Families should begin to find alternative arrangements for their children for February 26th. There will be no classroom instruction, and before/after school programs won’t be operating.

The make-up date for classes will be on March 9, 2026, to ensure students receive the instructional time and services to support their success.

Yesterday, we reached a major milestone in our modernization process with the demolition of Room 1 and Rooms 10–17. Our general contractor, Sundt, worked late into the evening to ensure the work was completed before we returned to campus today. It already feels like a bigger, more open campus, and we’re so excited for what’s next as we begin the new parking lot and cafeteria building.

With warmer days in San Diego, here’s a quick reminder about our Hardy dress code. Students should wear comfortable, appropriate, and safe clothing for learning and play. Shorts are welcome, but they may not be cut up the side (jogging style), cut-offs, or extremely short, and clothing should fit appropriately for safety.

Not permitted at school:
• Flip-flops or high-heeled shoes
• Clothing with suggestive words/pictures or alcohol/tobacco advertisements
• Large hoop, wire, or dangling earrings (small posts only)
• Strapless or spaghetti straps
• Crop tops/bare midriff
• Very short shorts
• Shoes with wheels

If needed, families may be contacted to provide alternate clothing. Thank you for your support in keeping Hardy safe and learning-focused.

Have one hour a week to make a big difference?

Hardy is proud to partner with Everyone A Reader, a proven literacy program that matches trained volunteers with young readers who need extra support.

🗓 Volunteer Training: Tuesday, Jan 27 after drop-off

📍 Location: Hardy Library

📩 Interested? Contact Alexis Hedgecock at ahedgecock27@gmail.com to learn more.

We are seeing an increase in items coming to school that should remain at home, including wallets with money, toys/collectibles (such as Laboubous), and Apple Watches. Please help us by keeping these items at home.

If a student brings a smart watch or cell phone to school, it must remain OFF and kept in their backpack for the entire school day until pickup.

The Great Kindness Challenge is January 26 - January 30. The theme this year is “Show us Your Kind” - shining a light on kindness. More information to follow!

After School Enrichment (ASE) Session 3 begins January 26! Students can choose from a variety of programs including Chess, Cooking, Cheer, Dance, Legos, Spanish, Pickleball, Science, Soccer, and more. ASE provides a fun way for students to explore interests and build skills after school.

Register Now

ASE Flyers and Registration Links - Hardy Elementary

If your student is home sick, please notify the front office by phone or by completing the REPORT AN ABSENCE form.

This spring, Hardy PTA will host our first-ever online Silent Auction—an easy, fun way to support Hardy students and programs without a big in-person event.

We’re now gathering items and experiences for the auction, and this is where our community really shines. If you have access through your work, your business, or a personal connection, we’d love your help! Popular ideas include:

• Restaurant or coffee shop gift cards

• Family fun experiences (museums, attractions, camps)

• Date night packages or staycations

• Kids’ party experiences or classes

• Sporting events, lessons, or equipment

Every contribution—big or small—helps make this fundraiser a success.

📧 Interested in donating or have an idea? Email fundraising@hardypta.com

Have one hour a week to make a big difference?

Hardy is proud to partner with Everyone A Reader, a proven literacy program that matches trained volunteers with young readers who need extra support.

🗓 Volunteer Training: Tuesday, Jan 27 after drop-off

📍 Location: Hardy Library

📩 Interested? Contact Alexis Hedgecock at ahedgecock27@gmail.com to learn more.

🕕 6:00 PM | Hardy Auditorium

Our first Movie Night of 2026 is this Friday! Please vote for the movie here: 👉 https://forms.gle/dPYTrzRi1L39YSqXA

Please note:
• This is a family event; parents must stay and supervise
• No auditorium access before 6 pm
• Food & drinks stay in the auditorium/courtyard only
• Playground access allowed; please walk safely around parking areas

Thanks for helping keep Movie Night fun, safe, and smooth for all Hardy families! 🦉

JANUARY

Friday, January 23: Dad's Club Movie Night

Friday, January 23: 100th Day of School

January 26-30: The Great Kindness Challenge

Monday, January 26: 101st Day of School: Dalmatian Day!

Tuesday, January 27: Everyone A Reader Training - 8:00 AM

FEBRUARY

Tuesday, February 3: Dad's Club Meeting

Wednesday, February 4: Family Dine Out

Thursday, February 5: School Tour 8 AM

Friday, February 6: Family Friday

Monday, February 9: SSC/SGT

Thursday, February 12: Additional Minimum Day

Friday, February 13: No School

Monday, February 16: No School

Tuesday, February 17: Lunar New Year at 1:00 PM

Thursday, February 19: PTA Association Meeting 6:15 PM

Monday-Friday, Feb. 23-27: Literacy Week and Hardy Book Fair

Tuesday, February 24: 4th Grade NAEP Testing

Wednesday, February 25: TK/K Awards (Invite only)

Thursday, February 26: No School - SDEA Strike

Friday, February 27: 1-5 Awards (Invite only)

Website: hardy.sandiegounified.org

Hardy PTA Website: https://sites.google.com/hardypta.com/pta

Address: 5420 Montezuma Rd, San Diego, CA 92115

Office Hours: 7:15-3:00 PM

Phone: (619) 860-5700
Facebook: Hardy PTA Page

Hardy Instagram: @HardyOwls

Email: karagon@sandi.net
Principal Aragon Instagram: @principal_aragon

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