The Weekly Update Panther Pride

Dear Hillcrest and Pine Avenue Families,

As we close our final week of SEL lessons on Perseverance, students have been exploring what it means to stay committed to their goals even when the path gets bumpy. One of the messages we shared with them comes from a well‑known company that began with a simple idea and a lot of determination. Their reminder is powerful for children and adults alike:

“Don’t give up on your dreams. We started with DVDs.” — Netflix.

It’s a perfect example of how big things often begin small. Success rarely arrives all at once; it grows through steady effort, problem‑solving, and the courage to keep going when things feel hard. That’s exactly what we want our students to understand. Goals give them direction, but perseverance gives them the strength to move forward step by step.

At school, students practiced noticing when they felt stuck, using positive self‑talk, and trying new strategies rather than giving up. At home, you can reinforce this by celebrating effort, naming the progress you see, and reminding your child that every dream — big or small — starts with a first step.

When children believe in “not yet,” they learn that challenges aren’t roadblocks; they’re part of the journey. And with encouragement from both school and home, they discover that their dreams are worth the work.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow and Ms. Jaeck

Perseverance Grade 1

Perseverance Grade 2

Perseverance Grade 3

Perseverance Grade 4

Perseverance Grade 5

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, Hillcrest and Pine Avenue welcomed 80 families for an evening filled with connection, learning, and winter fun. Our Family Engagement Night brought together the very best of our school community—students exploring new ideas, families learning alongside them, and staff creating experiences that truly matter.

Thanks to the generosity of SFE (Southwest Foodservice Excellence), families enjoyed hot chocolate and fresh‑baked cookies, adding a cozy touch to the night. Frost the Snowman brought plenty of smiles, and our Bridges Workplaces math games helped strengthen the home‑to‑school connection by giving families hands‑on ways to support math learning at home.

A heartfelt thank‑you goes to our teachers and staff, whose preparation, creativity, and enthusiasm made this event such a meaningful learning experience. Their commitment to building community and supporting students shines through in every detail.

Below are pictures from the evening will be displayed with this article to celebrate the joy, teamwork, and Panther Pride that filled the night

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:

Students in Mrs. Benjamin's class were busy this week bringing math to life across the building! From manipulating numbers on our 12‑foot number line to rotating through hands‑on measurement stations, classrooms were full of movement, exploration, and problem‑solving.

Students in Mrs. Wickes third grade classroom practiced measuring liquid volume, mass, and length using real tools and real‑world scenarios. These experiences helped deepen their understanding as they worked toward our learning intention: I am learning how to measure and solve problems involving mass and liquid volume using the correct units and tools.

Our first grade STEM learners joined the excitement too, engaging in creative, inquiry‑based challenges that stretched their thinking and encouraged teamwork. Their curiosity and persistence were on full display.

Our school continues to shine as a place where students learn by doing—and where math feels meaningful, active, and fun.