Hal Henard Happenings

Hal Henard families,

Being selected as Teacher of the Year is an honor not only because the teacher is being recognized formally, but also because this person is selected by staff. This is someone who exemplifies what we believe to be the most important characteristics of a teacher: enthusiastic, dedicated, and a leader. Oh, yeah, and a subject expert! This person inspires our students to love learning and be good citizens in our school community. They should be respected by students, fellow staff, and parents.

Mr. Myers is all of these and then some that aren't even on the list. He is humble and doesn't seek recognition for the wonderful things he does for our Eagles, and he makes all of us, students and staff, want to be better. Please help us recognize Mr. Daniel Myers as our Hal Henard Teacher of the Year!

Smiles,

Dr. Gass

Pumpkins are all around us this time of year. Kids are talking about the faces they've made on their pumpkins, what color of pumpkins they've got, and you can't get out of the grocery store without seeing pumpkin doughnuts, pumpkin coffee, and pumpkin pie. It is the time of year where pumpkins are the star of the show, so here are some fun things to share with your Eagles. Did you know that the world record for the heaviest pumpkin weighed in at 3,156 pounds? That's almost as much as a car, and the seed it grows from is only about 1.5 inches long! Pumpkins are considered a fruit because it grows from a blossom and contains seeds. Also, you can eat every part of a pumpkin - even the stem! I'm not so sure I'd try that, though. Last one...the only place in the world that can't grow pumpkins is Antarctica.

November 3: No School

November 11: Veteran's Day Program

November 25, 26, 27: Thanksgiving Break

November 30: 4th and 5th grades Program at NPAC

Our Veteran's Day program will be November 11th at 9:00am. Please visit the Hal Henard website to register.

Students will celebrate our successful fundraiser with a DJ Glow Party on Monday! Wearing white or light colors really makes the glow fun! Thanks to everyone for helping our students be successful.

All food items brought to school, such as snacks or food for a celebration, must have a nutrition label with ingredients listed. Homemade goods are also not allowed. Thank you for helping us keep our students with food allergies safe!

We love to invite our guests to enjoy lunch with our Eagles. We will have space for 3 guests per grade level each day, and you will be able to enjoy lunch on the mezzanine. Please use the link below to register. We will reach out to parents/guardians by email on the Friday before to confirm your "reservation" with us. If you don't receive a confirmation, all spaces are full. Reservations will be confirmed in the order they are placed. We've included the lunch times below to help you plan.

We will not have lunch guest sign-up open for the week of Thanksgiving because it is a short week.

PreK: 10:55 - 11:25
Kindergarten: 11:05 - 11:45
1st Grade: 12:20 - 12:55
2nd Grade: 11:50 - 12:20
3rd Grade: 12:35 - 1:05
4th Grade: 12:00 - 12:35
5th Grade: 11:25 - 11:55

We are entering that time of year where colds, flu, and other illnesses start to affect our building. Please remind your children to wash their hands really well. A good time to wash hands is after you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose. It's also important before you eat or if you've been around someone who is sick. If soap and water isn't available, a good hand sanitizer will work, too.

The information below is a quick reference and some helpful links. More detailed information can be found in our student handbook on our webpage (On the Parents tab under Menu).

Office Hours: Someone is available to answer the phones and door from 7:30 - 3:30. If you call or come to the school outside of these hours, someone may not be available in the office.

Breakfast and Lunch

All students receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2026-2027 school year. Students can purchase additional items, such as extra portions of food, milk, and snacks/treats. If you would like you child to be able to purchase additional items, please make sure there is money on their account. We are excited to announce an additional entree choice. Starting this year, the cafe will offer a toasted cheese sandwich daily.

Free/Reduced Application

While all students receive free breakfast and lunch for this school year, completing this application can provide other funds to help support our students. You can apply here: https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/welcome

Transportation

• Car line opens at 2:30. Please do not enter the car line before because the CarRiderPRO system will not be on, yet.
• If you have questions about your child's bus schedule or need to arrange bus transportation, please call Kristen Rollins at 423-787-8003.
• If you are making a permanent change to your transportation plan, please contact Mrs. Shannon at 423-638-3511. Changes will be required in writing/email.
• If you are making a one-day or short term change, please use our Transportation Changes link on our webpage. Changes should be made before 1pm, but we know sometimes emergencies happen. Please call the school directly if you need to make a change after 1pm. https://halhenard.gcschools.net/o/hhes/forms/transportation-changes

Car Tags

All cars entering the car line must have a CarRider PRO tag displayed. If you do not have a tag, please park and enter the main office at 3:30 with a photo ID to pick-up your child. Students may only be checked out by someone on the approved pick-up list. While we know this takes more time, this ensures we get all students home safely. If you need additional car tags, these can be purchased through our online school store for $5 each.

Arrival/Dismissal

Our school day begins at 8:15am. Students who arrive after this will need to be checked in by a parent/guardian in the main office. Arrivals after 8:15 will be marked as a tardy. Afternoon dismissal begins at 3:15, and all students should be picked up no later than 3:30.

Water Bottles

Hydrated brains are ready to learn! Students may bring an empty water bottle with a screw-on lid to school. Glass water bottles are prohibited. Plastic water bottles are preferred, but metal ones are allowed. Students have multiple opportunities through the day to fill these from our hydration stations.

Personal Communication Devices

Any device that is able to send/receive communication must be turned off and stored for the duration of the school day unless there is an academic or medical exception. Devices not turned off and stored appropriately will be kept in the office until a parent/guardian can arrange to pick it up.

Toys/Items from Home

Please keep toys, stuffed animals, and craft/sports items at home. Teachers may allow students to bring an item to school as a reward.

Attendance

If your child is absent, please send a parent/doctor note within 2 days. There are several ways you can share this with us.

• Use our online absentee reporting option on our webpage (https://halhenard.gcschools.net/)
• Send a note with your child. If your child is younger, you may want to reach out to the teacher in advance to be on the lookout for it.
• Emailing Mrs. Shannon
• Have the medical office fax a note

https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4434/Hhes/38e140de-4fd0-44ee-b2b9-cb63b29272d4/Hal-Henard-Elementary-Handbook-Updated.pdf?disposition=inline

Our Hal Henard Eagles are fortunate to be supported not only by our school staff but also by our amazing GSIA organization. They raise funds to support our students in many ways, such as playground equipment, attendance incentives, and risers for our music program. They will be sharing more ways you can get involved as the school year kicks off!

If you are visiting Hal Henard or coming to check out your student, please bring a valid photo ID. Safety of our students is always a top priority, and this helps us ensure that. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.