Message from the Principal
Dear Hornet Families,
Great Week 3 for our Scholars! !
Week 3 saw most of our scholars arriving to school on time. Announcements begin at 7:30 AM along with Breakfast in the Classroom. Please help your child arrive on time.
Also on Saturday, we held our 1st Saturday Learning Camp for scholars in 1st through 5th grade. We had over 200 scholars in attendance! Thank you for allowing your child to come in for small group support in reading and math.
On Monday, we begin our Lexia journey. Each year, we reset the scholars' accounts to help them work on grade level. Please do not begin until the teacher has set boundaries and explained expectations for Lexia. When your child takes the initial test, it will determine their instructional level. Lexia is a reading program that supports our scholars to reach their maximum potential.
On Tuesday, we will host our Family Literacy Night from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM for parents and scholars to find new ways to address literacy with fun, hands-on learning activities. All of our teachers will be on hand to provide support and engage our scholars. All scholars in attendance will receive a FREE DRESS pass for Wednesday. We will be in the new gym.
On Wednesday, I will host our 1st Coffee with the Principal in the Library at 8:30 AM to discuss attendance, STAAR results, Skyward and reading fluency. Please join us to learn and share in the discussions.
On Wednesday, Progress Reports will go home. Since Skyward is new, we will offer a printed copy. Be sure to check your child's backpack and discuss their effort. Teachers are open to any feedback to help our scholars continue to grow.
This month, we ask for your suport to help our scholars with the following:
- read daily for 20 minutes (anything of interest to child);
- complete 5 units of Lexia daily,
- practice addition & subtraction facts (these bring confidence);
- practice multiplication & division facts (upper grades need for problem solving);
- go to bed realy enough to be ready to learn the next day; &
- continue to communicate with classroom teachers
Arrival & Dismissal.
Arrival and Dismissal will be our greatest challenges. Please be patient and kind. We will have all staff on duty to assist and create a system that is safe and efficient.
For Dismissal, we do ask families to ensure their SIGN with child's name in posted in the front windshield so that we can read & call out the name.
Attendance.
If your child is absent, we must have a doctor's note or a personal note explaining why they were absent upon their arrival. For doctor's appointments, take your child to appointment, but bring them back with a doctor's note the same day and it will be counted as present.
NEW: This year, district policy indicates parents/guardians have 72 hours to submit excuse notes justifying child's absence.
Attendance in vital to our scholars success. Every day gone from school, they lose 7 hours of skills, strategies and support for learning. Help us by keeping your children healthy.
We track attendance daily and will communicate with families when children have 5 absences & tardies to establish a Loss of Credit Contract. Our goal is for your child to be healthy and at school without losing credit.
COVID & Absences.
If a student tests positive with COVID, child must see a doctor to get a test and be diagnosed with COVID. If parents submit a home COVID test, it will NOT qualify for the Q code of Quarantined. Therefore, these absences will count towards Loss of Credit. Ensure your child is seen by a doctor and diagnosis is sent as an excuse for absences to qualify for Q code.
Reporting Absences.
If you need to report an absence, our PEIMS Clerk will be able to assist you. Our team will be receiving the email to help assist you. I will forward all of your messages to the classroom teachers so they are aware of the absence.
Email: attendancehorizonheights@sisd.net
Please include as much detail as possible:
- Child's name
- Grade
- Teacher
- Student ID
- Reason for the absence
All notes will be collected via this email as well. Be sure to include details in the note as the child returns to class.
Tardies.
Children will be counted TARDY whey they enter the building at 7:45 AM. Please ensure you are allowing enough time for your child to arrive to school on time. After 3 tardies, children will be given lunch detention. The traffic is hectic. We begin to receive children at 6:45 AM. Help your child to arrive on time and start their day ready to learn.
Breakfast in the Classroom.
Our district will continue to provide breakfast in the classroom for ALL scholars. Breakfast in the Classroom, BIC, will be served daily from 7:30 AM to 7:45 AM. Please be on time to take advantage of the most important meal of the day.
Birthday Snacks.
We ask parents to please refrain from bringing in cupcake trays. If you would like for your child to share a treat, it must be a treat individually packaged by the manufacturer. Candy bags, individually wrapped snacks are allowed. Call or email Ms. Hansen and we can help to clarify. We appreciate you!
Water Bottles.
Please continue to send your children with water bottles. This will help them stay safe & hydrated. They can refill them in from the water fountains.
Safety.
The building will be cleaned throughout the day in high traffic areas to ensure safety. We will have hand sanitizing stations at all classrooms, restrooms, cafeteria and playground. If you wish for your child to wear a mask, please send them with a mask that fits them comfortably.
Traffic in the Bus/Daycare Area.
The area where the busses & daycare drop off/pick up is "private property". The land owner has granted us permission to use the land. There should NOT be any parents parking in that area. Yes, we are limited in parking and therefore ask for your support to use the curbside service.
Update on Teacher Vacancies.
We have made a recommedation on our 5th Grade Teacher. The candidate is in the final phase of onboarding. We should know soon. We made a recommendation for our 2nd Grade Teacher. She had multiple offers and declined our offer. We interviewed on Friday. We have made a 2nd recommendation. We will keep you posted. We have made a recommendation for our PK Teacher. The candidate has started onboarding procedures. We have made a recommendation for PE Aide. The candidate is in the final phase of onboarding. We have made a recommendation for PK Aide. The candidate is in the final phase of onboarding. We will interview for Kinder Teacher this week. We will keep you posted.
Thank you for your continued support! We are blessed with an amazing learning community!
Together, we are better!
Respectfully,
Jenifer Hansen
Proud Principal of Horizon Heights ES
Office Number: 915-937-7402
Picking Up Scholars Early
We are asking for your assistance when picking up children early from school. We need your support to be able to process your request in a timely manner.
For Doctor's Appointments:
If possible, pick you your children before 1:00 PM.
For PK & Kinder:
Children must be picked no later than 2:00 PM.
For 1st-5th Grade:
Children must be picked up no later than 2:30 PM.
Thank you for your support!
School Uniforms
Pre-Kinder students:
- Red polo tops only
- Khaki or blue pants/shorts/skirts
Kinder -5th Grade Students:
- Hunter green, navy blue or white polos
- Khaki or blue pants/shorts/skirts
The school uniform does NOT have to have the school name or logo.
Monday-Wednesday: School uniform: uniform shirt & uniform slacks/shorts/skirts
Thursday: College Day (attire from your favorite college) with jeans/slacks
Friday: Spirit Day Shirts and jeans (with no holes, no tears/ripped)
Classes with Perfect Attendance
Way to go Hornets!
The following classes have FREE DRESS on Wednesday:
PreKinder:
- Ms. Chavez, 100%
- Ms. Muniz, 100%
2nd Grade:
- Ms. M. Garcia, 100%
5th Grade:
- Ms. Trevizo, 100%
We will ask that our PK still wear their RED shirt as this is a safety protocol to know that an adult must be with them. They can accessorize with hats, glasses, etc. Thank you!
Stay healthy! We can do this Hornets!
School Nurse
Our school Nurse, Diana Barrera, will continue to serve our learning community. She has been with us for one year and loves our scholars and working with our parents.
Time: 7:15 AM to 3:15 PM
Phone: 915-937-7407
Email: dbarre02@sisd.net
Jenifer J. Hansen
Email: jhanse@sisd.net
Website: https://www.sisd.net/horizonheightses
Location: 13601 Ryderwood Avenue, Horizon City, TX, USA
Phone: (915) 308-6570
Twitter: @HHeights_ES