Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you and your family are having a wonderful start to the school year! I wanted to remind you of a few important upcoming events and tasks:

1. Back to School Bash

• Date: Thursday, August 29
• Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Join us for our Back to School Bash! This will be an opportunity to meet your child's teacher, hear about the great things planned for our school and where we are on our journey to success.

Progress Reports

• Date: Tuesday, September 3
• Progress reports will be sent home on September 3. Please take time to review your scholar's progress and discuss it with them. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher.
  
  

3. Family and Community Survey for District Accreditation

• Your feedback is important to us! Please take a few minutes to complete the family survey for district accreditation. Your input helps us improve and ensure the best educational experience for your scholar.

• https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/258601/p222

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. By working together, we are paving the way for our scholars' journey to success.

Sincerely,

Principal Williams

• August 29 - Back to School Bash (5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)

• August 30 - Student Half Day (11:30 am Dismissal)

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Social and Emotional Learning: Strategies for Parents

Whether it's called "social and emotional learning" or "emotional intelligence," most people understand it's critical to pay attention to the development of the whole young person, including character education. Parents have a dual role to play in raising a self-aware, respectful child who knows how to manage his or her emotions, make responsible decisions, and resolve conflicts non-violently. At home, you should strive to create an environment of trust, respect, and support. Remember that modeling "emotionally intelligent" behavior at home is the first step in nurturing emotionally intelligent children. At school, you can work with other members of your school community to create a climate that supports social and emotional learning - in and out of the classroom.

Here are some specific steps you can take to nurture an emotionally intelligent child, and additional resources you can use to learn more about social and emotional learning.

Strategies At Home

Model the behavior you seek

Whether it's apologizing when you're in the wrong or treating others with respect and kindness, children learn a great deal about relationships from observing the behavior of their parents. In the words of Maurice Elias, co-author of two books on emotionally intelligent parenting, parents should remember the "24K Golden Rule: We should always think about the impact of our actions on kids, and be as particular in what we do with our kids as we would want others to be with our kids."

Check out an Edutopia interview with Elias about the role of social and emotional learning at home, as well as a video of him talking about why SEL should be an integral part of academic life. Elias is also a regular blogger for Edutopia on the topic of social and emotional learning.

Nurture your child's self-esteem. A child with a good sense of self is happier, more well-adjusted, and does better in school. Strategies for fostering self-esteem include giving your child responsibilities, allowing her to make age-appropriate choices, and showing your appreciation for a job well done.

Respect differences

Every child has his or her own unique talents and abilities. Whether in academics, athletics, or interpersonal relationships, resist the urge to compare your child to friends or siblings. Instead, honor your child's accomplishments and provide support and encouragement for the inevitable challenges he faces.

Take advantage of support services. Seek the advice and support of school counselors or other social services during times of family crisis, such as a divorce or the death of a close friend or family member. Remember that no matter how close you are to your child, she may be more comfortable discussing a troubling family situation with another trusted adult.

Shelton Frye

Assistant Principal

Hello Hereford Families,

Does your child struggle to read for a sustained amount of time? Reading stamina can influence the enjoyment of reading and impact student achievement on standardized testing, as students do not have the stamina necessary to perform well on these tests. Reading stamina is a child's ability to focus and read independently for long-ish periods of time without being distracted or without distracting others. Find out how you can help your child develop reading stamina.

Having stamina for something means being able to stick with something for periods of time. This stamina, or endurance, builds strength. Stamina can apply to lots of different areas, such as exercise or painting. It can also apply to reading.

Teachers often think about a student's reading stamina. Reading stamina is a child's ability to focus and read independently for long-ish periods of time without being distracted or without distracting others. Reading stamina is something that parents can help students develop. Here's how:

Vary the way the reading is done. Parents can think about this in terms of having their child "read to himself, read to someone, and listen to reading." Some combination of the three should make up the reading time, especially for new or struggling readers.

Choose "just right" books. If your child is at a stage of being able to read alone, help him choose books that he is able to read independently. This means he should be able to decode almost every word in the book correctly. In this situation, avoid using books that are too difficult to read alone. If your child will be reading with you, choose books that are lively and engaging.

Set reasonable goals. Most toddlers and preschoolers find it difficult to sit for long periods of time, even with the most engaging book! When starting out, limit book time to just a few minutes and work up from there. For elementary aged readers, consider starting with 10-15 minutes of reading time, and work up from there. Add a few minutes to your reading time every week or so.

Celebrate progress. Without getting too caught up on the number of minutes spent reading, celebrate the time that is spent reading. Share your favorite parts of books read, plan the next visit to the library, and share progress with other family members.

Spending longer periods of time reading means fewer interruptions and more time reading what you love. As your child moves into higher grades, having reading stamina will help your child navigate the longer texts and assignments. Using these tips can help develop more stamina in your reader.

By: Reading Rockets

Stephanie Tomes, EdS, NBCT

ARI Reading Specialist

Greetings Hereford Elementary School Families,

We had a great week of iReady testing last week. This week, we will complete make-up assessments for scholars who were absent and clear up any assessments in progress. Once your scholar has completed both assessments, an individualized iReady path is created for them. The goal is that scholars spend at least 15 minutes a day on their math and reading path. Take a moment to watch this short video about iReady for parents!

https://youtu.be/ujpLfcD-2zs?si=beMnlojmXD6vVp5-

We can’t wait to see you on Monday for another week of learning!!

Thank you,

April M. Draine

Hereford Families,

It is important to talk about math everywhere with your child, even at the grocery store!

The grocery store isn’t just filled to the brim with delicious food, it also plays host to a number of math opportunities. You could:

• Compare prices (which is cheaper?)
• Look at and compare weights (how much more do you get in this packet than the other?)
• For children in upper elementary school, you could even challenge them to estimate the total cost of your trip (by rounding the prices and adding them mentally as you go around!)

When kids use math everyday outside of the classroom, they become more fluent problem solvers!

Go Wildcats!

Rebecca Ramsey

Hello Hereford Families,

Each week I share some great stories with you that I think you may find helpful or enjoyable. But perhaps you have a child who shows little or no interest in reading. Check out these tips detailing 10 things you can do to raise a reader.

Have a Great Week!

Quirante Hereford

Hello Hereford Families,

Our daily choices significantly impact our overall health.

It's essential to be mindful of the seemingly small details in our day-to-day lives to ensure we are working towards becoming our best selves.

Here are some questions to reflect on the little things that affect us throughout our day.

SEL Affirmation: I am my best self. I can talk about my feelings and make helpful choices for myself. I have a growth mindset. I can grow and change by learning and trying.

Behavior Support Specialist

Ms. B

Sonnie Hereford Family,

As we finish out the month of August, remember that every day and every moment counts. Many parents have submitted doctor and parent excuses. Excusing necessary absences is important. And what’s even more important is avoiding absences.

If your student has an appointment in the morning, it helps to bring them to school before 11:30 and if their appointment is in the afternoon, when they come in on time and checked out after 11:30 the record will show that they were present for the majority of the day.

Feel free to call or stop by the office if you have any attendance questions. I am happy to help and serve you. Let’s ace attendance and ace life!

Mandisa Thornton

School Attendance Officer

School-Parent Compacts

School-Parent compacts are a written commitment between parents, students, and school to share responsibility for improved student achievement. Every student enrolled in a Title I funded school MUST have a signed school-parent compact on file every school year. We are collecting school-parent compacts for this school year. Please sign your child’s compact and return it to their teacher. If you need another compact, you can email me (ann.elkins@hsv-k12.org) and I will gladly send another home with your child. Thank you!

Ann Elkins

Parent Coordinator

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the new school year progresses, we want to take a moment to highlight the importance of hygiene and appropriate dress for our students. These aspects are crucial not only for personal well-being but also for creating a positive and conducive learning environment.

1. Hygiene Matters

Good hygiene practices are essential for maintaining health and fostering a comfortable school experience. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of:

• Regular Hand Washing: Encourage your child to wash their hands with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom.
• Daily Bathing or Showering: Ensure that your child bathes or showers regularly to maintain personal cleanliness.
• Dental Care: Brushing teeth twice daily and visiting the dentist regularly are important habits that contribute to overall health.

2. Dress Code and Appropriate Attire

Wearing appropriate clothing is not just about following school rules; it’s also about ensuring that students feel confident and comfortable throughout their school day. Please consider the following:

• Weather-Appropriate Clothing: Ensure your child is dressed suitably for the weather conditions, including layering for colder days and sun protection for warmer weather.
• Comfortable and Practical Clothing: Choose clothing that is comfortable for school activities and allows your child to move freely. Avoid overly restrictive or distracting attire.
• School Dress Code: Please review our school’s dress code policy with your child to ensure their clothing aligns with school guidelines. This helps maintain a focus on learning and minimizes distractions.

3. The Role of Parents and Guardians

Your support in reinforcing these habits at home makes a significant difference. By working together, we can help ensure that every student is prepared to engage fully in their educational experience.

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. Together, we can make this a wonderful year for our students.

Warm regards,

Mr. Reginald Johnson & J. Jewel Thorne

School Counselors

Please see the attached Mental Health Opt-In Counseling forms.

• Supervision of students begin at 7:30 each morning; therefore, students should not arrive to school before 7:30 AM.

• Students who are walkers are to follow the sidewalk leading to the crossing guard and to the front door of the school.

• Students who are walkers should not walk across the Pre-K parking lot without being supervised by parent/guardian.

• Parents who enter Pre-K parking lot (yellow arrows) to drop off Kinder-6th grade students must park and escort student(s) to front of school.

• Parents who enter faculty and staff parking lot (blue arrows) to drop off Kinder-6th grade students must park and escort student(s) to crosswalk.

• School starts promptly at 8:00 AM.

• Students arriving after 8:00 AM are tardy and must have a parent or a guardian sign them in at the main office.

Student check-out ends at 1:45-must have valid identification and listed as a contact in

PowerSchool SIS.

• All students will be dismissed at 2:30.

• Students are either a bus rider, car rider or walker.

• Parents are asked not to congregate near the front door of the school or the pick-up area. You

will be asked to clear the dismissal area- please do so.

• Parents of walkers are asked to meet your children at home or at the crosswalk.

• Parents of car riders are asked to remain in your vehicle in the car line during pick-up.

• Pre-K parking lot (yellow arrows) is reserved only for Pre-K families with Parking Permit displayed.

• WALKERS- in the event of rain, parents are asked to provide child/ren with rain gear or send a written/typed note to teacher to change dismissal to car rider for that day by 1:30 pm.