Hillside Family Newsletter

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, our focus at Hillside remains strong—supporting every student all the way to the finish line. This time of year is filled with important milestones, including benchmark and state assessments, and I continue to be impressed by the effort, perseverance, and growth our students are demonstrating each day. We are committed to finishing strong while also making time to celebrate, have fun, and enjoy being together as a school community.

You may notice an extra sense of excitement in the building as we wrap up testing and look ahead to end-of-year activities. Our staff is working hard to ensure that students feel supported, confident, and proud of all they have accomplished. We truly believe in ending the year with both purpose and joy.

I also want to take a moment to personally thank our Hillside families. It has been an absolute privilege to serve as your interim principal this year. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you, your students, and the incredible Hillside staff. While this year has brought its share of challenges, it has been, overall, an amazing and rewarding experience. I am grateful for your partnership, trust, and support.

Thank you for being such an important part of the Hillside community.

5/1-5/22 OSAS State Testing for our 3rd-5th grade Huskies

5/4-5/8-Teacher Appreciation Week: Thank you Teachers for ALL that you do!

5/7 PTO monthly meeting in the HES Library 3:30-4:30

5/6 Ready for K, 5-7 (Tools & Strategies for incoming kinders)

5/29 Last student of the month assembly

6/4 June PTO Meeting in the HES library 3:30-4:30

6/10 5th Grade Step Up in the HES gym 2:00-3:00

6/11 Kindergarten Step Up in the HES gym 8:30-10:00

6/11 Last day for Huskies, school is out at 1:15

Now’s the time to get your student set up for success. Whether you’re a new family or returning, completing registration early helps ensure a smooth start to the year.

For the best experience, please register on a computer or tablet instead of a phone, and be sure to select the 2026–27 school year in ParentVUE.

We encourage all families to download the EPSD9 App to stay informed and connected. The app provides quick access to important notifications such as snow day announcements, schedule changes, emergency alerts, and school-wide/District-wide reminders. It’s the fastest and most reliable way to receive timely updates from the district and your child’s school. Thank you for taking a moment to download the app and ensure your family stays up to date on all essential information.

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in a student’s academic success. Our goal is for every student to maintain 92% attendance or higher, which means being at school every day and on time whenever possible. Consistent attendance helps students build strong learning habits, stay connected socially, and prevents gaps in understanding that can widen the achievement gap over time. When students are here, they learn more, feel more confident, and stay on track with their peers. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your child is present and ready to learn each day!

Our Hillside Huskies are thankful for ALL that our PTO does for us. But we need your help! If you are able to find the time to join our PTO we need more parents. Our PTO meeting for the month of December is Thursday the 4th at 3:30 in our HES library. Come see what it is all about!

Add Here

• Mrs. Clark's first Grade Class: They are taking care of baby chicks! So fun! Thank you Mrs. Clark for doing this for our first grade Huskies!

• From our Cafeteria: Please remind your Husky to choose either a half of cup of fruit or veggies to go with their lunch

• Calling ALL Parents: We need subsitutes. Reach out to D9 to find out how you sign up to be either a certified/teacher subsitute or a classified/Isntrucitonal Assistant substitute.

• Late start Wednesday's & Why PLC Time Matters

  At Hillside, we believe that the best way to support our students is by working together as a team. Our Professional Learning Community (PLC) time gives teachers the opportunity to meet regularly to review student data, share instructional strategies, and plan lessons that meet the needs of every learner.

  This time is not “extra,” but essential. It allows our teachers to reflect on what’s working, identify where students may need additional support, and create consistent, high-quality learning experiences across classrooms. The collaboration that happens in PLCs directly benefits our Huskies — ensuring that every student has the best chance to grow and succeed.

  That’s why we’ve built Late Start Wednesdays into our school schedule. Starting later one day a week provides dedicated, uninterrupted time for our staff to do this important work. While students are at home a little longer in the morning, our teachers are actively engaged in learning, planning, and collaborating — all with the goal of improving student outcomes.

  Simply put: when teachers learn and grow together, students thrive.

  
  

You will notice your bus riders coming home with a lanyard. This is for them to check in on the bus. If these student ID cards are lost or damaged and need to be replaced it will cost $5.00 dollars to replace.

Go to Box Tops online and choose Hillside Elementary. We can still receive your support with Box tops virtually.

Cooperation means working together in a kind and respectful way to reach a shared goal. At school, this looks like students taking turns, listening to one another, sharing materials, encouraging classmates, and solving problems as a team. When students cooperate, they learn that everyone’s ideas matter and that we are stronger when we work together. Cooperation helps build friendships, strengthens classroom community, and teaches important life skills that extend far beyond the school day.

At Hillside, we are committed to supporting students through our PBIS framework, which focuses on being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in all areas of the school. One of the ways we monitor and strengthen these expectations is by reviewing our referral data. This information helps us understand where students may be struggling, allows us to provide targeted support, and occasionally guides adjustments to routines such as recess and lunch schedules. Our goal is always to partner with families to help students grow socially, emotionally, and responsibly so they develop into well-rounded individuals. Thank you for working with us to support every child’s success.

Parents please make sure your student has appropriate shoes for PE class. You can reach out to your Huskies classroom teacher to find out what day they have PE. This will help you plan ahead with shoe choice. Thank you.

Spring Weather Reminder

As we move into spring, our mornings are still starting off quite chilly while afternoons are becoming much warmer. We encourage families to have students dress in layers so they can stay comfortable throughout the day.

A few helpful ideas for layering:

• A light jacket, sweatshirt, or hoodie that can be easily removed
• Short sleeves under a long-sleeve or sweatshirt
• Comfortable layers that students can manage independently

We also ask families to pay attention to footwear. Flip flops and flimsy sandals can be a tripping hazard and make it difficult for students to run and play safely during recess or participate fully in PE. Closed-toe, secure shoes are the best choice for school.

Dressing appropriately for both weather and activity helps students stay safe, comfortable, and ready to learn throughout the day.

Student shoes should be appropriate for playground play/field, PE, etc... Please send your child to school with the appropriate footwear for these activities.. Flip flops, slides, platform sandals, or high heels are not safe footwear at school and are highly discouraged.

Just scan the QR code to have access to our cafeteria menu!

Student Absence

If your student will be absent for the day, please call our office at 541-830-1225 or email islasg@eaglepnt.k12.or.us. Thank you for helping to keep our school healthy by keeping students home when they are sick. It is always nice to if you let the teacher know ahead of time when possible.

• Start Time on M, T, Th & F: 8:30 am late bell rings at 8:35am. If you are dropping off late, you MUST come sign in your student in the office.
• Wednesday Start Time: 9:30am late bell rings at 9:35. If you are dropping off late, you MUST come sign in your student in the office.
• End Time: 3:15 pm

*Doors open at 8:05am for breakfast in the cafeteria and 9:05 on Wednesdays. There is no supervision before 8:05am or before 9:05 on Wednesday. First bell rings at 8:30 am. Late bell rings at 8:35 am. Wednesday first bell rings at 9:30 am and late bell rings at 9:35.

We would love for you to volunteer in the classroom or around the school. To do so, you need prior approval from the school district. Please apply here.

Website: eaglepnt.k12.or.us/hes
Location: 185 East Main Street, Eagle Point, OR, USA
Phone: 541-830-1225
Facebook: facebook.com/hehusky