Welcome Back HMK Families!
A Back to School Newsletter 2026-2027
Dear HMK Students, Parents, Caregivers, and Community
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! Can you believe that the start of school is just around the corner? We hope your summer was full of outdoor adventures, sunshine, rest, and plenty of quality time with loved ones. The entire team here at HMK Elementary is overflowing with excitement as we prepare to fill our hallways and classrooms with bright smiles, enthusiastic laughter, and eager young minds once again.
To our returning families, welcome back to the HMK family! To our new families—especially our brand-new Kindergarteners and soon to be Preschoolers—we are so glad you are here. Elementary school is a magical time of discovery, growth, and building lifelong friendships, and we are honored to walk this journey with you.
"Every day at HMK is a fresh opportunity to learn, explore, and treat one another with kindness."
💻Registration is NOW OPEN!
- 💻 Annual PowerSchool Registration: Please remember that all students must be registered in PowerSchool every year so we can keep contact information up to date and reach you with important school updates.
- 📄Registration Letter: You can find all the steps and information HERE to get registered and find your child's class placement for 1st-6th grade. You will not have Kindergarten class placement until after Kindergarten assessments are completed and classes are completed.
- 👩🏫 Class Placements & Finding Your Teacher: Please note that class placements for the upcoming school year are now complete and closed. Our staff spends a tremendous amount of time and care creating balanced learning environments where every student can thrive. We appreciate your support in helping your child start the year with excitement for their new classroom community!
**Note from the Principal: While we are unable to accommodate specific teacher requests, we are always here to listen if you have a significant concern about your child's placement. In order to be up and running the first day of school, all class lists were finalized on August 5th when the class lists were released. Thank you for your understanding!
👩🏻🏫How to Find Out Who Your Child's Teacher Is
- Ready to see who your child will be learning with this year?
- Locate your HMK Registration Letter linked above (or sent via email/social media/school website).
- Turn to the second part of the letter.
- Follow the simple, step-by-step instructions listed there to log into the school app.
- Once you are logged in, your child’s assigned teacher will be displayed right on your home screen!
🎒 Important Info for the First Week
To help your young learner start off on the right foot, here are a few key details for the upcoming school year:
- Back to School Night (BTS Night) Meet the Teacher / Open House: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 5:30-7:30, meet your teacher, and check out your new classroom!
- First Day of School: Thursday, August 20, 2026
- Bell Schedule: M-TH 8:15-3:15; Friday 8:15-12:45
- Drop-Off / Breakfast: 7:45 AM Breakfast Opens
- Class Begins: @ 8:15 AM - PLEASE be sure that your students arrive on time and are seated in class by 8:15 sharp.
- Dismissal: M-TH 3:15 PM (Note: Early dismissal on Fridays at 12:45 PM)
- Drop-off & Pick-up Routes: Please take a moment to review our safety map posted under the Parents/Safe Routes to School tab on our website. Keeping our little learners safe in the parking lot is our top priority!
- Supply Lists: Classroom supply lists are available under the Parents tab section of the website and are listed as "K-3 Supply List" & "4-6 Supply List."
💛 Partnering for a Great Year
We know that a child’s success at school grows from a strong partnership between home and school. We encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the year.
- Classroom Communication: Look out for weekly/bi-weekly teacher updates via Powerschool Parent Link, SchoolStatus Connect, and ClassDojo. Based on parent feedback we will eventually be moving away from multiple
- Monday Message: Watch for my bi-weekly message that will come out starting on August 3rd. There will continue to be links to the memo via social media on Facebook and Instagram, as well as on our school webpage.
- School Website & Calendar: Bookmark our homepage for updated event dates, lunch menus, and school announcements.
- Get Involved: We love our volunteers! Consider joining our HMK PTA or helping out with school events this year. Questions about PTA? Email them at hmkpta@gmail.com.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us. Let’s make this an incredible year at HMK!
Warmly,
Holly Harris
Principal, Helen M. Knight Elementary
“May the Force be with us—uniting vision, courage, and compassion as we guide every learner toward a future full of possibility.”
Drop-off / Pick-up Plan for HMK:
As we begin the new school year, we want to inform you of our drop-off and pick-up plan for this school year. The parent drop-off loop in front of the building will be open and functional, and all students using this area will enter through the front doors. PLEASE WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO BELOW TO GO OVER SOME REMINDERS AND SAFETY UPDATES!
The bus lane will also be fully operational. Students arriving by bus use the designated walkway from the bus zone to the building. Please note that the parking lot in the front of the school is for VISITOR parking so if you need to come into the building, you may park here and enter the offices. PLEASE NO PARKING IN THE FRONT DROP-OFF ZONE. We appreciate your patience and will provide updates as our site continues to evolve.
I have been lucky enough to spend more than 20 years in education, including 12 years serving in school leadership as both a Dean and Assistant Principal. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with students from elementary through high school as a teacher, mentor, and administrator, with leadership experience at both the middle and elementary school levels. I believe that strong relationships are the foundation of a positive and successful school community.
Originally from Arizona, I began my career teaching both Spanish and English before transitioning into educational leadership in Colorado. One of my favorite parts of this work is getting to know students and families, supporting teachers, and collaborating with staff to create a positive school experience where every child can thrive.
I believe every student deserves to feel safe, known, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. I am passionate about building meaningful partnerships with families, celebrating student successes—both big and small—and helping create a school culture where kindness, respect, and high expectations go hand in hand.
I am truly excited to be part of the Helen M. Knight Elementary community and look forward to getting to know our students and families and working alongside our staff throughout the school year.
My name is Ms. Lauren Hibbs. I am starting my fourteenth year in education. I was born and raised in western Kentucky. I graduated from Murray State University with a bachelor's in elementary education. I continued my education at University of the Cumberlands with a master’s degree in early literacy and my Rank 1 in school counseling. I decided to make my favorite vacation spot my home, so I moved to Moab in June. I am looking forward to this new adventure and teaching third grade for Grand County School District. Go Gryffins!
Carrie Ann Smith is an experienced educator and school leader with a dynamic background spanning arts education and district administration. After earning a BA in Dance from Western Michigan University and working as an Artist in Residence, she moved west, completing a BS in Elementary Education at Montana State University. In Moab, Carrie Ann earned her Master's in School Leadership and spent eight years serving as the sole administrator (combining Principal and Superintendent roles) for a local K-6 charter school. Now with the Grand County School District, she is dedicated to providing students with explicit instruction and meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. An outdoor enthusiast, Carrie Ann spends her free time hiking, camping, rafting, gardening, reading, and building Legos.
Pete Basinger has 16 years of teaching experience and holds a degree from the University of Alaska. He enjoys teaching all subjects, with a particular passion for U.S. history, and focuses on creating a steady, encouraging classroom environment for his students. Outside of school, he enjoys mountain biking, camping, and ceramics. He is looking forward to a great year with the 5th-grade class at HMK.
SESSION #1: A to M ~ 5:30-6:30
SESSION #2: N to Z ~ 6:30-7:30
Welcome Back!
Email: https://hmk.grandschools.org/apps/contact/
Website: https://hmk.grandschools.org/
Location: 505 N MiVida Dr, Moab, UT 84532
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmkelementary/