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Hawk Notes

November Update for our Hawk Families

Hawk Notes November Update for our Hawk Families
Hawk NotesNovember Update for our HawkFamilies
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Principal Update:

The first quarter flew by quickly and we are pleased with the progress students are showing in class! Writing is a focus area for our school, and we have seen great writing efforts and results from many of our students, especially in lower grades! Teachers are charged with ensuring they are teaching the rigor of the standard, and expectations are high for all. Please be sure to see the instructional area on the newsletter for math and ELA ideas to engage students at home.


The next two months are slated to move very fast. Attendance and communication are very important. If a student is healthy, they should be at school so that they are able to make progress. Many missed days add up to lost instructional time and impacts their ability to progress. Thank you to all our parents who keep us informed of absences and send documentation.

As always, we hope you and your family remain healthy, and we look forward to a great month!

Ben Harrington, Principal

*Follow us on Instagram diggs_ccboe

Typical Questions/Reminders Typical Questions/Reminders

Arrival-Doors open at 9:15 each day. Students may be delivered curbside by a parent/guardian or via bus. Doors close at 9:30, any students not in the door by 9:30 will be marked late and must be signed in by the parent/guardian, please make arrangements to have your child to school on time daily.


Students who want to purchase breakfast may do so. This year, all students who want breakfast are able to get it for free through a state funded program we have recently qualified for. Students will still have to purchase lunch, this only applies to breakfast. Students will need their student ID number, that can be found in Parentvue, in order to purchase breakfast. Teachers will also provide this number to students on the first day.


Dismissal-Begins at 3:50 each day. Car-riders are dismissed to the front of the school where they will wait in grade level lines to be ushered to cars by staff. Parents must have photo ID and must have completed the end of day transportation form in order to get a car-rider tag. Even when car tags are issued, we reserve the right to ID any individual picking a student up at any time.

  • Link for Car Tag/End of Day Transportation Verification: 2026-2027 William A. Diggs Afternoon Transportation Verification Form – Fill out form

  • No early dismissal is permitted after 3:20 daily (1:20 on early dismissal days) due to busy end of day procedures. Parents who need to sign a child out early occasionally must do so prior to 3:20 or they will be required to wait until car-riders are called at 3:50.


Lunch Schedule 2026-2027 (Regular School Days)

  • PK4 12:15-12:45

  • KD 12:25-12:55

  • 1st 10:40-11:10

  • 2nd 1:40-2:10

  • 3rd 1:05-1:35

  • 4th 11:15-11:45

  • 5th 11:50-12:20

Lunch Visits-Parents/Guardians only are permitted to visit the school at their child’s lunch time and dine at the designated tables outside the cafeteria. Parents are only permitted access to their child, may bring external food (for their child only), and must exit directly after lunch. Lunch visits may start October 1, 2026 as we want students to get into the routine of the school year. Parents must scan and complete an electronic form upon their arrival for lunch that indicates they have accepted the lunch guest expectations.


Birthdays and Snacks/Treats (pg 22 of Parent Handbook/Calendar)- (Due to allergies, students and their parents/guardians are not allowed to bring to school and distribute any outside food products unless the products are commercially manufactured, individually wrapped in single serving sizes and marked with the ingredients and the nutritional facts label. Trays of cupcakes, clear plastic wrapped treats (ie: Little Debbie’s snacks, Twinkies, Swiss Cake Roles) are not permitted unless each individual item has the nutrition facts and ingredients listed. Consider non-edible items that may be used to recognize or celebrate your child's birthday.

Cell Phones, Smart Watches, meta glasses, or other electronic devices that allow parents to communicate directly with their child are not permitted during the school day. Any device brought, or worn in, by a student must be removed and powered off daily. This policy is noted in the Code of Student Conduct.


Parent Entry to the School - Parents may access the main office if assistance is needed. Parents are not permitted to enter through student entry doors during the school day. Access to students is strictly only for approved persons listed on the parent/guardian section of the student record. If other individuals are designated to pick a child up, then notification must be sent into the school prior to the student being picked up, preferably by 12:00 pm the day of.


Custody Cases or Concerns are handled by the administrative team and the PPW. Please ensure the most current information is on file. The parent of domicile (registering parent) has the right to know where the child is at all times. Given this, we require the parent of domicile to send a note the days the other natural parent is picking the child up. With administrative permission, these situations may be solved through our car-rider/car-tag process.


Car-Rider Reminders

The car rider pick-up and drop-off area is located in the front of the school. Due to the number of car riders, please pick up and drop off your child at the designated locations. Staff will be available to receive students starting at 9:15 AM. It is imperative that students are not dropped off prior to this time as there is no designated supervision.


Please be patient and operate safely each day. You must have your car-rider tag and photo ID available to staff to verify in the car-rider line each day.


Please do not exit your vehicle or leave your car unattended at the curb during this time. Students must be ready to exit the vehicle upon arrival to the curb. Parking on Davis Road and walking up to the school is not an approved or safe method for parents or students.


Car tags are for everyday car-riders only. For one day only car-riders throughout the year you will send a note to the main office for the one-day change. At dismissal, you will park and report to the office to sign your child out.

Instructional Focus Instructional Focus

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Across all grade levels there are a wide variety of resources that can support students at home. Each Thursday, graded work should be sent home by your child's teacher. It is great practice to review the work that was sent home and talk through the work with your child. This will provide you some insight as to the level of work they are completing in class.


Linked here you will find the CCPS Elementary Programs of Study. This provides a brief description of the skills elementary students are expected to learn in each grade level.


By following this link, you will go to our Illustrative Mathematics | v.360 Curriculum . You may ask the teacher what unit they are working on to see an overview of the skills in that unit.


Additionally, here is a helpful link to the MSDE Family Guide for Student Success. It includes reading and math information that can really support students growing at home.


As we move through the year, I encourage you to stay in touch with your child's teacher regarding progress and grades. There will be two conference days offered this year, one in November and one in February.

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Counseling Newsletter Counseling Newsletter

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Dates to Remember: Dates to Remember:

November

  • 2: Fall Picture Day

  • 3: Election Day, schools closed for students and teachers (offices open).

  • 6: Schools closed for students only (fall parent-teacher conferences).

  • 9: Report cards posted.

  • 11: Veterans Day, schools and offices closed.

  • 19: Two-hour early dismissal

  • 19: PTO Fall Festival 6:30

  • 23: Grade 3 and Grade 4 Awards 8:45

  • 24: Grade 5 Awards 8:45

  • 25-27: Thanksgiving holiday break, schools and offices closed.

December

  • 3: Two-hour early dismissal for students (teacher planning).

  • 7: Interims posted.

  • 8: ILT meeting day

  • 10: Winter Wonderland

  • 21-31: Winter break, schools closed.


  • 24-25: Offices closed.

Benjamin Harrington
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