HES Family and Community Newsletter

Wow—what an amazing first week of school we’ve had! It was pure joy to see our students hopping off buses and stepping out of cars with such big smiles. The excitement and energy they bring each morning are contagious, and it’s clear we’re in for a fantastic year together!

I’m so excited to share our theme for the 2025–2026 school year:
“Hop on the BEST Bus! Driven by Positivity, Powered by Teamwork.”

This theme reflects our commitment to excellent teaching and ensuring every student has the very best learning experiences. We believe that true success comes when we work together—as students, staff, families, and community partners—because we are all part of the team. By focusing on positivity, fostering growth, and meeting every student where they are, we can create joyful, meaningful learning experiences that lift up every student.

You may have seen the big news—DCPS schools made tremendous academic growth last year on MCAP! Our HES students not only grew, but actually exceeded our goals in 3rd, 4th & 5th grade Math and 5th grade Science for the 2024–2025 school year! 🎉 This incredible achievement is the result of our students’ hard work and the dedication of our staff. We also made steady progress in English Language Arts, with many students surpassing expectations, especially our 3rd grade students! To celebrate these amazing accomplishments, we are creating a special wall of MCAP Elite Eagles right here at HES. Be sure to take a look the next time you visit our building—it will make you proud!

During our first week, students practiced important routines and procedures to keep our school running smoothly. This week, we will continue those routines while also diving into grade-level instruction and beginning-of-the-year assessments.

To help your child succeed each and every day, here are a few simple ways you can support learning at home:

✨ Read with your child every night—take turns reading or make it a fun family activity

✨ Keep consistent evening and bedtime routines
✨ Ensure your child arrives at school before 8:45 each morning
✨ Keep them in school until our 3:45 dismissal—learning happens right up to the end of the day
✨ Talk with them about their day! Ask questions like:

• Who did you talk to today?

• What did you learn?

• Who did you help?

• What is something that made you feel happy?

• How did you make someone smile?

• What’s one thing you’d like to do differently tomorrow?

Encouraging your child to answer in complete sentences helps them reflect on their day and grow as a thinker, communicator, and member of our school community.

Thank you for your partnership, encouragement, and positivity as we begin this new year together. I couldn’t be more excited about all that lies ahead!

With much love,
Mrs. Corkran

We are so excited to launch a brand-new tradition this year—our Soaring Scholar of the Month program! Here’s how it will work:

• 📢 Kickoff: On the first day of each month, we’ll announce the character trait of the month during morning announcements, along with its definition.

• 💡 Focus: Throughout the month, our school community will spotlight the character trait and celebrate the ways students demonstrate it in their daily actions.

• 🏅 Recognition: On the last day of the month, each homeroom teacher will submit the name of one student who best represented that month’s trait. These names will be announced during morning announcements.

• 🎉 Celebration: Selected students will gather in the cafeteria to receive a certificate, take a group photo, and be recognized on our social media platforms.

• 🔄 Next Trait: The new character trait will then be announced on the first day of the next month, and the cycle begins again!

This is a wonderful way to highlight not only academic success, but also the positive character and leadership skills that help our Eagles soar every day! 🦅

September - Respect

Our soaring scholar of the month for September is Respect. Respect means treating others the way you want to be treated. That means listening when someone is speaking, using kind words, and taking care of things that don’t belong to you. Let’s show respect in our school every day!

• In support of DCPS’ Strategic Plan and MSDE’s statewide commitment to ensure every child is reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade, HES is thrilled to be partnering with the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and J2W this year!
• One of the exciting programs we are launching our Books, Buddies and Beyond After School Club, which will meet every Wednesday from 4:00–5:00 PM. This club is designed to give our youngest learners extra time, attention, and encouragement as they grow into confident, capable readers.
• We are reaching out to invite caring and committed individuals —maybe you or someone you know—who would love to be part of this important work. By volunteering your time, you’ll be making a direct impact on student success and helping us reach a critical milestone for our students before they become a part of your school!

18th-30th - Spirit Wear sale
23rd - Judy Center play group - 10:00

24th - Judy Center play group - 10:00

30th - Judy Center play group - 10:00

DCPS app

If you haven't registered for the new DCPS app, click the links provided below to sign up. This app is designed for everyone, including parents, grandparents, and members of the community. You have the flexibility to select specific schools for notifications, ensuring you stay informed and never miss out on announcements or exciting news. Our app allows you to conveniently chat with your students teacher, access documents, receive news updates, and stay informed about emergency notifications—all from the convenience of your pocket. Join us in embracing the features of our new app!

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3LIXLP9

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3rH4Rgr

September

Breakfast menu

PK3/4 lunch menu

Kindergarten -5th grade lunch menu

If your child has allergies our Nurse needs to know and the cafeteria needs a doctors note! Please reach out to Nurse Stacy 410-943-3303 ext 1809

If your student brings a packed lunch, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• No soda, bottled coffees, energy drinks, etc
• Suggestions for packable drinks: Gatorades, Green tea, bottled juice, and other non-caffeinated beverages.
• No candy.
• Food will not be warmed up.
• No sharing of food due to potential food allergies.

Arrival and dismissal times have been changed for this school year. The earliest drop off is 8:30, the bell rings at 8:45! Students are late after 8:45 and must be signed in by an adult.

The latest pick up time for students is 3:20, after 3:20 you will need to have your student on the pickup list as a walker or car rider and they will be dismissed at 3:45. Please reach out with any questions #attendancematters

Please note: Earliest Drop off 8:30am,

Class Begins 8:45am, Students are late after 8:45!

Latest pick up 3:20 pm, Dismissal begins 3:45pm

Early Dismissal Days starts @ 12:45pm

Hurlock Elementary Dress Code for 2025–2026.

👕 General Guidelines:

Tops should have straps at least 2” wide

Bottoms should extend past fingertips when arms are at sides

No rips/tears above fingertip line

Pajamas are for home—sweatpants are fine for school

No hats, hoods, bonnets or sunglasses worn in the building

Shoes need to have hard soles for safety—slippers aren’t allowed

🚫 Clothing should not:

Promote violence, illegal activity, or lewd behavior

Include vulgar, obscene, or hateful words or images

Create a safety concern

If dress code concerns come up, here’s how we’ll handle it:

1️⃣ Gentle reminder, call home, parent will need to bring clothes or we will provide appropriate clothing

2️⃣ Minor referral, call home, parent will need to bring clothes or we will provide appropriate clothing

3️⃣ Lunch detention along with the above steps

4️⃣ In person Parent conference along with the above steps

5️⃣ After-school detention along with all of the above steps

All non-school issued devices

“Elementary school students are not permitted to possess or use portable electronic communication devices while on Dorchester County Public School property or while attending any school activities."

If a student is found in possession of a phone or electronic device at school, the following process will be enforced:

• 1st Offense: the phone/smart watch/ electronic device will be confiscated and parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the device.
• 2nd Offense: follow 1st offense PLUS an after-school detention
• 3rd Offense: follow 1st offense PLUS parent conference requested.

Important Information:

**School Hours:**

- School starts at 8:45 a.m. Students may be dropped off as early as 8:30 a.m. Please note that we do not have staff to supervise students before this time. Parents will be called to pick up their student if dropped off before 8:30 a.m.

**Drop-Off Procedure:**

- Families are requested to drop students off at the curb. Mrs. Powell and her team will ensure your student safely enters the building and gets to their classroom.

**Breakfast:**

- All students have the option of a free breakfast. To ensure your student receives breakfast, please have them in the building no later than 8:45 a.m.

**Lunch:**

- All HES students have the option of free lunch every day.

If your student brings a packed lunch, please adhere to the following guidelines:

- No soda, bottled coffees, energy drinks, etc

- Suggestions for packable drinks: Gatorades, Green tea, bottled juice, and other non-caffeinated beverages.

- No candy.

- Food will not be warmed up.

- No sharing of food due to potential food allergies.

**Dismissal Time**

- Dismissal begins at 3:45 p.m. If you need to pick up your student early from school please do so before 3:20 p.m. After 3:20 p.m., no students will be dismissed early from the office, and parents should wait in the regular pick-up line.

**Car Riders at Dismissal Time:**

- Students/families will be assigned a car tag to hang from window. This system aims to expedite pick-up and ensure students remain in the building until someone is there to get them.

**Bus Dismissal:**

- If your child is taking a different bus or being picked up by someone other than the norm, please send a note or call the front office to inform us. Without prior notification, your child will go home as usual. For bus-related questions, contact the Transportation Department at 410-228-4747.

**Adults/Families on Campus:**

Ring the bell next to the front doors and wait to speak to one of our secretaries.

All visitors must sign in at the front office and have their picture taken upon entering the building.

Please bring ID when visiting our building.

**School Issued Electronic Devices:**

- Students will be assigned devices: K & 1st graders will have iPads, while 2nd - 5th graders will use laptops. Look out for the device agreement to sign and a request form for a hotspot if needed.

**Dress Code:**

See above for detailed information.

**Non-School Issued Devices:**

- "Elementary school students are not permitted to possess or use portable electronic communication devices while on Dorchester County Public School property or during school activities." This includes cell phones or any portable electronic devices. The following process will be followed for violations:

- 1st Offense: Device confiscation; parent/guardian contacted for pick-up.

- 2nd Offense: 1st offense consequences plus after-school detention.

- 3rd Offense: 1st offense consequences plus a parent conference will be requested.