The Weekly Update Panther Pride

Dear Hillcrest and Pine Avenue Families,

This fall, as part of our continued partnership with families, we’re introducing a new Grade-Level Math Progress Report aligned with our Bridges curriculum. This updated report offers a clear and developmentally appropriate snapshot of your child’s progress in math, focusing specifically on skills introduced in Units 1 and 2.

Rather than serving as a final grade or mastery indicator, this report is designed to show how your child is engaging with the current trimester’s learning goals. Each math standard is listed alongside a progress indicator—Meeting (M), Developing (D), or Beginning (B)—to reflect where your child is right now in their learning journey.

It’s important to understand that “Meeting Expectations” means your child is on track with the current curriculum—not that they’ve mastered the skill. Mastery is a long-term goal, typically reached by the end of the third trimester after continued instruction and practice. In the report, shaded boxes with bold text highlight skills expected to be mastered by the end of this trimester. Teachers will continue to support students who are still developing or beginning to understand these key skills. White boxes indicate standards that are still being introduced and will be revisited in future units.

If your child’s progress is marked as Developing (D) or Beginning (B), please know this is expected at this stage. These standards will come up again in future lessons, giving students multiple opportunities to deepen their understanding. Bridges is our new math curriculum, designed to build conceptual understanding over time. We recognize that some students may have learning gaps, and our goal is to meet them where they are—supporting growth from introductory exposure to confident mastery.

This approach honors the learning process and helps teachers tailor instruction to meet each child’s needs. If you have questions about your child’s progress or how to support math learning at home, we encourage you to reach out. We’re here to help you and your child every step of the way. We’re proud of the effort our students are putting into their learning and grateful for your partnership in helping them grow.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow and Ms. Jaeck

This trimester, families will receive updated Math Progress Reports aligned with our Bridges curriculum. These reports reflect your child’s progress on skills introduced in Units 1 and 2—not final mastery. “Meeting Expectations” means your child is on track with current learning goals, while mastery is expected by the end of the year. Shaded boxes show skills targeted for this trimester; white boxes indicate ongoing learning. For a deeper explanation, see the full article included in the Message from the Principal and Assistant Principal. Report Cards go home on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Gratitude Grade 1

Gratitude Grade 2

Gratitude Grade 3

Gratitude Grade 4

Gratitude Grade 5

There is still time for families to complete the Education Benefits Form—and doing so makes a big difference for our school community. This form helps determine our eligibility for important federal funding through the Title I program.

Title I funds directly support students by providing additional reading and math instruction, small group support from certified Reading and Math teachers, and differentiated learning opportunities led by trained paraprofessionals. These resources allow us to meet students where they are and ensure every child receives the support they need to grow.

Even if you don’t think you qualify, completing the form helps our school maintain access to these vital services. Thank you for taking a few minutes to support our students and staff in such a meaningful way. Please see the link below.

On Friday, both buildings will host Trimester Award Ceremonies by classroom, and families are warmly invited to attend. When parents arrive, they will be welcomed into the school foyer and guided to their child’s classroom at the appropriate time. If waiting for another child’s class to be recognized, we ask that parents return to the foyer between ceremonies to help maintain a calm and focused learning environment. Please note that Friday is a full day of school, and we kindly discourage early checkouts so students can remain engaged in learning for the remainder of the day.

Student of the Week and Month:

Earning Student of the Week or Month honors as part of a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school acknowledgement program can be an exciting and motivating way for students to be recognized for positive behavior. Here are the ways in which students can earn Student of the Week or Month honors:

This November, Hillcrest is proud to support Coins for a Cause, a community-wide effort to help our neighbors in need. All proceeds from this drive will go directly to local homeless shelters—Gratiot County Hope House (Gratiot), Isabella County Restoration House (Isabella), and Have Mercy (Montcalm/Ionia)—providing safe shelter and vital support to families across our region. Even better, every donation made during November will be matched by United Way, up to $5,000 in each county, doubling the impact of every coin collected. By coming together, we can teach our children the power of compassion and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Every coin counts, and every act of kindness helps build a stronger, more caring community.

At Pine Avenue Elementary, the Student Council is leading a heartfelt campaign to collect nonperishable food items for families in need. Their food drive is part of a school-wide effort to show compassion and take action, reminding students that even small contributions can make a big difference. Pine Avenue students are rallying together to support neighbors facing food insecurity. Both efforts, Hillcrest Coins for a Cause and Pine Avenue Food Drive continues to inspire generosity by raising funds to help the homeless and support those who need food. Together, these initiatives are more than just donations—they’re powerful lessons in empathy, responsibility, and the impact young people can have when they choose to care.