Elementary Parent Newsletter

Happy Fall, Elementary Families!

The school year is in full swing, and it has been wonderful to see our students settling into routines, growing in independence, and learning that a little practice and review before a test can go a long way! We are proud of the progress they are making each day. We kick off October with Spirit Week for Homecoming (a fun dress-up theme each day), and we'll wrap up the month with Fall Fest on Friday, October 30!. Join us on the field beginning at 1:30pm for fall, carnival-type games for students. Students will be dismissed when they finish Fall Fest, usually around 2:30-2:45pm.

A few reminders:

• PE Days: Please remember that students should wear sneakers on PE days. Girls should also have their hair pulled back and wear shorts under their skirts. All shirts should be tucked in.

• Dress Code: All shorts and skirts, including Spirit Wear, should be no more than 4" above the knee. If a student arrives out of dress code, including on Spirit Wear days, we will contact a parent to bring a change of uniform. Thank you for helping us stay consistent with our dress code!

• Toys Stay Home: Please remind your child that toys should stay at home. Teachers may designate special days when stuffies, squishies, or other toys are allowed, so be sure to watch for those classroom announcements.

• Elementary Conferences: We look forward to connecting with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences in October and March to talk about your child's progress and growth in the classroom. Watch for the SignUpGenius so you can choose the conference time that works best for your family.

• Check the Calendar: October is a busy and exciting month! Be sure to check the Upcoming Events section below and mark your calendars. Teachers will also send reminders and additional details as events get closer.

Thank you for your partnership! It makes a difference as we work together to help our students grow into responsible, respectful, and independent learners! We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you!

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or anything we can do to support you or your child. We are here for you and thankful for the Horizon family!

Warmly,

Mrs. Ross

The annual Believe Campaign is October 5–20, and I am so proud to share that our Elementary staff is ALL IN with 100% participation!

Now it’s your turn, Elementary families! Our goal is 100% participation from our Elementary families, and remember—participation is participation! Any amount counts. Every gift, no matter the size, helps support our school and makes a difference.

We’ll also have some fun incentives for the classes that reach 100% family participation!

Let’s do this, Elementary! We’re ALL IN! 💙💛

Save the date and invite the grandparents to join us for a special Chapel on November 6! Following Chapel, grandparents are invited to visit their grandchild’s classroom and stop by the gym for a special photo together.

We hope you’ll be able to join us for this special time of fellowship and celebration!

If you would be interested in volunteering to lead an after-school club, please let me know! We have offered a variety of clubs in the past, including Lego, Reading, Sewing, Origami, Kindness, and Singing. We would love to bring some of these back—or offer something completely new. Please email julie.ross@hcaga.org if you are interested and available to lead an afterschool club.

Homecoming Spirit Week is October 5–9! Elementary students and staff are invited to join in the fun and dress out of uniform according to each day’s theme.

As always, all outfits should follow Horizon’s dress code guidelines:

• Shorts and skirts must be no more than 4 inches above the knee
• No tank tops
• No leggings, except when worn under a skirt or shorts

Monday, October 5 – 🪖 Camo Day
Blend in with the crowd and show your Warrior spirit!

Tuesday, October 6 – 🏈 Jersey & College Day
Rep your favorite team, college, or athlete with a jersey or shirt!

Wednesday, October 7 – 🦸 Superheroes & 👑 Princesses Day
Come dressed as your favorite superhero or princess! No masks or scary costumes, please.

Thursday, October 8 – 😴 PJ Day
Roll out of bed and head to school in your coziest pajamas!

Friday, October 9 – 🌈 Rainbow Day
Wear your brightest colors and help us “crush” Homecoming with our Candy Crush theme! 🍭🍬

We can’t wait to see our elementary students showing their school spirit! Go Warriors! 💙💛

💙 Join Us for Sibling Preview Day💛

Friday, October 9 for 1st through 5th Grades! Friday, October 30 for Rising Kindergarteners!

Is your child excited to come to school with their brother or sister someday?

We invite prospective siblings to join us for a special Future Warrior Sibling Preview Day and experience our school through their sibling's eyes!

This is a wonderful opportunity for future warriors to experience our culture and community, build connections with their future teachers, and meet new friends.

Date: Friday, October 9 for 1st -5th Grades or Friday, October 30 for rising kindergarteners
Time: Chapel and morning classroom visit
Who: Prospective siblings of current students

During this special morning, Future Warriors will:

• Visit the future grade’s class
• Attend Elementary Chapel with our school community
• Meet our teachers and Elementary principal, Mrs. Ross

Come see what school is like through your sibling's eyes.

We would love to welcome the next member of your family to campus!

RSVP to admissions@hcaga.org

• September 28-October 2 NO SCHOOL/ FALL BREAK

• October 5-9 Spirit Week - Homecoming Dress Up Days

• October 5-20 BELIEVE FUND Campaign

• October 15 End of 1st Quarter

• October 16 Parent-Teacher Conferences/ No school for students

• October 19 No school

• October 23 Report Cards

• October 30 Fall Fest 1:30pm

• November 6 Grandparents Day Chapel

• November 13 Operation Christmas Child boxes due / Progress Reports

• November 20 K-3 Thanksgiving Concert 10am/ 4th & 5th Grades Play 11am/ Early Dismissal

• November 23-27 Thanksgiving Break / No school

• DRESS CODE: Please help us by ensuring your child is in dress code each day. Uniform shirts must feature the current HCA logo. (The previous logo with the sun has been discontinued and should no longer be worn.) Shorts and skirts for students in grades K–12 must be no more than 4 inches above the knee, including on Spirit Wear Fridays. Leggings may be worn under skirts, shorts, or dresses but may not be worn as pants. For safety, students should wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes every day.
• SMART DEVICE POLICY: Phones and smartwatches are not allowed during the school day in Elementary (even if they are in “school mode”). They must be kept in their backpacks at all times or left at home.
• ⭐ SPIRIT WEAR 💙: Every Friday, students and staff wear Spirit Wear. In place of a uniform, students may wear jeans, navy or gold athletic shorts or pants, or their regular school khakis with a spirit wear t-shirt. They do not have to be tucked in or wear a belt on Fridays. Please note: *Not all clothes sold in the Sideline Store are approved for school Spirit Wear. This store is designed to offer you plenty of options to show your spirit at games and in the community. Friday school attire must fit the basic dress code rules (no leggings as pants or shorts greater than 4" above the knee). Please see the 2026-2027 Parent-Student Handbook for more details.*
• LUNCH: Join your child for lunch in the Lunchroom from 11-11:30am. Please note: We offer several drink options (Poppi, Propel, apple juice, milk, and chocolate milk). However, Gatorade is not available for purchase by Elementary students.
• CHAPEL: Join us for Chapel on Fridays at 8:10am. Stay tuned for when your child's class is the servant class. They will sit and enjoy Chapel with you whenever they aren't helping on stage that day.
• ATTENDANCE: Please email all attendance-related notifications to your child's teacher AND the front desk (frontdesk@hcaga.org). This includes late arrivals, early dismissals, doctor’s appointments, or other absences. This helps keep our records up to date and prevents us from calling you to check attendance when you may already have notified us. If you have a trip planned and know in advance that your child will miss school, please fill out this anticipated absence form at least a week in advance. Once approved, your child's teacher will communicate a plan for makeup work and tests.
• AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: Email Afterschool@hcaga.org (and your child’s teacher) any day your child will be attending the After School Program. Please find all the details on the After School flyer.
• BIRTHDAYS: Birthdays in Elementary are celebrated in the classrooms. You may send in or drop off a treat for the class to share. You are welcome to join them for lunch on their special day, but they will sing and celebrate all birthdays in the classroom.
• 26-27 School Calendar