An Update from Hough Elementary

Dear Hough Families,

Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving break with family and friends. As we return to school and head into the winter season, we want to make sure our Hawks are prepared to enjoy outdoor play safely and comfortably, especially in the snow.

We go outside for recess whenever the feels-like temperature is above zero degrees. To play in the snow, students must come to school with the following so they are warm and dry during recess and after:

• Hat
• Coat
• Gloves or mittens
• Snow boots
• Snow pants

If your family needs support with winter gear, we can help you, please reach out so all kids can stay cozy and have winter fun.

With Gratitude,

Heather Schumacher

December Character Strong: We spent a month talking about gratitude and all of the positive ways it can impact our lives and those around us. Students realized that they have so much to be grateful for and talked about the many ways that gratitude can be shown. In December, we are focusing on empathy - the skill of understanding and connecting with how someone else feels. Students are learning that empathy can be shown in small, everyday ways—listening, including others, and offering help when it’s needed.Families can help by asking children, “How do you think someone else felt today?”

Enrollment in Kindergarten for the 26-27 School Year- Yes, it is HARD to believe that we are planning already for next school year! We are always excited to have new Hawks join us! Please see the Barrington 220 Kindergarten web page for more information, including all dates for informational meetings. To register your incoming kindergartener for the 2026-27 school year, please contact the Central Registration Office at registration@barrington220.org or call 847-842-3534. You can also find more information by visiting our Register a New Student section.

Winter Wonderfest returns to BHS on December 12 and 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. Our very own Harmonizing Hawks will be performing on Saturday night at 6:30pm. Families can also check out the Hough School tree with the students' book ornaments that they created. Enjoy live performances, interactive art stations, games, holiday crafts, DJs, Santa visits, and more. All craft and game activities are included with admission. We hope to see you there! Head here to purchase tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/?show=288826

Congratulations to all of our Hough Street School Fall Chess Club participants. There is still time to sign up for Winter Chess Club! Click on this link Chess Club link to register!

We are excited to have our traditional Hough Holiday Market again this year on Tuesday, December 9th from 5:00 - 7:30 pm. This is a great, independent, shopping opportunity for your children to experience at Hough. Our 5th graders will resume their rite this year as "Helper Elves." This has been a long time rite of passage for 5th graders as they walk side-by-side with a younger student to help them find the perfect gift for each member of their family and ALSO budget their money appropriately.

• You can preview items available for purchase at Hough Holiday Market Gift Preview

• Want to help make this year a success? Please sign up for one of our parent volunteer slots 2025 Holiday Market Sign Up Genius

• Have a 5th Grade and/or Hough Alum? Sign them up to help as well! 2025 Holiday Market Helper Elves

  
  

For those new to the holiday market, you can enjoy refreshments from our bake sale and converse with other Hough parents in the multi-purpose room while you wait for your child to shop. Please note that due to high demand it can take children quite a while to shop and have their presents wrapped, so please plan accordingly.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Hough Holiday Market Chairs, Lauren Connolly (Lauren.Connolly@beamsuntory.com) or Crystal Pepper (crystal.d.pepper@gmail.com)

Hough Class Holiday Parties:

We’re so excited for our annual class parties full of joy, laughter, and holiday cheer on Friday, December 19th! Our Room Parent Leads are already gearing up to make this celebration magical.

As always, our hardworking and wonderful PTO members will be on-site with smiles, cheer, and help if you need anything.

Stay tuned for more festive updates and ways you can help from your amazing Room Parent Leads in the coming weeks!

YEARBOOK: Hello! It's never too early to start compiling photos for the yearbook. Have a great pic you want to share? Please upload it to Google Drive here. Email houghhawksyearbook@gmail.com with questions. Thanks! Click HERE to Add Pictures

Stay in the Know with your PTO- Email any questions to hellohoughpto@gmail.com.

• Hough PTO Instagram
• Hough PTO Website
• Hough PTO Information

-Monday, 12/1- 3-4th Grade STEM club (until 3:15) 4th Grade Girl Scouts (until 3:30), Boys Basketball Practice (until 3:35)

-Tuesday, 12/2- Choir 7:10am, Boys Basketball Practice (7:05am)

-Wednesday, 12/3- 2nd Grade Girl Scouts (until 3:30)

-Thursday, 12/4- 3-4th Grade STEM club (until 3:15), Girls Basketball Practice (until 3:35)

-Friday, 12/5- Girls Basketball Practice (7:05am)

-Monday, 12/8- Boys Basketball Practice (until 3:35), 3-4th Grade STEM club (until 3:15)

-Tuesday, 12/9 –Boys Basketball Practice (7:05am), Hough Holiday Market 5:00pm – 7:30pm. Click here to volunteer 2025 Holiday Market Sign Up Genius. Bake sale + spiritwear available as well!

-Thursday, 12/11- 3-4th Grade STEM club (until 3:15), Girls Basketball Practice (until 3:35)

-Friday, 12/12- Girls Basketball Practice (7:05am), Silly Hat Day for Change

-Friday, January 30th- Save the Date for Snowball Family Dance

-Saturday April 11th- Save the Date for Big Hawk Little Hawk at Canlan- 1:00pm-4:00pm