Let's Celebrate at HCJ!

Tuesday, May 26- 4th Grade Awards at 8:15 am (Final Walk of the Halls at 8:05 am), 2nd Grade Awards at 10:15 am

Wednesday, May 27- 3rd Grade Awards at 8:15 am, 1st Grade Awards at 10:15 am

Thursday, May 28- Last Day of School, 1/2 Day with Dismissal at 11:30 am

Remember that all parents must complete online registration for the 2026-2027 school year! Online registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open. Click on the link below for more information and to access the FinalForms website.

We are still setting up individual appointments for 4k and 5k screenings for incoming 4k and 5k students. Remember that spots are limited in 4k, so don't wait! Please call the school for more information.

All YSD1 schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. We are thankful for the military service members who gave their lives to ensure our freedom.

The 2025-2026 school year is coming to a close. We have so much to celebrate! Our students demonstrated the highest academic growth we've ever had at HCJ! They have worked so hard! Thank you, parents, for all of your support this school year! We depend on your support in order to reach these high levels of success. Thank you for partnering with us. We will miss you all this summer, and we can't wait to see you in August. To our fourth grade students and families, we know that you will continue to succeed at YIS! Mrs. Rescigno will be glad to see you all again!

Remember that the last day of school is Thursday, May 28. It is a half day with dismissal at 11:30 am for all elementary students. If you need to change your child's usual transportation to car rider for that day, please send a note in advance to indicate that change.

We want to keep our students reading this summer! See the details of our summer reading challenge on the flyer below.

Our teachers have created welcome videos for you to help you prepare your child for the next grade level. Check them out using the link below.

We hosted our board spotlight recently for school board members and district office staff. The purpose of the board spotlight is to showcase the wonderful things that are happening at HCJ. Check out the video we created to highlight our focus on student goal setting.

Medication Pick up! If your child has an over the counter or prescription medication kept in the health room, please make sure to pick it up by Thursday, May 28th at 10am. I plan on being set up in the school foyer with the medication cart if you would like to pick up your student’s medications after their awards ceremony.

Prepping for the 2025-26 School year - I recently sent home paperwork for the students who keep prescription medication at school with chronic health conditions to be updated over the summer break. If you see the doctor between now and the beginning of the school year, take that paperwork with you for them to fill out.

Have a great summer!

Nurse Avore

Our PTO has had a wonderful year! Please send an email to haroldcjohnsonpto@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. Check out our PTO page on our website at https://hcjes.york.k12.sc.us/for-parents/new-page

This year, our PTO funded $2478.94 in teacher grants in the fall. Since then, they have provided:

4k Sensory Bins

Prizes for One Book, One School

New PE equipment

Headphones for the Amira Reading Program

Prizes for Connected as Readers

Supplies for teachers throughout the school

Supplemented 2nd grade field trip funds

Fully funded 1st grade field trip

Provided supplies for our testing pep rally/growth parade

Bounce Houses for Field Day

An inclusive swing for our playground

They also help out by-

-Providing special programs/plays/cultural events that students can participate in during the school day

-Sponsoring events such as Grandparents' Day Breakfast, Veterans' Day Breakfast, and Fall for Reading, and our Valentine's Dance.

Watch our new video for important information about the Read to Succeed Law in South Carolina. Learn some great tips to help you help your child at home. Third grade reading proficiency begins way before third grade. Start working now to ensure that your child is a proficient reader.

Third grade is a critical year for our students as they transition from learning to read to reading to learn. We are committed to supporting your child’s reading development and helping them succeed. Below are key details about the Read to Succeed Act and how it impacts third-grade reading expectations.

Why Third Grade Reading Matters

Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is essential for your child’s academic success. At this stage, students use reading skills to learn other subjects like math, science, and social studies. Developing fluency and comprehension now lays the foundation for future learning and success.

The Read to Succeed Act

The Read to Succeed Act ensures that all students gain the reading skills necessary for college, career, or military readiness. The law requires that third-grade students who do not demonstrate reading proficiency—scoring Does Not Meet Expectations on the SC Ready reading assessment—be retained for additional support.

Good Cause Exemptions

Students who qualify for specific Good Cause Exemptions may still be promoted to fourth grade. These exemptions include:

· Limited English proficiency (fewer than two years of English instruction).

· Disabilities requiring alternative assessments or interventions (as outlined in their IEP).

· Receiving reading interventions for two years and previously being retained.

· Demonstrating reading proficiency on an approved alternative assessment.

Please contact your school if you believe your child may qualify for an exemption.

Summer Reading Camp (SRC)

Students who do not meet the required reading level by the end of third grade will be invited to attend Summer Reading Camp. This program offers intensive, small-group instruction to help students strengthen their reading skills. Successful completion of the camp could lead to promotion to fourth grade.

How We Support Your Child

We are committed to helping every student become a confident, independent reader through:

· Additional instructional time focused on literacy.

· Small-group and individualized reading interventions.

· Specialized teacher training provided by literacy coaches.

We also monitor progress regularly and communicate results to keep you informed.

How You Can Help at Home

Your involvement is key to your child’s reading success. Here’s how you can help:

· Read Together Daily: Encourage your child to read aloud and ask questions like, “What happened in the story?” or “Why do you think that happened?”

· Communicate with Teachers: Stay in touch with your child’s teacher about their progress.

· Use School Resources: We’re here to provide tools and materials to support your child’s reading journey at home.

By working together, we can make this year a success for your child. If you have questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.

Thank you for partnering with us to make third grade a year of growth and learning!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Our Instagram Account has recently been activated. Follow us @york1hcj!

Beanstack uses competition, recognition, and proven gamification principles to motivate students to read and develop a life-long love of reading. Whether your student chooses fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, or articles online, any and all reading counts in Beanstack! By tracking their daily reading, your student will begin to build healthy reading habits and become a more confident reader.

When students log their reading via Beanstack’s web or mobile app, they:

• Earn digital badges as they reach milestones

• Compete on leaderboards and build streaks for reading every day

• Track everything they read on their virtual bookshelf

For a glimpse of what your students will experience with Beanstack, click here!

Joining Beanstack is quick and easy:

• At school: Your student can access Beanstack directly through their device using Classlink Launchpad.

• At home: Your student can download the Beanstack mobile app on the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, or log in through Launchpad.

We’re excited to have your family join us on this exciting reading adventure!

Watch the video below to find out how to access Beanstack!

School Improvement Councils were established under South Carolina law over 45 years ago to ensure that parents, community members, and school personnel work together for continuous improvement.

The vision of the SC School Improvement Council is:

"To promote and support civic engagement for quality public education in South Carolina.”

The mission of the SC School Improvement Council is:

"To facilitate meaningful parent and community involvement in our state’s public schools by providing resources, tools and strategies to local School Improvement Councils and other stakeholder groups."

Our next SIC meeting is Tuesday, November 4 at 7:20 am.

We would love for you to get involved with our HCJ School Improvement Council! If you are interested in joining us, please email Mrs. Sandifer at crsandifer@york.k12.sc.us.

Our district utilizes ParentSquare for all parent communication. Please download the ParentSquare app if you have not already done so. Be sure that we have your most up-to-date phone number and email address on file.

Please remember that we cannot dismiss any students from the office after 1:45 pm. Any last minute changes to a student's transportation should be communicated to the office before 1:45 pm as well. We have a system in place to ensure that any changes to a student's transportation are communicated to the teacher before dismissal begins. These systems ensure that all students get home safely.

Parent Square now allows parents to submit parent notes for attendance excuses through the ParentSquare App. We are already receiving many notes using ParentSquare. Check it out!

Parents, please review our behavioral expectations with your child. We have posted our schoolwide behavior management agreement below. We appreciate your support!

Bus information has been loaded into Parent Portal. You may also access the information by downloading the My Ride K-12 app. Please check Parent Portal for more information on your bus stop and approximate pick up time.

Remember that we dismiss at 2:15 pm. Car riders in 4k through 1st grade will use the front car line. Car riders in 2nd through 4th grade will use the side car line. If you have children in multiple grades, please report to the car line for your youngest child. Please remain in your vehicle during dismissal, and be sure that students may enter the car on the passenger side. Due to safety concerns, we cannot allow children to walk to the driver's side of the car. Your assistance with this matter is appreciated.

Please send a note to your child’s teacher any time their regular mode of transportation will change.

Affinity Health Center, located in the York Family Resource Center (York One Academy), is a local community health facility in York, SC offering affordable, accessible primary care services for all families, no matter your income. Whether you’re covered by Medicaid, Medicare, are uninsured, or simply unable to afford expensive co-pays, this community health center and satellite office in York are here to help. If you need to see a doctor, the caring staff will work to find payment options that will meet your needs.

Services offered are: well checks, sick visits, vaccines, primary care, and sports physicals (sports physicals have a $10 flat rate). Mental Health Services are also available. The clinic is open year-round.

Where: Mondays @ York Middle

Hours 9am-4pm

Tuesdays @ The Family Resource Center in York
Hours 8am-5pm

Students may be dropped off as early as 7:15 am. The tardy bell rings at 7:45 am, and direct instruction begins promptly. Please have your child at school by 7:40 am so that your child will not miss instruction. If your child wants to eat breakfast, then please get them to school by 7:30 in order to allow time for breakfast. We don't want to waste a second of instructional time. We also continue instruction until dismissal time. Early dismissals mean that your child is missing valuable instructional time. Please help us make the most of every day by having your child arrive on time and stay until the end of the day.

Attendance is extremely important in order for your child to get the most out of his/her school experience. Please avoid absences unless your child is sick. If your child is absent, his/her teacher will reach out to you via Remind. Finding out the reason for the absence helps the teacher know how to best plan to work with your child to make up for lost instructional time.

Website: www.york.k12.sc.us/hcj
Location: 400 East Jefferson Street, York, SC, USA
Phone: 803-818-6040
Facebook: facebook.com/YORK1HCJES