Hillside Happenings
Back to School Newsletter - August 11, 2025
Dear Husky Families,
Welcome to the new school year!
This year's theme is "Sail into Leadership" ⛵
We are so excited to welcome you back to Hillside!
School Hours for 2025-2026:
Student Hours: 8:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Half Day: 8:30 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.
Office Hours: 7:45 A.M. – 4:15 P.M.
School Hours:
Our school day is from 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. The first bell rings at 8:25 and we encourage all students to have arrived by this time. Students in grades 1-5 will return for school on Monday, August 25, 2025. This is a half day of school (8:30-11:45 A.M.). Tuesday, August 26, 2025, is a full day of school and launches the start of our staggered Kindergarten days.
Nut Restricted:
Hillside is a nut restricted school. Please refrain from bringing any type of nut products into the building. PLEASE read the information that will come home on the first day of school regarding nut restrictions.
Absences/Tardies:
Our first bell rings at 8:25. Our tardy bell rings at 8:30 A.M. Students must be in their classrooms at this time or they will be marked absent/tardy. All student absences/tardies must be reported to the school office by telephone. These can be reported during the evening or early morning hours by dialing our office phone number (248) 489-3773. A voice mail option is available during non-school hours. Leave the name of the child, grade, teacher, and reason for the absence.
However, when it is necessary for you to bring your child to school late, you must accompany him/her to the office and sign him/her in at the front desk and get a tardy slip to be given to the teacher. For safety reasons, do not just drop your child off at the school unaccompanied!
Arrival/Hours:
For safety and supervisory reasons, children should not arrive prior to 8:15 A.M. Adult supervision is not available before this time. If it is necessary for your child to be at school prior to this time, you may enroll your child in the Y-Care program. This program is run by the YMCA, but takes place in the Hillside cafeteria. You may call the YMCA at (248) 553-4020 with any questions regarding pricing and the registration process. We have been told that as of today, Y-Care is now full.
Drop Off (Morning) & Pick Up (Dismissal):
Parents who are driving their children to and from school need to follow the traffic pattern to the west playground. Staff is available to assist with this process. The parking lot in front of the building is for staff. Please do not use the bus lane for drop off or pick up. If you need to walk your child to the building, please park in the west lot and use the crosswalk.
Dismissal:
Dismissal is an extremely busy time. We ask that all dismissal plans/changes be pre-arranged with your child prior to the start of school. Due to the high demands placed on our office staff during this time, we will not be able to ensure communication about last minute dismissal changes after 2:45 P.M. We realize that emergencies do occur and will do our best to assist with these situations. We require a written note if a child’s dismissal plans differ for the day. Please send this note in the morning with your child. We also ask that all early dismissals occur prior to 3:00 P.M.
Entrance to the Building:
In order to maintain a safe environment by avoiding overcrowding, all students are assigned to enter a specific door when arriving in the morning.
K-2 Car riders will enter the building through the west doors. These doors are the closest to the car rider drop off loop. Even if you park, please walk your child to these doors.
Kindergarten bus riders will line up and enter through the east entrance (bottom of stairway).
1st and 2nd grade bus riders will line up and enter through the east entrance on the main level.
All 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will line up and enter through the main entrance.
Hillside staff will be at each door to greet students and assist them from the bus to line.
Only students and staff will be allowed to enter the building through a door other than the main door. Students will enter the building at 8:25 A.M.
Medication Policy:
If your child is in need of any sort of medication (prescription OR over-the-counter, such as Tylenol, cough drops, etc.), during the school day, school employees, by law, are not allowed to dispense medication to students without a FPS Medication Authorization form completed by the child’s physician.
Unless a child has a physician's permission to carry an inhaler, children are not to carry medications in their pockets, backpacks, etc. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to make sure the medication is delivered in its original form to the school staff designated to receive/administer it in a safe manner.
Suggested Supply Lists:
Here is a link to each grade level’s suggested supply list for this year. HILLSIDE SUPPLY
Educational Benefits Form (formerly known as Free/Reduced Price Meal Applications)
Families are encouraged to complete an Educational Benefits Form to help the district secure additional funding for the District’s educational programs. Families may submit their Educational Benefits Form online at https://farmington.family portal.cloud. Families who check the Special Considerations box on the form, may qualify for additional benefits such as test fees waived, summer EBT benefits, community outreach programs, etc.
Meal & Ala Carte Purchases
NEW THIS YEAR: when making a cash purchase in line, any change due to the student will be automatically deposited into the student’s account to help reduce wait times. Flexibility on this new procedure will be provided during the first few weeks of school, as students become comfortable going through the line.
Additional entrees will be charged $2.35–$3.35. Secondary schools will begin selling a la carte purchases on September 2, 2025. Elementary schools will not sell ala carte or 2nd entrees until further notice.
Transportation:
The bus stop information for pick up and drop off will be available to view online via MiStar Parent Portal on August 22nd. On the first day of school, we recommend that children be at their bus stop 30 minutes before the scheduled bus pick-up time. All other days, please have your child at the bus stop 15 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time.
Parent Orientation Night:
Parent Orientation Night is on Wednesday, September 10th, for all students and families.
It will be in two shifts as noted below:
Wednesday, 9/10 - Grades 1, 3, 5 - 5:30-6:30 P.M.
Wednesday, 9/10 - Grades K, 2, 4 - 6:45-7:45 P.M.Save the Dates:
August 20th - Supply Drop Off & PTA Event
August 25th - First Day of School (Half Day/11:45 AM Dismissal)
August 26th - 28th - Kindergarten Staggered Start Days
August 29th - September 1st - No School (Labor Day Weekend)
September 2nd - Classes Resume
September 24 - 26 - 5th Grade Camp
Mrs. Maas - torrie.maas@fpsk12.net - Principal
Mrs. Amos - deb.amos@fpsk12.net - Assistant Principal
Ms. Pliska - emily.pliska@fpsk12.net - Secretary
Ben Jozwiak, Music
Craig Benedict, PE
Angel Gippert, Music
Connect With Us!
Email: torrie.maas@fpsk12.net
Website: www.farmington.k12.mi.us/hil
Location: 36801 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI, USA
Phone: (248)489-3773
Facebook: Facebook.com/HillsideFPS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillsidefp
Mrs. Maas, Principal
