Hal Henard Happenings

Hal Henard families,

We had a great first day back! Our school is too quiet without our Eagles, and we love to hear the sounds of their voices and see those smiles when they return. Thanks to our GSIA for the wonderful welcome back for our Eagles! They graciously provided the balloon arch, music, and bracelets for our students. Please look over our newsletter for this week.

If you're thinking about ways you can support your child this year, take advantage of the time you may spend traveling to and from school or around town running errands. This is a great time to ask about what they are learning, have them explain more about a story they've read, or help them practice math facts. They can practice reading, math, science, and social studies at the grocery store! It helps students to connect what they learn in the school to the everyday world they live in.

Smiles,

Dr. Gass

Please have your child seated on the right (passenger) side of the car. If your child needs more time to get buckled in or you need to help them, please pull over in the parking places past the car line to do this. We have lots of car riders this year, and this will help the line move more quickly. Thanks!

August 24: Open House from 5:30 - 6:30. Stop by to visit your child's classroom and meet their teacher.

September 1: Fall Pictures

September 21: Book Fair Kick-off for our week-long book fair fundraiser! 5:00 - 7:00

The information below is a quick reference and some helpful links. More detailed information can be found in our student handbook on our webpage (On the Parents tab under Menu).

Office Hours: Someone is available to answer the phones and door from 7:30 - 3:30. If you call or come to the school outside of these hours, someone may not be available in the office.

Breakfast and Lunch

All students receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2026-2027 school year. Students can purchase additional items, such as extra portions of food, milk, and snacks/treats. If you would like you child to be able to purchase additional items, please make sure there is money on their account. We are excited to announce an additional entree choice. Starting this year, the cafe will offer a toasted cheese sandwich daily.

Free/Reduced Application

While all students receive free breakfast and lunch for this school year, completing this application can provide other funds to help support our students. You can apply here: https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/welcome

Transportation

• Car line opens at 2:30. Please do not enter the car line before because the CarRiderPRO system will not be on, yet.
• If you have questions about your child's bus schedule or need to arrange bus transportation, please call Kristen Rollins at 423-787-8003.
• If you are making a permanent change to your transportation plan, please contact Mrs. Shannon at 423-638-3511. Changes will be required in writing/email.
• If you are making a one-day or short term change, please use our Transportation Changes link on our webpage. Changes should be made before 1pm, but we know sometimes emergencies happen. Please call the school directly if you need to make a change after 1pm. https://halhenard.gcschools.net/o/hhes/forms/transportation-changes

Car Tags

All cars entering the car line must have a CarRider PRO tag displayed. If you do not have a tag, please park and enter the main office at 3:30 with a photo ID to pick-up your child. Students may only be checked out by someone on the approved pick-up list. While we know this takes more time, this ensures we get all students home safely. If you need additional car tags, these can be purchased through our online school store for $5 each.

Arrival/Dismissal

Our school day begins at 8:15am. Students who arrive after this will need to be checked in by a parent/guardian in the main office. Arrivals after 8:15 will be marked as a tardy. Afternoon dismissal begins at 3:15, and all students should be picked up no later than 3:30.

Water Bottles

Hydrated brains are ready to learn! Students may bring an empty water bottle with a screw-on lid to school. Glass water bottles are prohibited. Plastic water bottles are preferred, but metal ones are allowed. Students have multiple opportunities through the day to fill these from our hydration stations.

Personal Communication Devices

Any device that is able to send/receive communication must be turned off and stored for the duration of the school day unless there is an academic or medical exception. Devices not turned off and stored appropriately will be kept in the office until a parent/guardian can arrange to pick it up.

Toys/Items from Home

Please keep toys, stuffed animals, and craft/sports items at home. Teachers may allow students to bring an item to school as a reward.

Attendance

If your child is absent, please send a parent/doctor note within 2 days. There are several ways you can share this with us.

• Use our online absentee reporting option on our webpage (https://halhenard.gcschools.net/)
• Send a note with your child. If your child is younger, you may want to reach out to the teacher in advance to be on the lookout for it.
• Emailing Mrs. Shannon
• Have the medical office fax a note

https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4434/Hhes/38e140de-4fd0-44ee-b2b9-cb63b29272d4/Hal-Henard-Elementary-Handbook-Updated.pdf?disposition=inline

Our Hal Henard Eagles are fortunate to be supported not only by our school staff but also by our amazing GSIA organization. They raise funds to support our students in many ways, such as playground equipment, attendance incentives, and risers for our music program. They will be sharing more ways you can get involved as the school year kicks off!

If you are visiting Hal Henard or coming to check out your student, please bring a valid photo ID. Safety of our students is always a top priority, and this helps us ensure that. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.