Gator Tales Family Updates

Thank you to our students, families, faculty, and staff for making the first 10 days of school such a wonderful success! It has been a great start to the new school year, filled with learning, excitement, and positive energy.

We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and continued partnership as we establish routines and prepare our Gators for a successful year. We look forward to continuing to learn, innovate, and grow together!

Thank you for helping us keep Gator Nation #StayLIT!

Heard Elementary School families, please join us for an exciting evening of family fellowship, learning, and partnership!

During this special event, families will:

• Learn about our Title I program and how it supports student achievement.

• Participate in engaging math games and activities with their children.

• Enjoy family fun and fellowship with our Gator community.

• Meet our PTA leaders and discover ways to join, volunteer, and support our school.

Date: Thursday, August 20
Time: 5:30pm -7:00pm
Location: Heard Elementary School Cafetorium

Your involvement makes a difference! Together, families, teachers, and community partners can help every student grow and succeed.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Think Globally, Act Locally!
Where Families and School #IgniteTheInnovation

"We are excited to begin implementing the Savvas enVision® Mathematics curriculum this school year! Through SavvasRealize.com, families have access to a variety of resources to support your child's success in mathematics and help you better understand the organization of the enVision® Mathematics program. These resources include topic overviews, explanations and examples, lesson support, Math Help at Home pages with sample problems and family activities, visual learning tools, games, videos, and much more. Each week, your child's teacher will send home information about the topics and lessons your child will be learning in math and additional practice that aligns to the lessons taught in class. Click on your child's grade level below to access these valuable math resources!"

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

The safety of our students is our highest priority. Please carefully review the car rider drop-off and pick-up routes included in this newsletter. Please use the traffic map as your guide before the first day of school to help ensure a safe, smooth, and efficient process for everyone.

Additionally, every student will be tagged according to his or her designated mode of transportation (Bus rider, Car rider, Walker, Y-Base, Daycare, etc.). This helps our staff safely direct students to the correct dismissal location each day. If your child's transportation changes, please notify the front office and your child's teacher as early as possible to ensure accuracy.

*Arrival Begins: 8:45

*Dismissal Begins: 4:00

This year, we encourage every family to actively use PowerSchool. The Parent Portal provides real-time access to attendance, grades, assignments, report cards, and important school information. Staying connected through PowerSchool is one of the best ways to support your child's academic success throughout the year.

How do I get started using the PowerSchool Parent Portal?

Visit the Parent Portal by clicking here:

1. Log into Parent Access.
2. Select the student you wish to register along the top.
3. Select the Student Verification Icon on the left side.
4. Agree to the terms and conditions.
5. Click Begin Forms.
6. Repeat the process for all students.

I do not have a Parent Access account.
If parents/guardians need a Parent Access account, please click here to request one.
Use these links to verify:

Do I have to answer all the questions?
Questions marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.

What if I make a mistake?

If you would like to make a change prior to submitting the form, navigate back to the page using the “< Prev” and “Next >” buttons or click on the underlined field on the Review page. If you have already submitted the form, you will need to contact your student’s school to make the changes.

I’ve completed the form, now what?

Once you have finished entering your information, click “Submit" to send the information to the school. If you cannot click on this button, you will need to make sure that you have answered all required questions.

What if I have more than one student in the district? Do I need to do this for each child?

Yes, you will need to provide information that is specific to each child. We recommend that you complete and submit one form and then start another.

We are excited to continue building leadership, school spirit, positive character, and belonging through our House System! Every student is a valued member of one of our five Houses:

• ❤️ Amistad – Friendship
• 🖤 Altruismo – Giving
• 💚 Isibindi – Courage
• 💙 Reveur – Dreamers
• 💜 Nukumori – Compassion

Families will also learn about House App, which allows students and families to celebrate achievements, earn House points, and stay connected to exciting Schoolwide and House events throughout the school year.

If you have any questions or need support with the HOUSE App, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student's teacher and/or Ms. Mobley at ebony.mobley@sccpss.com. However, please note that the inboxes on social media outlets are not monitored. We encourage you to sign up for PowerSchool Parent Access and Here Comes the Bus (bus riders only) if you have not already done so.

In alignment with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, VL Heard's school improvement efforts remain focused on providing high-quality instruction while creating meaningful learning experiences for every student. This year we will continue strengthening:

• High-quality STEAM instruction
• Reading and mathematics achievement
• Student leadership opportunities
• Positive school culture through PBIS and the House System
• Strong family and community partnerships
• Consistent attendance and student engagement

Together, we will continue Igniting Innovation while ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Every day counts! Students learn best when they are present, engaged, and on time. We ask families to make school attendance a priority by scheduling appointments outside of school hours whenever possible and limiting unnecessary absences. Consistent attendance builds strong academic habits and sets students up for long-term success.

We will continue to offer families the Remote Learning Days option. Each student is allotted up to 5 approved remote learning days during the school year.

✅ How It Works:

• Students MUST login to Brightspace and/or completed assignments each day to be counted present for attendance.

• All assignments from these days are due within 3 days of returning to school.

• These days must be pre-approved by Principal Smalls before being used.

Please review the attached instructions on how to request Remote Learning Days through PowerSchool.

We appreciate your continued support in ensuring learning continues wherever our Gators are!

To maximize instructional time and minimize distractions, students are expected to follow Georgia's updated school cell phone expectations. Cell phones and personal electronic devices must remain turned off, stored out of sight, and kept in the assigned classroom lock box throughout the instructional day unless specifically authorized by school staff for medical/emergency circumstances. We appreciate your partnership in helping us create focused learning environments where students can fully engage in learning.

NWEA MAP testing will begin Monday for students in all grade levels K-5. Testing will start promptly at 9:30 a.m. each day.

Please help your child do their best by ensuring they:

• Arrive at school on time

• Get a good night’s rest

• Eat a healthy breakfast

• Bring their charged device, if applicable

• Approach testing with confidence and give their best effort

Thank you for helping us create a successful testing environment for all students!

All students will receive free breakfast and lunch this school year! However, if your child would like to purchase additional food items (such as an extra lunch or drinks), please note that the School Nutrition Department has gone cashless. Families must set up an online payment account to add funds for any extra food purchases.

During special events parents who wish to eat lunch with their child, adult meals are available for $5.25.

• Metal detectors and/or handheld wands
• Bag Inspection
• Enforcement of Clear Bag Requirements

**No weapons, tobacco, vapes, or sharp objects**

All persons and packages are subject to search upon entry. Failure to consent or submit will result in denial of entry.

2026-2027 Heard Elementary

PTA Membership Drive

Your child benefits when you join PTA.

EVERYONE can join! Parents, grandparents, teachers, friends… anyone who supports education! Membership is simple -- it doesn’t commit you to volunteer or attend meetings. It simply helps fund school initiatives and needs.

Find Heard's PTA on Facebook at HeardESPTA!

View in Español, 中文 (简体), more.

🐊 CALLING ALL HEARD GATORS 🐊

Students are welcome to wear PTA Spirit Shirts as a school-approved uniform option under the SCCPSS Dress Code Policy for the 2026-27 school year! PTA T-shirts are the ONLY approved spirit wear t-shirts allowed to be worn during daily school attendance!

The SY 2026– 2027 SCCPSS Code of Conduct is now on line. You can view it at the SCCPSS website-----Search Results - Savannah-Chatham County Public School System

The School Nutrition Program will be cashless starting with the 2025-2026 School Year. All funds MUST be added at MySchoolBucks.com, the district's online prepayment option. MySchoolBucks.com is available for parents to place money electronically on their child’s account. To create an account, you will need the student ID.

Benefits of MySchoolBucks.com:

• ​You may use a credit card or debit card to add funds to the account.

• You may monitor your child’s daily usage amount and what items they are purchasing

• An email reminder will be sent to you when funds on your account are below a certain amount to ensure your child does not run out of money.

• You may set up an automatic payment

1. Bike Riders should always wear a properly fitted helmet.
2. Always stop before crossing the street and walk bikes across the street.
3. Plan your route to and from school. Avoid short cuts, alleys, and unsafe areas.
4. If possible, ride in groups to and from school.
5. Do not use electronic devices while riding your bike.

Bus Stops:

1. Never hang out in the streets and avoid horseplay while waiting on the bus.

2. Always make sure the driver is able to see you.

3. Always wait until the bus completely stops.

4. Never walk behind the bus.

Here comes the bus! Where is the bus? The bus is HERE!

Download the app TODAY and never wonder when your bus is coming again! Parents, grandparents, babysitters...everyone can have an account! https://youtu.be/5JOukHCmbhk

District Number: 29222