Hardy Happenings
January 26, 2026
Dear Hardy Families,
We have officially kicked off the Great Kindness Challenge this week, and we had a dog-gone great 101st day of school as Dalmatians. We are excited to fill our campus with moments of kindness and connection. Students are already sharing sweet notes with classmates and staff, and we will keep celebrating all the ways we choose to live our kind each day.
Please join us! I’ve attached the Great Kindness Challenge, Family Edition Kind Acts Checklist. Can your family complete all of the kind acts this week?
Tuesday: ⚽ Sports Day, team jersey or sports attire
Wednesday: 😁 Kind Shirt Day, wear a shirt with kind words or symbols
Thursday: 🎩 Hat and Hair Day, crazy hair, a hat, or fun hair accessories
Friday: 🧦 Fun Socks Day, wear your fun socks and a Hardy shirt
Also, are we friends on Instagram yet? @hardyowlspta @HardyOwls and @Principal_Aragon share awesome updates, events, and photos to help keep you in the know. Go give us a follow and check it out.
With Gratitude,
Principal Aragon
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Lunch Reminder: No Fast Food Drop-Offs
A quick reminder: we are not able to accept fast food drop-offs or deliveries for students during the school day. It can create distractions and make it difficult for us to maintain a calm, consistent lunchtime experience for all students. Students should bring a healthy, nutritious lunch from home, or they are always welcome to enjoy a healthy, nutritious school lunch. Thank you for partnering with us.
Join Our Team: Now Hiring Noon Duty Position
Hardy is hiring Noon Duty Supervisors. This is an hourly-paid position supporting student supervision during lunch and recess, helping ensure a safe, positive environment on the playground and in lunch areas. If you enjoy working with kids and being part of a school community, we would love to hear from you. Please contact the front office for information on how to apply.
📚TOMORROW! EAR Volunteer Training! Volunteers Needed: Everyone A Reader
Have one hour a week to make a big difference?
Hardy is proud to partner with Everyone A Reader, a proven literacy program that matches trained volunteers with young readers who need extra support.
🗓 Volunteer Training: Tuesday, Jan 27 after drop-off
📍 Location: Hardy Library
📩 Interested? Contact Alexis Hedgecock at ahedgecock27@gmail.com to learn more.
Hardy Dress Code
With warmer days in San Diego, here’s a quick reminder about our Hardy dress code. Students should wear comfortable, appropriate, and safe clothing for learning and play. Shorts are welcome, but they may not be cut up the side (jogging style), cut-offs, or extremely short, and clothing should fit appropriately for safety.
Not permitted at school:
• Flip-flops or high-heeled shoes
• Clothing with suggestive words/pictures or alcohol/tobacco advertisements
• Large hoop, wire, or dangling earrings (small posts only)
• Strapless or spaghetti straps
• Crop tops/bare midriff
• Very short shorts
• Shoes with wheels
If needed, families may be contacted to provide alternate clothing. Thank you for your support in keeping Hardy safe and learning-focused.
DUE FRIDAY! ACTION REQUIRED: Impact Aid Survey: Mandatory Form, Please Return ASAP
The Federal Impact Aid Survey is required for all families and helps our district receive important funding (about $10 million each year) that directly supports students and schools. Families with a parent who is active duty military or works on federal property may qualify the district for additional funds, and the district may also receive additional support for federally connected students with an active IEP. Our goal is 100% participation.
Please complete the survey through the PowerSchool Parent Portal if possible. If you’ve already submitted it online, thank you, you will not receive a paper copy. If you cannot complete it online, a paper form will come home today. Please return it as soon as possible, no later than Friday, January 30.
Paper form reminders: the form lists October 27, 2025 as the opening date, but the Hardy deadline is January 30. Forms must be completed in blue or black ink, signed by a parent or guardian, and dated.
How to complete
- Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal (or use the mobile app)
- Go to Forms
- Select 2025–26 Impact Aid Program Survey Form
- Complete the 5 questions, sign and submit
- Select 2025–26 Family Resource Guide Confirmation
- Complete the 1 question, sign and submit
- Select 2025 - 26 Universal Form
- Complete the 5 questions, sign and submit
Need help with Parent Portal?
If you need help creating or accessing your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, we’re here to support you.
You can:
- Visit the Parent Portal resource webpage
- Contact our Site Tech, Marlene Curtin at mcurtin@sandi.net for one-on-one support.
NO SCHOOL FEBRUARY 26
Our teacher’s union has announced a one-day strike on February 26, 2026 regarding Special Education staffing issues as part of a statewide California Teacher’s Association initiative to bring educator pay and benefits in alignment with school districts like San Diego Unified.
In order to maintain a harmonious learning environment for our students, we will honor the strike and close schools on that day. We apologize for any inconvenience this will cause you, but closing schools will ensure that students are not placed in situations where adequate supervision, instructional continuity, and campus safety cannot be reliably maintained.
Families should begin to find alternative arrangements for their children for February 26th. There will be no classroom instruction, and before/after school programs won’t be operating.
The make-up date for classes will be on March 9, 2026, to ensure students receive the instructional time and services to support their success.
Whole Site Modernization
WSM Update: Demolition at Hardy
We are almost completely clear of our old portables, and we now have flat, level ground. We anticipate the major work will be complete within the next few days, though you may still see some larger trucks on campus through the end of this week. Demolition for this phase is expected to be complete by Thursday, February 12.
Show Appreciation to a Standout Staff Member at Hardy!
We invite you—our students and families—to help us spread the love. If there’s a staff member who has made a positive difference in your school experience, let them know by sending them a LOVE Note. LOVE = Living Our Values Every(day). Your words of appreciation are powerful and lasting.
Weekly Attendance Snapshot
% Present Year to Date: 96.4% (Goal: 96.5%)
Chronic or Severe: 5.3% (Goal: 8%)
If your student is home sick, please notify the front office by phone or by completing the REPORT AN ABSENCE form.
PTA News & Updates
🍴 Save the Date: Family Dine Out – Tues, Feb 4
Mark your calendars for our next Family Dine Out on Wednesday, February 4. Grab dinner, skip the dishes, and support Hardy at the same time. Stay tuned to our instagram for more details @HardyOwlsPTA
🗳️ PTA Elections: Nomination Committee Forming
It’s that time of year already! Planning for next year’s Hardy PTA leadership is officially underway.
The first step in our election process is forming a Nominating Committee, a small group of PTA members who help identify and confirm candidates for elected officer roles for the 2026–2027 school year.
What they do: help identify and encourage interested candidates, then present a recommended slate for voting.
Who can serve: any current Hardy PTA member (we’ll share how to join/verify membership).
Time commitment: short and focused, mainly in February/March
We’ll be electing the Nominating Committee at our Feb 19 PTA General Meeting. More details (including how to express interest ahead of time) coming soon.
📚 Volunteers Needed: Everyone A Reader
Have one hour a week to make a big difference?
Hardy is proud to partner with Everyone A Reader, a proven literacy program that matches trained volunteers with young readers who need extra support.
🗓 Volunteer Training: Tuesday, Jan 27 after drop-off
📍 Location: Hardy Library
📩 Interested? Contact Alexis Hedgecock at ahedgecock27@gmail.com to learn more.
Hardy Dad's Club
🎬 Thank You, Dads Club!
A big thank-you to the Dads Club for hosting a fantastic Movie Night on Friday! Cars was a hit, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make it a fun, smooth night for families.
📅 Next Dads Club Meeting – Tues, Feb 3
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Majorette
All dads and father figures welcome! Come connect and help plan upcoming events.
🅿️ Parking Lot Volunteers Needed
Dad’s Club coordinates paid parking during SDSU events — a great fundraiser for Hardy!
Interested? Email dadsclub@hardypta.com to get on the volunteer list.
Upcoming Events
JANUARY
January 26-30: The Great Kindness Challenge
Tuesday, January 27: Everyone A Reader Training - 8:00 AM
FEBRUARY
Tuesday, February 3: Dad's Club Meeting
Wednesday, February 4: Family Dine Out
Thursday, February 5: School Tour 8 AM
Friday, February 6: Family Friday
Monday, February 9: SSC/SGT
Thursday, February 12: Additional Minimum Day
Friday, February 13: No School
Monday, February 16: No School
Tuesday, February 17: Lunar New Year at 1:00 PM
Thursday, February 19: PTA Association Meeting 6:15 PM
Monday-Friday, Feb. 23-27: Literacy Week and Hardy Book Fair
Tuesday, February 24: 4th Grade NAEP Testing
Wednesday, February 25: TK/K Awards (Invite only)
Thursday, February 26: No School - SDEA Strike
Friday, February 27: 1-5 Awards (Invite only)
Principal Kristy Aragon
Website: hardy.sandiegounified.org
Hardy PTA Website: https://sites.google.com/hardypta.com/pta
Address: 5420 Montezuma Rd, San Diego, CA 92115
Office Hours: 7:15-3:00 PM
Phone: (619) 860-5700
Facebook: Hardy PTA Page
Hardy Instagram: @HardyOwls
Email: karagon@sandi.net
Principal Aragon Instagram: @principal_aragon
I'm currently reading Harnessing the Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain. What are you reading?