HMK's Monday Message
Week of January 26th-30th & February 2nd - 6th
WIDA TESTING STARTS THIS WEEK!
Dear Families,
We are writing to let you know that our school will soon begin the annual WIDA ACCESS for ELLs (English Language Learners) testing window. We want to share what this test is, why it matters, and how you can help.
What is WIDA testing? WIDA is a federally required assessment that measures your student’s progress in learning English. It looks at four specific skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. This is not a grade for a class, but a measurement of their growth in the English language from year to year.
Why is this test important? This test is vital for your child’s education. The scores help us:
Determine if your child is ready to exit the English Language Support program.
Decide which specific support services your child needs in the classroom next year.
Show teachers exactly how much your student has grown academically.
Why attendance matters It is critical that your student is present and on time during this testing window. We cannot test students who are absent. If your student misses their scheduled testing day, they will have to be pulled out of regular classes later for make-up testing, which causes them to miss valuable instruction time.
Thank you for making every effort to have your child at school during this important time!
Investing in Excellence: Our Recent Teacher Development Day
At Grand County School District, we are dedicated to ensuring our schools provide the highest level of certainty for your child’s success. On Friday, January 16th , our educators participated in a focused professional development day titled "PLC 2.0: Building PLCs from the Ground Up". This session was led by Dr. Garth Larson, Co-Founder and CEO of FIRST Educational Resources.
Moving Toward High Reliability This training is a vital step in our journey toward becoming a certified Level 1 High Reliability School (HRS). Level 1 schools are defined by having a Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture. Rather than adding "one more thing" to our teachers' plates, this session focused on redefining and refining how we already work together to ensure that our school’s foundation is as strong and reliable as possible.
Key Highlights of the Day:
Redefining Collaboration: Teachers explored why high-functioning collaborative teams are essential for enhancing student learning outcomes.
Impactful Data Use: Teams gained insights into developing Team Impact Plans. These plans help teachers use student data to address specific instructional challenges and set clear goals for student improvement.
Shared Purpose: Educators learned how to establish a clear, shared mission for their time together, ensuring all efforts are directly aligned with student success.
Proven Protocols: By using specific "Best/Worst" protocols, our staff established a vision for high-functioning teams that ensures our collaboration is meaningful and purposeful.
What This Means for Your Student By recalibrating our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), we are ensuring that your child’s needs are met by a team of experts rather than a single teacher working in isolation. When our teachers are empowered with practical tools and clear data, they can make a more observable impact on every student’s achievement and growth.
We are excited to see the results of this "reignited" focus in our classrooms. Thank you for being a partner in our journey toward excellence.
Meet our new library friend, Leo! 🦔
I am thrilled to announce that the school library has a brand-new resident! After much anticipation and a school-wide vote, our students have officially chosen a name for our newest addition.
Please join us in welcoming Leo Gryffin Hedge III (though the students have already affectionately shortened it to just Leo).
Leo has already become the star of the library, and the students are absolutely overflowing with excitement to read alongside him.
A Safe & Friendly Environment
We know that student health is a top priority. Because we want every student to be able to enjoy Leo’s company, we chose a hypoallergenic pet. This ensures that even our students with common allergies can participate in "reading to Leo" and visiting him during library hours without any concerns.
Why a Library Pet?
Studies show that having a library pet can:
Boost Reading Confidence: Children often feel more comfortable reading aloud to a non-judgmental animal friend.
Reduce Stress: Spending time with a calm animal creates a soothing environment for learning.
Teach Responsibility: Students learn about empathy and the care required for another living creature.
Leo is settling into his new home beautifully, and we can’t wait for you to hear all about him from your children! If you have any specific questions about Leo’s care, how you can help us with food and essential resources to keep him healthy and safe, or his role in the library, please feel free to reach out.
📣 Families! Here's What's Happening This Week:
🔎QUICK GLANCE AT IMPORTANT INFO/DATES:
- Monday, January 26th -
- 2:30 ~ HMK Spelling Bee - Final Round! (in room 136 for participants and parents)
- Virtual Link to Watch ~ https://meet.google.com/dfe-rddq-ohs
- Tuesday, January 27th -
- 9:30-10:30 ~ 4-6 Winter Showcase Dress Rehearsal for school in Gym
- 6:00-7:00 ~ 4-6 Winter Showcase for parents in gym ~ CLICK HERE for FLYER
- Doors OPEN at 5:45 for Art Gallery
- Performance begins at 6:00
- Wednesday, January 28th -
- Normal Wednesday
- Thursday, January 15th -
- Normal Thursday
- Friday, January 16th -
- Nichols 6th Grade Field Trip to Lower Courthouse Wash 9:00-12:30
📣 Families! Here's What's Happening Next Week:
🔎QUICK GLANCE AT IMPORTANT INFO/DATES:
- Monday, February 2nd
- Monthly SCC Meeting @ 3:30
- Tuesday, February 3rd
- Normal Tuesday
- Wednesday, February 4th
- Normal Wednesday
- Thursday, February 5th
- Lockdown Drill @ 9:30 (could move to Wednesday - same time)
- Friday, February 6th
- Normal Early-Out Friday
- 6th grade ~ Scheu Field Trip to Courthouse wash 9:00-12:30
We are ALWAYS looking for Substitute Teachers!
We are currently working to recruit and hire more substitute teachers, and we would love your help. If you or someone you know is interested in working with students, enjoys a flexible schedule, and wants to make a positive impact in our school community, this is a great opportunity. Training and support are provided, and substitutes play a vital role in keeping our school running smoothly.
How you can help:
- Consider applying to be a substitute teacher yourself.
- Share this opportunity with family, friends, neighbors, or community members who may be a good fit.
- Contact our school office for more information about how to apply or direct interested individuals to the district’s substitute application page [CLICK HERE].
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students. Together, we can ensure that every classroom has the support it needs every day.
HMK INFO:
Website: https://hmk.grandschools.org/
Location: 505 N MiVida Dr, Moab, UT 84532
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmkelementary/