Hillside News & Notes

Dear Families,

Welcome back to a new school year! We are excited to welcome our students and families for another year of learning, growth, and new opportunities.

Over the summer, construction has focused on improving our grounds and parking areas. We are pleased to share that all paving, signage, and landscaping will be completed before the first day of school. On August 7, we will send a detailed map with arrival and dismissal information for both walkers and drivers.

This year, our school-wide goal is to strengthen reading. We encourage every student to discover a new book, visit the library, or take a trip to a local bookstore. Building a love of reading at home and at school helps set the foundation for lifelong learning.

Thank you for your continued support and trust. Together, we will make this an amazing school year filled with learning, kindness, and success.

We are Hillside. Every Tiger. Every Day.

Principal- Ms. Michelle Patterson patterson.michelle@westside66.net

Vice Principal - Ms. Kerri Lewis lewis.kerri@westside66.net

Secretary - Mrs. Joyce Saner saner.joyce@westside66.net

School Phone Number- 402-390-6450

• Reagan Goeken, School Psychologist
• Virginia Allen, Speech-Language Pathologist

Kindergarten: A separate Kindergarten newsletter will be sent on Monday, July 20th, detailing Kindergarten-specific items.

Just a reminder that there is a staggered start for Kindergarten:

Group A: August 13 & 14

Group B: August 17 & 18

All Kindergarteners: August 19

Your child(ren)'s group will be sent on Monday, July 20th.

Grades 1-6:

Class assignments will be sent via email. If you have not received your classroom placement prior to Open House on August 11th, feel free to call the front office.

Please note that the student enrollment process must be completed to ensure you receive your classroom placement email.

• Students should arrive after 8:10, when staff members are available to supervise and welcome them to school in addition to monitor safety.
• Please encourage your child to exit the car independently when you pull into the drop-off area.
• If your student eats breakfast, please drop them off as close to 8:10 as possible.

• For all students, and adults, stay alert and ready during pick-up.
• Remind your child to watch for your vehicle and enter promptly when you pull forward.
• Drivers continue to pull up as space becomes available so that we can load as many students as possible.
• Every Wednesday the school day will end at 3:00 p.m,. instead of 3:30 p.m. This gives our teachers time for collaboration and professional learning.

We love having family members & friends involved in our school community! If you are interested in volunteering, joining someone for lunch, or having the ability to move independently throughout the school building during visits, we encourage you to complete the district background check process.

Completing a background check helps us maintain a safe environment for all students and staff while allowing families greater access and opportunities to participate in school activities.

Any adult visiting will also need to check-in at the front office and creating a visitor passport makes this process much faster!

You may also make payments to lunch accounts in the front office with Mrs. Saner.

If you are setting up a new account and you need a student ID number, please call the front office.

(402-390-6450)

ALL classroom snacks and birthday treats must come from this approved list to help ensure the safety and well-being of all students.

Our goal is to have students here everyday on time; however, we know that things arise. Please call the office at 402-390-6450 (available 24 hours a day).

When leaving a voicemail, Include:

• Student's full name
• Classroom teacher
• Reason for absence
• If your student is going to be tardy, but joining for lunch, please include a lunch preference

Students arriving after 8:30 should check-in at the front office.