Hirsch Hawk Herald

Dear Hirsch Hawk Parents and Guardians,

What a fantastic first week back! We are off to a strong start in the second semester, and it's clear that our students have already made tremendous progress this school year. While we are proud of how far we've come, we know there’s still more to achieve, and we can only do it by working together. The connection between home and school is crucial, and your child’s success depends on how well we collaborate. We win as a team!

We also want to take a moment to share some exciting news about how our 3rd-5th graders stack up against the other 24 elementary schools in our district based on the recent Middle of the Year MAP assessments. Students in grades K-5 take MAP Math, and students in grades 3-5 take MAP Reading. We are incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and the tremendous growth they’ve shown as they prepare for the STAAR assessment this spring! Out of 25 elementary schools, here’s how our students rank:

• 3rd Grade Reading: 1st in the District!!!
• 3rd Grade Math: 3rd in the District!!!
• 4th Grade Reading: 3rd in the District!!!
• 4th Grade Math: 7th in the District!!!
• 5th Grade Reading: 8th in the District!!!
• 5th Grade Math: 2nd in the District!!!

Our theme this year is to be Unstoppable Heroes, and our students are proving that they truly are! We will continue to strive for excellence and rise to the top as we progress through the second half of the year.

As we focus on continued student growth, we invite you to our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday, February 14. This is a student holiday, but teachers will be on campus, ready to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress. Please reach out to your child’s teacher via Class Dojo or email to schedule a time for an in-person or virtual conference.

We are also excited to announce that Brighter Bites will be delivering fresh produce for our families again on Thursday, January 16. If you are interested in participating, please use the link provided in the newsletter below. Additionally, we need volunteers to help package the produce once it arrives. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the school office.

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make this another great week at Hirsch!

Sincerely,
Principal Patterson

Hirsch Elementary School

"Unstoppable Heroes: Empowering Every Student to Soar"

School security has become a top priority for educational institutions in today’s world. With an increasing number of potential threats, schools must implement stricter protocols to ensure the safety of students, staff, and parents. Identification of all individuals entering the premises is now an essential process, and Hirsch Elementary School is taking enhanced precautions to create a secure environment for everyone.

A new entry and student checkout procedure has been implemented at Hirsch Elementary School. Parents or guardians will be required to stand in front of an exterior camera and present valid identification, such as a driver’s license, before they are granted access to the building. This camera is positioned outside, near the main entrance, and no one will be permitted inside until their identity has been verified by the front office staff. To further enhance security, adults are asked to close the door immediately upon entering and ensure no one follows them in.

Promptness is also a key aspect of maintaining a safe and productive school environment. Students are encouraged to arrive on time to avoid delays or disruptions in the morning routine. Starting at 8:05 AM, the school day officially begins, and security measures will be fully operational. Tardiness not only impacts learning but can also interfere with the seamless implementation of these protocols. Let’s work together to ensure every student is present, on time, and ready to learn.

A safe environment is critical for students to focus on learning and feel secure while navigating the school’s hallways and classrooms. Spring ISD recognizes the importance of this and is committed to implementing robust safety measures to protect its schools, making them a thriving space for education both now and in the future.

These updated security protocols aim to provide peace of mind for students, parents, and staff, allowing everyone to concentrate on education without fear or unnecessary distractions. The efforts of the staff to uphold a safe and welcoming environment have been commendable, ensuring Hirsch Elementary School remains a positive and secure place for learning every day.

Shout out to the following students for representing Hirsch Elementary School!

Hirsch Elementary Spelling Bee

Congratulations to Layla M. on winning the school Spelling Bee, and to Dayleen S. for coming in 2nd place. We are so proud of all of our hawks who participated, and we look forward to cheering Layla on as she competes in the Spring ISD Spelling Bee in January!

Hirsch Elementary Student Council: The other week our student council attended the TEPSA Student Leadership Conference and received the TEPSA Student Leadership Award for their work in impacting our school:

In 2018 the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) established the TEPSA Student Leadership Award to honor outstanding student leadership teams and their impact on our school communities in the state of Texas. It is with great pride that we announce that the following school in Spring Independent School District has met all the standards to receive this prestigious award!

Dear 5th Grade Parents:

It's time to start planning for Middle School!

Your student's course selection sheet was sent home in Friday folders. Please complete the packet and return to your child's teacher by January 15, 2025. Middle School counselors will be at Hirsch on January 16, to help students sign up for classes. ALL students need to complete this process, even if you are planning to attend a school other than Twin Creeks Middle School. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us. Click HERE for a slide show to assist you in the process. The course selection packet can be found below.

Attendance is so important for student success. Hirsch Elementary is committed to encouraging students to come to school everyday. Each grade level is participating in weekly and monthly attendance contests to see who has the highest attendance. Classes and grade levels with the highest attendance will get a reward! Everyday attendance equals everyday success. Thank you for partnering with us for your child's success.

On February 20, you can order your child Chick-Fil-A for lunch, while also helping to support Hirsch Elementary! We are excited to offer six days throughout the school year where you can order a special lunch for your child! Each meal starts at $9.50. Use the link below to order! All orders must be received by 5 p.m. the day before delivery.

https://form.jotform.com/ChickfilASpring/hirsch-elementary-school

• January 7: First Day of 2nd Semester for students

• January 10: Report cards go home

• January 16: Brighter Bites Distribution

• January 20: MLK Day NO SCHOOL

• January 23: 1st Grade Music Program @ 6 p.m.

• January 25: Saturday School (Invited students only)

• January 29: 5th Grade Field Trip

• January 30: Brighter Bites Distribution

Hirsch Elem PTO

Parents--we need your help to revitalize our PTO! If you're interested in helping our Hirsch Hawks soar, use the link below to be contacted about an important upcoming meeting to strategize how we can reignite our PTO.

PTO Interest Form

Stay up to date on our PTO by following our PTO Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/HirschPto/

We're pleased to announce our partnership with Brighter Bites! This wonderful program offers our families fresh produce free of charge each month! This program is open to EVERYONE at our school, regardless of income. Please see the flyer below for more information and to sign up! Click the picture for the link, or use the link here: https://fs27.formsite.com/brighterbites/enroll23/fill?id82=707&id161=1

If you want to volunteer to help bag the pallets of fresh produce, then click HERE!

https://www.schoolcafe.com/springisd

Please visit the website above to see the menus for each week. If you click on the third button (View Menus (as a guest)), you can navigate to Hirsch Elementary to see what's being served each week. Please be aware that menus can change due to available inventory.

We want to show our Hawks that the sky is the limit when it comes to how high they can fly! On Wednesdays we ask all students and staff to wear their favorite college, university or military shirt!

• Parents may send treats to their child’s class.
• Only store bought cupcakes or cookies (no peanut butter or nuts)
• Sent with child or dropped at office
• Parent may NOT come to class
• Teacher’s discretion when to do cupcakes (not at lunch due to regulations)
• No goodie bags, balloons, etc.