An Update from Hough Elementary

Dear Families,

We are so excited for this first week of school so we can see our Hawks! As you may have noticed, the playground is fully built and is ready for our students to play the first day back! We are beyond grateful for the incredible work of the PTO to make this dream playground a reality for our students! I can't wait to see all of the excited students that will be climbing, swinging, and gliding along!

This newsletter is packed with information - they typically will not be this long, don't worry!

If you are looking for any other back to school information besides what is outlined below, please check the Barringotn Back to School website for information about bus routes, school calendar, school supplies, fees, lunches, and much more!

We are very excited to host our Meet the Teacher tomorrow, August 19th from 2:00-2:45 PM. This event will give our 1st - 5th grade students and families the opportunity to drop off school supplies, meet our amazing staff, and see our beautiful building. If your family pre-ordered school supplies through the PTO, they will be in the classroom. Kindergarteners will meet their teacher at their specific orientation time on August 20th or on August 21st. Please contact your kindergarten teacher if you haven't signed up for your orientation time.

As we prepare to start the school year, it is important that students and families establish regular routines to maximize student attendance. For younger learners, sometimes this means helping students feel more comfortable about a transition away from home and caregivers.

Please note that for students who struggle to maintain regular attendance, parents will receive additional communication, conference requests, and other interventions to support regular school attendance, in accordance with state law. If you need support helping to get your child to school please reach out to Mr. Warrington (psychologist) or Ms. Gonzalez (school social worker). They will partner with you and find ways to encourage your child to come to school.

Students have a 20 minute lunch and 30 minute recess every day. This is a very important part of the day. Students have an opportunity to socialize, refuel, and decompress. Students are also encouraged to bring a healthy snack for snack time, which will be designated by each classroom teacher. Quest will continue to be our food provider this year. The monthly lunch menu is found on the Hough Website. Students can bring a water bottle each day to school; please make sure your child’s first and last name is on the water bottle so it can be returned if lost.

We are excited to kick-off the new school year as we welcome our 260 Hough Hawks! We will have supervision on our big playground beginning at 7:40 AM each day. In order to ensure a safe drop off procedure, we want to remind families that Lincoln Avenue is reserved for our buses from 7:40 - 7:55 AM. Our friends at Salem Preschool kindly ask that Hough parents refrain from using their parking lot for drop off or "cut through," to ensure the safety for their preschool families and staff. If you are driving your student to school between 7:40 - 7:55 AM, we ask that you drop your child off on Lill Street, so your child can cross at Lincoln Avenue with the crossing guard. Families are also welcome to drop-off students further west on Lincoln Avenue, past the new playground or along Lake Street, where students can enter the playground just west of the main office, adjacent to the flag pole. We also have a crossing guard at Memorial Park, along Hough Street.

Students are brought inside at 7:55 AM, as instruction begins promptly at 8:00 AM. New this year, we will begin each morning with a class meeting to build community among classmates. As a mom of an elementary and middle school student going to two different schools in the morning, I completely understand the chaos that is often involved in getting kiddos ready for school and out the door on time. Thank you very much for ensuring that your student arrives to school on-time (no later than 7:55 AM). If you have a situation where your child arrives after 7:55 AM, please bring them to the front office (Entrance One), on Lake Street, so we can check them into school.

By 8:05 AM , all gates will be locked to completely secure the perimeter of our building and grounds. Between 2:35 and 2:40 PM (2:05 PM on Wednesdays), we will unlock all gates to prepare for dismissal.

Students are dismissed at 2:40 PM (2:10 PM every Wednesday) onto the big playground so they can board buses, walk home, ride bikes or be picked up. Buses will utilize Lincoln Avenue during this time, so again, we ask drivers to park along Lill or west of the playground along Lincoln. The Salem parking lot is not a pick-up location. Also, cars cannot block Rt. 59 as they turn left onto Lincoln. This is very unsafe for all cars and pedestrians.

New this year, we will dismiss bus riders first. Walkers and car riders will be dismissed after bus riders so busses can depart quickly.

If you need to change your child's after school transportation/pick-up situation, please contact the Hough Office as early as possible so we can be sure to relay the message to your child's teacher prior to dismissal. Teachers are not able to check their email throughout the day, so please contact the main Hough number at 847-381-1108.

Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation.

School picture day is Friday, September 5th and make-ups are scheduled for October 16th. Please click here if you are interested in ordering school pictures. The "school event code" necessary for online ordering is: 10043101 Pictures may be ordered prior to picture day or after (there is a shipping fee associated with orders placed after picture day and they will be mailed directly to the student's home). Check your child's backpack for more information.

-Tuesday, August 19th: Meet the Teacher - Hough students are welcome to attend from 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (kindergarten students will attend an individual orientation with their teacher on 8/20 or 8/21)

-Wednesday, August 20th: First day of school for students grades 1-5 (8:00 AM - 2:10 PM)

-Friday, August 22nd: First day of school for kindergarten students (8:00 AM - 2:40 PM)

-Tuesday, August 26th: Fall Chess Club begins K-5th (2:45-3:45)

-Thursday, August 28th: PTO Back to School BBQ- 5:00 - 7:00 PM (5PM-New Families) and (5:30-7:00PM All Families) - more information coming later this week

-Friday, August 29th: Half-day for students (8:00 - 11:15 AM)

-Monday, September 1st: Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)

-Wednesday, September 3rd: Back to School Night 6:00-7:30 PM (Parent/Guardian event)

-Friday, September 5th: Picture Day (online ordering in advance use code 10043101 - retakes October 16th)