Dear Hillcrest Families,

This week Hillcrest Elementary School is participating in an initiative called Rock Your School. Rock Your School's main focus is for schools all over the world to plan intentional moments for students to remember. The Hillcrest Family has been prepping for this week for some time now.

Our theme at Hillcrest this year is Encanto. In the movie Encanto, there is a significant presence of butterflies. Butterflies signify the beauty of change. Our PTO graciously bought each classroom a jar of caterpillars. For two weeks, our students have watched our caterpillars grow and transform into a chrysalis. It is our hope that this week we will get to watch butterflies emerge.

As our butterflies emerge, as a whole school, we will go outside and release the butterflies together. As the butterflies are flying away, our students have been learning the song called Lean on Me. In the movie Encanto, the family has to lean on each other and use each individual's gifts to become one. That is exactly what we are doing at Hillcrest Elementary School.

It is a moment that is going to be powerful, and we hope our students enjoy it!

The QC Custom Tees store closes on 10/6/2024. Order your student a tshirt (you can order yourself one too!)

September in PE was a great time with amazing participation! All grades were practicing locomotor movements (walking, running, hopping, jumping, leaping, jogging, skipping, galloping), pathways, and levels. Second through fourth grades had to take the Fitnessgram Tests. Kindergarten and first grade was learning how to roll a ball to a partner. Also, they were trying to knock down their partners bowling pin while rolling a ball. We just started underhand tossing in class with all grades. We work on stepping with the opposite foot and controlling the force that we throw the ball with. We play a game called Pin Derby in 2nd-4th grades where the students use throwing to knock down pins which they really enjoy.

We are busy in science. Kindergarten is learning about how the human has impact on the Earth, and they will be creating their recycled game soon. First grade is learning about different environments around the world and adaptations needed in order to live there. Second and third graders are learning about insulators and conductors-- it's almost popsicle time. Fourth grade is learning about many the types of energy, and they will have to save an egg passenger soon. We are busy learning and playing every day!

The students have been thrilled to come to our new and exciting library space at Hillcrest Elementary School. We are learning about the parts of a book, how to care for our library books, and we will soon begin our genre studies. We will learn the difference between fiction and nonfiction, then expand to biographies and poetry.

September is National Library Card Sign Up Month, please watch for an application coming home with your student to get signed up for a library card at East Moline Public Library. If you need an application, please email, ablair@emsd37.org

We will be having our 2nd Annual Storybook Character Day in November.

Start thinking about your character to dress up as now and mark your calendars! We are looking forward to having all of our staff and students participate throughout the district! THE DATE: Friday, November 22nd

Our 3rd and 4th grade students have the opportunity to perform a winter program on December 19th at 2:00pm. This is an event you will not want to miss.

Fall Break - NO SCHOOL

October 18

End of 1st Quarter

**Report cards will be sent home on October 23.

October 23

PTO Meeting at 6pm

Hillcrest Elementary School Library -- A Google Meet link will be provided again as well.

October 28

Picture Retakes

November 5

Election Day - NO SCHOOL

November 7 & 8

Parent/Teacher Conferences

The Hillcrest PTO would like to thank all of those students and staff who participated in our mum fundraiser. There were 480 mums sold! WOW! The top two selling classrooms were:

Both of these classes earned a pizza party for their hard work.

Coming Up:

• Boo Grams will be sold for $1 in October. Look for an order form to come home with your student.
• Next PTO meeting: October 23rd at 6:00pm in the library
  
  

Don't forget to download the Box Tops for Education Mobile app. and scan your receipts so Hillcrest can earn $ towards our goal.