What's Buzzing at the Heights

Week 9: September 25 - 29, 2023

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Campus Mission Statement:

Horizon Heights Elementary is committed to helping each child reach their maximum potential.

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Campus Vision Statement:

Tomorrow's LEADERS Learning TODAY

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Message from the Principal

Dear Hornet Families,

Thank you for a GREAT Week 8 of school. Our scholars had the opportunity to experience a fabulous CAREER Day and FALL Dance! They had a wonderful week!

We are 5 days for our Fall Intersession. It is VITAL that our scholars are in attendance. We will be giving 9 weeks test this week and ALL SCHOLARS will be taking their tests Tuesday through Friday. Please, do not pull them out early! If they do not take their tests, they will be marked incomplete.

We are struggling with attendance! We have 35 scholars out on average. We need to ensure we are keeping our scholars healthy and in school. Each day they are out, they MISS 7 HOURS of instruction that is HARD to recuperate. We are 5th in the district in attendance. We can do better! All last year, we were 1st or 2nd. Let's ensure our scholars are in school to LEARN!

Fall Intersession Learning Camp permission slips have gone home with scholars. Be sure to communicate with your children's teachers. This will be a great time for them to review and practice their math and reading skills to proficiency. Fall Intersession Learning Camp is scheduled from Monday, October 2 through Thursday, October 5 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

On Monday, scholars that attended our Family Night at Peter Piper Pizza will have FREE DRESS. Bring in the coupon to give to teachers.

On Wednesday, we will host a Coffee with the Principal to learn about the dangers of vapes. Join us from 8:30 to 9:30 AM in the Library.

On Friday, we do have Fall Picture Retakes (with uniform) for anyone that missed taking their photo. It is in uniform as these photos are used for the yearbook.

On Friday, we will host the Feeder Night at Eastlake HS game. They will be playing Socorro HS. Wear your GREEN to show team spirit. Game time: 7:00 PM

Monday through Thursday, October 2-5, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, we will host our Fall Intersession Learning Camp. If your child was invited, this is a great opportunity to practice the skills they need support with. It is small group support, using manipulatives and a great time for scholars. Free Dress. A Grab and Go Breakfast will be offered to all scholars.

This month, we ask for your support to help our scholars with the following:

read daily for 20 minutes (anything of interest to child);
complete 5 units of Lexia daily,
practice addition & subtraction facts (these bring confidence);
practice multiplication & division facts (upper grades need for problem solving);
go to bed early enough to be ready to learn the next day; &
continue to communicate with classroom teachers

Arrival & Dismissal.

Arrival and Dismissal will be our greatest challenges. Please be patient and kind. We will have all staff on duty to assist and create a system that is safe and efficient.

For Dismissal, we do ask families to ensure their SIGN with child's name in posted in the front windshield so that we can read & call out the name.

Attendance.

If your child is absent, we must have a doctor's note or a personal note explaining why they were absent upon their arrival. For doctor's appointments, take your child to appointment, but bring them back with a doctor's note the same day and it will be counted as present.

NEW: This year, district policy indicates parents/guardians have 72 hours to submit excuse notes justifying child's absence.

Attendance in vital to our scholars success. Every day gone from school, they lose 7 hours of skills, strategies and support for learning. Help us by keeping your children healthy.

We track attendance daily and will communicate with families when children have 5 absences & tardies to establish a Loss of Credit Contract. Our goal is for your child to be healthy and at school without losing credit.

COVID & Absences.

If a student tests positive with COVID, child must see a doctor to get a test and be diagnosed with COVID. If parents submit a home COVID test, it will NOT qualify for the Q code of Quarantined. Therefore, these absences will count towards Loss of Credit. Ensure your child is seen by a doctor and diagnosis is sent as an excuse for absences to qualify for Q code.

Reporting Absences.

If you need to report an absence, our PEIMS Clerk will be able to assist you. Our team will be receiving the email to help assist you. I will forward all of your messages to the classroom teachers so they are aware of the absence.

Email: attendancehorizonheights@sisd.net

Please include as much detail as possible:

Child's name
Grade
Teacher
Student ID
Reason for the absence

All notes will be collected via this email as well. Be sure to include details in the note as the child returns to class.

Tardies.

Children will be counted TARDY whey they enter the building at 7:45 AM. Please ensure you are allowing enough time for your child to arrive to school on time. After 3 tardies, children will be given lunch detention. The traffic is hectic. We begin to receive children at 6:45 AM. Help your child to arrive on time and start their day ready to learn.

Breakfast in the Classroom.

Our district will continue to provide breakfast in the classroom for ALL scholars. Breakfast in the Classroom, BIC, will be served daily from 7:30 AM to 7:45 AM. Please be on time to take advantage of the most important meal of the day.

Birthday Snacks.

We ask parents to please refrain from bringing in cupcake trays. If you would like for your child to share a treat, it must be a treat individually packaged by the manufacturer. Candy bags, individually wrapped snacks are allowed. Call or email Ms. Hansen and we can help to clarify. We appreciate you!

Water Bottles.

Please continue to send your children with water bottles. This will help them stay safe & hydrated. They can refill them in from the water fountains.

Safety.

The building will be cleaned throughout the day in high traffic areas to ensure safety. We will have hand sanitizing stations at all classrooms, restrooms, cafeteria and playground. If you wish for your child to wear a mask, please send them with a mask that fits them comfortably.

Traffic in the Bus/Daycare Area.

The area where the busses & daycare drop off/pick up is "private property". The land owner has granted us permission to use the land. There should NOT be any parents parking in that area. Yes, we are limited in parking and therefore ask for your support to use the curbside service.

Update on Teacher Vacancies.

Our 2nd Grade Teacher, Ms. Veronica Molina will begin on Monday. She will be planning with the teachers. She will attending New Teacher Orientation on Tuesday and start with scholars on Wednesday. We still do not have applicants for our Kinder Bilingual position. We are blessed that Ms. Lorenza Castillo is helping our scholars grow and learn! We do have have 6 applicants for our Kinder vacancy as Ms. Rincon left the profession. We will hope to hold interviews this week.

Thank you for your continued support! We are blessed with an amazing learning community!

Together, we are better!

Respectfully,

Jenifer Hansen

Proud Principal of Horizon Heights ES

Office Number: 915-937-7402

Arrival & Dismissal Times

TeamSISD has modified the start and end time for our scholars. PLEASE be aware of these times.

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Picking Up Scholars Early

Parents,

We are asking for your assistance when picking up children early from school. We need your support to be able to process your request in a timely manner.

For Doctor's Appointments:

If possible, pick you your children before 1:00 PM.

For PK & Kinder:

Children must be picked no later than 2:00 PM.

For 1st-5th Grade:

Children must be picked up no later than 2:30 PM.

Thank you for your support!

Speak to Children about RESPECT

Parents,

I am asking that you talk to your children about respect.

You have raised beautiful children that show kindness and respect in the classroom We are noticing that our scholars are NOT respecting our staff on campus outside of the classroom.

During morning duty, many of our aides have asked children to sit and read a book. They have asked them not to be on their cell phones. Some of the children are not being respectful to the staff. They argue or dismiss the request made by the staff member.

At lunch, our children do not listen to the whistle to line up when our monitors make the call. The monitors are having to blow the whistle various times to get their attention. We have some children that run away from the adults when we try to line them up.

We will continue to work with them to honor the rituals and routines of our school. We ask for your support for them to listen and respect our monitors at lunch recess and throughout the day.

Thank you for your continued support!

Skyward Parent Portal

The Socorro Independent School District is implementing Skyward Family Access for parents and students for the 2023-2024 school year. Skyward Family Access will replace the Tyler360 portal.

Skyward Family Access is an easy-to-use website that allows parents and guardians to access information about their students, such as attendance, grades, assignments, schedules, progress reports and report cards. Skyward Family Access is available on any device with an internet connection.

Skyward Family Access is now available to students and parents. Click here to learn more about how to use Skyward. Information also will be shared with parents via email.

SISD appreciates parents’ patience and understanding during the transition to Skyward Family Access.

VSP Soccer Team

Help me in congratulating our VSP Soccer Team with their win over Dr. Sue Shook ES this past Wednesday. The Hornets won with a 10-0 score!

We have 26 scholars on the team from 4th and 5th Grade.

They are being coached by Coaches Juan & Cristina Ortega.

Our 5th Grade scholar, Jordan C., scored 7 goals to take the win! Way to go Hornets!

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Walk a Mile

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes supports YWCA El Paso’s Sara McKnight Transitional Living Center for survivors of domestic violence.

At this event, we ask men to walk in high-heeled shoes to actively engage in solidarity in confronting gender stereotypes and expectations. Together we can face the root causes of many gender violence instances.

Superintendent of Schools:

Dr. Nate Carman

https://give.ywcaelpaso.org/fundraiser/4876062

Col. John O. Ensor MS Principal:

Mr. Stephen Fernandez

https://give.ywcaelpaso.org/fundraiser/4909734

Eastlake HS Principal:

Mr. Gilbert Martinez

https://give.ywcaelpaso.org/fundraiser/4957588

All of the funds collect go to help support the Sara McKnight Transitional Living Center for women and children in need.

Lexia Celebrations, Week 4

Congratulations to the following students that have leveled up in Lexia!

Scholars are encouraged to reach their weekly goals. Scholars must work independently to make the progress necessary to become proficient in their reading skills.

Goal: Scholars should be working towards 5 units a day, each week.

Thank you for your continued support for Lexia.

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School Uniforms

For the 2023-2024 school year, we will wear uniforms on a daily basis. Be sure to check the weekly newsletter for special occasion attire.

Pre-Kinder students:

Red polo tops only
Khaki or blue pants/shorts/skirts

Kinder -5th Grade Students:

Hunter green, navy blue or white polos
Khaki or blue pants/shorts/skirts

The school uniform does NOT have to have the school name or logo.

Monday-Wednesday: School uniform: uniform shirt & uniform slacks/shorts/skirts

Thursday: College Day (attire from your favorite college) with jeans/slacks

Friday: Spirit Day Shirts and jeans (with no holes, no tears/ripped)

Attendance, Week 8

Our goal as a school is to reach 98% attendance each week. We know that staying healthy is as important as learning each day.

This week's attendance percentages as as follows:

PreKinder: 93.91% to 95.21%
Kinder: 98.06% to 96.86% (Super Work, Kinder!)
1st Grade: 97.74% to 95.81%
2nd Grade: 97.50% to 96.16%
3rd Grade: 95.63% to 95.89%
4th Grade: 97.02% to 95.67%
5th Grade: 96.51% to 97.57% (Way to Go, 5th Grade!)

Week 7: 96.36%; YTD: 96.75%, Good start to the year!

We are 5th highest in the district. Let's aim for 98% and reach 1st place! We can do this!

Stay healthy and make it count! Be at school daily! We will have a great year Hornets!

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Classes with Perfect Attendance

Way to go Hornets!

The following classes have FREE DRESS on Wednesday:

PreKinder: Ms. Chavez & Ms. Muniz, 100%
1st Grade: Ms. Castro, 100%
1st Grade: Ms. Reyes, 100%

We will ask that our PK still wear their RED shirt as this is a safety protocol to know that an adult must be with them. They can accessorize with hats, glasses, etc. Thank you!

Stay healthy! We can do this Hornets!

PK & Kinder Attendance Incentive

Technology Updates...

Classes come to the Library every other week, and books are checked out for those 2 weeks. Students need to keep books safe and clean in a Ziploc bag. Fees are charged for lost/damaged books based on the cost of the book. Fees will be paid on My School Bucks through the Web Store on our school web page.

Parents may come in to sign up for a library account with a valid Driver's License and email address. Parents may check out 5 books at a time. The library hours for parents are:

7:45am-8:15am and 2:00pm-3:15pm

Student devices have been distributed to PK-5th grade students to use in class. There are still a few of our new scholars needing devices. They have been requested and will be distributed as soon as they arrive.

Team Members Ready to Assist

Here is a list of phone numbers, emails and the team members that will assist you with any questions you may have:

Horizon Heights Office 937-7400

Any questions or concerns

Mrs. Hansen, Principal, email: jhanse@sisd.net, 915-937-7402

Mrs. Carrillo, Assistant Principal, email: ecarri@sisd.net, 915-937-7403

Ms. Luna, Assistant Principal, eluna01@sisd.net, 915-937-7427

Ms. DeBretto, Principal Fellow, mdebre@sisd.net, 915-937-7402

Mrs. Salazar, Counselor, email: asalaz12@sisd.net, 915-937-7421

Mrs. Valdez, Counselor, email: bvalde@sisd.net, 915-937-7420

Ms. Ortega, Librarian, email: sorteg@sisd.net, 915-937-7414

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School Nurse

Our school Nurse, Diana Barrera, will continue to serve our learning community. She has been with us for one year and loves our scholars and working with our parents.

Time: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Phone: 915-937-7407

Email: dbarre02@sisd.net

Bullying vs. Conflict

Students calling each other names and being mean to each other is part of social development in elementary school. Our role as a school is differentiating between bullying and conflict among students.

Students are still learning about social boundaries, and we work diligently to teach them the effects of name calling or being mean to ensure they develop a sense of empathy and learn that this is not proper behavior. By the time students reach the end of 3rd grade, 4th and 5th grade, they understand the results of their behavior.

Behaviors by a mean girl or boy becomes a kind of social torment that often exists without parents and teachers noticing. This mean behavior may include tactics like backbiting, ostracizing, rumor-spreading, and manipulation, which can cause serious psychological harm to their targets.

Even though they are older, our role is still to ensure to teach them proper behavior. If this behavior continues even after intervention, we will follow our student code of conduct to establish consequences such as parent contact, removal of privileges, removal from leadership campus organizations.

Note: we do look at the difference between bullying and conflict.

Many times, the cause is a conflict between the students, and we can redirect them. Know that we are here to support our Hornets to help them learn how to make good choices and have tools that will serve them well in middle school and high school.

Please take a moment to talk to your children about the difference between bulling and conflict as well as how to be empathetic to other students.