A Piece From The Principal's Puzzle

October

10 - HHS Homecoming Parade @ HHS

• See Legal Waiver for Participants (scroll down)

16 - Report Cards Sent Home

16 - Make-up & Class Pictures

Thank you to our PTA for helping us to provide our first nine week's foam party for students that earned the foam party by their great behavior choices for the first nine weeks. We will have another party in December.

The Thursday prior to Fall Break (Sept. 26) we had a fantastic pep rally that highlighted good behavior choices, good academic efforts, and good attendance for the first nine week grading period (August 1 - September 27). We had several special guests join us from the HHS Football Team, HHS Band, Huntsville Ballet, the Alabama A&M Football Team, a prehistoric dinosaur (T-Rex Amber Starr), and our very own Blossomwood Panther accompanied by the Blossomwood Panther Community Cheer Team! We had a wonderful time celebrating our students!

Two of our very own have recently been celebrated for their accomplishment of earning the National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) designation:

• Mrs. Whitney Collier (Assistant Principal)
• Mrs. Lauren Davenport (Reading Coach)

We also have a couple of teachers on staff that are currently pursuing this special designation. So, more great news is on the horizon as our teachers continue to fine-tune their instructional practices.

In case you missed our recent, Curriculum "Glowcase" prior to Fall Break, we wanted to provide you with some of the handouts from the event as your family may find them useful as you support your student(s).

Each grade did an excellent job of designing a one page document with helpful grade level information and tips for helping at home. Please reach out to your child's teacher with any questions that you might have.

Each year we encourage our students to continue learning during the extended breaks such as Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, etc. This Wednesday, your child should bring home a pink sheet in his/her Blossomwood folder (as pictured below) with the directions for participating in the voluntary Fall Break Learning Challenge which includes a reading, math, and family event challenge.

More specifically, one ticket can be earned for completing the reading challenge, one ticket can be earned for completing the math challenge, and/or one ticket can be earned for completing the family challenge. To be clear, the child can choose to do one, two, or all three challenges. We will be giving away several donated prizes including gift cards for ice cream, wireless headphones, etc.

Please see below for additional details.

The record sheet (on the back) for the Learning Challenge is due Mon., Oct. 7, 2024 to Dr. Scott. An adult signature is required at the bottom of the completed sheet.

The main function of the house system is to develop a sense of identity or belonging and to celebrate achievements. Schools with a structure or system like this cite the positive impact it has on the educational experience and school culture. Students report how it helps them form friendships and closer bonds with peers, and teachers share that students seem to enjoy seeing a connection with students in other classrooms as well as other grade levels. As a school, we also believe our new House System supports our school mission statement and vision.

During the first week of school or upon enrollment, all of our students and staff have the opportunity to digitally "spin" the wheel to randomly sort each student into one of four groups or houses — Emerald, Garnet, Onyx, or Sapphire.

Our House System is designed to:

1. Create school-wide community by creating opportunities for students to connect to staff and students in other classes and grades that share their house. Older students become natural leaders by mentoring and supporting younger students. Mentoring also extends to teachers and school staff members who are also assigned to a house.
2. Create a culture of belonging as students are recognized for accomplishments both academically as well as their choices related to behavior.
3. Emphasize building character through a reward system that goes beyond earning a piece of candy for doing something good. Each individual achievement adds to the collective house/group, making the reward hopefully more meaningful and social.
   
4. Provide opportunities to praise and accentuate positives for both individual students and collective groups of students.