Husky Family Newsletter
Hopkins Hill Husky Happenings
Husky Happenings Week of October 5, 2026
Hi Families,
Just a couple of quick reminders. Picture retakes are November 13. If your child was ill and didn't get their picture taken, you can use the same picture form for retakes. When you receive the pictures, if you don't like them, have your child take them back to school on retake day. They will give them to Lifetouch and get their picture taken again.
October 21 is a half day of school for students as teachers have required PD in the afternoon. The Before School Program is open on half day mornings as usual for those registered. On half days, breakfast is served but not lunch and dismissal is at 12:25. Anyone picking up your child at school that day needs to be on the emergency form so there is time to do that. You can add people through the portal and if you have trouble, let us know. Busses will arrive to school as usual and begin picking up students for the ride home at 12:25.
I am attaching the Hopkins Hill Matrix that clarifies what respectful, responsible, and safe looks like in each area of the school. Teachers review this with children the first week of school and most take their students on a matrix walk to discuss each area of the building. Sometimes, we have a day when we focus on a particular area that we need to tighten up. Using the matrix is part of the PBIS - Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports - system. Please click the link for more information. The premise is that schools have students who come to school with a variety of expectations. In a school with over 300 students, it would be nearly impossible to accomplish anything with that number of students each going in a different direction. To get everyone on the same page, PBIS schools create a matrix of expectations of what the expectations look and sound like at school and then directly teach those expectations so children understand what they have to do. At HH, we use respectful, responsible, and safe. Other schools may use something different. Here are two typical things we will say to students: "Here at Hopkins Hill, we walk quietly in the hall so we don't disturb the instruction of others. Here is what quiet walking looks and sounds like." We take a statement from the matrix, explain the reason for the expectation, and demonstrate if applicable. The demonstration usually happens when the teachers take the children for a matrix walk or have a focus day. The other thing we tell students is that safety comes first. The adults will often say, 'It is my job to keep you safe, and your job to help me. You can do that by keeping your hands to yourself", for example. This week during morning announcements we will review a different matrix expectation. When we catch someone following the expectation, we hand out "Pawbucks" so the children know that we know they are following the expectations. The matrix is below for your reference. We also have an at home matrix and at home pawbucks that you can adapt to your home expectations. If you have an interest in those, let me or your child's teacher know and we can get an editable copy to you.
Don't forget to send in the good deeds that your children are doing at home so we can put them on our Good Deeds Tree. We are also adding the good deeds done at school. If you need more of the templates, let your child's teacher know or use the templates from this link: LEAF Templates. Add your child's name, grade, homeroom and a sentence describing the good deed.
Don't forget to reach out to me, Nurse Deb, or Mrs. Petrarca if you require HH Food pantry assistance. All inquiries are confidential. Please see the section below
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Mrs. Tancrelle
Website: Access Hopkins Hill from the district page: https://www.coventryschools.net/
or go to: Hopkins Hill Elementary School
Location: 95 Johnson Blvd, Coventry, RI, USA
Phone: 401-822-9477
E-Fax: 401-823-1801
Contact Us
- Kathryn Tancrelle, Principal tancrellekathryn@coventryschools.net
- Kathleen Mealey, Secretary, mealeykathleen@coventryschools.net
- Deborah Oliver "Nurse Deb", School Nurse, oliverdeborah@coventryschools.net