Hopkins Elementary School Good News
October 24th, 2025
Important Upcoming Dates
- October 31st - 1/2 Day for Students, 1/2 Day Flex DPPD for Staff
- October 31st - Halloween Parties & Parade!
- November 3rd - Bible Release
- November 4th - HOPE Meeting @ 6 PM - Kindergarten Area
- November 6th - Student Council Meeting after school
- November 7th - Popcorn Friday
- November 7th - Spirit Dress Up Day - Student/Teacher Swap Day - Students should dress like teachers, teachers should dress like students.
- November 13th - 1/2 Day for Students, 1/2 Day PD for Staff
- November 14th - 1/2 Day for Students, 1/2 Day PD for Staff
- November 21st - Student Store
- November 26th-28th - Thanksgiving Break!
- December 1st - Bible Release
- December 4th - Student Council Meeting Immediately After School
- December 4th - Geek Squad 3-4 PM
- December 5th - Popcorn Friday!
- December 8th-12th - Santa's Secret Shop (HOPE)
- December 16th - Cookie Exchange for Staff (HOPE)
- December 19th - Popcorn Day - Special Christmas Edition
- December 22nd-Jan 2nd - Winter Break!
Character Trait of the Month/Student of the Month
For the 2025–2026 school year, the Student of the Month program will align with Capturing Kids’ Hearts' Character Trait of the Month. Each month, staff will focus on teaching and reinforcing a specific character trait throughout the school. At the end of the month, teachers will select a Student of the Month based on who best demonstrated that trait in their classroom. The character trait for October is Self-Direct.
What does it mean to Self-Direct?
Self-Direction is the ability and learned skill to cast a vision of future goals and then take intentional steps toward who, where, and what we want to be. Instead of focusing on things to control or avoid, we emphasize our responsibility to make positive choices related to our emotions, attitudes, and actions.
Why focus on Self-Direction?
- Self-Direction strengthens relationships. Self-Direction helps to grow social skills and develop meaningful, positive relationships with others.
- Self-Direction teaches personal responsibility. Learning to Self-Direct teaches students to take responsibility for their own actions.
- Self-Direction helps us to regulate emotions: Self-Direction empowers students to regulate their impulses and emotional responses to situations and circumstances in their life.
Halloween Costumes & Parade
Classroom Halloween/Fall Parties will be held on Friday, October 31st, which is a half day of school. Classroom party times will vary by teacher (new last year), to avoid common planning times for teachers.
The Halloween Parade will be held at 9:30 AM. Y5/Kindergarten will start the parade, which will exit out the front doors, down the sidewalk and then loop around to go back in the Kindergarten doors. If you would like to watch the parade, you can park in the north or east parking lots and watch the parade outside.
We also wanted to touch base on costumes. Costumes cannot include any dangerous or unsafe props (swords, weapons, unsafe objects). Costumes should also not be bloody or gory. Students who do not wish to participate in the parade may stay in the office.
HES Affirmation Walls!
Student Greetings!
Weekly Attendance Class Champions!
Each week, we’ll hold a friendly competition to see which class has the highest attendance rate. The winning class will earn the honor of displaying our Viking Helmet for the week! At the end of each trimester, we’ll celebrate the class with the best overall attendance with a classroom party and crown them as our Attendance Champions.
Check out our winners so far below!
- 10/20 - Mrs. Ruthruff's Class (3rd) - 99%!
- 10/13 - 3 Way Tie! Mr. Bolen/Ms. Rioux/Mrs. Merren classes - 98.4%!
- 10/6 - Mrs. Evan's Class (3rd) - 99% Attendance!
- 9/29 - Mrs. Stegenga's Class (2nd) - 98.3% Attendance!
- 9/22 - Mrs. Cribley's Class (4th) - 98.2% Attendance!
- 9/15 - Mrs. Hall's Class (K) - 100% Attendance!
November Lunch Menu
October Lunch Menu
Veteran's Day Community Assembly
Community Forum
Attendance Matters!
Student of the Month
Self-Direct is our CKH Leadworthy trait for the month of October. In the last couple weeks of October, teachers will pick one student who has shown they are taking steps to become a self-directed leader.
What does it mean to Self-Direct?
Self-Direction is the ability and learned skill to cast a vision of future goals and then take intentional steps toward who, where, and what we want to be. Instead of focusing on things to control or avoid, we emphasize our responsibility to make positive choices related to our emotions, attitudes, and actions.
Substitute Teachers & Paraprofessionals Needed!
We're in need of substitute teachers and paraprofessionals! If you are interested, you can apply at EduStaff.org and list Hopkins Public Schools as a preferred school. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Andrew Mains at andrmain@hpsvikings.org
Mentors Wanted!
We're looking for adult mentors who would willing to come to HES and meet with students 1-2 times a week (time can vary). Mentors can work on academics with the students or just spend time getting to know students and helping them socially. If you are interested, or know someone who may be, please have them reach out to Rachel Gates at rachgate@hpsvikings.org
Parent Pickup Process for Pre/Post Field Trips
Student Risk Screener
In the next few weeks, Hopkins Elementary School teachers will begin completing a universal screening for all students. This assessment is a Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS-IE). This will be completed three times a year to help identify students who may be at risk for additional social, emotional, or behavior needs.
Universal screening is the systematic assessment of all students on academic, behavior, and social-emotional indicators for the purpose of identifying students who are at-risk, and may require support that varies in terms of level, intensity and duration. Screening is a key component of prevention efforts. This is similar to universal screening for vision and hearing. Numerous school districts across the country implement universal screening, most commonly in the area of reading.
If you would like more information, you can review this document. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
iChat Background Check
2025-2026 HPS Calendar
Big Buck Night Information
Youth hunt is this weekend
Are your youth hunters signed up for the Big Buck Contest?
We have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for youth along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd for adults and the biggest buck overall
Questions- email hopkinsbigbucknight@gmail.com
or call 616-292-3069
Medical Forms Information
- If you would like our office to keep over the counter medications in the office. We need this form completed by the family. For these types of medications (ibuprofen, Tylenol, topical ointments), we do not need a physician to sign off. These need to be an unopened/brand new bottle. https://www.hpsvikings.org/wp-content/uploads/fm5330-f1a-Permission-Form-for-Non-Prescription-Medication-revised-5-26-2023.pdf
- If our office is required to dispense prescribed medications or treatments, we will need this form completed, which requires a physician's signature: https://www.hpsvikings.org/wp-content/uploads/fm5330-f1-Permission-Form-for-Prescribed-Medication-revised-5-26-2023.pdf
- Our offices do not keep a supply of medications in the office to hand out (ibuprofen, Tylenol, allergy medicine). If you child needs these, you will need to fill out the first form and bring in a brand new, not opened, not expired bottle for us to use only for your child.
- We did not keep any of the medications from 24-25.
FinalForms
Please take a few minutes to make those changes so we have everything we need for your child!
You can access FinalForms by selecting this link.
Hopkins Public Schools Non-Discrimination Notice
The District shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other legally protected category in its programs and activities, including employment. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and shall likewise not be permitted with respect to students or employees. The District shall not retaliate against a person who reports or opposes improper discrimination or retaliation. The District shall fully comply with all applicable federal and state civil rights statutes, including, without limitation, Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.