Hoover Elementary School

Dear HES Families,

I hope you and your families have enjoyed a #HAWKSOME weekend! For our HES Families celebrating this week--Happy Ram Navami to you and yours!

Please take a moment to review the latest edition of the HES Family E-Blast below. New Updates include:

• Mrs. Gamble's Counseling Corner: April
• School Supply Shopping Made Easy!
• Go Guardian Parent Pilot
• Friendship Bracelet Sale
• Spring 2024 PSSA Information
• HES Heritage Night 2024
  
• A Run Through the 'Woods' 5K Registration
• Schoology Tip of the Week
  

As a reminder, links to each edition of the HES Family E-Blast will also be archived under the Hoover Elementary School "Resources" section of your Parent/Guardian Schoology account.

Should you ever have questions about any of the information included in the Family E-Blast, please don't hesitate to contact me via email at ngiehll@mtlsd.net or phone at 412-276-7411.

Take good care...

Nicci Giehll, Ed.D

Principal

Monday, April 15

• Friendship Bracelet Sale (during the lunch hour)

Tuesday, April 16

• 1st Grade Field Trip (Parks to School): 8:45AM-1:00PM

Thursday, April 18

• Hoover Heritage Night: 6:00-8:00PM

As parents, we are tasked with getting our supply list and anxiously shopping away over the summer, so we don't miss inventory. This year, we are partnering with 1st Day School Supplies to have a quick and easy way to have your supplies sent directly to your home a few weeks before school starts. It is not required for you to shop through this link, we are hoping this makes your summer a little less chaotic. These supply lists have been approved by the teachers, and we're ready for you to begin purchasing at our Hoover-specific store link: http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=598080197

There is also an option available where you can donate kits to the school. If you feel led to donate kits to students in need, please feel free to choose the "Donate a Kit" option box, or by using this link: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/donate_a_kit.php?sid=598080197

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me!

Jennifer Boal (jennifer.boal811@gmail.com)

As you may already be aware, the District utilizes GoGuardian to filter student web browsing on District-owned devices. Today, we are pleased to offer Mt. Lebanon families a pilot experience with the "At Home" feature of GoGuardian. This product is called GoGuardian Parent and is now available to all family members with a PowerSchool/Dashboard login.
GoGuardian Parent is a downloadable app for your Smartphone designed to enable the District to share managed user history collected via GoGuardian with verified parents and guardians.

GoGuardian Parent also provides Parents and Guardians with the ability to pause their children's internet, block specific websites, and schedule internet availability on managed devices outside of "school hours." These features have no guaranteed functionality on personally owned, unmanaged student devices.

The established “school hours” for Mt. Lebanon School District are 7:30am - 4:00pm on school days. Using the GoGuardian Parent app to set filters and time limits on your student will only affect your student’s browsing experience outside of these school hours.

If you would like to participate in this pilot program, there is no deadline...we will accept enrollment submissions on a rolling basis. To enroll in GoGuardian Parent, please follow the steps in the following document:

GoGuardian Parent - Enrollment
Enrollments in the pilot will begin on April 15, 2024.

You will receive an email with details to get started on or after that date.

Should you have any questions about this pilot, please contact RemoteSupport@mtlsd.net.

Attention all Hoover Hawks, 5th grade Spanish students will be hosting their annual Friendship Bracelet Sale on Wednesday, April 10th and Monday, April 15th. Bracelets will be sold for .50 cents during all lunch periods. This year all the money raised will be donated to families in Ecuador through Heifer International.

As we continue our work to help create a world that is more understanding and accepting of others, we invite you to celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds among Hoover students and families to join us for HES Heritage Night on Thursday, April 18th from 6:00-8:00PM!

Please see the infographic below for additional details about how you can get involved!

It is hard to believe that April has arrived! As we look ahead to the final weeks of the 2023-24 school year, we will be administering the PSSAs to all students in Grades 3-5 which includes the administration of state assessments in compliance with the PA Department of Education's direction.

Please review the following details regarding the PSSA exams:

• PSSAs are state mandated for students in Grades 3, 4, and 5

• Testing Schedule:

  • English Language Arts (ELA) (Grades 3-5): April 22, 24, & 26

  • Math (Grades 3-5): April 29 & 30

  • Science (Grade 4 ONLY): May 2 & 3 (No pre-approved absences will be approved on these dates)

• Test sessions will begin daily at approximately 9:00am

• All HES students and staff work together to create a quiet, calm testing environment for our students in Grades 3, 4, and 5

  • Adjustments may be made to our encore schedule in order to accommodate classes that are testing

  • Recesses may be moved to an alternative location, if necessary.

Linked below are three important documents from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for your review:

• 2024 PSSA Parent FAQ

• 2024 PSSA Electronic Devices Policy

• 2024 PSSA Code of Conduct for Test Takers.

For additional information about the PSSA exams at the elementary level, please visit the district’s website at: https://www.mtlsd.org/academics/elementary/assessing.

Elementary students will take the PSSA exams online. The testing platform is very similar to the NWEA MAP benchmark assessments that students take three times per year. Additionally, our teachers help to prepare students for online testing by providing practice with typing skills, online tools and test taking strategies, and reviewing practice tests.

Students’ school-issued Chromebooks and chargers will be collected and kept at school beginning on Monday, April 15th, and continuing through the end of the testing window.

Our students have worked hard this school year. We have a strong curriculum and excellent teachers who have been exceedingly diligent with their delivery of high-quality instruction and interventions throughout the year. As we continue our efforts to provide the best possible education for each and every student, we appreciate your support and ongoing partnership. Here are some ways you can help your children be at their best each day, and during PSSA Testing:

1. Ensure that your student gets a proper night’s rest.

2. Provide your student with a nutritious and hearty breakfast to start their day to help them stay focused. Daily breakfast, at no cost, is also available to all students in the HES cafeteria beginning at 8:25am!

3. Dress your student in comfortable clothing for the day.

4. Arrive at school on time (8:25-8:35AM).

5. Maintain low key activity in the evenings throughout the testing weeks.

6. Promote positive thinking about doing the best work possible! Testing is stressful, and we want to make sure that the children feel confident, are relaxed, and that we want them to do their best. Your encouragement at home will help us here at school.

Should you have additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Giehll.

Registration is OPEN for the 11th Annual Hoover PTA A Run Through The 'Woods' 5K ! The 5k / 1 Mile Run / Walk event is on Saturday June 1st at 8am. We are offering an Early Bird discount until March 31st so don't delay in signing up!

The event is competitive and fun for all ages and abilities. Live Age group awards as well as sponsor filled goodie bags, photographers and water on the course, custom finisher medals, fun raffle baskets, and snacks at the finish line! Medical staff, and a police officer will be on site for the safety of all participants.

We would love to have you attend our event! Below is our event flyer for you to share with your friends!

Register at bit.ly/HooverPTA5K

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Hoover PTA 5K Race Directors

Registration is open for the Kids of STEEL program! If your child is interested in attending the morning workouts, deadline to register is THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29TH. Outside workouts will begin the week of March 4th. Click here for more details!

We're also looking for additional parent helpers for outside workouts! If you're interested, please email Shannon Harpst for more details. Please note, you will need to have your volunteer clearances to volunteer for this role. Additional information about clearances can be found here.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 school year will begin throughout the Mt. Lebanon School District on Wednesday, February 1, 2024. Children who reach the age of five before September 8, 2024 are eligible to enter Kindergarten in the fall. If you have a child or know of a neighbor who is eligible for Kindergarten, please complete the form linked below.

Just a friendly reminder, breakfast is available for students each day in the cafeteria at HES. Students who come for breakfast should arrive to school when the doors open at 8:25AM to allow themselves enough time to eat before the school day begins.

Now that we have settled into the school year, please take a moment to review the Elementary Student Handbook for this school year. The purpose of this document is to establish consistent processes, procedures, and practices across all seven elementary schools in the District. Should you have questions about any of the contents of the Elementary Student Handbook, please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Giehll

Volunteer Affidavits for Class Parties

Volunteer affidavits need to be signed on a yearly basis. Please stop by the main office to update this requirement for the 2023-24 school year.

Field Trips/Lunch Clubs

If you are planning to volunteer for a field trip or a winter lunch club, you will need to submit your clearances to the main office. For information regarding the district's policies for volunteering in our schools, please click the link the below.

Volunteering in MTLSD Elementary Schools

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the main office. Thank you for your continued support and involvement at Hoover!

The Mission of the PTA is:

• To make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

Hoover Elementary School PTA is:

• An organization that supports families coming together to support our children's education.
• An organization that focuses on how to enhance the experience of each and every child in our school.
• A way for parents and the community to create fun, learning opportunities beyond the day-to-day curriculum for our children.
• An organization that strives to support the community as a whole.
• An organization that embraces the unique attributes of all members of our community.
• An organization that WANTS and NEEDS your help and support!

JOIN THE PTA AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!

By joining the PTA, you help provide us with the financial support to make our events, projects, and activities possible. Your membership does not require any volunteer hours, but it does allow you the opportunity to sign-up for volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule.

1. Go to Membership Toolkit to create your account (or use last year's credentials if you were a previous member)
2. Choose the Family Membership which is $25 for the 2023-2024 School Year
3. Decide if you'd like to donate towards PTA activities for this year (this is optional, not required)
4. Sign up for Fall Family Night & order a pizza (or two!)

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Jennifer Boal
Hoover PTA President 2023-2024

Monday, April 22

• ELA PSSA Testing Day 1 (Grades 3-5)

Tuesday, April 23

• No School: Election Day

Wednesday, April 24

• ELA PSSA Testing Day 2 (Grades 3-5)
• HES PTA Meeting: 6:30PM at HES (Cafeteria)

Thursday, April 25

• Take Your Child to Work Day

Friday, April 26

• ELA PSSA Testing Day 3 (Grades 3-5)

Monday, April 29

• Math PSSA Testing Day 1 (Grades 3-5)

Tuesday, April 30

• Math PSSA Testing Day 2 (Grades 3-5)

Thursday, May 2

• Science PSSA Testing Day 1 (Grades 4 ONLY)

Friday, May 3

• Science PSSA Testing Day 2 (Grades 4 ONLY)

Tuesday, May 7

• Spring Band Concert: 7:00PM at Mellon Middle School (Auditorium)

Friday, May 10

• Kindergarten Orientation: 9:30AM & 1:30PM at HES (Cafeteria)

Dr. Nicci Giehll

Principal

Hoover Elementary School

Mt. Lebanon School District

Email: ngiehll@mtlsd.net
Website: https://hoover.mtlsd.org/
Location: 37 Robb Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Phone: 412.276.7411