Wildcat Weekly Update
March 31 - April 4
From the Principal's Desk: Donna Williams
Greetings Hereford Families,
We hope this message finds you well. As a reminder, the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) testing for our 2nd through 6th grade scholars begins tomorrow, Monday, March 31. This testing period is crucial for assessing student progress and guiding future instruction.
You can support your scholar by ensuring they receive adequate rest. A good night's sleep is essential for optimal performance. You can also support your scholar by ensuring they are on time daily. Please have your child arrive at school on time to avoid any disruptions or having to make up portions of the test.
Your support plays a significant role in your child's success during this testing period. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher or the school administration.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.
Kindly,
Principal Williams
Mark Your Calendar
March 31 - April 17 - ACAP Schoolwide Testing]
April 18 -- eLearning Day
April 29 - 9:00 K for a Day
Tips from Assistant Principal: AP Grant
Encourage Your Child’s Positive Behavior and School Success:
Creating a Home Plan with Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Parents play an important role in helping their child be successful in school. Whether they are providing a safe home that encourages learning and appropriate behavior, or working with the school on specific learning goals for their child, it is important for parents to support their child’s education. When schools and parents work together as partners, students reach a higher level of achievement and school success.
How Parents Can Support Success
As a parent, you can be part of this formula for school success by using the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) strategy at home and making a PBIS home plan.
When you teach your child the same behaviors that are taught at school and reinforce them at home, you are encouraging your child’s social and academic growth.
You can begin by:
• Comparing your home rules and expectations with the school’s core expectations for behaviors.
• Deciding how you can apply the use of those appropriate behaviors in your home and the community.
• Identifying a way to set up predictable routines at home (see example on next page). • Modeling the behavior you want to see and reinforcing it consistently.
Tips for Making a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Home Plan Developing a PBIS Home Plan can help you teach appropriate behaviors and social skills.
Have a great week!
AP Grant
School Events...
Majority-to-Minority Transfer Meetings
Yearbook 24-25
April 7th - 11th
April 19
April 26
5G's Workshop
Congrats, Ms. D!
April Lunch Menu
Tips from our Reading Specialist: Stephanie Tomes
Hello Hereford Families,
If you are like me, one task that you might not enjoy doing with your children is grocery shopping. Hangry kiddos tossing things in the cart, sibling squabbles, a little bit of crying-- what's not to love? What if I told you there is a way to make it fun (and less stressful) and teach your child some new words in the process? Behold, Grocery Store Vocabulary!
The produce section is a great place to hear new and interesting words. Words like rhubarb, asparagus, artichoke, and kiwi are fun to say, and fun to eat! Consider introducing new words when you shop and adding descriptive language to help your student expand their vocabulary: “A kiwi has a fuzzy outside, but the inside is bright green with black seeds!”
We have provided a list of words you may encounter when shopping the produce section:
apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, pineapple, mango, avocado, and citrus fruits like lemons and limes; and vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, onions, potatoes, spinach, kale, mushrooms, zucchini, and sweet potatoes
Alternate grocery store activity: Use the items on the grocery shelf to give your student practice finding something above their belly button, below their nose, on the bottom shelf, and between other items on a shelf. Opportunities to use superlatives, those little endings that help describe size, are all around the grocery store. Have your child find a big fruit, a bigger fruit and the biggest fruit in the produce section. What is the smallest item in the cart? The largest item?
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Tomes
Tips from our Curriculum Specialist: April Draine
Greetings Hereford Elementary School Families,
We are starting our first week of ACAP Testing on Monday! We will begin testing 2nd through 6th grade. It is so important for students to be at school on time for testing every day. We will take the ELA, math, and science assessments over the course of the next three weeks.
Computers will stay at school during testing weeks. If your student has a computer charger at home, please send it to school this week. Place a piece of masking or painter’s tape on it and write your child’s name on it. Please review ROAR testing expectations with your scholar this week!
We can’t wait to see you on Monday for another week of learning!
April M. Draine
Curriculum Specialist
Tips from our Math Coach: Rebecca Ramsey
HCS Love Math Challenge!
Elementary school students across Huntsville City Schools are gearing up for an exciting mathematical adventure, "Love Math Challenge", using the innovative First in Math program. The challenge, running from March 21st to April 30th, aims to boost math engagement and skills among students while fostering a spirit of friendly competition.
The Love Math Challenge encourages students to dive into the world of numbers through the First in Math online platform. This comprehensive program offers a wide array of math games and activities designed to make learning fun and interactive. Students can practice everything from basic arithmetic to complex problem-solving, all while earning points for their school.
Throughout the six-week challenge, elementary schools across the district will compete to achieve the highest usage of the First in Math program. The school demonstrating the most active participation will be crowned the winner, earning exciting prizes for their students and teachers.
To participate go to firstinmath.com
Click Log in
Use the username: Hereford
Use the password: lovemath
Go Wildcats!
Rebecca Ramsey
Tips from our Media Specialist: Quirante Hereford
Families,
This month, we are continuing to celebrate Women's History Month and learn about the many contributions of some amazing women. Click the link to enjoy "Women Are History Makers".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUnVhzKsbj0
Also included is a link to the book Counting on Katherine read aloud. It is about Katherine Johnson, one of the scientists in the movie Hidden Figures. The story takes us through her childhood, and how her love for math and science was an important part of who she was as a little girl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFIqDDBfQh8
Media Specialist
Mrs. Hereford
Character Word of the Month
Tips from our School Attendance Officer: Mandisa Thornton
Greetings Hereford Family,
Our March monthly attendance incentive is wrapping up on March 31 and our April attendance incentive starts April 1. As always, students need to come to school every day. Each day that the whole class is present, the class earns a perfect attendance day. Classes get stickers added to their calendars for all their perfect attendance days. Classes must earn at least 10 perfect attendance days this March to be eligible to win the reward, a sweet treat that the class gets to enjoy together. And for April, classes need 15 perfect attendance days to win a Popcorn Party! Let’s ace attendance and ace life!
Remember to keep up your health:
Drink lots of water to help keep the inside of your body clean
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and limit sugar
Go to sleep early at night for a good night's rest
Get exercise, sunlight and fresh air as often as possible
Maintain a good balance of everything in life and be at peace
School Attendance Officer
Mandisa Thornton
Tips from our Behavior Specialist: Jasmine Bradley
Hello Families!
Communication skills are so important. You are your scholars first teachers so take a look at this list on how to model healthy communication skills. Take time to discuss why learning to communicate effectively is important.
SEL affirmation: I am my best self. I can talk about my feelings and make helpful choices for myself. I have a growth mindset. I can grow and change by learning and trying.
Ms. B
Behavior Specialist
Tips from our Parent Coordinator: Ann Elkins
Hello Hereford Families,
Enhance Your Child’s Academic Success
with Positive Action
Parents have a significant influence on their children, surpassing that of friends, teachers, or school administration.
As such, active parental engagement is crucial as it inspires and motivates children to develop good learning habits, participate more in the classroom, and foster an overall positive attitude towards education.
The list below highlights a few ways in which parents can be involved in a child's academic success and the impact this can have on their academic success:
Parental Action
Impact On Academic Success
Establishing a routine
Promotes discipline and time management skills
Creating a conducive study environment
Enhances focus and concentration
Setting clear expectations and goals
Motivates and provides direction
Providing educational resources
Supports learning and exploration
Encouraging regular communication with teachers
Facilitates feedback and involvement
Monitoring and assisting with homework
Reinforces understanding and fosters learning
Encouraging extracurricular activities
Promotes holistic development and social skills
Offering praise and recognition for achievements
Boosts confidence and self-esteem
Being involved in school activities
Demonstrates support and interest in education
Cultivating a love for learning
Nurtures curiosity and lifelong learning habits
Thank you!
Ann Elkins
Tips from our Counselors: Mr. Johnson & Mrs. Thorne
📍 From the Desk of Your School Counselors
🌟 Word of the Month: SELF-CONTROL 🌟
This month, we focus on Self-Control, an essential skill that helps students make good choices, stay focused, and regulate their emotions. Practicing self-control allows students to think before they act, manage their impulses, and develop positive relationships with others.
Here are some ways you can encourage self-control at home:
✔️ Teach deep breathing or counting to 10 when feeling frustrated.
✔️ Encourage pausing before responding in difficult situations.
✔️ Set goals and reward patience and perseverance.
✔️ Model self-control in everyday interactions.
Students can make responsible decisions and create a more peaceful and respectful school environment by practicing self-control.
🧩 April is Autism Awareness Month!
We are also learning about Autism Awareness this month. Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects how individuals communicate, learn, and interact with the world around them. Every person with autism is unique, with their own strengths and challenges.
At school, we are learning about kindness, inclusion, and understanding to create a supportive environment for all students. Encourage your child to:
💙 Be patient and understanding with peers who may experience the world differently.
💙 Celebrate differences and recognize the strengths in everyone.
💙 Ask questions and learn about autism to promote acceptance.
Together, we can build a school community where everyone feels valued and included!
If you have any questions or would like additional resources, please feel free to reach out.
💙 Your School Counselors
Mr. Reginald Johnson & Mrs. Jewel Thorne
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival Protocol
- Supervision of students begin at 7:30 each morning; therefore, students should not arrive to school before 7:30 AM.
- Students who are walkers are to follow the sidewalk leading to the crossing guard and to the front door of the school.
- Students who are walkers should not walk across the Pre-K parking lot without being supervised by parent/guardian.
- Parents who enter Pre-K parking lot (yellow arrows) to drop off Kinder-6th grade students must park and escort student(s) to front of school.
- Parents who enter faculty and staff parking lot (blue arrows) to drop off Kinder-6th grade students must park and escort student(s) to crosswalk.
- School starts promptly at 8:00 AM.
- Students arriving after 8:00 AM are tardy and must have a parent or a guardian sign them in at the main office.
Dismissal Protocol
Student check-out ends at 1:45-must have valid identification and listed as a contact in
PowerSchool SIS.
- All students will be dismissed at 2:30.
- Students are either a bus rider, car rider or walker.
- Parents are asked not to congregate near the front door of the school or the pick-up area. You
will be asked to clear the dismissal area- please do so.
- Parents of walkers are asked to meet your children at home or at the crosswalk.
- Parents of car riders are asked to remain in your vehicle in the car line during pick-up.
- Pre-K parking lot (yellow arrows) is reserved only for Pre-K families with Parking Permit displayed.
- WALKERS- in the event of rain, parents are asked to provide child/ren with rain gear or send a written/typed note to teacher to change dismissal to car rider for that day by 1:30 pm.
Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/schools/sonnie-hereford-elementary
Phone: 256-428-7440