Hardy Happenings

May 19, 2024

Do you know that you need to opt in to receive school texts?

Text YES to 67587 to opt into PowerSchool text messages, including important safety notifications. Stay informed on all Hardy communication—we highly encourage it!

Nhắn tin YES đến số 67587 để chọn nhận tin nhắn văn bản PowerSchool, bao gồm các thông báo an toàn quan trọng. Hãy cập nhật mọi thông tin liên lạc của Hardy—chúng tôi thực sự khuyến khích điều đó!

Dịch! Traducir! 翻译!

Did you know the Hardy Happenings Newsletter can be translated into over 130 different languages? Just click the "translate" button in the top right corner and select your preferred language.

Bạn có biết Bản tin Hardy Happenings có thể được dịch sang hơn 130 ngôn ngữ khác nhau không? Chỉ cần nhấp vào nút "dịch" ở góc trên bên phải và chọn ngôn ngữ bạn muốn.

Dear Hardy Families,

Happy LAST MONDAY of the School Year!

We’ve made it to the final stretch, just seven whirlwind days left in the 2024–25 school year! This time of year brings a joyful blend of excitement, reflection, and a bit of end-of-year chaos, so be sure to double-check the calendar for days off and early dismissals.

A huge shoutout to our incredible Hardy Dads Club for hosting a fantastic Camp Out on Saturday! It was a well-attended, community-filled evening and the perfect way to kick off our countdown to summer.

As we wrap up the year, I’ve spent time reflecting on our Hardy community, and I’m proud to say—we are thriving. Our final FAST assessment reports show tremendous academic growth across multiple student groups, and that’s only part of the story. Just as impressive is the way our students have embraced their roles as leaders, consistently modeling our SOAR values: Synergy, Optimism, Accountability, and Respect. Whether through academic achievement or everyday actions, our Hardy Owls are showing what it means to lead with heart, and we couldn’t be more proud.

As our final data point for the year, we’re asking Hardy families to complete our Leader in Me MRA (Measurable Results Assessment). This short survey helps us reflect on our progress and sets the foundation for our work next year. Please take a moment to complete it here: https://www.leaderinme.com/s/hardy-elementary/families.

Over these final days, I’m excited to soak in the celebrations, watch our students shine, and cheer alongside you at all our end-of-year events—from Field Day to 5th Grade Promotion and everything in between.

Let’s finish the year as strong as we started it—together.

With gratitude,
Mrs. Aragon

Celebrating Academic Growth and Achievement

As we head into the final days of the school year, we are proud to celebrate the tremendous academic growth our students have made across all grade levels and student groups. Our most recent FAST assessment data reflects the collective effort of our staff, students, and families, and highlights the powerful impact of targeted instruction, small group supports, and inclusive practices.

English Language Arts (ELA) – FAST Data

All Students: (Fall: 4.2 → Spring: 5.04)
Students with Disabilities: (Fall: -27.19 → Spring: -13.82)
Black Youth: (Fall: -10.69 → Spring: -9.0)
English Learners: (Fall: -24.12 → Spring: -20.97)
Hispanic Youth: (Fall: -24.12 → Spring: -20.97)

Mathematics – FAST Data

All Students: (Fall: 3.34 → Spring: 6.14)
Students with Disabilities: (Fall: -4.23 → Spring: -0.07)
Black Youth: (Fall: -0.2 → Spring: 0.08)
Hispanic Youth: (Fall: 1.92 → Spring: 3.19)
English Learners: (Fall: -4.19 → Spring: -0.07)

We’re also thrilled to share that 11 of our 56 English Learners have been officially reclassified as English Proficient this year—a major milestone in their academic journey.

Please note: The data above highlights a selection of student groups where we’ve seen some of our most significant growth this year. While not all student subgroups are listed here, our instructional efforts are inclusive of all learners, and we celebrate the progress of every student in our community.

This growth is a testament to the perseverance of our students and the intentional work of our educators. Thank you for partnering with us in creating a learning environment where every student can thrive.

SOAR Brag Tag Celebration!

This year, our Hardy Owls have worked hard to live out our SOAR values—Synergy, Optimism, Accountability, and Respect—and their efforts have not gone unnoticed!

As of this week:

119 students earned 1 SOAR letter
67 students earned 2 SOAR letters
38 students earned 3 SOAR letters
45 students earned all 4 SOAR letters and will be celebrated with a pizza party this Friday with Mrs. Aragon!

These students have consistently demonstrated what it means to be Hardy Owls—kind, courageous, and community-minded. We are so proud of their leadership and commitment to our school values!

School Information

Memorial Day & Final Week Schedule Reminder

This Monday, May 26, there will be no school in observance of Memorial Day. We pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. To our military families—thank you for your continued sacrifice, strength, and service. We are deeply grateful.

As we head into our final week of school, please take note of our adjusted dismissal schedule:

Monday, May 26 – No School (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, May 27 – Minimum Day (Dismissal at 11:55 AM)
Wednesday, May 28 – Regularly Scheduled Minimum Day (Promotion at 8:30 AM)
Thursday, May 29 – Minimum Day & Last Day of School (Dismissal at 11:55 AM)

🎓 5th Grade Promotion Info!

We know big events come with big questions—so we created a one-stop FAQ sheet to help! Find details about what time to arrive, what students should wear, where to park, and more.

Click here for the FAQ

Please bring your own chair for the ceremony!

Classroom Placement for 2025–2026

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we want to share some insight into the classroom placement process. Our goal at Hardy is always to create balanced, supportive learning environments where all students can thrive. We take into account a wide range of factors, including academic strengths, social-emotional needs, peer dynamics, gender balance, and overall class composition.

Enrollment is a moving target this time of year, and our numbers shift daily based on new student registrations, transfers, and family changes. Because students don’t enroll in neat groups of the grade-level caps, combination classes (or “combo” classes) are often a necessary part of our school structure.

At this time, our combo classes for next year are being thoughtfully designed with students who demonstrate strong independence, self-starting habits, and the flexibility to adapt in dynamic environments. A combo class is not a reflection of weak academic standing; in fact, these classrooms often offer unique enrichment and leadership opportunities. Many students thrive in this setting and benefit from the differentiated instruction and increased responsibility it provides.

While we understand that families may have preferences about class placement, please note that we do not accept requests for specific teachers. We ask for your trust and patience as we work through the delicate and ever-evolving process of building class rosters that best serve all students.

Thank you for partnering with us as we prepare for another incredible year at Hardy!

PowerSchool Parent Portal

If you have not set up a Parent Portal Account in PowerSchool please do so ASAP. Beginning in the 25-26 school year, you will need this account to find out your child's teacher and turn in all beginning of the year paperwork! This portal continues to be of importance as your child goes through their schooling career so you can access report cards, test scores, grades and attendance.

You need a unique code to get started the first time, if you need assistance please reach out to our school librarian, Mrs. Curtin, and she will help you (mcurtin@sandi.net).

https://powerschool.sandi.net/public/home.html

Field Day - Wednesday, May 21 - We need your support!

Help make the Hardy tradition of Field Day a memorable one! We need volunteers to help with everything from setup to help running the different games. Please follow the link to sign up.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0444A8A62EA6FA7-56703278-hardy

We’re Hiring: Join the Hardy Team!

Hardy Elementary is looking for a wonderful Noon Duty Assistant for the 2025–26 school year!

This part-time position is perfect for someone who loves kids, enjoys being outdoors, and wants to make a positive impact on our school community.

Position Details:

Approximate Hours: 10:00 AM–12:15 PM
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Help supervise lunch and recess, build positive relationships with students, and keep our playground safe and fun!

If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to our front office for more information at (619) 860-5700 or email Susan Daly at SDaly@sandi.net.

GoFundMe - Cody Ayers

In response to the devastating news that has been shared with our community regarding the death of a student at Patrick Henry High School, many have reached out asking how they can help. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family, which I'll post below for anyone who wishes to donate.

Go Fund Me Link