Hopkins Elementary School Good News

Over the past few years, Hopkins Public Schools has partnered with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office to have a School Resource Officer (SRO) on campus. Deputy Keefauver has proudly served in this role throughout this time. With new families joining Hopkins Elementary School, I wanted to take a moment to explain what the SRO position entails and its purpose.

Throughout the school year, your child may come home sharing stories about their experiences with Deputy K. From fun events like Silly Sock Day with 1st grade last week, to giving away bicycle helmets, reading to classes during March is Reading Month, and even seeing her at sporting events — Deputy K is an active and positive presence in our school community.

A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a certified, sworn law enforcement officer who is specially trained to work within a school setting. The role combines elements of law enforcement, education, counseling, and emergency management to help create a safe and supportive school environment. SROs work closely with school staff and use a community policing approach to build relationships with students, teach them about safety, the legal system, and responsible citizenship, while also handling security and emergency preparedness.

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.

Please note that you must opt in to School Messenger to receive phone messages from Hopkins Public Schools. We use School Messenger for school closings and other important information to keep you updated.

Directions: youtube.com/watch?time_continue=37&v=ZNlY1c5WLJc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hpsvikings.org%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE

Fifth graders interested in running for a class officer position (President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer) will give their speeches on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 8:15 AM in the gym. All 5th grade students will attend. Additional information is being sent home with students this week.

For 3rd and 4th grade students, details about their class officer elections will be shared by their classroom teachers over the next few weeks.

The Hopkins Elementary Vike Hike is scheduled for Friday, October 10. In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Monday, October 13.

Fundraising packets will be sent home with students in their folders two weeks before the event. As we get closer to the date, we'll share more details about prizes and the event schedule.

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

• 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.

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.

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.