Bear Country News

Good afternoon, Hesse families,

If someone asked you what makes a school special, what would you say? Is it the teachers who show up ready to make a difference? The students who bring energy and personality into our classrooms? The moments when our school community comes together to celebrate something worth cheering about? At Hesse, I believe it is a combination of all these things—and so much more.

One of my favorite things about being a principal is getting to see the many sides of our school throughout the day. Every hallway, classroom, and common area has its own story. There are friendships being built, questions being asked, ideas being shared, and memories being made. Not every important moment comes with an award or a certificate. Sometimes, it is a student helping a classmate, a teacher offering encouragement at just the right time, or a simple act of kindness that changes someone's day.

These moments remind me that a school is about more than what happens during a lesson. It is also about how people treat one another, how we make others feel welcome, and the kind of community we create together. We want Hesse to be a place where students feel connected, families feel welcome, and staff members know that the work they do matters.

As we head into another week, I want to challenge our Bears to be intentional about the little things. Greet someone you do not usually talk to. Thank a teacher or staff member who has helped you. Invite someone to join your group. Show kindness even when no one is watching. These actions may not make the morning announcements, but they help create the kind of school we can all be proud of.

Families, we would love for you to join us in this challenge. Ask your child how they helped make someone else's day a little better. It is a simple question, but it helps reinforce an important message: every person has something valuable to contribute to our school community.

Thank you for being part of what makes Hesse such a special place. The partnership we share with our families helps shape the experiences our students have every day, and I am grateful for your continued support. Let's keep building a school community where kindness is visible, connections matter, and our Bears know they belong.

Have a wonderful week in Bear Country!

Every Student. Every Day!

With appreciation,

Jacob Roberson, Ed.S.
Principal
Hesse K–8 School

At Hesse, we are more than a school—we are a community. Every interaction is an opportunity to make Bear Country a better place!

Week 13 Focus: Strengthening Our Bear Community

• Show Kindness – Treat others with respect, use encouraging words, and look for opportunities to make someone's day better.
• Build Connections – Include others, welcome different perspectives, and make an effort to get to know the people around you.
• Lead by Example – Make positive choices, demonstrate responsibility, and remember that your actions influence others.
• Create a Sense of Belonging – Help make Hesse a place where every student and staff member feels welcomed, valued, and supported.

Hesse K-8's Red Ribbon Week will be held on October 26-30, 2026. Please see the flyer below for the scheduled activities for the week. We look forward to all of our student's participation!

Below is the link to the teachers' Week-at-a-Glance website where they all put their newsletters!

Along the left side, you will find each grade level.

Hesse K-8 Week at a Glance

Please take a moment to review the calendar attached to this week's newsletter for upcoming events and important dates at Hesse. We encourage all families to mark their calendars and stay connected with the activities and opportunities happening throughout Bear Country. We look forward to the weeks ahead and appreciate your continued support and involvement in our school community!

The athletics calendar is posted in Class Dojo as well as on our Hesse Facebook page!

Hesse Families,

Some of the best learning begins with three simple words: “I wonder why…”

Why does a character make a particular decision? What would happen if we tried a different approach to a math problem? How can we use what we already know to explain something we have never encountered before? Questions like these move students beyond simply finding an answer and encourage them to explore, make connections, and think more deeply about the world around them.

At Hesse, we want our Bears to see themselves as active participants in their learning. That means doing more than completing an assignment or waiting for the teacher to provide the answer. It means being willing to ask questions, explain their thinking, listen to different ideas, and support their conclusions with evidence. These experiences help students develop the reasoning and communication skills they will need in every grade level and long after they leave our classrooms.

One of the things I want our students to understand is that learning does not always follow a straight line. Sometimes the first approach works. Sometimes a new question leads us in an unexpected direction. And sometimes, understanding comes from examining an idea more closely rather than accepting the first answer we find. Our classrooms should provide opportunities for students to think, discuss, investigate, and make sense of what they are learning.

Families, you can encourage this kind of thinking at home without needing to be an expert in every subject your child studies. When your child shares something from class, ask, “What makes you think that?” or “How could you find out more?” Give them an opportunity to explain their reasoning before jumping in with an answer. These conversations help children recognize that their ideas have value and that thinking through a question can be just as important as knowing the answer.

As we move through the school year, we want our Bears to become more confident expressing their ideas and more thoughtful in how they approach new information. Our teachers play an important role in creating opportunities for meaningful discussion, challenging questions, and student thinking across the curriculum. The goal is for students to leave a lesson not only knowing more but also having a deeper understanding of how to think about what they have learned.

There is a big difference between a student who can repeat an answer and one who can explain why it makes sense. This week, let's encourage our Bears to keep asking questions, stay curious about the world around them, and never underestimate the value of thinking a little deeper.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to support learning beyond the classroom. I look forward to another engaging week in Bear Country!

Every Student. Every Day!

With appreciation,

Jacob Roberson, Ed.S.
Principal
Hesse K–8 School