HES Family and Community Newsletter

First I would like to share an important update to

We have SO many exciting events coming up as we head into the holiday season! 🎉✨
Take a moment to read below and mark those calendars — you won’t want to miss a thing!

This Week:

• December 1st – PTO Meeting @ 5:30 p.m.

• December 3rd – House Meeting (K–5)

• December 1st–19th – Holiday Spirit Weeks (See flyer below!)

🎄 December Highlights

• December 1st – PTO Meeting @ 5:30 p.m.

• December 3rd – House Meeting (K–5)

• December 1st–19th – Holiday Spirit Weeks (stay tuned for details!)

• December 10th – Picture Makeup/Retake Day

• December 10th – Early Dismissal Day - 12:45 p.m.

• December 13th – PTO’s ChristmasTown @ 11:00 a.m.

• December 15th - Winter Concert @ North Dorchester High School 6:00 p.m. - all students PK4-5th grade - This year will be singing only. Wear your most festive clothing.

• December 15th–19th – Winter Shoppe

• December 19th – Early Dismissal Day - 12:45 p.m.

• December 20th–January 4th – Winter Break

Your continued partnership makes learning at Hurlock Elementary meaningful, joyful, and full of Eagle pride!

With love and gratitude,
Mrs. Corkran

The App, My School Bucks, has increased their transaction fees on credit/debit card payments to $3.25 per transaction. Please remember you can always add money to your students account, free of charge, by sending in cash or check to the school cafeteria.

Checks should be made out to: Hurlock Elementary School.

⏰ Every Minute Matters!
Please make it a top priority for your child to be in school from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. every day. Consistent, full-day attendance helps your child grow, stay on track, and become the strongest learner they can be!

Did you know that:

• Children who are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days) are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade and missing school means missing valuable instructional time.
• 5 minutes late per day equals 3.4 days of lost instruction over the school year. 10 minutes late or leaving early per day equals 6.9 days of missed learning. 15 minutes per day equals 10.3 days – more than two full school weeks.

The trait for the month of December.......Kindness!

Kindness means being caring, helpful, and thoughtful. You can show kindness by including someone at recess, helping a friend, or simply smiling at someone. A little kindness goes a long way!

• 📢 On the first day of each month, we’ll announce the character trait of the month during morning announcements, along with its definition.

• 💡 Throughout the month, our school community will spotlight the character trait and celebrate the ways students demonstrate it in their daily actions.

• 🏅 On the last day of the month, each homeroom teacher will submit the name of one student who best represented that month’s trait. These names will be announced during morning announcements.

• 🎉 Selected students will gather in the cafeteria to receive a certificate, take a group photo, and be recognized on our social media platforms.

This is a wonderful way to highlight not only academic success, but also the positive character and leadership skills that help our Eagles soar every day! 🦅

September

Breakfast menu

PK3/4 lunch menu

Kindergarten -5th grade lunch menu

If your child has allergies our Nurse needs to know and the cafeteria needs a doctors note! Please reach out to Nurse Stacy 410-943-3303 ext 1809

If your student brings a packed lunch, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• No soda, bottled coffees, energy drinks, etc
• Suggestions for packable drinks: Gatorades, Green tea, bottled juice, and other non-caffeinated beverages.
• No candy.
• Food will not be warmed up.
• No sharing of food due to potential food allergies.

DCPS app

If you haven't registered for the new DCPS app, click the links provided below to sign up. This app is designed for everyone, including parents, grandparents, and members of the community. You have the flexibility to select specific schools for notifications, ensuring you stay informed and never miss out on announcements or exciting news. Our app allows you to conveniently chat with your students teacher, access documents, receive news updates, and stay informed about emergency notifications—all from the convenience of your pocket. Join us in embracing the features of our new app!

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3LIXLP9

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3rH4Rgr

Arrival and dismissal times have been changed for this school year. The earliest drop off is 8:30, the bell rings at 8:45! Students are late after 8:45 and must be signed in by an adult.

The latest pick up time for students is 3:20, after 3:20 you will need to have your student on the pickup list as a walker or car rider and they will be dismissed at 3:45. Please reach out with any questions #attendancematters

Please note: Earliest Drop off 8:30am,

Class Begins 8:45am, Students are late after 8:45!

Latest pick up 3:20 pm, Dismissal begins 3:45pm

Early Dismissal Days starts @ 12:45pm

We want to keep our school safe, focused, and fun for all students. Please help us by keeping the following in mind:

• 👗 Costumes & Capes: As much as we love them, these should only be worn on special dress-up days.

• 🚫 Clothing with Weapons Pictures: No clothing should show pictures or depictions of weapons of any kind.

• 📿 Large or Chunky Jewelry: These can be unsafe on playground equipment or if swung around. Please keep them at home.

• 🧸 Toys, Stuffed Animals, & Labubu Dolls: These items are not needed during the school day and can be distracting to learning.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and positive learning environment!

Hurlock Elementary Dress Code for 2025–2026.

👕 General Guidelines:

Tops should have straps at least 2” wide

Bottoms should extend past fingertips when arms are at sides

No rips/tears above fingertip line

Pajamas are for home—sweatpants are fine for school

No hats, hoods, bonnets or sunglasses worn in the building

Shoes need to have hard soles for safety—slippers aren’t allowed

🚫 Clothing should not:

Promote violence, illegal activity, or lewd behavior

Include vulgar, obscene, or hateful words or images

Create a safety concern

If dress code concerns come up, here’s how we’ll handle it:

1️⃣ Gentle reminder, call home, parent will need to bring clothes or we will provide appropriate clothing

2️⃣ Minor referral, call home, parent will need to bring clothes or we will provide appropriate clothing

3️⃣ Lunch detention along with the above steps

4️⃣ In person Parent conference along with the above steps

5️⃣ After-school detention along with all of the above steps

All non-school issued devices

“Elementary school students are not permitted to possess or use portable electronic communication devices while on Dorchester County Public School property or while attending any school activities."

If a student is found in possession of a phone or electronic device at school, the following process will be enforced:

• 1st Offense: the phone/smart watch/ electronic device will be confiscated and parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the device.
• 2nd Offense: follow 1st offense PLUS an after-school detention
• 3rd Offense: follow 1st offense PLUS parent conference requested.

Important Information:

**School Hours:**

- School starts at 8:45 a.m. Students may be dropped off as early as 8:30 a.m. Please note that we do not have staff to supervise students before this time. Parents will be called to pick up their student if dropped off before 8:30 a.m.

**Drop-Off Procedure:**

- Families are requested to drop students off at the curb. Mrs. Powell and her team will ensure your student safely enters the building and gets to their classroom.

**Breakfast:**

- All students have the option of a free breakfast. To ensure your student receives breakfast, please have them in the building no later than 8:45 a.m.

**Lunch:**

- All HES students have the option of free lunch every day.

If your student brings a packed lunch, please adhere to the following guidelines:

- No soda, bottled coffees, energy drinks, etc

- Suggestions for packable drinks: Gatorades, Green tea, bottled juice, and other non-caffeinated beverages.

- No candy.

- Food will not be warmed up.

- No sharing of food due to potential food allergies.

**Dismissal Time**

- Dismissal begins at 3:45 p.m. If you need to pick up your student early from school please do so before 3:20 p.m. After 3:20 p.m., no students will be dismissed early from the office, and parents should wait in the regular pick-up line.

**Car Riders at Dismissal Time:**

- Students/families will be assigned a car tag to hang from window. This system aims to expedite pick-up and ensure students remain in the building until someone is there to get them.

**Bus Dismissal:**

- If your child is taking a different bus or being picked up by someone other than the norm, please send a note or call the front office to inform us. Without prior notification, your child will go home as usual. For bus-related questions, contact the Transportation Department at 410-228-4747.

**Adults/Families on Campus:**

Ring the bell next to the front doors and wait to speak to one of our secretaries.

All visitors must sign in at the front office and have their picture taken upon entering the building.

Please bring ID when visiting our building.

**School Issued Electronic Devices:**

- Students will be assigned devices: K & 1st graders will have iPads, while 2nd - 5th graders will use laptops. Look out for the device agreement to sign and a request form for a hotspot if needed.

**Dress Code:**

See above for detailed information.

**Non-School Issued Devices:**

- "Elementary school students are not permitted to possess or use portable electronic communication devices while on Dorchester County Public School property or during school activities." This includes cell phones or any portable electronic devices. The following process will be followed for violations:

- 1st Offense: Device confiscation; parent/guardian contacted for pick-up.

- 2nd Offense: 1st offense consequences plus after-school detention.

- 3rd Offense: 1st offense consequences plus a parent conference will be requested.