HMK's Monday Message
Week of March 16th - 20th & March 23rd - 27th
Dear HMK Families,
As we wrap up our Parent-Teacher Conferences, we want to ensure every voice in our community is heard. If you didn’t have a chance to complete our annual survey during your conference, there is still time!
We have extended the deadline and will keep the survey open until Friday, March 27th (the Friday before Spring Break).
Why Your Feedback Matters
Your input is more than just data; it directly impacts how we operate and grow. This year, your responses serve two vital purposes:
High Reliability Schools (HRS) Growth: We use your feedback to evaluate our school’s safety, culture, and academic systems to ensure HMK is the best environment possible for your child.
Utah Educator Evaluation: As part of the state’s commitment to teaching excellence, parent "stakeholder feedback" is a required and valued part of our teacher evaluation process. Your perspective helps our educators refine their craft.
How to Participate
It only takes a few minutes to share your thoughts. You can access the survey in one of two ways:
On Your Mobile Device: Simply scan the QR code found on the attached flyer.
Online: Click the link below to go directly to the survey:
Note: We want this to be an authentic reflection of our parent community. Thank you for partnering with us to make HMK a high-reliability school where every student can thrive. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Principal Harris.
Deadline: Friday, March 27th
What is Title I?
Title I, Part A - Federal Education Law & provides funding to support schools based off of income status. In Utah, we use census data (from the SAIPE - Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates Program - SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFO on SAIPE) and free/reduced lunch to determine poverty status. Funding goes to schools with high needs. Funding has nothing to do with academic performance.
Basically it is EXTRA SUPPORT for our school.
The U.S. Census & Why It Is Important to Us
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program produces single-year estimates of income and poverty for all U.S. states and counties as well as estimates of school-age children in poverty for all 13,000+ school districts.
One of the primary inputs to the SAIPE model are direct estimates from the ACS (American Community Survey). We find that increasing survey response directly improves data quality and estimate precision, which are carried over into Title I funding model estimates. This means that is can DIRECTLY impact our school, HMK, with giving us more funding to serve our students. We wanted parent and families to be aware of the importance of the ACS with our community, and so I wanted to pass on some useful links about ACS outreach.
Links for ACS Outreach information:
- ACS Information Guide:
- ACS Flyers:
- ACS Data Stories:
- Top Questions about the Survey ("Why should I participate?", "Is my privacy protected?", etc.):
- Why We Ask Each Question (detailed information about the purpose behind each question on the survey):
Parent Guides to Student Success
Utah State Board of Education Published Guides:
https://schools.utah.gov/curr/parentguides
- Parents are important partners in achieving the Utah State Board of Education’s vision that “each student is prepared to succeed and lead by having knowledge and skills to learn, engage civically, and lead meaningful lives.” The purpose of this document is to help parents better understand what their children should learn, when a child may need more help, or when a child would benefit from extra challenges. By using these resources, you may find more ways to advance your child’s learning at home while encouraging growth in their communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
➕➖ Math ➗🟰
Curriculum & Instruction:
- Core Instruction:
- Utah State Standards are the foundation for all instruction. Grand County School District provides local school board approved curriculum programs for each content area. In HMK, the curriculum used in all classrooms K-6 is called Great Mind’s: Eureka² and is the primary source of instruction for all students.
Enrichment & Interventions:
- Students who need academic enrichment or intervention are provided extra support during the school day with evidence proven curriculum and resources.
📖 Literacy 📘
Curriculum & Instruction:
- Core Instruction:
- Utah State Standards are the foundation for all instruction. Grand County School District provides local school board approved curriculum programs for each content area. In HMK, the curriculum used in all classrooms K-5 is called Amplify’s CKLA in conjunction with UFLI for Phonics instruction, and together these are our primary sources of instruction. In 6th grade, we use CommonLit as the core curriculum.
- Enrichment & Interventions:
- Students who need academic enrichment or intervention are provided extra support during the school day with evidence proven curriculum and resources.
🧪 Science 🔬
Curriculum & Instruction
- Core Instruction:
- Utah State Standards are the foundation for all instruction. In HMK, the curriculum used in classrooms is the SEEd Storylines for K-6th and is the primary source of instruction for all students. However, there are multiple supplemental curriculums and resources used that include; Mystery Science, Utah OER Textbooks from UEN, and Generation Genius.
- Enrichment:
- This usually comes in the form of various field trips and classroom visits
🏫 Multilingual Learners 🔰
Language support for students who are multilingual learners, ML, is provided in multiple ways. Students are provided extra support in accessing academic language as they learn to listen, speak, read and write the English language. All ML students, depending on their individual needs, have access to additional resources in the following ways:
In-class sheltered instruction with an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsed teachers
Small group instruction with one of our certified teachers for ALS (Alternative Language Services)
- Individual instruction with one of our certified teachers for ALS (Alternative Language Services)
Working Together
- Teacher Qualifications
- You have a right to know the qualifications of your child’s teacher & instructional assistants
- Decision Making
- You have a right to participate in decisions affecting your child
- Parent Engagement
- You have a right to engage with faculty regularly for parent engagement opportunities
- School Plan
- You have a right to be part of the school plan and make suggestions
***Something not right? 🤔
If you believe something is not right, please contact the school principal Holly Harris (harrish@grandschools.org) or you may contact the Director of Student Services Jill Tatton (tattonj@grandschools.org)
We Need You! 🫵
- PROGRESS IN SCHOOL
- Parent Teacher Conference 2x/year
- Standards Reports (Report Cards) 4x/year
- BIG ACTIVITIES
- School-wide activities during the year (Family Literacy Night, STEAM Night, Music and Art Showcases, etc.)
- ACTIVITES
- Grade-level activities; Smaller activities; parent volunteers
- SCHOOL TEAMS
- Please volunteer to be a member of the PTA or School Community Council
Parent & Family Engagement Policy 🧾
At HMK Elementary, we hold an annual meeting, we have flexible meeting times, and we involve parents. We feel it is important to have a shared responsibility for student achievement.
Find our policy here: GCSD Parent and Family Engagement Policy
School-Parent-Family Compact 🤝
This policy outlines the responsibility of the students, parents, teachers, and the school with the purpose of improved academic achievement for students.
Find the Compact here: Student, Parent, School Compact
Contact Us! 💻📢📧
WE WELCOME QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS RELATED TO YOUR CHILD. YOU MAY CONTACT US AT THESE EMAILS AND PHONE NUMBERS. 😊
- Teachers: Please email them at any time, or use other forms of communication that they have established with you at the beginning of the year.
- Principal: Holly Harris ~ 📞 435-719-4829 ~ 📧 harrish@grandschools.org
- Assistant Principal: Libby Bailey ~ 📞 435-719-4828 ~ 📧 baileyl@grandschools.org
- Literacy Specialist: Raye Lyne Robertson ~ 📞 435-719-4798 ~ 📧 robertsonr@grandschools.org
📣 Families! Here's What's Happening This Week:
🔎QUICK GLANCE AT IMPORTANT INFO/DATES:
- Monday, March 16th-
- First Day of Quarter 4
- iReady Window for Math & Reading OPENS
- 8:30-2:00 3rd Grade FT to Fiery Furnace - Hansen
- 🍀Tuesday, March 17th 🍀 -
- 🍀Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀
- 8:30-2:00 3rd Grade FT to Fiery Furnace - Marin-Garcia
- Wednesday, March 18th -
- Normal Wednesday
- Regular School Board Meeting @ 5:15
- Thursday, March 19th -
- Normal Thursday
- Friday, March 20th -
- Normal Early-Out Friday @ 12:45
📣 Families! Here's What's Happening Next Week:
🔎QUICK GLANCE AT IMPORTANT INFO/DATES:
- Monday, March 23rd ~
- 8:30- 9:15 ~ K-3 Utah Opera Assembly
- 9:30-10:15 ~ 4-6 Utah Opera Assembly
- 9:30-2:00 ~ 2nd grade FT to Balanced Rock- Tyner
- Tuesday, March 24th ~
- Ogden Nature Center Visit to 1st grade
- 9:30-2:00 ~ 2nd grade FT to Balanced Rock- Onderko
- Family Event! ~~~ 6:00- 7:00 P.M. ~ K-3 Spring Arts Showcase - Where the Wild Things Are!
- Wednesday, March 25th ~
- Ogden Nature Center Visit to 1st grade
- 9:30-2:00 ~ 2nd grade FT to Balanced Rock- Burraston
- Thursday, March 26th ~
- 9:00 - 9:30 ~ GROWTH ASSEMBLY: K-1
- 10:30 - 11:00 ~ GROWTH ASSEMBLY: 2nd-3rd
- 10:00 - 11:30 ~ 5th Grade Vendor Fair
- 1:30 - 2:00 ~ GROWTH ASSEMBLY: 4th-6th
- Family Event! ~~~ 5:00 - 7:00 PM Family Literacy Night - Featuring "Matilda!"
- Friday, March 27th ~
- 8:30 - 12:30 ~ 2nd grade FT to Balanced Rock- Nelson
- 🎉Spirit Day ~ "Mis-Match Day" 🤪
- Monday, March 30th to Friday, April 3rd ~ 🌷 😎 SPRING BREAK! 😎🌷
- Monday, April 6th ~
- Easter Monday
- SCC @ 3:30
- Tuesday, April 7th ~
- PTA Meeting @ 4:45 in Library
- Wednesday, April 8th ~
- School Board Work Session @ 3:30
- Wednesday, April 15th ~
- Regular School Board Meeting @ 5:15
- Saturday, April 25th ~
- PTA Car Show Parking Fundraiser in HMK Parking Lot
This month, our school is focusing on Social Intelligence. At its core, social intelligence is about understanding what makes other people tick and using that knowledge to build stronger, kinder relationships. It’s about being "people smart"—knowing how to navigate social situations with empathy and grace.
To bring this concept to life, students in grades K-6 will be learning from the wisest "leader" we know: Kid President.
📹 What We’re Learning
Across all grade levels, we are using Kid President’s video, "20 Things We Should Say More Often," to spark conversations.
In Grades K-3: We are focusing on the power of simple words. Phrases like "I’m sorry," "Thank you," and "I forgive you" are the building blocks of social intelligence. Students are using "Kid President Sheets" to practice identifying how these words make others feel.
In Grades 4-6: We are diving deeper into the impact of our communication. Students are exploring how saying things like "I believe in you" or "I don't know" can change the energy of a room and build trust within a group.
💡 Bringing it Home
Social intelligence isn't just a school skill; it’s a life skill! Here are a few ways you can reinforce this month's topic at home:
Watch Together: Take three minutes to watch the 20 Things We Should Say More Often video with your child. Ask them which one is their favorite.
The "High Five" Challenge: Pick one phrase from the video (like "You can do it!") and see how many times your family can authentically use it throughout the week.
Model the "Muppet" Rule: Kid President often says, "Be a person who makes everybody feel like a somebody." Talk about a time someone made you feel important and how that influenced your day.
"If you can't think of anything nice to say, you're not thinking hard enough." — Kid President
Thank you for partnering with us to help our students grow into socially intelligent, empathetic leaders!
We often say it takes a village to raise a child, but at our school, it takes a dedicated team to help them thrive. We are currently looking for passionate individuals to join our staff and make a direct impact on our students' daily lives.
If you—or someone you know—is looking for a rewarding role within our community, we would love to hear from you!
Current Opportunities:
Positions:
Elementary Teacher Full-Time Apply Here
Library Media ESP Support Staff Apply Here
Recess/Lunch Aide Part-Time Apply Here
Why Join Us?
Impact: Work directly with the children in your own community.
Schedule: Perfect for those looking to align their work hours with their child’s school schedule.
Environment: Join a supportive, energetic team dedicated to student success.
Whether you are a certified educator or someone looking to help out for a few hours a day during lunch and recess, there is a place for you here.
Note: Please feel free to share these links with friends, neighbors, or family members who might be a great fit for our school family!
Thank you for your continued support of our school and our students. Keep watching MORE postings to come!
We are ALWAYS looking for Substitute Teachers!
We are currently working to recruit and hire more substitute teachers, and we would love your help. If you or someone you know is interested in working with students, enjoys a flexible schedule, and wants to make a positive impact in our school community, this is a great opportunity. Training and support are provided, and substitutes play a vital role in keeping our school running smoothly.
How you can help:
- Consider applying to be a substitute teacher yourself.
- Share this opportunity with family, friends, neighbors, or community members who may be a good fit.
- Contact our school office for more information about how to apply or direct interested individuals to the district’s substitute application page [CLICK HERE].
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students. Together, we can ensure that every classroom has the support it needs every day.
HMK INFO:
Website: https://hmk.grandschools.org/
Location: 505 N MiVida Dr, Moab, UT 84532
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmkelementary/