Hopkins Elementary School Good News
September 26th, 2025
Important Upcoming Dates
- September 29th - Author Visit
- September 29-Oct 3 - Homecoming Dress Up/Spirit Days!
- October 1st - 2nd Grade Field Trip
- October 3rd - Homecoming!
- October 3rd - Popcorn Friday!
- October 6th - Bible Release
- October 9th - Student Council Meeting after School
- October 9th - Picture Retakes
- October 10th - Vike Hike!
- October 14th - 3rd Grade Cultural Presentation
- October 17th - Y5's/K Field Trip
- Oct 21st-Oct 24th - Book Fair
- October 21st - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 4-7 PM
- October 23rd - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 4-6 PM
- October 24th - 1st Grade Field Trip
- October 31st - 1/2 Day for Students, 1/2 Day Flex DPPD for Staff
Character Trait of the Month/Student of the Month Update
For the 2025–2026 school year, the Student of the Month program will align with Capturing Kids’ Hearts' Character Trait of the Month. Each month, staff will focus on teaching and reinforcing a specific character trait throughout the school. At the end of the month, teachers will select a Student of the Month based on who best demonstrated that trait in their classroom. The character trait for September is empathy.
What is empathy?
Empathy is an understanding and feeling what others are experiencing.
Why focus on empathy?
Empathy builds a positive classroom culture and strengthens their relationships with others. It also prepares your students to be leaders in their community.
Vike Hike!
The Hopkins Elementary Vike Hike is scheduled for Friday, October 10. In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Monday, October 13.
Friday October 10
8:30 - 9:30 4th/5th
9:45 - 10:45 Y5/K/1st
1:15 - 2:15 2nd/3rd
Fundraising packets will be sent home with students in their folders next Friday, September 26th. For more information on the event, you can follow this link.
Weekly Attendance Class Champions!
Each week, we’ll hold a friendly competition to see which class has the highest attendance rate. The winning class will earn the honor of displaying our Viking Helmet for the week! At the end of each trimester, we’ll celebrate the class with the best overall attendance with a classroom party and crown them as our Attendance Champions.
Check out our winners so far below!
- 9/15 - Mrs. Hall's Class (K) - 100% Attendance!
- 9/22 - Mrs. Cribley's Class (4th) - 98.2% Attendance!
Attendance Matters!
Building Strong Attendance Habits
Talk about school daily. Asking your child about their day shows them that school matters. [Visit LINK] for conversation starters.
Every day counts. Children who attend school every day—or miss no more than one day a month—are more likely to read at or above grade level.
Set a routine. Consistent school-year routines help students arrive ready to learn. Need ideas? [Check out this LINK].
Missed days add up fast. Even a few absences can impact your child’s learning.
Strong attendance = strong start. September attendance sets the tone for the whole year.
Address anxiety early. If your child feels nervous about school, talk with their teacher or counselor. Early support can reduce school avoidance and ease anxiety. [Visit LINK K-5] or [LINK K-12] for more information.
Know the calendar. Planning family events and travel around the school calendar helps keep attendance on track. [See the calendar here: LINK].
HES Homecoming Week Spirit Days!
Mon - 9/29 HOME RUN!! Wear your favorite sports team’s jersey or logo.
Tue - 9/30 ME & MY HOMIES!! Get your friends together and dress alike.
Wed - 10/1 HOME AWAY FROM HOME!! Dress as a tourist or wear clothing that represents another state or country.
Thu - 10/2 MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME!! Wear some comfy, cozy pj’s to school.
Fri - 10/3 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!! Show your Hopkins pride and school spirit by wearing your blue & white.
Parent Pickup Process for Pre/Post Field Trips
Parent Volunteers Needed!
️HOPKINS ELEMENTARY PARENTS️
We are looking for parent volunteers to help with our book fair next month!
Oct 20-Oct 23!
We have a few different shifts available.
Follow this link and scroll all the way to the bottom and you will see the openings!
8-11am
11am-2:30
4-6pm
THANK YOU
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70A0E44A9A82CA3F85-57956884-hopkins
October Lunch Menu
HPS Sponsors Free Breakfast & Lunch for All Students in October!
School Resource Officer - Explanation/Details
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.
Chili Cook Off at Viking Days!
Fall weather, Football & Chili are upon us! Want to win some Hopkins Spirit Wear?! Come to Vikings Day and bring your best Chili and a friend ready for tasting! May the best Chili win!
For Chili entries, sign up here:
Student Risk Screener
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.
iChat Background Check
September Lunch Menu
Attendance Matters!
Hopkins Volleyball Purple Out
FFA Hog Roast!
2025-2026 HPS Calendar
Big Buck Night Information
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
Cub Scout Information
Medical Forms Information
- 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.
FinalForms
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.
Hopkins Public Schools Non-Discrimination Notice
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.