Hardy Happenings

Text YES to 67587 to opt into PowerSchool text messages, including important safety notifications. Stay informed on all Hardy communication—we highly encourage it!

Nhắn tin YES đến số 67587 để chọn nhận tin nhắn văn bản PowerSchool, bao gồm các thông báo an toàn quan trọng. Hãy cập nhật mọi thông tin liên lạc của Hardy—chúng tôi thực sự khuyến khích điều đó!

Did you know the Hardy Happenings Newsletter can be translated into over 130 different languages? Just click the "translate" button in the top right corner and select your preferred language.

Bạn có biết Bản tin Hardy Happenings có thể được dịch sang hơn 130 ngôn ngữ khác nhau không? Chỉ cần nhấp vào nút "dịch" ở góc trên bên phải và chọn ngôn ngữ bạn muốn.

One Week to Go, Owls!

The first day of school is almost here — we can’t wait to welcome you back on Monday, August 11!

Families will receive a welcome email from your child’s teacher on Friday, August 8 by 2:30 PM. Class lists will not be posted, so please be sure to check your email that afternoon. If you do not yet have a Parent Portal account, Mrs. Curtain will be emailing access codes to help families get set up. You’ll also be able to view your child’s finalized class schedule in Parent Portal by 2:30 PM on August 8. (Need help? Email: mcurtin@sandi.net)

School Hours
7:45 AM - 2:10 PM (M, T, Th, F)
7:45 AM - 11:55 AM (Wednesdays)
TK dismisses 10 minutes earlier each day
TK (first 2 weeks) and Kinder (first week) have minimum day hours: 7:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Drop-Off Info

• Gates open at 7:25 AM

• Carline is strongly encouraged, especially due to limited parking during construction

• Parents may walk students to class on the first day only (TK through August 18, Kinder through the first week)

• After the first day, campus is closed in the mornings unless you check in through the front office as a cleared volunteer.

Meals & Supplies

• Free breakfast and lunch provided daily

• Students should bring a labeled water bottle each day

• Personal lunches must be labeled and nut-free if sharing space with allergy-sensitive classrooms

Special Events This Week

• TK/K Playdate: Wednesday, August 6, 4:00-6:00 PM • Princess Del Cerro Park

• TK/K Orientation: Friday, August 8, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Auditorium)

• Popsicle Party for Grades 1-5: Friday, August 8, 2:30 - 3:30 PM (classrooms will not be open)

• Bedtime Stories with Principal Aragon on Instagram Live: @HardyOwls Sunday, August 10 at 7:00 PM.

First Day Highlights

• TK families report directly to the auditorium for TK Flight School

• Photo-op sign in the courtyard for first-day pics

• After drop-off, join us in the auditorium for Coffee with the Principal and meet PTA and Dad’s Club! Take a moment to fill out our volunteer survey.

Quick Tips for a Great Drop-Off
Keep it short and sweet! A quick, confident goodbye helps students transition smoothly into their day.

Stay Connected

• Read our Weekly Newsletter: Hardy Happenings (Sent on Monday)
• School Website: Hardy Elementary School
• Join the PTA: Hardy Elementary PTA
• Instagram: @HardyOwls
• Instagram: @Principal_Aragon
• Facebook: @HardyOwls
• School Site Council (SSC)
• English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
• Review the Family Events Calendar and save the dates!

We’re so glad your family has chosen Hardy. It’s going to be a great year!

With Gratitude & Owl Pride,
Mrs. Aragon
Principal, Hardy Elementary

2025-26 Frequently Asked Questions

We’re looking for caring, reliable individuals to support our students during lunch and recess! This flexible, part-time position is perfect for someone who loves working with kids, enjoys being outdoors, and wants to make a positive impact on our school community.

We’re excited to offer this role as either a contracted or hourly position!

Position Details:

• Hours: Approximately 10:00 AM – 12:15 PM

• Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

• Responsibilities:

  • Supervise lunch and recess, and TK classrooms

  • Foster positive relationships with students

  • Help maintain a safe, supportive, and fun playground environment

If you or someone you know is interested, please contact our front office at (619) 860-5700 or email Principal Aragon at Karagon@sandi.net.

Come be part of the Hardy Owl family and help us build a strong foundation for our students!

Hardy Elementary’s Whole Site Modernization (WSM) project is moving forward, bringing exciting improvements to our learning spaces, including upgraded classrooms, enhanced accessibility, and modernized infrastructure.

As part of this work, our joint-use field will be offline for the duration of the project. This means our playground will not be available for after-school or weekend use over the next few years. We know this is a big change for many of our families, and we appreciate your understanding as we work together through this temporary adjustment.

Thank you for your continued flexibility and support as we build a better Hardy for the future. We’ll continue to share updates throughout the year as progress continues!

Click here to read the first family welcome letter sent home last week.

See the flyer below for the events leading up to the first day of school for our TK and Kinder students!

TK Flight School Family Letter

*If your TK/K student is enrolled in PrimeTime or Klassic Kids, these programs will provide care on minimum day dismissals.

We’re seeing higher-than-expected enrollment, which is exciting. If all registered students attend, classes will be very large. We’ll monitor attendance and work with the district to see if an additional teacher is needed. Enrollment is reviewed through the third Friday of the school year.

At Hardy, we build balanced classrooms based on academics, peer connections, and social-emotional needs. Combo classes are often necessary and thoughtfully created for students who show independence and leadership. They are not based on academic concerns. While we understand family preferences, we do not take teacher requests. Thank you for your continued trust.

Get ready for an exciting lineup of after-school fun! From chess, science, cooking, soccer, dance, golf, a brand new Spanish program, and more — there’s something for every curious kid to enjoy.

Classes begin the third week of school (the week of August 25)

Check out session dates here. Flyers and registration links will be posted soon!

We understand that many families are actively seeking after-school care for the upcoming school year. While Hardy Elementary is proud to host PrimeTime and Klassic Kids on campus, please note that both programs are independently managed, and I do not oversee enrollment, waitlists, or placement decisions.

• To my understanding, both programs are currently full. However, families are encouraged to join the waitlist and explore alternative childcare options in the meantime. We are also working closely with the district in hopes of staffing and opening an additional 30 PrimeTime spots to support more Hardy families.
• Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work to ensure all students have access to safe, reliable after-school care.
• For questions or assistance, please reach out directly to the program teams:

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO): elo@sandi.net
PrimeTime (Free Program): primetime@sandi.net

Klassic Kids (Fee-Based through Harmonium): kkharpy@harmoniumsd.org | (619) 534-2845

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible academic growth our students made on the 2024–25 CAASPP state assessments in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics! I will be highlighting this in our first Coffee with the Principal and Back to School Night!

In our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)—a strategic plan that outlines how we improve outcomes for all students—we set a goal to grow by 3 points in Distance From Standard (DFS). This level of progress is considered significant enough to shift our state dashboard indicator, moving us toward stronger school performance ratings.

Not only did we meet that goal—we far exceeded it.

We are proud to share that Hardy Elementary was recognized at the district’s Principal Kickoff as having the 2nd highest growth in the entire district on CAASPP assessments! 🎉

Hardy 2024–25 CAASPP Growth Highlights:

ELA (English Language Arts):

• All Students: +44.08 point increase (from -5.16 to +38.92 DFS)

• SWD (Students with Disabilities): Up to +77.78 points of growth

• EL (English Learners): +54.83 point gain (from -16.17 to +38.66 DFS)

Mathematics:

• All Students: +29.81 point increase (from +7.68 to +37.49 DFS)

• SWD: As much as +71.77 points of growth

• Other subgroups: Ranged from +21 to +33 points

This achievement reflects:
✔️ Strong small-group instruction
✔️ Intentional PLC collaboration
✔️ Data-driven planning
✔️ Students who showed up and gave their best
✔️ Incredible support from families and staff

We are so proud of our Hardy Owls and this collective achievement. Thank you for being an essential part of this success—let’s keep building on this momentum in 2025–26!

If you have not set up a Parent Portal Account in PowerSchool please do so ASAP. Beginning in the 25-26 school year, you will need this account to find out your child's teacher and turn in all beginning of the year paperwork! This portal continues to be of importance as your child goes through their schooling career so you can access report cards, test scores, grades and attendance.

You need a unique code to get started the first time, if you need assistance please reach out to our school librarian, Mrs. Curtin, and she will help you (mcurtin@sandi.net).

https://powerschool.sandi.net/public/home.html

AUGUST

Wednesday, August 6: TK/Kinder Park Playdate 4-6p - Princess Del Cerro Park

Friday, August 8: TK/Kinder Signing Day and Orientation 10a-12p - Hardy Auditorium

Friday, August 8: Popsicle Party 2:30-3:30p - Walk & Explore the Campus - classrooms will not be open

Friday, August 8: Classroom placements sent via email & Powerschool

Sunday, August 10: Bedtime Stories with Principal Aragon via Instagram Live @HardyOwls 7:00p

Monday, August 11: First Day of School! Arrive early for photo ops!

Monday, August 11: Coffee with the Principal 8a - Auditorium

Wednesday, August 27: Leader in Me Assemblies / Leadership Applications sent home

Thursday, August 28: Back to School Night 5:30-7p - Adult only

Friday, August 29: Additional Minimum Day - Dismissal at 11:55a (11:45a TK)

SEPTEMBER

Monday, September 1: No School - Labor Day

Wednesday, September 3: Family Dine Out & Dad's Club Meeting - Woodstock's Pizza

Thursday, September 4: School Tour 8a

Friday, September 5: Family Friday & General PTA Meeting • 7:45a

Monday, September 8: Literacy Lab Launch!

Monday, September 8: SSC/SGT 2:30p Library or Zoom Option

Friday, September 12: Dad's Club Movie Night 6p

Friday, September 19: Additional Minimum Day & Lunch with your Loves - Dismissal at 11:55a

Friday, September 26: Fall Picture Day

Monday, September 29: APEX Jog-A-Thon Kick Off

Website: hardy.sandiegounified.org

Hardy PTA Website: https://sites.google.com/hardypta.com/pta

Address: 5420 Montezuma Rd, San Diego, CA 92115

Office Hours: 7:15-3:00 PM

Phone: (619) 860-5700
Facebook: Hardy PTA Page

Hardy Instagram: @HardyOwls

Email: karagon@sandi.net
Principal Aragon Instagram: @principal_aragon

Student & Family Guidebook

Frequently Asked Questions

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