Hawbridge Weekly Update, Volume 12
Week of Friday, October 23 - Friday, October 30, 2026
Weekly Updates
Welcome Hawbridge Families! Please take a moment to review the newsletter for important news, updates and reminders.
Community Guidelines at The Hawbridge School
Our community is kind.
Our community is inclusive and respectful.
Our community is respectful of the places we inhabit.
Our community is supportive of the school.
Our students, families, teachers, and staff are stewards of the school community.
General Reminders
Please be reminded that tardies are counting.
Lower School start time is 8:05 and dismissal is 3:15.
Upper School start time is 8:15 and dismissal is 3:30.
Lunch ordering is not available on Mondays. Lunches must be packed on Mondays.
Spirit Week
Spirit Week is next week, October 26-30th!
Monday- Pajama Day! Get comfy at school!
Tuesday- Decade Day- Wear a blast from the past!
Wednesday- Wacky Wednesday-Stay wild, wacky and wonderfully confused!
* Lower School: Dress Like an Alien or from a future decade!
Thursday- Twinning Day-Bruh, we are twinning!
Friday- Costume Day- Costume today, Legend tomorrow!
Costume Contest- October 30th
Calling all ghouls ,ghosts, and creative geniuses! It’s time to dress to impress because our Student Council Annual Halloween Costume Contest is officially back! Whether you amuse, terrify, or completely dazzle the crowd, the tradition continues October 30th during Bridge!
No Fuss Fundraiser Is Here!
No-Fuss Fundraiser
WOW, Hawbridge! We’re already at $2,088.25! We are 21% of the way to the goal of $10,000.
October 19th- October 30th
$10,000 in 10 Days
Venmo: @HawbridgePasta
Our No-Fuss Fundraiser is off to an amazing start — and there are incentives still up for grabs!
Win a homemade pie or pound cake or tumblers or even spirit wear! Be on the lookout for these opportunities.
Donate $250+ for a chance to win a Petting Zoo Party (up to 6 friends!)
A raffle will be drawn for the experience at the end of No-Fuss!
Did I hear that the school that raises the most money will experience an epic pancake breakfast? Oh yes, I did!
Hit $10,000 and STAFF GET SLIMED!
Read these celebratory notes from the Staff:
We are excited about the No-Fuss and we are thankful for all that you do for our school.
-Brittany Kidd LS
Thank you for the delicious lunch today PASTA!
-Gretchen Kapity LS
Thank you PASTA for a wonderful banquet! Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches for their dedication!
-Lynne Pierce - LS/US
Day of the Dead Alter
Honoring Our Loved Ones: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Altar
Dear Hawbridge,
Families, Students, and Community Members, we invite you to join us in honoring and remembering our loved ones who are no longer with us by contributing a photograph to our Día de los Muertos altar. those who have passed away. It is a time to remember our loved ones with love, respect, and gratitude. As part of this special tradition, we will create an altar to honor those who have touched our lives. If you would like to participate, we warmly invite you to share a photograph of a loved one you wish to remember and honor. 📸 How to Participate Please bring a photograph of your loved one with their name to Ms. Morice in Room 215 or leave it at the reception desk with Ms. Garbus. Deadline: Tuesday, October 27. The altar will be displayed at the Haw River Ballroom Café, Cup 22, from October 28 through November 2. Please remember to pick up your photograph after November 2. We welcome members of our entire community to participate in this meaningful celebration of remembrance, love, and cultural tradition. Thank you for helping us create a beautiful tribute to the people who will always hold a special place in our hearts.
❤️ Warmly,
Ms. Morice
Hawbridge School
Report Cards & Quarter 2 Reminders
Report Cards are now available in Infinite Campus. Requests for a printed copy of your student's report card should be sent to Ms. Van Hoewyk at jvanhoewyk@hawbridgeschool.org
Please be reminded that tardies and absences are counting. Coming to school and being on time are important to your student's success. If you have questions abouts your student's grade or assignments, please check Infinite Campus and reach out to your student's teacher(s).
Need extra help?
Lower School: Each grade level has intervention time built into the school day. Please contact your student's teacher for additional information.
Upper School: Students are encouraged to sign up for additional help during Bridge Time. Additionally, students may elect to attend Saturday school as needed.
Join Us For Forks & Families
Please join us to November 18th, from 4:00-6:00pm for a Town Hall dinner and presentation. Get to know the groups and people who support our students! Learn more about Title One at Hawbridge! All while enjoying a free spaghetti dinner!
Please see the fliers below for additional information.
In order to prepare for dinner and childcare please RSVP at the link below:
Forks & Families English
Forks & Families Spanish
Let's All Get on the Same Calendar
We've learned that two different school calendars are circulating. To help everyone stay on the same page, we are sharing the correct school calendar for you to reference.
On the correct calendar, November 3rd is marked as a Teacher Workday; no school for Students!
Please review the attached calendar and use it for planning throughout the school year.
Introducing the 7 Mindsets
Dear Families,
We are excited to introduce The 7 Mindsets, a SEL program that helps students build confidence, develop positive attitudes, strengthen relationships, and grow into their best selves! Throughout the year, students will explore seven mindsets that encourage kindness, resilience, gratitude, and personal growth. Please see the attached 7 Mindsets Family Guide. I hope you'll take the opportunity to discuss these topics with your child and complete the suggested activities to learn and grow together.
Thank you for partnering with us to support our students' success!
Senior Yearbook Ads
Is your student graduating this year? Would you like to honor their achievement by ordering an ad for the yearbook? Senior ads are $30 for a page. All ads must be purchased and submitted by January 30th, 2027.
To order go to: https://plicbooks.com /go/W21YGC
Follow the on-screen prompts to purchase your ad. After purchasing the ad, you will receive an email with login instructions. Log in to the ad designer, then create and submit your ad.
Detailed directions on using the ad designer can be found at: MYYUX XZUUTWY HFUYZWF NT JS FWYNHQJX
ALL AD SALES ARE FINAL!
Questions? Contact: Celina Morice at cmorice@hawbridgeschool.org
Make Up Picture Day
📸 Picture Make-Up Day – November 12
Attention, students! Picture Make-Up Day will be held on Thursday, November 12, from 8:15 to 9:00 AM.
If you missed Picture Day or need to retake your picture, please plan to attend during this time.
Thank you!
Families of 11th Graders- PSAT Fall 2026
To Families of 11th graders taking the PSAT/NMSQT -
The exam will be administered on October 28th beginning at 8:30 and ending around 1:00.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED AT THIS TIME! Your student will complete their College Board account and test set up at school prior to test day.
Please remind your students to bring their CHROMEBOOKS FULLY CHARGED AND THEIR ASSIGNED CHARGER for the test on October 28th.
Thank you and contact Jim Rowe with any questions at jrowe@hawbridgeschool.org
Families of 10th Graders- Pre-ACT Testing Fall 2026
For families of 10th grade students-
The Pre-ACT will be administered to ALL 10th grade students on October 27, beginning at 8:30 and ending around 1:00.
Please remind your students to get plenty of rest the night before.
The test is paper/pencil and the students will not need their Chromebook during the test.
For any questions, please contact me at jrowe@hawbridgeschool.org
Trunk or Treat & PAC Event
Come out for our second annual Trunk or Treat event on October 30th! Costumes are encouraged. See you there, Herons!
After Dark Halloween Sketch Show
Please join us after Trunk or Treat for a hilarious Halloween
show for ALL AGES!
Where: Upper School Theater
When: Friday, October 30th
Doors open at 7:30, Performance begins at 8:00
Running time is approximately 1 hour
$5.00 Admission
Senior Events- Mark Your Calendar
Seniors and Senior Families - Mark your calendars for some wonderful opportunities to celebrate:
Late November: Senior Portraits - Details to follow from Ms. Morice.
May 5: Senior Banquet - 6:00 in the Hawbridge Gym. RSVP and ticket information to follow.
May 24: 6th Grade and Senior Walkthrough/Walkover - 2:00 beginning at the Lower School.
May 25: Graduation - the Hawbridge Gym. Details and ticket information to follow.
Hawbridge Band Club's Open Mic Night and Hawbridge Art Market (HAM)
Join us for a night of music and art on Friday, December 4th! Beginning at 5:45, enjoy the Hawbridge Art Market featuring works for sale by our student artists. While you browse the art, enjoy refreshments provided for purchase by the Hawbridge Chorus.
All singers and musicians are also invited to perform in the Hawbridge Band Club’s Open Mic Night starting at 6:30. All students, faculty, and families are welcome to perform - No tryouts needed! Sign up by no later than Friday, November 20th by using the Google Form below. There will be no walk-up performances the night of the show. All performances must be registered using this form: https://forms.gle/j9sGZTBEMFXNkFwo7
Not a performer? No problem! Come and enjoy the show Suggested donation $5/person or $15/family.
Picture Orders
Need to order school pictures? Please use the following link to place you order:
Wilderness First Aid Course at Hawbridge
Attention Students & Parents! Hawbridge is offering an on-campus 16-hour Wilderness First Aid Course (WFA) from Saturday, November 14 to Sunday, November 15, free of charge! This course is being offered to all staff and students ages 16 or older at the time of the course. There is a max of 30 participants in the course. In addition, participants can choose to add a CPR/AED certification to the WFA, for $34 a person. This includes 2-hours of online training completed before the in-person course. In the event we have extra spots, the course will be opened to the greater Hawbridge school community as well. You will be responsible for covering the cost of both the WFA ($34) and the CPR/AED (if desired). More information about the WFA course found here: https://americanfirstresponder.com/american-red-cross-wilderness-remote-first-aid/ Signup by filling out this form by the deadline: October 30 For any more information on this excellent opportunity, contact Mr. Mozier (tmozier@hawbridgeschool.org)
Chromebooks
Upper School students and families please make sure Chromebooks are charged every night. This will ensure students are ready to work and learn in the morning. Thank you for making sure this happens each evening.
Graduation Yard Signs
We are pleased to offer yard signs for purchase to our Hawbridge Class of 2027! Yard signs will cost $25 each and are available for purchase through Friday, October 30th. Payments may be made through Paypal, cash, or checks made payable to The Hawbridge School and may be given to Ms. Garbus in the Upper School front office or Ms. McDuffie in room 222. Please complete the following order form and submit your jmcduffie@hawbridgeschool.org) with any questions. https://forms.gle/oCmFrdyyai3GLTLUA
The Swap Shop Is Coming!
How does it work? Bring your family's Hawbridge spirit wear that has been outgrown or that you would like to trade in for a different item starting at 5:15 before the November 5th PASTA meeting. Participants will receive a ticket for each item that they trade in and can use these tickets to "purchase" the other items that have been submitted by other families. Don't have spirit wear to donate but still want to participate? No problem! The spirit wear that has been donated will also be available to purchase at the Swap Shop event at reduced rates. Do you no longer need some of your spirit wear? Great! Donations for the Swap Shop can be submitted to Jennifer McDuffie (room 222 at the Upper School). All donations must be clean and in wearable condition (no major tears, holes, or large stains). You can also feel free to drop your spirit wear donations off in the "Spirit Wear Donations" boxes at the entrances to both schools. Donations will be accepted any time prior to the November PASTA meeting. Please send any questions to Jennifer McDuffie at jmcduffie@hawbridgeschool.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
Feed your family, Swap your stuff, and talk about Bruno
The Spanish Honors Society and PASTA present a night of fun in conjunction with the November PASTA meeting. Join us in the Upper School Commons and Gym on November 5th!
5:15-6:00 - Taco Bar - $5/two tacos, chips, and a drink (while supplies last)
5:15-6:00 - Swap Shop - Bring your old Hawbridge spirit wear and trade it for something new-to-you (no tears or stains). Items will be available for purchase at discount rates.
6:00 - PASTA Meeting and Disney's Encanto - Meeting will be in the Upper School Commons, and movie time will be in the gym (it is free, but donations are accepted on behalf of Spanish Honors Society).
Singer/Songwriter and Music Producer Showcase Opportunity!
Are you a Singer/Songwriter or Music Producer? All Hawbridge Singer/Songwriters and Music Producers in grades K-12 have the opportunity to apply for the North Carolina Music Educators Association’s Singer/Songwriter and Music Producer Showcase. This opportunity is designed to encourage individual musical creativity, the development of music writing skills, and collaboration with professionals from the music industry to enhance musicianship and creativity. If selected, students will be featured at the 2025 NCMEA Conference on Nov. 8 from 3:30-5:30. Students are encouraged to submit their original songs for the experience of sharing and learning ways to develop their songs with professional singer/songwriters and music producers from the music industry at the annual NCMEA’s state conference. All North Carolina students in grades K-12 are eligible to participate. Students must, however, be nominated by an NCMEA member teacher. Students can enter one of three divisions: elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8), or high school (9-12). If you are interested in participating, please complete the following application by no later than Monday, October 19. Application Form: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdqk5ql8Sl.../viewform... More details about the program are available at the following site: Please contact Jennifer McDuffie (jmcduffie@hawbridgeschool.org) with any questions.
Ronald McDonald House Tab Collection - Beta Club
Beta Club is once again collecting soda can tabs to donate on behalf of our community at our State Convention in January 2027. Please save your tabs for us. You may drop them off at the Upper School to Mrs. Denny any time before January 15, 2027. Please have these in zip lock bags when they are dropped off. Thank you!
Lunch Options & Ordering
Students have the option of ordering lunch from The Eddy, Tuesday-Friday. Please note that all students must bring lunch on Mondays as ordering is not available that day. Please make sure that all orders are in 30 minutes prior to lunch delivery times (Lower School 11:10 & 12:00) (Upper School 11:45 & 12:15). Ordering begins on August 13th. Please see the flies attached below for more information and how to order. A link below has been included for your convenience.
Saturday Academy
Our next Saturday Academy session will be held on Saturday, November 7th from 9am-Noon in Room 108. Students can sign up to attend a session. Parents can also sign their student up to attend as well. You must register to attend the Thursday before. So, if you plan to attend on November 7th please register by the end of day on November 6th. Please reach out the adenny@hawbridgeschool.org or swilkerson@hawbridgeschool.org if you have any questions. Registration is here: https://forms.gle/Q6uTMj5HQ48kyzuH8
Saturday Academy Dates are as follows for the 2026-2027 School Year:
November: 7th, 21st
December: 12th
January: 9th, 23rd
February: 6th, 20th
March: 6th, 20th
April:10th, 24th
May: 8th, 22nd
**Sessions would be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.
Research shows that regular attendance goes hand in hand with increased student success. So we will also utilize Saturday Academy as a support for students who need to recover missed class time. Once a student has 3 tardies in a class, they will receive a warning letter. After 5 tardies in a class, they will be assigned to attend a Saturday Academy session from 9:00-10:30am. If the tardies continue, they will be assigned a full session of Saturday Academy.
If a student accumulates 3 unexcused absences in a class, the school counselor will notify the student and family to discuss attendance concerns and available support. If a student accumulates 6 unexcused absences in a class, they will be assigned a full day of Saturday Academy. During Saturday Academy, staff will work with the assigned student's teachers to gather any missing work that needs to be completed, with the goal of ensuring the student stays on track and caught up with coursework. This intervention is designed to help students stay on track academically, reinforce the importance of regular attendance, and provide an opportunity to make up missed learning whenever possible. Once a student has 10 unexcused absences in a class, the school will follow the requirements of the North Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law, including any required review and interventions.
Failure to attend an assigned Saturday Academy session may result in an additional disciplinary action. Regular attendance is essential for academic success; students (grades 9-12) who accumulate excessive absences may be at risk of not earning course credit.
Our goal is to support your students and provide them with additional opportunities for academic growth and success. We look forward to partnering with you and supporting your students beyond the bell!
🌟 Volunteer Opportunities
Family Advisory Council & PASTA
Do you know about the Hawbridge Family Advisory Council? The family advisory council—or FAC for short—is a new group at our school that is working hard to bridge the gap between families and the powers-that-be who make decisions for Hawbridge. The FAC works closely with school administrators and the board to ensure feedback from Hawbridge families informs policies, best practices, and school culture. It is composed of parent representatives across both the Lower and Upper Schools, including parent reps for our Exceptional Children (EC) Program. The FAC makes sure your voices are heard!
If you are interested in learning more about the Hawbridge Family Advisory Council and how you might be a good fit as a parent representative, please email TheHawbridgeFAC@gmail.com and a current parent rep will reach out to you with more information.
Lending Library & Field Trips
Outdoors Gear & Donations
Hello Hawbridge Families! I am excited to announce the creation of the Hawbridge Outdoors Gear Lending Library! For many folks, one of the biggest barriers to participating in outdoor activities is that some of that quality outdoor clothing can be so gosh darn expensive. To help make the outdoors a happy and healthy experience for all, we are asking for donations of lightly used, but fully functional, personal outdoor gear that our students can borrow for outdoor adventures.
The gear in the highest demand are:
Rain-jackets & rain pants
Non-cotton warm layers
Hard plastic water bottles
Sturdy hiking boots
Headlamps
Synthetic Hiking Pants
Water Shoes (such as Teva, Chacos & Keens)
If you have other pieces of gear you would like to donate, please reach out to me directly! If you would like to support but do not have gear, the Hawbridge Field Trip Fund helps cover costs for students who would otherwise not be able to participate in field trips.
If you feel so inclined, feel free to drop off donations at the Upper School front desk or at 1616 Jordan Drive (formerly Culture Mill, next to the Post Office).
Thank you for helping make it possible for all of our students to experience our beautiful corner of the world!
Reach out with any questions.
Tommy Mozier
Upper School Outdoor Leadership & Social Studies Teacher
Upper School Outdoors Field Trips
Field Trip Schedule, Fall 2026
Hawbridge Outdoors Trips are offered to 9-12 grade students.
October 23-25: Hanging Rock Fall Colors 2 night (max 24) Camp and Hike in Hanging Rock State Park in the beautiful fall colors. Cost: TBD
November 12: Triangle Rock Club (max 24) Learn how to belay, boulder and top-rope climb at TRC Durham. Cost: $40
Permission forms for field trips are due 10 days prior to the first day of the trip. Student can get forms from Mrs. Garbus or from Mr. Mozier directly beginning 7 days before the deadline.
We are seeking adult chaperones with outdoors experience to accompany Hawbridge students on a variety of outdoor adventures this school year! Wilderness certifications are a bonus, but not required. Gear, transportation and food will be provided. Please go to the link to fill out the form below if you are interested and I will reach out to you with more details.
https://forms.gle/JTwQ3E5XNLLRJ6D57
If you are interested in chaperoning for Hawbridge Outdoors Trips, please fill out the Volunteer Form to complete the school background check. Please note that background checks expire every 2 years. These can take up to two weeks to process.
https://thehawbridgeschool.org/volunteering
Please reach out to Mr. Mozier directly with questions at tmozier@hawbridgeschool.org
Let's Stock the School Pantry
Forgot lunch? Need a snack? We are looking for support to help build a pantry of healthy meals and snacks for students at both campuses. Individually packaged items such as microwavable macaroni and cheese, cup of noodles, crackers, granola bars, popcorn, bottled water and chips are popular requests among our students. Items may be dropped off at the front office of each building at anytime.
📅 Upcoming Events
October 19-30: No Fuss Fundraiser
October 26-30: Spirit Week
November 3: No School. Teacher Workday.
November 11: No School. Veteran's Day.
November 12: Make Up Picture Day
November 16: No School. Teacher Workday.
November 23-November 27: Thanksgiving Holiday
Please find our school calendar, vacation planner and testing calendar linked below.
Contact Information
Email: acrumel@hawbriidgeschool.org
Logan Robertson, Assistant Director of the Lower School
Email: lrobertson@hawbridgeschool.org
Jennifer Kelly, Assistant Director of Student Services & Instruction
Email: jkelly@hawbridgeschool.org