Hillcrest, Oct. Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

Friendships are an important—and sometimes challenging—part of elementary school life. Learning how to make friends, keep friends, and handle disagreements is a key developmental skill for children. What adults sometimes call “friendship drama” is often kids practicing how to navigate relationships, emotions, and social expectations.

At school, we intentionally teach friendship skills such as inclusion, empathy, and conflict resolution. Families can support this learning at home in meaningful ways.

Friendship challenges are normal.
Disagreements, hurt feelings, and changing friendships are common, especially as children grow and their social circles expand. These moments can feel big to kids, even when the issue seems small to adults. Helping children understand that conflict is a normal part of relationships can reduce stress and build resilience.

Inclusion matters.
Encouraging children to include others—inviting someone to join a game, sitting with a new classmate, or being kind to someone who feels left out—helps build a welcoming school community. Simple conversations at home about noticing who might need a friend can reinforce this skill.

Empathy builds connection.
Empathy is the ability to understand how someone else might be feeling. Parents can model empathy by asking questions like, “How do you think your friend felt?” or “What would help them feel better?” These conversations help children pause, reflect, and respond with kindness.

Resolving conflicts peacefully.
When conflicts arise, children benefit from guidance rather than quick fixes. Encourage them to:

• Use words to explain their feelings

• Listen to the other person’s perspective

• Work toward a fair solution

• Ask an adult for help when needed

Not every friendship problem needs immediate adult intervention, but children should always know they can seek help if they feel unsafe or overwhelmed.

Focus on learning, not labeling.
Instead of calling situations “drama,” it can be helpful to frame them as learning moments. Each disagreement is an opportunity to practice communication, self-control, and problem-solving—skills that will serve children well throughout their lives.

By working together—school and home—we can help children develop strong friendship skills that promote kindness, confidence, and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we support your child’s learning and growth. Together, we are helping them develop the skills, confidence, and curiosity they need to succeed—now and in the years ahead. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone, at 605-696-4600, or by email, at kate.mogard@k12.sd.us.

Kate Mogard

Hillcrest Elementary Principal

Big feelings are a normal part of growing up. Excitement, frustration, worry, disappointment—even anger—are all emotions children experience as they learn about themselves and the world around them. While these feelings can sometimes show up as tears, shutdowns, or outbursts, they’re also important opportunities for learning. At school, we work to help children recognize and express their emotions in safe, healthy ways. Families play a powerful role in reinforcing these skills at home.

Here are a few simple strategies that can help children manage big feelings more effectively:

1. Name the feeling.
Children often act out because they don’t yet have the words to explain what’s happening inside. Helping your child label emotions (“It sounds like you’re feeling frustrated” or “That looks disappointing”) can instantly reduce intensity and build emotional vocabulary.

2. Validate before problem-solving.
It’s tempting to jump straight to solutions, but children need to feel heard first. Phrases like “That makes sense” or “I can see why that upset you” don’t mean you agree with the behavior—they show empathy. Once emotions calm, kids are more open to guidance.

3. Model calm behavior.
Children learn emotional regulation by watching adults. Taking deep breaths, speaking calmly, or saying “I need a moment to cool down” shows them what healthy coping looks like in real life.

4. Teach coping tools.
Help your child build a “toolbox” of strategies they can use when emotions run high, such as:

• Deep breathing or counting to 10

• Taking a short break

• Drawing or writing feelings

• Talking to a trusted adult

Practice these skills during calm moments so they’re easier to use when emotions are big.

5. Keep routines predictable.
Consistent schedules for sleep, meals, and homework help children feel secure. When kids know what to expect, they’re often better equipped to handle challenges and emotions during the day.

Remember, learning to manage big feelings is a skill that develops over time. Mistakes and emotional moments are part of the process. With patience, consistency, and support from both school and home, children can learn to understand their emotions and respond in positive, healthy ways.

Together, we can help our learners grow not just academically—but emotionally too. 💛

We are continuing to work on increasing our daily attendance as a school. As you know, we can't teach kids who aren't here! We appreciate the support of families who are making an effort to get their children to school each day. Missing 10% or more of school days—approximately 18 days over a 180-day school year, or just two days a month—is considered chronic absenteeism and has a significant negative impact on academic performance and future graduation rates.

Please help us in our efforts to improve attendance at Hillcrest. We want every learner at school and on time as much as possible. We understand that illness and family trips happen - we are just working really hard to improve our overall attendance so that every child is at school and learning!

Please let your child's teacher, Ms. Howell, or the office know if your child needs winter weather gear! Winter gear will be worn until spring - it is required for recess.

We're excited to share our improved kindergarten screening process! Instead of screening in the spring, we'll use the first two weeks of school as an observation period where our kindergarten team gets to know your child through play, classroom activities, and authentic assessments. This relationship-based approach allows us to make permanent classroom placements based on current information about your child's abilities, friendships, and learning style. By the end of Week 2, you'll receive your child's classroom assignment.

To learn more or to register your child, visit the Kindergarten Registration page on the BSD website.

We have a Kindergarten Parent Night on Wednesday, February 11 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at Brookings High School. If you have an incoming Kindergartener, please join us. We will share about our new process for back to school and you will have a chance to complete registration and paperwork, visit with SDSU Kindergarten staff, check out GAP and Boys & Girls Club information, and more!

Hillcrest has begun the process of completing the South Dakota Comprehensive Needs Assessment. We complete this assessment every five years. Through this work, we will gather accurate and objective information to guide the implementation of targeted strategies aimed at improving student learning. Key areas of focus include Effective Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Talent Development, and Family, School Culture, and Climate. Surveys for staff, learners, and families will serve as one of multiple data sources reviewed as part of this comprehensive process.

We are looking for feedback on what we are doing really well at Hillcrest and areas that we could improve. Please take a few minutes to complete the Parent/Family Survey. Thank you for helping us to grow as a school!

A Message from Hillcrest PTA:
Help us share our appreciation for the teachers at Hillcrest! Hillcrest PTA will be providing meals for spring conferences.

If you'd like to make a monetary donation, use this link: https://conference-meals-84485.cheddarup.com

Sign up here to donate food items: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4BAAA92AABFB6-61845305-2026#/

Contributions can be dropped off at the front office anytime on Monday, February 9, or before 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10. Soups should be dropped off on Tuesday (before 4:00 p.m.).

Thank you! ~Hillcrest PTA

Watch for more information including ways to help!

Click here to start the process.

You can also view your balance and add money to your account here. Please reach out to Mrs. Mogard if you need assistance - we are here to help!

Receive information from the school district and choose the buildings you want information from by downloading the app for your device below. Be sure you have Hillcrest checked for notifications!

More information:

https://youtu.be/iwcFI7tYUac

App Download:

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3NE5Vdg

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3NG9AHi

• February 10 & 12: Parent/Teacher Conferences (4:00-7:30 p.m.)
• February 13: No School for ECE - Grade 5 (MMS and BHS have school)
• February 16: No School (Presidents Day)
• February 24: Hillcrest "Spring" Pictures 😀
• March 5: 2nd Grade Concert (6:00 p.m.) & 3rd Grade Concert (7:00 p.m.)
• March 7: Hillfest 🎉
• March 12 & 13: No School (Spring Break)
• April 2-6: No School (Spring Break)
• April 16: 1st Grade Concert (7:00 p.m.)
• May 19: Last Day of School - Noon Dismissal

Visit our District Calendar Page for more dates and information!

Visit our Website

Visit www.brookings.k12.sd.us for everything you need. From School Board Information, to Parent & Guardian Resources, to our District Calendars, the website has what you are looking for.

Follow us on Facebook

Hillcrest Elementary School

Brookings School District 05-1

@BrookingsBobcats

Download the Brookings School District App

To be notified of snow days, emergencies, and to stay connected, download the Brookings School District 05-1 app in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Learn more about customizing the app to fit your preferences.

Download the Parent Portal App

To access Campus Parent on your mobile device, download the app in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Find the Brookings 05-1 district by entering “Brookings” and “South Dakota” when asked. Then enter your login information. If you're having trouble recovering your username or password using the Forgot Password? or Forgot Username? links on the login page, please click this PARENT PORTAL PASSWORD RESET LINK and fill out all of the required information.