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HSD News Round-Up

Oct. 11, 2024

HSD News Round-Up Oct. 11, 2024
HSD NewsRound-UpOct. 11, 2024

Pictured: Stone in Love, a Journey tribute band, is playing at HHS this Thursday, Dec. 5. The concert will raise food for the annual HSD-Fire District 3 Holiday Canned Food Drive. Admission is 2 cans of food per person.

Read on to learn about this fast-approaching community concert, how Hockinson schools are staying safe during cold & flu season, HHS Cheer's recent success, the upcoming bond proposal, and other HSD news.

HSD News Round-Up HSD News Round-Up

December 3, 2024 December 3, 2024

"Stone in Love" concert flyer.
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Journey Tribute Band Dials Up Food Donations this Thursday

HSD families, community members, and students of all ages are invited to join us on Dec. 5 for a concert that will both entertain and benefit the Hockinson community. Stone in Love, a renowned local Journey tribute band, will take the stage of the HHS Gymnasium at 6:30 pm. Admission is two cans of non-perishable food. All food donations will go towards the annual HSD/Fire District 3 Holiday Canned Food Drive to support local families in need.


Stone in Love will play faithful renditions of Journey’s classic hits. Expect a high-energy performance that will bring legendary hits to life once again. The band will be playing a 22-song setlist, including: Faithfully, Anyway You Want It, Lights, Who's Cryin' Now?, Open Arms, and, of course, Don't Stop Believin’.


See you there! Arrive early. Doors will open at 5:45 pm.

HHS senior Renner James using CTE equipment.
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Student spotlight: Renner James

Renner is taking Career & Technical Education (CTE) job readiness classes like architecture, construction, and business at Hockinson High School to build his future in architectural engineering. He's a standout student, ranking in the top 10% of his senior class and excelling in high-level courses.


This year, Renner was accepted into a competitive 90-hour internship with the Design CoMission program at LSW Architects in Vancouver, WA. Renner also works at a local computer numerical control (cnc) milling company through our worksite learning program, giving him the flexibility to balance work and school.


Way to go, Renner!

HHS Cheer Team
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HHS Cheer Wins Big!

The HHS Cheer Team competed for the first time in a decade at the Nov. 22-23 River Ridge Carnival Classic Cheer Competition at North Thurston High School ... and they came home with a 1st Place Trophy. Great job, Hawks!


The team is coached by Chantelle Henry and Julie Ruhl.

Spotlight on Student Health & Safety Spotlight on Student Health & Safety

A reference sheet called "When is sick too sick for school?"
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Let's Partner Up for Healthy Schools

As we enter the cold/flu/COVID season, we ask for your help with keeping our schools as safe and healthy by keeping students home who are symptomatic. Students can return to school if they have:

  • a temperature under 100.4 degrees without a fever-reducer;
  • not thrown up for a full 24 hours; and
  • are not experiencing digestive issues, such as diarrhea.


If in doubt, please contact our school nurses Kat Young (HHES), Shawn Cass (HMS) and Shing Burkhart (HHS) for advice.

HSD lunchroom staff.
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HSD Kitchens Again Post Perfect "Zeroes"

Our nutrition services staff is also dedicated to the health of our students and staff. The health inspection scores of the kitchens at HHES, HMS, and HHS were recently released, and like last year, all were zeroes! In most instances, a zero is a failing score. However, in the health department’s scoring system, a "0" is a perfect score! Thank you, school lunch heroes, for ensuring a safe dining experience in our cafeterias.
Snow removal machine at work.
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Levy-Spotlight: HSD Custodians, Grounds Staff Ensure Student Safety Inside & Out

Winter illnesses are creeping in–and we’re doing everything we can to keep them at the door! As temperatures drop outside, our custodians are ramping up school sanitization efforts inside our schools. Nightly sanitization runs target high-touch surfaces, like desk tops, door handles, and push bars to prevent the spread of germs. Custodians also ensure that all hand sanitization stations around each campus are kept fully stocked. As Maintenance and Operations Supervisor Dave Wilson says, our custodians “are on the frontline to stopping the spread of germs on campus.”


Beyond sanitization, our custodial teams have prepared our buildings and grounds for winter. They've stocked up on de-icer, checked that our emergency generators are functional, and will be performing seasonal checks to prevent frozen pipes and other cold-weather damage. Read our recent Facility Friday to learn more about how our custodians prepare our facilities for cold weather.


Our level of safety preparedness would not be possible without the ongoing support from the Hockinson community. Levy dollars play a critical role in helping us fulfill our commitment to safeguarding our schools.

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Thanksgiving Feast a Hit with Students

The annual Thanksgiving Lunch is a HSD tradition, a big production, and a huge hit with kids. This year, twenty-four turkeys were roasted and carved to prepare 928 lunches across all three schools! In addition to turkey, students enjoyed green bean casserole, mashed potatoes topped with gravy, old-fashioned stuffing, and homemade pumpkin cake. This special lunch was served the Thursday prior to Thanksgiving. Special thanks to HSD’s Nutrition Services Director Joshua Brown-Silva and our food service employees for continuing this special holiday tradition!

HMS Students Shine Bright at Fall "Glow-cial"

HMS hosted its first social of the school year on Friday, November 15, and it was a glowing success! With 230 students in attendance and 25 staff members chaperoning, the “Glow-cial” was a night to remember. Students danced, sang, played games, and created memories that will last for years to come. HMS Leadership students organized this event, but it was the entire HMS school community that made the evening so spirited and positive.

HMS student social attendees stand together and smile.
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A Glow-tastic Crowd

Student social attendees dance.
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Shining Bright

HMS Bess Colpron and Sid Slom pose with students.
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Principals Join the Fun

“It was the event of the season,” Principal Colpron said. “We have another [social] in April and we have a high standard to reach!” A big thank you to all who attended and helped make the Glow-cial a success!

A Full Picture of the February 2025 Bond Proposal A Full Picture of the February 2025 Bond Proposal

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On February 11, 2025, Hockinson voters will decide on a bond measure to fund the following proposed improvements at Hockinson schools:

1: A second elementary school to alleviate overcrowding at Hockinson Heights Elementary School (65.7% of total bond, after impact fees, property sales and state-assisted funding)

2: HHES campus remodeling and safety upgrades (26.5% of total bond)

3: A Career & Technical Education building at Hockinson High School for hands-on job readiness classes, and campus safety upgrades (1.4% of total bond, after leveraging additional in-kind and cash donor contributions)

4: A replacement track and multi-use synthetic turf field for Physical Education classes, athletics, and marching band at HHS. (5.5% of total bond)

5: A covered outdoor play and warm-up area at Hockinson Middle School (0.9% of total bond)


This $87.75 million bond would cost about $44/month for the average owner of a $750,000 home. Learn more about the bond proposal and what it means for our community: hocksd.org/bond

Bond Frequently Asked Questions

We’re here to answer your questions! View the full list of bond FAQs here. Below is just one question submitted by a Hockinson community member:

💬 Question: If a second elementary school is built in Hockinson, will elementary-aged siblings be kept together?

💡 Answer: Yes. Elementary school enrollment would be based on your address, which means families stay together and elementary-aged siblings attend the same school.

Having two TK-5 schools addresses two primary concerns expressed on parent surveys: Keeping elementary-aged siblings together and reducing traffic congestion at and around schools since parents of elementary-aged children would only attend school events, drop-off, and pick-up at one of the (potentially) two elementary schools in the district rather than at both.

📩 This question was submitted anonymously by a Hockinson parent through our Facilities Planning Committee Survey #3. Do you have a question about the upcoming bond? Submit it anonymously here.

"News Bites" text on a blue background.
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News Bites

-Friday, Dec 6 Community Tree Lighting: It's time to delight in Hockinson holiday joy! Join us outside the Hockinson Community Church and Hockinson Community Center for the 6th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. HMS Band students will perform holiday songs beginning at 6 pm. The tree will be illuminated by a special guest at 6:30 pm. Note that this is an outdoor event, so bundle up! Hot cocoa will be available and HCC doors will be open if the weather outside is frightful. Chili and cornbread will be provided by Chartwells. Donations will be accepted for the Fire District 3 Fire Cadet program. Parking is available at the HCC and HMS lots.

- Nutrition Services Newsletter: The latest newsletter from Chartwells, our district's Nutrition Services provider, is available here. It features a nod to National Pepper Month, a shout-out to HHS food service employee Kelly Klein, and more.

- Calendar Questions: For those of you who are resolving to have a 2024-25 school calendar on the refrigerator door, here is the link. It's available on the district and school websites under "Students & Families" and "Calendar." The 2025-26 HSD Calendar will be approved at the HSD School Board's Regular Meeting on March 31.

Upcoming Events

* Please check your school newsletters and calendars for holiday concerts!


- Thur. Dec. 5: Stone in Love community concert at 6:30 pm @ HHS Gym. Doors open at 5:45 pm.

- Fri. Dec. 6: Hockinson Tree Lighting at 6 pm @ HCC

- Mon. Dec. 9: School Board Regular Meeting at 6-8 pm @ HCC and Zoom

- Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Winter Break - No School

- Mon. Jan 6: School resumes

- Mon. Jan. 13: School Board Work Session at 6-8 pm @ HCC and Zoom

- Sat. Jan. 18: One-act play: Totally Red! at 10 am, 2 pm & 7 pm @ HHS MPR

- Mon. Jan. 20: MLK Day - No School

- Fri. Jan. 24: Semester Break - No School

- Mon. Jan. 27: School Board Regular Meeting at 6-8 pm @ HCC and Zoom



Winter HHS Sports Schedules can be found at hockinsonhawks.com.

ICYMI: In case you missed a previous newsletter, our Round-Ups are archived here!

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Contact Us

Email: justine.hanrahan@esd112.org
Website: https://www.hocksd.org/
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606, USA
Phone: (360) 448-6400

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