Hartwood's Weekly Newsletter
August 13, 2024

August 18, 2026
A Note from Mrs. Meyers
Dear Families,
It has been a fantastic first week! It has been an absolute joy welcoming our students back, hearing their laughter in the hallways, and seeing our classrooms buzz with energy once again.
We’ve spent these past few days helping students settle in, learn new routines, and build strong connections with their teachers and peers. Your children have brought so much curiosity, kindness, and enthusiasm to school each day, making this kickoff a true success.
Thank you for your partnership and patience with buses, and also for your support as we kick off this school year together. We are so grateful to have your family as part of our school community, and I am looking forward to a wonderful year ahead!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Meyers
Important Dates
Thursday, September 3rd - Fall Picture Day
Friday, September 4 & Monday, September 7 - No School - Labor Day
Wednesday, September 9 - 4th & 5th grade MAP Math
Thursday, September 10 - 3rd grade MAP Math
Monday, September 14 - 3rd grade MAP Reading
Wednesday, September 16 - 4th & 5th grade MAP Reading
Monday, September 21 - No School - Holiday
Friday, September 25 - HES Fun Run
Meal Numbers
Please help your child learn their five-digit breakfast and lunch number. Their number is the last 5 digits of their student identification number, which you can find in ParentVue. You can use this photo of the keypad to help students practice.
Hartwood Watch D.O.G.S.
Hartwood Elementary is proud to host the Watch D.O.G.S.® (Dads of Great Students) program! We are actively recruiting fathers and father-figures (grandfathers, uncles, guardians, and male adult family members) to spend at least one day a year and up to once a week volunteering as a positive role model and an extra set of eyes and ears throughout the school. Come be a positive role model not only for your own students but for all of our students! Your time spent here will have a direct impact in helping make our students feel safe, confident and excited to attend school. The designated WatchDOG for the day will work with our volunteer coordinator and help with a variety of activities throughout the day which include:
Monitor entrances ensuring doors are secure
Watch hallways and assist with traffic flow
Eat lunch with your student
Help monitor playground perimeter during recess and play a game with students
Help escort tardy or early dismissal students to/from class
provide a brain break for students
Please contact Mrs. Reed at reedlm@staffordschools.net for information on how to sign up!
Military Kids Club
We are starting a Military Kids Club here at HES. The club is open to all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who are currently or formally military connected (Parent/Guardian is Active Duty, Reserve, Veteran, or Retired). The club will meet monthly on Wednesday mornings, starting September 16th with our first club meeting. Please register your child for the Military Kids Club here: Military Kids Club Permission 26-27
Questions: MKC club advisors, Laura Mungo mungolh@staffordschools.net and Charmayne Richardson richardsoncj@staffordschools.net
Open Position at Hartwood Elementary
School Hours
Arrival begins at 8:20 am. Students arriving after 8:45 am are considered tardy.
Students should not be dropped off in the back of the building if an adult is not present to open the car door.
Car Riders
AM Drop-off
- Please pull up as close as you can to the car in front of you through the whole line
- Have your child ready to get out of the car as soon as a staff member opens the door
- Do not drop off your child if there is not a staff member present in the back
PM Pick-up
- Please have your child learn their car rider number. In order for car rider dismissal to run smoothly, students need to know their number and be ready to line up as soon as their number is called.
- Pay attention to staff member directions
- If your child needs assistance being buckled in, when the line moves to exit, you must pull around back to assist your child. (If you have questions please ask!)
Thank you for your help in making car rider arrival and dismissal run as smoothly as possible. As we have over 100 cars, and space is limited, we greatly appreciate your help!
Beginning of the Year FAQ
A: Fill out the Report Absence in ParentVue. Be sure you have reviewed your ParentVue account to complete the Annual Verification if you have a student who is returning to Stafford County this school year.
OR call the school 540-752-4441 as early as 7:30am.
*See also "Notes from the Clinic" below.
Q: My child will need to be picked up early from school. Who do I need to tell?
A: All students needing to leave school early should be picked up by 2:30 pm. Please send in a note or call the office by 1:00 pm if there will be a change in transportation.
Q: Do I need to do anything special to enter the school building?
A: All visitors must present their ID at the front door. Please remember to bring your ID with you to show to the camera when you ring the bell.
Notes from the Clinic
Kindergarten & First Grade Students - Please place an extra outfit in your child’s backpack. This helps with those unforeseen accidents and most children feel more comfortable changing into their own clothes.
Health concerns- Please make sure to let the clinic and teacher know of any health problems and/or medications. Please feel free to talk to me about any needs your child may have.
Medical Alert List
Please make sure that the school is aware of any allergies or medical concerns (ex.- asthma, diabetes, seizures, food allergies, etc.)
Medications- All medication, whether over the counter (ex. Tylenol, cough medication, cough drops, etc.), or prescription medication (This includes 10-day or shorter prescriptions, ex. Antibiotics) needs a permission form filled out and signed by both a doctor and parent/guardian. Medication needs to be brought in by a parent or responsible party. Students are not allowed to transport medication to or from school. Medication brought in by a student will not be accepted and a parent will be called to come to the school to formally check in the medication. All medications prescribed by the physician and Over-the-Counter must be presented in their original labeled container with the student’s name, name of medication or pharmacy Rx #, name of prescribing health care provider, and dosage with beginning and ending date. If there are any changes in the medication order, the doctor needs to rewrite the order and it needs to be brought or faxed to school before changes can be made. If your child has a history of headaches or is having dental work, you may want to consider getting a doctor’s order for Tylenol for the school year. If your child has any allergies requiring special medication (ex: bee-sting, asthma) please make sure to have the form filled out and be sure the medication is in the clinic for your child. Medication permission forms need to be filled out yearly.
Dietary Issues- If your child has any dietary issues, a doctor's form (Special Dietary Needs) for these needs to be filled out by the doctor. After the form is complete, I will inform the Cafeteria.
Birthday Treats-If you want to send in anything for your child's birthday, it is very much recommended to send in a non-food treat (stickers, fun pencils/erasers, etc). If you still would like to send in a treat, it must be store-bought with an ingredients label and should be made in a peanut and tree-nut-free facility.
Guidelines for Sending Students Home and for Staying Home or Returning to School - Nurse or parent discretion
Temperature 100.4 degrees or greater within the past 24 hours
Active vomiting within the past 24 hours
Diarrhea within the past 24 hours
Swollen or painful joints from injury
Severe earache
Suspected contagious disease
Flu or viral symptoms
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) with drainage
Pediculosis (head lice)
Untreated and uncovered ringworm
Any undiagnosed skin rashes
Any injury or illness requiring further immediate treatment (antibiotic treatment of less than 24 hrs & possibility student may spread germs to others)
Suspected chemical abuse
Continual yellow or green drainage from the nose that is unable to be contained or cared for by the student
ParentVue
ParentVue is where you will find your child's Grade Report each quarter and where you can report an absence online. If your student attended school in Stafford County last school year, be sure you have completed your Annual Verification in ParentVue. The Stafford County website provides more information about ParentVue and has tutorials.
If you need an activation key to create a ParentVue account, you can call the front office for assistance at 540-752-4441.
School Safety Drills
Attendance Matters
Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early!
Attendance Works has great information here on ways to Help Your Child Succeed in School!
Mrs. Mungo and Mrs. Olson, our school counselors, are here for you and your children as well if you need support with getting your child to school. You can reach them by calling the school 540-752-4441or email Mrs. Mungo (mungolh@staffordschools.net) for K - 2 and Mrs. Olson (mcdermottsa@staffordschools.net) for 3 -5.
Word of the Month
Family Letter Links
Quick Reference with the links sent by Mrs. Meyers in Family Letter #1 and #2.
- Confirm your contact information and complete back-to-school documents in ParentVue
- School Supply List
- SCPS Nutrition Services website
- SchoolCafe
- 2026-2027 SCPS School Calendar
Car Riders
Bus Riders
- Bus routes are available through the MyRide K-12 app
- Bus Delays & Notification Dashboard
- For any service issues, submit an Issuetrak online form to receive the fastest assistance
PTA
PTA NEWS
JOIN THE PTA
The Hartwood Elementary Parent Teacher Association's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. We do this by supporting the school, the staff, the students, and our community. We are a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that facilitates parent/caregiver participation in school.
To join the PTA: https://hartwood-pta-families-membership-2026-2027.cheddarup.com
Membership Dues until September 28: $9 (single) $13 (family)
Membership Dues after September 28: $12 (single) $16 (family)
SAVE THE DATE
PTA Meetings at 4:30 in the HES Library:
August 17th
October 26th
February 1st
April 26th
Upcoming events:
Fun Run- our biggest fundraiser of the year!
September 25th
Hartwood Elementary PTA
Shelly Zappia, President
Jon Petri, Vice President of Oversight
Lauren Isenberg, Treasurer
Jen Neundorfer, Secretary
Hartwood PTA Socials:
Follow us on Social Media
Hartwood Contact Information
Email: hewebmaster@staffordschools.net
Website: https://hes.staffordschools.net/
Location: 14 Shackelford Well Road, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
Phone: 540-752-4441
Facebook: facebook.com/HartwoodES
Twitter: @HartwoodES