HES Family and Community Newsletter
September 28, 2025
A Note from Mrs. Corkran
Dear Family and Friends of HES!
We have a week full of fun ahead—especially for our 4th graders, who get to go on two field trips this week!
This is also the week I’ll be checking to see which of our 1st–5th graders know their lunch number by heart. Those who do will earn a special treat at lunch on Friday! 🎉
Looking ahead to October, we have several exciting events planned and would love for our families and community to join in:
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📚 Parent Conference Day/No School for Students – October 6th: The Book Fair will be open for families that day and throughout the week for students.
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➕➖➗🟰 Math Night – October 15th @ 5:30: Families and students will explore new math games together while enjoying food trucks!
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🚫 No School – October 17th for students.
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🎃 Trunk or Treat: Planning is underway! We’ll need candy donations, helping hands, and decorated trunks if you’d like to join the fun.
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🕛 Early Release – October 31st: Dismissal begins at 12:40 p.m. Stay tuned for all the exciting activities we have planned for this half day!
Thank you for partnering with us to make learning meaningful, consistent, and fun for every student. I look forward to celebrating all the growth and achievements ahead!
With love,
Mrs. Corkran
Top House Point Earners from Last Week!
2 days left for Spirit Wear!
Dress Code & Personal Items Update
Dress Code & Items to Keep at Home
We want to keep our school safe, focused, and fun for all students. Please help us by keeping the following in mind:
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👗 Costumes & Capes: As much as we love them, these should only be worn on special dress-up days.
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🚫 Clothing with Weapons Pictures: No clothing should show pictures or depictions of weapons of any kind.
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📿 Large or Chunky Jewelry: These can be unsafe on playground equipment or if swung around. Please keep them at home.
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🧸 Toys, Stuffed Animals, & Labubu Dolls: These items are not needed during the school day and can be distracting to learning.
Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and positive learning environment!
Upcoming Events
September
- 29th - 4th grade trip to Blackwater
- 30th - Judy Center PlayGroup - 10:00
October
- 1st - Reading Club 4-5PM
- 2nd - Happy Custodian Day!
- 2nd - 4th grade Sultana trip
- D’Elia & ½ of Larmore in AM
- Barbieri & ½ of Larmore in PM
- 3rd - 4th grade Sultana trip - McMullen in AM
- 4th - Hurlock Day - HES/Judy Center will have a table
- 6th - Parent Conference Day - No School for students
- 6th-10th - Book Fair
- 6th - Happy Instructional Coaches Day!
- 6th - PTO meeting @ 5:30 PM
- 7th - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 7th - Good News Club 4-5:15 PM
- 8th - Judy Center PlayGroup @ 10 AM
- 8th - Reading Club 4-5 PM
- 13th - Pinktober - Wear Pink
- 14th - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 14th - Good News Club 4-5:15 PM
- 15th - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 15th - House Meeting K-5th - Dress in your house colors
- 15th - Reading Club 4-5PM
- 15th - Math Night @ 5:30 PM - invitations to come
- 16th - Fire House Visit - PK3, PK4 & Kindergarten
- 17th - MSEA Day - No School
- 21st - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 21st - Good Club 4-5 PM
- 22nd - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 22nd - Unity Day - Wear Orange
- 22nd - Reading Club 4-5 PM
- 23rd - Fall Picture Day for Staff and Students
- 24th - Trunk or Treat - 5:30 PM
- 27th-31st - Red Ribbon Week - more to come
- 27th - Happy Occupational Therapist Day!
- 28th - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 28th - Happy First Responders Day
- 28th - Good News Club 4-5:15 PM
- 29th - Judy Center Playgroup @ 10 AM
- 29th - Reading Club 4-5 PM
- 31st - Early Dismissal 12:45 PM
- 31st - PBIS Incentive - Costumes are allowed! No masks, no weapons (even if if they are plastic), nothing scary - Mrs. Corkran is a scaredy pants!
Soaring Scholar of the Month
✨ Soaring Scholar of the Month! ✨
We will be announcing our October Soaring Scholars on Wednesday!
Our soaring scholar trait of the month for October is Responsibility. Responsibility means doing what you are supposed to do, taking care of your work, and making good choices even when no one is watching. That includes bringing your materials to class, completing assignments on time, and owning up to your actions. Let’s show responsibility in our school every day!
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📢 Kickoff: On the first day of each month, we’ll announce the character trait of the month during morning announcements, along with its definition.
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💡 Focus: Throughout the month, our school community will spotlight the character trait and celebrate the ways students demonstrate it in their daily actions.
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🏅 Recognition: On the last day of the month, each homeroom teacher will submit the name of one student who best represented that month’s trait. These names will be announced during morning announcements.
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🎉 Celebration: Selected students will gather in the cafeteria to receive a certificate, take a group photo, and be recognized on our social media platforms.
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🔄 Next Trait: The new character trait will then be announced on the first day of the next month, and the cycle begins again!
This is a wonderful way to highlight not only academic success, but also the positive character and leadership skills that help our Eagles soar every day! 🦅
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
September
Kindergarten -5th grade lunch menu
If your child has allergies our Nurse needs to know and the cafeteria needs a doctors note! Please reach out to Nurse Stacy 410-943-3303 ext 1809
If your student brings a packed lunch, please adhere to the following guidelines:
- No soda, bottled coffees, energy drinks, etc
- Suggestions for packable drinks: Gatorades, Green tea, bottled juice, and other non-caffeinated beverages.
- No candy.
- Food will not be warmed up.
- No sharing of food due to potential food allergies.
Home/School Communication
Say Hello to Parent-Teacher Chat
DCPS app
If you haven't registered for the new DCPS app, click the links provided below to sign up. This app is designed for everyone, including parents, grandparents, and members of the community. You have the flexibility to select specific schools for notifications, ensuring you stay informed and never miss out on announcements or exciting news. Our app allows you to conveniently chat with your students teacher, access documents, receive news updates, and stay informed about emergency notifications—all from the convenience of your pocket. Join us in embracing the features of our new app!
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3LIXLP9
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3rH4Rgr
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival and dismissal times have been changed for this school year. The earliest drop off is 8:30, the bell rings at 8:45! Students are late after 8:45 and must be signed in by an adult.
The latest pick up time for students is 3:20, after 3:20 you will need to have your student on the pickup list as a walker or car rider and they will be dismissed at 3:45. Please reach out with any questions #attendancematters
Please note: Earliest Drop off 8:30am,
Class Begins 8:45am, Students are late after 8:45!
Latest pick up 3:20 pm, Dismissal begins 3:45pm
Early Dismissal Days starts @ 12:45pm
📣Dress Code Reminders 📣
Hurlock Elementary Dress Code for 2025–2026.
👕 General Guidelines:
Tops should have straps at least 2” wide
Bottoms should extend past fingertips when arms are at sides
No rips/tears above fingertip line
Pajamas are for home—sweatpants are fine for school
No hats, hoods, bonnets or sunglasses worn in the building
Shoes need to have hard soles for safety—slippers aren’t allowed
🚫 Clothing should not:
Promote violence, illegal activity, or lewd behavior
Include vulgar, obscene, or hateful words or images
Create a safety concern
If dress code concerns come up, here’s how we’ll handle it:
1️⃣ Gentle reminder, call home, parent will need to bring clothes or we will provide appropriate clothing
2️⃣ Minor referral, call home, parent will need to bring clothes or we will provide appropriate clothing
3️⃣ Lunch detention along with the above steps
4️⃣ In person Parent conference along with the above steps
5️⃣ After-school detention along with all of the above steps
School Policy on phones, smart watches or other electronic devices
All non-school issued devices
“Elementary school students are not permitted to possess or use portable electronic communication devices while on Dorchester County Public School property or while attending any school activities."
School office phones are available for any student who needs to contact a parent or guardian. Therefore, students are not permitted to bring cell phones, smart watches, or any other portable electronic devices to school or on the bus.
If a student is found in possession of a phone or electronic device at school, the following process will be enforced:
- 1st Offense: the phone/smart watch/ electronic device will be confiscated and parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the device.
- 2nd Offense: follow 1st offense PLUS an after-school detention
- 3rd Offense: follow 1st offense PLUS parent conference requested.
No phones are allowed on the bus or in school! If for some reason a student needs to contact an adult, they may go to the main office and ask.
No type of smart watch is allowed on the bus or in school!
Any type of electronic device that was not issued by our school system is not allowed on the bus or in the school!
General School Information
Important Information:
**School Hours:**
- School starts at 8:45 a.m. Students may be dropped off as early as 8:30 a.m. Please note that we do not have staff to supervise students before this time. Parents will be called to pick up their student if dropped off before 8:30 a.m.
**Drop-Off Procedure:**
- Families are requested to drop students off at the curb. Mrs. Powell and her team will ensure your student safely enters the building and gets to their classroom.
**Breakfast:**
- All students have the option of a free breakfast. To ensure your student receives breakfast, please have them in the building no later than 8:45 a.m.
**Lunch:**
- All HES students have the option of free lunch every day.
If your student brings a packed lunch, please adhere to the following guidelines:
- No soda, bottled coffees, energy drinks, etc
- Suggestions for packable drinks: Gatorades, Green tea, bottled juice, and other non-caffeinated beverages.
- No candy.
- Food will not be warmed up.
- No sharing of food due to potential food allergies.
**Dismissal Time**
- Dismissal begins at 3:45 p.m. If you need to pick up your student early from school please do so before 3:20 p.m. After 3:20 p.m., no students will be dismissed early from the office, and parents should wait in the regular pick-up line.
**Car Riders at Dismissal Time:**
- Students/families will be assigned a car tag to hang from window. This system aims to expedite pick-up and ensure students remain in the building until someone is there to get them.
**Bus Dismissal:**
- If your child is taking a different bus or being picked up by someone other than the norm, please send a note or call the front office to inform us. Without prior notification, your child will go home as usual. For bus-related questions, contact the Transportation Department at 410-228-4747.
**Adults/Families on Campus:**
Ring the bell next to the front doors and wait to speak to one of our secretaries.
All visitors must sign in at the front office and have their picture taken upon entering the building.
Please bring ID when visiting our building.
**School Issued Electronic Devices:**
- Students will be assigned devices: K & 1st graders will have iPads, while 2nd - 5th graders will use laptops. Look out for the device agreement to sign and a request form for a hotspot if needed.
**Dress Code:**
See above for detailed information.
**Non-School Issued Devices:**
- "Elementary school students are not permitted to possess or use portable electronic communication devices while on Dorchester County Public School property or during school activities." This includes cell phones or any portable electronic devices. The following process will be followed for violations:
- 1st Offense: Device confiscation; parent/guardian contacted for pick-up.
- 2nd Offense: 1st offense consequences plus after-school detention.
- 3rd Offense: 1st offense consequences plus a parent conference will be requested.
25-26 DCPS Calendar
Revised on September 18, 2025
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