The Hiawatha Buzz!

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It has been such a joy to see our students learning, laughing, and settling into their routines as the school year continues. Their energy and kindness brighten our school each day.

I have noticed many more families making use of the drop-off between 7:20 and 7:35, and I’m glad to see that! This option helps keep traffic flowing, is safer for students, and allows children to begin their day smoothly. I encourage even more families to take advantage of this routine. Please remember that students dropped off before 7:30 should head directly to the playground, where supervision is in place. Students should not go to outside classroom doors unless they are with an adult who is providing supervision. Parents who want to stay with their children until they enter the school are welcome to go to the outside classroom door or bring their children to the playground.

As we all learned on Thursday morning, including myself, students will enter the building through the outside gym doors on days when it is raining too hard to stay outside or if the wind chill is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

As we settle into the fall season, I want to remind families to send students with a rain jacket on days when showers are possible. We generally go outside even if it is sprinkling. It’s also a great idea to pack an extra set of clothes in your child’s backpack—those little “unexpected moments” can happen, and having a change ready makes the day easier for everyone.

Warmly,
Kolby Snellenberger
Principal

October 2nd - Yom Kippur - NO SCHOOL - Please plan accordingly
October 7th - Title 1 Meeting at 6:00 pm, the PTO meeting will take place immediately after the Title 1 meeting
October 13th - School Picture Day
October 22nd - Evening Family Conferences from 2:30 to 7:00 PM
October 23rd - Diwali - NO SCHOOL - Please plan accordingly
October 24th - Family Conferences - NO SCHOOL - Please plan accordingly

Hello Hiawatha Families,

The cold winter temperatures will be upon us before we know it. If your student needs a free winter coat, Operation Warm Coats (Essex Rotary) is providing coats for anyone in need. Please reach out to Nurse Reyna if your student needs a coat and what size they need. Please let us know prior to October 13th. Thank you.

Reyna Maher, RN

802-857-7740

rmaher@ewsd.org

Hello Kindergarten & 1st Grade Families,

It is almost time to ride and the forecast looks beautiful for next week! Please be sure your child brings in their helmet and sneakers. I can’t wait to start this unit!

Mr. B.

Dear Families,

At Hiawatha Elementary, our goal is to ensure every child receives the instruction and support they need to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. One way we do this is through a framework called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

What is MTSS?
MTSS is a school-wide approach that helps us provide the right level of support for each student. It is proactive, data-driven, and designed to meet the needs of all learners through a tiered model:

Tier 1: All students receive high-quality, research-based instruction in the classroom. Teachers use strategies such as explicit instruction, small group learning, and differentiated lessons to meet diverse needs.
Tier 2: About 10–25% of students benefit from additional support with grade-level skills. This extra time and practice usually happens in small groups within the classroom, led by the classroom teacher.
Tier 3: Some students may need more intensive, individualized support focused on building up skills from previous grade levels. Tier 3 support is provided by interventionists in our building. Decisions about Tier 3 are made by our Site Intervention Team after carefully reviewing assessment data.

How do we determine student needs?
We use a variety of assessments throughout the year to guide our decisions. Three times a year, during our screening windows (Fall: Sept. 10–Oct. 8; Winter: Jan 22- Feb 15; and Spring: April 27- May 12), we gather information using:

Star Assessments (computer-adaptive tests for literacy and math)
DESSA (a Social Emotional Learning screener)

These screeners give us a snapshot of how students are doing. Because a single assessment is only one data point, we also use follow-up screeners and classroom assessments to ensure we have a clear picture of each child’s needs. This helps us identify which students may benefit from additional support at Tier 3.

Communication with Families

If your child is recommended for Tier 3 support during this Fall Window, you will receive a letter by mid-October. This letter will invite you to an Educational Support Team (EST) meeting, where you will meet the interventionist, learn about your child’s goals, and have an opportunity to ask questions. Your child’s teacher and our EST coordinator will also attend.
If you do not receive a letter, your child does not need tier 3 intervention.
We do not send letters for Tier 1 or Tier 2. Tier 1 is for all students, and Tier 2 support is fluid, often changing as students progress. Communication about tier 1 and 2 is always open, families can connect with classroom teachers.

If at any point you have questions about your child’s learning, we encourage you to reach out directly to their classroom teacher. You are also welcome to contact me if you’d like to learn more about MTSS or our assessment process.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s success.

Warmly,
Kaylie Bufano
RTI Coach

kbufano@ewsd.org or 802 857-7759

*** VERY IMPORTANT ***

Please make sure to include Ms. Michelle, our Office Manager, in all communications regarding attendance or change in after school plan for the day, she is who does attendance for the school, not the teachers. Teachers may be absent, or may not get to email to pass your message on to her. Please remember to include the reason why your student is going to be absent.

Please be sure to let Michelle know before 7:30 AM if your child is going to miss school.

There are many ways to contact her regarding your student's attendance or change in after-school plan.

1. Call the Attendance line at 802-857-7007 (for Attendance only)

2. Call Michelle at 802-878-1384

3. Email Michelle at: hiawathaoffice@ewsd.org

4. Go to our website and click on the Report an Absence button.

*** If you need to make a change to your student's after-school plan, please contact Michelle directly before 1:30 PM (12:30 PM on Wednesdays) on any given day. ***

PTO Fall Fest + Clothing Swap – October 18th from 2-5 PM!

Mark your calendars! The PTO is hosting Fall Fest and a Clothing Swap on Saturday, October 18th from 2-5 PM. A clothing donation box is located in the Hiawatha main entrance lobby by the lost and found rack. Please drop off any items you’d like to swap by Friday, October 17th. We need volunteers for Fall Fest set-up. If you’d like to lend a hand, please email HiawathaPTO@ewsd.org.

Thank you for supporting this fun community event—we can’t wait to see you there!

Taryn Hennebicque

Hiawatha PTO Co-President

Please click the link below to see the hot lunch menu, be sure to select the correct month you need and select lunch in the drop down in the top of the page. If needed, there is a print option. The menu can also be found on our website :-)

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