Gator Gazette

At Arnett Hills Elementary, we dream big—and we mean it. Our goals are lofty because our belief in our students is limitless. From the classroom to the playground, every Gator has the potential to grow, achieve, and lead.

But reaching big goals takes more than just vision—it takes commitment. We’ve set ambitious targets for student growth in reading, math, and science this year, and we are determined to meet them. That means every minute matters: arriving on time, staying focused, and giving our best effort every single day.

Our teachers are locked in. Our leadership team is locked in. And now, we need every student and every family to lock in with us. Together, we can turn our goals into milestones and our milestones into celebrations of what happens when hard work meets heart.

Let’s stay focused, stay positive, and stay Gator Strong.
Inspire • Empower • Lead

— Cherita Williams, Ed.S.
Principal, Arnett Hills Elementary School

🐊🏆 Arnett Hills Elementary School 🏆🐊

Proudly Presents Our

Fall Awards Ceremony

Friday, November 7, 2025

🎉 Join us as we celebrate our students’ hard work, dedication, and achievements! 🎉

Grade-Level Ceremony Schedule:

📘 4th Grade – 8:40 – 9:20 a.m.

📗 5th Grade – 9:25 – 10:05 a.m.

📙 1st Grade – 10:10 – 10:50 a.m.

📒 2nd Grade – 11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

📕 Kindergarten – 12:25 – 1:05 p.m.

📔 3rd Grade – 1:40 – 2:20 p.m.

💚 Theme: “Dress to Impress Day”

Students and staff are encouraged to dress their best as we honor our outstanding Gators!

✨ Location: Arnett Hills Elementary School Gymnasium

👩🏽‍🏫 Hosted by: The AHES Counseling Department & the Arnett Hills Staff

Let’s come together to cheer, clap, and celebrate our amazing students!

We are so excited to celebrate our students’ hard work during our upcoming Awards Ceremony! At Arnett Hills Elementary, we believe in recognizing excellence, effort, and growth in many ways throughout the year.

Please note that not all students will receive an award at this ceremony—and that’s okay. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk with your child about setting goals, working hard, and staying motivated for the next celebration. Every Gator has something to be proud of, and we will continue encouraging all students to reach their personal best.

Teachers will reach out to parents via ClassDojo if their child will be recognized during this event. We look forward to celebrating our amazing students and the progress they are making each and every day!

Inspire • Empower • Lead
🐊💚 #GatorPride

Thursday , November 20th

We are excited to invite our Gator families to join us for a special Thanksgiving Lunch! 🧡
This is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal, make memories, and celebrate gratitude together as a school community.

🍽️ Details:

• Date: Thursday, November 20th

• Cost: $10 per adult meal

• Students will eat at their regular lunch time.

If you would like to join us, please fill out the RSVP form below so we can plan accordingly.

1. 🐊 1. “Gator Goals” Vision Board

   What to Do:
   Have your child cut out pictures or draw things they want to achieve—like reading more books, making new friends, or improving in math. Add family goals, too (like cooking together or saving for a trip).
   Purpose:
   Helps children visualize their dreams and understand that goals can be personal, academic, and family-based.

   ✏️ 2. “One Step at a Time” Ladder

   What to Do:
   Draw a ladder with 4–5 rungs. At the top, write a big goal (e.g., “Read 10 books by December”). On each rung, write a smaller step that helps reach that goal (e.g., “Read 10 minutes each night”).
   Purpose:
   Shows that big goals are achieved by taking small, steady steps.

   💬 3. Family Goal Chats

   What to Do:
   During dinner or a car ride, each family member shares one thing they want to get better at this month and one way the family can help them.
   Purpose:
   Builds support and accountability while modeling that adults set goals too!

   🎯 4. “Goal Jar”

   What to Do:
   Write short, achievable goals on slips of paper (e.g., “Help clean up after dinner,” “Finish a chapter book,” “Practice spelling words”). Each time your child meets a goal, celebrate with a small family reward like choosing a movie night.
   Purpose:
   Makes goal setting interactive and motivational through positive reinforcement.

   📘 5. “Reflect and Reset” Journal

   What to Do:
   Each week, your child writes or draws one success and one area to keep working on. Discuss it together on Sunday nights.
   Purpose:
   Encourages reflection, growth mindset, and resilience after setbacks.

   
   

After-School Program Is in Session!

🎉 This program is designed to provide additional learning support for students in grades 3–5. Students can also make up days by attending after school!

• Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

• Time: 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

• Transportation: NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!

If your child in grades 3–5 did not receive one and you are interested in having them attend, please email our program coordinator, Ms. Mariah Walker, at mwalker1@mail.dps.k12.va.us.

We look forward to supporting our Gators with this extra time for learning and growth!

Practice Reading and Math the Gator Way!

Learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings! Here are fun, easy ways families can help children strengthen Virginia SOL skills at home.

📖 Reading Fun for Grades K–2

🎯 Letter & Sound Hunt
Look for things around the house that start with the same letter sound.

SOL K.4–K.5: letter recognition and beginning sounds

👀 Sight Word Detective
Practice common sight words from the Dolch Sight Word List.
Try these ideas:

• Write words on sticky notes and hide them for your child to find and read aloud.

• Trace words in sand, salt, or shaving cream.

• Play “Word Swat!” — say a word and have your child swat it with a flyswatter or pointer.

• Make flash cards and play “Memory Match.”

SOL 1.5 & 2.6: word recognition and fluency

📚 Retell It!
After reading, ask what happened first, next, and last.

SOL 2.9: sequencing and comprehension

💬 Family Story Talk
Ask: “Who are the characters?” “Where does it happen?” “What’s the lesson?”

SOL 2.10: understanding plot and theme

📖 Reading Fun for Grades 3–5

💡 Main Idea Mania
Read a short article or story and ask, “What is this mostly about?”

SOL 3.6–5.6: main idea & details

🕵️ Word Detective
Guess the meaning of new words using context clues before checking the dictionary.

SOL 3.4–4.4: vocabulary development

🔍 Compare & Contrast Corner
Read two books by the same author and discuss how they’re alike and different.

SOL 4.5–5.5: analyzing texts

📝 3-Sentence Summary
After reading, challenge your child to sum up the story in just three sentences!

SOL 5.6: summarizing and comprehension

🔢 Math Fun for Grades K–2

🔢 Count Everything!
Count toys, snacks, or steps—then add or take away one.

SOL K.2–1.2: number sense & addition/subtraction

🔺 Shape Search
Find circles, triangles, and rectangles around your home or outside.

SOL K.12: identifying shapes

🎯 Number Line Jumps
Make a tape number line on the floor and hop forward to add, backward to subtract.

SOL 1.6–2.3: addition/subtraction fluency

🍎 Snack Math
“If you have 5 grapes and eat 2, how many are left?”

SOL 1.6: problem solving with real objects

🔢 Math Fun for Grades 3–5

🍕 Fraction Fun
Cut fruit or pizza to show halves, thirds, and fourths. Ask, “If we eat one piece, what fraction remains?”

SOL 3.2–4.2: understanding fractions

⚡ Fact Flash Challenge
Create multiplication flash cards or use an app—see how many your child can answer in one minute!

SOL 3.5: multiplication fluency

🛒 Grocery Math
Give your child $10 and a grocery ad—plan a snack list that stays under budget.

SOL 4.6–5.7: money, decimals, addition/subtraction

🥣 Recipe Remix
Double or halve a favorite recipe to practice fractions and measurement.

SOL 5.8: fractions, multiplying/dividing

• Morning drop off is at 7:40, please do not let students out before staff has arrived to greet them and see them safely inside.

To ensure a smooth dismissal process, students may not be checked out after 2:15pm.

To ensure the safety of all students, parents or guardians MUST present an ID at the time of checkout. We thank you for your cooperation.

Arnett Hills Elementary School

Associate Principal: Mr. Withers Jackson

Assistant Priincipal: Mr. Gary Lawson

Website: https://arnetthills.danvillepublicschools.org/
Location: 811 Northmont Blvd, Danville, Va. 24540

Phone: 434-354-0112