The Weekly Update Panther Pride

Dear Hillcrest and Pine Avenue Families,

This month, Hillcrest and Pine Avenue have been focusing on empathy—the ability to understand and care about how others feel. One way we nurture empathy is through restorative practices, which help students learn to repair relationships and build stronger connections when conflicts arise.

Restorative practice encourages students to pause, listen, and reflect on how their actions affect others. Instead of focusing solely on consequences, we guide students to ask questions such as: Who was impacted? How can I make things right? What can I do differently next time? These conversations help children see situations through another person’s perspective, which is the heart of empathy.

Families can support this work at home by modeling empathy in everyday interactions—listening carefully when a child shares their feelings, encouraging them to consider how a sibling or friend might feel, and celebrating moments when they show kindness or repair a mistake. Another prompt parents can use at dinner or on the ride home: “Can you think of a time today when you showed empathy or helped make something right?”

Empathy is a vital soft skill that students should have by the time they graduate high school. It enables them to understand and share others' feelings, which is essential for effective communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Students who develop empathy are better equipped to build positive relationships, contribute to inclusive environments, and demonstrate leadership. Together, we can help our students grow into compassionate problem-solvers who understand that empathy is not just about feelings—it’s about actions that strengthen our community.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow and Ms. Jaeck

Empathy Grade 1

Empathy Grade 2

Empathy Grade 3

Empathy Grade 4

Empathy Grade 5

The winter months bring a special kind of joy to our playground, as students love the chance to play in the snow and enjoy the crisp air during recess. We want every child to have fun while staying safe, which is why we remind families of a few important expectations.

Students are expected to follow their ROARS on the playground, even in snowy weather, showing respect, making safe choices, and ensuring recess is enjoyable for everyone. To keep recess safe, students may not play on snow mounds, throw snowballs, or play on or with ice. Students who are not following their ROARS on the playground and receive an office discipline referral will work with the MTSS Assistant, Mrs. Pickelman. During this time, students will review their ROARS (Respect Others, Act Responsibility, and Be Safe) and learn how to make better choices.

Also, parents, proper winter gear is essential for safe, fun play. To enjoy the snow, students must come prepared with snow pants, boots, mittens or gloves, and hats. Without these items, students will need to remain on the blacktop area during recess. Together, we can make winter recess a season of fun, safety, and responsibility, and we thank you for helping your child come prepared to enjoy the snow.

Student of the Week and Month:

Earning Student of the Week or Month honors as part of a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school acknowledgement program can be an exciting and motivating way for students to be recognized for positive behavior. Here are the ways in which students can earn Student of the Week or Month honors:

Our school has been alive with joy, learning, and teamwork this December! From the festive spirit of Christmas Sweater Day to the hands-on math lesson “Throwing Snowballs,” where students measured, converted, and solved the distances of their throws, learning has been both fun and engaging. Mrs. Adkins’s class joined Miss Wilson’s room for a creative erosion experiment, shaking sugar cubes to see how materials change over time, while Ms. Davis’s Team Time reminded students of the powerful message: “YOU are the BOSS of your ANGER—do not let YOUR ANGER be the BOSS of YOU!” These moments highlight the incredible blend of celebration, discovery, and character-building happening across our classrooms. Great work, team!