HILL HAPPENINGS
#HillHasHeart Edition - May 2022
A Note from the Principal
Hello Hill Families,
In true Hill fashion, it was amazing to see such a wonderful turnout at our April 21st Hill Family Night! It felt like old times with such a high percentage of participation. We had 513 people sign in for the event! Wow! I want to give a special thank you to our PTO who is always so supportive and helped fund the supplies and resources for the evening. I'd also like to thank Casey Reed who donated wonderful prizes to Lake Callis and other fun items that we were able to put into students' hands. We couldn't have held the event without the strong support of Hill staff who worked the event, along with our NHS students who volunteered! Our Hill Family Picnic & Luau will be held in the evening on Thursday, June 2nd! Please look for more information to come soon!
M-STEP testing will begin this week for our Grade 3 & 4 students. Teachers have communicated with parents regarding the schedules for their classrooms. Please encourage your child(ren) to do their best, but also let them know this is just a great opportunity for them to show off all they know! In last month's newsletter I wrote about the importance of a good night's rest. With all of the Spring activities and nicer weather ahead of us, it can make it more challenging for us to honor bedtimes. Having a consistent bedtime is really important for good health for our kiddos!
This newsletter is jam-packed with important information and dates. Please take time to read about our upcoming School of Choice Window, how to nominate a teacher/support person of the year, Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week info, Grade 1/2 Spring Concert and more. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping your children learn and grow. We appreciate all you are doing to support your children and our school family!
In Partnership,
Mrs. Jennifer Burke, Ed.S.
Proud Hill Principal
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week: May 2 - 6
We will be recognizing our teachers and staff in a special way next week in honor of teacher & staff appreciation. Our amazing PTO is preparing for a wonderful and thoughtful week! If you are willing and able I am sharing the Sign Up Genius for donations that was listed on our Hill PTO Facebook: https://m.signupgenius.com/?fbclid=IwAR2D2V-isrp7FfYfw4EO_qCtv3-s0zM72rwvdts6Jb7RYZaj_9a2-nlpQcI#!/showSignUp/8050E49A8A92FA0F94-teacher
You could also consider donating a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop, fast food restaurant, etc to help PTO spoil our wonderful teachers.
“Let’s Sail-abrate You!” is the theme of the week!
Monday: Sail-abrate Staff Breakfast
Tuesday: Boat Drinks
Wednesday: Cruise Buffet
Thursday: Pirate’s Treasure (gifts and goodies)
Friday: “You Float our boat” (Floats and sundae bar)
For any other information please feel free to reach out to any of our PTO officers:
Jill Lobban, Drianna Keltner, Lindsay Brandon, and Danielle Wenzel
PTO email: Hillptogroup@gmail.com
Teacher/Support Person of the Year
After a two-year hiatus, Davison Educational Foundation board members are elated to once again be sponsoring the Teacher/Staff Person of the Year awards. Winners will be announced in June.
https://forms.gle/a74A1b4MoYTTLjNQ8
Deadline for entries is 9 a.m. Friday, May 13.
Four winners will be selected:
- Elementary Teacher of the Year (Preschool to Grade 4)
- Middle Teacher of the Year (Grades 5-8)
- Secondary Teacher of the Year (Grades 9-12)
- Support Person of the Year
In addition to the honor of being Teacher/Support Person of the Year, winners will also receive a plaque and $500 to use in their classroom/school building.
Farm Day
To add to the experience, we invite our kindergarten students to dress in their best 'farm wear'. Break out those blue jeans, overalls, plaid, boots, and hats and join in the fun!
May Lunch Menu
Schools of Choice Information for 2022-23 School Year
The application period for Schools of Choice for the 2022-23 school year will be May 6-20.
Davison Community Schools will be accepting limited applications for non-resident students under Sections 105 and 105c Schools of Choice for the 2022/2023 school year. Acceptance under either plan will be based on limited availability and elementary students will be placed in school buildings according to equalized space available in all classrooms.
The application period for each program will be:
- 105c Schools of Choice, May 6-20, 2022: The District will accept applications for pupils whose district of residency is outside of Genesee County in districts within the following bordering counties: Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Tuscola.
- 105 Schools of Choice, May 6-20, 2022: The District will accept applications for pupils whose district of residency is in Genesee County.
Schools of Choice applications will be available on our website beginning at 7:30 a.m. Friday, May 6, until 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2022. Applications cannot be distributed or accepted outside the application period. Applicants will need to provide a copy of a valid driver’s license or some other proof of non-resident status.
In addition, a copy of the student’s behavior report for the past two years MUST be submitted with each application (for enrollment in grades 1 through 12).
IMPORTANT: The student’s Schools of Choice application will not be accepted without a copy of a behavior report for each of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years or a document from the school(s) attended in 2020-21 and 2021-22 on the school district’s letterhead, including dates of enrollment and signed by a school representative indicating there is no behavior record for the student.
Students who have been suspended, expelled or withdrawn in lieu of expulsion within the last two years may be denied enrollment in the district under the 105 and 105c Schools of Choice guidelines.
Parents of Schools of Choice students are responsible for transporting their children to and from school.
Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2022. Applications will not be accepted after that time.
For further information, please email Robin Ricica, Secretary to the Superintendent, at rricica@davisonschools.org.
Counselor's Corner
Showing up matters for R.E.A.L. It is an opportunity to:
Build Routines
Increase Engagement
Provide Access to resources
Support Learning
Routines: Daily attendance routines, created at home or in school, can reduce stress for students and families and create a sense of safety and security, especially after chaotic transitions.
Engagement: Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning.
Access to Resources: Schools help students and families gain access to basic resources such as meals, physical and mental health services, and fun enrichment activities including sports, clubs, music, afterschool and summer programs.
Learning: Learning is most meaningful when it is active, social, and allows students to apply concepts to real life situations. Showing up to school regularly helps students engage in learning that builds proficiency in reading and math that will help them to graduate from high school.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Thompson
Hill/Hahn Counselor
Music Notes from Mrs. DuPrey
We are very busy in the music room. Our 1st and 2nd grade concert is quickly approaching. The concert is on Monday, May 9th, at Davison High School. Students should arrive no later than 6:40pm as the concert begins at 7:00pm. Students should wear their “Sunday best” to the show. If you have any questions please email me at lduprey@davisonschools.org
In 3rd grade we are working hard with the recorders!!! We will work with the recorder until the end of the year. Recorders should come to music class every day. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give anyone a recorder to use if they forget their instrument for the day. Students have a recorder karate book that should come to music class as well. We use the Recorder Karate program, which has students earn “belts” for individually passing songs during class. Students should work to pass through blue belt (When the saints go marching in) by the end of the school year, but are encouraged to go as far as they can!! I have had great success in working with recorders and it is always a fun time for the kids!!
Fourth grade students have been working with our ukulele's now and will continue in some format until the end of the year. We have learned three chords now (C, F, and A minor) and will soon be adding G. Students will have a project at the end of our unit to sing and play a song of their choosing. The song has to have at least two chords and can be something we have done in class or something they choose on their own. If they are choosing their own song, it needs to be approved by me. If your child is interested in having a ukulele at home, please let me know and I would be happy to recommend a good quality, reasonably priced instrument.
In kindergarten, we are working to keep a steady beat and finishing our singing voice assessments for the year.
Mrs. DuPrey
Fitness Fun with Mr. Whitman
Spring is in the air, even if the weather doesn’t show it quite yet. Normally by this time of year we’d be outside for PE class. But for the most part that hasn’t happened due to the cold weather. During the month of April we worked on our hockey unit and stayed indoors instead. There are lots of different variations to hockey that we play. Broom hockey and scooter hockey are the most popular. The kids were able to follow our unit goals of playing safely and a great time has been had by everyone.
Our 2022 version of Hill’s Field Day is scheduled for Friday, June 10th. We will be returning to the old format that we used pre-covid which means we will need parent volunteers for each group. More information and a sign up will be sent home later in May. If you’re available to help, we’d love your assistance.
Go Cards!
Mr. Whitmanjdwhitman@davisonschools.org
Library News
Well it is officially spring!! You can see all the beautiful flowers and trees start to bloom.
Our reading nook is looking fantastic! Our students had a lot of fun decorating it with butterflies and flowers.
The month of May’s book/activities themes will be: flowers, bugs, and ocean. The third and fourth grade are finishing with learning non-fiction call number order, using decimals. And second grade is beginning to learn how to alphabetize fiction books by authors last names. Beyond proud of our students learning the Dewey classification system!
As the school year draws to a close, the last day for library book check out will be Thursday, May 26th. This allows for returns and inventory of the entire book collection. Any overdue or lost book notices will be sent home with students the beginning of June.
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Jacobs
Reading Calendar from our Mrs. Renye, Hill/Hahn Literacy Specialist
PTO NEWS
Parents and guardians, please join the Hill teachers and principal the first Monday of each month to discuss school happenings including upcoming events, fundraisers and all of the ways we can help enrich our students' educational experience. We look forward to working in partnership with our parents and community!
We are looking for new PTO officers for the 2022-23 school year!! We will be electing new officers at our May Board Meeting. If you are interested, you must be present at the meeting on May 2nd.
Congratulations to our Family Fun Night Prize winners:
For "Bookworms" estimate winners: Reagan Klokeid and Ella Christian
Scavenger Hunt Random draws
Joseph Rhein
Declan Swenor
Aiden Miller
Mason Welch
Maverick Lobban
Draws during the family night!
Ella Christian
Georgia Chapin
Ella Graves
Aubree Ozanich
Emma MacLeod
Henry Francis
Paige Palmer
Ethan Newton
Our next meeting is on Monday, May 2nd at 5:30p.m. We will meet in our Media Center!
21/22 PTO Officers
Jill Lobban
Drianna Keltner
Lindsay Brandon
Danielle Wenzel
PTO email: Hillptogroup@gmail.com
Mark your calendar:
April 29 - Farm Day for Kindergarten @ Thomson
May 4 - Early Release Day: Dismissal @ 1:28
May 6 - Kindergarten Ma's Spa
May 9 - 1st/2nd Grade Spring Concert
May 25 - 4th grade visits Hahn Intermediate
May 27 - Grade 3 & 4 Wilderness Inquiry Field trip 9:00-11:30
May 30 - Memorial Day: No School
June 2 - Hill Family Picnic & Luau (Make up Day on June 9)
June 3 - 4th Grade Economics Fair
June 8 - 4th Grade End of the year picnic & Kindergarten celebration
June 10 - Field Day, (Make Up Day on June 13)
June 14, 15, 16 - Student Half Days: Dismissal @ 11:35 a.m.
2022-23 School Calendar Dates
First Day of School: Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Intersession 1.0: October 31 - November 3, No School Friday, November 4.
Hill Family Night
Kindergarten Round-Up
April Table of Honor
Connect with Hill Elementary
Email: jburke@davisonschools.org
Website: https://www.davisonschools.org/
Location: 404 Aloha Street, Davison, MI, USA
Phone: 910-591-0839
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisonCardinals/
Twitter: @proud_principal