Bulldog Bulletin
Elementary School- February 1st, 2021
Together we are Better!
Dear HCS Families,
It has been an amazing first few weeks as Principal. I feel so much gratitude and I want to start by thanking students and families for your perseverance and resilience during these difficult times. Students have been so respectful and responsible with their masks- we are so proud of them! They are washing their hands and maintaining safe distances in the classroom and at play. Teachers have been leading by example and helping students to stay safe during the school day.
Our custodians take the job of sanitizing and cleaning our building very seriously and we are all truly grateful. This year many students are eating lunch in their classrooms and it has been going well. Thank you to all of our monitors who make eating lunch fun and for creating a healthy environment for our children.
Class sizes are smaller and we are seeing the benefit of that. Students are really connecting with teachers in such a positive way and working hard together. Teachers are so creative in the ways they are reaching students remotely and staying connected with families. It has been challenging but classrooms are working like small communities in a way that has not been done before.
This has been a time of grace, a time of reflection, and a time to slow down. What I know for sure is that I am grateful for all the work you are doing behind the scenes to help us guide and support your students. Thank you for keeping bedtime routines and being flexible with schedule changes.
We are stronger together than we are apart! It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected to travel on this journey with you.
Feeling grateful,
Mrs. Pfluke
Arrival- Important reminders for car riders
Just a friendly reminder to those families who drop children off in the morning:
- Please enter the loop from Allen's Hill Road, not from Main Street. With the winter weather upon us we do not want to take any unnecessary risks and block Main Street. We have had several close calls when vehicles are joining the line from two different directions.
- To help keep the flow of traffic moving, please have your child ready (or as ready as possible) to get out of your car as soon as you come to a stop.
- For safety purposes, children should exit your vehicle on the sidewalk (passenger) side if possible.
- Pull forward into the loop as far as you can without going around other cars. This will keep the line from getting too long as well as allow multiple children to unload where there is sidewalk, ultimately making the drop-off process faster for everyone.
- Do not pass or go around another car in the loop. Children open doors without looking and hop out of cars into the loop. It is not safe to pass.
Intermediate drop-off begins at 8:30
Primary drop-off begins at 9:20
As a general note please be patient this time of year as everything takes a little longer. Our students are bundled up wearing multiple layers with big heavy jackets and boots which causes them to move slower and a little unstable. Our goal is always to get them inside as quickly and safely as we can. Thank you!
A Note about Learning Model Changes
We continue to be dedicated to the safety and well-being of our students and are working diligently to maintain standards of cleanliness and COVID-19 procedures. We strongly believe that school is a safe place for students, and that our in-person model provides the most support for our elementary learners. We understand, however, that some families have circumstances greatly impacting the need to exercise an abundance of caution, and have considered transitioning to our remote model of instruction.
If you are thinking of making the difficult decision to transition to remote learning, please reach out to both your child's classroom teacher, and to our main office Administrative Assistant, Kathy Hoertz, who will initiate the process. Please note that teachers need time to modify and/or alter assignments, prepare resources, and adjust their rosters, resulting in a turnaround time that may take up to 2 days. The more time you can provide us to prepare for the switch, the better we can maintain continuous access to learning for your children. You are encouraged to use the prepared packets that were sent home in October during this transition.
Thank you for your continued partnership!
Connections and Kindness
I continue to be amazed at the outpouring of love and kindness I see around me. I thought you might enjoy a video my children and I created early on during the closure, as a result of being surrounded by inspiring people from our neighborhood and their school community. It brings me joy each time I watch it, and reminds me how important small gestures can be. No act of kindness is too small! We are stronger together than we are apart...our children are resilient and have proven time and time again that together, we can and will persevere!
Hope you enjoy...
a note about Valentine's Day
HCS PTA welcomes you!
Honeoye's Parent Teacher Association is working on some rebranding and increased member participation. You can check out their website here:
If you are interested in becoming a member of PTA, please follow this link.
Incoming upk and kindergarten families
HCS Elementary wants to ensure that we don't miss any students eligible for UPK and Kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year. If your child turns five before December 1, 2021 or you know a friend or relative with an eligible child for Kindergarten in Honeoye, please share this important information with them. Students eligible for Universal Pre-Kindergarten must turn four on or before December 1, 2021.
Early notification from families of incoming UPK & Kindergarten students helps us to get families all the information they need regarding the registration process. Please notify Mrs. Kathy Hoertz in the Elementary Office at 229-5171, Extension 3018.
HCS Welcome's new office assistant
Rotary sponsored book distribution
Take a peek at some of the book selections from our Rotary sponsored “Book A Month"
program- dedicated to making sure each and every elementary student from UPK through
grade 5 receives a book every month to create an "at home" personal library. Thank you Rotary Club!
January's Character Trait of the Month- Tolerance
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program for reading and math that allows your student(s) to develop skills at a pace that is just right for them. i-Ready consists of two parts, the Diagnostic and Personalized Instruction. Both parts provide your student’s teacher(s) with information to personalize learning, target areas of need, and monitor progress throughout the school year.
To learn more please attend the Family and Parent University Session on February 10th, with live sessions from 8:00-9:00 AM and again from 5:30-6:30 PM. A link will be shared via Parent Square.
Remote learning success
Half-Days
- February 12
- March 12
- April 16
Please note that on the original school calendar, March 12 was a scheduled Superintendent's Conference Day. It is now a scheduled half day, as noted above.
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
February 9th- Valentine's Day cards are due to school if participating
February Recess: no school Feb. 15-19Spring Recess: no school March 29-April 2