October 22, 2021

Dear Hollymead Families and Caregivers,

Conferences are in full swing, and while many are still occurring virtually for both convenience and safety reasons, it has felt nice to see so many parents in the building again. We are slowly coming back to normal operations, and having some friendly impromptu conversations in the hall has me remembering what a vibrant place the school can be for the entire community. I look forward to being able to do that more often in the future.

I would also like to thank the PTO for hosting a wonderful movie night, and providing some delicious refreshments for the staff during conferences. We all appreciate your support!

Please contact me if for any questions or concerns. You can reach me by phone, 434 973-8301; by email at cdommer@k12albemarle.org; or in person at school.

Craig Dommer

Principal, Hollymead Elementary School

We will be having our annual book character dress up day on Thursday. We will also be having our parade - outside in the bus loop at 8:10. I know that some families have attended in the past when we march inside. It will be brief (likely 10 minutes or so).

If you would like to attend please adhere by the following guidelines:

No need to sign in

Please wear a mask even if outdoors (we will be, and is our protocol in such large groups). Please keep ample spacing

Please stay to the outside of the students (not being in the bus loop between the students and the building.

Consider walking - as parking will be a challenge - since we will be in the bus loop.

We are going to celebrate Hollymead CARES (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, Self-Control) day on November 5th. As part of the day, each grade level will be collecting items for various community organization. If you have a student in the following grades, please consider donating the following items to help with projects for CARES day.

• K- K cups
• 1- beef jerky
• 2- winter plants
• 3- travel size lotions
• 4- items for SPCA
• 5- bulbs

We will also collect extra candy as part of the Blue Star Families military care package program.

It is a special day to have students consider others in the community, and we thank you for your support.

Be on the lookout for your child's Square 1 Art order form! This school fundraiser is a great way to support Hollymead and get some great items with your artist's work of art on it. Orders will arrive December 3rd, just in time for the holidays! Email Mrs. Foster with any questions.

Hollymead Elementary once again is working to support families with the holiday gift program through Toy Lift. Vouchers for the 2021 holiday gift program will be an online format. The voucher is live now and will remain open until November 12th at 8PM.

To apply click on the link below. If you have any questions or need assistance you can contact Hollymead's School Counselor, Megan Kopley, at 434-973-8301 or mkopley@k12albemarle.org

English: bit.ly/Toy2021

Spanish: bit.ly/juguete2021

Families should only sign up once and include all children newborn through 8th grade.

Nine weeks into school and we are doing a good job with Arrival and Dismissal. It is running pretty smoothly.

Here are a couple of reminders and important safety measures:

- Please do not drop off on Powell Creek Dr. or in the parking lot. Please get in the car line, or walk onto campus.

- Please don't park in handicap spaces unless you are authorized to do so. We have families that utilize those spaces, and we need to keep them open for them.

November 10th will be the next half day for students. A reminder that we will dismiss 3 hours early starting with cars at 11:20.

EDEP will operate.

When it comes to us and our children, we are the ‘pitchers’ and they are the ‘cups’.

It is hard to “fill them up” when you are running on empty. We at Hollymead Elementary understand the stress that families feel as they juggle work, home life, and their children’s school needs. We want to help. Our goal is to find out what our Hollymead families need that would make their lives a little easier. We know that we aren’t miracle workers, but maybe there is something that we can do. Please take a few minutes and fill out this CONFIDENTIAL survey to help us to better support our Hornet families! All forms will be handled with discretion and responded to by your School Counselor, Megan Kopley, School Counseling Intern, Alexandra Biazzo or Social Emotional Learning Coach, Cherly Cottrell.

All student breakfasts and lunches are free this year.

We will eat outside on all nice weather days.

When we are inside, each class will be assigned an area of the cafeteria. We will be using both the cafeteria and the auditorium, and classrooms. Lunches are arranged so there are never more than 65 kids in the lunchroom at once, which is less than half of our old capacity, in double the space.

We will seat only 1 student at a table. Half of each class will eat in their rooms at least 6 feet apart.

We are also doubling the number of supervising adults to make sure we are able to enforce distance.

We will clean and sanitize tables in between groups.

We want to make parents aware of the main points of Albemarle County School Board Policy JGCD-E regarding student medication at school, which is included in the Parent-Student Handbook.

Here are the highlights:

· Whenever possible, medication should be scheduled outside of school hours.

· If prescription medicine must be dispensed during school hours, a medication form (see the Student-Parent Handbook) MUST be filled out and signed by a parent/guardian and the prescribing physician. Forms are available in the school office.

· Parents/Guardians may complete the medication form for school personnel to administer non-prescription medication during school hours if necessary.

· No more than one month’s supply of a prescribed medication shall be stored at school.

· Medications are housed in a locked cabinet in the clinic and administered by the nurse or a designated staff member.

· Medication cannot be dispensed to a child without the appropriate form.

If you have any questions, you may contact our nurse, Eileen Gomez at 973-8301 or egomez@k12albemarle.org.