The Hardy Herald Week 33
May 9, 2021
Important Dates and Updates
5/10- Progress Reports Issued
5/12- DanceFit Finale!
5/12- School Nurse Appreciation day
5/20- Kindergarten Information Night
5/27- Fourth Grade Virginia Studies SOL Assessment
5/31- Memorial Day Observance- No School for Students or Staff
Dear Isle of Wight County Schools and Community Members,
The month of May is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Jewish American Heritage Month. This month-long celebration is intended to increase awareness, acknowledge the contributions, and commemorate the sacrifices of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Jewish Americans. As we celebrate the diversity amongst our students, administrators, teachers, and staff, it is with great honor that we recognize Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Jewish American this month and beyond.
Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month
Sharing Asian and Pacific Islander people’s accomplishments is a valuable experience and fosters an inclusive learning and working environment. History reveals the uniqueness of our country and offers a sense of appreciation. The goal is to use this month to highlight Asian and Pacific American accomplishments and continue these conversations throughout the year. The month recognizes individuals from the entire continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands:
Melanesia - New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands
Micronesia - Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia
Polynesia - New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island
Read More https://www.nyxt.nyc/blog/asian-american-pacific-american-heritage-5-facts/
Jewish Heritage Month
Honoring Jewish Heritage Month recognizes what Jewish people have offered to American history, culture, and society. “The Jewish American experience is a story of faith, fortitude, and progress. It is a quintessential American experience — one that is connected to key tenets of American identity, including our Nation’s commitment to freedom of religion and conscience” (Whitehouse, 2021). There are so many extraordinary facts about the Jewish culture that can offer a sense of appreciation in our schools and our division.
This month’s observance is an opportunity to engage with the different cultures within the community and reflect on current issues. We encourage you to go beyond highlights of essential figures to use this month as an opportunity to create space for courageous conversations that honor diversity. I hope that in Isle of Wight County Schools, we can extend this month’s practice of incorporating the history of diverse communities and conversations into our classrooms, educational programs, and community dialogues. The Jewish Proverb says, “ As you teach, you learn”.
Please join us on Wednesday, May 19, and Wednesday, May 26, for a special Celebration Wednesday to honor Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Jewish American Heritage. It is a celebration of Equity and Inclusion!
VODE offers the following resources to support you in celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month:
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage and History in the U.S. (National Endowment for the Humanities)
Asian Pacific American Heritage Teaching Resources (Smithsonian Institution)
Teaching with Historic Places: Lessons on Asian American and Pacific Islander History (National Park Service)
Jewish Heritage Month Resources:
School Nurse Day, May 12, 2021
Take time to show your appreciation to our dedicated and very own Nurse Cowan on Wednesday, May 12. If you think school nursing is all about Band-Aids and record-keeping, you haven't been inside a school lately. Have you ever heard of COVID-19 and contact tracing???
For some students, the school nurse is the only health care professional they ever see.
Please show your appreciation to Nurse Cowan on May 12 by showing your appreciation.
Virtual Academy 2021-2022 School Year
- Students being considered for virtual instruction are students who are currently performing at or above grade level. Students performing below grade level will not be considered for virtual learning during the 2021-2022 school year.
- COMPLETED PACKETS and current proof-of-residency documentation should be brought to the HES office for all students in rising kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade.
HARDY DANCEFIT Fundraiser
Hardy families!
GREAT JOB!!!! CHECK OUT OUR STATS!
Parents, who’s seen their student’s Student Star Video yet? It’s a really fun way to SHARE about our fundraiser on funrun.com. Just upload a picture of YOUR student and PRESTO! They’ll be cast as the HERO of an incredible news story about helping our school! Share it with friends and extended family online. It’s guaranteed to get some ️+ !
Double Challenge Weekend: Any student that gets a $2 per dance minute pledge (or $60 in flat donations) over the weekend will earn a BONUS PRIZE!! Check it out on funrun.com! AND The class with the most new students registered by Monday (5/10) will get to see Seachelle AND Air Jordan pied in the face!
Donating Is Open!
Register on FUNRUN.COM , SHARE, & GIVE!
Thank you for having fun with us during our Hardy DanceFit. And go, Mustangs!
Kindergarten Information Night
Learning Center Applications
LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN THE COMMUNITY
IWCS MASK UPDATE
Effective April 30, 2021, Isle of Wight County Schools has made masks/face coverings for students and staff optional while participating in outdoor activities such as recess, outdoor PE, and athletic events and practices. IWCS students and staff will continue to practice social distancing outside and should avoid congregating in large groups. The revisions are based on revised CDC guidance, which eased outdoor mask guidelines earlier this week.
Summer Blast at Parks and Recreation
3rd and 4th Grade SOL Testing Schedule
Lunch Menu - April & May
Meal Distribution Reminder
Isle of Wight County Schools has been granted the ability to continue distributing free meals to all students, regardless of financial situation. The division will distribute free meals to families on Fridays at three locations—Georgie Tyler Middle School in Windsor, Smithfield High School, and Carrsville Elementary. Meals can be picked up from 10:00am to 2:00pm at all three locations. Parents will receive 5 days-worth of breakfasts and lunches for each child.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday at SHS, GTMS, or Carrsville Elementary.
Cool Interactive Tool for Parents and Covid Guidance
Hardy Parents,
Check out the new resource below for parents. This can be done from your smartphone or computer and it would help with the decision making for sending your child to school. Click on the link below:
https://schoolnursenet.nasn.org/covid19ref/featured-content/interactive-send-student-school
Should I Keep my Child at Home?
We wanted to take this time to remind you about the symptoms related to COVID-19. We've updated the daily home screening document and included all the symptoms identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) related to COVID-19. The new document is attached to this message.
Parents are urged to keep their children at home if a child is showing one or more of any of these symptoms. The goal is for our students to come to school on the in-person continuum, but this will only be achieved if individuals who are sick stay home and avoid contact with others. This includes students living in the household with individuals who are experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms on the daily home screening. Again, our goal is to help protect our community and school by staying home when we are sick. Please email your child's teacher and Nurse Cowan at ncowan@iwcs.k12.va.us if your is sick and will not be in school.
Thank you for keeping our schools safe!
2021 – 2022 Learning Center Preschool Program
Ongoing Reminders
- MASKS ARE REQUIRED for all adults and students 5 years and up.
- Visitors will not be allowed in the building without a mask AND and Identification.
- If you would like to schedule counseling sessions with our AMAZING School Counselor, please complete the form here. The form is also listed below under the heading Hardy Elementary School Counseling Form. Sessions are held via zoom or in-person for hybrid students.
School hours are 8:25 AM -3:30 PM. Students can arrive starting at 8:25 AM. Students may not be dropped off prior to 8:25 AM. If you bring your child to school after 8:55 AM, you must escort them inside to the office and complete a tardy slip.
Please see nurse Nancy Cowan for prescription medicine intake. All medicine must be accompanied by a parent and include a physician’s prescription. Students are not allowed to transport medicine to school.
Breakfast is served in the classroom starting at 8:25 AM each morning.
PTA Information
Hello Hardy Families!
With our new year at Hardy Elementary, PTA membership enrollment is now open! This year, membership enrollment is available online and drastically discounted! The price this year to join is only $3.75 per person! Follow the link or visit the Member Hub store and join the PTA today! https://hardymustangs.new.memberhub.store/store
Hardy Elementary School Counselor Corner
Remind Notification App
Are you receiving the most up to date school information and notifications from administration and teachers? The Remind app allows you to stay on top of what’s happening at school and in the classroom. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, you can receive important school updates right on your phone. Click here to sign up with the Hardy Elementary school code.
Hardy Construction Tracking Plan
Timeline:
- November 2020--January 2021: Architects complete building design; Value Engineering takes place
- February 2021: Code review for project; Value Engineering comments addressed
- June 2021*: Resubmit plan to Building Official; CONSTRUCTION BEGINS!
- Construction updates and photos will be posted monthly
- December 2022: FINAL COMPLETION!
*The date for the start of construction has moved from March to June because of an addendum to the Request for Proposal (RFQ). Groundbreaking will begin in June. The delay does NOT impact the Final Completion date.
Attendance for All Students
Parents,
We wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the attendance process for students participating in the A/B Hybrid Model or in 100% Virtual Learning. In response to the changes with in-person learning, attendance procedures were modified this year to support the different learning models.
For A/B Hybrid Students:
- Days students are scheduled to be in school (synchronous days)--Students need to physically be in the classroom to be marked "Present" If they are absent, they should bring a note from a parent or a health care provider when they return to school.
- Days students are learning from home (asynchronous days)--Students are marked "Present" when work assigned for that day is complete. Student work turned in within 5 days of the due date will be used to demonstrate attendance. If there is no assignment for a class on an asynchronous day, the student would be considered "Present" for class on that day.
For 100% Virtual Students:
- Days students are scheduled to Zoom for class (synchronous days)--There are several ways students may be counted present:
- Students need to participate in the Live Zoom session to be marked "Present."
- Students unable to participate in the Live Zoom but turn in the assigned work within five days will be marked "Present."
- Students absent from a Live Zoom, and no work is assigned that day, may have the absence excused with a note from the parent.
- Days students are not on Zoom (asynchronous days)--Students are marked "Present" when work assigned for that day is complete. Student work turned in within 5 days of the due date will be used to demonstrate attendance. If there is no assignment for a class on an asynchronous day, the student would be considered "Present" for class on that day.
We realize the attendance procedure is more complex this year than during a traditional school year. However, the modifications allow flexibility for students and also address concerns for students who are unable to participate in live Zoom sessions for virtual learning. Students are held accountable for their work and we need your assistance to make sure they are completing their assignments. Teachers and principals will be reaching out to parents regarding missing grades and discussing strategies for improvement. Please take advantage of the PowerSchool Parent Portal for checking on your child's grades on a regular basis.
This year is certainly presenting many challenges for everyone. In spite of the unusual situation, our goal is to keep students on track with their learning. I am confident that we can accomplish this by all of us working together. Thank you for your continued support of your child's education during these challenging times.
Director of Community and Media Relations
Isle of Wight County Schools
820 W. Main St.
Smithfield, VA 23430
757-365-1611 (o)
757-603-1904 (c)
Daily Home Screening
We wanted to take this time to remind you about the symptoms related to COVID-19. We've updated the daily home screening document and included all the symptoms identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) related to COVID-19. The new document is attached to this message.
Parents are urged to keep their children at home if a child is showing any of these symptoms. The goal for Isle of Wight County Schools is to bring more students back into our buildings as soon as possible, but that will only be successful if individuals who are sick stay home and avoid contact with others.
Help protect your community and your school by staying home when you are sick.
Thank you for keeping our schools safe!
Hardy Elementary School
Website: http://hes.iwcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 9311 Hardy Circle, Smithfield, VA, United States
Phone: 757-357-3204
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsleofWighCountySchools/
Twitter: @HardyElementary