The Progress Report

The following are important dates to mark on your calendar:

• Feb. 16: Half Day and Early Dismissal for Students on Friday, Feb. 16 (Elementary Schools dismiss at 11:30 AM; Middle/Junior High/All Grades for AAA and ASFL dismiss at 12 PM, High Schools dismiss at 12:40 PM).
• Feb. 17: The Curriculum Showcase 2024 will be on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 AM to 12 PM at the VBC East Hall.
• Feb. 19: Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 in observance of Presidents' Day.
• Feb. 20: Classes will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 20 following the holiday weekend.

View the HCS Calendar for a complete listing of district-level dates and to learn more about each event.

• February 15: AL Literacy Act Informational Meeting (Lee Feeder)
• February 16: Half Day for Students
• February 17: HCS 2024 Curriculum Showcase
• February 19: Presidents' Day Observed (Schools and Offices Closed)
• February 20: DAC Columbia Feeder Meeting
• February 22: DAC Jemison Feeder Meeting
• February 22: AL Literacy Act Informational Meeting (Huntsville Feeder)
• February 26: AL Literacy Act Informational Meeting (Grissom Feeder)
• February 28: Special Education Lunch & Learn Session
• February 29: AL Literacy Act Informational Meeting (Columbia Feeder)
• February 29: Artemis Virtual Academy Application Window Closes
• March 4: DAC Grissom Feeder Meeting
• March 5: BOE Work Session
• March 7: DAC Huntsville Feeder Meeting
• March 7: Career & Technical Education (CTE) Application Window Closes
• March 8: E-Learning Day
• March 8: Extended Impact Aid Survey Window Closes
• March 11: Spring Break Begins (No School for Students & Teachers)
• March 15: Spring Break Begins for Central Office (Schools and Offices Closed)
• March 18: Students Return

Following an inclement weather day on Friday, Jan.12, Huntsville City Schools (HCS) will be in session on Friday, April 26.

Students, teachers, and employees will follow normal operations on April 26, which was designated as a weather day on the HCS Academic Calendar. Bus routes, school start times and dismissals, and teaching and learning will follow normal schedules.

HCS does not plan to add any extra days to the end of the school year as a result of the additional school closures in January. The last day of school is currently set to remain a half-day as planned on Thursday, May 23.

View the HCS Academic Calendar for a complete list of upcoming holidays and important dates.

Join HCS for a crucial session on the Alabama Literacy Act! Your attendance is vital as the enforcement of retaining 3rd graders who are not proficient in reading is now in effect. Your presence matters as we work together to ensure success!

Join us on any of the available dates for your school's feeder pattern to stay informed and support your child's literacy development.

Alabama Literacy Act Informational Meetings:

• February 15: 5:30 PM in the Lee High Theater
• February 22: 5:30 PM in the Huntsville High Theater
• February 26: 5:30 PM in the Grissom High Theater
• February 29: 5:30 PM at Columbia High (location TBD)

Spark something new inside of you through Huntsville City School's Career and Technical Education Travel programs!

Turn your passion into a rewarding profession with our high wage, high demand programs. You can apply for the following programs:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Building Science
• Cosmetology
• Culinary
• Education & Training
• Green Power
• Industrial Technology
• Precision Machining
• Travel & Tourism
• Welding

*Students already enrolled in these programs do not need to apply again.

Applications close March 7. Students can log in using their HCS email accounts to apply. For more information view CTE Programs or email Marcie.Mcfalls@hsv-k12.org.

Artemis Academy is excited to open the application window for next school year! Families zoned for Huntsville City Schools may officially apply to the newest school that will provide students with flexible and individualized educational opportunities.

The Artemis Academy application will be open through February 29 for early registration. Apply now to ensure your spot in this exciting new offering from Huntsville City Schools!

Learn more and find the application link on the Artemis Virtual Academy page.

HCS' Pre-K Application for the 2024-2025 school year are now open. To qualify, children must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2024.

The late Majority-to-Minority Application for the 2024-25 school year will be open through July 15, 2024. If you have a student going from Elementary to Middle School or from Middle to High School, you will need to reapply. View informational video: 2024-25 M2M Transfers.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tiffany Shoulders or call the office of Strategy and Innovation at 256-428-6854 or 256-924-1517.

The Huntsville City Board of Education and Superintendent Clarence Sutton recognized Grissom seniors Seth Smith & Sophia Zajac for being selected as the Alabama Vocal Association's District V Outstanding Male and Female Choral students across multiple North Alabama school districts.

Since then, both were named as Outstanding Choral Students for the entire state! Pictured: Seth Smith and Grissom Choir Director Tucker Ratcliff.

The Huntsville City Board of Education and Superintendent Clarence Sutton recognized the 8th grade boys basketball team from McNair Junior High School for winning the city championship.

The Huntsville City Board of Education and Superintendent Clarence Sutton recognized the 7th grade boys basketball team from McNair Junior High School for winning the city championship.

The Huntsville City Board of Education and Superintendent Clarence Sutton recognized the 7th & 8th grade girls basketball team from Hampton Cove Middle School for winning the city championship.

Huntsville City Schools basketball teams competed in the 7A Northeast Regionals at Jacksonville State University. Grissom boys defeated Chelsea 47-38, Huntsville boys beat Oak Mountain 56-38, and the Grissom girls came up short against Hewitt Trussville.

The Tigers and Crimson Panthers will face each other in the 7A Northeast Regional Final on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 2:15 PM.

The United States Navy Band performed a wonderful concert at Huntsville High, then provided Huntsville High band students Master Class clinics the following morning.

Thank you United States Navy Band for being wonderful ambassadors for your Service and for music!

Great things are happening at Chapman Middle! Ms. Peavy represented Chapman Middle for the state of Alabama for the strong growth.

Congratulations to Patrick Ivan, an 8th grade student at the Academy for Academics & Arts Middle School, who won the Madison County Spelling Bee this week. Way to go, Patrick!

School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day is Thursday, February 15. HCS wants to thank SROs for the many positive contributions including ensuring physical safety, building relationships with students, and educating the entire school community on safety topics and needs.

To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Huntsville City Schools will celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) during March 4-8, 2024.

Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, Huntsville City Schools offer nutritious school breakfasts, complete with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk, to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. HCS will serve breakfast in elementary and middle school cafeterias during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the high schools.

Huntsville City Schools has extended the deadline for Impact Aid Survey submissions. We are asking eligible families to complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey Form electronically by March 8, 2024. Impact Aid provides school districts with additional federal dollars to help support resources in classrooms.

Who is Eligible to Complete the Impact Aid Form?

• Parents/Guardians who work/live on Redstone Arsenal or other federal properties.

• Parents/Guardians on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

• Parents/Guardians who live in federal/public housing communities.

Steps to Complete the Impact Aid Form Electronically:

• Login to the Parent Portal in the PowerSchool app or through the PowerSchool website

• Click on Forms, then click on Huntsville City Impact Aid.

• A form should be completed for each student attending Huntsville City Schools.

• A Spanish version of the form is available at each school.

Creating A New Account in PowerSchool:

A Parent/Guardian can create an account by following these steps:

1. Visit the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

2. Click the Create Account Tab.

3. Click Create Account.

4. Enter your first name, last name, and email address.

5. Enter the student's name, access ID, and access password, and the parent's relationship to the student. Note: access ID and access password are provided by the school.

6. Click Enter.

7. Once the account is created, follow the above directions on how to complete Impact Aid Form electronically.

Request a Spanish Version of the Impact Aid Form:

If a parent/guardian needs a Spanish version, copies are available at each school.

Deadline to Complete Impact Aid Forms:

Impact Aid Forms are due by March 8, 2024.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Student Welfare and Social Services at 256-963-9806.

Parents & students, come out to the VBC East Hall on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and learn about the many educational opportunities available at Huntsville City Schools.

Information Sessions:

• Advanced Placement & Honors Classes

• Career Tech Pathways

• Clubs & Activities

• College Applications

• Course Questions Answered

• Dual Enrollment

• Magnet Programs

• Schedule Building Tips

• More!

2024 Curriculum Showcase Break Out Sessions will be located in Salons 3 and 4 on the 2nd floor of the Saturn Ballroom.

Participants may also enjoy the Jemison Jazz Band and other performances from across the district, including the JROTC Color Guard which will lead the curriculum parade during the morning!

For more information view video 2024 Curriculum Showcase.

The Desegregation Advisory Committee (DAC) is hosting a series of public meetings across the district. These meetings are designed to keep the community informed about the DAC and the implementation of the Consent Order, as well as provide an open forum for community members to ask questions and provide feedback regarding their experiences with the implementation of the Consent Order to the DAC members. These meetings will be held in-person at the following locations and be streamed to the HCS Facebook Page.

DAC Meeting Schedule

• Feb. 20: Columbia Feeder at CHS Auditorium
• Feb. 22: Jemison Feeder at JHS Theater
• March 4: Grissom Feeder at GHS Library Media Center (Cafeteria Entrance)
• March 7: Huntsville Feeder at HHS Lecture Hall
• March 26: Lee Feeder at LHS Auditorium
• April 8: District Meeting at Lee High Auditorium

All meetings will begin at 6 PM.

Lee High School Performing Arts Magnet will be presenting Antigone Now in our Black Box Theater from February 22nd-24th.

In the midst of a bombed-out city still feeling the aftershocks of war, the rebellious and intense Antigone defies her uncle to bury her disgraced brother. This contemporary response to the myth of Antigone brings powerful, modern prose to an ancient and universal story.

The HCS Special Education Department is hosting a series of Parent Training Sessions. These sessions aim to empower parents with valuable insights, tools, and resources to better understand and address the unique needs of students with disabilities to foster a collaborative and supportive community.

Session dates and topics are as follows:

• Feb. 28: Understanding and Supporting School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy
• March 27: Cultivating a Supportive School and Home Environment through De-escalation Strategies
• April 27: Gifted Education in Alabama
• May 14: Unlocking Potential: Parent Training on Extended School Year (ESY) Services
• Aug. 28: Navigating Special Education: Understanding Eligibility Criteria in Alabama's Administrative Code

Huntsville City Schools' Federal Programs Department is proud to announce that it will be hosting an event for the homeless families in our district and surrounding area: North Alabama’s Project Connect. The goal of Project Connect is to provide our current and potential McKinney-Vento families with an opportunity to walk away with knowledge of available community resources as well as a number of tangible resources.

The North Alabama’s Project Connect event will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Jaycee Community Building at John Hunt Park from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM located at 2180 Airport Road SW, Huntsville, AL 35801. Please contact Ms. Nicole Harden (256-529-8905) for any questions.

Visit the Federal Programs Department to register for the event or to register as a volunteer!

Huntsville City Schools is continuing to hire for open positions.

View open positions and apply now by visiting huntsvillecityschools.org/jobs.

View upcoming CNP breakfast and lunch menus:

• February 2024 Dining

The mission of Huntsville City Schools is to inspire, engage, and empower all students in becoming creative problem solvers, active citizens, and life long learners through rigorous curriculum and relevant instruction within a supportive environment. Vision: high expectations, character driven, and student centered. Core values: service minded, transparent, resilient, accountable, team focused, equitable, goal oriented, inclusive, and creative.

Connect with HCS

• Facebook - @huntsvillecityschools
• Twitter - @HSVk12
• Instagram - @huntsvillecityschools

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