HILL HAPPENINGS
#HillHasHeart Edition - November 2022
A Note from the Principal
Hello Hill Families,
I hope that everyone had a restful intersession break whether you went on vacation, had a "staycation", or your child attended intersession. It's hard to believe that we are starting our second marking period and the holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving right around the corner. On that note, I'd like to express my gratitude to our Hill families for 100% attendance for our Fall parent/teacher conferences. It takes a partnership and we as a school family are grateful for your support and participation in your child's education.
In this newsletter I have included details about our District's Cool to Care Campaign, expectations on cell phones, smart watches, and other paraphernalia, as well as other important information about the happenings at Hill.
We have a family event coming up at the end of the month. Please look for a separate note to come home soon about Pancakes with Clause. We hope to see you there!
As always please contact your child's teacher or our office with any questions. Thank you for sharing your children with us!
Respectfully,
Mrs. Burke, Ed.S.
Proud Hill Principal
Cool to Care Campaign
Important information from our DCS Parent and Student Handbook 2022/2023
The Davison Community Schools Parent and Student Handbook is posted online and hard copies are available upon request. I've copied the link below for your conveneince. Although District rules and procedures are reviewed with students at school, we understand that the partnership that we have with our parents/guardians play a critical role. It takes a team effort of cooperation and individual responsibilty to achieve the safest and best educational environment for our students, families, and faculty.
I'm highlingting 2 ares of our handbook in this month's newsletter. Please know that this includes cellphones, smart watches, or other paraphernalia that has the ability to game, record, snap pictures etc. In all honesty, these devices are a major distraction to the learning environment and make it very difficult for our children to focus. If you reveiw the handbook, you can see that consequences for any violation of our District handbook are progressive in nature, due to age/development, as well as frequency of offenses.
K. Improper Use or Possession of Electronic Devices: Electronic games or other paraphernalia, and digital cameras are not to be used/played or operated without permission of the teacher. In all buildings, use of these devices may be permitted under special circumstances with permission of the classroom teacher and/or administrator. Cell phone use during before- or after-school activities is at the discretion of the coach, director, or other adult in charge. Cell phones, electronic music players and games may be permitted during bus rides. They may not be used when boarding or exiting the bus. These items are the responsibility of the student. The school assumes no responsibility for lost, broken or stolen items. Taking pictures, video or audio recordings of any staff or student, or drawing pictorial representations of students or staff without their permission is not allowed. These may not be posted on any internet sites or disseminated in any fashion to other individuals.
Elementary First offense – warning. Second offense – warning and parent notification. Third offense – warning, detention, restorative practices, parent must pick up device in office. After the third offense, the student may no longer be permitted to possess the device on school grounds. Additional suspension up to 3 days may result from repeated violations.
L. Cell Phones/Electronic Devices: In the elementary and middle school buildings, cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices are to be used for emergency purposes only and after school hours. Their use during the school day presents a disruption to the educational process. Cell phones must be turned off and put away in the student’s locker at Hahn Intermediate and Davison Middle School during school hours. At Davison High School and Davison Alternative Education, cell phones may only be used before school, after school, during passing time and during a student’s lunch time in the cafeteria In all buildings, use of cell phones may be permitted under special circumstances with permission of the classroom teacher and/or administrator. Cell phones may be permitted during bus rides. They may not be used when boarding or exiting a bus. Students are prohibited from using cell phones/cameras to capture, record or transmit the words (i.e., audio) and/or images (i.e., pictures/video) of any student, staff member or other person in the school or while attending a school-related activity, without express prior notice and explicit consent for the capture, recording or transmission/posting of such words or images. Using a cell phone/camera to take or transmit/post audio and/or pictures/video of an individual without his/her consent is considered an invasion of privacy and is not permitted unless authorized by the building principal. Students who violate this provision, violate the privacy rights of another person may have their cell phone confiscated and given to law enforcement. No expectation of confidentiality will exist in the use of cell phones on school premises/ property.
Elementary First offense – warning. Second offense – device taken and sent home at the end of the day and parent notification. Third offense – warning, detention, parent must pick up device in office. After the third offense, the student may no longer be permitted to possess the device on school grounds. ** Additional suspension up to 3 days may result from repeated violations or taking or transmitting pictures/ video/ audio recordings.
Davison Community Schools Parent and Student Handbook
Cardinal's Nest is hiring for mulitiple positions!
Attendance Line - Available 24/7
Counselor's Corner
Routines
If you haven’t created a schedule or developed routines with your child, now is the time to do it. Research says that children (even adolescents) thrive on boundaries and routines.
Be consistent with where a child should do homework: the kitchen table or a desk are good options. Set aside time for homework. Does he/she do homework before or after dinner?
Look through your child’s take-home folder and back pack every day.
Have your child put the homework folder in a designated place for you to look at if you aren’t home when he/she gets off the bus. If you don’t have a place, use a basket or a box and put it somewhere that you won’t overlook it.
Have your child repack the backpack before going to bed.
They can pick out clothes and get lunch and snack items ready the night before, to help the morning run smoothly.
If your child switches from one house to another during the week, be sure that the other parent is consistent with routines, to keep your child successful
Sincerely,
Mrs. Thompson
Counselor
MTSS Interventionist/Coach - Mrs. Buzzell
Interventions are well under way and so far we are having a successful start. The children seem to be happy to approach reading in a new format. They have conveyed that they are happy to come to the RISE room and have been working extremely hard while they are here.
We have done progress monitoring on all of our students, and the gains thus far have been astounding. Although we are looking at patterns and trends over time, we must celebrate our successes as well. I continue to be extremely proud of your children and the staff that participates in interventions. As a team, we are sure to see continued growth.
Many parents would like to support their child at home with their learning. Included in the monthly newsletter will be simple activities that you can do at home to help your child. We are seeing academic needs, in the area of phonemic awareness . Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and distinguish sounds.
This includes:
Recognizing sounds, alone and in words
Adding sounds to words
Taking apart words and breaking them into their different sounds -
Moving sounds
Home Activities:
☐ Play “I Spy” with your child, but instead of giving a color say, “I spy something that starts with /b/.” or “I spy something with these sounds, /d/ /ŏ/ /g/.”
☐ Play a game in which you say a word and your child has to break apart all the sounds. Ask your child to stretch out a word like dog and he/she can pretend to stretch a word with a rubber band. Your child should say /d/ /ŏ/ /g/.
☐ Play the “Silly Name Game”. Replace the first letter of each family member’s name with a different letter. For example, ‘Tob’ for ‘Bob’, ‘Watt’ for ‘Matt’, etc.
Music Notes from Mrs. DuPrey
We have had a very busy month in music class!! In first and second grade we have started preparing our songs for our Holiday Concert! The concert will be held at Davison High School on Tuesday December 6th, at 7:00pm. Students are to arrive at 6:40 in the choir room of the High School dressed in their Sunday best! Notes will be coming home soon with more information about the concert and how you can help. Also students will be receiving speaking parts when we return from break! Some of the songs we have learned are: "Jingle In My Heart", and "Our Night To Shine". Ask your child which one is their favorite and see if they can sing it at home. The students have been doing such a wonderful job learning the songs and I can’t wait for the concert!
In third grade we have been focused on rhythm notation. Hopefully you received some of your child's work from music class at parent teacher conferences. We are going to begin work on our first composition when we return from intersession. This composition will focus on ABA form.
In fourth grade we just finished our first compositions!!! The students were asked to work in pairs, and write a melody using tonic and dominant patterns in major tonality. Then, they had to memorize their melody and add a harmony part, and finally perform their song to their class. I am SO proud of their work on this project! When we return from intersession we will be starting our last composition project for the year.
As the holidays approach it is always a treat to attend a concert or play with the family! The Whiting in Flint is offering a Holiday Pops concert on Saturday December 17th, and the Nutcracker Ballet on December 3rd & 4th. Tickets can be purchased through The Whiting.
Mrs. DuPrey
Mrs. DuPrey
Fitness Fun with Mr. Whitman
I hope everyone had a wonderful week off for intersession. After a few cancellations, my daughter and wife were finally able to take their trip to Disney. I stayed home with the other kids, but still had a great break.
The school year is off to a great start. We worked on 2 units this fall so far. We finished our soccer unit a few weeks back and wrapped up a short football unit right before we left for break. The students also completed some of their fall fitness testing. Students in grades 1-4 took a half mile test and also completed a situp test.
As we return from break, please remember to send shoes with your students on PE days. Boots are not allowed for safety reasons, we don't want anyone to get hurt. Some of our favorite units are coming up with volleyball next followed by basketball.
Go Cards!
Mr. Whitman
Thanks,
jdwhitman@davisonschools.org
Library News
October was a busy month. We reviewed alphabetizing of books, correct placement of books on the library shelves, and proper book care.
Our Hill Elementary Fall Book Fair was very well received. Students enjoyed the great selection of books the fair had to offer. A special thank you to our volunteers who assisted with the book fair. All purchases made at the book fair will help support our library book collection.
As we head into November, we will be reading books about thankfulness, kindness, and friendship. We will also spotlight the author, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Crystal
PTO NEWS
Next Meeting is Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30 in the Hill Library. We would love to have you join us!
Spirit Wear Store is NOW open through November 13! New items added October 26! Visit Hill Elementary – K&C's Special T's & Cool Beans Graphics (kcspecialts.com) to order or scan the QR code on the flyer!
Please join us November 29th from 5-7 pm for Pancakes with Santa! We have missed our annual Chris Cakes experience during covid. Photos with Santa are $5. Information will be coming home soon.
Upcoming Popcorn dates: November 18 and December 16.
Thank you for all the can donations! Please reach out to any PTO members if you still have cans you would like to donate.
22/23 PTO Officers
President: Danielle Wenzel
Vice President: Lindsay Brandon
Treasurer: Autumn Spears
Secretary: Haily Wilford
PTO email: Hillptogroup@gmail.com
Mark your calendar:
Nov. 7th School Resumes
Nov. 8th Election Day
Nov. 9th Kick off to Cool to Care
Nov. 11th Veteran's Day
Nov. 16th Hats off to Giving (Hat day with $1.00 donation for Cool to Care)
Nov. 18th Popcorn Friday
Nov. 23rd Giving isn't Crazy (Crazy sock day with $1.00 donation for Cool to Care)
Nov. 24th Thanksgiving
Nov. 25th NO SCHOOL
Nov. 29th Pancakes w/Clause
Nov. 30th Table of Honor Getting Comgy with Giving (PJ day with $1.00 donation for Cool to Care)
Dec. 5th PTO Mtg @ 5:30
Dec. 6th Grade 1/2 Concert
Dec. 7th Giving is Sweet (Dress like a candy cane in red & white with $1.00 donation for Cool to Care)
October Table of Honor
Congratulations to our October Table of honor students! These students were recognized by their classroom teachers for being leaders of Cardinal Code in their classrooms and throughout the building. They sat at a special table during lunch and I was the lucky one who got to eat lunch with them! Congratulations to the following students: Rowen McDonald, Wendel Kurz, Lilly Bontrager, Lucy Horst, Jameson Dresbach, Benjamin Hitchcock, Tiernan Moore, Talon Reed, Noelle Lashley, and Zachary Wenzel. Our December Table of Honor is on Wednesday, December 21st.
2nd Grade Table of Honor
1st Grade Table of Honor
Kindergarten Table of Honor
3rd Grade Table of Honor: Talon Reed & Tiernan Moore
4th Grade Table of Honor: Zachary Wenzel & Noelle Lashley
Positive Office Referrals
Amelia Cussans
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