What's Buzzing at the Heights
Week 10: October 18-22, 2021
Message from the Principal
Dear Hornet Families,
Welcome to Week 10 of school!
We had a great turn out for Fall Intersession Learning Camp. Thank you to all that participated and continued to reach your personal goals in math, reading and science. I was so proud to see all the scholars and teachers that took advantage of the small group and face to face learning! Woo hoo Hornets!
STUDENTS return to school on Tuesday, October 19.
TEACHERS return to school on Monday, October 18 for Professional Development.
I hope that you each had time to relax and enjoy your families. With every break, I hope that you all work to build memories. Our children are growing so fast and we must make the time to enjoy them and instill in them family values. This intersession, I traveled with my family to Montana to rest, get away from social media/internet, bake, read books and enjoy nature. We did some fly fishing and had a wonderful time on the Bighorn River. We also enjoyed 3 days of snow! I hope that you all had the opportunity to slow down, share some good meals together and bond.
As we return for Marking Period 2, MP2, I ask for your continued support to encourage and support your children to stay healthy and attend school daily. We will all be ready to receive our scholars which we have missed dearly. This marking period, the curriculum will begin to move faster and the children will be challenged daily. Help us out by monitoring their homework and ensuring they are doing their Lexia (3-5 units daily) and reading with someone or to someone for 20 minutes daily. If you need any support, please reach out to the teachers via ClassDojo and/or phone calls. We are all here to assist.
Small Group instruction will be a huge part of our marking period. Children will have the time to work with the teacher in a small group of 3-6 students to review, re-apply, and better understand the concepts in math and reading. Ask your child if they are a part of small group. Ask them to demonstrate for you the skills they are working on. Together, we will all work to grow their capacity in applying their math and reading skills.
Instruction begins promptly at 7:30 AM. The TARDY bell is at 7:30 AM. We thank you for making every effort to be on time daily!
Masks.
We are still in a pandemic and I do ask that you make the choice that is best for you and your family. We will still offer masks daily as we want to keep everyone as safe as possible. We hope that you will continue to support our efforts to keep our children, teachers and team safe.
Indoors: masks are highly encouraged for all.
Buses: masks are required for all scholars on the bus.
Parking.
I ask for your continued support to use the drop off/pick up lines daily. We have all hands on deck to support a quick arrival/dismissal. I ask that you NOT park in the areas by the buses and by our teacher parking lot. That area is private property and citations will be issued. We have marked the area with cones and barrels. DO NOT cross those barriers. We need to work together to use the drop off and pick up lines. I appreciate your support!
Attendance.
Now that we have been in school for 34 days, we are making contact with families that have 5 or more absences. I urge you to continue to send in doctor's notes. When we have a doctor's note, we are able to code the absence as excused. It is vital that scholars do not miss more than 17 days in a school year. At absence 18, scholars are in Loss of Credit. They will have to attend additional tutoring to regain credit to be promoted to the next grade. I will explain more as we meet this week.
Breakfast in the Classroom.
Our district will provide breakfast in the classroom for ALL scholars. Breakfast in the Classroom, BIC, will be served daily from 7:15 AM to 7:30 AM. Please be on time to take advantage of the most important meal of the day.
Meal Applications.
Please complete the meal application this week. If you do not qualify, it will take you less than 5 minutes. Be sure to enter ALL of your children and their respective schools. https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
We still need 20 families to please COMPLETE the survey as soon as possible. It will help us gain funding for next school year. Thanks in advance!
Change of Clothes.
Please send a change of clothing for scholars in PK, Kinder and 1st graders. In a ziplock bag, place a shirt, short, undergarment and socks. We will when the children have an accident. You will be notified. Please check your child's backpack daily.
Picking Up Students.
Due to traffic, we will not be able to release students after 2 PM. If you have a doctor's appointment, please pick them up before 2 PM so that you can make your appointment.
Safety.
The building will be cleaned throughout the day in high traffic areas to ensure safety. We will have hand sanitizing stations at all classrooms, restrooms, cafeteria and playground. If you wish for your child to wear a mask, please send them with a mask that fits them comfortably. If you requested a shield for your child's desk, they will have access to a shield. We will all monitor and collaborate to keep our team and families safe!
If at any time you have a concern or question, do not hesitate to email us or call us. We are here to help and ensure we all collaborate together.
Thank you for your continued support! We are blessed with an amazing learning community! Together, we are better!
Respectfully,
Jenifer Hansen
Proud Principal of Horizon Heights ES
Office Number: 915-937-7402
Parent Teacher Conferences
Date: Monday, October 25
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Your Child's Classroom
Teachers will begin to make contact on Wednesday. We do ask that you make an appointment so we can all social distance. Check your calendars and let's make the best of this golden opportunity.
We thank you in advance for collaborating with our team!
Meal Applications DUE
Our district sent out an email to the primary parent, the parent that registered the child, to complete the meal application. If you received the email, your family needs to complete the meal application.
The purpose of this application is to provide funding for our campus. I urge each of you to help me out! Please complete the meal application this week. If you do not qualify, it will take you less than 5 minutes. Be sure to enter ALL of your children and their respective schools. https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
PLEASE continute to complete the Meal Application! We appreciate your support!
You can do it!
House Bill 4545
House Bill 4545 is a recent law that requires accelerated instruction to help support student learning loss in grades 3, 4, 5. Regardless of grade, students that failed or did not test a STAAR subject qualifying assessment for a course that they were enrolled in last year require 30 hours of Targeted accelerated Instruction (TAI).
Currently teachers are keeping track of this support time as it is being provided; however, intersession is a key time for helping to achieve the milestone of state required support. So, I respectfully ask that you please take into consideration the need for our staff to support our students during this time, and please send your child to our Fall Intersession Learning Camp for the more targeted and more prescriptive delivery of academic support.
We have met with 50 families to date. We are still pending meeting with 15 families. These HB4545 meetings will be scheduled for this week.
Lexia
Scholars in Kinder are encouraged to earn 3 units per day.
Scholars in 1st through 5th grade are encouraged to earn 5 units per day.
We will issue certificates on a weekly basis for scholars that move a level up. We are excited to announce the following scholars that have already LEVELED up:
Honoring Scholars from September 26 to October 1, 2021
Attendance, Week 9
This week's attendance percentages as as follows:
- PreKinder: 91.18% to 91.58%
- Kinder: 92.54% to 94.14%
- 1st Grade: 95.52% to 93.58%
- 2nd Grade: 94.96% to 87.63%
- 3rd Grade: 96.82% to 97.73% (Excellent work!)
- 4th Grade: 93.38% to 94.05%
- 5th Grade: 91.53% to 95.74% (Way to go!)
Total for Horizon Heights, Week 9: 93.70%;
Year to Date: 94.16% (we are the 3rd highest elementary in the district);
TeamSISD is at 93.50% as a district.
Stay healthy and make it count! Be at school daily, when your child is healthy!
We will have a great year Hornets!
Classes with Perfect Attendance
The following classes have FREE DRESS on Wednesday:
- No Classes had Perfect Attendance.
Be at school when you are healthy! We can do this Hornets!
Reporting Absences
Email: attendancehorizonheights@sisd.net
Please include as much detail as possible:
- Child's name
- Grade
- Teacher
- Student ID
- Reason for the absence
All notes will be collected via this email as well. Be sure to include details in the note as the child returns to class.
If they have a doctor’s note, it must be included in the email as an attachment.
You can also go to this email address to get the attendance note to submit:
When to Use E-SWIPE
Parents' Corner for Supporting Scholars
We are honored to serve alongside you as we all build capacity in our scholars!
Book Reviews
Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen transports readers to a corner of history with this inspiring story of a girl who discovers the strength of her people united in resisting oppression.
Grades: 3rd, 4th and 5th
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Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller.
In time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, master storyteller Alan Gratz (Refugee) delivers a pulse-pounding and unforgettable take on history and hope, revenge and fear -- and the stunning links between the past and present.
September 11, 2001, New York City: Brandon is visiting his dad at work, on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Out of nowhere, an airplane slams into the tower, creating a fiery nightmare of terror and confusion. And Brandon is in the middle of it all. Can he survive -- and escape?
September 11, 2019, Afghanistan: Reshmina has grown up in the shadow of war, but she dreams of peace and progress. When a battle erupts in her village, Reshmina stumbles upon a wounded American soldier named Taz. Should she help Taz -- and put herself and her family in mortal danger?
Two kids. One devastating day. Nothing will ever be the same.
Grades: 4th and 5th
What's For Lunch?
At the top, you have the option to view Breakfast or Lunch.
Here is the way to see what's for lunch:
https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/HorizonHeightsElementary
If we must make a change due to vendor shortages, we will inform the students on morning announcements.
Spirit Shirts are In
We will sell for the next week on: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We will sell from 8:00 AM till 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. After we return from Fall Intersession, we will sell on Tuesdays ONLY from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.
Shirts are $10.00 each and we have all sizes available at this time. Kinder – 5th grade are green. Only Pre-K will purchase red with this year’s logo.
Team Members Ready to Assist
Here is a list of phone numbers, emails and the team members that will assist you with any questions you may have as we transition into Face to Face Instruction:
Horizon Heights Office 937-7400
- Any questions or concerns
Mrs. Hansen, Principal, email: jhanse@sisd.net, 937-7402
Mrs. Carrillo, Assistant Principal, email: ecarri@sisd.net, 937-7403
Ms. E. Gamez, Assistant Principal, egamez04@sisd.net, 937-7427
Mrs. Salazar, Counselor, email: asalaz12@sisd.net, 937-7421
Mrs. Valdez, Counselor, email: bvalde@sisd.net, 937-7420
Ms. Ortega, Librarian, email: sorteg@sisd.net, 937-7414
Administrators' Contact Information
Jenifer Hansen, Principal
Email: jhanse@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7402
Edith Carrillo, Assistant Principal
Email: ecarri@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7403
Elida Gamez, Assistant Principal
Email: egamez04@sisd.net
Office Phone: 915-937-7427
As always, we are honored to work with each of you! Do not hesitate to ask any question which you have about the new school year!
Calendar of Events
Scholars return on Tuesday, October 19
National School Bus Safety Week
Week 10, Monday, October 18:
- 10th Week of School, start of MP2
- No school for scholars
Tuesday, October 19:
- Welcome back Hornets!
- Money for Gummy Bear Fundraiser is DUE
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
- SISD School Board Meeting, 6 PM
Wednesday, October 20:
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
- Wear PINK tops and jeans (no holes/rippes) in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness
Thursday, October 21:
- Wear your college shirt and jeans
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Friday, October 22:
- Wear a school spirit shirt & jeans
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Week 11, Monday, October 25:
- Wear your TeamSISD shirt and jeans
- Red Ribbon: Twin Day, Dress like a Friend
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
- Parent Teacher Conferences, 4-6 PM (Report Cards)
Tuesday, October 26:
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
- Red Ribbon: Fave Jersey Day with jeans
Wednesday, October 27:
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
- Wear PINK tops and jeans (no holes/rippes) in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness
- Red Ribbon: PJ Day, please wear tennis shoes
Thursday, October 28:
- Wear your college shirt and jeans
- Red Ribbon: Crazy Sock Day
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Friday, October 29:
- Wear a school spirit shirt & jeans
- Red Ribbon: Costume Day
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Week 12, Monday, November 1:
- Wear your TeamSISD shirt and jeans
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Tuesday, November 2:
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Wednesday, November 3:
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Thursday, November 4:
- Wear your college shirt and jeans
- Verify all work turned in as grades are due on Friday at 8 AM
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Friday, November 5:
- Wear a school spirit shirt & jeans
- Read for 20 minutes afterschool
Saturday, November 6:
- Saturday Learning Camp, 8 AM to 11 AM
Eastlake Feeder Schools
https://www.smore.com/1akh6-eastlake-high-school
Col. John O. Ensor MS, Mr. Stephen Fernandez:
Desert Wind School, Ms. Leticia Terrazas:
Dr. Sue Shook ES: Ms. Cristina Chavira:
Mission Ridge ES: Mr. Jesus Mendez:
Jenifer J. Hansen
Email: jhanse@sisd.net
Website: https://www.sisd.net/horizonheightses
Location: 13601 Ryderwood Avenue, Horizon City, TX, USA
Phone: (915) 308-6570
Twitter: @HHeights_ES