Hillcrest Happenings
August 16h, 2022
Message from Principal
We had a great first week of school. The students were excited to be at school. On Thursday we began our grade level meetings. Those will continue this week and next. Please plan on attending so you can receive important information from your child's teacher.
A few reminders:
1. Parents may not get out of their cars during arrivals or dismissal. Please stay in line for the safety of your children.
2. Display your car tag so staff members can enter the number quickly during dismissal.
3. The doors open at 7:15. Students may eat breakfast before going to class. Class starts at 7:45. Students need to finish breakfast by 8:00.
Thank you for sharing your children with us. It is going to be a great year at Hillcrest PDS!
Haley Dean, Principal
Prekindergarten
We had a great first week of PreK! Here’s what we are looking forward to this week:
We are still focusing in routines and procedures. We are practicing how to sit on the carpet, walk in the hallways, and our lunch procedures.
Our theme for the next four weeks is My School and Me. This week we are focusing on our school.
Wonderful Word of the Week: Classmates
Letters of the Week: Letters in the students name
Math: Introducing math tools and manipulatives
Phonological Awareness: Listening skills
Please plan to attend our Pre-K Parent Meeting on August 30th at 5:30pm
We encourage you to come without your child but understand if you are unable to find childcare.
If you haven’t already, please join your students class on Remind:
Mrs. Martinez: @hpdsmtz
Mrs. Campbell: @4663b9
Please let us know if you have any questions!
Mrs. Martinez - Rachel.Martinez@wacoisd.org
Mrs. Campbell - Rosalie.Campbell@wacoisd.org
Kindergarten
The first week of kindergarten was AMAZING!! We are as excited about week 2 and continue learning more about our classmates.
Please plan to attend our parent meeting this Monday, August 22nd from 5:30-6:30. We encourage parents to come without their children, but understand if you are unable to arrange childcare.
This week in Kindergarten:
Reading: We will continue practicing our active listening, turning and talking to a partner, and viewing books appropriately.
Word Study: We will identify our name, classmates' names, and building our names with letters.
Writing: We will learn about writer’s workshop, what that looks like and sounds like.
Math: We will count/compare objects up to 5 and talk about what is 1 more.
Science: We will identify what a scientist is and some of the tools they use. We will practice safe scientist procedures.
Please check take home folders and return them daily.
Stay connected by adding yourself to our classroom Remind 101.
Rabine (Remind): @rabine22
Whatley (Remind): @whatley22
Whitley (Remind): @24kh7d
1st Grade
We appreciate those of you that were able to attend our Parent Meeting! We know that some were unable to come and we plan to share our slide show with you.
This week in first grade we are focusing on our individual values! We will be READING and responding to books about the importance of our names and identities.
In MATH we will be using Math Stations to work on the values of 10 by playing games with 10 frames.
First grade SPELLING words this week are: cat, mat, bat, hat, man, ran, pan, come, like, play. The list you receive will be in four sections to cut apart and use in different areas for practice (for example: car, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom).
We welcome Mrs. Holey's BAYLOR intern, Ms. Chou...and we will be also welcoming 9 Baylor T.A.'s this week. The T.A.'s will be with us until 9:15 Monday through Thursday.
Please be sure you sign up for REMIND if you haven't already done so. Look in your child's blue folder daily for notes and info. Thank you!
2nd Grade
Welcome to week 2 of 2nd grade! We had the best week with our 2nd graders last week and are excited to continue learning and growing together again this week.
Please be sure to attend our Parent Meeting this TUESDAY, August 23rd from 5:30-6:30. We encourage parents to come without their children, but understand if you are unable to arrange childcare.
This week in 2nd Grade:
Reading: Learning how to pick a “just right” book
Phonics: reviewing long/short vowels and double final consonants (floss rule)
*practice spelling test this Friday (please practice words with your child at home… test is not graded this week… we are just practicing how to take a spelling test in 2nd grade!)
Writing: going over the writing process and doing a first draft of “show and tell” writing!
*Please check take home folders for this assignment!
Math: Place value review and practicing math stations
Social Studies: community citizens
Science: all about rocks!
Stay Connected! Please add yourself to our messaging platforms:
Holt (Remind): @Holt22-23
Ronnenberg (Remind): @missronne
alexandra.ronnenberg@wacoisd.org
Whyburn (Class Dojo): link here
(was recently married and has not had her last name changed on her email yet!)
3rd Grade
Week 1 was a BLAST! We enjoyed getting to know each 3rd grader and hope to become strong family units through the rest of the year!
What this week looks like…
3rd Grade Family Meeting - Thursday, August 25 from 5:30-6:30
We will talk about Hillcrest and 3rd Grade expectations. We will also talk about what to expect throughout the year from us and your student.
What are we learning?
Math- We are still working on understanding numbers and their values. You are welcome to ask your student to write out the different forms of a number throughout the week!!
Reading- We are getting a quick first-look at what the year looks like, meaning that we’re going to hit on some of the tough lessons fast as a quick introduction.
Science- This week, we are still focused on what scientists do and how they do it.
We will not be covering strict Social Studies standards this week, but we will be focused on making our classes strong families!
4th Grade
This week in 4th grade we will get to know each other, learn procedures and expectations and begin working on our first units of study.
ELAR: Launching Strong Literacy Habits
Math: Place Value of Whole Numbers and Decimals
Science: Investigating Natural Resources
Social Studies: Thinking Like a Geographer
This week students will complete a "Brown Bag Biography" in which they bring in items special to them and present them to the class. Please bring your items by Wednesday or Thursday so we can learn a little more about each other.
Make sure you have signed up for Remind notifications by texting your class code to 81010.
Mrs. Braswell @gd7662a
Mrs. Hall @bhall4
Ms. Reeves @he9b73
We look forward to a great school year filled with amazing experiences and learning opportunities!
5th Grade
We had a great first week in fifth grade.
This week:
Math- Using the standard algorithm to estimate and solve multiplication and division with whole numbers.
Science- Identifying the forms of energy. MELTS!
Reading/Writing- The habits of good readers.
Save the Date!
Thursday Sept. 1 5:30-6:30
5th grade parent meeting.
Feel free to contact us through remind or email us!
~The fabulous fifth grade team~
Mrs. Land holly.land@wacoisd.org
Mr. Dossey lenard.dossey@wacoisd.org
Ms. Hardin tracey.hardin@wacoisd.org
Specials
What a great start to the 2022-2023 school year. The focus of the first week in all Specials classes has been implementing and reviewing procedures and expectations. The students have done a wonderful job remembering and learning what to do in each class. Keep up the great work Hillcrest Dolphins!
The HPDS PTA is ready for another great year!
Are you curious about the Hillcrest PTA? What do they do? Should I join? Do I have to pay?
Throughout the year, PTA members will be the first to know about opportunities at the school. Membership is FREE (donations are accepted). Joining the PTA does NOT mean that you are signing up to volunteer but we'd love to have you! It simply means that you are wanting to support the Hillcrest PTA activities and mission!
In the past, the PTA has been able to provide things like: Fall Carnival, Book Fair, Inflatables for Field Day, Dismissal Software for carpool lines, Ice Cream Social, Teacher and Staff Appreciation days, field trip lunches and so much more. The theme this year is ELEVATE and we have some new ideas that will help the PTA elevate our school even more!
Hillcrest PDS is truly a wonderful community of students, school staff, and family members and we can’t do what we do without you!
