Holland Elementary School Message
August 23, 2019
Hello HES Families,
We're getting closer to the start of the school year, and hopefully there's some excitement building in your home about our first day. I'm passing along some previous reminders along with some new information for families. I'd like to pass along one item that may be helpful for both new and returning families.
Although the teachers and I routinely send messages with pertinent information, it's typical for parents to have questions about school policies and procedures. If you ever have a question, always feel free to call or email a teacher, the office staff, or me. However, the answers to many questions from families can be found in our HES Parent Student Handbook. It covers so many areas including early dismissal, absences, family trips, classroom parties, special services, etc. You can find a link to the handbook on the front page of our school's website. Or you can click the following LINK.
Certainly, I don't expect families to download this document for light reading on the beach over the next week. But it can be a very useful reference throughout the school year for questions that you may have and it'll allow you to get answers very quickly.
OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES - THURSDAY, AUGUST 29th
AM Kindergarten Open House - 12:00 pm
PM Kindergarten Open House - 1:30 pm
First through Sixth Grade Open House - 2:30 pm
New Access System for Entering Holland Elementary School
As part of Council Rock’s increasing focus on security, a new front entrance access system was added to our building over the summer. Please be advised that our front doors will always be locked now as a result of this new security enhancement. The new, secure entry system includes enhanced features that Front Office staff will use to verify visitor identity and permit front door entry.
In order to gain access to the Front Office of our building now, the following will occur:
- School visitors will push an audio intercom button located at our front door entry area.
- School visitors will use the front entry audio intercom system to communicate their identity and purpose of visit with a Front Office staff member.
- Front Office staff member will confirm visitor identity using the new system’s camera feature and permit Front Office access.
Once in the Front Office, visitors will sign in as a building guest, show ID, and complete the Raptor identification process to receive a visitor tag. Please always be prepared to show ID.
Transportation Information
In addition, if you have questions regarding bus stops and times or other transportation-related issues, please call the transportation team at 215-944-1010. This is a fantastic group of people who are poised to assist, and they can best answer specific parent questions. As a general rule, buses aim for +/- 5 minutes on the arrival/drop-off time at the stop, so please note that the time on HAC is an estimate. Also, the transportation department make tweaks for at least two/three weeks after school has started…typically not wholesale changes, but times or stop locations may be adjusted for a number of reasons.
To access bus information for your child, simply log on to HAC through a link on the left side of the school district or HES home page. If you encounter any issues with logging into your account, there are email links for support at the bottom of HAC webpage.
PBIS - Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
This year we will be rolling out our new Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports plan. This plan will replace our previously used Four Pillars program and Feather rewards. Our new program is designed to improve classroom and school climate, integrate academic and behavior initiatives, improve support for all students, increase preventive management, and maximize academic achievement.
Here are a few items about the program:
- During the opening days of school, the teachers will be introducing the students to the program through a variety of lessons. Teachers will cover the three positively stated school rules: Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Kind.
- Students will learn the specific behaviors necessary to follow the rules across all environments in the school.
- A school-wide reinforcement plan will be implemented and data will be collected.
- Individualized behavioral interventions and reinforcements help us meet the students’ needs.
- HES works together as a positive community with consistent expectations.
Summer Resources for Children
It's not too late for students to work on their skills before school starts. Below you'll find a list of resources available to students to help them stay sharp in Reading and Math. These are activities that the children may find to be very entertaining.
In addition, you'll also find summer reading lists at the following links:
Kindergarten Orientation
The Kindergarten Orientation will be on Thursday, August 29th at 12:00 for students in the AM program, and it will be at 1:30 for the children in the PM program.
There will not be a Back to School Night presentation scheduled for kindergarten, and this is a practice at other elementary schools in the district. Here is the rationale: It's necessary to provide a lot of information to parents of kindergarten students before the first day of school. In the past, parents have expressed that information during the kindergarten Back to School Night presentation was redundant and already communicated during the orientation. Further, these parents missed out on the opportunity to attend a presentation from another grade level.
However, if a family is away or a parent is working on the day of the orientation, it won't be a problem at all. Parents simply have to contact Mrs. Mingacci, and she'll work out a time to meet with the parents(s) to share information.
Open House
Also, the staff and I ask that families visit only with their current teacher. The teachers want to make themselves available as much as possible to speak with new students and parents. I’m sure that the teachers would love to catch up with former students and parents, but this is a time for meeting with current teachers only. Thanks for your help!
School Supply Lists
Supply lists are available for families looking to find supplies for the 2019-2020 school year. Click HERE to find links to the lists for your child.
Here is some information to know about using Yubbler:
- One-click ordering makes back-to-school shopping simple.
- All lists are aligned with the supply lists created by the HES teachers.
- Parents can customize orders (buy only what you need).
- There are quality, name-brand products.
- There is free next-day shipping to your home.
- Prices are comparable to those of Office Depot and Target.
- The school gets half the profits.
Many children enjoy shopping for school supplies, and the activity can help them get excited about the next school year. But if parents would like to explore the online option at Yubbler, they can access the site at https://www.yubbler.com/Yub/Details/30822.
Reading Rocks! Summer Reading Challenge!
Don't forget about our Reading Rocks! Summer Reading Challenge! Students who complete this challenge must return their completed and signed reading logs no later than September 5, 2019.
The class with the most signed and completed forms will be entered to win new books for its classroom library.
Also, all completed logs will be entered into a drawing to earn gift cards to the Newtown Bookshop and Friends Grille in Newtown. Only one student in grades K-3, and one student in grades 4-6 will earn these exciting rewards.
More details and reading logs can be found at the following link:
https://sites.google.com/crsd.org/reading-rocks-summer-reading-c
Back to School Nights
Pennsylvania Free and Reduced Lunch
Please click on this LINK to learn more about Pennsylvania’s Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Applications will be distributed in hard copy to students during the first week of school.
Chartwells Lunch Prices
2019-2020 Council Rock Calendar
The School Board recently approved the 2019-2020 district calendar. You can find it at the following LINK.
Announcements
Please visit the Volunteer link regarding information on volunteer clearances.
Click on the following link to access the monthly menu online: http://crsd.nutrislice.com/.
Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, August 29th – Kindergarten Orientation – AM Kindergarten at 12:00 pm and PM Kindergarten at 1:30 pm
- Thursday, August 29th – Open House for Students in Grades First through Sixth (2:30 pm - 3:30 pm)
- Monday, September 2nd – Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 3rd – First Day of School
- Wednesday, September 4th – Back to School Night – Fourth through Sixth (7:00 pm)
- Thursday, September 5th – Back to School Night – Grades First through Third (7:00 pm)
- Friday, September 6th – PTO Back to School Social (6:30 pm)
- Friday, September 13th - Picture Day
E-Friday Folder
Here are the latest flyer on our school's E-Friday Folder:
2019-2020 Free and Reduced Application Packet
Joe MacClay
Principal
Holland Elementary School
597 Beverly Road
Holland, PA 18966
Email: jmacclay@crsd.org
Website: http://www.crsd.org/Domain/1212
Phone: 215-944-1500
Twitter: @HollandElem