Dear Huntley Hills Families,

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful summer and looking forward to an exciting school year! I am happy to continue to serve as the principal of Huntley Hills, a Cognia STEM certified school!

Our school-wide theme this year is "Aim High: Accelerating student learning for a changing world". We challenge our tigers to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. Excelling students education is our top priority and ask for your help by staying connected with your teacher, attending parent/teacher conferences, monitoring homework, making sure your child is at school and on time, and attending our school events.

Although there is a teacher shortage across the country, I am happy to announce HHES is 100% staffed to begin the school year! We have a dynamic group of educators and faculty to make our school warm, welcoming, and successful! Click here to learn about our new staff!

This year we are monitoring school uniforms closely. We highly encourage students to wear their school uniforms. Students will receive tiger bucks and incentives throughout the school year. Click here for the uniform policy.

I am excited to announce our new playground is being installed this month! We are thankful to DeKalb County School District for providing our school with new playground equipment and a new digital marquee.

As a reminder, Open House/Meet the Teacher is Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Please follow the last name guide below. Parents can bring school supplies to avoid the first day of school supply drop off.

If you are unable to make Open House, no worries, the school is open M-F from 8:00am-2:00pm to get registered starting July 24.

Dates to Remember:

July 31-Teachers return-Welcome back!

August 2-Open House/Meet the Teacher- 9am-1pm (bring proof of residency)

Last names beginning M-Z 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Last names beginning A-L 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

August 3-New Parent Orientation and donut social from 8:30am-9:30am-- New Tiger Info Session & Student Social: RSVP Here

August 5-Back-to-School Beautification Day Volunteer: Sign Up Here

August 7-First day of school; doors open at 7:00am

Our tigers are ROARING back into another successful school year!

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to many celebrations throughout the year!

Proud to Serve,

Mia Bradshaw, Principal

#WeRunAsOne

Twitter

Wednesday, August 2, 2023 9AM-1PM (Registration & Meet the Teacher)

Last names beginning M-Z 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Last names beginning A-L 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

• Proof of Residency-Please complete the Infinite Campus verification link. You will receive a FAST PASS.

• Affidavit (Proof of Residency)-If you live with an individual, you will need to provide proof of residency with a completed and notarized affidavit. The form must be notarized. You can pick up an affidavit from the front office the week of July 24 from 8:00AM-3:00PM.

• PTA-PTA will be selling spirit wear t-shirts & other HHES items. You can also join PTA, donate to help fund our projects that help students and teachers, as well as sign up to volunteer. It is a good idea to bring cash, credit cards or checks. PTA is happy to offer credit card services for your convenience, and an additional fee will be charged.

• Email communication- Sign up for our Tiger Talk emails from PTA to stay informed about upcoming events and important info. Please plan to sign Up for Weekly Tiger Talk: https://hhespta.square.site/#ZEQvWw or at Open House.

• Afterschool (Tiger-Time)-HHES provide after school care. Tiger time will have a table in the Cafeteria to register your child for after school care. After care is 2:45-6:00, M-F. The registration fee is $25.00 and $60 each week for 1 child. Please bring cash, money order, or a check for the registration fee and first week payment.

• Volunteers Needed!- If you are able to help during Open House on Aug. 2 between 9am-2pm, help is needed for Tiger House t-shirt sales, assisting parents with Constant Contact, greeters, cashiers, help parents sign-up to volunteer throughout the year, etc. Any amount of time you can offer is appreciated!!!!

• Beautification Day-Join us for a back-to-school beautification and sidewalk chalk decorating on Aug. 5. PTA will provide the chalk to decorate, as well as supplies to rake and do general clean up. Join us and get to know our school community!

WELCOME! We are PAWSitively happy you are here!

___________Station 1: Welcome and show your FAST PASS

**if your child is returning and you have not completed the annual verification, bring your proof of residency and proceed to room 102**.

Pre-K students will go to their classroom.

New students/Transfer from another DeKalb School or out of state report to the Media Center.

___________Station 2: Free & Reduced Lunch registration (all new and returning students unless parents know they are ‘exempt')

___________Station 3: Transportation/Bus Routes/Car Riders/Walkers/Tiger Time

___________Station 4: PTA Table – see how to sign up for PTA Membership and find out about great events coming up this year, and purchase spirit wear! Our school is only as good as our volunteers!

___________Station 5: Find out your child’s teacher

Now, proceed to your child’s classroom to meet the teacher and sign-up to be a room parent and complete final registration paperwork.

The first day of school is August 7th. Doors open at 7:00am

Parents of returning students should complete DCSD's annual verification registration in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. You will receive a FAST PASS. Complete by 11:59pm Sunday, July 30th

Log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal to complete DCSD Annual Verification Registration.

Directions on how to complete the annual verification, click here!

Parents/Guardians must have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account to verify/update their student(s) information.

Parents/guardians who do not already have a portal account should visit here for instructions.

Parents/guardians who have forgotten their portal username and/or password should click on the Forgot username? or Forgot password? link as appropriate on the portal login page

Pre-K parents please bring the following documents to Open House. We will make copies for you!

• Parent/Guardian ID
• Original birth certificate
• Immunizations
• Hearing/Vision and Dental form
• SS # (optional)
• Copy of public assistance (Medicaid or food stamps)

ESTUDIANTES DE PRE-KINDER SELECCIONADOS PARA EL 2023-204

• Identificación de padre / tutor

• Acta de nacimiento original

• Formulario de vacunación

• Formulario de audición, visión y odontología

• SS # (opcional)

• Copia de asistencia pública (Medicaid o cupones de alimentos)

WELCOME NEW FAMILIES!

*New This Year!* We've created a special place for our New Tiger families (incoming students - any grade!) to get the information they need and make new friends!

Adults will meet in the Media Center with our Principal, Dr. Bradhshaw, and PTA President, Amanda Hall.

Students will meet on our new playground for snacks, crafts, and fun!

Please RSVP here: https://fb.me/e/12UW5akl8

School safety continues to be a priority. Our school participates in safety drills:

• Fire and Tornado drills
• Level 1, 2, and 3 Intruder Lockdown drills

During the school day, we ensure the following safety measures are taken:

• All classroom doors remain closed and locked at all times.
• Exterior doors remain locked at all times and are not propped open for any reason.
• Exterior doors will not be opened for visitors.
• All visitors must come to the front of the school to receive assistance.
• All visitors must press the entry button outside the front door. The front office staff will assist all visitors from this point.
• If a visitor does not have an appointment with staff, is not checking out a student, or is not receiving assistance from the front office, they will not be allowed inside the school.
• Parents must drop off students at the front door for morning carpool and walkers. Please give hugs and kisses before your tiger enters the school.
• If parents would like to drop off items for their child, they can drop off in the front office
• Students are monitored by staff members in all areas of the building and on the recess field.
• Outside of traveling with their class to other parts of the building, students must have a HALL PASS to leave the classroom to their designation (nurse, restroom, media center, etc.)
• For afternoon dismissal, students are only dismissed from class when their name appears on the silent dismissal board and/or their bus is called.

• Staff are strategically stationed all around our building and campus to ensure students arrive and depart safely from school.
• NEW THIS YEAR: every staff member will have a crisis alert badge that they wear daily. In the event of an emergency, staff will press a button on this badge to alert administration that they are in need of help.

In the event of an emergency, I will communicate with all parents via Class Dojo. Please ensure you are connected and signed up on your mobile phone. It is important that parents read all text messages from the school thoroughly and follow next steps as outlined.

We appreciate your support in helping keep our tigers and staff safe!

We will have another Summer Reading Challenge for students this summer. Students can complete activities on a BINGO card to win prizes when they return to school in August.

- Click here for suggested reading lists by grade level.

- It's not too late to join the Dekalb County Public Library Summer Reading Challenge! Stop by your local branch to learn more.

We would like to introduce our new staff members to Huntley Hills!

We say farewell to a few staff members who have retired or have moved on to a new adventure!

Ms. Wierman (retired), Mr. Gelber (Dunwoody ES), Dr. Ellerbe (Gwinnett), Ms. Howard (Gwinnett).

New roles this year!

Amy Chandler-STEM teacher

Rebecca Null-Gifted/ESOL teacher

Emry Walker-Gifted/ESOL teacher

Emily Lubatkin-4th grade IRR

Julie York-1st grade IRR

Camille Harvey-2nd grade

Christian Ortiz-2nd grade IRR

Sharonda McLean-Kindergarten IRR

Cassonia Miller-Bookkeeper

How to prepare your child for school the first week of school:

1. Get plenty of rest! Change your schedule for the school year!

2. Breakfast is available from 7:00-7:45. Students will eat breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria.

3. Your child MAY bring a healthy lunch and snack.

4. The school has water bottle water filling stations, so students should bring a water bottle daily.

5. Bring supplies which will be assigned to your child. Please make sure your child has headphones for MAP testing.

6. Wear school uniform daily. Notify Sonya Nelson, school counselor at sonya_nelson@dekalbschoolsga.org if you need assistance with uniforms.

7. Make sure your teacher knows how your child gets home and any medications/allergies.

8. Students will be assigned a Chromebook to use at school.

9. STAR folders come home on Thursdays with student work, flyers, and important information from the school.

Morning Drop Off & Dismissal:

1. The drop-off times in front of the school are below:

Bus riders-7:00am; Car riders & walkers 7:10am-7:45am; Tardy bell 7:45; Morning announcements begin at 7:45.

Car riders: On the first day of drop off, if not already students will receive a lanyard with a matching parent car rider number.

Walkers: On the first day of drop off, if not already students will receive a lanyard with a matching parent walker number.

Bus riders: Receive a bus lanyard

3. Students will enter the front of building. Students will report to the cafeteria for breakfast or Tiger Tune-up (gym to warm up their bodies).

4. The pick-up times for dismissal are below:

Bus riders-2:20pm-2:25pm; Car riders 2:25-2:45 (front of building after buses) & walkers (Back door) 2:20pm-2:45pm

Please be patient the first few weeks of school. Thank you!

The candidate declaration window for 2023-2024 Principal Advisory Council elections will be open through Friday, September 3rd. Principal Advisory Councils bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.

Voting is September 19 – September 26, 2023

What is the role of the Principal Advisory Council?

• Act as a link between the school and the community
• Encourage the engagement of parents and other stakeholders within the school community
• Work to increase student achievement through transparent operations and shared best practices
• Review the Continuous School Improvement Plan and monitor progress toward goals
• Participate in the selection of the school principal

Complete the form below to run for a position on your school’s Council.

Parent/Guardian Candidate Declaration Form (Spanish Translation Included)

If you declare your name, please email Dr. Bradshaw at mia_ford@dekalbschoolsga.org with your bio and picture. Thank you!

La ventana de declaración de candidatos para las elecciones del Consejo Asesor Principal de 2023-2024 estará abierta hasta el Viernes, 3 de septiembre. Los Consejos Asesores de Directores reúnen a padres, empleados de la escuela, estudiantes y miembros de la comunidad para crear una mejor comprensión y respeto mutuo por las perspectivas de los demás y compartir ideas para aumentar el rendimiento y el rendimiento de los estudiantes.

¿Cuál es el papel del Consejo Asesor Principal?

• Actuar como vínculo entre la escuela y la comunidad.
• Fomentar la participación de los padres y otras partes interesadas dentro de la comunidad escolar
• Trabajar para aumentar el rendimiento de los estudiantes a través de operaciones transparentes y mejores prácticas compartidas
• Revisar el Plan de Mejoramiento Continuo de la Escuela y monitorear el progreso hacia las metas
• Participar en la selección del director de la escuela

Complete el formulario correspondiente a continuación para postularse para un puesto en el Consejo de su escuela.

• Parent/Guardian Candidate Declaration Form (Traducción al Español Incluida)

Si declara su nombre, envíe un correo electrónico al Dr. Bradshaw a mia_ford@dekalbschoolsga.org con su biografía y foto. ¡Gracias!

Our school will participate in DCSD's MAP assessments the week of August 14th. The first assessment will determine gifted eligibility. Please remind your child to perform their VERY best. Read below.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) utilizes the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) as the initial assessment towards gifted identification each school year for students in grades K-10. Students who score > 90% RT (Reading Total) or > 90% MT (Math Total) on the nationally norm-referenced assessment (MAP) will take additional gifted formal evaluations. Although the MAP assessment is administered three times per year, the gifted eligibility window is August–September for currently enrolled K-10 students and December–February for currently enrolled K-2 and new students.

Additional information relative to the assessment window can be found on the District’s website. If you have any questions about the MAP assessment, contact the Research, Assessments and Grants Department at 678-676-0300. For gifted eligibility questions, please contact the Gifted Department at 678-676-0175 or 678-676-0153.

Title I Stakeholder's meeting Tuesday, August 22 at 9:00am and 5:00pm in the media center. All parents are invited.

Huntley Hills is a Title I school, and as the parent/guardian of a child attending a Title I school you are an important part of the Title I team. Your input is vital in the planning and implementation of the parental engagement program and activities in our school. The focus of all Title I programs is to help eligible students meet the same high academic achievement standards expected of all children. The following survey is confidential and will be used to assist us with future planning for parental involvement activities and events at our school.

In accordance with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, all LEAs are required to notify parents at the beginning of each school year of their ‘Right to Know’ the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals.

Requirements for Content of the Notification: Notifications MUST use the language of the law.

In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents may request the following information: Whether the student’s teacher—has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction; is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and, is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

In Georgia, notifications must occur within 30 calendar days from the start of school or upon enrollment.

For verification purposes, notifications must contain the month/year of dissemination or, if included in another document, the primary document must contain a date.

For verification purposes, the name of the LEA and/ or school must be included.

In Georgia, districts are required to notify parents in ALL schools or programs.

Responses to requests must be provided in a timely manner.

Maintain records of annual notification(s) from ALL schools or programs.

Best Practices for the Notification:

• ESSA does not prescribe the exact method of dissemination for notifications. In Georgia, the following are considered best practices when notifying parents:
• Develop written procedures for compliance, which include a timeline and person, by position, responsible for verifying notification content, verifying dissemination of notification, and maintaining notification documentation.
• Notify parents in multiple formats in order to ensure that all parents have the opportunity to receive the information. This may include, school handbook, a letter mailed home, a newsletter or brochure, posting on a website, and/or a school-wide email.
• Notify parents, to the extent practicable, in a language that they may understand.
• Ensure the notification includes school/program/LEA name and a point of contact by position.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mia Bradshaw, Principal

If you plan to volunteer as a reading buddy, field trip chaperone, help in the media center this school year, you will need to be approved by public safety.

Level III volunteers must be approved by Public Safety AND the local school principal prior to the volunteer participation in activities involving direct, unsupervised interaction with students. Examples of Level III volunteers include chaperones on overnight field trips, chaperones or volunteers for local school events, volunteer tutors, office/media center volunteers, or any other volunteers who will have any unsupervised interaction with students. Level III volunteers shall be fingerprinted by the district and have GBI/FBI criminal background checks on file prior to rendering volunteer services.

You may view Board Policy IFCD: School Volunteers by clicking below.

PTA President -Amanda Hall-ptahhes@gmail.com

Principal Advisory Council Chair-Yane Yoo

School Counselor (504's & SST)-Sonya Nelson sonya_nelson@dekalbschoolsga.org

Registrar (registration & withdrawals)-Brenda Able- brenda_able@dekalbschoolsga.org

Title I Parent Liaison (Spanish)-Rebeca Arbona rebeca_arbona@dekalbschoolsga.org

Nurse-Faiza Khan faiza_khan@dekalbschoolsga.org

Assistant Principal & Testing Coordinator-Amanda Moss amanda_moss@dekalbschoolsga.org

Principal-Mia Bradshaw mia_ford@dekalbschoolsga.org