Hughes Weekly Family Newsletter
September 6, 2020
Hughes Hawks are Making History 2020-2021
Hawk Creed
A Note from Mrs. McDonald
We are counting down the days for our first day of in-person learning! We can't wait to hear students in the hallways and classrooms! We have been working hard on finalizing class lists, designing safety protocols that align with the CDC and district policies, preparing lessons, and thinking of ways to celebrate the return of our in-person students. A big thank you to our families for turning in your information about in-person and remote learning. We finished our class lists last week and are awaiting approval from the district on our numbers.
On Tuesday, September 8th from 4:00-6:00 PM, our in-person kindergarten students will be practicing how to enter the building and walking to the kindergarten hallway so that they will be prepared the first day of school. The kindergarten teachers sent out e-mails last week inviting the in-person kindergarten parents to sign-up on the Sign-Up Genius link for a time to walk to kindergarten. We wanted to provide an opportunity for these students to practice going into the building before the first day of school. We hosted a virtual Kinder Round-Up earlier in the summer, but an in-person experience will help the families have a better understanding of how the morning process will look.
On the first day of school, our kindergarten students will be given a red bracelet with their teacher name on it. They will walk in through the doors and find the matching red tape on the floor in the hallways. The red tape leads the students to the kindergarten hallway where the students will be greeted by the kindergarten teachers. Each of our students that are younger will receive a bracelet to help guide them to his/her class on the first day. We have different color tape on the floors to guide students to the correct hallways where each child will be greeted by teachers. We will also have extra staff in the hallways to help students reach their correct classroom. Our older students that are new to the campus will receive guidance to their classrooms on the first day as well.
All of these procedures are in place for the first day of school because guests are not allowed on campus at this time due to COVID safety protocols. Before any children enter the building, please ensure that you have checked his/her temperature, have provided a mask, and the child is not exhibiting any symptoms of COVID. A detailed list of safety protcols will be sent out this week with information in regards to cafeteria, classroom, recess, and arrival/dismissal procedures.
Even though this is an unprecedented time with unique safety measures, our focus has never strayed from serving the kids. We are here to serve kids and their families. Thank you for your continued support and partnership! Goooooo Hawks!
For Kids,
Jessica McDonald, Principal
Schedule Update: Friday, Sept. 11
On Friday, Sept. 11, our teachers will spend the afternoon on campus preparing for In-Person students. Students will engage in learning with their teachers the morning of September 11 (as we have been doing on a daily basis). After lunch, students will have asynchronous independent work for their afternoon classes. Attendance will be taken following our current attendance practices, and students will be expected to access their work for the afternoon on SeeSaw. Students in special programs that are currently attending in-person courses will continue have a full day of 9:00-3:00 services.
During this time, we will be making sure all safety protocols are in place and have been practiced by all staff members. As we have discussed since Spring Break, we are committed to making our campuses as safe as we possibly can for the challenging world we are living in.
Check to see if your student is eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Save money this school year and apply for free and reduced-price meals. Check to see if your student is eligible – it's risk free and confidential. Click here to learn more about Free and Reduced-Price Meals.
Curbside Meals Still Available
Curbside meals are available to all NISD students from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the following locations: Love Elementary, Beck Elementary, Tidwell Middle School, Wilson Middle School, Adams Middle School and Chisholm Trail Middle School. Please fill out the curbside meal verification form before picking up meals.
In-Person Learning Begins Sept. 14
If your child is returning as an in-person learner, we look forward to seeing you in-person on Sept. 14. If your child is continuing with remote learning, they will continue to work via Zoom and SeeSaw on Sept. 14.
Keep Updated at the Return To Learn Website
Visit the NISD Return to Learn website for the most recent information on the 2020-2021 school year, including health and safety guidelines for In-Person Learning, Remote Learning updates, and more.
NISD Staff and Parent Safety Pledges
As we transition back to In-Person Learning, we are asking our families to help us comply with the Texas Education Agency’s guidance to school districts: (1) requiring teachers and staff to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms each day, and (2) stating that parents must ensure they do not send a child to school if the child has COVID-19 symptoms.
NISD staff members are self-screening every morning, so we are making a pledge that we will not come to school with any COVID-19 symptoms. We are requesting all of our Northwest ISD families commit to the same pledge. It will take all of us working together to get through the challenges of COVID-19. Do not send your child to school if he/she is sick, is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or has been exposed to COVID-19.
All families and caregivers received an email from no-reply@nisdtx.org on 8/28 containing a link to the Northwest ISD COVID-19 Pledge form. Please take the time to review the guidelines and fill out the form. Using both of these safety commitments – staff and students – we will maintain the safest environments we can as we get ready for In-Person Learning.
Northwest ISD Will Have Three Elections on November 2020 Ballot
Trustee Election, Bond Referendum, and VATRE (Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election)
At the August 10 school board meeting, the Northwest ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to have three elections on the November 3, 2020 ballot:
Board of Trustees Election: The annual school board election, which is usually held in May, was postponed due to the public health crisis. Three Board seats (Places 5, 6, and 7) will be on the ballot.
Bond Election: The May 2020 bond election, which was postponed due to the public health crisis, will now be presented to voters in November. The bond proposal is designed to address growth, aging facilities, technology, and student programs.
Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE): The Board adopted the 2020-2021 tax rate of $1.4663 which triggered a VATRE (formerly called a TRE or Tax Ratification Election).
Run in the Dark
Run in the Dark is coming and J. Lyndal Hughes is participating because all funds raised go to the children in our community. The 1-Mile & 5K are both virtual because we want everyone in our community to remain safe. Both adults and children can register and pick up their shirts at Community Storehouse! This organization provides all of the snack packs that kids on our campus use each weekend to help provide food when not at school. They also help to support our NISD Angel Tree. Please consider participating in this virtual run. https://www.runinthedarkdfw.com/
Schedules for Remote vs. In-Person
Remote will still start at 8:00 and end at 3:20 PM.
In-Person, doors will open at 7:20 AM and class will still start at 7:40 AM and end at 3:00.
The dismissal will take longer than normal due to social distancing.
PTA September Calendar
Are you using SeeSaw?
SeeSaw is the main communication tool that our teachers are using with families. If you have not signed up for your child's teacher's SeeSaw class, please sign up so that you can stay connected.
https://sites.google.com/nisdtx.org/1worldpromise/family-connections-hub?authuser=0
The Family HUB is embedded within our new NISD Digital Citizenship Website: digitalcitizenship.nisdtx.org