Hillcrest Newsletter
February 2023
Happy February!
As we step into the month of February, our halls are buzzing with excitement for warm weather and the joy of learning.
Just a reminder that since we have been having unseasonably warm weather this year, the playground is already messy with thawing ground. We are asking students to wear boots, snow pants, and jackets at recess to keep students warm and their clothes dry and clean. It’s doubtful we’ve seen the last of colder temperatures or snow so please be sure your student(s) are well prepared for any changes. Best bet is to send all winter weather gear daily.
One of the highlights of February is, undoubtedly, Valentine's Day. Classrooms will be adorned with colorful decorations, and students will have the opportunity to exchange valentines, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity.
At the end of the month, we will have a visit from the Show Choir and Jazz Band from Chi Hi where they will share their talents with our staff and students.
February promises to be a month filled with love, learning, and fun here at Hillcrest. We look forward to working collaboratively with our dedicated educators, enthusiastic students, and supportive families to make this month an enriching experience for everyone.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Hebert
Before School
A reminder that playground supervision starts at 7:15 a.m. Please have your child(ren) head directly to the playground unless it's an Indoor Recess day. Students should not be left waiting out front unattended until the bell rings.
Thank you!
Dates to Remember
February 2: PTO's Cardinal Kindness Night
February 6: HC PTO Meeting
February 23: No School
February 29: 2nd/3rd Grade Concerts
March 1: Hat Day!
March 5 & 7: Hillcrest Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 11-15: Spring Break
March 29: No School, Easter Break
March 31: Yearbook Ordering Deadline
April 1: No School
May 2: 4th/5th Grade Concerts
May 9: 1st Grade Grandparents Day, Kindergarten Spring Sing
May 21: 5th Grade Track & Field (May 23 rain date)
May 27: No School, Memorial Day
May 30: Last Day of School!
Order the Hillcrest Yearbook Now!
Yearbooks are $10. There are 2 ways to order:
1) Paper order forms have gone out. Fill out the envelope and send it back to school before Friday, March 29. Please make checks payable to Strawbridge. Late orders will not be accepted.
2) To Order Online:
- Go to strawbridge.net
- Click on "Order Pictures and Yearbooks"
- Enter the Code YB29472 and Click "Find"
The deadline to order yearbooks online is Sunday, March 31st. Paper copies need to be turned in by Friday, March 29th, 2024.
**There will be no additional yearbooks available for purchase after this date. There will not be extras for purchase in the office. Order Now!**
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on March 5 & 7. Teachers will be reaching out later this month with more information on how to sign up.
Jump Rope Contest Winners
For two weeks in January, our 1st through 5th grade students practiced and competed to see which ones would earn the privilege to compete in the Hillcrest rope jump contest.
The top 5 boys and girls from each division advanced to the jump rope contest on January 18th. The contest was very close and the students did an awesome job. The top two from each division usually earn an invite to compete at the Annual World Speed Rope Jump Contest in Bloomer.
Congrats to all the jumpers in the contest and keep practicing for next year's contest.
Division 1
Boys
Braxton Nelson, 33 jumps, 1st Gr.
Harvey Hahn, 36 jumps, 2nd Gr.
Girls
Evelyn Feigum, 34 jumps, 2nd Gr.
Nora B, 35 jumps, 2nd Gr.
Participants: Rose Bestul, Charlotte Bowe, Leighton Ducommun, Lily Swanson, Jace Smith, Taron Olson, Jayden Peterson-Lapham, & Jaxton Bleskacek
Division 2
Boys
Grant Holmstadt, 37 jumps, 3rd Gr.
Nolan Vavra, 38 jumps, 3rd Gr.
Girls
Hannah Hartman, 38 jumps, 3rd Gr.
Delaney Buckli, 40 jumps, 4th Gr.
Participants: Emma Dahl, Emerson Boos, Tiegan Custer, Shayna Braswell, Maverick Risch, Jackson Reit, Henry Niese, Ezra Sedlacek, & Asher Beeksma
Division 3
Boys
Bryce Peterson, 31 jumps, 5th Gr.
Linken Hrdlicka, 34 jumps, 5th Gr.
Girls
Zaiden Sedlacek, 41 jumps, 5th Gr.
Carlie Goldsmith, 41 jumps, 5th Gr.
Participants: Adelyn Yakish, Kate Sworski, Kendra Vavra, Theo Drake, Ean Hutchinson, Parker Boos, & Marcus Goettl
2nd & 3rd Grade Music Concert
2nd and 3rd graders will have a music concert on Thursday, February 29 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend in-person. Door 6 (gym door) will be open at 12:45 p.m.
If you are not able to attend, you can watch the livestream by following these directions:
Go to cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us
Click the livestream icon up in the toolbar at the very top of the page
Scroll down to select “Hillcrest Elementary”
Find the event that is currently streaming
Push play and enjoy
Hillcrest Happenings
Hillcrest Happenings is produced by 5th grade students, along with Mrs. Kjelstad and Mrs. Vergin. The news crew has both behind the scenes and on-screen roles. The behind the scenes roles include set design, script writer and teleprompter. The on-screen roles include the anchor and special reporters.
Hillcrest PTO
Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, February 6 at 6 p.m. in the Hillcrest Library
Cardinal Kindness Night will be on Friday, February 2nd with musician, Randy Peterson, starting at 6 p.m. Hillcrest families are encouraged but not required to bring packages of Ramen or pantry items for the Cardinal Markets (food pantries) at the middle and high schools. Attendees can also bring new sets of twins sheets or new youth pillows for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Free popcorn and water for attendees.
Sign up here for PTO emails and volunteering opportunities.
From the Nurse
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!
Lifelong habits begin at home. Make dental health part of your daily routine and share these reminders with your whole family:
-Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, especially after breakfast and before bedtime. Drinking water after eating also helps to clear your teeth of food particles.
-Floss every day. An adult should help children under the age of eight to floss. Older children should be ready to floss on their own.
-Limit the number of times you eat snacks, especially the sticky ones and long lasting ones.
-Visit a dentist regularly for routine checkups and cleanings.
-Protect your teeth by wearing a mouthguard when playing sports.
-Don’t forget to change your toothbrush regularly, and after an illness. We have toothbrushes available at the schools if you would like them! Please call your health office and we will send them home with your child!
Sweet Snack Facts:
-Eating a lot of snacks with sugar may cause cavities.
-Every time you eat sugar, plaque in your mouth mixes with the sugar to make acid. The acid hurts the teeth and causes decay over time. This can be painful!
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Growth and Development
5th Grade's Growth and Development Lesson is scheduled at Hillcrest on Friday, March 8th. Please reach out to Nurse Caitlin with any questions. Her email is: maranecr@chipfalls.org
Chi-Hi's Wire Choir performing for our Hillcrest students in January!
Kindergarten Registration
The public elementary schools in Chippewa Falls are beginning to plan for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
Students who presently attend one of the Chippewa Falls School District’s 4-year-old Kindergarten programs do not need to re-enroll. Students are automatically enrolled in Kindergarten. More information will be provided from your child’s elementary school about Kindergarten registration.
Children who will be 5-years-old on or before September 1, 2024, and who will be entering Kindergarten in the Chippewa Falls School District for the 2024-2025 school year, and are not enrolled in the Chippewa Falls 4-year old Kindergarten program, need to enroll. Those students who attended a 4K program in the 2022-23 school year, but were not in school this past year will need to enroll as well.
To enroll your child, please visit the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District website. If you do not have internet access, please contact Tami at (715) 720-1850 or visit the Administration Office located at 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI. You may also visit your child’s elementary school for assistance in registering.
4K Enrollment
Do you have a child that turned 4 years old before September 1, 2024?
It’s not too late to enroll them into 4K for the current school year. The Chippewa Falls School District partners with community daycares that offer 4K.Transportation is also provided at no cost to you.
Check out our webpage at https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/schools/cardinal-4k/
Please contact Marilyn Burish at 715-726-2414 ext. 2783 for more information about enrolling your child.
Chiropractic Care
February - the month of LOVE. For the month of LOVE here are the top eight reasons that people LOVE chiropractic:
*It’s a holistic approach to your health
*Does not involve medication
*It provides great pain relief
*Reduces stress and improved concentration (ADD & ADHD)
*Better sleep
*Improved sports/exercise performance
*Soothes headaches
*Boosts immune system/fewer illnesses
If you’d LOVE to learn more about chiropractic care for your child and the convenience of having them see the chiropractor right at school, contact us at onsitechiroinfo@gmail.com.
Parent Communication
Parents/Guardians should set up an Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Gives You Access To:
- attendance
- report cards
- schedules
- homework assignments
- pay fees/lunch
If you are a split household, you can have two accounts.
Please keep your information updated in case of emergency! You can update your address, phone numbers, email addresses in Infinite Campus.
Need help? Call our help desk at 715-726-2413 for assistance.
Treats in the Classroom
Treats brought in to school should be:
- store bought with a clear nutrition label
- be mindful about choosing treats that may contain tree nuts and/or peanuts (can ask teacher or health office if classroom is nut free)
Why?
- certain students and staff with health conditions that may require dietary accommodations
- important that they are able to review a food's nutrition label before choosing to omit or consume certain foods.
Office Procedures
Arriving Late?
- Parents do not need to enter school
- Students report to the office to sign in
- Call or email Ms. Heidi if running late or have appointment
Picking up early?
- Call the office beforehand
- Guardian will need to come into the office to sign out
Keeping Your Child Home?
- Call the Main Office before 8:45 a.m. or an automated dialer will be sent out. If you do not call in, your child will be marked unexcused.
- Please let the office know and don't rely on the teacher to relay the message
715-726-2405 or email solinhm@chipfalls.org to report absences.
Breakfast/Lunch
Meal prices for 2023/2024
Elementary Breakfast: $0.35
Elementary Lunch: $2.25
**If you qualify for free or reduced price lunches there is no charge for breakfast or lunch.
**You can use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to put money onto your child's lunch account or you can send exact cash/check to the Main Office.
Transportation Changes
- Call ahead (by 2:15 p.m.) if you have a transportation change for the day.
- For the safety of your child, unless it's an emergency, we ask that you do not make changes after 2:15 p.m.
- Contact Chippewa Yellow Bus more than 24 hours in advance at 715-726-2454 if you have any bus changes or requests.
- Hillcrest can't authorize bus changes.
ALL changes need to be called in to the Main Office and not to the teacher in case there is a sub in the room that day.
Hillcrest: 715-726-2405
Cardinal Community Learning Center
Cardinal Community Learning Center has programming opportunities to meet the needs of our students, families, and community!
School Board Update
Here is the January Board Consideration
February RCU School Sense!
Since we LOVE when students save at Royal Credit Union School $ense, our special gift this month will be prize bags randomly awarded to two savers depositing on Tuesday, February 13th.
District Notice
Upon request to the building administrator, submitted twenty-four (24) hours in advance, the District shall make reasonable accommodation including the provision of informational material in an alternative format as necessary for a disabled person to be able to participate select activities.
About Us
Email: solinhm@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/hillcrest/
Location: 1200 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: 715-726-2405