Hillcrest Newsletter
September 2023
On behalf of the staff at Hillcrest Elementary School, I am happy to welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year!
Our building-wide PBIS theme this year is "You Have a Place in Our Space!" We will be spending the next few weeks teaching and reteaching behavioral expectations at Hillcrest.
We will also be watching for positive student behaviors and presenting monthly awards to students who are observed exhibiting these characteristics.
We are also looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure all children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both home and school.
Here are some things that you can do to help guide and support your child’s learning:
- Make sure they attend school daily and arrive on time so they are ready for the day’s learning experiences and don't miss important information.
- Read with them daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills.
- Discuss behavioral expectations and encourage them to do their best at school.
The amazing Hillcrest staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to working with you this year.
Go Mini Cardinals!
Mrs. Hebert
Principal
Start of Day
Dates to Remember
September 14: Hillcrest Magic Show
September 18: Homecoming Week: Pajama Day
September 19: Homecoming Week: Twin Tuesday
September 19: Hillcrest Singers Starts (Grades 3-5)
September 20: Homecoming Week: Hawaiian Day
September 21: Homecoming Week: Color Day
September 22: Homecoming Week: Cardinal Spirit Day
October 3: Hillcrest School Pictures (during school day)-More info to come
October 6: No School
November 3: No School
November 6 & 7: Hillcrest Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 7: Picture Retake Day
November 20-24: No School, Thanksgiving Break
December 11: HC Singers Tour
December 15: 5th Grade Volleyball Tournament @ 9 a.m. (Dec. 18 make-up date)
December 18: HC Singers Concert
December 22: HC Christmas Concert (all grades)
December 25-January 2: No School, Winter Break
January 19: No School
February 29: 2nd/3rd Grade Concerts
February 23: No School
March 5 & 7: Hillcrest Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 11-15: Spring Break
March 29: No School, Easter Break
April 1: No School
May 2: 4th/5th Grade Concerts
May 9: 1st Grade Grandparents Day, Kindergarten Spring Sing
May 27: No School, Memorial Day
May 30: Last Day of School!
Hillcrest Apparel Sale
Get your NEW 23-24 themed apparel, along with Hillcrest logo'd tees, hats and so much more!! The link is LIVE and will close on September 20, 2023 - so get your orders in!
All orders that are labeled "pick-up" will be sent home with their child when the merchandise is delivered. If items are a surprise, please have them shipped directly to your house.
https://premierprintingink.com/hillcrest_elementary_/shop/home
All profits made from this apparel sale will go to our Hillcrest PTO fund that helps with a wide variety of educational and functional needs in our school.
Check it out!
Your Hillcrest PTO
Pay Student Fees
Online Registration-Annual Process
If you already completed this in May, you can skip this part!
The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District has opened the annual online registration process found on the Infinite Campus parent portal. This process helps us gather the latest family contact information along with your permission for important questions concerning your student(s).
The online registration process is required for each student. Completion of the process allows your student access to a number of privileges including field trips, access to the internet, and use of district chromebooks/ipads.
To make the review and entry process simpler, please consider using a laptop or computer.
Log onto the Campus parent portal and click on the More menu item, Online Registration, and then 23-24 Next Year EXISTING Student Registration to begin the process.
If you need help logging in, click on the "Problems logging in?" link on the login screen. For help with the online process, email our help desk at helpdesk@chipfalls.org and include your phone number.
If your student is a member of more than one household, please understand that only one household can complete the online process.
School Directory
Please click on this link if you are interested in being part of the school directory.
A school directory is created annually for families wanting their information shared with other Hillcrest families. Contact information for those that choose, will be distributed to all families at Hillcrest for the purposes of inviting friends to parties, play dates, etc.
For those families responding "no", your information will not be distributed.
Hillcrest PTO Meeting
The first PTO meeting of the school year is set for Thursday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hillcrest gymnasium. This is the same night that the Magic Show will be held at Hillcrest (see below).
Here are the August minutes.
Magic Show at Hillcrest
There will be a Family Comedy and Magic Show at Hillcrest on September 14th, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hillcrest Gym! We will see professional tricks as well as one-of-a-kind tricks. This event is for Hillcrest families.
A free treat will be provided to children. Snack concessions will also be available.
This event is made possible by the Hillcrest PTO.
From the Nurse
Welcome back to a new year! This is the time of year we tend to see an increase in illnesses in our student population. We would like to remind parents and guardians the guidelines the CFAUSD school nurses follow in regards to keeping your child home if they are not feeling well:
Temperature over 100.4 degrees in the last 24 hours. If you suspect that they may be sick, please check their temperature with a thermometer before sending them to school. If they have a fever, it is not appropriate to send them to school, even if you give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen and their fever breaks. Your child will still be contagious to other children and will also not be feeling well enough to learn. Coming to school sick (and possibly contagious) not only exposes other children to the illness, but also delays your child’s healing time. Once the medicine wears off and the fever returns, your child must be picked up anyway, and valuable healing time has been lost. Children must be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication, before returning to school.
Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours. If vomiting or diarrhea occur, you must keep your child home. Even if these things happen only one time before school starts and your child feels better immediately afterwards, it is still wise to watch for a few hours to see if it happens again before sending him or her on to class. Your child may not return to school until they have not had an episode of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours. If your child is spending all his or her time at school feeling sick, then not much learning is taking place!
An unexplained rash - Anytime a rash is associated with fever, the child may not come to school until that fever is gone for 24 hours without medication. Sometimes a rash is a sign of a contagious disease such as chickenpox. Sometimes, rashes are not contagious, but are uncomfortable and itchy from contact with something the child is allergic to.
Any contagious disease that requires antibiotics (ie. strep throat) Students can return after they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours and are fever-free.
Headache, cough, sore throat, or congestion severe enough to interfere with attention to school work
Flare ups from asthma, that would make it difficult to work in school
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION AT SCHOOL: Over-the-counter medications (cough drops, Tylenol, etc.) require written permission from the parent/guardian. Any prescribed medication (ADHD medication, inhalers, EpiPens, etc.) requires an order and signature from the physician as well as permission from the parent to administer. Medication forms are available on the district’s Nursing Services website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/district/NursingServices.cfm Forms are also available from the Health office. Medications must be brought in by an adult and in the correctly labeled container or package.
DOCTOR NOTES FOR LIMITATIONS/RESTRICTIONS IN SCHOOL: If your child has an injury or a health issue that requires limitations or restrictions while in school, the district requires a note from the doctor with the restrictions. If the note does not have a date when normal activities can be restarted, a note will also be required to allow the student to again participate in activities.
CLOTHING: The health office is in need of children’s clothing, especially pants, both boys and girls. We are also looking for gently worn tennis shoes to have available for students if they forget to bring in their own shoes. If you have any you can donate, please send them in to the health office. Thank you.
VISION SCREENING: Vision screening will be done at the elementary schools at the end of September-beginning of October. The Jim Falls and Lake Wissota Lions Club will be assisting with screening all grade levels. Screening will be done using a Spot vision screener. This device looks like a camera. The camera takes a picture of your child’s eyes and is able to detect certain vision problems including far-sightedness, near-sightedness, blurry vision, and astigmatism.
TREATS IN THE CLASSROOM:
The health office requests that any treats brought in to school for birthdays, parties, or any other special occasions be prepackaged with a clear nutrition label. There are certain students and staff members with health conditions that may require certain dietary accommodations and it's important that they are able to review a food's nutrition label before choosing to omit or consume certain foods. It is also recommended to stray away from bringing in snacks that contain peanuts/tree nuts when possible.
Lost & Found Changes
The Lost & Found area has been moved to just inside the library. Any unclaimed lost and found items are donated to local charities at Christmas break and the end of the school year. Parents are always welcome to come in and take a look.
The Winter Items area is now in the Main Hallway, just outside the library. This is for students who forgot tennis shoes, boots, hats, or gloves. Because of lack of space, each grade level was given one set of extra coats/snowpants.
*Please remember to dress your child(ren) appropriately for the weather, especially now when it's cooler in the morning and gets warmer throughout the day.
FROM THE HANDBOOK
Use of Chromebooks
Hillcrest saw a lot of intentional damage to Chromebooks last year. In an effort to reduce the amount of fixes to our devices, please remember some of these items from the handbook:
Any student who needlessly damages school property or equipment shall be held responsible and shall make restitution to the school in the amount determined by the administration. When a student is unable to make restitution, the parent or guardian shall be held liable.
No rental fees are charged for books or school equipment. However, books, supplies, and equipment are very expensive and loss, damage, or misuse of these materials will result in fines.
Cell Phones/SmartWatches
Cell phone/smartwatches use during the school day is strictly prohibited. Students who have a cell phone at school must turn it off and keep it in their backpack. Students found using their cell phone or smartwatches during the school day will have it confiscated and held until a parent comes to pick it up
Beverages in the Building
The use of soda, high sugar and caffeine drinks are discouraged. Drinking water is available to students and milk is available to purchase from food service for breakfast/snack and lunch. Students are allowed to bring a refillable water bottle.
Please do not send your child with coffee, hot chocolate, Bubblr', soda, Prime, etc.
From the Chiropractor
Back to school days can be stressful on the entire family. It is a big change in routine for everyone and one that may not be easy. Chiropractic care can be a great resource in assisting these challenges for your family.
Chiropractic helps the body to adapt to changes & new environments by calming the nervous system. Benefits of chiropractic care for children include helping to strengthen the immune system, maximize brain, nerve & spine development, improve the ability to concentrate, assist with sleep issues, and assist with behavioral issues. It also benefits children that play sports and improves spinal posture, which is important when sitting for long periods of time at their desks.
Did you know that Chippewa Falls School District students can receive chiropractic care right at school during their school day? On-Site Chiropractic has been providing care to the students in the CFASD since 2017. The adjustments are quick and parents love the convenience. Teachers have reported great changes in their students' school day when their students are well adjusted.
Chiropractic care is a great tool to help kids thrive in their environments and adapt to their surroundings. What better place to thrive than at school?
Learn more by contacting us at onsitechiroinfo@gmail.com.
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.
The Free and Reduced Meal Application is now available online! To apply for meal benefits for the 2023-2024 school year, log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account and click on the More option in the left hand menu and then Meal Benefits.
If you received a letter this school year saying that your children are already approved for free meals, then you do not need to complete an application.
All families are encouraged to complete the online application if possible. Paper applications are available and will be mailed to households before the beginning of school or may be picked up at your child's school or at the Central Board Office at 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. If none of these options work for you please contact Kirsten Nesja to have one mailed to you at (715) 726-2581 or email nesjakj@chipfalls.org.
If you have questions on completing the application please call Kirsten Nesja (715) 726-2581 or email nesjakj@chipfalls.org.
**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!
Family Connections Fall Newsletter: This contains school and community event links
Board of Education Update
September RCU School Sense!
Royal Credit Union and Hillcrest have partnered to make saving each week fun and easy for your child. Starting October 17th, students can save money at school each Tuesday!
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