Husky Highlights for Families
November Family News
Hawthorn Elementary School
School Hours: 9:03-3:53
Office Hours: 8:00-5:00
School Phone: 816-359-4390
Principal: Brooke Renton
Assistant Principal: Courtney Bishop
Counselor: Bianca Mayfield-Miller
Front Office Information
Angie Linard: Attendance Administrative Assistant/ Registrar
Barbara Ballou: Administrative Assistant
Phone: 359-4390
Email: hawthornadministrativeassistants@parkhill.k12.mo.us
If you need to make transportation changes please contact the office prior to 3:00. This will help ensure that dismissal goes smoothly and minimize the chance of a possible miscommunication.
A Message From Mrs. Renton
Dear Hawthorn Families:
To assure a quality learning environment, the Park Hill Board of Education has adopted class-size guidelines for all grade levels in our elementary schools. We are fortunate that this commitment is honored, even after a school year has started.
As you may be aware, the window has opened for families to choose in-person learning or Park Hill Online for second semester. If you do not want to make a change for your child, there is nothing for you to do; your child will automatically continue with the in-person or PH Online option you have chosen. I know families will be making decisions no later than November 13, and want you to have important information from me as you do so.
If we have a significant number of students change from in-person enrollment to PH Online or from PH Online to in-person enrollment, we will need to look at class assignments again to make sure we have heterogeneous groups of students and balanced student numbers for our classrooms. This could affect both in-person and PH Online students, in terms of their assigned teacher for second semester. Students at middle school and high school are accustomed to changing classes at semester, but this is not something we typically do at the elementary level. Please know this will only occur here at Hawthorn if it is necessary, in order to keep classes balanced.
If you would like to provide input about a possible change in your child’s teacher placement, you can either email me at rentonb@parkhill.k12.mo.us or contact the Hawthorn office at 359-4390 by Thursday, Nov. 19th. We will take your input into consideration as we make decisions for second semester, but please note final decisions about class placements are made by a school team. You can be assured we will do all that is possible to provide a smooth transition for all our students as we move into second semester, which begins Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
It is wonderful that we are a part of the Park Hill School District that is committed to small class sizes for students who are in their formative years, and we know that this is a priority for you as well.
Sincerely,
Brooke Renton
Principal, Hawthorn Elementary
Mark Your Calendars!
Nov. 6th-19th: Family Activity-- AR Workshop (details below)
Nov. 9th-20th: ONLINE Book Fair (details below)
Nov. 19th: Deadline for 2nd Semester Enrollment Changes
Nov. 25th-29th: Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 30th-Dec. 11th: Distance Learning for ALL students
Nov. 30th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30 pm via Zoom
NEW!! Please Provide Your Feedback
https://surveys.panoramaed.com/parkhill
Access code: 9076398536
NEW!! Tutoring Resource for Park Hill Families
We are announcing a new partnership between Park Hill School District and the Mid-Continent Public Library. This partnership provides all Park Hill parents and students with live access to online tutoring and homework help through the Mid-Continent Public Library website.
Janis Yokely, Library Media Center coordinator, has put together resources for accessing these tutoring supports:
- Important information for you to know: Login access to this resource requires the parent/student to enter the student’s Park Hill S number. Written directions for logging in are attached.
- A video explaining how to navigate the website is located here.
- This resource is also located at Park Hill’s Parent University website located here.
NEW INFORMATION!! Second Semester Enrollment
If you would like your student to continue in their current learning mode, you do not need to do anything. If you would like your student to switch to Park Hill Online or to in-person learning, please visit the Parent Portal by November 19 to make a different choice. Students whose families change their learning option will start in the new learning mode on the first day of second semester, January 19.
The learning option you choose for your child is a commitment for the entire second semester.
For information regarding Park Hill’s pandemic plan, please visit the Park Hill School District website. If you have more questions or need assistance, please call 816-359-4044 or email PHOnline@parkhill.k12.mo.us.
Parent/ Teacher Conferences
1st Quarter Report Cards
Planning Ahead For AMI/ Snow Days
In the past, when the weather made it too dangerous to get to school in the Park Hill School District, we just called a snow day and added the day to the end of the school year. Now that the state of Missouri has said we’re allowed to do distance learning from home, we have another option - an AMI distance learning day.
Visit our website to find out:
- What is an AMI distance learning day?
- How many AMI distance learning days can we use in Park Hill?
- What will we do if we use up all our AMI distance learning days?
- What will an AMI distance learning day look like for students?
- What will an AMI distance learning day look like for teachers?
- What will an AMI distance learning day look like for each employee group?
AMI distance learning day information on the website
One of the ways we will alert you to an AMI distance learning day is a text alert. If you have not yet opted in to receive texts from the Park Hill School District, text Y to the shortcode 67587 from the phone number you have already provided to the Park Hill School District.
ONLINE Book Fair
Our library is hosting an online-only book fair November 9-20. This will replace the in-person book fair that we normally have in December. All of the ordering will take place at home and you will not need to send money or order forms back to school with your child. However, the books will be delivered to school and sent home with your child or picked up outside the building if your child is an online learner. We can also make arrangements for you to pick up the books outside the building if you want to keep these books a secret from your child. Books make great holiday gifts! Our teachers also have wish lists on the website if you would like to purchase a book for their classroom. Please see below for the website and school code and feel free to forward this to grandparents and other family members. Thank you for supporting this library fundraiser!
Next PTA Meeting-- Nov. 30th
Please join us at the next PTA meeting on November 30. Hear from Principal Renton and others about what’s happening in our school community and how you can get involved. PTA members and non-members are invited. If you would like to become a member and haven’t yet, please register here.
Monday, November 30, 6:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 993 8686 6391
Passcode: 549163
Agenda
Teacher Wish List
Reflections Art Contest~ Entries Due Nov. 24th
The PTA is excited to sponsor the Reflections Art Contest again this year! Last year we only had Visual Arts and Musical Composition as categories, however this year we are opening it to all of the categories, these include; literature, music composition, photography, visual arts, film production, and literature. To find out more about what entries in each category would be, you are encouraged to pick up a student packet from Mrs. Guier or Mrs. Vaden. If you are an online student, you can request an electronic version of the packet from your teacher.
Entries are due by November 24th, 2020. Entries can be turned into Mrs. Guier or Mrs. Vaden. Winners from each category/grade division will be announced the week of December 14th. The first place winner from each division in each category will be judged on the State Level.
Below is a link the official video from the State Reflections Program it is just a couple minutes, but could get students excited about the opportunity.
PTA SPIRIT SHOP PROMOTIONS
Visit the Hawthorn PTA online Spirit Store for all your Husky merchandise needs! Click here to shop: https://www.hawthornschoolspiritwear.com/
Visit Hawthorn PTA’s flash sale at https://my.cheddarup.com/c/hawthorn-spirit-wear-flash-sale for special pricing on limited quantities of previous years' spirit wear items.
Health Room Reminders
Our nurses have provided the reminders below about the procedure for receiving and administering medications during school hours. The district has these guidelines to ensure we are receiving, storing, documenting, and administering medications in a safe, consistent, and professional manner.
- Medications need to be brought in by the parent/guardian, not sent with student. This includes cough drops.
- A Medication Authorization form must be signed by the parent/guardian before nurses are allowed to administer the medication. This form is provided as an attachment below.
- Medication must be in an appropriately labeled container. Do not send loose medication in a plastic baggie.
- Medication must not be expired.
- Prescription medications labels must be current and include the student’s name and instructions for administration including dosage.
- Over the counter medications must be appropriate for the student. For example, please only send Children’s Tylenol or Children’s Ibuprofen.
- If your student needs to bring an albuterol inhaler, please also bring in your student’s Asthma Action Plan provided by your physician.
COVID-19 Safety Precautions
We are taking every precaution we can to try to keep our students and our staff safe during this COVID-19 pandemic.
We appreciate all you are doing to help us in our efforts to protect our Park Hill community.
This plan is likely to change as more information becomes available and as we continue to follow the latest guidance of public health officials. We will notify you when we update our plans.
ONLINE Families~ Support Resources Available
Support for Park Hill Online
For our Park Hill Online students and their families, we have developed some resources to help with navigating the online experience, including all the online learning tools.
- Check out the Parent University webpages our educators put together, with tips and resources for families. Using the feedback we hear, we will regularly add new information to support families as they help their students connect to technology, guide social-emotional learning, and navigate online learning.
- Also, feel free to call for Park Hill Online support at 816-359-4044 during office hours. You will be able to get answers about our learning platforms, online assessments, and finding resources when you need them.
Tri-County Parent Night Coming Soon
Celebrating Student MVPs!!
Follow Hawthorn PTA On Social Media
Stay connected with what's happening with Hawthorn Elementary PTA in these channels:
Website: https://hawthorn.parkhill.k12.mo.us/parent_resources/p_t_a
Email: hawthornPTA@gmail.com
Facebook: Hawthorn Elementary PTA
Instagram: @hawthorn_pta
PTA Calendar of Events
September 21-- PTA Family Night at Culver’s
September 28-- PTA Meeting
October 7-- PTA Family Night at Papa John's
October 26-- PTA Meeting
October 27-- PTA Family Day at Jason's Deli, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
November 6-15-- PTA Family Activity with AR Workshop (Choose your project)
November 17-18-- PTA Family Activity with AR Workshop (Project Pick-Up)
Nov. 19-- PTA Family Activity with AR Workshop (Live Project Tutorial, Recording Available)
November 30-- PTA Meeting
December 7-- PTA Family Day at Papa Murphy’s
January 25-- PTA Meeting
February 22-- PTA Meeting
April 26-- PTA Meeting
Resources From Our School Social Worker
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA: This website provides resources and support and works to support mental health for all. Whether you need information to read, a webinar in order to learn more, or other forms of support, this resource is valuable.
COVID-19 and Mental Health Infographic: Click on the download below to get more information. While we are familiar with viruses like the common cold and the flu, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is new and presents a situation that none of us could have imagined a few short months ago. The fact that it is extremely contagious has resulted in business closures, social distancing, and quarantine measures which have disrupted our daily lives. It is more important now than ever to pay attention to mental health during this time of isolation and uncertainty.
Park Hill Clothing Center: We have a wonderful resource close to "home". The PTA of the Park Hill School District runs a clothing center that provides free, gently used clothing and new socks and underwear to district students. The PTA Clothing Center serves all Park Hill School District students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and the PTA asks you to bring some proof that you are enrolled in a Park Hill school. This could be a student ID, bus pass, dated letter from a principal or social worker, class schedule or enrollment form. If you are interested in visiting the clothing center to shop for your child, use the link to sign up: SHOP AT CLOTHING CENTER
Confidential Resource Checklist: If you are in need of additional resources, please use this link: Hawthorn Confidential Resource Request to let us know how we can help.
Cafeteria Information
Meals are free for all children, ages 18 and under, through the end of this school year.
While meals are FREE, if your child needs an individual milk to go with a lunch brought from home, our cafeteria has to charge $.60 for the drink.
We have two meal pickup options available for students who are learning from home. For both options, you must pre-order before picking up your food.
Click HERE for more detailed information about how to pre-order if your students are learning online, where the pick-up locations are, etc.
Did You Know?
Stay Connected
Communication is very important to your child’s success at school and we want to keep you informed of what is going on at Hawthorn. Please remember communication is a two-way process and you are encouraged to get in touch with your child’s teacher or Mrs. Renton and Mrs. Bishop as needed. We will use electronic communication frequently, so if you do not have access to a computer at home, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher to let them know, so they can send you information in your child’s backpack. We don’t want you to miss important information.
Below are a few ways to stay informed about Hawthorn and the Park Hill School District.
Hawthorn Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HawthornElementary
Hawthorn PTA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HawthornPTA/
Hawthorn Elementary Website: https://hawthorn.parkhill.k12.mo.us/
Park Hill School District Website: https://www.parkhill.k12.mo.us/
First Hand E-mail Newsletter
Be one of the first to know what’s going on in Park Hill. Sign up for the First Hand e-mail newsletter at www.parkhill.k12.mo.us to get the most current Park Hill news. Your address will never be shared.
Nominate a Staff Member for the Park Hill STAR Award
Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students.
That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher and a support employee. Anyone can nominate an employee for this award by using the form below. It asks you to share how your nominee demonstrates our district values of continuous improvement, high expectations, integrity, visionary leadership and student focus. You can also share how your nominee supports the goals in our district’s strategic plan.