Friday News -- April 9, 2021


 

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

April 9, 2021

Dear Hillcrest Families,

What a week it’s been!  We welcomed back all of our In-Person Learning students to school this past Monday and our school building is once again full of energy and excitement! Our students have shown quite a bit of enthusiasm, flexibility and patience as they are encountering new routines and getting settled into their classrooms.  Thank you very much to all of the families and community members who are working to support our students in making this transition!

Some important news items for the week: 

  • Please note that Hillcrest is a Nut-Free school this year.  This means that your Hillcrest student may not bring any nuts or nut products to school for lunch.  Please take extra care when packing lunches and please note that Peanut Butter, Almond Butter and other nut butters and Nutella are not allowed at school.

  • You may have noticed that we now have three large tents on our school grounds. These tents will be used for our specials classes each day, rain or shine.  Your student should always have an extra layer of clothing each day (a sweatshirt, rain jacket, etc.).  

  • Our students are outside each day for mask breaks -- even on rainy days!  A rain jacket is an important item to tuck into your child’s backpack.  

  • As expected, our arrival and dismissal routines have presented some challenges and we are reflecting on this week and will be making adjustments as needed.  Please note that student safety is the ultimate priority and that all of our processes will take extra time.  Please take extra caution whenever you are driving a vehicle on our school grounds.

  • Some very important points about arrival and dismissal:

    • Preschool arrival is at 8:45 and dismissal is at 11:30.  Please keep following our established routines -- these seem to be going quite well! 

    • For kindergarten and first grade arrival, if you prefer to park rather than join the rolling drop-off line, please park in the parent parking lot on Griswold Street and walk your child to their waiting area.  

    • In the afternoon, kindergarten students who are being picked up by parents or caregivers will be dismissed in the courtyard area near the parent parking lot.  Parents and caregivers must park and exit their vehicles in order to pick up their children. 

    • In the afternoon, first grade students who are being picked up by parents or caregivers will be dismissed from the sidewalk area adjacent to the small ball field. Parents and caregivers should park and exit their vehicles and wait for their students in the grassy area.  Please escort your children on the grassy area and on the sidewalks. Please do not cross the parking lot with your children.  

      • Drivers may park in the parent parking lot on Griswold Street or in the limited number of parking spots in the traffic circle.  If you are choosing to park in the spots near the traffic circle, please wait until the buses have exited the traffic circle before entering or exiting those spots.  If you arrive at the same time as the buses, please wait in the drop-off lane behind the buses until the buses have exited. You may then move forward to the parking area. 

  • Please remember that your child must be wearing their mask when they arrive at school.  

  • There are still spaces available for Hillcrest students  in our free Vacation Week enrichment program located at Sheffield Elementary School. Please check out the details here:  Little Scholars Spring Break Camp

  • Looking for a part-time job? We are looking for two Lunch Monitors here at Hillcrest Elementary School.  The hours are 11:00 - 1:00, Monday through Friday. For more information, please check the posting on our district website: http://www.gmrsd.org/welcome-gmrsd/departments/human-resources. Or call me directly at 863-7400. 

 

PLEASE NOTE THESE IMPORTANT DATES

  • Monday, April 12th -- Friends of Hillcrest Meeting @ 5:00

  • April 19th - April 23rd -- School Vaction Week 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ---

Sarah Burstein

Sarah Burstein, Hillcrest Principal