Hurricane Creek Elementary School

School will be back in session on Friday. We look forward to seeing all of our Hornets tomorrow.

Due to continued weather conditions and icy roads, Bryant Public Schools will be closed today (Thursday, February 2).

The decision regarding school on Thursday, February 2 will be made in the morning. Our administrators will be driving and assessing road conditions in the early morning hours. If school is closed tomorrow, families should expect to be notified around 5am by phone call, text, app, email, and social media.

In this episode of “Did You Know?” Superintendent Karen Walters talks about the CAP process to help students (5th-11th grade) plan their schedules for next school year. She also shares an invitation for 9th-11th graders to attend the BHS Electives Fair on February 7. English: https://youtu.be/VHyV2pStZs8 Spanish: https://youtu.be/kh_SM3DkMHQ

🎧 New Podcast Episode 🎧 In episode 4 of the Hornet Hour Podcast, Dr. Alex Berry talks with school board president Dr. Tyler Nelson about the service and role of board members. Dr. Berry also visits with the district’s Chief Legal Counsel Jeremy Lasiter about recruiting and retaining teachers as well as the upcoming job fair.

In this episode of “Did You Know?” Superintendent Karen Walters shares information about the partial rezoning process affecting two of our elementary schools . English: https://youtu.be/2pZJCveMUIs Spanish: https://youtu.be/lZqG-4T-aNk

Bryant Public Schools has been monitoring the forecast and consulting with the Office of Emergency Management to determine the best course of action to keep students safe in the winter weather. While it is difficult to know the right time to make a decision on closing school, we understand parents have to make arrangements for child care in the event school is not in session. Due to the current inclement weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow when students will be at school, Bryant Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 31. Students will enjoy a snow day. Bryant Public Schools adopted an alternative calendar for the 2022-23 school year. Instead of the required 178 student interaction days, we are able to use minutes instead of days. Districts which have adopted an alternative calendar may not utilize AMI days (remote instruction from home), which we have done the past few years. Students will NOT be required to learn from home and will NOT have to make up the day because we have extra minutes/days built into our approved school calendar. Our current calendar has enough minutes to absorb five missed days without having to add days to the end of the school year. Stay warm and safe, Hornets!

Hello HCES Families, It looks like we are in for some more cold weather. Please remember to send a warm jacket each day. We will go outside if the temps allow. Our students look forward to outside recess! If your child is missing a coat, hoodies, water bottle, lunch box, ect. please remind them to check Lost and Found. Message your child's teacher if you are missing anything. Our Lost and Found area is overflowing with items. Stay in the loop with this week's TPP!  Make it a great week or not, the choice is yours, Jacqueline https://www.canva.com/design/DAFZFgVCXQ4/W3WH-zlcBzm9lwviaipcfg/view?utm_content=DAFZFgVCXQ4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

With winter weather in the forecast, now is a good time to review our inclement weather procedures. In the event that the school district has to cancel school due to inclement weather, we will have a traditional snow day. Bryant Public Schools does not have AMI days for the 2022-23 school year. If school is closed, students will not be required to learn from home and will not have to make up the day. The district is utilizing an alternative calendar with additional instructional hours scheduled above what is required by the state. As long as the district does not close for more than five days, days will not have to be added to the end of the school year. IF it should be necessary to close school, parents will be notified by all District communication channels such as phone call, text, email, website, social media, mobile app, and news outlets.

Good morning! Be on the lookout for information about our annual Cookie Dough Fundraiser. It is one of our largest fundraisers of the year. Our PTO met last week to finalize plans for the 2nd semester. Follow their Facebook page @Hurricene Creek Elementary PTO, or email them at hcespto1@gmail.com to find out how you can get connected! Here is this week's The Patriot Press: Parent Edition newsletter ... Here is some encouragement to launch us into Kindness Week... “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” --Mother Teresa Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours! Jacqueline Vergason https://www.canva.com/design/DAFYbGsmTs0/TBoBB12bdS3bGdUdFO0PhA/view?utm_content=DAFYbGsmTs0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." This is one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The meaning is much like that of The Golden Rule, "Treat others the way you want to be treated." Reflect on what that means to you ... be intentional as you allow that to be a driving force behind your actions this week. Take a look at the CELEBRATIONS in this week's Patriot Press: Parent Edition...make these conversational talking points with your child. Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours! Jacqueline Vergason https://www.canva.com/design/DAFX14_wuDw/W8YuV9oREBbqA0bWrKvClQ/view?utm_content=DAFX14_wuDw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Good morning Families, The safety of our students is my top priority. Both morning and afternoon traffic is a busy time. I am asking for your help to ensure our campus is a safe area while our students are arriving and leaving school each day. Afternoon dismissal is particularly busy, as many students are going in many directions, simultaneously. If your child is a car rider, you may have the opportunity to experience this first hand. We have intentionally developed procedures that ensure the safety of each student, while respecting your time. Please make sure you follow arrival and dismissal procedures at all times.  When students and staff are at the crosswalk area, please keep your car in park. Do not move forward if there are students, staff or other parents in the loading area. Traffic laws prevent a driver from passing a school bus as students are loading or unloading. I'm asking that you not pass a car as students are loading or unloading. Our staff on duty will motion for you to move forward once the loading zone and crosswalk areas are clear. Please do so at a slow, cautious rate of speed.  Also be mindful, it is against Arkansas law to use a cell phone while driving in a school zone.  Our children are precious. Their safety is of utmost importance. Please use caution as you enter and exit our campus each day. Sincerely, Jacqueline Vergason

Happy New Year! This is our first The Patriot Press; Parent Edition for 2023. I am proud of the accomplishments of our young Patriots the first semester of school, and I look forward to the social and academic growth that awaits us this final semester. We wouldn't be complete without our parents and family support. Thank you for the vital role you play in our success. This year, rather than a resolution (which I rarely achieve) I have chosen a focus word to be my guide through 2023. My word is INTENTIONAL. I am hopeful this word will keep me focused and...well, intentional as I aim to grow as a school principal, a mother, a wife, a friend, and a human. I invite you to choose a word that will be a beacon for your 2023 journey! Let's make it a great year or not, the choice is ours! Jacqueline Vergason https://www.canva.com/design/DAFXHq1DTEA/6Ng2pppHWs2gXrUpzUQ3xQ/view?utm_content=DAFXHq1DTEA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Hello Patriot Families, Our parents play a vital role in our school's success. Therefore, we are reaching out to you for assistance with a few matters that will take affect January 5, 2023, as we return from our Christmas Break. Transportation Changes: No transportation changes will be accepted after 2:00 pm for that school day. This gives our office ample time to notify teachers, subs, and students of any transportation changes for that day. This helps us ensure the safety of our students. Make necessary updates before 2 pm, by calling our school office at 501-653-1012. If an emergency arrises, we will work with you. Dismissal Changes: School dismisses at 3:10...All car riders must be picked up by 3:30. Due to contract obligations, we have few faculty available to supervise students after 3:30. Make arrangements to have your child picked up by 3:30 (3:35 at the latest). Habitual tardiness for picking up your child late will become a truancy case. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Again, we appreciate the role you play in our school's success. We are grateful for your partnership in doing what's best for kids. Jacqueline Vergason

Parents, are you ready? As you read this week's edition of The Parent Patriot Press, Christmas is less than a week away! Note the information about class parties on Wednesday. Thank you for helping us stay safe and organized on party day, by reading and following the expectations for that fun-filled day. On behalf of our teachers and staff at The Creek...we hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends! Jacqueline Vergason https://www.canva.com/design/DAFVJ7tpMZE/2Qlawxnhn8--L6zn924jUQ/view?utm_content=DAFVJ7tpMZE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Hello Patriot Families, Our parents play a vital role in our school's success. Therefore, we are reaching out to you for assistance with a few matters that will take affect January 5, 2023, as we return from our Christmas Break. Transportation Changes: No transportation changes will be accepted after 2:00 pm for that school day. This gives our office ample time to notify teachers, subs, and students of any transportation changes for that day. This helps us ensure the safety of our students. Make necessary updates before 2 pm, by calling our school office at 501-653-1012. If an emergency arrises, we will work with you. Dismissal Changes: School dismisses at 3:10...All car riders must be picked up by 3:30. Due to contract obligations, we have few faculty available to supervise students after 3:30. Make arrangements to have your child picked up by 3:30 (3:35 at the latest). Habitual tardiness for picking up your child late will become a truancy case. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Again, we appreciate the role you play in our school's success. We are grateful for your partnership in doing what's best for kids. Jacqueline Vergason

Hello HCE Families, 1. If your child is running a temperature of 100.0 or greater do not send them to school. They must be fever free for 24 hours without medication prior to coming back to school. 2. Same goes for vomiting or diarrhea.  3. Lice: encourage your children to not share hats or combs etc. with other students. Lice do not fly/hop they crawl. They can only live off a food supply (blood) for 48 hours. They don't like oily hair, they like clean hair to attach the eggs to. The nits are placed close to the scalp for warmth. If the nit is on the end of the hair shaft more than likely it has hatched. It is a good idea to check your child every two or three days and remove any and all nits (these will eventualy hatch). Repeat in 7-10 days the lice shampoo. Do not shampoo or condition prior to using the lice shampoo. Do not wash hair for a couple of days after treatment. This gives the lice shampoo time to keep working. Something that may work is cheap clarifying shampoo with some drops of tea tree oil, shampoo hair twice a week. Try not to get it in the students eyes because it will irritate them. I know it is frustrating because I have been there myself! Just takes patience and time. Checking every couple of days helps to be proactive. 4. When bringing medications, either bring after lunch or call first. Do not send medications of any kind with a student. All medications must be checked into the nursing office by a parent/guardian. Hope everyone has a Wonderful Holiday! Nurse Crosby

Hello Patriot Families, Our parents play a vital role in our school's success. Therefore, we are reaching out to you for assistance with a few matters that will take affect January 5, 2023, as we return from our Christmas Break. Transportation Changes: No transportation changes will be accepted after 2:00 pm for that school day. This gives our office ample time to notify teachers, subs, and students of any transportation changes for that day. This helps us ensure the safety of our students. Make necessary updates before 2 pm, by calling our school office at 501-653-1012. If an emergency arrises, we will work with you. Dismissal Changes: School dismisses at 3:10...All car riders must be picked up by 3:30. Due to contract obligations, we have few faculty available to supervise students after 3:30. Make arrangements to have your child picked up by 3:30 (3:35 at the latest). Habitual tardiness for picking up your child late will become a truancy case. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Again, we appreciate the role you play in our school's success. We are grateful for your partnership in doing what's best for kids. Jacqueline Vergason

Hello Patriot Family, We are in the midst of December and all the excitement that comes with the end of a semester. Teachers and students are focused on completing the skills of the first semester, while balancing the cheer of the holidays, and the upcoming new year. Help keep your child focused on the importance of being responsible, and finishing strong. Please read carefully the notes in this week's Parent Patriot Press, as there is information about visitor expectations, and some transportation changes for the new year. We love our students, and we love our parents and families. Join us in following the mission of Hurricane Creek Elementary as we guarantee safety and security, show respect, and protect the learning environment as our students learn at high levels. We all have a role to play to ensure we continue to achieve our goals. Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours! Jacqueline Vergason https://www.canva.com/design/DAFUdGBYKPw/VtZgYRUGhY3i9duiLWk-cA/view?utm_content=DAFUdGBYKPw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=homepage_design_menu

The new Bryant Disc Golf Course grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is Saturday, December 17 at 11am. The first round will follow. If you have not played disc golf before, this is a great opportunity for you and your family to try a new sport!