A message from Ms. Dockery, our school counselor, about 'Start with Hello' week!
We depend on technology in almost every aspect of {school} life.
Our Technology Team keeps our schools and departments connected. They manage over 11,500 Chromebooks and 2,000 iPads; staff computers & presentation devices; network equipment & Infrastructure; security cameras and access controls. Impressive for a team of 16!
Over the summer, this rockstar team built clips to join plexiglass sheets together to increase safety for students. Always creating and innovating, today we celebrate our Technology Team. #ITProDay
Look what we're learning at HCES...
For 9/11 Patriot Day, Ms. Botti's first graders worked on interactive Seesaw activities centered around America. The students learned about the American flag, created their own flag, and recorded a video of what American means to them after listening to patriotic songs.
Our fifth graders are piloting a new app called SORA where they can “check out” ebooks and audiobooks from the Saline County Library and Arkansas Digital Library Consortium. We are so excited about this resource and plan to share it with students in other grade levels during library class in the coming weeks! #TodayAReaderTomorrowALeader
A Message from our PTO
#HungerActionDay is a great reminder to purchase and donate peanut butter at any Bryant school until September 30. Your donation will help feed hungry children in our community. #SpreadHope
Hello Virtual Parents- We need your help! Read a letter from Mrs. Vergason for ways to maximize the success of your student's virtual learning experience
Jaycsin's family makes sure we have plenty of masks for Hurricane Creek's students and teachers. Thank you for your generous donation!
Why peanut butter? Because nearly 5,000 kids in Saline County are facing hunger. You can help today by donating peanut butter to any Bryant school through September 30. #SpreadHOPE
Virtual and Blended Parents,
Hello from Mrs. Vergason, Hurricane Creek Elementary Principal. We have had an amazing two weeks of learning! I want to give kudos to you and your student for doing your part to help things run smoothly. You’re teaching your child to gain responsibility by ensuring they bring a clean mask and water bottle to school each day! Teachers have bragged on them (and you!)
I’d like to remind you to follow our facebook page @ Hurricane Creek Elementary and bookmark our website https://www.bryantschools.org/hces for up to date information on the events and happenings at our school. I encourage you to join our PTO fb Page @ Hurricane Creek Elementary PTO for opportunities to be involved in the HCES experience from a parent’s perspective. Here are a few more things that you’ll want to note concerning your student.
I have attached a Bryant School District Calendar for your reference.
School Starts at 7:45 and ends at 3:10. Please get your child to school on time, so they don’t miss any instruction. All school doors lock at 7:45, so bring your student to the front of the school if you arrive after 7:45. If your student is virtual, please log in and remain logged in, and engaged in the learning process according to the schedule your teacher has shared.
Student Information/Media Release/Medical Form: Please complete and sign this form and send it back to school asap. It is very important we have your current contact information on file. We will begin highlighting the awesome things happening in our blended and virtual classrooms. We will need permission to include your child in these posts, so make sure you get this form completed and returned today!
Back Gates: The safety of your children is our number one concern. Therefore, beginning Tuesday, September 8, both back gates will be closed from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm. For afternoon pick up, buses and daycare vans will enter the back parking lot as they are directed. We ask parents to wait until the gate opens (at 2:30) before you enter. We appreciate your assistance as we provide a safe campus for all!
NWEA Assessments: This week we will begin onsite NWEA testing for our blended K-2 students. NWEA is given three times a year for all students (virtual and blended) in grades K-2, as our mandated state assessment. All K-2 parents should have received a letter about this test from your child’s teacher. If not, please reach out to the teacher for a copy. We want our students to give their best effort to show us what they know, as this is a tool to gather data on each student's strengths, weaknesses, and ultimately assist teachers in forming a plan to meet the specific needs of each student. This is an assessment of individual growth. The goal is to gauge growth, and help teachers map out a plan to maximize the growth of your student. Assure your child that we want them to show us what they know, while staying relaxed and confident. Teachers will make this assessment part of their regular classroom procedures, and encourage students to work hard. Over time, students get to show what they know as they grow! K-2 virtual students and onsite students in grades 3-5 will take the test in the upcoming weeks. More details soon. Note: The state mandated assessment for grades 3-5 is ACTAspire, which is administered in the spring.
CurbSMART: We appreciate your cooperation as we are working out the kinks with CurbSmart, our afternoon car rider dismissal system. Our goal is to be more efficient each day, until we have it down to an art.
Free Breakfast & lunch for all HCES students: We are now able to offer FREE student meals through December 31, thanks to a new USDA waiver. All students will be able to eat one school breakfast and one school lunch, per day, at no cost, beginning on Tuesday, September 8.
Red, White and Blue Live to You: Ask your student about our HCES morning news show. It is viewed in the classroom each morning after Mrs. Vergason’s intercom announcements.
Bryant’s Annual Peanut Butter Drive is underway. Send unopened jars of peanut butter to school with your child. They will go to feed needy Arkansans through the Arkansas Food Bank.
As always, please reach out to our office if you have any questions at 501-653-1012. Have a great week!
Good news, Bryant families! All students (PreK-12) will be able to eat one school breakfast and one school lunch, per day, FREE beginning Tuesday, September 8. More info at bit.ly/FreeStudentMeals.
Who are our COVID heroes? School nurses!
BES nurse Lynn Dreher shares information on preventing the spread of germs and provides details to parents about COVID-19 protocols. #SafeHornets
youtu.be/vcbT_uHqQzk
What is one thing you can do TODAY for a better TOMORROW? Respond to the 2020 Census! Federal funding and grants are based on population numbers, so #BeCounted. Time is running out. #BryantCounts2020
https://my2020census.gov/
Thank you, DESE (Division of Elementary & Secondary Education), for providing each student with the Kids Guide to the Coronavirus. Look for these booklets to come home with your elementary student this week.
bit.ly/2ER5ICH
DESE is launching a new campaign to help students learn how to use social media in safe and healthy ways. Parents and teachers can access resources to support their students at SMACtalk.info
Saturday's game kicked off the 2020 Salt Bowl Peanut Butter Drive. Each school in the district will collect peanut butter until September 30. #SpreadHOPE by donating today!
Parents, no decisions have been made at this time regarding school on Friday. Please continue to check email, social media, our app, or website for updates.
Take this opportunity to download the Bryant Public Schools app for notifications directly to your phone.
Tomorrow is the big day for our kindergarteners! Our blended teachers, Mrs. Broach, Mrs. Walsh and Ms. McLaren, have worked hard to prepare a fun, inviting classroom that makes each child feel special and loved. Please say your goodbyes and give hugs and kisses in the car. Our staff will be at the front of the school to open car doors, welcome our new friends to our school, and escort them to their classrooms.
Our virtual friends will be greeted on their screen by Ms. Fricke who has some surprises up her sleeve, too!
It is going to be a great day for all HCES Kindergarten students!
Tomorrow is a BIG day for our LITTLE Hornets. To help you and your child have a great start, all kindergarten students will begin school at 9am on Thursday.
Today was a great first day of school! Both virtual and blended learning had a few bumps, but overall it was a great start to the year. Teachers and students were so ready to see each other, as we have been apart far too long. This year looks different from past years, but our teachers are working day and night to make the learning experience as smooth as possible. Those of you who chose the virtual learning option, please show us grace as we adjust to the virtual learning environment and all of the platforms we are now using. It takes time to get passwords set, and help you and your student become familiar with these platforms. Your child's teacher wants this to go well, so patience and kindness go a long way.
For those who chose the blended learning option, thank you for sending your child with a mask and water bottle. Every child had such a positive attitude today! We are working on the CurbSmart system for car riders. I appreciate your patience - we hope to have it running more smoothly tomorrow. Please make sure your child's teacher has updated contact information, so they can reach you with classroom information and updates.
If today is any indication of what the year will be like, then we are in for a wonderful school year! Thank you for your partnership.
Jacqueline Vergason
Principal
Flashing Red Lights means students are getting on or off the bus. It is illegal to pass a bus from ANY direction when the red lights are flashing. Make safety a top priority. #FlashingRedKidsAhead
