3/6 Community Updates

Dear Hawks Community,

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for the Discovery Link performance, Decades Dance Revolution! Congratulations to our students and staff who put in so much work to make this an incredible show. I am continually impressed with the talent and dedication of our Hallett community.

Thank you for continuing to respond to our Possip surveys. This allows us to regularly check in about how you're feeling at Hallett. Last survey, we included a bonus question about what kinds of communication changes you want to see from us. We heard that families are looking for more text updates, and for more communication from classroom teachers. In response, we will send newsletters via text (in addition to email) and I've asked teachers to send weekly updates to the parents in their classrooms.

As always, you can find the most recent Possip results on the Possip page on our website. We are grateful for your feedback!

Warmly,

Ms. D

“To teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students is essential if we are to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and intimately begin.”

- bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom

Thursday, March 6: Basketball Game at Isabella Bird at 5:45 p.m.

Thursday, March 6: 3rd Grade Field Trip: Night at the Museum

Thursday, March 13: Basketball Game at Isabella Bird at 5:45 p.m.

[Tentative] Monday, March 17: Talent Show Auditions from 4-6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 18: Picture Day

[Tentative] Wednesday, March 19: Talent Show Dress Rehearsal from 4-6 p.m.

[Tentative] Thursday, March 20: Talent Show Performance from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 20: Basketball Game at Isabella Bird at 4:30 p.m.

March 24-31: NO SCHOOL (Spring break) Please plan for alternate child care if needed. DiscoveryLink will only be operating March 24 and 25 the week of spring break.

Thursday, April 3: Basketball Game at Isabella Bird at 4:30 p.m.

Thank you again to everyone who shared their feedback about Hallett via our latest Possip survey! Here's what we heard, and here's how we're planning to address your feedback:

1. We heard that parents would like to see more field trips. We agree! Field trips are great opportunities for our students to explore and learn outside the classroom. It will be difficult to secure bus transportation for field trips for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year, but we will plan more field trips for the 2025-26 school year!

2. We heard that parents would like more regular communication from teachers. In response, we've asked teachers to start sending weekly updates to the parents in their classrooms.

3. We heard that parents would like to receive more frequent text updates. In response, we will be sending the newsletter out via text in addition to email. We will continue sending text reminders about no school days.

4. We heard that parents want to speak with Ms. D when they have concerns about conflict in the classroom. Ms. D is happy to address parent concerns, but you should first speak with your child's teacher. Classroom teachers spend the most time with your student, so they will be best equipped to understand and address your concerns. You can also speak to Mr. Jay, our Dean of Culture, if you have concerns about classroom conflict. Mr. Jay can be reached at jayveon_trotter@dpsk12.net.

The Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) are the state’s end-of-year common measurement of students’ progress. At Hallett, students in the following grades will be taking tests in the following subject areas:

• Grades 3, 4, 5: English Language Arts

• Grades 3, 4, 5: Math

• Grade 5: Science

We encourage you to talk to your child(ren) about the importance of getting plenty of rest the night before their test, followed by eating a healthy breakfast. To prevent missed instruction, please make sure your child(ren) arrives at school on-time and that appointments and vacations are planned for non-testing days.  

Cell Phone Policy: Please be advised that during CMAS, Students will not be permitted to have cell phones and/or any other electronic devices on their person or in the classroom testing environment. This includes wireless bluetooth headphones and smart watches. 

Student practice resources can be found here.

More information about assessments in DPS can be found here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mari at mgrimal@dpsk12.net.   

The Community Hub at Hallett is here for our community!

The Hub is a family resource center that provides support at no cost to families so that all students will have an equal chance to learn and thrive. The Hub at Hallett offers resources like food, clothing, classes and more. Everyone from our community is encouraged to take advantage of these resources!

Hallett students will be touring the Hub with their class over the next couple weeks. We encourage you to ask your child about the resources they saw on their tour that are available to the Hallett community.

Hub tours will also be available to parents in the Spring. Stay tuned!

Safe2Tell provides students, parents, and community members a safe and anonymous way to report information about any issues that concern their safety or the safety of others.

Reports can be submitted by calling 1-877-542-SAFE (7233), using the link on the Safe2Tell website, through the mobile app, or by texting S2TCO to 738477.

After you submit your report, watch for any follow up questions, because the more information you share, the better the response to your report will be. Safe2Tell will send your report to appropriate school and/or law enforcement officials and verify report receipt and response.

We understand that you need to pick up your child early from time to time. Please know that we cannot call your student down from class until you are physically in the office to sign them out. Thank you for your understanding!