9/20 Community Updates

Dear Hallett Families,

Wow... what a busy first five weeks of school! My days have been filled with observing classrooms, meeting with students, and attending professional development with staff. It has been an honor to jump right in to our wonderful Hawks community.

And, as I'm sure you can imagine, the beginning of the school year has been hectic! If I have overlooked an email or a phone call from you, please know your concern is very important to me and moving forward, I aim to respond within 24-48 hours. If ever your concern warrants a more immediate response, please call Ms. Yvonne at 720-424-6070.

Thank you for your patience as we all get settled in the new school year.

Go Hawks!

Warmly,

Ms. D

Friday, Sept. 20 from 9:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Third grade field trip to Bluff Lake Nature Center

Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 4:15-5:15 p.m.: Hallett Parent Meeting

Friday, Sept. 27: NO SCHOOL (Hallett students only)

Tuesday, Oct. 1: Pupil Count, Pajamas and Popsicles Day - make sure your child is present!

Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 4:15-5:15 p.m.: Hallett Parent Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 10: NO SCHOOL

Friday, Oct. 11: NO SCHOOL

Monday, Oct. 14: NO SCHOOL (Family Conference Day)

Paperwork to Complete

If you haven't already, please complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application at MySchoolApps.

Absences

If your child will be absent, please notify the school office at 720-424-6070. If no one answers, please leave a message. You can also notify us of your child's absence by filling out this form.

We understand that sometimes students may need to be picked up early, but we ask that you only do this when absolutely necessary. Every hour counts towards your child's attendance and their learning!

We also understand that sometimes families plan getaways during the school year, and we appreciate you letting us know in advance when your child will be absent for a family trip. While it is helpful for us to know (and we'll mark it in the system), we cannot excuse these absences. Absences can only be excused in the case of illness, doctor's appointment, family emergency, religious reasons or similar circumstances.

Pets

While we love our community's furry friends, our priority is our students! Please do not bring pets into Hallett as they can affect our students with allergies. Service animals are welcome.

Fall Weather

It's finally getting cold(ish) outside! Please send your child to school with the necessary outerwear to stay warm.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up on Monday, Oct. 14! There will be no school for students. Conferences can take place in-person, virtually, or over the phone. Be on the lookout for a schedule from your child's teacher.

Attendance matters, and so does the health of our students. At the start of the school year, it's common for students (and staff) to come down with colds. So how sick is too sick to send your child to school?

See below for guidance on when to keep your child home if they aren’t feeling their best and when to send them to school.

Interested in volunteering at Hallett? Here's what you need to know:

All volunteers are required to complete a background check. Launch your background check here.

To join our Hallett Parent Group, please email parent leader Arianna at Ariannaconnorjones91@ymail.com. The Parent Group meets twice a month (every other Tuesday). The next meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 4:15-5:15 p.m. at Hallett.

We are implementing a formal system for signing up to volunteer! If you wish to volunteer in your child's classroom, please sign up here.

I believe it's never too early to get your student excited about college! That's why you can look forward to a college readiness tip in the last newsletter of each month.

Today's tip: start saving! College can be expensive; help your child prepare by teaching them about money and saving. If your child builds the habit of investing in themselves and their dreams, it will serve them well when it's time to head to college! Here are some ideas to get started:

Teach financial literacy. Introduce your child to the concept of budgeting and saving. With younger kids, you can start with the basics: teach them how much each coin is worth and how to make change. With older kids, try explaining concepts like bank accounts and interest. (Bonus points if you take them to the bank and open a savings account together!)

Gamify it! Finances don't have to be boring; help grow your child's money smarts by setting them up with some financial literacy games designed for kids. Check out this list for ideas.

Piggy bank it up. Show your child that saving is rewarding by giving them the chance to literally watch their money grow! To start, come up with a goal with your child - what do they want to save for? I recommend choosing something that will be an investment in themselves, like an educational video game or an after-school program. Once you have a goal, take your child to get a piggy bank and set up an allowance for chores they complete. They'll love watching their piggy bank get fuller as they get closer and closer to their goal!