Hallett Academy

Community Updates 10/13

Hallett students sitting on a bench at Balarat facing the instructor

From the Desk of Ms. D

Dear Hawks Community,

I hope you all are enjoying the 4-day weekend! We're excited to see you back at Hallett tomorrow, Oct. 14.

The past 2 weeks at Hallett have been busy - we've had our parent meeting, parent/teacher conferences, and our 5th grade field trip to Balart! We've also started using our survey platform, Possip, again. Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts; we have some more details on how we're implementing your feedback below.

Read on for important updates and reminders!

Warmly,

Ms. D, Principal

“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

📅 Important Dates for Your Calendar

OCTOBER

  • Monday, October 13: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

  • Thursday, October 16: Picture Day Retakes

  • Wednesday, October 29: Virtual Snack and Chat @ 6 p.m. with Ms. D. (Link to join here)

🗣️ Possip Results

We use a text survey platform called Possip to ask our families how they're feeling about Hallett 1-2 times a month. You can find the latest survey results on this page of our website.

We heard that many of you are interested in a snack and chat with the principal! Most respondents said they preferred a virtual meeting in the afternoon or evening, so we scheduled a virtual snack and chat with Ms. D on Wednesday, October 29 at 6-7 p.m.

At the snack and chat, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and share suggestions with Ms. D. Send your questions to hallett-academy@dpsk12.net ahead of time!

✏️ Visitor and Teacher Feedback Policies

As a reminder, parents are not permitted on the 1st and 2nd floor during instructional hours; we do not want to disrupt the teaching and learning that are taking place. If you need to speak to your child's teacher, please email the teacher or call the school office to set up an appointment.

Just a reminder: your child's teacher should be the first point of contact if you have questions or concerns about anything going on in the classroom. We welcome parent voices and love having you in our community!

🌳 Park Hill Park Survey

A former golf course in Park Hill is being turned into a regional park! It will be the 4th largest park in the city! Take this survey to share your thoughts on the park design before October 23.

The park will have an opening celebration on Oct. 28 from 3:30-6 p.m.! There will be a climbing wall, touch-a-truck, wildlife education, park tours and games like giant Jenga. Everyone is invited to attend!

💗 Parent Survey: Student Social and Emotional Development

As part of our effort to support the whole child, Hallett is implementing a universal social and emotional screening for students. Your responses will help us make sure your child is supported at Hallett!

Please complete the 10 minute questionnaire by Friday, October 31. You will need your child’s six-digit student ID.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our School Social Worker, Barbara Robinson or our School Psychologist, Beulah Morman.

👕 The Hallett School Store is OPEN

Our school store officially launched TODAY! Buy your Hallett merch by following the below steps:

  • Go to the school store link

  • You'll be prompted to make an account. Select "I am a new user" and create a username and password to log in.

  • Select "Community"

  • Select "Elementary Schools"

  • Select Hallett (schools are listed alphabetically)

  • Place your order!

If you have any questions, please contact our Communications Specialist Emma at emma_calkins@dpsk12.net.

📱 Download the DPS App to Receive Communication From Your Child's Teacher

Classroom teachers are using the new DPS App to communicate with families! Within the app, you can join your child's "Room" to see their teacher's newsletters and reminders. Please follow the below steps to set up the DPS app:

  1. Download the DPS app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

  2. Open the app, then tap “Rooms,” then “Continue to sign in.”

  3. Type in your guardian email address or phone number.

  4. If you typed in your email address, tap “Log in with code.” If you typed in your phone number, you will automatically receive a code. Type this code in when prompted.

  5. You will be prompted to select your preferred communication language.

  6. You will be automatically signed into your students’ Rooms. You can now see communications from your child's teacher!

  7. Be sure to enable notifications from the DPS app so you don't miss important announcements.

Still have questions about Rooms? Visit the Rooms FAQ page.