Hawk Talk 11/1

Posted November 1, 2024

Spirit Week! Nov 4-8

Next week is Spirit Week:

Monday Nov 4: Pajama Day

Tuesday Nov 5: Cozy Sweater Day

Wednesday Nov 6: Twin Day

Thursday Nov 7: Fútbol and Football

Friday Nov 8: Flannel Friday

The Fall Ball is Thursday November 7 from 6:00 – 7:45pm. $3 at the door.

Music, dancing, snacks and refreshments!

Eligibility: No behavior incidents and no elopements (being out of class without permission) from Oct 28 – Nov 7.

Food Drive Competition! 

Harvest Baskets is an annual tradition at Hill where we support our community during the holidays. 

This year we are planning to support 75 families with our Harvest Basket distribution, and would love your help! Here’s how: 

  • Nonperishable food items and grocery gift cards can be donated from November 4th – November 19th by grade level. The winning grade level will win a grade level celebration!! 
  • Points will be awarded as 1 food item = 1 point, and grocery store gift cards will be awarded for the face value of the gift card for instance $25 gift card= 25 points.
  • Nonperishable goods wish list: canned corn, canned green beans, pasta, rice, macaroni and cheese, cornbread mix, ramen, canned black beans/pinto beans, soup, canned tuna/chicken
  • If you are interested in receiving a Harvest Basket this year, please email Nurse Merri at merri_hoffman@dpsk12.org

Thank you in advance for your help! 

Continuation Reminder for 8th Grade Families: 

Although all 8th graders will move onto 9th grade, in order to participate in the end of the year 8th Grade Continuation Week and Ceremony, students must meet or exceed the expectations outlined below: 

  • Attendance must meet 92% overall rate:Excused and unexcused absences or tardies fault a student’s attendance. Even with excused absences, attendance must be 92% or above. 
  • Score a 2 or higher on Hill Campus’ Standard Mastery Scale for quarters 2-4
    • Student grades are located in Schoology throughout the quarters. Final quarter grades are posted in Parent/Student portals at the end of each quarter.
    • If students receive a final grade of a 1 in quarters 2-4, they will be given an additional opportunity to participate in the ceremony by engaging in a portfolio pathway. The Office of Academics will contact students who need to meet this requirement.
  • Complete 6 community service hours
    • Submit hours to Director Turner using THIS FORM
    • HERE are community service opportunities
  • Complete all ICAP assignments 
  • Behavior must be in alignment with our school values and Restorative Process

Saturday School: We are kicking off Saturday school for continuation support on Saturday, November 16, 2024. If your student needs support with attendance, ICAP, or academics, we would love to have them there! please sign up–students are welcome to come the whole time or part of the time. 

  • What: Skyhawk Saturday School
  • When: November 16, 2024 from 8 am -12 pm
  • Every hour = 3% attendance credit (kids could earn a total of 12% for coming for 4 hours)
  • Attendance Make-up
    • Students can attend to choose from a menu of attendance credit options
    • Students on READ-Act plans, with IEPs, or in ELD A/B can complete i-ready lessons. If they score 80% or higher they will earn 1% attendance credit. 
  • Tutoring
    • Students can attend to work on missing assignments and receive classroom support to ensure they do not receive Q2 1s
  • Community Service Projects = No community service will be offered at this Saturday school!

Blankets & Stuffies:

A reminder that students should only bring school-appropriate items to school each day. Any item that does not aid a student with engaging in the learning leads to distractions for self and peers. NO stuffed animals are allowed at school. And, per the Hill Dress Code, no blankets may be brought to school in replacement of a coat or warm clothing. Blankets are not permitted due to DPS health and safety protocols. 

School Meal Benefits Application

Although school breakfast and lunch are free for all students this year, we still ask that all families complete this application as Hill receives additional funding for all submitted applications. Beyond the budgetary impact of Hill, we want to ensure free meals for all students continue in future years. As of now only about 50% of Hill families have submitted this application, so please help us reach 100%.

Hawk Bucks Store Donations:

This year Hill’s Student Support Team developed a positive behavior incentive system where students earn Hawk Bucks for being on task and eager to learn. Each Friday during lunchtime students can use their Hawk Bucks to ‘buy’ snacks and small toys. We have found that the students love this and are excited to keep earning Hawk Bucks. We are asking for help supplying the Hawk Bucks store. If you are able to donate snacks (small bags of chips, fruit roll-ups, suckers, etc) or small toys (fidgets, handheld analog games, keychains, etc) please drop them to the main office. We are hoping to supply the Hawk Bucks store from community donations for Quarter 2 so any amount of a donation is greatly appreciated!

Upcoming Calendar:

Nov 4-8 – Spirit Week

Nov 6 – School Photo Retake Day

Nov 7 – Fall Ball (school dance)

Nov 14 – Early release day (students dismissed at 1pm)

Nov 25-29 – No school (Thanksgiving Break)