September 16, 2022

HCS Parent Newsletter for 9.16.22

PRINCIPAL NEWS…

We will continue with weekly Messengers on Fridays throughout the school year. All school messengers can also be found and translated into over 125 languages on our News Wall. 

Continuaremos con Mensajeros semanales los viernes durante todo el año escolar. Todos los mensajeros escolares también se pueden encontrar y traducir a más de 125 idiomas en nuestro muro de noticias.

Well Monday gave us a quick taste of a Fall experience and what’s to come, then turned back to a wonderful end of the week.  Fortunately, the weather adjusted positively for us to complete our second fire drill with positive feedback from the Fire Department as to how our systems are working for accountability.  Next week we will review the procedures for shelter in place (which is one option to use in potential severe weather, tornados, etc.).  Additionally, we will review our developmentally appropriate lockdown procedures with students and will discuss options-based “thought exercises” to ensure that our students and staff are prepared for emergencies without elevating anxiety.  For more detailed information, please click here: Law Enforcement Drill English / Law Enforcement Drill Spanish.

In the upcoming weeks, we will have teachers complete the DESSA on all of the students within their classrooms, since we will be entering week six of the school year.  The DESSA is a nationally standardized, strength-based behavior rating scale that assesses students’ social and emotional competence with editions that support students K-12. It has been used by districts and out-of-school time programs across the country to support social and emotional learning (www.apertureed.com/dessa).  The following week we will begin administration of our Fall MAP assessment; in both English Language Arts and Math.  During this week we ask that all students get a good night’s rest and come prepared each day with a fully charged Chromebook, if applicable.  Students will participate in this assessment, at a minimum two times per year to compare individual/grade level scores and to assist our teachers in developing appropriate / responsive instructional strategies aligned to State Standards.

Important Dates:

  • 2022-2023 Theme: WE BELONG HERE!
  • 2022-23 School Year Information. For updated information on the 2022-23 school year, please click HERE
  • Tuesday, October 4th
  • Author visit for grades 3-5.
  • 5th Grade Cross Country Meet; register here.
  • Friday, October 7th – No School 
  • Monday, October 10th – No School Indiginous People / Columbus Day
  • Wednesday, October 12th – Walk, Bike & Roll to school today!
  • Thursday, October 13th – Fall School Pictures.

HC Storm Shares:

  • Jasmine Warga, award winning author, is coming to HC Storm. H. C. Storm School is delighted to welcome award-winning author Jasmine Warga on Tuesday, October 4th. Ms. Warga will talk with third, fourth, and fifth grade students about her career as an author and discuss her new book, A Rover’s Story. An order form was sent home to all 3-5 grade students. To guarantee a personalized copy of this book, please return the order form with payment (cash or check payable to H. C. Storm School) by Monday, October 3rd. If you miss that date, there will be a limited supply of signed books available for purchase through October 18th. Here is a copy of the order form. Thank you to our PTO for hosting an Anderson’s book fair. The author visit, which would normally cost thousands of dollars, is FREE because Anderson’s Book Store graciously sends these authors to schools that host their book fairs. In the past we have had incredible visits with Henry Winkler, Jamie Lee Curtis, David Shannon, and Aaron Reynolds. We look forward to hosting another author or illustrator in the spring for the lower grade levels. Please sign up through the PTO to help with the Anderson’s book fair this October. Your help will continue this great tradition of not only hosting great authors and illustrators for your children, but also building your child’s love of reading by purchasing books at the fair.
  • 5th GR Cross Country Meet information here! Online Registration closes Sunday 10/2. Students are able to register the day of at check-in if they miss the online registration but a t-shirt is not guaranteed.m So register soon!
  • Bocaditos Cafe an HC Storm PTO fundraiser for Thursday October 13th! The fundraiser will be for the entire day (12-6:30PM) and they will be donating 15% of sales back to PTO. Orders can be for pickup or dine-in. Here is the link to their website if you want to peruse their menu:

https://bocaditos.cafe/

 

  • Green Team recycling collection is back! Do you have old school supplies, broken toys, old cell phone cases or PopSockets that you are interested in recycling? If so, there are drop-off boxes in front of the office for these items. These programs keep items out of the landfill and earn money for the school! Thank you for your help! Check out this flyer about what’s coming up for the rest of the year.
  • Follow us on Twitter: @HCSBatavia
  • Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures Reminder

PTO Shares:

  • First Movie night is Friday, September 23rd!
  • Get your Mums here! Information in English here and information in Spanish here.
  • Box Tops: There’s an App for That! Did you know you can help earn money for our school when you buy groceries at Walmart, Target, Jewel, and many other local stores? PTO is excited to offer new prizes for scanning receipts so keep an eye out!!  Make sure to give credit to your student before you submit your receipt. Still unsure of how to do that? See videos below:
  • Hang on to those old sneakers! The PTO and Green Team are partnering to raise money through “Got Sneakers” from now until September 27th. They pay for old shoes no matter the condition–as long as they are a pair. Click here for all the information. If you have any questions, feel free to email Alexandria Jensen at alexandria.jensen@gmail.com. #gotsneakers.  There is a drop off box located outside of the school near the front entry windows under the drop off/pick up table.
  • Please make sure to follow us on Facebook for the most up to date information: What’s Happening at HC Storm Elementary: PTO Updates.  This will be the best way for remote learners to connect with Storm for the time being while email lists are sorted out through the district.

Other Important Information:

  • BPS101’s $140 million bond referendum on Nov. 8 will enable the district to address essential safety and security needs at our schools. Approval will not increase the district’s bond and interest property tax levy. Find out more at: www.bps101.net/boft.
  • Batavia Music Buffs: The Batavia Music Buffs is a 501(c)3 booster organization supporting music in all of Batavia’s public schools from elementary to middle and high school. Anyone can be a member – parents, past students, grandparents, faculty, staff, friends, etc. Visit our website to join www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/membership and/or to get one of our awesome new metal music yard signs www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/shop.
  • Join Batavia Bulldog Boosters Today!!  Online: at  www.bataviabulldogboosters.org
  • Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Terminology: BPS101 takes building safety seriously. In our schools, safety drills are practiced periodically throughout the year. You may also receive a message from the District about an incident at your student’s school. Please make sure your emergency contact information is correct in PowerSchool. For reference, please watch this short video on EOP terms.
  • 2-1-1 Information/Referral Hotline Now Available in Kane County. Just like you dial 9-1-1 for emergencies, you can now call “2-1-1” in Kane County and be connected to a live specialist, any time of the day or night, to assist you with your human service and resource needs.  Read more >
  • Social Emotional Resource: BPS101 student services staff have put together a Virtual Calming Room containing tools and strategies to help students manage emotions and feelings in productive ways.There are resources for all ages.