Hurricane Creek Elementary School

With COVID-19 still a real threat, we need to remain diligent in reporting positive cases to our district Point of Contact (POC), even when school is closed. Our POC phone line will reopen on Sunday, November 29, from 2-8pm for those who have had a positive COVID-19 test or have been designated as a close contact over the break. These individuals will not be able to attend school until their isolation or quarantine period is over. The number is 501-414-6647. We continue to rely on cooperation from families in reporting positive cases and identifying close contacts. The better we are with our prevention strategies, the longer we will be able to keep schools open and have children attend school in-person.

Food Box Distribution: Tuesday, November 24, 10:00-11:00am, behind Bryant Elementary. Due to the overwhelming response for food boxes, we may run out of boxes with chicken. If so, the chicken and dressing will be replaced with chili and cornbread.

Mrs. Vergason and Mrs. Mask are thankful for the teachers and staff at Hurricane Creek Elementary. The thankful cart rolled around to deliver a seasonal "Stovetop Simmer" to bring a festive scent to their kitchen, and a wish for things to 'simmer down' so they can relax over their break!

Mrs. Whitfield's class wants to remind all students to wear their HCE Good Vibes shirts tomorrow!

With the BHS and BJHS campuses closed, bus riders in grades K-7 may be home up to 10-15 minutes earlier than normal on FRIDAY afternoon.

Look at these HCES artists! Our school's first place winner of the Christmas Card contest is 5th grader Jonathan Escarcega-Juarez. The two Honorable Mentions are 5th grader Abby Smith, and 3rd grader Tristan Rea. Congratulations!

Bryant Public Schools is partnering with Arkansas Foodbank’s Emergency School Pantry Program to provide food boxes to low-income families with children in the Bryant School District. Families must have a student currently approved for free or reduced meals in the Bryant School District to qualify to receive food boxes. The first distribution day will be Thursday, November 19 from 4:30-5:30pm behind Bryant Elementary. Signs will be posted to direct families to the drive through location. The next food distribution date is Tuesday, November 24, 10:00-11:00am at the same location.

A message to all HCES parents from our Principal Mrs. Vergason. You may read this email, or watch a video of Mrs. Vergason discussing these items on our fb page @HurricaneCreekElementary Good morning, I would like to begin by celebrating some "Good Things" that are happening at HCES… Last Friday was World Kindness Day...but random acts of kindness are being shown in our building everyday by students and teachers. This is the kindness hub of Arkansas...HCES is a great place to be. I am sure you saw the tribute to our veterans last week. Our appreciation and gratitude was evident in the heartfelt notes, art projects, and words you saw in the video. I am so proud of our students and staff. We won the Peanut Butter Drive in our district! We collected 940 jars, and the district collected 4,387. Those went to local food pantries and churches to feed hungry students and adults in Saline county. Thank you for your donations. Progress reports will go home today...so, looking forward, our focus is on personal growth. Our classroom conversations will be focused around setting personal goals and working the plan to meet those individual growth goals -- This is a K-5th effort! One of the phrases I reinforce most mornings on the intercom is “HCES is a safe place, a place of respect, and a place where learning happens.” We want learning to happen. Please encourage your child to give their best effort each day. Ask your child their strengths, and areas for which they are focusing their efforts to grow. Here are some dates and special information you’ll want to note: Progress Reports will go home Today, November 16 Thanksgiving Break is November 23-27 Our Thanksgiving feast in the cafeteria is this Thursday...we regret that parents can not join us this year, but we promise to capture the moment in pictures and post them on our school website and fb page. Make sure you follow us @HurricaneCreekElementary to get all the latest updates and info from our school and the district! Blended only: Remind your student to claim their Lost & Found item. Blended only: Fall picture retakes will be December 9. Our virtual friends came to school to pick up instructional materials and some goodies last Friday. They were able to see their teachers as they drove through the pick up line in their cars. All students have received their HCE Good Vibes t-shirts. They look awesome! Shout out to our amazing PTO! I am excited for us to wear them proudly as a school (blended and virtual classrooms.) Let’s wear them this Friday, November 20! In closing, Here are three school-centered talking points to spark conversation between you and your child. -Growth goals & areas of strength -Reflect on something for which you and your child are thankful. -Name one classmate/teacher to whom they’ve shown kindness, and one classmate who has shown kindness to them. Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

On this special national holiday, our Hurricane Creek family would like to honor and remember our service men and women for their sacrifice and dedication to our country. You are valued! Click this link to see our tribute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwK8gmEsSJk&feature=youtu.be Here is the link to the book America's White Table, read aloud by our principal, Mrs. Vergason. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QmJr4MBw0c&feature=youtu.be

Thank you to all our military personnel—past and present—for the sacrifices you have made for our freedom.

Our kindergarten and first grade counselor, Mrs. Lori Davis, has been a blessing to Hurricane Creek for the last 3 years. She has a heart for students and is an encouragement for teachers. Beginning on Monday, her services will be needed at Parkway Elementary. We are sad to see her go, but know the students and teachers at Parkway will love her.

A message to all HCES parents from Mrs. Vergason: We ended October with some dress up fun during Red Ribbon week and Book Character Day! We have jumped right into November and have a busy week ahead of us as we honor and remember our special military men and women on Veteran’s Day. We continue to work hard as the middle of this 9 weeks is already here and progress reports will go home in a week. Our focus is on personal growth, as each student should challenge themselves to give their best effort to meet individual goals. Please encourage your child to do their best each day! Here are some dates and special information you’ll want to note: --Thanksgiving Break is November 23-27. --Progress Reports will go home November 16. --Blended only: Remind your student to claim their Lost & Found item (masks, jackets, hoodies, bows, etc.) --Blended only: Fall picture retakes will be December 9. --Virtual only: In the next few weeks you and your student will be given details about another pick up day. You’ll pick up materials needed to finish this semester, your HCE Good Vibes t-shirt, and school pictures (if you had them made). All virtual students WILL GO TO THE CAMPUS AT WHICH YOUR VIRTUAL TEACHER IS HOUSED....you’ll receive details from your virtual teacher about when your pick up day will be. Virtual Students who have Ms. Fricke, Ms. Leonard, Ms. Finley, and Ms. Jones only: Your pick up day is this Friday, Nov. 13 from 1:00-2:00 pm at HCES. You’ll enter in the back of the school off of Boone Road. Look for the sign that says K-2. It will lead you to the front of the school in the circle drive where your items will be brought to your car. --Blended students received their HCE Good Vibes t-shirts on Friday. They look awesome! Shout out to our amazing PTO! - thank you - thank you - thank you- We will wear these on Monday, November 9!

A Note from our PTO Hello HCE parents, We have arrived to beautiful November. November is a time when many people begin to reflect on things they are thankful for. I don’t know about you but our PTO is SO thankful for the staff and teachers at HCE. We have chosen to take November as a time to show them just how thankful we are. We are inviting all HCE parents to participate with us. We have asked teachers to build a wishlist of things that would help them in their classroom. Attached you will find a link taking you to wishlists. If you purchase from this link it will ship directly to the teacher you bought for. This is hosted by PTO. We would love to see our families participating with us! Here is the link to the wishlists; copy and paste it to your browser. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13QLVB5GAbmcw8FEEGEWCH8jyG-LEBRdkJhH0aE6zRu0/edit?usp=sharing If you have any questions please feel free to contact Amy DeVito at 501-454-3894 Thank you for your participation, Hurricane Creek Elementary PTO

Dear HCE Families, We would love to honor and remember the special men and women who have served, or are currently serving, our country in the Armed Forces. Take a look at the flier. We would love to include your special serviceman and servicewoman in our Virtual Veteran's Day Hero Wall.

Mrs. Broach's kindergarten class learned about voting and leadership today. They filled out a voter registration card and voting ballots. They know that every vote counts and every voice matters!

Buckle Up ButterCUP! Did you know this week included a hurricane, Halloween, a Blue Moon, and time change (plus Red Ribbon week, Book Character Day, and remember it's 2020!) Mrs. Vergason and Mrs. Mask knew that Reese's CUPS would help teachers survive it all... Parents, I hope you are bucked up for this weekend!

Our PE classes took a chance and braved the October obstacle course...if they dared....!! The course included a hopscotch through ghost forest, a crawl under the tunnel, and a walk on the plank. Thank you to Coach Gore for making exercise fun!

STEM class created pumpkin stands! Thank you Texas Roadhouse for donating straws. Here is the challenge: Make a stand for the pumpkin to sit on without falling over. The materials they could use included 20 straws, 4 feet of tape, and scissors.

A look back at our fun-filled week of learning at Hurricane Creek Elementary! ---Our counselor, Mrs. Lori Davis, and Ms. McLaren's kindergarteners pledge to be drug free as they choose to loves themselves, not drugs. ---Mrs. Penfield's third grade class sharpens their knowledge of nouns and verbs with a friendly game of Kahoot. ---Kathy Maness, and family grew their very own garden of mini pumpkins, and then shared them with Mrs. Trickey's class for math, science and writing activities. ---Our fifth grade students work to complete a quick Escape Room challenge. They sure are competitive!

Good Evening Parents, Here is some helpful information for you... ---Book Character Parade is tomorrow. We can’t wait to see what book character your child will be?! See the flier for details on costumes. ---Lost & Found items will be on display in the foyer tomorrow for students to claim. Please let your child’s teacher know if they have a lost item (coat, mask, water bottle) and we will help them get it located. ---Red Ribbon Week has been filled with fun as we have learned what it means to be drug free. Our counselor, Ms. Dockery has drawn names for prizes! This weekend is Halloween, a full moon, a blue moon, time change...and this is 2020. So, be safe and take care!