Hurricane Creek Elementary School

Visit one of the links to view the fall edition of our district newsletter, Success Happens Here: bit.ly/35FMRUG bit.ly/3kERHYL en español

While we encouraged families to apply by October 15 to receive additional funding for the district, Free and Reduced meal applications are accepted all year. Families may apply at any time to receive additional benefits offered with meal status. Apply online at bit.ly/MealAccounts or pick up an application at any school. FREE MEALS are available to all students through the end of the school year.

While we encouraged families to apply by October 15 to received additional funding for the district, Free and Reduced meal applications are accepted all year. Families may apply at any time to receive additional benefits offered with meal status. Apply online or pick up an application at any school office. FREE MEALS are available to all students through the end of the school year.

Bryant Public Schools is experiencing issues with phones and internet. At this time we are not able to receive phone calls or emails. The Technology Department is working to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Jacqueline Vergason may be a first year principal at Hurricane Creek Elementary, but she is a 27 year veteran in the education field. One of her strengths is her ability to build relationships with students, parents and staff. Mrs. Vergason says being a principal gives her the opportunity to encourage and love people on a broader spectrum.

Parents, I just emailed you about the upcoming events at Hurricane Creek. I mentioned the Instructional Survey our district emailed out to you last week. Those MUST be completed by today. In our attempt to get this survey to you in various online platforms, you'll find a link on our Hurricane Creel Elementary facebook page, the schools's Live Feed website or the district's Live Feed website. It was reposted about an hour ago. We appreciate your help as our goal is to provide a quality education that is the best fit for your child's needs. Jacqueline Vergason

A Note from Mrs. Vergason to all HCES parents. I am excited to report that we had a great turn out for conferences. It was certainly different doing them virtually, but I have heard wonderful reviews from parents and teachers. Some productive and rewarding conversations took place. If a child knows his teachers and parents have a strong connection about his education, it makes the learning experience so much better! Here are a few things you’ll want to know about this week. Important Information: --As always, please send a clean mask and water bottle every day. This includes those who ride the bus. You must have a mask on while riding the bus. --ALL PARENTS: Due October 25, Instructional Survey Options for Next Semester- Surveys went out last week for parents to make their selections for either virtual or blended learning for next semester. Please complete a survey for EACH student. If you did not get a survey via email, please contact the school office. --Red Ribbon Week Flier- This is a great week for our students, as they celebrate being drug free, and have fun celebrating it. See the flier about our dress up days this week. Monday is “Wear Red” as we kick off the week. --October 30 Book Character Day Flier - See the flier for all the details on making this a fun experience for all students, and faculty! --Book Fair - Our Virtual Book Fair is currently in full swing - through this week! Check out our Hurricane Creek Elementary facebook page for details from Mrs. Seidenschnur, our Library Media Specialist. Shopping virtually is so much fun! --Celebration- I am so proud of how hard our teachers and students have been working. Students and their teachers will begin setting individual growth goals. They will work hard to achieve growth in the new 9 weeks. Please encourage your child to do their best toward meeting their goals! October 31 is Halloween, a full moon, time change and remember, it is also 2020… so be safe!! Jacqueline Vergason

While our students were working remotely, our teachers & staff were working onsite with student data and curriculum preparation. But first, we had to carve out a little time to eat donuts and celebrate our successes and accomplishments from the first quarter. Students, we love you and will see you Monday!

We love to celebrate HCES!

More celebration pictures!

Did you know it's #NationalSafeSchoolsWeek? Bryant Schools is thankful to have Bryant Police School Resource Officers (SROs) at our secondary campuses and Commissioned School Security Officers (CSSOs) at our elementary campuses. Both groups of professionals work closely with our administrators in creating safe schools. Learn more about our initiative to have a security presence at each of our schools: bryantschools.org/page/school-safety-team

Just a reminder...tomorrow, October 22 is EARLY OUT and Parent Teacher Conferences. Friday, October 23 is a Remote Learning Day - all students will learn from home.

I am so proud of Hurricane Creek for being recognized as a top elementary school in the Little Rock area according to Niche. We are ranked #4, and our school district is ranked #1. This is something to smile about. Copy & paste the link below in your browser. https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-schools/m/little-rock-metro-area/?fbclid=IwAR1A61VST7jISYPuNKEsftnUJ-VUzhFH7IvitFulTxHXrazuBlSPpuDFGtw

Thank you to our entire Nursing Department, the Saline County Health Unit, and all the volunteers who helped keep our Hornets healthy through the flu clinics this year. #HealthyHornets

It's Book Fair time! Mrs. S is taking each class on a virtual shopping trip. Support our school, and help us get books for the library. It is open from October19 - November 1. Don't miss an opportunity to support our students! See the flier for more details, and a QR code that tales you to the shopping website.

Hello Virtual and Blended Parents, We have a busy week ahead of us with lots of information to pass along! But, let me start by saying, “Thank you,” We made it through the 1st quarter of school with perseverance and grit, and I am so proud of the hard work and effort from your children, and you parents. When this year began, we knew there would be challenges. But, I am in awe of how smoothly this year has been in spite of the unknowns we faced (and still face.) Even though it is from a distance, we have partnered together to make your child’s school year as positive as possible, and I think we have all earned an A for our efforts. Building relationships is a very important part of who I am as a person, and it has been hard for me to adapt to this new way of doing school as I have limited opportunities to get to know you. Please know that I am always available to you via email, phone or zoom. I love being the leader of this wonderful place...Hurricane Creek has captured my heart! Important Information: --Send a clean mask and water bottle every day. --October 21 Be on the lookout for your child’s report card and NWEA report with reading level to come home this day. These will be discussed at your conference. --October 22 Early Dismissal 1:40 - Parent Teacher Conferences 2:00-7:30 -Teachers are currently scheduling VIRTUAL conferences -We would love to have 100% participation --October 23 Remote Learning Day - No students will be on campus, all learning will happen at home. -Only math and reading assignments will be given. -Teachers will have professional development that day, but will be available to answer student questions during an “Office Hour.” -Your child’s teacher will communicate with you about how learning will look for your child that day. --October 23 Virtual Student Pictures- 9:15-10:15 Virtual pictures for our HCES students will be taken at BHS Auditorium. Here is our school code needed to order pictures Hurricane Creek: EVTTSPTZ8 , --Due October 25, Instructional Options for Next Semester- Surveys went out last week for parents to make their selections for either virtual or blended learning starting in January. Please complete a survey for EACH student. If you did not get a survey via email, please contact the school office. --Book Fair - Our Virtual Book Fair is currently happening! Check out or Hurricane Creek Elementary facebook page for details from Mrs. Seidenschnur, our Library Media Specialist. --Learning begins at 7:45 for our blended students, so make sure you get to school on time. Virtual student schedules vary slightly, but make sure you're logged in on time. --The USDA has extended meal service to all students until June 30, 2021, so our FREE meal program will continue through the end of our school year, for all students. --Our new playground equipment from PTO is being installed!! The students are excited about the SuperDome and soccer goals. Thank you PTO! --Arkansas’s Attorney General has cyber resources available to families, including fun games and age appropriate videos about cyber-netiquette and safety. See the Arkansas Department of Education website. --October 12 to October 23 - PTO has a fun, creative way to show your child’s pumpkin carving talents! Enter the first ever Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest. See PTO’s FaceBook page for all the details Hurricane Creek Elementary PTO. Have a great week! Jacqueline Vergason Principal

Our GT students learned how to make a Marker Robot using a simple circuit with a switch. The vibrations from the motor allowed the robots to move around in unpredictable patterns. They discovered that a simple change from the original design build would make the robots move at different speeds and in different patterns. They had a great time tinkering with their robots in class! Mrs. Grist really knows how to make learning fun!

A Look At Learning: Ms. Botti's first graders are learning about bats. This week they learned that bats live in caves. They wrote sentences about bats in caves and then made their very own bat in a cave using a cup and a paper clip! The Green Team, under the leadership of Mr. Rankin, puts in work to keep our school looking clean, while being kind to the environment. Ms.McLaren's kindergarten friends form relationships, then write about it during free write time.

Parents and community members, we invite you to view our Annual Report to the Public, which provides an overview of the progress made during the 2019-20 school year. It was a great year of Creating Opportunities for Success, which we could not do without your support. Link ➟➟➟ bryantschools.org/page/annual-report

Bryant Schools is providing an opportunity for parents to change their student's instructional option (blended or virtual) beginning second semester (January 2021). In order to effectively plan schedules for student classes, we are asking parents to submit a form for EACH student (K-12) even if you plan to continue your current learning environment. PreK parents should not complete this form since PreK is only offered onsite. We will use your selection to place your elementary student in an onsite/virtual classroom or develop your secondary student's schedule for the second semester (January 2021) of the school year. Information on both blended and virtual learning is available on our website: bit.ly/2StNz1c. If you have questions, please email your building principal. THE FORM WILL CLOSE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020 at 11:59pm. Instructional Option for Second Semester: bit.ly/3lQ6iR1 Instructional Option for Second Semester (en español): bit.ly/2SZW04G