Blog Bits 1/22/2016

News From The Office….

The new year is off to a great start! Thanks for all of the positive feedback about the new entrance!  It is going well and we are happy it is done!  As this white stuff starts flying, more people think about heading South! I know I do!! Just a reminder that if you are planning a vacation and your child will miss school, please either stop in the office and fill out a vacation form or you can print one off of the blog under forms and procedures. Also, we want to remind you that notes are a teachers BEST FRIEND! : )    If you know there is a change for your child for the end of the day, please send a dated note with your child in their folder.  This helps the teacher out tremendously and cuts down on the number of calls into the office and interruptions into classrooms. Also, If you know your child is not going to be at school , please call the office and report that absence. You can always leave a message after hours too. Thanks so much for your help with this! We sincerely appreciate it!

Keep in mind that Winter Break is right around the corner. The kids do not have school on February 8 and 9. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Redistricting Information….

Attendance Area Adjustment & Transfer Information

To address student population growth, a committee, comprised of parents and staff,  met for several months to develop a recommendation to adjust our elementary attendance areas.  The recommendation, which impacts every elementary service area, was unanimously approved at the January 14 Board of Education meeting.  These adjustments re-zone up to 18% (approximately 600) of our elementary students.

Please take a moment to review the district letter sent on January 15 to all elementary school families on the district website.   Please also review the attendance areas listed on the under “parents/students” tab to see if your residence was affected by the change.  

To help assist our families during this time of transition, the Board of Education approved revisions to our In-District Building Transfer Request procedures.  This change provides the highest priority to those individuals affected by these changes.  Our intent is to honor as many In-District Building Transfer Requests as possible.  From February 1 through February 29 families may request a school building transfer.  EVERYONE (including School-of-Choice families) who wishes for their child to attend a school outside of his or her new attendance area will need to complete either an In-District Building Transfer Request (for students within the HPS district) or a Schools-of-Choice Application (for students outside the HPS district).   These applications are attached to this communication and can also be found on our website.

During the first two weeks of March, the number of openings in each building and each grade level will be determined.  If the district can not grant all requests, a drawing will be held on March 16.  Families will be notified about placements shortly after the 16th.

If you have any questions about this process or need assistance,  please call our district office at 669-1740, extension 1.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nick Ceglarek, Superintendent

Attached are the procedures for In-District Building Transfers, the IDT Request Form, and a SOC form.  These forms are also posted on our website under the Parents/Students section then Attendance Areas.  Link on Website

Kindergarten for Next Year….

The district’s PK•Kindergarten Enrollment Meeting will be on 3/1/16 at 7 pm in all buildings.  Georgetown’s session will be in the Multi-Purpose Room/Cafeteria.  If you are unsure which school your child will attend next year, contact Robin Vandenberg in the HPS District Office:  rvandenb@hpseagles.net or 616-669-1740 x1

This meeting is for parents only and will run from 7-7:30pm.

If you cannot attend, visit the tab above and print off the registration, look over the information and drop off your materials in the school office M-F from 9-3 pm. You can also pick up a packet in the office or find the materials here:

PK •K Registration Materials

It is important to note that your child HAS to be up to date on immunizations OR have a waiver on file BEFORE YOUR CHILD MAY START SCHOOL. Please see the attached information from Ottawa Department of Public Health for more information. 2016_kindergartners_new

On the green health appraisal form is a section for vision and hearing. Some doctors offices do vision, but most do not do hearing. You can have this done free of charge at the Ottawa County Health Department, but you do need an appointment. You can call them at 616-669-0040 to set up an appointment. They do get very busy this time of year, so you may want to call to reserve your spot.

PTC News….