Author: jmurphy

October Principal Newsletter

Dear Hayden Peak Families,

Happy October!  It’s a beautiful season, one that is especially fun at school.  Our students are working hard in every grade and subject.  Here are some things you might like to know:

This week is Green Ribbon Week, sponsored by PTA, to highlight student safety.  As part of the week, students are invited to walk to school on Wednesday, October 6.  Because we are already a walking school, this day highlights our safety rules and safe walking routes, and students who walk will receive a treat as they get to school.  Each day this week students are invited to dress for school spirit.  Monday = sports attire, Tuesday = crazy hair, Wednesday = bright or neon colors, Thursday = crazy socks, and Friday = pajamas.  Let’s all be safe!

In literacy, our students are learning in a new way for thirty minutes of their day.  Called “Walk to Read,” all students in grades K-6 are given a short literacy assessment to determine exactly what they need to know next to become mature readers.  From earliest skills (like knowing the different sounds in a simple word) to advanced comprehension and writing, students work in groups of five or more with teachers and reading assistants to learn these skills in three-week cycles.  At other times of the day, classes work as a whole to continue learning phonics skills, practicing more than they have done in recent years.  Older grades work on advanced phonics with multi-syllabic words while younger grades work on foundational skills.  These new programs are shown to effectively improve reading skills for all children.

Speaking of academics, elementary schools are now on a quarter system (instead of trimester), and the first quarter ends October 15^th.  Teachers will have progress reports ready for you at parent teacher conferences November 10^th and 11^th.

Just after first quarter ends, we break for Fall Recess.  There is no school for students from October 18^th through the 22^nd.  Have a wonderful week off!

Halloween is coming up. We will celebrate at school on October 29^th with parties in individual classrooms.  Please contact teachers if you would like to help with your children’s parties.  Our parade will be virtual again this year.  Please email a picture of your children in costume to haydenpeakelem@jordandistrict.org by October 25^th, and we will have the parade ready to view in classrooms on the 29^th.

In music and art, Mrs. Michaelis and Mrs. Foote are preparing for our Veteran’s Day program that will be held at 9 and 9:50 on Friday, November 5^th, with half the classes performing at each assembly, in order to preserve more social distancing in the gym.  We invite all veterans and their families to attend one of the assemblies.  More information will be coming home soon letting you know which classes will be performing at each assembly, and giving more information for veterans.  We are grateful for your service to the citizens of our country.

We are excited to celebrate student birthdays at school.  Last year, we introduced a birthday cart that visited each classroom once a month to give small prizes to that month’s birthday children.  It became something students requested to continue, so we will!  We combine July with January, so every student gets a birthday recognition.

Please let us know how we can help your family’s experience at Hayden Peak be the best ever.

Kindest Regards,

Jennifer Fisher                                    Cathryn Ford

Principal                                          Assistant Principal