Happy New Year Hill Huskies! Welcome Back!

PLEASE NOTE MENU CHANGE: On Wednesday, January 16th. Instead of serving pizza, we will be serving Cheesy Stuffed Breadsticks (Bosco Sticks).

Husky Teams & Character Education Parent Survey

Character education is an educational movement that supports the social, emotional and ethical development of students. It is the proactive effort by schools, districts, and states to instill in students important core, ethical and performance values such as caring, honesty, diligence, fairness, fortitude, responsibility, and respect for self and others. Character education provides long-term solutions to moral, ethical, and academic issues that are of growing concern in our society and our schools. Character education teaches students how to be their best selves and how to do their best work. (Leading a Nation Call to Character)

In past year, the character education program at Hill included golden tickets, Husky Teams and more. As we take a look at past practice and make decisions about what to add the program moving forward we think it is important to get input from families. Below you will find a link to a short survey about the things you find to be beneficial in a character education program your chid participates in.

7 Strategies Can Make Your Family Read-Aloud Time a Success

Some parents stop reading aloud as soon as their children learn to read. But reading aloud can continue to be fun, and it builds reading skills, too.To make your read-aloud time successful:

1. Do it every day. When you read aloud daily, you demonstrate that reading time is much too important to miss.
2. Pick a regular time. When reading is already part of your daily routine, you won't have to think about trying to fit it into a hectic day. Choose a time when your child will be most receptive, such as after playing outside or before bed.
3. Read the book first—before you read it aloud. Reading aloud is performing. You’ll do a better job if you’re familiar with what you’re going to read. Previewing a book may also keep you from getting bogged down in a book that neither you nor your child enjoys.
4. Read books you like. If you like a book, odds are your child will, too. Start by reading books you enjoyed as a child. Often, your enjoyment will be contagious!
5. Accentuate the first line. The first line of any good story will grab the reader’s attention. Your reading should make your child want to sit up and listen.
6. Use facial expressions. Widen your eyes to show surprise. Squint a bit to show you’re thinking.
7. Leave your child wanting more. Stop your day’s reading at a point where you are both eager to hear what happens next.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2019 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

A special thanks to all the parents and students who made purchases! Thank you to all the volunteers who assisted with set up and sales, and to the PTO for another wonderful family night event!

Try Positive Discipline for Positive Results

The discipline strategies you use at home can increase your child’s likelihood of succeeding in school. And experts agree that the best discipline methods are positive, not harsh. Studies have shown that physical punishments may actually increase children's risk for mental health problems.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents:

• Develop loving, supportive relationships with their kids. This gives children a strong foundation and motivates them to behave well. When kids feel loved and respected by their parents, they are more likely to cooperate at home and at school.
• Focus on the positive. Compliment what your child does right—and be specific. “You started your homework without my reminding you. Great job!”
• Use time-outs and other non- physical consequences when needed. A child who speaks disrespectfully may need some time alone in her room. A child who puts off homework may miss other fun activities.
• Let natural consequences do the work. If your child forgets to bring her homework to school again, don’t bring it to school for her. Instead, allow her to get a zero. She will be more likely to remember her homework tomorrow!

Reprinted with permission from the January 2019 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: P. Holinger, M.D., “Physical Punishment—and Violence: A Serious Health Problem,” Psychology Today, niswc.com/elem_physical2.Reprinted with permission from the January 2019 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: P. Holinger, M.D., “Physical Punishment—and Violence: A Serious Health Problem,” Psychology Today, niswc.com/elem_physical2.

Hill Science Night

Hill Science Night with Cranbrook Institute of Science will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Volunteers will be assisting students and their families while they visit 14 fun hands on science stations provided by Cranbrook Institute of Science. The experiments will be broken down into 2 shifts 1 hr each but feel free to sign up for the full 2 hr time slot if you would like

TSD Preschool

Incoming Kindergartners

The Troy School District is beginning to identify Kindergarten students for the 2019-20 school year. If you have a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2019* please call the Hill office at (248) 823-3500 to get on our kindergarten list. We will be sending registration packets out in early January.

Fleece Donations

We need donations of 2.5 yards of fleece to make finished blankets of at least 4ft x 6ft. The width on fleece at fabric stores is just over 4 feet, so if donors buy 2.5 yards of fleece, that would be perfect. If you want to send in 5 yards or 10 yards or 20 yards, that is wonderful as well—the goal is to be able to cut into 2.5 yard increments. Each blanket consists of two pieces of fleece—usually one solid and one printed, but you are free to donate whatever you would like. Remember, these blankets will be used by children, veterans and adult patients, so think about patterns that would appeal to any of those groups.

Items needed for Troop Care Packages

Please purchase from this list—all items must be declared and cleared by customs

• Socks (crew sized, suitable with combat boots, not short. White or Black)
• Foot powder
• Candy/gum
• Beef Jerky
• Sunflower seeds/nuts
• Wet wipes
• Energy bars/granola bars
• Coffee/tea
• Sunblock
• Chapstick
• Small Michigan/Detroit based sports stuff (nerf balls, pennants, t-shirts, bandanas, etc.)

We cannot take ANY:

• Aerosol (shaving cream, hair spray, etc.)
• Alcohol (mouthwash, etc.)
• Hand sanitizer (contains alcohol)

Youth Enrichment Classes

The following classes are being offered at Hill after school through Troy Continuing Ed (TCE). You can register through the link below:

Noon Aides needed

Even if you are available only one or two days a week!

Troy Food Service is Hiring

The Troy Schools Food Service Department, which is contracted by the Sodexo Corporation, is seeking friendly people willing to fill various vacancies within the Food Service Department that are responsible for providing lunches to the students of the Troy School District. Not to worry if you haven’t had previous experience, as “on the job” training will be available!

Depending on the school, the hours would primarily be during the middle of the day, and would range from 3 to 4 hours a day. And you would be earning some extra money while your students are in school! Come join our Food Service Staff by calling 248-823-5089, or please email us at ngervais@troy.k12.mi.us. I look forward to hearing from you!

Gayle M. Moran, Director, General Manager, Sodexo Corporation

February is Incredible Kid Month

• TUESDAY 1/15/19 - 6:00-7:00p - Preschool information night for parents at Troy High School Auditorium
• THURSDAY 1/17/19 - 7:00p - PTO Meeting (Media Center)
• MONDAY 1/21 - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Day
• TUESDAY 1/29 - 7:00p - 5th Grade Festival of Choirs at Athens High School
• WEDNESDAY 1/30 - 6:15-8:15pm - PTO sponsored Skate World Party
• WEDNESDAY 2/6 - K-12 Early Release - school dismissed at 12:39pm
• MONDAY-TUESDAY 2/19-2/19 - No School - Mid-Winter recess
• WEDNESDAY 2/27 - K-12 Early Release - school dismissed at 12:39pm

Have a Fabulous Weekend!

Shari Pawlus - Principal - Hill Elementary

@hill_huskies