Hobe Sound Elementary Newsletter

As we embark on our final quarter of the 2008 – 2009 school year, we reflect with joy and appreciation for all of the achievements that our HSE students have reached. Due to the dedication and support of our entire community of students, parents, teachers, and community members, our students soar to greater heights in the areas of academics, performing and visual arts, physical education and character. Numerous events will be taking place over the next couple of months to enhance student life. Your continued support and involvement is appreciated.

Teacher Appreciation week is May 5th – 9th. This is the perfect time to recognize our teachers for their dedication to students. Please take a moment to share your respect for your child’s teacher with a thoughtful message of appreciation. We have many special events planned for the week to help create five joy-filled days for our HSE teachers. If you’d like to volunteer to support, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Mrs. Beverly Millet @ 219-1540 X100

FCAT scores will be arriving in the following order beginning in mid May and concluding in early June: third grade reading scores are released first, followed by 4th grade writing. The final release will consist of: 3rd – 5th grade math, 4th grade reading and 5th grade science. Parents will receive personalized letters from the Department of Education with information to log online to receive scores. Look for this mailing to arrive at your home on or around May 12th. Summer School is provided for 3rd grade students who score level 1 on FCAT Reading. We will contact parents as soon as possible, so you can make summer plans.

Continue to support academic learning with children by reading, writing and practicing math skills. I wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing everyone at our end of the year school events and festivities.

Please mark your calendars for the HSE Open House which will be taking place on August 15th, 4p.m PreK and Kindergarten; 5-6 p.m. Grades 1-5.

View your child’s grades and attendance online by this link off the homepage:www.sbmc.org – You need your child’s school id number (the 4300 #) as well as social security number for logging into this program. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in facilitating effective learning for all of our students.

Kindergarten registration is currently taking place. If you know of any neighbors with children who will be five years old by September 1^st, please remind them to come in to see Mrs. Malone to register. This year we will have two days of kindergarten tours and screenings (May 13th and 14^th) and parents need to sign up in advance to participate. It is very important to have incoming kindergarteners registered as soon as possible, so we can plan for proper instruction and prevent overcrowded classes. Thank you for your support in this challenge.

Children registering for school for the first time must submit a legal state birth certificate and proof of residence, i.e. FPL (electric) bill for Hobe Sound Elementary district. To be enrolled in Kindergarten, the child must be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2008.

ONLY THOSE CHILDREN ENTERING PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER.The following documents are required by Florida Statute #323.0312 for all kindergarten students planning to enter the Martin County School System on August 18, 2008:

A CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT); polio; two doses of measles, rubella (MMR); three doses of Hepatitis B; and varicella (chicken pox) The dates the immunizations were given must be shown on form #680.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION not more than one-year old from the time school begins on August 20, 2007. If you are interested in having your child’s physical done at the Martin County Health Department, please call them for an appointment well in advance (221-4030)

Parents are urged to have their child’s physical completed and returned to the school office on or before August 14, 2008. Children without the required immunizations and physical WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER SCHOOL on August 18, 2008. (A doctor’s appointment card cannot be accepted in place of a physical).

Once again, the Rotary Club of Pt. Salerno/Hobe Sound honors the teachers of the month for HSE. The Teacher of the Month for May is Kasandra Patterson, HSE Exceptional Student Education Teacher. She has taught at HSE for seven and a half years and is a wonderful asset to the HSE faculty and the Hobe Sound Community. She will be honored at a breakfast on May 2^nd. Congratulations Ms. Patterson!

The Rotary Club teacher of the month for June is Mrs. Frances Hanna, HSE Science Teacher and also the 2007-2008 HSE Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Hanna came to HSE nine years ago and taught 4^th grade and has moved on to our Science Dept. where she teaches science with a hands-on approach. She is a wonderful asset to the faculty and community and will be honored at a breakfast on May 30^th. Congratulations Mrs. Hanna!

HOBE SOUND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SOARS TO GREATER HEIGHTS BY CONTINUOUSLY STRIVING TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. WE ARE A TEAM OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORKING COOPERATIVELY TO CREATE A POSITIVE, SAFE, AND SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENT.

Another school year has gone by and what an exciting year it has been! We are looking ahead to the 2008- 2009 school year, so please plan to attend the May 15th general meeting to vote for the new board members. There will also be a “Buy one get one free” Book Fair immediately following the meeting.

We will celebrate our teachers and staff with a luncheon on May 21^st. Thanks to Dawn Van Dyke for chairing this event.

As I end the year as your PTA President, I want to thank the administration, teachers, and staff for all of their support; and also to all the wonderful parents who volunteered for our events. What can I say about my fellow board members!!! You are all fantastic and a great big THANKS to ALL!

As our school year comes to a close, we must hold the elections for the PTA board. Please plan to attend the May 15^th meeting for voting in new board members. The nominating committee has presented the following slate:

How lucky am I? At work each day I get to help children learn and play, and keep them safe so they will grow into adults I’ll be glad to know!

How proud am I? I guide today’s youth to strive for knowledge, goals, and truth, I know I play an important part in inspiring them to take learning to heart.

How grateful am I? I value so much the smiles that I win and the lives that I touch. I love earning the trust of each girl and boy Kids are my business, as well as my joy!

The above poem reminds us of what PTA is all about: parents and teachers working together to help our children grow and succeed.

Wow! May already! How crazy is that? Thank you to all book club students and parents. It was a successful year and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

If your student is working to achieve a trophy for Magic Tree House or Sunshine State, please hurry as all testing needs to be done by May 20^th. Stay tuned to ENN for final dates.

Congratulations to all the Achieving Eagles! I hope you have seen your name up on the bulletin board in the library.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank Mrs. Janeen Mason. This wonderful artist made four full day visits to our school so that she could meet with each and every class and discuss artwork and the creation of books. It was a real pleasure for all involved. If you are ever given the opportunity to support the Hobe Sound Community Chest, or the Martin County Council of the Arts, please do so. They provided the funding for this fantastic project.

Once again, thank you to our very dedicated and hard working volunteers! What a difference you make in the media center!

Please look for our end of the year reading list that will be sent home with your student. Reading is a skill that is so essential to student success. Please be sure to partake daily of this wonderful, lifelong skill. Let kids read what ever suits them. This is the time to let them explore and learn what kind of books they really enjoy. Do try to encourage both fiction and non-fiction reading. Check out the public library as they have some great summer reading programs.

Have a happy and safe summer. Fifth graders, we will miss you. Do your best in middle school and stop in for a visit sometime!

Congratulations to Ms. James’ 2nd grade class for winning the “Pizza Party” contest with 781 ($78.10) BoxTops and 425 labels. A special Thank you goes to Big Apple Pizza for donating all the pizza for this contest!! They were very generous!

HSE has exceeded our goal & raised over $2300 for the 07/08 school year!! Everyone is doing an awesome job in collecting!!!

Our final contest will be an “Ice Pop Party” awarded to every class that turns in at least 100 BoxTops or labels by May 23rd. Ask your friends and family to help out by saving for you!

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT HOBE SOUND ELEMENTARY YOU ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

Our Hobe Sound Elementary School students have been busy with two successful service projects. During the month of April, many students donated to the Martin County Humane Society with gifts of food, litter, toys, crates, treats and more. Mrs. Cusack, fourth grade teacher, led the challenge to give to this worthy agency.

Our most recent service project was to support the March of Dimes. Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Creswell and Ms. Covey, were our school representatives who developed numerous creative activities and events. Students enjoyed the Webkins raffle and free-dress days while donating to support premature babies. The top three classes were: Mr. Russo, Ms. James, and Ms. Covey. The total amount collected is approximately $1500.00. The culminating event was participation in the annual Walk-a-Thon in Stuart.

Thank you to everyone who supported these wonderful service projects. Through service projects such as these two events, we hope to offer students the opportunity to learn the value of supporting those in need while building character skills.

Each year the Jupiter Island Club hosts a poster contest for all students at HSE and our art teacher, Mrs. Christina Rynasko, works with all the students to create the posters according to the given theme. This year the theme of the poster contest was “Art Gecko”. Congratulations to our Eagles!

The students that were poster winners were treated to a luncheon at the Jupiter Island Beach Club on Thursday, April 17 and received a very generous prize.

Students that received Honorable Mention in the poster contest also received a very nice gift for their efforts.

Each year, students in grades 3 through 5 are encouraged to write essays describing their favorite bird. The Audubon Society of Martin County sponsors this event and recognized the top winners at an annual picnic at the Audubon House on Palm Beach Road in Stuart held on April 26. This year, Hobe Sound Elementary School had a large number of entries. Guided by Mrs. Julie Stellman, Speech Therapist, and Audubon Committee members, teachers were trained on the procedures to have students follow for this program. Everyone did a terrific job and numerous winners have recently been announced. Congratulations students!

MAY 16 1ST GRADE TO PALM BEACH ZOO 9 AM

4TH GRADE SEE HSNC ENDANGERED SPECIES @ HSE 9:45 AM

JUNE 4 4TH GRADE HONOR ASSEMBLY 8:15 AM

2ND GRADE HONOR ASSEMBLY 9:30 AM

3RD GRADE HONOR ASSEMBLY 1:00 PM

1ST GRADE FIELD DAY 9 AM - 11 AM

4TH GRADE FIELD DAY 10:30 AM - 1 PM

KINDERGARTEN FIELD DAY 11 AM - 12:45 PM

DUFFY'S NIGHT 4 PM - 7 PM

JUNE 5 5TH GRADE AWARDS ASSEMBLY 8:30 AM

REPORT CARDS GO HOME

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL