Dear Families,

June has arrived and we continue to have a schedule filled with continued learning and end of year activities. Please see highlights and important information below. 

Field Days

We have sunny and warm weather ahead for field days! Please send students to school with a refillable water bottle, wearing sneakers and with sunscreen already applied. On Monday, kindergarten and first grade students participate in field day. Tuesday is field day for our second graders. For our second graders, our PTO has generously funded a bounce house obstacle course as one of the stations. We also celebrate our second graders with a “Clap Out.” The entire student body and staff of Hurlbutt claps and cheers for our second graders as they walk to the field for their last Hurlbutt field day. This Hurlbutt tradition is an exciting and special experience for our staff and students to celebrate and congratulate our second graders. If you are a registered volunteer for field day, please park in the main parking lot or in the parking spots near the main traffic circle. Please leave the senior center spots available for our seniors who may be visiting the senior center. Many of our residents have limited mobility and need easy access to the entrance. All volunteers must be registered and must check in with security prior to proceeding to the field. 

Family Fun Night this week

This Thursday is our Family Fun Night event from 6-7:30 p.m. to celebrate the end of the year with all of our families. Activities and crafts are based on our One School One Book program and is led by Sharon Rodko, our library media specialist. This event is a collaborative effort with PTO, our staff, One School One Book committee and many volunteers. Please accompany your child throughout the event and stop by as many activities and stations as possible. If you are volunteering at a station, your child will be a great helper at the table too. We kindly ask that you not allow your child to leave your care as this is a large outdoor event and children this age need supervision. There will be a book fair at the event organized and promoted by the second grade classes. All proceeds will support Weston’s own Wildlife in Crisis organization. Wildlife in Crisis is a volunteer run non profit organization that is dedicated to wildlife preservation and land conservation. They help thousands of injured and orphaned animals in Weston and beyond, just like one of the characters in our One School One Book selection, Heartwood Hotel: A True Home. The main character in our book selection found her true home in the story. Many wild animals find a home or return home thanks to Wildlife in Crisis, making it a worthy recipient of our students' efforts to positively impact our community. Supporting the book fair is also a great way to kick off summer reading with some gently used books at affordable prices. Most books will only be $1 so you can stock up for summer reading! Venmo and cash only. 

Our staff is committed to supporting all of our students. This year one of our special education teachers, Kim Hettenbach is hosting a sensory friendly time at Family Fun Night. To learn more and to register, please follow this link to the google form. Sensory Friendly Registration

LRC Volunteer Appreciation

This past week we celebrated all of our LRC volunteers. Many thanks to all the adults who volunteered their time in our library helping our students with book exchange. It is a favorite volunteer activity for our families and the children love seeing the adults in our library. 

Library Book Notices

All library books were due Tuesday, May 27. We still have close to 500 outstanding books. Notices reflecting all books checked out have been emailed. Please help your child return books as soon as possible. This allows time to ensure all books are returned and the library is organized for next year. Missing a book? Encourage your child to go on a treasure hunt at home! Many missing books turn up under couches, in closets or under beds. The LRC remains open for lessons and for borrowing for in-school use of books. If you have any questions please email Susan Haven, our LRC Assistant, susanhaven@westonps.org

End of Year Celebrations

Each class will have an end of year celebration with their classroom teacher to recognize all they have accomplished this year. Classroom teachers have communicated those dates and times to families. Due to space constraints, please limit guests to two adults per child. Many families then follow up with family celebrations at home so they can include extended family members. We do not want siblings to miss class time to attend each other’s parties. 

Second Grade Transition

Last week, WIS hosted an evening informational session and tour for parents/guardians with rising third graders. On June 10, our second graders will walk to WIS for their tour and orientation of their new school. Be on the lookout this week for permission slips which will be sent home soon. Please note, this event is for students only. 

Planning for Next Year

If for any reason, your student is not returning to Hurlbutt or not transitioning to WIS next year, please reach out to our registrar, Nicole DiPierro at nicoledipierro@westonps.org. This will give us time to prepare withdrawal paperwork before the summer. We know when families are moving, the receiving districts may need transcripts or information prior to the end of the current school year.

Kindergarten Registration and Planning

Planning for our incoming kindergarten classes is well underway and we are beginning to form classes. If you have an incoming kindergarten student for the 25-26 school year, please begin the registration process as soon as possible. Follow this link to our district website to register. Registration

If you have a student in the ELC program who is age eligible for kindergarten, you will need to register using the link above. Children are eligible for kindergarten if they are 5 on or before September 1, 2025. 

Communication protocol link to website

Please remember we have a HES Communication Protocol 2024-2025 to help you navigate the common occurrences in the daily lives of students, families, and staff. For many of your concerns, this protocol will let you know how to proceed. 

Sincerely,

Laura Kaddis

Principal

Important Dates:

June 2: K and Grade 1 Field Day

June 3: Grade 2 Field Day 

June 5: Family Fun Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.

June 6: Rain Date for Family Fun Night

June 9-13: Classroom end of year celebrations

June 10: Second grade tour of WIS

June 13: Early dismissal 12:35 p.m.

June 16: Last day of school  10:30 a.m. dismissal