principal's message
Hooray…it is almost time to start back to school!! I hope you are as excited as we are!! August may be my new favorite month!! I hope you enjoyed your summer break and were busy reading!! You were missed!
During August/beginning of September all 1-5 students will take a computer based diagnostic test in reading and math on i-Ready. Kindergarten students will test in September. This test will be given two more times throughout the year. 1-5 teachers will also complete a DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) with your child. This individual test assists in determining your child’s instructional level in reading. Kindergarten will be assessed later in the year. Like i-Ready, this will be given two more times throughout the year.
Student welcome back letters were mailed last week. The letter lets students know who his/her teacher will be for the year. Open House will be Wednesday, August 9th from 4:00-7:00 pm. We hope to see you there! School shirts will be available to purchase for $9.00, cash only. Students may wear it on Fridays to show school spirit. It’s also important during Open House to let the teacher know how your child will get home from school. Car riders will need to pick up the colored paper to write their child’s name on for the car rider line. Please write his/her first and last name with a black Sharpie marker so it is visible from a distance. We appreciate your patience in the car rider line…it takes longer the first few weeks! We will be continuing with the end of the year traffic pattern, using Hickory Tree Community Park.
Students are expected to comply with the District Dress Code Policy. Pants, shorts, or skirts must be navy blue, black, or khaki. The hem of shorts, skirts, or dresses shall extend to mid-thigh. Shirts with collars may be worn in our school colors of black or red or the district colors of navy blue or white. Students will be expected to have their shirt tucked in and wearing a belt if the pants have belt loops. You may want to purchase elastic waistbands, especially for K-1 students. Shoes must be closed toe athletic shoes.
It’s so important that our Hawks be on time and ready to learn each and every day!! Student hours are 8:45-3:45. We are asking students to be on campus by 8:35, when the first bell rings. The tardy bell is 8:45. Please remember that five tardies or early releases equal an absence. I appreciate your support with this! Our first day of school is Thursday, August 10th.
I encourage you to be an active member of our School Advisory Council. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, August 15th at 4:00 in the media center. They will be held the third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 in the media center, with the exception of March, which is the fourth Tuesday. There are 10 meetings and 80% attendance is required for you to be a voting member. Dates will be sent home in your child’s first day packet. Please look at your schedule and plan on attending so you can have a voice in Hickory Tree! I value your input as we work together to be the #1 elementary school in Osceola County!
At HTE, teachers are facilitators of knowledge. The expectation is for students to be active learners and take ownership in their learning. Students work together to problem solve, think critically, and learn from one another as they become college and career ready. They embrace challenges and learn from mistakes. I am VERY PROUD of the instruction at HTE and look forward to our continued success!
The Osceola County School Board knows that in the beginning of a new school year, parents and students have plenty of questions. Luckily, the answers are just a phone call away! The district's Back-To-School Hotline at 407-518-8159 will be open for calls on the following days and times:
Before School Starts:
August 7 from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
August 8 from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
August 9 from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
When School Resumes:
First day of school --
Wednesday, August 1, from 5:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
August 11 from 5:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
August 12 from 5:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
School district representatives who speak both English and Spanish will be available to answer any questions parents may have about bus routes/bus stops, school uniforms, school Open House dates, school attendance zones, school beginning and ending times, school lunches, necessary immunizations, before- and after-school care, kindergarten and prekindergarten, registration information, and more. Parents and students will also be able to find information about bus routes at their school's Open House.
Looking forward to a “HAWK-NOMENAL” school year!! We will see you soon J!
HAWKS SOAR...high levels of learning!
Karen Vislocky, Ed.D
Principal