March 14, 2025
Dear Families:
Another fine week at HBC Elementary! So pleased to be a Patriot! Remember our 3rd quarter marking period ends on Thursday, March 20. No school for students on Friday, March 21. Please enjoy this week’s Parent Connection!
THANK YOU PTO:
Thank you H-BC Elementary PTO for sponsoring all of the prizes for I Love To Read Month. The PTO paid for the rental of the Sanford Field House for our 4th grade and pom poms for anyone in the winning 4th & 1st grades.
Each student, who met their reading goals during the month of February, also received a book and gatorade.
MARCH 20 WE WILL CELEBRATE WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY: Each year on 3.21 we celebrate our friends with down syndrome by rocking brightly colored socks. 3.21 signifies the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which is Down syndrome. Students may choose to rock brightly colored socks and some students may also choose to wear pink “Sophie” shirts. Due to no school on 3.21, we will celebrate this day on 3.20.
KIDS NIGHT AT THE STAMPEDE: Saturday, April 12 is Kids Night at the Stampede. Students enrolled at H-BC, can get a free ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. Details here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/StampedeKidsNight25
AFTERSCHOOL/CHILDCARE/ENRICHMENT- HBC Needs your input! If you have a school age child entering Kindergarten through 5th grade and wouldn’t mind giving us your input…Please fill out this survey related to Afterschool/Childcare/Enrichment for the 2025-2026 School Year. Survey closes on 4/18/25. Here is the LINK
PTO PUZZLE PALOOZA - Grab some friends and register your team for this fun event!
See the flyer at the bottom of this newsletter. Scan the QR code or pay through
PayPal Link (non-refundable): https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/S8MAP8SUBKPAG
Sign Up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA4AE2AA0FDC61-55553715-puzzle#/
REPEAT…OLD SECONDARY SCHOOL DEMOLITION: The demolition of the old Secondary School Site in Hills is a big event! PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. Do not enter the construction zone! Surveillance cameras are in place recording all of the activity. Also, the fence that surrounds the building is for your safety.
The Hugo Goehle Gym is not available for any use until further notice. This is due to the demolition of the old secondary school and the renovations that are scheduled to be completed.
The Demolition Contractor is replenishing the pile of bricks from time to time. The pile is located on the SW corner of the old staff parking lot. Please do not cross the barriers the contractor has in place. Thank you.
25-26 LPA REGISTRATION: NOW is the time to complete the registration for next year's preschool class. See all the information here: 25-26 Little Patriot Academy Registration
LUNCHROOM GUESTS: Yes, you are welcome to come eat with your child! We request that you simply call the office before 9:00 am to get on the meal count. The Adult Guest fee is $5.25.
SWIMMING LESSONS: Swimming Lessons have been completed. The last day of lessons was today! Great job everyone!
KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP: On March 28, we invite 2025-2026 kindergarten students to a full day of learning and fun. See the flyer at the bottom of this document for details. Current Kindergarten students do not have school on March 28.
LOOKING AHEAD:
March 20- End of 3rd Quarter
March 21- No School for Students/Staff Development Day
March 24- Begin 4th Quarter
March 28- Kindergarten Roundup
March 28- No School for current Kindergarten students
May 16- H-BC Elementary Puppy Relays
E-LEARNING: If we have an E-Learning Day, Here is the information- E-LEARNING LINK
Spring Assessments Coming Soon (New)
Spring Testing is an important time to check progress for our students. As we get closer to April, we will enter the Spring Assessment season. Please click this LINK to see our HBC Assessment Calendar. This will give you an idea when each assessment is scheduled for ACTs, MCAs and NWEAs.
Information for Families Regarding MCA III Assessments: (New)
MCA Statewide Assessments Dear Families,
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requires that statewide assessments are annually administered in reading, mathematics, and science. They are designed to provide the state, districts, and schools with a snapshot of student learning of the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards.
When will HBC Students take the MCA Tests? What Grades will take the MCA Tests?
MCA Reading - (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th) - Wednesday, April 23rd and Thursday April 27, 2025
MCA Math - (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th) - Tuesday, April 29th and Wednesday, April 30th
MCA Science - (5th, 8th and 10th) - Tuesday, May 6th
What are the MCA Tests? The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are reading, mathematics, and science standards-based assessments that measure student learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards. These assessments are used to meet federal and state legislative requirements. Most students take the MCA, but students who receive special education services and meet the MTAS eligibility requirements may take the MTAS instead.
Why do we give these assessments? MCA results provide valuable information for the school, district and MDE about how well students have learned concepts and skills from the academic standards. Educators and schools can use the results to plan instruction and evaluate their curriculum. Families can also use the results as one way to measure how students are doing on the content that is part of their daily instruction. School- and district-level test results are used in federal and state accountability measurements.
How are the MCA administered? The MCAs must be taken in person, even if your student is enrolled in an online program. For students temporarily learning online, they will take statewide assessments when they return to school. Your school can provide more specific information about the health and safety measures they are taking to ensure students and staff stay safe and healthy during test administration. Most students take the MCA online, but some eligible students take the assessment in a paper test book instead. For the MTAS, teachers work with each student individually using paper test materials.
Please reach out to me if you have any needs: