Dear Families:
Tomorrow, Friday, March 21, is a Staff Development Day - STUDENTS WILL NOT BE IN SCHOOL.
Today is the last day of Quarter 3. Watch for grades to be emailed home on March 26.
ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA: Tuesday, March 25, is the grades K-2 Vocal Music concert, 5th grade Band performance & Art Show. Doors open at 6:30, K-2 Students in their seats by 6:55, Band Students in the band room before 6:50. Students are encouraged to dress their best.
SPELLING BEE: Congratulations to all the H-BC 5th & 6th grade Spelling Bee participants!
Our Top 6 Spellers were: Ariella, Bryce, Josh, Addison W., Garpan & Hollis. The Runner-Up Champion: Garpan ; Grand Champion: Ariella. These top 6 spellers will advance to the SW MN Regional Spelling Bee in Luverne on April 5, 2025.
KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP: Friday, 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.
JOIN OUR H-BC TEAM - HBC is seeking dedicated tutors for the 2025-26 school year to join our AmeriCorps ELC and Reading Corps programs. You can make a meaningful difference helping our youngest learners build essential skills and confidence! Check out all the details here: https://5il.co/3aymf
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SERIES: Thursday, March 27, at 11:00 am, the National Blue Ribbon Series - Alumni Talks will feature 1988 Graduate Marla Meyer. The public is invited to join the H-BC Secondary Student Body at the Secondary School in Hills.
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 APRIL 5 - Grab some friends and register your team for this fun event sponsored by our PTO. 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 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.
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.
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
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
LOOKING AHEAD:
March 20- End of 3rd Quarter
March 21- No School for Students/Staff Development Day
March 24- Begin 4th Quarter
March 25- Grades K-2 Vocal Music, 5th Grade Band & Art Show
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
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: t.holthaus@isd671.net