Parent Connection


H-BC ELEMENTARY PARENT CONNECTION

Thursday, March 24, 2022 

We began our 4th quarter today, March 24th.  Watch for report cards to be emailed next week.  Remember no school tomorrow - March 25th.  

Summer Rec:  Plans are underway for our youth Summer Rec. Programs.  Registration forms are now due for Little Sluggers, T-Ball, and Coach Pitch  (3 years old through grade 2). Please call Mr. Van Wyhe if you have any questions.   Summer Rec Forms   Stay tuned for additional summer opportunities to come!

Roller Skating Party:  Friday, March 25, we are having a skating party in conjunction with the skating program in PE.   Skates will be provided.  Grades K-5 skate from 5:30-7:00 and grades 6-8 skate from 7:00-8:30.  See the flier at the bottom for details.  K-5 Parents must accompany children attending this event.  

      

Spring Music Concert - Hawaiian Beach Party!: Monday, March 28th is Grades 3-5 Spring Vocal Concert & 5th Grade Band Performance at 7:00 pm in the Elementary Gym.  Students are encouraged to wear a beachy/bright shirt with jeans or dark pants.  No swimwear or grass skirts, please.  Students should arrive at 6:50.

FFA Farm Safety:   HBC Elementary will host the HBC Secondary FFA as they teach elementary students about Farm Safety. Due to the weather on March 23, this event was moved to Thursday, March 31.    Note: There will be live farm animals and other pets may be present.  Please notify the office if your child is allergic to any animals.

Lions Club Vision Screenings:  The Rock County Lions Club will Sponsor a Free Vision Screening for all H-BC Elementary students K-5 at the Elementary School on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.  Please see additional information at the bottom of this newsletter.

4th Grade Lego Robotics:  The Lego Robotics participants loved this learning experience over the last month.   Our thanks to Kelsey from Rock County 4-H for Leading the series.  All 5th graders registered will begin in April.

    

MCA Testing:  Please see the letter at the bottom of this newsletter regarding MCA Testing.  Please take time to encourage your student(s) to do their best on these important tests.

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) - Tuesday, April 12th and Wed., April 13th

MCA Math - (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th) - Tuesday, April 19th and Wednesday, April 20th

MCA Science - (5th, 8th and 10th) - Tuesday, April 26th or Wednesday, April 27th 

Early Childhood Family Education: ECFE classes will continue in March on Tuesday nights. ECFE is designed for families with children from birth to five. For more information contact Macy Ellingson at m.ellingson@isd671.net.

  • March 25 - No School/Staff Development

  • March 25 - Roller Skating Party

  • March 28 - Spring Grades 3-5 Vocal Music & 5th Grade Band Concert 

  • March 31- AG day

  • April 15-18 - No School

  • April 29 - Early Dismissal

  • May 13 - Puppy Relays

Please follow us on Facebook - @hbcpatriots1 This is a great way to see all the amazing happenings at HBC Public Schools!

2022-2023 School Calendar: The Hills-Beaver Creek Board of Education approved the 2022-2023 School Calendar at its meeting on 2/28/22.  Here is the LInk to the 2022-2023 School Calendar.

The District Newsletter: Be sure to read the March newsletter, it's full of H-BC happenings.   https://www.hbcpatriots.com/browse/1071

NUT AWARE SCHOOL: H-BC Elementary School is a peanut/tree nut allergy aware area.  There will be no classroom projects with peanut butter or peanut shells.  Please do not send any of these projects into the classroom with your child.  It is our hope that parents, who send a lunch from home for their child, CHOOSE NOT TO send foods containing peanut butter or nuts.

 

AM BUS CHANGES:  For morning bus changes please call the HBC  bus line--make sure to identify your student and the bus number they are riding:  507-962-3240 press 4.

Please reach out to Mr. Holthaus if you have any needs.  Phone- 507-673-2541 or email t.holthaus@isd671.net 

Information for Families Regarding MCA III Assessments: 

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) - Tuesday, April 12th and Wednesday, April 13th

MCA Math - (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th) - Tuesday, April 19th and Wednesday, April 20th

MCA Science - (5th, 8th and 10th) - Tuesday, April 26th or Wednesday, April 27th 

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 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. 

How can I get more information? Contact your school for more information on how these test results are used to support your student’s learning. The MCA and MTAS Parent Fact Sheets are available on the MDE website (under Students and Families > Programs and Initiatives > Statewide Testing) in several languages.

If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Kellenberger, District Assessment Coordinator - a.kellenberger@isd671.net