News From the Principal

Welcome Back to School! Hanawalt Elementary School takes pride in welcoming new families! We are always excited to have people join our school family. This year we have two sections of kindergarten with 24 and 25 students; three sections of first grade with 19, 19 and 20 students; two full sections of second grade with 25 and 26 students; one combination classroom of second and third graders with a total of 24 students; two other sections of third grade with 26 and 24 students; three sections of fourth grade with 27, 28 and 28 students; and finally three sections of fifth grade with 19, 20, and 20 students.

A few staff members have also changed grade levels: Mr. Garvey is teaching 5th grade; Mrs. Thomas is teaching 4th grade; and Mrs. Genzen is teaching Kindergarten. Open Enrollment is closed for several grades. We have one new staff member: Aaron Carter, teaching special education.

NEW PROCEDURES

Students are encouraged to arrive at school between 8:00 and 8:05. When they arrive the kindergarten students sit in the hallway near the school photo array. First through fifth grade students report to the gym and sit quietly according to their grade. This will make the lobby area less congested. Metro Kids Care is available before school if you need to drop off your child before 8 am.

Classes begin promptly at 8:15. Your children will be considered tardy if they arrive after the 8:15 bell.

The district has adopted a new student discipline code. If you have any questions or concerns about the new the discipline code, please do not hesitate to call me at 242-8411.

As you are dropping off your children in the morning, please remember to have them exit the car curbside. We do not want children getting out of vehicles in the middle of Robertson Drive. Thank you to the parents who are assisting with the morning drop off. We all want our children to be safe. Reminder: If you have a child waiting at a bus stop in the morning, please make sure that an adult is waiting until the child gets on the bus.

Other news: The district has been designated as a district in need of assistance according the guidelines established through No Child Left Behind. Hanawalt, however, met the annual goals in student achievement as measured by student performance on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. We are NOT a school in need of assistance. We should be very proud of our students and the staff for maintaining the high levels of achievement that are traditional at Hanawalt.

DRESS CODE

Students need to wear clothes that are appropriate for school. This means that students cannot wear shirts with spaghetti straps or shirts that are midriff cropped nor can they wear muscle shirts. Baggie shorts are not allowed. Tennis shoes must be worn on days that students have PE. Religious head coverings are permitted. Concerns about clothing can be addressed with the principal or the nurse.

If you are in need of assistance for school clothing or shoes, please contact me. All assistance is confidential.

Thank you for entrusting our amazing staff with your children.