News from Principal Burg

Thank you for your increased attention to ensure a safe and efficient system for pick-up. As you've noticed, double parking has been excluded in order to allow students to enter vehicles without crossing the traffic of double parked vehicles. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, students, and teachers and will continue to implement the new system indefinitely. In addition, it is imperative that we do not block the two parking spaces reserved for drivers with handicapped registration. You may notice that we will continue to highlight these spaces with bright orange cones. Many parents have found it to be more efficient to park on 56th or further east on Robertson and walk to the front doors to meet a student. Other parents of older students have simply identified a general area on either street where the student will always walk to upon dismissal. Regardless of your individual plan, students are safer and pick-up has been much smoother as a result of your efforts. Thank you for your continued attention to this positive adjustment.

Merrill Transition Activities for Incoming 6th graders:
Spring and Fall 2011

Date	Event
April 19th 9:30-10:00am	Merrill staff will visit Hanawalt students to talk about life at Merrill and answer questions.
April 25th & 26th 9:30-10:30am	Fifth graders will visit Merrill to meet the staff, take tours and become familiar with the building.
May 5th 7:00pm	Fifth grade students and parents are invited to attend an informational meeting at Merrill.
August 25th 1st day of school	Team building and transition activities will be scheduled to help students become acclimated to the building, staff and students.
Open House	To Be Announced

Please note that “Success 4 Sixth Grade” has been cancelled for Merrill Students due to construction at Merrill this summer. If you have any questions, please contact Carla Ridgely-Turner at Merrill, 242-8361 or email her at carla.ridgely-turner@dmps.k12.ia.us Thank you.

News from the Principal

For the second year, the Hanawalt Science Fair was a huge success! Students, teachers, and parent organizers put forth countless hours to ensure that a meaningful learning experience was created for all participants. In addition, Hanawalt’s Book Fair, Music Performances, Spelling Challenge, Silent Auction and Movie Night have added to the overall learning experience of students. These events have continued to connect the school and community in a partnered commitment that ensures a model educational environment. Many thanks go to the parent and teacher volunteers that have supported this rigorous dedication to student learning. Also, thank you to families that attend such events for respecting neighborhood parking policies. Undoubtedly we are limited in space so each homeowner appreciates families leaving adequate room to safely enter and exit driveways.

4th Grade – Experiment Division
1st Place: Emma Grimm and Sarah Smith (Which is better to dye a carnation beet juice of food coloring?)
2nd Place: Fasia Naseer (Which vegetable or fruit has the most electricity?)
3rd Place: Josh Thompson (Which water is cleaner (less impurities?))

4th Grade – Science Topic Division
1st Place: JaVonni Tarango (How does global warming effect penguins health?)
2nd Place: Brooklyn Starkey (Are cat's eyes better than humans?)
3rd Place: Emma Hall and Lydia Reed (How does the moon affect tides?)
Honorable Mention: Jamal Johnson (What are the differences between species of owls?)

5th Grade – Experiment Division
1st Place: Intisar Becic (Quick Sand: Is it a Solid or a Liquid?)
2nd Place: Anne Percival (Butterflies)
3rd Place: Mackenna Horstmann and Kylie Sly (Which water is cleaner (less impurities?)

5th Grade – Science Topic Division
1st Place: Sean Anderson and Nolan Pollard (Smelling Test)
2nd Place: Quinten Bickel (Forensics)
3rd Place: Otto Gunderson and Sam Knoshaug (How the Moon Affects the Tide)

News From The Principal

One of the many focal points of Hanawalt programming is a holistic approach to physical fitness and nutritional awareness. To this end, various programs including PE4Life, Healthy Schools Partnership (HSP), Kidstriders, AM Sports Club (students), and PM Fitness Club (staff) have been incorporated into our daily routine. As Mr. Baker states, “Healthy bodies make healthy minds.” During the current academic year, HSP has prompted the creation of the Hanawalt Elementary Energy Balance Team. This team is pleased to announce that Hanawalt meets the Healthier US Schools Challenge Bronze Level status. This exciting achievement was in part facilitated by Registered Dietitians (RD’s) working at Hanawalt as Nutrition Coaches for the second year, implementing a unique, comprehensive nutrition and energy balance program called, Energy Balance 4 Kids (EB4K). The RD Nutrition Coaches formed an Energy Balance Team with school Stakeholders to make improvements in the school wellness environment, including menu suggestions that align with USDA’s Healthier US Schools Challenge criteria, which brings national recognition as well as a monetary award to the school. RD Nutrition Coaches, Tanya Hargrave-Klein, Heather Cox and Crystal Morrison, are also implementing the innovative 12-week EB4K curriculum to 3rd – 5th grade students as well as the 2nd grade E=Energize program monthly for 3 months. The “surround sound” EB4K delivery includes the students interacting weekly with the RD Nutrition Coach in the classroom, PE class and in the cafeteria. Messages are reinforced with posters throughout the school, daily health announcements, newsletter articles, Family Fun Night events and small group individualized RD Coaching in PE. The EB4K curriculum is evidenced based and its effectiveness has been evaluated by researchers at the University of California-Berkley’s Center for Weight and Health. The EB4K program was developed by the American Dietetic Association Foundation with funding support from the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation.

As a result of these efforts, it is our hope that students are equipped to thrive in an educational setting that places a premium on academic, artistic, and physical excellence. Please continue to support Hanawalt’s efforts toward becoming a model educational campus by promoting healthy and active habits at home.

News from the Principal

Following Winter break provides another opportunity to reinforce the need for your child to dress appropriately for school. As a general rule, we will attempt to provide outdoor recess activities as often as possible. Students who are not prepared (snow pants, boots, hats, and gloves) may not be able to participate as often as those who are dressed appropriately.

A sincere thank you to the volunteers in Parent Patrol that so graciously offer their time (and sacrifice personal comfort) to assist parents each morning. Not only does it make the entire cycle run smoothly but the students truly enjoy the smiling faces and caring welcomes from the volunteers. Parents, please continue to budget your time wisely in order to ensure your child will be in his or her seat by 8:15 each morning. A small amount of missed academic time over the course of many days has a negative impact on academic success. If your current routine disallows timely drop-offs please adjust for winter driving conditions. In addition, during afternoon pick-up please continue to model patience and respectful driving habits for your child. The safety of students and staff is always of paramount importance which demands all of our attention.

Helping Hands has been a complete success this year. Thank you to our parent coordinator, Laura Horstmann, and school volunteer, Mrs. Morris for coordinating the effort. It has been a pleasure to observe the completely selfless giving from our parents and staff.

A final thank you to the PTA for offering a donation to the staff for the annual holiday gathering. Your tribute was a pleasant symbol of your appreciation for their efforts and was taken to heart by all.

News from the Principal

As our morning drop-off volunteers will contest, “Winter weather is upon us!” As the days shorten and the temperature drops it is imperative that all Hanawalt students come to school with appropriate clothing. Hats, gloves, and a winter jacket are essential as it will be our goal to allow students to get as much outdoor exercise as possible.

Over the last several weeks the staff at Hanawalt has collaborated to originate a collective vision statement that is unique to our community. An effective vision statement motivates, energizes, and provides a sense of shared ownership and collegiality. It is a proactive strategy that emphasizes the need for an entire organization to focus on expectations of the future. Staff members have been intrinsically motivated to create, revise, and promote the work of the entire school body. The below statement will be used as a guiding directive when making decisions that have a substantial impact on the overall community. One example of the immediate impact of the statement with regard to the use of 21^st century skills is reflected in a joint PTA/Hanawalt commitment to provide systematic word processing instruction to all 3^rd grade students. Software to enable this effort will be loaded into the computer lab and students will be provided keyboarding instruction with the goal to have accurate and fluent electronic communication skills upon exiting Hanawalt in fifth grade.

News From The Principal

As we approach the completion of the first quarter of the calendar year I want to remind parents of the appreciation staff have for the dedication you have regarding the success of your student. Setting routines, communicating expectations, and discussing educational goals have a long-term impact on the values youth have regarding education. The unique partnership that Hanawalt staff, students, and parents have developed over time is a constant that perpetuates the expectation of high academic and social success. Successful organizations are a product of the combined efforts of all stakeholders. The consistently positive focus that you have reinforced with your students has guided us toward that end. Thank you. Reciprocally, I want to remind staff of the appreciation that parents have shared regarding your dedication to the academic and social success of your students. It is not unique to observe staff taking additional time to meet with students before school, during the noon hour, or after school because of a staff observed need. These events are not required or expected but self-initiated because of the sincere devotion of staff to the profession and to the community. Thank you. Recent Hanawalt Highlights:

• All staff members have began to focus on implementing a new writing curriculum into classrooms. Being a Writer is a curriculum purchased by the district that is being implemented across the district.
• The technology committee has continued to refine schedules in order to offer computer lab options for all k-5 classrooms. Third grade classroom teachers have continued to explore software and web-based options for teaching word processing with students. In addition, several staff members have began to create unique classroom websites to communicate events from the classroom. Please feel free to provide feedback to staff about the positive impact and effectiveness of these tools. Thank you to Mr. Garvey, Mrs. Hesse, Mrs. Esch, Ms. Vikki, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Wade, and Ms. Genzen for their efforts to incorporate this technology.
• The leadership team has organized and led professional development sessions with all staff members regarding a revisit of Hanawalt’s Shared Vision. Outcomes from the work of the staff will be used when making decisions about all programming at Hanawalt.

News From Principal Burg

Based on enrollment Hanawalt was granted a full time in-class math and literacy collaborator to work primarily in grades two and five. Tara Niesen’s preservice teaching experience occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Please help in welcoming her to the community.

Mr. Garner has been given the opportunity to work at another campus in Des Moines. We appreciate everything that he's done during his tenure at Hanawalt and wish him the best.

Various programs are beginning at Hanawalt including the Literacy Army, Spanish and French, Girl and Boy Scouts, Junior Great Books, Sally Foster Fundraiser, Book Fair, and much more. Thank you to all the parents, teachers, and community volunteers who have worked to offer these opportunities to our students.

Wednesday adjusted dismissal days have been extremely rigorous and productive for Hanawalt teachers. To ensure a focused and comprehensive professional development plan, Hanawalt has constructed a year-long agenda that specifically targets key concepts and strategies to improve the academic experience and performance of all students. To date teachers have:

• Analyzed student data in the areas of mathematics and literacy as collaborative teams to identify SMART goals that will anchor professional learning for adults and adjusted instructional practices for students.
• Examined the relationship between the Iowa Core Curriculum and the national Model Core Curriculum.
• Worked in collaborative teams to form the foundation of a multi-year focus on technology integration. Led by the technology committee (Mr. Garvey, Mr. Gillaspey Mrs. Hesse, and Mrs. Heemestra), staff began to highlight core objectives that students should acquire by specific grades.
• Collaborated with district technology leaders to institutionalize practices that allow teachers to instruct more efficiently using SharePoint, a content management system used to facilitate collaboration, provide content management features, implement business/educational processes, and supply access to essential information.
• Provided with access to a national spokesman (Jason Pittman) on contemporary methods to integrate technology into the classroom. His expertise has provided an innovative perspective on how information technology can heighten the educational experience of students while equipping them with employable skills as adults.

A big thank you to the parents, teachers, and students who were involved in organizing the Hanawalt Block Party. These events, united with the values and customs of Hanawalt, combine to define our culture which is a demonstration to the public that we value community, relationships, and unity. A sincere thank you for your on-going dedication and support of Hanawalt's mission to remain a holistically preeminent elementary campus.

– Andrew Burg, Principal

Attendance Policy Reminders For Elementary and Middle School

You have been previously provided with a copy of the revised Attendance Policy. There are a few key points we’d like to stress. Please remember that you must let your child’s school know that he or she will be absent within 24 hours of the absence. Also, please carefully review the list of what are excused and unexcused absences. If you wish to take your child out of school for a vacation or non-related school event, the absence will be unexcused. You should also be aware that tardies and early withdrawals may accumulate toward a full day’s absence. Attendance in school is critical to a child’s education progress and the revised policy emphasizes this fact. If you need a copy of the policy or if you have questions, please contact the office. – Andrew Burg, Principal

Welcome Prinicpal Berg!!

Dear Hanawalt Parents, Students, and Staff,

As the summer break has come to an end, the excitement of a new school has begun. It has been a busy summer with various activities and investments being made to continue the lasting tradition of excellence at Hanawalt. A brief recap includes:

• Camp Invention led by Hanawalt staff served nearly 100 elementary students from around the metro


• Steps taken to realize Hanawalt’s ongoing vision of increased technology access including a full-service computer lab (coming during the 2010-2011 school year!


• Additional arrival of various classroom technologies including projectors and document cameras


• Completion of a $25,000 technology grant proposal by PTA representatives


• Beautification committee/community volunteers managed various projects to improve the aesthetic appeal of Hanawalt’s campus


• Ordered, organized and distributed school supplies from Staples by PTA representatives


• Ordered new physical education resources through the PE4Life grant


• Summer tutoring by various staff members


• Addition of a ½ time literacy leader position

Addition of new staff members/programs for the 2010-2011 academic year:

Mr. Burg (Principal)
Mr. Chamberlain (Autism Associate)
Ms. Dean (Special Education)
Mrs. Gaylord-Crispin (Autism)
Mr. Hansen (Band)
Mrs. Johnson (Literacy Leader) NEW Position
Mrs. Kearney (Orchestra/Strings)
Mrs. Morris (Counselor)
Mrs. Roberts (Autism Associate)
Mrs. Sowers-Geisler (Social Worker)


Additional Reminders/Announcements:

• Drop-off/pick-up procedures will continue as established during 2009-2010 school year


• Morning cafeteria supervision will begin on the first day of school. All students will be welcomed into the cafeteria and supervised by staff at 7:50. For the safety of all students, drop-off may not occur before this time unless students are attending Metro Kids before school day care. From 7:50-8:05 students will independently read at a table assigned to his or her grade. This is an effort to capture an additional fifteen minutes of independent reading to support an increase in fluency and comprehension proficiency.


• Students will receive new lunch numbers starting this fall. Look for an envelope at the beginning of the year and please help your student memorize this number as soon as possible.


• DMPS revised an outdated student attendance policy. Information will be on the DMPS website and sent home with your student.


• Riding a bicycle or walking to school is a healthy life choice and can ease traffic congestion before and after school. If you choose this mode of transportation, it is essential for parents/guardians to encourage and practice safe traveling habits with your student. No bicycle age requirement will be established unless warranted in the future.


• A recently passed Edujobs bill by congress has secured funds that enabled Hanawalt to retain full time Art, Music, and Physical Education. This current plan will increase the amount of time students are involved in Fine Arts and Physical Education from 45 to 90 minutes per week for each subject.


• Please consider joining the PTA. Questions regarding the association can be directed to co-presidents Martha Miller-Johnson and Lisa Russell.

It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Hanawalt community. Thank you in advance for your on-going efforts to improve the academic and social experiences of all Hanawalt students. I look forward to meeting each of you and am excited to continue in the work of providing a world-class education for your child.
-Mr. Burg, Principal

News From The Principal and PTA President

Well it looks like Spring might actually come after all! Hanawalt and the PTA have a lot of fun planned through the end of the year. Some dates to mark on your calendar (don’t forget you can always access the PTA/school Calendar at hanawaltpta.blogspot.com) that you won’t want to miss are:

3-04-2010 Roosevelt’s Bridges to Harmony choir will be performing in the gym at 1:00 p.m.

3-09-2010 Spring photos will be taken beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Weitz Commons. Only students who return the form with payment will have their pictures taken.

3-11-2010 Kindergarten registration is from 1-7 p.m. Please bring a copy of your child's birth certificate and proof of address. (Not a PTA function but very important if you have a kindergartner starting next year)

3-29-2010 ITBS begins. The district has reduced the number of tests that students will be taking. Grades 3-5 will taking the reading comprehension test, two math subtests, and the science test. These are required to be in compliance with state guidelines.

3-31-2010 Spelling Challenge Kick-off (geography theme) Watch for more information to come home soon.

4-2-2010 Due date for Yearbook orders

4-9-2010 Super Fun Night!! Carnival night at Hanawalt. Lots of fun to be had by all!! Look for more information to come home after Spring Break.

4-16-2010 A Day in the Arts. If you’ve never experienced this special day it is truly wonderful and a Hanawalt tradition. A Day in the Arts is a day of exploration that all our children look forward to each year.

New start/end times beginning 4-5-2010. Our day will begin at 8:05 a.m. and we will dismiss students at 3:10 p.m. This will be the schedule for the rest of the year. All bus schedules will be adjusted by ten minutes. Buses will pick up students ten minutes earlier than the current time; they will drop off students ten minutes later. The additional ten minutes that we still need to make up during the day will come from schedule adjustments. Two snow days are still scheduled for the end of the year.

There are many changes afoot in the district and our school and as of yet it isn’t clear how everything will settle out. Please bring any concerns, suggestions and comments to any of your PTA representatives or Mrs. Burton. We will be happy to share with you the most up to date and accurate information that we have.

Have a safe and relaxing Spring Break!

Julia Burton, Julia.burton@dmps.k12.ia.us, 242-8411
Cheryl Thompson, Cheryl@tasty-treats.com

News From The Principal

It is February, so it must be time to mention open enrollment… if you have neighbors or friends or if you have children heading into kindergarten and your other children are open enrolled, the deadline is March 1. All applications must be turned in to 901 Walnut Street. Late applications will not be considered. Families will be informed of their Hanawalt status in the summer. If you have a fifth grade open enrolled student, the district assumes that you are sending your child to Merrill Junior High. If this is not your plan, please call and let me know which school your child will be attending.

I would like to thank all of you for cooperating with our parking patrol. Students are getting safely into the building. The afternoon is still problematic for a few. Remember that we are asking for you to stay in a single file line, we cannot have kids walking in between cars - it is a simple matter of safety. Julia Burton - Julia.burton@dmps.k12.ia.us - 242-8411.

News From The Principal

Thank you parents for your generous donations to Hanawalt in 2009. The PTA purchased coats, hats, and gloves for students who needed them. We have also received great classroom games for the endless indoor recesses we are experiencing this winter! In addition, we have purchased new microscopes which should be arriving soon. Science and social studies often become secondary subjects due to the emphasis on reading and math outlined under the No Child Left Behind legislation. I believe, however, that our students must be actively learning, exploring, and investigating subjects that take us beyond the fundamentals of reading and mathematics.

Any financial donation that you make can be designated for specific projects. For example, if you are a strong supporter of the Day in the Arts, your donations may go to that line item. As always, copy paper and facial tissues are welcomed!

Preparation for our second annual science fair for 4-5th grade students is underway. Display boards are available at school for any student who needs one due to the generosity of Laura Higgins who is spearheading this project. We thank Pioneer for their donation of $250.00 to our science budget to support the science fair. Each fourth and fifth grade student has received a detailed explanation of the science fair guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hesse or Mrs. Thomas. Participation is voluntary, but students must pre-register by January 15, 2010.

Major Changes for 2010-2011
The school board has approved the calendar for 2010-2011. Each Wednesday will be an early dismissal at 1:30. The intention is to provide professional development and collaboration time for staff.

School will begin on August 26. Other important changes: School will NOT be held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Winter Break will be from December 23-31st with school resuming on January 3rd. The last day of school (depending on the weather, of course) will be June 2, 2011. To download the district calendar, please go to www.dmps.k12.ia.us and click on the tab for District Calendar. The calendar is also on the last page of this newsletter.

LOST and FOUND
We have an amazing assortment of hats, gloves, mittens, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, and other items in the foyer. Please stop by and claim what is yours. I wish all of you a Happy New Year!

Julia Burton - Julia.burton@dmps.k12.ia.us or call 242-8411.

News From the Principal

“Celebrate!” This is the name of our first musical performance of the year. This was held in the Weitz Commons on November 25. This year we selected to celebrate Character Counts. While it is very difficult for some parents to be able to take time off of work during the day, a daytime performance is one of the ways that we can guarantee a high percentage of students in attendance. If you have a preference regarding this event, please let me know. All other musical performances are held in the evening. It was wonderful to see so many families in attendance. Thank you all for navigating the chronic parking dilemma.

The student council food drive for Combat Hunger brought in more than 1,000 pounds of canned and boxed food.

Helping Hand donations this fall means that twenty children have received much needed winter coats. We thank you all for your generosity.

Hanawalt has been recognized as an Energy Star School. We have significantly reduced the energy use in the building even though the building is used almost every week night for community organizations and athletic teams. Last year’s student council arranged for recycling paper in every classroom and also asked that the food service department serve fruit and vegetable directly onto trays instead of putting the food in containers that would be thrown into the garbage. We welcome other ideas as we seek to become more environmentally conscientious.

Many parents have asked how Hanawalt will be affected by the across the board cuts. Our budget has been cut by approximately 4%. This will means we will need to use less paper and make substantially fewer purchases. The impact for next year is still unknown, but every school in the district (and the state, for that matter) will be affected.

We are committed to providing an education that focuses on rigorous academics, fitness and healthy living, and meaningful opportunities in the fine arts that enhance children’s lives.

A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO ANNOUNCE

Celebrate! November 25, 2009
We would like to invite parents, grandparents, or special guests to join us on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. This is the day before Thanksgiving. This year, all of our musical performances will be held in the afternoon. This is NOT an early dismissal day. This year's performance directly connects to our work with the six pillars of character: trustworthiness; respect; responsibility; fairness, caring, and citizenship. Character Counts has been an important aspect of Hanawalt's everyday life for a number of years. The students in Kindergarten through Third Grade invite you to join them in their classrooms approximately 30 minutes prior to the musical performance in the Weitz Commons. We understand that people with children in various grades will be challenged to do both sessions, so we encourage you to attend the music performance as the priority. Classroom activities will reflect Character Counts and the everyday learning that is taking place at Hanawalt. Not all families will be able to attend due to work commitments. We understand this. This will be a regular day of school with some special performances added to our normal school schedule.

Seating will begin at 1:00. Please do not come in earlier as we will be setting up and cleaning after lunch.

Parking is a perpetual challenge, so we will hope for great weather so people can walk!

We hope that you will be able to help us Celebrate Character Counts!

Performances in the Weitz Commons:
1:10-1:35 p.m. Grades K-1
1:50-2:15 p.m. Grades 2-3
2:30-2:55 p.m. Grades 4-5

In Class demonstrations:
12:40-1:00 p.m. Grades K-1
1:20-1:40 p.m. Grades 2-3
Due to space limitations, grades 4-5 will not doing in-class demonstrations.

SCHOOL START TIME ...

The second change has to do with students who are tardy. Our school day begins at 8:15 a.m. Students should be seated and getting organized for the day. Students who come in late miss initial instructions and delay the learning for other students as teachers have to review what has already been said. In order to encourage students to spend less time being social at their lockers, students will give up a minute of noon recess for every minute they are late. Obviously this does not apply to students with appointments. Students should be inside the front doors no later than 8:10 a.m. This gives them time to get to their lockers and to their classroom. We are already seeing a big difference in the number of kids who are getting to class on time. It is our goal that every child is in school and ready to learn by 8:15 a.m.

News From The Principal

SAFETY REMINDERS

Please remind your children that as they are walking to or from school or the bus stop, not to talk to strangers. It is important to practice safety guidelines with all children. Sometimes we assume that because we have told our children once, they will remember what to do. Take a few minutes to review walking precautions. Walk on a sidewalk. Walk with a schoolmate. Cross at street corners, not in the middle of a block. Do not answer if someone calls from a car. If a stranger approaches, run to a safe house or to school. The crossing guard is employed by the Des Moines Police Department. She is an excellent resource if your child is too far from school to return. Encourage your children to immediately tell an adult if something unusual has happened.

BEST BUY – REWARD POINTS FOR HANAWALT!

Hanawalt is registered at Best Buy to receive Reward Points. Go online and become a Reward Zone member (registration is free). Then when you purchase anything at Best Buy, you could donate your points to the school. We are trying to raise money for new digital cameras. In order to donate points, you must be registered first. Go to www.bestbuy.com

THANK YOU TO OUR SAFETY COMMITTEE!

Thank you safety committee. You have made a significant difference in the flow of traffic each morning. Parents and other drivers, we thank you for your cooperation.

TICK.TOCK.TICK.TOCK.

Reminder that school starts at 8:15. Please drop off your child between 8:00 and 8:10. This will give students time to go their lockers and be seated before the 8:15 bell rings. Anyone arriving in a classroom after 8:15 is considered to be tardy. Reducing the numbers of tardies is a building-wide goal. It is difficult for learning to take place when students are absent or late.

HELPING HANDS

For families who need some general extra assistance regarding school supplies or clothing, please contact Principal Burton. Our school social worker, Lauren Daniels, can help obtain clothing vouchers for winter clothing and boots. The Helping Hands organization can also be a resource. If you are interested in supporting Helping Hands, please leave a note for Laura Hortsmann in the PTA mailbox.

SAY CHEESE – PICTURE RE-TAKES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20

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.

News from the Principal

It is difficult to believe that it is already May. Even though the school year is winding down, the pace of teaching and learning certainly is not. Fifth grade students are preparing for the fifth grade promotion ceremony, but they still have a solid month of learning left. Our fifth grade students will be truly missed. Most of our students will be attending Merrill Middle School, but we have students who will be going to Brody, Callanan, McCombs, Goodrell, St. Teresa's, and Weeks. We know they are leaving Hanawalt well prepared to start the next phase of their journey. We are very proud of them!


I would also like to thank the parents and grandparents who support Hanawalt through their volunteerism or through their financial support, or both. Many people have made donations, which are matched by their employers; others have mailed checks directly to school. Your financial support has allowed us to purchase three document cameras and three infocus projectors. This technology will allow us to consume substantially less paper. By the end of the year, we hope to have purchased three more sets of this particular technology. In addition, we have purchased equipment to support the literacy listening centers in the kindergarten classrooms. We have also been able to purchase sets of advanced level reading books for all of our grade levels.


We have had tremendous support from parents volunteering in the classroom this year. We truly appreciate the difference you have made. The Literacy Army this year has been lead by Nadine Patch and Sue Hetherington. More than 30 volunteers have worked one on one with children this year. Not only are children becoming stronger readers, they are developing good relationships with members of our community. If you were able to chaperone a field trip, you know how much the students learn when they leave the school campus and venture to explore Living History Farms, experience a performance at the Playhouse or the Civic Center, or perhaps learn team building skills at Greenwood Park and get to dabble in the pond and mud, or visit the Art Center to see works they have studied! These are just a few of the learning opportunities that our students have participated in within the Des Moines area. Parents make this possible not only by supporting the PTA, but also by attending the events ensuring student safety.


Thank you very much for making the 2008-2009 school year such a great one!

News from the Principal

Our fifth grade students are preparing for the adventures of middle school. Hanawalt students will be going to Merrill in early April and staff from Merrill will also come to Hanawalt to answer more questions.

As many of you have noticed, we have a considerable collection of lost and found items in the front lobby. If your child cannot find boots at home or perhaps a favorite sweatshirt, there is a likely chance they can be found at school. The day after school gets out, we will be sending all of the remaining items to a local charity for refugee children.

Technology and student learning, I believe should be as synonymous as using a pencil and paper. Technology goes beyond computer technology, but that is often a starting point for schools. During A Day In the Arts, students will have the opportunity to experience art and the tools ( technology) that is used to create incredible pieces of art. This month new computer work stations will be installed and the current teacher work stations will become student work stations. In addition, we hope to purchase two document cameras and infocus projectors. This will help us as we work on consuming less paper.

Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers. Whether it is hosting the Tuesday morning chess club, coaching Battle of the Books, helping students improve their reading skills through the Literacy Army, or being a classroom parent, and the lsit goes on and on. We would not be a successful school without you.

A final note on morning drop offs and afternoon pickups: Please, please always put student safety first. Do not double park. Students should NEVER be walking in front of or behind another car out into the street. Be patient as you turn on to Robertson drive. We have pre-school students who are walked into the building, so if a car appears parked in your way, that parent is making sure that his or her child arrives safely. Students should not be crossing through the middle of the staff parking lot. We have had several near accidents. Saving an extra minute or two is not worth the risk of a child being hurt.


Julia E. Burton – Principal - Hanawalt Elementary School - 515-242-8411

March - News from the Principal

We are looking forward to parent teacher conferences this month! We are all very proud of the progress your children have made in school this year. If you do not have a conference scheduled yet, please contact your child’s teacher.


Kindergarten registration at Hanawalt is Thursday, March 12 from 1-7pm. Parents will need to bring in a copy of the child’s birth certificate and evidence of immunization. If you have any questions about the enrollment process, please call Principal Burton at school, 242-8411.


Registration for all other grades will take place in May for current students. Families new to the neighborhood will be able to register July 28 and July 30th. We are really going to try and complete the currently enrolled student registrations in May, so that we have a more accurate picture regarding students who are on the open enrollment waiting list.


While the arctic weather might seem to be behind us, please be sure to check the forecast each morning. We have students who are forgetting coats and gloves at home. Recess can be uncomfortable.


If your child is missing some attire, check out the lost and found during conferences. We have an assortment of backpacks, boots, gloves, sweatshirts, and hats.

February - Principal News

February is Black History Month. We will be learning about important people and events throughout the month. Guest speakers will bring African American history alive to our students.


Kindergarten registration will take place on March 12 between 1 and 7 pm. It is extremely important that we have accurate enrollment information. If you are an open enrolled family with children already attending Hanawalt, please make sure that you complete the open enrollment paperwork and submit it to the Department of Student and Family Services as soon as possible.


For Kindergarten registration, please bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate and immunization records. Other health forms will be distributed on March 12th.


Hanawalt is a wonderful educational setting and we hope that you will talk to your neighbors and let them know about the registration date. We take pride in our academic accomplishments, our commitment to physical health, our deep passion for the arts, our diversity, and our belief that every child has the right to learn and grow in a safe environment. We welcome new families and extend a welcome to the siblings of students already here!


Registration for all other students will take place in May.


Local astronomer, Doug Rudd, spoke to the 4th grade classes about our solar system. Students thoroughly enjoyed being able to ask questions about deep space, black holes, and nebulae. Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring this presentation by the Des Moines Astronomical Society.


Hanawalt will be hosting its first science fair on February 12th for 4th and 5th grade students. Laura Higgins has organized the project; arranged for judges; developed a partnership with Pioneer; and has been essential to the launch of this event!


February 3 marked the 100th day of school. Special counting activities took place in the lower primary units.