We Love Our All-Stars! PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

As I consider the District’s character theme for the month of February, I remember a quote by Malinda Gates that says, “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better; it’s a conviction that we can make things better.”

My goal for Hickory Bend is always to be led by optimism and for that optimism to be combined with the courage to work towards our next greatest level. There is nothing we cannot achieve if we believe in our ability to do great things.

School Hours

Students’ school day is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:10 p.m.

Students should not arrive earlier than 8:10 a.m.

If ever you have questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our staff. No question is too small, and no concern is too big for us to handle as a team.

As always, we look forward to working in partnership with our families to ensure our AllStars continue to grow and succeed

That being said, we can’t hold on to optimism if we are not present for the work! I have mentioned this in previous newsletters, but I reiterate the importance of attendance in school: it is the best way to support learning and growth. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of school. In our District, that boils down to about 17-18 days which is only about 2 days per month! Please, please, please work at all costs to ensure your student is in school daily. Being on time and staying for the entire day is also crucially important. We only have our students for a few short hours, and we don’t want them to miss anything! If you can pull the young ones from their warm beds and get them to school, we are confident that we can take care of the rest.

Attendance/Absences/Tardies

To ensure that our students excel academically, they must attend school daily and be on time. When students are tardy, they miss valuable instruction, primarily in reading and language arts. Attendance will be tied into our school’s PBIS expectations in which students will be able to earn rewards and participate in fun activities.

When your child has to be absent, please inform the front office. Our absentee number is 708-757-2120.