HIGBY'S Guide To HIES: Lower School 2023

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School develops in students a love of learning, respect for self and others, faith in God and a sense of service to the world community.

-The Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Mission Statement

STUDENT LEADERS

DYNAMIC ARTISTS

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

WELCOMING SPIRITUALITY

HIGH ACHIEVERS

DISTINGUISHED FACULTY

TRAILBLAZERS

GLOBAL CITIZENS

FIND YOUR PLACE AT THE 805!

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway, NW Atlanta, GA 30327

www.hies.org

Instagram: @holyinnocentsbears and @hies_lowerschool_beartracks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolyInnocentsEpiscopalSchool

WELCOME

Welcome to the Dorothy Sullivan Lower School at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, where we give students every opportunity to learn and grow in an environment of love and support, with an emphasis on personal responsibility and service to others. This guide will act as a great resource and answer some of your questions about first through fifth grade. Please refer to the Lower School Handbook on myHIES for more information.

2023-2024

LOWER SCHOOL KEY DATES

AUGUST 2023

Monday, Aug. 14

New Family Campus Kickoff Event

Tuesday, Aug. 15

Orientations – 1st-5th Grade

Wednesday, Aug. 16

First Day of School - 1st-5th Grades

SEPTEMBER

Friday, Sept. 1

Labor Day Weekend – Early Dismissal

Monday, Sept. 4

Labor Day – School Holiday

OCTOBER

Monday, Oct. 9 and Tuesday, Oct. 10

Fall Break – School Holiday

NOVEMBER

Friday, Nov. 17

Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day for PS & LS - Early Dismissal

Monday, Nov. 20 - Friday, Nov. 24

Thanksgiving Break

Monday, Nov. 27

Classes Resume

DECEMBER

Friday, Dec. 15

Christmas Break Begins – Early Dismissal

Monday, Dec. 18 – Jan. 1

Christmas Break

JANUARY 2024

Tuesday, Jan. 2

Teacher Professional Learning Day - No School for Students

Wednesday, Jan. 3

Classes Resume

Monday, Jan. 15

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Holiday

FEBRUARY

Monday, Feb. 19

Presidents’ Day – School Holiday

MARCH

Monday, March 4 - Friday, March 8

Spring Break

Friday, March 29

Good Friday – School Holiday

APRIL

Monday, April 1

Easter Monday – School Holiday

MAY

Thursday, May 23

Last Day of School – Early Dismissal

Dates may be subject to change.

GO BEARS!

Nicole St. Amand Principal nicole.stamand@hies.org

Jed Dorsey Assistant Principal jed.dorsey@hies.org

Robin Gafford Administrative Assistant robin.gafford@hies.org

Anne-Brown Adams Nurse anne-brown.adams@hies.org

Fraser Kent Counselor fraser.kent@hies.org

Trey Davis Lower School Chaplain trey.davis@hies.org

Susanna Mees Literacy Coach, LS Multicultural Affairs Coordinator susanna.mees@hies.org

Laura Peters Literacy Coach 3rd-5th Grade laura.peters@hies.org

Riley Yearwood Math Coach 3rd-5th Grade riley.yearwood@hies.org

Debby Wood Math Coach 1st-2nd Grade debby.wood@hies.org

IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE DAY/WEEK

 mOR nin GS

School begins every day at 8:15 a.m. for all classes in the Lower School. Arriving at school on time is critical to our morning routine and sense of community. Homerooms open at 8:05 a.m., but supervision is provided on the playground beginning at 7:45 a.m. (Media Center if inclement weather).



Lunc H

Included in tuition, we are pleased to offer all students a complete selection of menu coices prepared daily by Sage Dining Services including salad, fruit, pasta, sandwiches, a hot entree and dessert. Milk and water are provided. Parents may notify the Dining Hall staff if students have any food allergies.



TOwn H ALL mEET in G

The entire Lower School will meet weekly in Duncan Gym for announcements, community time and special guests. Town Hall is on Monday mornings at 8:30 a.m.



cHA p EL

We gather as a community of students, faculty and staff in weekly chapel services and affirm both our Episcopal Christian traditions, as well as recognize religous diversity. We celebrate values that unite, we nurture the spiritual framework in our lives, and we learn about God’s love through songs, stories and prayer. The Good Samaritan Award is presented to selected students who are exhibiting exceptional citizenship, going above and beyond the Golden Rule as Golden Bears. Parents are welcome to attend.

LOwER LEvEL

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mAIn LEvEL

ADmIn, fIRST-THIRD GRADE cLASSROOmS, mAKER SpAcE

uppER LEvEL

mEDIA cEnTER, fOuRTH-fIfTH GRADE cLASSROOmS, LEARnInG RESOuRcES

mEDIA cEnTER

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CAMPUS MAP

1. Stewart-Rathburn Family Alumni Hall Business, Development & Facilities

2. Alan A. Lewis Primary School

3. STEM Building (Upper School) HIES Administration, Admissions, Dining Hall

4. Groesbeck Hall Marketing + Communications, PEAK Institute, Immersive Theatre Screen, Program for Global Studies

5. Owen Family Quadrangle

6. Humanities Building (Upper School) US Administration, Campus Shop, Technology and IT Help Desk

7. Baker Field and Track

8. Main & Duncan Gymnasiums

9. “The Matt” Indoor Batting Cages

10. Baseball & Softball Field

11. Fred Rowan Family Middle School

12. Fine Arts Building

13. Dorothy Sullivan Lower School

14. Parish Hall

15. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church

16. Pedestrian Tunnel Entrance

17. South Campus Turf Field

18. South Campus Practice Field

 mOR nin G cAR p OOL

» Please enter the campus using the driveway off Mt. Vernon Highway closest to the roundabout “Golden Bear Plaza” and turn into the parking lot, then form two parallel lines that will queue along the curb adjacent to the sidewalk.

» Students will remain in cars until the teachers on duty indicate it is safe to exit the car and enter the building lobby. Note - we have music playing on an outdoor speaker to welcome students!

» Please do not arrive before 7:45 a.m. or after 8:15 a.m. If you are late arriving, please use visitor parking in the front of the building and walk your child to the front desk.

» Please do not use the driveway entrance at Holy Innocents’ Church or any reserved parking at HIEC during school hours during the week, and please do not drop off students at the roundabout.

 Af TER n OO n cAR p OOL

» Regular dismissal time is 3:10 p.m. We ask parents not to arrive before 3:00 p.m. so as to keep the roadways clear and prevent backup on Mt. Vernon Highway.

» Please download the app Queful to your mobile device and become familiar with it prior to the start of the school year.

» Families with siblings in other divisions should communicate with the principals regarding carpool plans. More information will follow at Orientation. Please encourage timely arrival as a habit and do your best to schedule any appointments outside of school hours when possible.

For more information about the bEAR buS shuttle services, please contact Jessica Vance, Director of Auxiliary Services at jessica.vance@hies.org

LOWER SCHOOL UNIFORM GUIDE

WHERE TO PURCHASE YOUR UNIFORM

New Uniforms

Dennis Uniforms (formerly Mills)

6348 Roswell Road, Suite 10B

Sandy Springs, GA 30328

School Code: 3559

Gently Worn Uniforms

HIES Bear WearHouse

Alumni Hall, Terrace Level

Open Wednesdays 7:30-10:30 a.m.

Outwear and Spirit Wear

HIES Campus Shop

Humanities Building, Main Level

Open during school hours.

unifORm REquiREmEnTS

A crimson short or longsleeved knitwear shirt as the uniform top, and paired with khaki shorts with belt, khaki pants with belt or a plaid skirt/skort as the uniform bottom. Plaid jumpers with a white collared shirt are also an option. Shoes should be rubber soled and suitable for PE activities and recess. Tights or leggings are permitted on cold days. Any jackets or sweaters worn inside the buildings should be HIES logo items. Students are permitted to wear warmer coats of any kind when outside on the playground. Please remember to label all clothing items with your child’s name. Items that remain in the lost and found for more than two weeks will be donated. Most Fridays are considered “BearWear Days” and students are invited to wear any HIES shirts, cheerleading outfits, shorts, etc. to show school spirit. There are opportunities to purchase optional Homecoming or other t-shirts throughout the year.

 b ASE

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

At Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, we believe that education and socialemotional learning continue beyond regular school hours. For our Lower School students, we offer a program known as BASE (Bears After-School Experience) as well as weekly ACE (After-Class Enrichment) courses in the areas of academics, athletics, fine arts and STEAM. For more information about course descriptions and parent policies, please visit www.hies.org/campuslife/after-school-programs.

BASE is an extended day program open for all HIES students through fifth grade. Our program offers a structured and supervised environment for children which begins the moment the school day finishes and runs until 6:00 p.m. Each day, the staff provides age-appropriate group activities, outdoor free play and organized games, puzzles and books.

 Ac E

The objective of ACE is to offer programs to enrich HIES students in the areas of academics, fine arts, STEAM and athletics with the goal of providing an opportunity for every 1st5th student to be an active participant in the HIES community. Registration for ACE classes occurs each semester or quarter.

 bEAR cA mp S ( p K3 - 12 TH )

Bear Camps are open to the community on a weekly basis with morning, afternoon and full-day sessions with a variety of program options for academics, athletics and arts. More information and registration online at www.hies.org/campuslife/bear-camps.

STUDENT

 All students must have a completed Magnus Health profile before they can attend school. See myHIES Resources tab.

Students cannot receive medication (Prescription/ OTC) until parent permission completed in Magnus Health.

 Students cannot carry medications (Prescription/ OTC) unless authorized by a HIES Nurse. EpiPens, inhalers and insulin can be carried by a student.

If a student needs to take PRN medication during the school day, it must be kept in the clinic. Please complete the medication administration portion in Magnus.

 If your child has a specific condition that requires medical attention, please upload a MD signed Action Plan onto your student’s Magnus profile.

pLEASE EmAIL ILLnESS DETAILS AnD upDATES, DOcTORS’ nOTES AnD HEALTH TEST RESuLTS TO THE LOwER ScHOOL nuRSE.

TECHNOLOGY

MacBook laptops are assigned and distributed to fourth and fifth-grade students at the beginning of the school year. More information about expectations and social media policies is available in the school handbook. Students may use iPads and SMART Boards in each classroom at the teacher’s discretion.

Students should not have cell phones, smart watches, etc. that they are using during the school day to text or call others. Cell phones must be kept in the child’s book bag and only used after school. Teachers have the right to ask a student to remove a smart watch before an academic test during the school day.

SUPPLIES

All school supplies needed for the classroom will be made available from the homeroom teacher at the beginning of the school year. The Grade-Level Supply Fees that are collected as part of the tuition payments will cover the cost of all required supplies. Parents do not need to purchase additional school supplies. Students can purchase a backpack of their preference and a size that they can manage independently.

The Technology Office/IT Help Desk is located on the ground floor of the Upper School Humanities building.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Lower School students are presented with many exciting opportunities to become involved and to explore their passions such as band, orchestra, chorus, clubs, participating in Chapel and many more. See below for examples of optional student involvement.

» SERvIcE cLub

» bOOK cLub

» pEn pALS

» cHARAcTER buILDERS

» vESTRy

» LIbRARy AmbASSADORS

GOLDEN BEAR PARENT INVOLVEMENT

 pARE n T O RGA niz AT i O n S

There are a variety of opportunities for parents to participate as a member of the HIES community, including the Parents’ Association, as well as affinity groups such as the Holy Innocents’ Cultural Awareness and Acceptance Partners, the HIES Prayer Group, among others. Please visit www.hies.org/campus-life/parent-organizations to learn more. The Parents’ Association monthly newsletters are a reliable source of information on dates and events and provide contact information for Grade Level Representatives. Follow the PA on Instagram @hies_parents_association.

 pARE n T n i GHT, pR incipAL’ S cO ff EES & cO nf ERE nc ES

Parents are invited within the first month of school for an evening event to learn about schedules, curriculum and to hear from the teacher. Principal’s Coffees occur regularly with special focus areas. Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled at least twice-yearly and teachers are always available for questions via email or by appointment.

 cLASSROO m cELE b RAT i O n S

Parents are invited to organize and assist with class holiday parties and other special events throughout the year.

Parents are encouraged to view class pages via myHIES to review class announcements and assignments.

 nOTE : Wednesdays are typically a “No Homework Night” and families are encouraged to focus on meaningful connections together.

FAVORITE TRADITIONS IN THE LOWER SCHOOL

 H O m E cO min G A n D w in TER f EST

Sports-themed, all-school pep rallies in the Main Gym and spirit days.

 G RA n D pARE n TS ’ A n D Sp E ci AL fR i E n DS ’ DAy

Each grade level presents a musical theatre performance and provides tours of classrooms for invited guests.

 Li TERAcy/R EAD in G cHALLE n GE

A special incentive to reward student effort, achievement and to celebrate reading accomplishments with surprise guests and carnival games; the Battle of the Books and Spelling Bee contests are also popular initiatives.

 LOw ER Sc HOOL f i ELD DAy A n D pARE n T p icnic

A long-time cherished event where grade levels have outdoor games, team challenges and parents are invited to join for lunch on the lawn!

 Sci E nc E pALOO z A

Annual springtime school-wide event where HIES National Science Honor Society students research and present experiments and projects for all students to observe and engage.