Dear Families,
Happy New Year! Welcome back from what was hopefully a restful and recharging break. It is wonderful to see all of the happy faces of our students this week. This time of year feels like a fresh start and a chance to reach new goals (or old goals for some of us.)
Our staff started 2020 by discussing the importance of supporting students’ social emotional learning and development. There are a number of ways that our teachers nurture this area of student learning including lessons delivered by counselors and teachers, class meetings, positive, specific feedback and targeted support for individuals. We have a team of teachers that are working on clearly defining expectations for common areas of the school. We believe that all these strategies set up students for success with behavior, emotional regulation, and social skills. If you ever have any concerns about your student socially or emotionally, you are encouraged to contact your child’s teacher or our school counselors, Denise Mullins and Corey Anderson.
We are also continuing our Hilltop Equity Team from last year. Edmonds School District uses an equity team model to increase cultural competence and empower families in an effort to reduce inequities in school, particularly for those communities that have historically been underserved. This year, our Equity Team will learn about and discuss institutional barriers that may create an achievement gap for our students. If you would like to be part of this team, we would love to learn with you. All parents and guardians are welcome. Please email Principal Somoza SomozaM341@edmonds.wednet.edu, if you are interested or just show up at one of our meetings: February 13, March 12 and April 23 6:30-8:00PM in the library.
On February 11, you have an opportunity to make a difference for our students by voting. The two measures on the ballot are the Capital Construction Bond and the Replacement Technology/Capital Levy. The bond and levy passing will result in additional capacity in our schools (including at Hilltop), maintain an advanced technology program for our students, and take student safety to a new level. The district is committed to maintaining a level tax rate. You can find more information on our district’s website: http://bit.ly/ESD2020Election,
The end of January marks the end of our first semester. It’s hard to believe that we are almost half-way through the school year. Report cards will be sent home on February 5th representing all of the growth that each student has already made. Do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher with questions. We are all here to support your students.
Warmly,
Melissa Somoza, Principal