Hilltop eNEWS

August 23, 2024

In this Issue

Hilltop House System

Coming Soon: Swings!

Beachwood Schools Foundation Tailgate & FUNdraiser

Bison Buzz: PTO News & Events

Message from the Principal

Dear Hilltop Families,

We’ve had an amazing first full week of school, and we are settling into our school routines! It's been wonderful to see the excitement and enthusiasm in our classrooms as students dive into their learning.

This week, we also focused on teaching and reinforcing our Be H.E.A.R.D expectations during Bison Time. Be H.E.A.R.D. is an acronym for our five main behavior expectations: Be Honorable, Be Encouraging, Be Accountable, Be Respectful, and Be Determined. Our students engaged in activities and games that modeled these expectations, helping them understand and embrace the values that will guide us in creating a positive and respectful learning environment throughout the year.

I encourage you to talk with your children about what Be H.E.A.R.D. means and what these expectations look like around our building. This conversation can reinforce the importance of these values and help them carry what they’ve learned at school into their everyday lives.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make this school year the best one yet!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Amy Pinney

Principal, Hilltop Elementary

Important Dates

● September 2: No School - Labor Day

● September 3: Hearing Screening for Third, Fifth, and New Fourth Graders

● September 11: Hilltop Picture Day

News & Announcements

Hilltop Houses

This week, we held our first house meeting of the year, an exciting event where our third graders and new students discovered which house they belong to. The atmosphere was full of anticipation as students were welcomed into their houses. Everyone participated in a fun community game to build relationships with our housemates. We also introduced our team leaders, who will guide and support their houses throughout the year. This house system is a key part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) efforts, designed to foster community and build positive relationships among students across all grade levels. We're excited to see how our houses will grow and work together this year!

Swinging into Action at Hilltop!

We are so excited! Our swings will be installed very soon. We will keep you updated on the progress of this project.

Wednesday Drop-Off

For Wednesday morning arrival, please note that doors will not open until 8:10 a.m. There is no adult supervision outside before this time. To ensure safety and smooth traffic flow, kindly do not enter the parking lot before 8:15 a.m. on Wednesdays. Thank you for your cooperation!

Beachwood Schools Foundation Tailgate and FUNdraiser

Friday, Sept. 20 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The Beachwood Schools Foundation invites you to attend its second annual tailgate. This family-friendly event takes place before the Beachwood vs. Fairview varsity football game. We will have food, fun and a virtual raffle to raise funds for our "Above and Beyond" educational programming. Buy your tickets TODAY and preview raffle items – from lunch with a principal and restaurant gift cards to museum memberships and more. The virtual raffle begins on Monday, September 2, and goes through the evening of the tailgate. Thank you to our Touchdown Sponsors — Geoffrey Hoffman, Howard Hanna Real Estate, Hammond Construction, Inc. and Porsche Beachwood — for supporting this event! Visit go.rallyup.com/bsftailgate2024 for more information.

BISON BUZZ: The Latest Beachwood Schools PTO News & Events

The Beachwood Schools Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to take a moment to welcome you all back for the 2024-25 school year. As we approach the end of our first full week, we wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves and what we do. We are a non-profit volunteer organization whose mission is to enhance the educational experience for our children, ensuring our schools remain exceptional places for them to learn and grow. We connect families to our schools and recognize the incredible work of the Beachwood Schools staff to educate and inspire our students on a daily basis. Learn more on the PTO website.

Not a member? Actually, you are! The Beachwood Schools PTO is now Open Membership, where all Beachwood Schools Families and Staff are automatically members. Welcome to the herd - Go Bison!

Stay Informed.

Follow the PTO on social media (Facebook/Instagram: @BeachwoodSchoolsPTO)
Look for news here in your weekly Principal Newsletter, and in District Communications
Attend monthly, open PTO Board Meetings*
Questions/Comments? We want to hear from you! BeachwoodSchoolsPTO@gmail.com

Get Involved. The PTO needs you! To put it simply, we can't fulfill our mission without your support. There is always a need for donors, sponsors, and volunteers - be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities. We are currently seeking:

Lunch Helpers: Lunch helpers assist children purchasing lunch, and generally assist staff in the cafeteria. Hallway helpers help manage the traffic immediately outside of the cafeteria during lunch changes. If you are able to stay longer than one grade, or come more than once, please sign up for multiple slots. Opportunities are available now through Sep 6. Complete the Lunch Helper Sign-Up Form.
Spirit Shop Helpers: Helpers attend Friday night home football games and promote our mission with printed informational take-aways, accept donations, sign up volunteers, and provide giveaways, in addition to selling our full selection of Spirit Wear. Complete the Spirit Shop Helper Form.
Donations: Donations can now be made via Venmo (@Beachwood-Schools-PTO) or PayPal (Beachwood Schools Support Organization)

*Held in the evening (7:00 to 8:00 p.m.) at the Beachwood Board of Education (24601 Fairmount Blvd). A full schedule and meeting minutes will be posted on the PTO’s District website.

Thank you for your continued support - Go Bison!

Warm Regards,

Crystal Jacobs | President, Beachwood Schools PTO

In Case You Missed It

Share Your Thoughts in Our Family Communications Survey

The Beachwood City Schools Communications Department wants to enhance the way we connect with our families. Based on your previous feedback, we’re exploring how to make our text messaging more effective in delivering timely and relevant information. Please take a few moments to complete our short survey and share your preferences on text messaging and other communication methods. Your input will help shape our district’s communications strategies. The survey is open until Friday, August 30! Thank you for being an active part of our school community!

FAMILY COMMUNICATION SURVEY

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, please take a moment to review our updated arrival and dismissal procedures. If your child is a car rider, please be aware that access to the parking lot will be restricted until all buses have finished loading or unloading. To speed up your child's arrival and departure, you might consider having them ride the bus instead. Please be sure to pick up your child by 2:45. When coming through the car line, please remember the following things:

Adults need to stay in the car and place your child on the passenger side. If the adult gets out, it is holding up the entire line.
Please pull up as far as you can to be sure we can load/unload cars as quickly as possible.
Please drive slowly to ensure our children are safely getting into their cars.
Please don’t be on your cell phone while being in the car lane.

Your cooperation and understanding are greatly appreciated as we navigate the ongoing construction at Hilltop Elementary. Thank you for helping us ensure a smooth and safe transition for all students!

Resources for Families

24601 Fairmount Blvd

Beachwood, OH 44122

Phone: 216.464.2600