Please contact the HCES Computer Lab Teacher/Support Angie Farrell with any questions about Picture Day.  

Upload Yearbook Photos 

by Friday, March 14

A link has been created to upload pictures directly to the Lifetouch HCES Yearbook site for pictures that are related to school activities and events. Photos are needed especially for class activities, field trips, etc. Email Angie Farrell, as well.

1. Create an account on the Lifetouch Community site.  
2. Enter the access code "BVODOK" for Hampton Cove Elementary. 
3. Upload the photo(s) to the Lifetouch site.  
4. Add Keywords, Description, and select a Category (Ad or Miscellaneous). Note the teacher, subject(s), event, date before clicking on "Submit All" for the yearbook.  Note:  photos submitted are not automatically placed in yearbook. They are considered based on need and space.   

Two new digital cameras are available to borrow in Angie's office. Photos of school events are also being loaded to a HCES Shutterfly share website, and we encourage everyone to do so for shared events. Please contact Debbie Tetrault if you would like to be added to this site. 

Please contact the HCES Computer Lab Teacher/Support and Yearbook Chairperson Angie Farrell with any questions about the yearbook or ads.  

Please make one carline drop-off at HCES or HCMS if you have a combined carload of elementary and middle school students in the morning. HCMS students may exit vehicles at HCES along with their HCES student carpool riders and vice versa. This should help the length of our car lines!

Cars are advised not to turn left at Audubon and the Old Hwy. 431 access road from 7:30-8:00 am. We have requested more police presence at this intersection, so that our parents/guardians can efficiently get through the light at Old Hwy. 431 and turn right from Audubon to get into the school's car line.

Finally, please be considerate, slow down, and let drivers in who are trying to turn right from Audubon to the access road to get to HCMS and HCES.

A smile and a wave 

into the car line 

can make someone's day! 

The 2013-2014 Reflections Program  

Got School Spirit? 

New HCES T-Shirts 

Arriving Soon!

Wear your new HCES T-Shirt to the Blue Ribbon Celebration for our students on Friday, March 21 and at the Boosterthon Fun Run on Thursday, April 10!  

We have HCES Tervis Tumblers for $12.00 (with an embroidered insert like the one at right, and including a lid), magnets for $5.00 and stickers for just $1.00. 

We also have a limited number of 2013-2014 copies of the HCES Directory available for $6.00 if you would like an extra, or did not get a chance to order one.  

If you have any questions or want to order any of these items, please contact HCES PTA Board President Cindi Williamson or Secretary Debbie Tetrault. 

March Book Camp Club Meetings

Tuesday, March 18

Wednesday, March 19

Students share about a book they had read during the past month, using their Book Camp journals to remember facts about the story. Everyone who read three books or 300 pages in a chosen genre (adventure, fantasy, mystery, folklore, poetry, and science fiction--just to name a few) receives a genre tag (and chain, if they have not received one yet) to wear with pride. 

Student participation in 2nd grade continued to be nearly 100%! Please encourage your children in 2nd-5th grades to think about genres when they choose books, and to write about the books they read in their Book Camp journal, so they can join the fun. We will have a shaved ice party in May for those who earn a total of 8 tags (including those earned during the first semester) 

Please contact HCES PTA Board 1st V.P. Academic Support and Book Camp Chairperson Elena Barbre if you can help during the meeting on Tuesday, March 18 or Wednesday, March 19.

Also, check with your child's teacher on which day their class will attend Book Camp.  We'd like all of the kids to wear their chains and genre tags that day!  

Forms for after school enrichment classes are loaded on the HCES website,  On the right side of the page (third icon down), click on the "After School Forms" tab. This will take you to the "PTA Club" page and you can review the club registration flyers. The dates for all clubs, fees and the club contact person will be found on each registration flyer.   

Please download and complete the form, as well as a mandatory Release Form for each child and for EACH club. Staple the check with the appropriate payment amount to the top of the registration form. Send the registration form, release form, and payment in to your child's teacher or directly to the HCES Front Office. As usual, clubs will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.  The club chair will contact you when they receive the registration to confirm your child's place!

Classes include the following:

• Art (Tuesday, beginning March 4 for all grades, 1 spot remaining) 
• Computer (Friday, 1st grade, beginning April 4)
• Foreign Language: German (Tues./Thurs.), Mandarin (Thurs.) 
• Music - instruction for piano, violin, and guitar (Mon. & Tues. through Valley Conservatory)
• Science (Classes are FULL for second semester; Wednesday, through Sci Quest) 
• Theater Arts (Monday, through Fantasy Playhouse, openings remain in the 3rd-5th grade section)   

   .    

If you have any questions, please contact Math Superstars Co-Chairs Melissa Pressnell or Neila-Susan Thompson.  

Did you know that a large part of the PTA budget goes directly to supporting the HCES teachers? The money that is raised through SOS and other fundraisers throughout the year provides $350 per classroom for supplies, plus money for our Computer Teacher's salary, library, art, music, reading programs, and much more!  PTA funds are also providing many of the new "apps" and subscriptions that students are using on their laptops and iPads. Approximately $13,000 was spent on school improvements and preparation for the Blue Ribbon Schools evaluation.  All together, these teaching support programs comprise 69% of the PTA budgeted expenses for the 2013-2014 school year.

For questions about PTA income and expenses or to offer budget suggestions for the future, please contact PTA Treasurer Stephanie Ortel. 

The SOS fundraiser tax letters were sent home in the students' January 29 Wednesday folders. If you haven't received a letter, please check with your child's teacher. These tax letters are an acknowledgment of any donations that were received through December 2013. Thanks to all that have donated to SOS this school year!

Donations (first child $100, each additional child $50, payable to HCES PTA) are still being accepted. You may also make a donation directly to your child's classroom, or any other area in the school that you may feel needs "extra" money. You can specify where your donation is directed towards, and we will maintain these extra monetary donations in the PTA Budget, if you would like. Donations are Tax-Deductible!  

If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher for a missing letter, or HCES PTA 3rd V.P. Sales & Fundraising Toni Wessells. 

HAMPTON COVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

For those of you that are just now learning about this great program, it is simple: 

• Sign up for a Target REDcard Visa or Debit card at the store, online, or by mail
• Go online and designate "Hampton Cove Elementary School"
• HCES receives up to 2% cash back on your purchases 
• Receive 5% off every purchase as a cardholder

For more information, please visit target.com or contact HCES PTA 3rd V.P. Sales & Fundraising Toni Wessells.

 Help HCES Earn Money 

by receiving special offers and coupons!

Every time you receive a text ad/coupon the school earns money!

Example: If 500 phones are enrolled and each gets just

1 offer/day we will earn approximately $600 per month!

Help us reach our goal of 500 phones enrolled! 

• Go to your "Messaging" app or button
• In the "To:" or "Enter Recipient" field, type the number "70000"
• In the "Compose" or "Enter Message"  line  type:  blueschool(space)your email(space)your zip code
• Hit "Send"
• You will receive an acknowledgment message, where you will click the link to complete your profile on your computer. 

Soon you will start receiving text advertisements for all types of discount offers on different products and services.

March Volunteer Needs 

Please consider volunteering for a Committee or the Board for the 2014-2015 school year! April Chapman is our Chair of the nomination committee!  At minimum, Elena Barbre (Academic Support), Julie MacMurray (Financial Secretary), Stephanie Ortel (Treasurer), Debbie Tetrault (Secretary) and Cindi Williamson (President) will finish their assignments this year, and we'd love to see some new (and seasoned) faces on the Board and chairing our committees!

See the SignUp Genius listing to sign up for volunteer opportunities!  Below are a few other areas of volunteer need: 

Playground:  2nd-5th grade students are enjoying their new tire swing in the playground! 

Tardies:  A tardy is accepted as excused with a doctor's note, however, arrivals after 8:00 am are still counted as tardy.  

 Jehanna Branch

Congratulations to Emma Saunders and Anya Schappell of Mrs. Romero's class. Their watercolors were submitted and selected for exhibition for Youth Art Month (YAM) at the Huntsville Museum of Art.  The YAM exhibit will be held at the museum from March 9-April 13, 2014. Great work girls!!

Students are currently working on the following art projects at HCES:

Fourth and Fifth grade have been doing two projects based on Optical Illusions. In the first project we looked at different optical illusions and artwork by M.C. Escher. Students created the illusion of movement by using lines to surround their name. The second project students are creating "Op Art Shading Blobs".  The lesson uses repetition of line but the illusion is created by shading in each blob with colored pencils and color pattern of choice.  

Third and Second grade are in the process of finishing the "Crazy Hair" projects. This project combines the shape and pattern techniques used in previous lessons such as Warm/ Cool Hands and Zen Drawing.  Students use their creativity to make the craziest hair designs imaginable. 

Kindergarten and First grade have recently completed "Kandinsky Circles".  This was a two- part lesson that introduced students to Wassily Kandinsky's very colorful abstract paintings.  We talked about the difference between realistic and abstract pictures. This lesson allowed students to practiced drawing concentric circles using oil pastels. 

Pre-K students are also learning about Kandinsky paintings. Students viewed examples and tried to find as many shapes as they could.  We then practiced drawing shapes with oil pastels and later painted over with tempera paints.  Tempera paints are really awesome to use over oil pastels because the oil pastels resist the paint.  The students are able to see their drawings through the layers of paint. 

Please contact HCES Art Teacher Jehanna Branch with any questions.  

From Your School Nurse

 Floyd Broussard

Come Dine With Us! 

HCES/HCMS Cafeteria 

Student laptops/equipment are collected and "refreshed" at the end of each school year, and will be subject to the following set of fees for lost and damaged equipment. See: HCS Equipment Fee Schedule.   

 Infosnap - This is the NEW Student Online Registration system. No longer will you have to spend hours filling out paperwork for each child/student. You asked and we listened!  We have automated this process and will keep you posted on when the NEW online student registration system will be open for enrollment for the 2014/15 school year.

Honoring Read Across America Day (Monday, March 3)

HOUR of CODE

Looking for a fun an exciting way for your child to learn how to computer program without even knowing it?  Then check out this link to the HOUR of Code challenge!  There are a variety of coding games for the young and old!  We challenge your whole family to try your hand at a coding puzzle!  You will be hooked!  

Doodle for Google Contest 

Draw your own doodle for the subject of "If I Could Invent One Thing to Make the World a Better Place..."

Entry Forms DUE: Wednesday, March 20

Dragon Box Algebra

This program is a fun way for children (and adults) to learn about algebra through colorful cartoon characters, other items and ultimately, letters. DragonBox Algebra 5+ (recommended for ages 5+) is an introduction and DragonBox Algebra 12+ (recommended for ages 12+) is a more advanced introductory lesson. Both applications are available for Apple products at a cost of approximately $6.00 and $10.00, respectively.  

Moby Max 

Moby Max has a differentiated curriculum with progress monitoring. With the help of diagnostic placement tests, MobyMax is able to create a unique curriculum foreach student. Moby targets areas where students are struggling and doesn't waste time reteaching concepts that students have already mastered. Student data is continually updated as students progress, so you know exactly how each student is performing on all standards in the common core.

If you have any questions or ideas for other links, please contact HCES teacher Sonia Parker.  

HCS Rezoning Plan & Schools Update

There are many unknowns about how long this process will take.  The district's attorney feels that it will be months not years.  Dr. Wardynski stated that no changes to the zone lines will take place next year.  

The school district hosted community meetings at six high schools in January and February.  Please see the HCS website for the latest information on this case.  

The new zone lines impact many schools. Keep in mind the plan presented by Huntsville City Schools is the "proposed" plan. It has not been accepted by the DOJ.  

Huntsville Afterschool Labs

Huntsville Afterschool Labs launched in the Huntsville City Schools on Monday, February 3, 2014. The District, along with Appleton Learning, will introduce students to a new extended learning experience. The new Program titled Huntsville City Schools' Afterschool Labs will offer students access to fun recreational games, hands-on STEM activities, assistance with homework and studying, tutoring when needed, and popular extracurricular activities.  The new program was approved at a recnt Huntsville City Schools' Board of Education meeting. 

The Huntsville City Schools Extended Day program currently operates in 19 sites through the District and provides safe and affordable after-school care for roughly one thousand children daily.  

Recently, Huntsville City Schools engaged Appleton Learning to evaluate the Program in an effort to identify opportunities for expansion and improvement commensurate with the caliber of educational programs characteristic of Huntsville City Schools.  During the course of the evaluation process, the opportunities that were identified centered around the idea of transitioning the existing Extended Day Program to a true extended learning environment by incorporating fun, hands-on activities, homework and academic assistance, and access to extracurricular activities such as dance, music, and karate.

Huntsville City Schools' Afterschool Labs Program will leverage the existing facilities and structure provided by the District and the professional instructional services provided by Appleton Learning to deliver the type of afterschool program desired by the parents, students, and school leaders.

Huntsville City Schools' Afterschool Labs, powered by Appleton will offer parents and students access to the most cutting edge afterschool experiences available and will enable Huntsville City Schools to become a leader in extended learning.

Parents/guardians who currently do not have a child enrolled, but would like to learn more about Huntsville City Schools' new Afterschool Labs offerings can also visit HuntsvilleAfterschool.com. Inquiries may be directed to 256-382-1057 or info@huntsvilleafterschool.com. 

Got Questions for HCS?

There is currently a bill in the Alabama State Senate, State Bill 380, calling for the revocation of the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards. It also forbids any changes to our standards until 2017. There is also a bill in the works that would give each local school system the ability to opt out of standards adopted by the State Board of Education. Both bills would change the authority of the Alabama State Board of Education. 

Lunch & Learn

HCS Superintendent 

Dr. Casey Wardynski

Monday, March 10, 12:00 pm

HCMS AV Room

Please join us for this exciting opportunity to hear from the Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools. Registration is not required.    

Hampton Cove Garden Club's primary fundraiser each year is the Hampton Cove Luminary Night. With the profits raised through Luminary Night, the Garden Club donates generously to our community, including HCES and HCMS' landscape and greenhouse projects. Please join the HCGC for their next meeting and program:

 The Greenery 

Thursday, March 20

9:30 am Social 

10:00 am Meeting & Program

Speaker Kay Tidwell, "Demonstrations on How to Make Gift Baskets"  

Please contact Karen Dixon or Debbie Tetrault if you'd like to attend as a guest! This is a free event.  The Garden Club welcomes all guests and new members!  The cost of the annual membership is just $30.00.  

At Mathnasium, we "make math make sense." Because children all learn differently, Mathnasium takes a customized approach to build students' skills from wherever they are starting. Every student starts our program by taking a comprehensive math skills assessment. We use those results to build an individualized curriculum where every child has their own one-of-a-kind binder with work that supports their challenges and enhances their strengths.

With understanding comes confidence. When children understand math, confidence grows, attitudes improve, and they enjoy engaging in math. As the school year winds down and end of the year grades pressure starts, Mathnasium supports children with their math homework and dealing with stress. In addition, summer is fast approaching. During the summer we continue to build on classroom skills as well as look forward to the new school year and work on getting ahead. Also, new to this year, we will be offering a "game hour" and robotics activities. Students will have the option of attending morning or afternoon sessions June through July.

For more information, please contact Phyllis Norton at 256-885-0886 or log on to Huntsville@Mathnasium.com.  

Huntsville, AL 35802

If you would like to add an email address to the HCES Newsletter and Announcements database, please email HCES PTA Secretary and Newsletter Chairperson Debbie Tetrault and include the student's name and grade. We will be happy to make the changes as quickly as possible.