The two charts just below show the tardy and attendance percentages from the beginning of the school year through this past school week. Consistently, 5th grade has had both the fewest tardies and the fewest absences.

As we approach the testing window, it is important that all students arrive to school on time as testing will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m.

Mrs. Hydock's 4th Grade Class and the 'Chocolate Milk Inquiry Task Force'

Mrs. Hydock with some of her 4th gr. students

Background
Our class was recently given a 'writing prompt' about the disappearance of chocolate milk from the public schools.

Many students, parents, school officials, and the medical community have been weighing in on the role that chocolate milk plays on the health of our growing students. Our class watched news report videos on the topic. We read articles that gave data about chocolate milk's nutritional facts and the impact on students' health. The articles included both positive and negative points so that students could weigh in on the issue of chocolate milk in public schools.

It seemed like just an ordinary practice for writing, until . . . chocolate milk appeared in the HCES cafeteria! Of course, this started a whirlwind of questions! The students wanted to know the story behind the reappearance of chocolate milk. And with that the 'Chocolate Milk Inquiry Task Force' was born.

Student Research
Students ventured out to interview staff members, administrators, and the cafeteria managers. They interviewed the DLE students and Mrs. Bellorin to find out that the students in Mrs. Maldonado's class, helped in this big project. Some of Mrs. Aviles's class also gave their opinion about the chocolate milk issue. They wrote the principal about why chocolate milk is good to have in schools. The students said, "When we came back from Winter Break, we were all surprised," when chocolate milk was an option. Cartons of the sweet liquid flew off the shelves and onto the trays of eager students. The custodian, Oscar Giron, reported that the amount of wasted milk reduced dramatically.

Results
The students felt empowered by their ability to affect change in our school community. Our class was thrilled to investigate the mystery of the chocolate milk and are happily indulging in this nutritious treat.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!

And this is exactly what our 3rd graders had when they visited the Kennedy Space Center, earlier this month . . . A BLAST! 

Our wonderful day started with a luxurious and smooth bus ride to the KSC facility located at 28o31'34.10"N and 80o40'45.12"W...or the east most part of Central Florida. During our visit, the students were able to take a bus tour for a drive-by view of a launch pad and then they were able to experience the historic Apollo 8 launch site and marvel at a massive 363-foot-long Saturn V moon rocket at the Apollo/Saturn V Center (above). Some of the students were able to get up close and meet a real astronaut at the live Astronaut Encounter! 

Ms. Sierra
It is hard to believe I have been working at HCES for 21 years! My first 18 years I worked with our Kindergarten students and our amazing team of Kindergarten teachers. Three years ago I transferred to the office. I now have the privilege of meeting our parents, welcoming new families to our great school and community. I am proud to be able to help our Spanish speaking families in their transition to our school and make their registration process less stressful. It truly is an honor to be a part of the Hunter's Creek family.


Ms. Cordoba
My name is Maria E. Cordoba. I work as ESOL paraprofessional here at HCES. I have been at HCES for almost 15 years. There are many reasons why I love my job. I am familiar with the challenges of learning a second language. I work in the classroom where ELLs students are integrated with non-ELLs students. I provide direct instructional assistance to students of limited English proficiency. I assist, support and work closely with teachers in providing educational benefits for ELLs students. I have a genuine interest in our ELLs students and want to help them succeed now and future years to come.

The month of February was the character trait of "Caring" for our students. Teachers demonstrate and teach this character trait on a daily basis by acknowledging those students who are showing others how much they care, but teaching in a calm and consistent way, and by helping students to understand how to empathize with others.

Hunter's Creek Elementary is a school filled with caring children. I watch and learn from them every single day.  I love when I see our students help another when he or she is down.  I love when I see or hear kind words spoken.  I love when I see teachers and students both giving an encouraging pat on the back.

In a world that shows us daily negativity on the news and TV programs, I just want to say THANK YOU for continuing to teach our children Caring words and attitudes every single day.  As former Principal, Mrs. Geisler, used to say, "Because kindness matters!"

Here are the students who received the Future Leader Award for 'Caring' this month . . .

Kindergarten Camila Ortiz Joaquim Rosa Eden Myers Valentina Vazquez Kirill Vedler Michelle Tran Khloe Ayala Avril Lapaglia Sebastian Moreno Noemi Soto Jayden Ritchie Alejandro Rodriguez Kendry Pijaun Cordero Salome Mejia Lopez	1st Grade Daniela Poletto Jorge Garayua Luke Rodriguez De Arruda Emilio Cordero Monika Parrilla-Rey Isabella Santos Deborah Rodriguez Sandra Perez-Moguel Joshua Molano Mary Conlan Matthew Parrish Mercedes Foster Yuzid Bonilla Peyton Elliot Anthony David Caiden Rama Daniel Jimenez Isabella Arana Dewight Cornelius	2nd Grade Ayana Pernier Joshua Driskill Jack Silvia Isabella Reyes Gabriela Cabral Lyansie Borrero Veronika Ruiz Leah Liu Diego Cabrera Isabella Alfonso Alessandra Maura Kaleb Schemensky Ricardo Soto Nuriyah Shabazz Daniela Sanchez Isabella Santiago Makayla Willis Jordyn Lang
3rd Grade Alejandro Valencia Isabella Milay Ian McCormich Randall Rosa Jonah Hannon Chloee Donnally Thomas Alvarez Jose Chico Natalie Wurz Juliette Rosso Andrea Aponte Olivia Mistelske Elizabeth Crow Sami Habibi Linuka Hewgama Isabelle Zabala	4th Grade Giovanni Regal Angelina Bello Liliana Eosso Maria Roik Alex Dowling Kassandra Rivera Coralie Knudson Brian Chen Tyler Cardona Jada Khindri Karina Roman Jozin Murphy Isadora Martinez Jahleek Lawrence	5th Grade Darrion Johnson Adriana Torres-Santiago Olivia Pasquali Gianna Grosso Jacqueline Boris Benjamin Figueroa Paola Arana Raul Ramirez Haya Krayem Alex Deleon Carmen Phillips John Cates Angeles Ojeda Roberto Barrera Chelsey Sandoval Samantha Cornejo

Boy's Day Out - 'SLIME SPECTACULAR'

Upcoming Events
PTA General Meeting - 5:45pm on Thursday, March 3, in the cafeteria just before the Kindergarten Concert

Stay Informed . . . "Like" HCES PTA!
 

Regarding parents at lunch on testing days . . .

As we approach our testing window, we are asking parents for your support.

The lunch tables for parents are right outside of a testing room. In order to ensure that the students have a quiet testing environment we are requesting that parents do not come for lunch on testing days. Please refer to the above testing schedule or contact the front office to ask if it is a testing day. 

March 1st is the first day for testing that we are requesting parents not to attend for lunches. Thank you for your help.