Hill City students are getting creative in Art! They’ve been busy working on abstract dot pictures using warm and cool colors with Mrs. Brancato. Some classes even transformed their dots into "Cool" chicks, tying into their ELA units on animals. Such a fun way to connect art and literature!
Students in Mrs. Connelly’s 4th grade ELA class are working hard and diving into literature! In small groups, they compared and contrasted the treatment of themes in different stories, sparking some great discussions. This is terrific way to build understanding through constructive conversations!
The PCSD Staff Spotlight for October goes to Hill City Elementary's incredible Academic Coach Mrs. Rhonda Lane. Whether it’s driving their instructional program, coordinating professional learning, or making sure teachers and students have the resources they need for success, she excels. From creating engaging writing lessons to sparking curiosity with new hands-on experiments in our science lab, her leadership is truly top-notch. We are so grateful for her dedication and positive impact at Hill City.
If your child missed Picture Day or needs a picture retake, Strawbridge Studios will be back at Hill City on Friday, November 1st.
Important weather updates from Pickens County School District...
As part of Hill City Elementary's "Leader in Me" initiative, Mr. Nate, our tech specialist, is launching a Junior Tech Team. These student leaders will be trained to tackle tech issues around the school. Third-grader Hudson Mosley was the first to step up and join the team! Here's a behind-the-scenes look at his very first training session!
Our first School Advisory Meeting is this Wednesday, 9/25, at 12:00 p.m. Please join us if your schedule permits.
Playing games in math class? You bet! Mrs. Phelps' second grade students worked in small groups to tackle 3-digit number bonds, building their problem-solving skills while having fun! They also teamed up with partners to play the game 'Dominating Doubles,' practicing their fluency with doubles and near doubles math facts.
Thinking like scientists! Mrs. Kaley's kindergarteners dove into the scientific method in the media center, predicting and testing whether various objects would sink or float! Inspired by "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds, they explored 2D circles and 3D spheres, embracing Vashti’s mindset to "just try." It’s all about experimenting, learning, and growing—one dot at a time!
The Hawk goes to... Amanda Abbott! The Kindergarten Paraprofessionals "passed the Hawk" to her because, " She goes above and beyond for our Kindergarten team and each student she comes in contact with. She has helped our team maneuver all the new changes this year and encourages us to believe we can do hard things. She carries herself with grace every day and we are blessed to have her as our leader. " Congratulations, Mrs. Abbott!
Mrs. Davis' 2nd grade class has been working hard on developing the 7 Habits as part of HCES' new "Leader in Me" program! Students teamed up with partners to create double bubble thinking maps, highlighting their similarities and differences. It's great to see them learning about leadership and collaboration!
Mrs. Collins' students are having fun with some hands-on learning! They're building letters with Play-Doh, creating 3D shapes using Magna-Tiles, and solving math problems with manipulatives. It's amazing to see their creativity and problem-solving skills in action!
A big shout out to our Pickens High School Cheerleaders for helping greet car riders on this blustery morning! Thank you and good luck at tonight's game! Go Dragons!
Our first-grade students are hard at work learning how to spell better! Today, Mrs. Smith's class practiced sorting words based on similar spelling patterns. What a fun way to partner-up and share some spelling success!
Mrs. Smith's second graders had a fantastic time partner reading about different habitats from around the world! They explored grasslands, rainforests, and coral reefs, learning about the incredible animals and plants that call these places home.
Congratulations to this week's Perseverance Award recipients! Your grit, determination, and commitment have truly paid off! You pushed through the tough moments! Keep it up!
Get ready to say, "Cheese!" Picture Day is tomorrow, Thursday, 9/12!
Big ideas take some brainstorming! As part of the "Leader in Me" training, our 4th-graders gathered to work on a Mission Statement for the grade level. Here they are discussing how they want the Mission Statement to "See," "Hear," and "Feel, " which will help them dig deeper into answering, "Why do we come to school?"
Congratulations, Dauson! Deputy Roach has recognized him as the Campus Law Enforecement Student of the Month for August. We know he will continue being "Determined to Make a Difference!"
Important Reminder Regarding the Free & Reduced Meal Program:
The carryover in benefits from last year’s Free & Reduced Meal Program will end September 13, 2024. After this date the student will return to full pay status unless a new application is submitted to re-establish the student's eligibility before the end of the carryover period.
For households that meet the income requirements we encourage you to submit a new free and reduced application now.
Here is the link below for our online or paper application:
http://frapps.horizonsolana.com/PICC01
