Save the Date: Science Fun Day!

Hilton community we are looking for volunteers to participate in QUEST’s Annual Science Fun Day!  If you are interested in presenting and wondering what that entails please contact Mrs. Langswager or Ms. Lippincott for a more detailed explanation (emails are located on the flyer). 

Band Update

 

Band for all players will start on January 30^th at 7:30am.  Beginning players, please make sure to return your transportation form.

Student Council Upcoming Events

 

Our Corner of the World

 

PTSO Update

 

Empty Bowls Fundraiser

 

Capital Project Vote

 BUILDING CADET SUCCESS

CAPITAL PROJECT VOTE – TUESDAY, MARCH 7
6 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Look for more information coming soon. A capital project newsletter will be mailed to all residents in late February. Information also will be posted on the district website at Hilton.k12.ny.us/CapProject23 as it becomes available.

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
Wednesday, Mar. 1 from 6-8 p.m.
Hilton High School Auditorium

NEW VOTING LOCATION FOR ALL RESIDENTS
Parma Town Hall
1300 Hilton Parma Corners Rd., Hilton

VOTER ELIGIBILITY
You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote. For more information, contact District Clerk Tracie Czebatol at 392-1000, ext. 7099.

Giving Tree

 

Child Safety Program Lessons

Dear Hilton Parent/Guardian,

In the past several years, many states including NY, have passed Erin's Law with the intent of increasing the awareness of child abuse. In Hilton, our elementary schools will continue to work with Community Educators from Bivona Child Advocacy Center to help us deliver the Monique Burr Foundation (MBF) Child Safety Matters™ program from the Monique Burr Foundation for Children. The program consists of two age-appropriate lessons to help children spot and respond to child abuse (physical, sexual and neglect), bullying and digital dangers. Most importantly, it teaches that adults are responsible for children’s safety. The program is based on the latest research and has been reviewed and endorsed by national experts.

What exactly is covered in the lessons? MBF Child Safety Matters covers personal safety, all types of child abuse, digital abuse, bullying, cyberbullying and other digital dangers. The lessons focus on teaching children to rely on safe adults for support. Lessons are taught using age-appropriate and child-friendly language, fun games, and activities. Take-home items are provided as reminders of the lessons. At K-6, these lessons will be delivered by Bivona Child Advocacy Center Community Educators in February.

How are Hilton parents informed? We value the ongoing partnership that we share with our families, and want you to be informed of what your child will experience. A recording of an informational webinar is posted to the HSCD website here. Additionally, each lesson in the program includes materials to read and activities for parents to do with their children. These are also posted on the HCSD website Child Safety page.

We look forward to this partnership with Bivona, HCSD staff, and HCSD elementary families to foster a safe and positive learning environment for our children.

Sincerely,

Derek Warren

Principal Update

QUEST Families, 

Our IB Profile focus for the month of December is caring, and how timely that is. Between our Joy Shop, Giving Tree, and the general energy found in the month of December, examples of caring are in abundant supply. December also marks the official start of the second marking period; thank you for a great start, and thanks for your continued partnership as we move into a new marking period!

Inquiry at Home! 

Our School Improvement Team (SIT) is working on strengthening our approaches around inquiry based learning. QUEST has long been known for being an inquiry school, so we are using this year to improve our practices and to ensure we are providing our learners with rich, meaningful learning experiences...through an inquiry based approach! 

There are many ways to promote inquiry. Here are a few ideas to get started:  

• Lay random books around from time-to-time. Put a book in a spot where your child will notice it and, perhaps, even pick it up! 
• Put objects in front of your child that make them curious! When I was mowing this summer, I came across a dried out dragon fly. I brought it inside and just showed my daughters. Their questions and curiosity took off, and I pushed them to do the research to find answers to those questions. What can you put in front of your child that will spark their questions? 
• Model questions! Stop, notice, and question the things you are noticing. If your child sees that, and if you sometimes ask them some of your questions, they will see what lifelong learning looks like!
• Limit screen time! Allow your child to be bored each day. It is incredible how they will default to creativity when they claim they are bored and there is "nothing to do!"  

Staff Shout-outs 

Further in the blog, you will see our staff shout-outs, submitted by our families. Please join me in celebrating our awesome staff here at QUEST. If you'd like to give someone a shout-out, you can find it at the top of the blog. See the image below to see where you click to submit a shout-out.

Parent Information Night: your feedback is wanted! 

This fall, our Parent Information Night had about 50% family attendance across the school. Life is busy, but our school community wants to ensure that we are supporting our families in a way that fits you, the family member! With that in mind, please take a moment to complete a survey using the link below.

In this survey, we provide three future options: a standard Information Night (what we do now), an Open House, or using Ice Cream Social coupled with a Parent University (optional learning for parents). We have a committee at the school that will be taking the results and reimagining this event based on the feedback we receive. 

Thanks for sharing your feedback here!

Applications for QUEST 

According to applications we receive, 90% of the people who apply to be part of QUEST do so because of word-of-mouth. That is, they've spoken with a current QUEST family and it has sparked their interest. 

We will be sending out applications for the 2023-2024 school year on January 3rd, with an application deadline, for new potential Kindergarten families, by February 1. Please join me in celebrating and getting all the good from QUEST out into the community. Your opinions are a huge help! 

12/23/22 Reminder!

12/23 is a half day of school. Please contact the attendance office if you are picking your child up on the half-day. Our parent pick-up is at 11:25, and our buses pull away from the school at 11:45! 

I hope you and your family have a restful break during the week of 12/26/22. 2023 is just around the corner, and I am confident that it will be another awesome year for our learning community. 

Be well,

Derek Warren 

QUEST Principal