ENews: Thursday, August 1, 2024
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![ENews: Thursday, August 1, 2024](https://cdn.smore.com/u/f8f2/978585b79008d0ea9fb6c277cfa3ce3e.jpg)
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Tuesday, August 20:
First day of school for 1st-12th grade
Wednesday, August 21:
Board of Education Meeting & Tax Rate Hearing
Thursday, August 22:
First day of school for kindergarten and preschool students
Thursday, September 5:
PreK-12 School Picture Day
You can view the district calendar online here or subscribe to the calendar here.
You can subscribe to the District and Athletics & Activities events and calendar here.
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Dear Hallsville Community,
Welcome back to Hallsville Schools for another great school year. I hope you have had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to a new school year. I feel very fortunate to be writing this letter as your new superintendent. In my short time here at Hallsville, I have had only positive experiences talking with students, faculty and staff, parents, and community members that I have had the privilege to meet.
I look forward to the 2024-2025 school year and building on previous successes to continue pushing our schools in a positive direction.
Whether you are a student new to the district or have been here your whole life, a new school year is a chance to start fresh. Embrace the new school year and the opportunities that come with it to be the best version of yourself. Whether it be in the classroom or competitive arena, I will be cheering you on as you work to accomplish your goals throughout the school year.
I want to thank all of our families and community members for their continued support. After strong community approval of a $6 million bond issue in April 2022, work is complete on constructing an eight-classroom wing at our middle school, relocating the athletic track to our stadium complex, and installing an artificial playing surface on the football field. A growing school district and community can be challenging, and we appreciate your support of our students and our district's vision to improve lives through learning by providing them with facilities that enhance their learning experiences. Your support of our students at home, in the community, and at school events plays a large role in their growth and success.
The district recently updated and implemented a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan focusing on goals related to student learning, excellent schools, and quality governance. Our mission is to prepare all students to reach their potential and be productive members of society.
As a new member of the Hallsville school community, I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you back for the 2024-2025 school year. We have a lot to be proud of, and our students are at the center of it all. Here’s to another great school year.
Go Indians!
Tyler Walker
Superintendent of Schools
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Please join us for our annual Paint the Town Purple and Gold to help welcome students back to school for the new school year on Tuesday, August 20 (1st-12th grade) and Thursday, August 22 (kindergarten & full-day preschool).
Community members, neighborhoods, families, and students—help us line the streets and roads leading to the school with motivational signs supporting all students for the upcoming school year. Markers, paint, glitter—the sky is the limit!
Note: Please place signs out the evening of Monday, August 19, so they will be viewable by those students riding early morning buses to school. When placing your sign, keep in mind the traffic’s view of the roads and sidewalks. Please remove signs by Saturday, August 24.
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The first day of school signs are now available for students entering preschool through 12th grade! You can find signs for each grade level, in addition to a sign for our future Indians! Download the signs here!
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We know navigating arrival and dismissal at our campuses can be challenging for families, especially at the beginning of the year. As a reminder, the main campus front lot is closed daily from 7:25 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. for bus arrival. The front lot is closed in the afternoon from 3:20 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. for dismissal. |
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Primary families can enter off Highway 124 or off of North Street. All families dropping students off or picking up students should enter at the purple circle on the map and snake around to the main entrance. To ensure student safety and have a streamlined process for arrival time, please utilize the entire sidewalk (from Preschool doors past the gym near the end of the parking lot) to unload car riders every morning.
All cars must exit onto North Street so buses can still enter and exit the campus. Do not exit the primary school using the exit onto Highway 124.
Doors open at 7:40 a.m., and class begins at 8:00 a.m. HPS dismisses at 3:40 p.m.
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Intermediate families dropping off or picking up students must enter from North Street heading east and turn right into the intermediate parking lot. There is no left turn into the intermediate lot. Please note that there is no stopping, standing, or parking on North Street or Wesley Ave. Doors open at 7:35 a.m., and class begins at 7:55 a.m. HIS dismisses at 3:35 p.m. We kindly ask families not to line up or come to campus until doors open for arrival and dismissal. |
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Secondary families dropping off or picking up students can enter and exit the high school parking lot from Highway 124 and Ricketts Rd/North St. When entering or exiting, please do not block the bus lane in front of the main campus. Please use both lanes marked for student drop-off. There should be 3 to 4 cars unloading at a time, and students can walk to the HHS or North Gym entrance.
Doors open at 7:35 a.m., and class begins at 7:50 a.m. HMS and HHS dismiss at 3:35 p.m.
The Hallsville Police Department has requested that we remind parents about the correct procedure for the school pick-up line after school. Stopping, standing, or parking on Highway 124 is strictly prohibited. School dismissal occurs promptly at 3:35 p.m.
We kindly ask families not to line up or come to campus until doors open for arrival and dismissal.
For those picking up students and traveling west on Highway 124, if there is no space to turn into the school parking lot, please proceed past the primary school and turn right onto Route U. From there, turn right onto North Street to access the rear entrance of the high school parking lot. Families should not use the primary school lot as a pass-through.
We understand the congestion after school and appreciate everyone's efforts to ensure a safe dismissal. Your cooperation is greatly valued.
AG PARKING LOT: Students must enter from North Street heading east and turn right into the Ag/Intermediate parking lot. There is no left turn into the Ag/Intermediate lot. Please see the HIS map above.
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We are excited to welcome the Hallsville Historical Society for the annual ringing of the Hallsville Grade School bell during the first week of school! The Hallsville Historical Society will be on main campus on the morning of August 20 beginning at 7:30 a.m. and will visit Hallsville Primary School on Thursday morning.
The Hallsville Grade School bell was forged in 1886 and installed when the first public school in Hallsville was erected on land donated by Dr. Ben Austene in 1888, on the site where the community center now stands. Teachers rang the bell, calling students to the Grade School to start another day of education. Countless Hallsville youth began their education by hearing the bell call. This bell resided in the belfry from when the school was built in 1888 until the school building was demolished in 1964. Today, the bell resides in the new Mercantile Building and is overseen by the Hallsville Historical Society
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Thank you, Hallsville community, for your unwavering support of our schools! On Wednesday evening, the Board of Education, past and present administration, and HMS cheerleaders participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new middle school wing.
Superintendent Mr. Walker welcomed guests, stating, "In May 2023, many of you were here for the groundbreaking of the new athletic track and middle school wing. Tonight, 455 days later, we celebrate the official opening of our 15,000-square-foot middle school addition, which includes eight classrooms and a storm shelter."
"This project, completed on time and under budget, is a testament to the dedication of our current and former administration and the unwavering support of our Hallsville community. The Board of Education and I extend our deepest gratitude for your continued commitment to the education and safety of our children."
Board President Bryan Wildenhain also spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the Board’s vision for Hallsville Schools. "The Hallsville School District’s vision is to 'Improve lives through learning.' Every day, our exceptional faculty, staff, and administration strive to uphold this commitment, ensuring every student reaches their potential and becomes productive members of society."
"As our community continues to grow, the Board remains focused on long-range planning to support the future of Hallsville Schools. Today’s ribbon-cutting is the first step in a multi-phase plan to rebuild and enhance our middle school and other district facilities. We are excited to share this journey with you and are committed to keeping our community informed about the progress of these projects. Together, we are truly building our tribe."
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We are fortunate to have partnered once again with SM Wilson, our construction management at-risk firm, and Klingner and Associates for architecture and engineering services. Their expertise and commitment, as demonstrated in our 2018 & 2022 bond projects, have been instrumental in successfully completing this new addition. Please take a few minutes to watch a time-lapse video of our construction! |
![Click to play: Hallsville : Middle School Addition & Track Renovation](https://cdn.smore.com/e/yx4d0/3sS53aBSyW.jpg) |
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While we are finalizing student information in Infinite Campus, please refer to the times below for bus pick-ups and drop-offs. The routes have remained the same as last year, so your student will remain on the same bus route unless there is a change in address. We will send out individual bus assignments on Monday based on the information submitted during registration. |
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It is important to note that times listed are approximate and may vary up to 15 minutes either way, especially on the first few days. Students should be ready early and at their stop, waiting for the bus. As our drivers learn the route, they will become more consistent and timing will become more accurate. As a reminder, students are only allowed to ride the bus they are assigned to. You can view the Transportation Handbook online. |
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Free and Reduced Meal Forms are now available for the 2024-25 school year. Families can apply online through Infinite Campus or print off and return the form below.
While families are not required to complete the Free & Reduced Meal Application, we encourage all families to apply. In addition to qualifying for free meals, participation rates directly impact our district’s eligibility to receive valuable federal and state funding for staff, equipment, and supplies. Qualified students are also provided with a wide range of benefits, such as discounted or reduced national testing fees, discounted fees on applying for college, and qualifying for scholarships and financial aid.
Free and Reduced Meal Form 2024-2025
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![Go to Infinite Campus. Select more. Select Meal Benefits. Complete the application.](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/6256/thumb-05480a00a2c0d7c766800b6724bf998e.png) |
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The 2024-2025 District Calendar can be found online here. The first day of school will be Tuesday, August 20, 2024, for incoming 1st-12th grade students and Thursday, August 22, for incoming kindergarten and preschool students.
Main Campus
- Doors Open 7:35 a.m.
- Intermediate Starts 7:55 a.m.
- Middle School Starts 7:50 a.m.
- High School Starts 7:50 a.m.
- Dismissal 3:35 p.m.
Primary School
- Doors Open 7:40 a.m.
- Class Starts 8:00 a.m.
- Dismissal 3:40 p.m.
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![Hallsville School District's picture](https://cdn.smore.com/e/yx4d0/96bzTy8fHH.png) |
Hallsville School District
www.hallsville.org
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