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Sept Family Newsletter

Posted Date: 09/02/26 (08:11 AM)
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HLA Family Newsletter

September 2026

three admin standing in front of welcome back banner

Principal's Message

It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of our first month of school! So much is kicking off at HLA, and we are so happy to have our students back on campus. The energy, excitement, and learning happening throughout the building have made for a wonderful start to the year!
We also have some exciting news about dismissal. Thanks to our new car tag program, we have been able to cut our dismissal time nearly in half! A huge thank you to all of our families for consistently placing your car tags in your rearview mirrors. That small step makes a BIG difference and helps our dismissal process run smoothly and efficiently. We appreciate you!
Progress Monitoring Is Underway
We are also beginning our first round of state progress monitoring assessments for all grade levels. We want to remind families that these assessments are simply a starting point. They are designed to show us where your child is academically right now so that teachers can identify areas of strength and areas where additional support may be needed.
Our expectation is that students will demonstrate considerable growth throughout the school year, so please do not be alarmed when you receive your child’s Progress Monitoring 1 results. This is especially important for our 3–5 grade families. The assessment measures skills across the entire grade-level curriculum, even though students have only just begun that grade.
Think of Progress Monitoring 1 as a starting line, not a finish line! We will use these results to guide instruction, monitor growth, and celebrate progress throughout the year.
Progress Monitoring 1 Testing Schedule
Please mark your calendars for the following testing dates:
  • September 1: 4th Grade ELA (complete, reports sent home)
  • September 3: 3rd Grade ELA
  • September 8: 4th Grade Math
  • September 9: 5th Grade Math
  • September 10: 3rd Grade Math
  • September 11: Kindergarten Math & ELA
  • September 14: 1st Grade Math & ELA
  • September 15: 2nd Grade ELA
  • September 16: 5th Grade ELA
  • September 17: 2nd Grade Math
Please make every effort to have your child at school and on time on their testing days. A good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a positive attitude can go a long way!
 

Important Dates

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9/7 - No School Labor Day

We hope our HLA families enjoy a safe, relaxing long weekend with plenty of time to rest, recharge, and enjoy time together! We'll see everyone back at school on Tuesday, September 8th.
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9/8 - Family Focus Night (Virtual) 6-7 PM

Join us for our first Family Focus Night of the school year, where we’ll be diving into our K–2 phonics program: UFLI!
We’ll talk about:
✨ The components of the UFLI program
✨ Resources available to families
✨ How you can help your child succeed with UFLI
✨ What UFLI looks like in the classroom
✨ Practical ways you can support your child’s phonics skills at home
We want families to leave feeling confident, informed, and ready to support their child’s reading journey at home.
Families of students in grades 3–5 are absolutely welcome to attend, although the primary focus of this Family Focus Night will be our younger learners.
And remember: Family Focus events count as one of your five required classroom volunteer hours. We hope to see you there!
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9/10 - Open House

We want families to have a chance to learn more about what’s happening in their child’s classroom this year! During this portion of the evening, families will visit their child’s classroom and learn about the routines, expectations, procedures, and other important information that will help you know what to expect throughout the school year.
Each classroom will have a slideshow prepared with helpful information about the classroom, including policies, procedures, expectations, and ways families can support their child’s success.
Presentation Schedule
🕕 6:10 PM: First presentation begins
💬 6:20 PM: Questions & discussion
🕡 6:35 PM: Second presentation begins
💬 6:45 PM: Questions & discussion
We are offering two presentations to make it easier for families with multiple children at HLA to visit more than one classroom. We hope this gives everyone an opportunity to connect with teachers, ask questions, and get a better glimpse into their child’s school day!
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9/15 - Interim Reports Available in Skyward

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9/22 - Board Meeting (Virtual) - 4 PM

Families are welcome to attend and stay informed about the important work happening at HLA. The Zoom link and meeting information are posted on our school website for families who would like to join.

9/20 - FLU Mist

FluMist will be coming to Healthy Learning Academy soon! Families will receive paperwork to review and provide consent for their child to participate in the program.
Please keep an eye out for the paperwork coming home, and be sure to return it by the requested deadline if you would like your child to participate.
 

HLA Celebrates Start with Hello Week: September 21–25!

At HLA, belonging starts with a simple greeting! From September 21–25, our school family is joining the nationwide Start with Hello Week to build connections, combat social isolation, and ensure every student feels seen and valued.
Here is a quick look at our daily theme schedule for the week:
  • Meet 'N Greet Monday: Kickstarting the week by learning new names and making new friends.
  • Upstander Tuesday: Focusing on empathy and standing up for one another in our school community.
  • Wear Green Wednesday: Showing our unity and commitment to inclusion by wearing green!
  • Trusted Adult Thursday: Recognizing the teachers, staff, and mentors who keep us safe and supported.
  • Know Your Classmates Friday: Celebrating what makes each of us unique with fun class connection activities.
A simple "Hello" can transform someone's day. Stay tuned for more info as the week approaches.
 

Counseling Corner

Hello, HLA families!
For those who are new to our school community, my name is Kate Bowser, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as part of HLA’s mental health counseling team. I work alongside Dr. Karin Fields and her interns through The Nook to support our amazing students.
For our returning families, it is wonderful to be back with you! Having been here at HLA for both the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 school years, I am so excited to return for another year of supporting our school community.
My goal is to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn, both inside the classroom and beyond. Whether helping students navigate big feelings, build coping skills, or adjust to new routines, I am here to partner with you every step of the way. I will be on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year, and I am always happy to set up a time to meet.
Back-to-School Resource Spotlight
As we kick off the new school year, I would like to highlight an important community resource: the Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida.
  • What it is: A confidential, weekend food assistance program that provides child-friendly, non-perishable meals and snacks discreetly packed in a backpack for students over the weekend.
  • Who it’s for: Any family experiencing food insecurity who could use a little extra support.
  • How to connect: If your family could benefit from this program, please reach out directly to me or your child’s teacher.
Please feel free to reach out to me at kbowser@hlacharter.com if I can support your child or family in any way.
Here’s to a great school year!