Letter from the Principal - Welcome Back to School with Heritage Hill logo on a desk icon

Dear Heritage Hill Families,

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer and are looking forward to a great start to the 2024-2025 school year! The Heritage Hill Elementary staff members are excited to work with you as a team to provide the best possible educational experience for your child.

Meet the Teacher will be on Monday, August 12, 4:30-5:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, visit the classrooms, and bring in your child’s school supplies. Please join us for this fun event!

The first day of school will be Tuesday, August 13 for our students in grades 1-5. Kindergarten will begin on Thursday, August 15.

Curriculum Night will be held on Thursday, August 29 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Teachers will present information on classroom policies, procedures, curriculum, and more.

Dismissal: Families need to communicate their child’s regular method of transportation in Final Forms and to the homeroom teacher. If you need to change your child’s transportation method for the day, you need to sign a note and have your child submit the note to the office or call by 3:00.

Bus Riders: First Student Transportation is the company that will provide bus transportation for our students. Buses were assigned to students who selected bus transportation in Final Forms by July 15. Potential bus riders should receive a postcard from the Transportation Department the week before school starts. If you have any further transportation questions, please contact the Transportation Department at 513-554-0105. Please note that during the first couple of weeks of school, buses may run late due to new routes. We kindly ask for your patience as buses may be delayed by as much as 30 minutes. Rest assured, we are committed to getting all students home safely.

Car Riders: Students will be dismissed starting at 3:45 p.m. We kindly request that parents remain in their vehicles during student dismissal for safety and efficiency. Please avoid parking and getting out of the car to pick up students. Thank you for your cooperation. If you need to change your child’s transportation method for the day, it must be communicated to the office before 3:00 p.m. to ensure students are notified in time for dismissal. You are highly encouraged to use the same method of transportation each day to avoid confusion and disruptions.

Student drop-off/pick-up takes place in front of the building. If you arrive before 9:00 a.m. and your child is not eating breakfast, we ask that you wait with your child until 9:00 a.m. Students eating breakfast may enter the building at 8:45 a.m.

Student Safety Information Needed: Please log in to Final Forms and make sure all your contact information is up-to-date. We must have accurate emergency information on all students and multiple contact numbers. If your child has any medical concerns, contact our school health aide at 513-864-1400.

School hours are 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. If your child is going to eat breakfast in the morning, they will be permitted into the building at 8:45 a.m. and must report directly to the cafeteria. Breakfast will be served daily from 8:45–9:10 a.m. If students are not in their homeroom at 9:15 a.m., they are marked tardy. Student classroom supervision begins at 9:00 a.m.; if your child needs to arrive before that time, they must participate in the before-school childcare offered by Champions. Dismissal starts at 3:45 p.m. All students must be picked up at the music room entrance before 4:00 p.m. If picking up by 4:00 p.m. is a problem for your family, you need to participate in the Champions after-school program. Before & After School Childcare is offered to our families by Champions. They can be reached at 800-246-2154 for enrollment questions. They do accept vouchers.

Please encourage your child to buy lunch at school this year. Our Food Service Program offers a consistent, nutritious menu. Meals are paid in advance. Payment can be made online through PaySchools, or by cash or check sent to school in your child’s red home folder. Free/Reduced applications are available online through PaySchools and should be completed before the first day of school each year. Monthly menus are available on the district website.

The School Messenger System is an automated phone message system used for updates, reminders, and in the event of emergencies. Please make sure you keep all contact information up to date in Final Forms so that you receive district communications. Heritage Hill Elementary utilizes ClassDojo for communication. To get started, please accept your invitation via email or text message and download the app on your phone. Once set up, you can view the school calendar and communicate with staff through ClassDojo. It's a convenient way to stay connected with our team and to stay informed about school events and activities.

Late Start Dates: On October 10, December 20, and March 13 the school day will begin at 10:00 a.m. so staff members can prepare student records. Please plan accordingly.

Early Release Date: On February 13, students are dismissed from 12:00 – 12:15 p.m.

No School Dates:

September 2: Labor Day

February 14: Professional Development

October 11-15: Fall Break

February 17: President’s Day

November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break

March 14–21: Spring Break

December 23-January 3: Winter Break

April 18 & 21: Good Friday, Easter Monday

January 20: Dr. Martin Luther King Day

May 24: Last Day of School (Noon Dismissal)

We are looking forward to a fantastic school year with your family!

Warm regards,

Michelle Peterson

Heritage Hill Principal