My name is Kathy Rhodes and I have the honor of serving as the Preschool through Third Grade principal.  This is my 33rd year as an elementary principal and my tenth year working with the talented and dedicated Hinton Elementary staff and students. I am married to Dean who works at Total Motors in Le Mars.  We have four children, Taylor who lives in Jacksonville, NC and works with on-line education, is married to Josh and gave me my four beautiful grandchildren (Delilah, 9; Caleb, 6; Noah, 3: and Everett, 1), Logan who works at Wells Blue Bunny, Madison who is in her second year of pediatric residency in Miami, and Mitch who is in his 4th year of studying kinesiology/body science at USD.  I look forward to getting to know you and your children better as we work together to help your child/children develop the skills they will need to fulfill their future dreams.  Feel free to contact me by phone (947-4327), e-mail (Kathy.rhodes@hintonschool.com), or make an appointment to stop by and visit if you have suggestions, questions, or concerns.

Open house is a great opportunity to meet the teacher, explore the classroom, drop off school supplies, and tour the building.  Stopping by the classroom with a parent can go a long way toward easing any new school year jitters and allows parents and students to get their questions answered.  At the TK-3 level, times for open house are scheduled through Sign Up Genius.  The classroom teacher will e-mail an invitation to sign up for a 20 minute appointment.  It should arrive in your inbox on or about 8:00 a.m. on August 5.  Each 20 minute open house slot will include 3 families.  This should allow each family time to talk with the teachers about their child and allow the teacher to get to know each child and their parent(s) or guardian(s).  Be sure you get your child registered in early August so that e-mails and phone numbers are accurate.  Each teacher uses this information to invite you to sign up for an open house time and contact you throughout the year.  Open house times will be scheduled between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21.  Many classes have more than 18 students so there may be times prior to and following the main open house times to accommodate all families.

All families new to the district should go to the district website (www.hintonschool.com) and click on “Enroll New Student” to enter their child’s information.  If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact the district office at 712-947-4329, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Transportation questions should be directed to Janet Held at 947-4947 or janet.held@hintonschool.com.  Preschool questions and TK-3 specific questions can be sent to Kim Jauer at kim.jauer@hintonschool.com.  You can also call the elementary office at 712-947-4327 to leave a message .  The elementary office will have regular hours after August 5.  A PK-3 Orientation Summary will be sent to families of students new to the district, for whom we have e-mail addresses in mid-August.  If this does not answer all of your questions or if you would like to further discuss the wonderful opportunities your child will have at Hinton Elementary, please give us a call or drop us an e-mail.

All families with one or more children returning to Hinton Schools should go to the district website (www.hintonschool.com) and click on “Enroll Existing Student” to enter their child’s information.  Please be sure that all contact information (daytime phone, address, e-mail) is up-to-date.  If the child has parents in separate homes who wish to receive information, be sure the contact information for both parents is accurate.  Information from this system (Powerschool) is used to notify families of changes in schedule (late starts and early dismissals due to inclement weather, school cancellations) and to share district and building newsletters.

We have several new staff members joining us this year in the PK-3 building.  Mrs. Heidi Engel and Ms. Bailiee Jauer will be teaching our special education classes.  Mrs. Kalee Krommenhoek will be teaching second grade.  Our TK-3 music classes will be taught by Mrs. Brooke Redwine.  Although these teachers are new to Hinton Elementary, they all have previous teaching experience.  Mrs. Penny McBride is joining our Hinton team as the daytime custodian. We’ll share more information about these staff members in the next newsletter.

Two of our staff members have changed positions.  Mrs. Joan Kessenich has taught preschool for the past few years and will be transferring to first grade.  We know Mrs. Adrienne Haskell as our special education teacher, however she has now transferred to teach the 4-year-old preschool.  We have also changed the location of several classrooms as you will note when you join us for open house.

The first day of school is Friday, August 23, 2024, for preschool and TK-12.  The TK-3 doors open at 7:55 a.m.  Staff will be at the east and south doors from 7:55-8:10 to greet students as they arrive each day of the school year.  Parents who wish to walk their child to their classroom may do so from August 23-28.  After the first few days, we ask that parents drop students off on the south side and let them walk to their classroom independently.  Staff will be available in the commons and halls during the first couple of weeks to guide any students who are still unsure of the way to their classroom.

Breakfast is served in the commons from 7:55-8:15. Students are expected to be in the classroom and ready to learn by 8:15.  It is important for students to arrive at school on time to ensure they feel prepared/organized at the beginning of the day and they do not miss any learning opportunities.

Please observe the “No Parking” areas in front of the school between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  The buses use the lane in front of the school for drop off and pick up before and after school.  Parents dropping off or picking up their children for TK-3 should park in the south lot and children should enter/exit through the south entrance.  We ask that children NOT be dropped off in front of the building on the east side between 8:00 and 8:15. Using the south lot where children do not have to cross in front of the buses is a MUCH safer option.

Preschool parents should use the north lot for drop off after 7:45 in the morning and when picking their child up prior to 4:00.

School is dismissed 2 hours early every Friday for staff Professional Development.  Family pick up in the south lot is at 1:25.  Buses begin loading at 1:30.  Yes, since school starts on a Friday, we are dismissing two hours early on the first day of school.

Last year, a parent requested that we post links to the teacher’s Amazon wish lists for their classrooms because they like to donate items for the classroom.  It worked well, so we intend to continue this.  We have put a link together for our Hinton staff so parents/guardians who desire to donate to classrooms, can do so knowing that their donation is something the teacher would be able to use.  If a list is not available the first time you check, keep checking.  The spreadsheet will be updated as teachers create their lists. As you are back-to-school shopping for your child consider knocking a few items off of their teacher's classroom wish list!

Click on the Wish List link below:

We greatly appreciate families saving Country Hearth proofs of purchase and sending them to school.  It is amazing how quickly these things that would normally be thrown in the trash, add up to bring rewards to school projects.

Our preschool raises funds by collecting Sioux City and South Sioux City HyVee receipts (receipts from Le Mars cannot be used).  Please send in any and all South Sioux City or Sioux City HyVee receipts dated between September 1, 2024 and May 1, 2025 to help us earn extra money to purchase needed items for our preschool program.  Receipts can be dropped off at the elementary office between the hours of 7:45 and 3:45 or sent to school with any of our students.

If you have not checked out the TK-3 playground lately, you will be pleasantly surprised.  We have added three new pieces of equipment.  Thanks to all who helped raise funds for this project through the Spellathon, Scratch Cupcake sales, School Store, etc.  You made this happen!

Now-August 18:  Complete your child’s 2024-2025 Enrollment

Aug. 21:  Open House during your scheduled time.  Be sure you sign up!

Aug. 23 – First Day of School: 2 hr Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Development

Aug. 30 – 2 hr. Early Dismissal for holiday weekend

Sept. 2 – No School; Labor Day

Sept. 6 - 2 hr Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Development

Sept. 9 – School Store Fundraiser Kick Off

Sept. 13 - 2 hr Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Development

Sept. 19 – School Picture Day

Sept. 20 – No School; Staff Professional Development Day

Sept. 27 – Homecoming; No early out due to Homecoming parade in p.m