🥐💛 Sweet treats and even sweeter memories!

Thank you to all the grandparents and grandparent figures who joined us for **HAES Pastries with Grandparents** today! We loved seeing our Panthers share breakfast and browse the Book Fair with some very special people. Thank you for supporting our students and their love of reading! 📚🐾

Tomorrow is **Biscuits with Buddies**—we can’t wait to welcome you! 🧡

#HAES #PantherPride #PastriesWithGrandparents #BookFair #FamilyAndCommunity

More photos from Muffins for Moms!

🍩💙 Our Panther dads and father figures made today extra sweet!

Thank you for joining us for **Donuts for Dads** and supporting our students’ love of reading at the Scholastic Book Fair! We loved seeing you share breakfast, browse books, and make special memories together. 🐾📚

Tomorrow, we look forward to welcoming our grandparents and grandparent figures for **Pastries with Grandparents!**

#HAES #PantherPride #DonutsForDads #ScholasticBookFair #FamilyEngagement

🐾💜 Our Panther moms and maternal figures SHOWED UP today! 💜🐾 Thank you to everyone who came out to support our students and help celebrate a love of reading at the Scholastic Book Fair! 📚✨ We loved seeing our Panther families spending this special time together. Next up… Dads and father figures, it’s your turn! 💙🍩 We can’t wait to see you tomorrow for Donuts with Dads and another great morning at the Book Fair! #HAESPanthers #PantherPride #ScholasticBookFair #LoveOfReading #PantherFamilies

A very special THANK YOU to three incredible people who do so much for us every single day — Mr. Willie, Mr. B, and Mr. BJ! 💚 Your hard work, kindness, dependability, and willingness to always lend a hand mean more to us than we can say. You help make our school feel welcoming, cared for, and like home. We notice the early mornings, the busy days, the extra effort, and all the little things you do that often go unseen. We are truly blessed to have each of you as part of our school family. Thank you for taking such great care of our students, staff, and school. We appreciate you, we value you, and we are so grateful for you! 🐾💚 #HAES #HAESPanthers #PantherPride #PantherStrong #PantherFamily #ProudToBeAPanther #CustodianAppreciation #ThankYouCustodians

💜 **HAES VETERANS DAY WALL OF HONOR** 💜
**Our Panthers Honor Those Who Served!** 🐾

HAES is excited to create a **Veterans Day Wall of Honor** celebrating the veterans and military service members connected to our Panther families!

We need YOUR help filling our wall! ❤️🤍💙

⭐ Students and staff may honor a family member or loved one who has served or is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.

⭐ You may submit **more than one service member**! Please complete a separate submission for each person you would like to honor.

📄 **Paper submission forms will be sent home Monday.** If you need additional forms, please contact your child's teacher.

💻 Families may also use our **digital submission form** to participate.
https://forms.gle/ACTfKnr6gfDhUk9YA

📸 **Submitting a photo?** Please write the service member's **NAME and BRANCH OF SERVICE on the back** of any physical photo. Please send a **copy rather than an original photograph**, as we cannot guarantee that submitted photos will be returned.

Digital photos may also be emailed to **amberhoward@columbus.k12.nc.us**. Please include the service member's name, branch of service, and student's name in the email.

📅 **ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY OCTOBER 30!**

Help us fill our Wall of Honor and celebrate the incredible veterans and military families who are part of our HAES community! 🇺🇸

💜 **Once a Panther, Always a Panther.**

**We Honor Those Who Serve.**

🤿💙 A HUGE thank you to SRO Williams! 💙🤿

Mrs. Howard’s 6th graders had a special opportunity to learn from SRO Williams as he shared his role on the Columbus County Sheriff’s Dive Team and explained the equipment used during underwater search and rescue operations.

Students were able to make real-world connections to their novel, All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team , bringing their reading to life and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced during rescue missions.

Thank you, SRO Williams, for sharing your knowledge, experience, and time with our Panthers! 🐾📚
#HAESPanthers #AllThirteen #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #CommunityPartners #PantherPride

🐾 HAES Weekly Parent Updates
September 28–October 2, 2026

This is Dr. Hill with your weekly updates from HAES! As we close out September and welcome October, I have several important reminders, exciting opportunities, and upcoming dates for our Panther families. 🐾❤️
🎁 Fundraisers Are Underway!
🍬 Last Week for Candyman!
This is our VERY LAST WEEK of our Candyman Fundraiser! Please continue to sell, sell, sell and help us finish strong!
And remember...there are some serious bragging rights on the line! 😂
🥧 The student who sells the most through our combined online and in-person sales gets to PIE DR. HILL IN THE FACE! 😳😂

🥜 BETA Club Peanut Fundraiser
Our BETA Club is also sponsoring a Texas Roadhouse Peanut Fundraiser!
For just $2.00, you will receive a bag of Texas Roadhouse roasted peanuts along with a coupon for a FREE appetizer at Texas Roadhouse!
Even better, the peanuts are packaged right here in Clarkton! This is a wonderful opportunity to support our BETA Club students while also supporting our local economy.
These have been selling FAST, so grab a bag before they sell out...again!

🎨 NEW! Upper Elementary Art Club
We are excited to announce a brand-new opportunity for our creative Panthers! 🎨🖌️
Ms. Brown is starting an Upper Elementary Art Club for students in grades 4–6!
This club is designed for students who have a special interest in art and would like opportunities to explore more advanced and creative projects beyond what can be completed during regular art classes.
Students will have opportunities to explore:
🎨 Painting
🖌️ Printmaking
🗿 Sculpture
✂️ Mixed Media
✨ More advanced, in-depth art projects
🚌 Opportunities connected to future field trips and experiences beyond the classroom
📅 When Will Art Club Meet?
Art Club will meet:
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
⏰ 3:25–4:25 p.m.
Because this is an extracurricular club, students do not have to attend all three days each week. This allows students who participate in sports, other clubs, or after-school activities to still have an opportunity to participate.
📝 Interested in Joining?
Students in grades 4–6 who would like to be considered for Art Club should write a one-page summary explaining why they would like to be selected for the club.
Completed summaries should be turned in to Ms. Brown.
Parents, please talk with your child about this opportunity! If your child is interested in participating, encourage them to complete their one-page summary and return it to Ms. Brown. Additional information and permission/sign-up information will be provided to students selected for the club.
We are excited to give our students another opportunity to create, explore, and experience learning beyond the classroom! ❤️🎨

⏰ PreK Health Assessments
Attention PreK parents!
All required PreK Health Assessments are due to your child's teacher by October 7.
After October 7, students who have not submitted the required health assessment will not be allowed to return to school until the documentation is received.
Please communicate with your child's teacher if you have questions or need assistance.

🌟 SHOW UP & SHINE! 🌟
Attendance Incentive for Grades 3–6
We are excited to partner with the Rube McCray Memorial Library again this year to recognize our Panthers for GREAT attendance!
To qualify for our special attendance drawings, students must:
⭐ Be at school every day
⏰ Arrive on time
🏫 Stay for the entire school day with no early checkouts
Throughout the nine weeks, we will have grade-level winners, giving students multiple opportunities to be recognized! 🎉
K–2 families: We haven't forgotten about our youngest Panthers! Our teachers are working on an attendance incentive for K–2 as well. More information is coming soon!
Remember, instruction takes place from bell to bell, so please help us protect instructional time by limiting early checkouts whenever possible.
📸 Picture Day!
Smile, Panthers! 😁
📸 Fall Picture Day is Tuesday, September 29, 2026!
We can't wait to see those Panther smiles!

📚 BOOK FAIR IS COMING! 🎉
Mark your calendars! Our Annual Fall Book Fair is almost here, and Book Fair Week will once again be packed with books, breakfast, family, and fun!
🥐 Book Fair Breakfast Schedule
Monday, October 5 — Muffins with Mom 🧁
Tuesday, October 6 — Donuts with Dad 🍩
Wednesday, October 7 — Pastries with Grandparents 🥐
Thursday, October 8 — Biscuits with Buddies! ❤️
Families should begin by going to their child's classroom to pick up the student's breakfast. Adults may purchase their own breakfast in the cafeteria (cash only) before heading to the Book Fair.
And then...spend all the money you want on BOOKS! 😂📚
We ask that all parents and adult visitors leave campus by 8:45 a.m. so our full instructional day can begin.

🐾❤️ Thank you for continuing to support our students, teachers, and school. There are so many wonderful opportunities happening at HAES, and we love having our Panther families involved!
One Team, One Voice!
Dr. Hill

🥜💚 LOCAL PEANUTS, BIG PANTHER PRIDE! 🐾 Did you know that Texas Roadhouse peanuts are made right down the road in Clarkton, NC?! 🤩 That’s one MORE reason to grab a bag from our HAES Beta Club! Not only are you supporting our amazing Beta members, but you’re also supporting our LOCAL economy! 🥜 Just $2 per bag! 🎟️ PLUS, every bag comes with a coupon for a FREE appetizer at Texas Roadhouse! Support our students. Support local. Enjoy some peanuts! 💚❤️ Reach out to a Beta Club member to get yours today! 🐾

💖🤠 IT WAS A HOLLY DOLLY DAY AT HAES! 🤠💖 We had a DOLLY good time today! Our Panthers traded their usual school spirit for a little pink, rhinestones, and cowboy flair as we celebrated the one and only Dolly Parton! ✨💕 From our fabulous outfits to Dr. Hill spreading a little extra joy with Kalee’s Cart of Happiness, today was full of smiles, laughter, and sweet treats! 💗 Even Ms. Veronica’s porch goose, Gladys, got in on the action, showing off her Dolly spirit! Apparently, even our feathered friends know how to work a little pink and sparkle! 🪿💖✨ As Dolly says, “If you see someone without a smile, give them yours!” Our Panthers did just that today! 🌸 📚💖 A special shoutout to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for inspiring a love of reading in children everywhere! #DollyDay #HAESPanthers #DollyParton #ImaginationLibrary #PantherPride #GladysTheGoose 💕

💗🤠 A Little Dolly Day Happiness! 🤠💗 Dr. Hill rolled out Kalee’s Cart of Happiness today, spreading smiles, joy, and plenty of PINK snacks in celebration of Dolly Day! 🌸💕 Just like Dolly says, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose!” Today, our purpose was spreading a little extra happiness throughout HAES! 💖 #DollyDay #KaleesCartOfHappiness #HAESPanthers #SpreadKindness #ThinkPink

🥜 PEANUTS + A FREE APPETIZER = WIN-WIN! 🥜 HAES Beta Club is selling Texas Roadhouse Peanuts for just $2 a bag! And here’s the best part… 🎉 Each bag also comes with a coupon for a FREE appetizer at Texas Roadhouse! That means you get: 🥜 A tasty bag of peanuts 🍽️ A FREE appetizer coupon 💚 AND you’re supporting HAES Beta Club! Only $2 per bag! Grab yours while supplies last! ❤️💚 #HAESBeta #SupportOurStudents #TexasRoadhouse #DoubleDeal

At its September meeting, the Columbus County Board of Education recognized several schools for outstanding academic achievement and growth during the 2025–2026 school year. Acme-Delco Elementary School met expected growth and increased student proficiency, while Columbus Career and College Academy exceeded expected growth, increased proficiency, and earned an “A” School Performance Grade. Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary School met expected growth, and Old Dock Elementary School met expected growth while also increasing student proficiency. South Columbus High School and Williams Township School were also recognized for improving grade-level proficiency. These accomplishments reflect the continued hard work of students, teachers, staff, and school leaders across Columbus County Schools.

The next training session for new substitutes will be held on October 1 from 3:30–5:00 p.m. at Central Services. This training is for new classroom, cafeteria, and custodial substitutes.
Anyone attending must have already completed a substitute application and met all employment requirements before participating in the training.
The session will cover Columbus County Schools Board policies, district expectations, and required Title IX training.

📚❤️💚 **BOOK FAIR WEEK IS COMING TO HAES!** 💚❤️📚

Mark your calendars for **October 5–9** and join us for a special week of **breakfast, books, and family fun!**

🧁 **Monday, Oct. 5** — Muffins with Moms
🍩 **Tuesday, Oct. 6** — Donuts with Dads
🥐 **Wednesday, Oct. 7** — Pastries with Grandparents
🍪 **Thursday, Oct. 8** — Biscuits with Buddies

Come enjoy breakfast with your student and then spend some time shopping the Book Fair together! 📖🛍️

⏰ **Book Fair Hours: 7:45–9:00 AM, Monday–Friday**

We can’t wait to see our HAES families and help our students find their next great read! ❤️💚🐾📚

💗✨ **HEY, HAES — IT’S DOLLY DAY!** ✨💗

This **Friday, September 25**, we’re celebrating the one and only **Dolly Parton** and her incredible impact on **education, literacy, and a whole lot of little dreamers!** 📚🦋

👢 **Wear PINK or your best cowboy/cowgirl gear!** 🤠

We’re *workin’ 9 to 5* on making Friday **Dolly-ightful**! 😉 So grab your boots, add a little pink, and get ready to **Dolly up for a great cause!** 💗👢✨

And remember… we *will always love you* for supporting literacy! 📖💕

🗓️ **Friday, September 25**
💗 Wear **PINK**
🤠 OR rock your **cowboy/cowgirl gear**

Because at HAES, we believe every child deserves the chance to **read, dream, and shine!** ✨📚🦋

#DollyDay #HAES #DollyParton #DollyPartonsImaginationLibrary #ImaginationLibrary #ImaginationLibraryNC #EarlyLiteracy #LiteracyMatters #ReadDreamShine

September 21–25, 2026
This is Dr. Hill with your weekly updates from HAES! As we continue moving through September, I have several important reminders, exciting opportunities, and upcoming dates for our Panther families. 🐾❤️

🦷 1. Updates from Nurse Karen
The Toothmobile is coming back to HAES! 🦷
If you are interested in your child receiving a teeth cleaning and other dental services at school, please complete the form being sent home and return it to school by September 23.
We have requested an extension of the original deadline, so please disregard the deadline printed at the top of the form.
Kindergarten parents—please listen up! 📣
Kindergarten Health Assessments and Vaccination Records are due September 22. Beginning on that date, kindergarten students without the required documentation will not be allowed to attend school until the proper documentation is received.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to us.

🎁 2. Fundraisers Are Underway!
Thank you to everyone who has already supported our school fundraisers! We have had some great success so far, and I know our Panther families will continue to show their support for HAES.
And remember, there are bragging rights on the line! 😂
The student who sells the most through our online and in-person sales will get to “pie” me in the face! 🥧😳
So apparently, I am personally invested in how well these fundraisers go!
Every purchase helps us provide additional opportunities, activities, incentives, and resources for our students. Thank you for supporting our Panthers!

⏰ 3. Early Dismissal Reminder
Please remember that we do not allow early checkouts after 2:00 p.m.
We also strongly encourage families to avoid checking students out early whenever possible. We teach from bell to bell at HAES, and valuable instruction continues until the end of the school day.
This past Friday, we saw a significant increase in early departures. Missing just 30 minutes of instruction once a week adds up over the course of the school year. Frequent tardies and early checkouts can result in students missing a substantial amount of instructional time.
Every minute matters!

👕 4. Panther T-Shirts Are on Sale!
We've got some new Panther Gear in the office! This year's theme is HAES Panther Energy! 🐾⚡
We have both adult and youth sizes available while supplies last:
Adult shirts: $18
Youth shirts: $15
Be sure to grab yours before your size is gone!

⚜️ 5. Scouting America Is Coming to HAES!
Representatives from Scouting America will visit HAES tomorrow afternoon to speak with boys in grades 2–6 about opportunities to participate in Scouting.
Families who are interested can attend sign-ups on Wednesday from 5:00–6:30 p.m. in the HAES Main Office.
If your child is interested in becoming involved in Scouting, please consider stopping by Wednesday evening to learn more and get signed up!

🎉 6. SHOW UP & SHINE! 🌟
A New Attendance Incentive for Grades 3–6
We are excited to partner with the Rube McCray Memorial Library again this year to recognize students for great attendance! 🐾
Beginning this nine weeks, students in grades 3–6 will have the opportunity to be entered into special attendance drawings.
To qualify, students must:
⭐ Be at school every day
⏰ Arrive on time
🏫 Stay for the entire school day with no early checkouts
Throughout the nine weeks, we will have grade-level winners, giving students multiple opportunities to be recognized!
But there's an even BIGGER prize...
💳 $100 VISA GIFT CARD!
At the end of the nine weeks, eligible students will have the opportunity to win a $100 Visa Gift Card, generously provided through our partnership with the Rube McCray Memorial Library!
We know illnesses and unexpected situations happen, and students should always stay home when they are sick. This incentive is simply a fun way to celebrate and encourage consistent, on-time attendance whenever students are healthy and able to be at school.
Every school day matters. Every minute matters. And we LOVE having our Panthers here! ❤️🐾
Let's SHOW UP, SHINE, and make this a great nine weeks!

📸 7. Picture Day Is Coming!
Smile, Panthers! Fall Picture Day is Tuesday, September 29, 2026! 📸
Picture Day information will be sent home next Monday, but we wanted to give everyone an early heads-up so you have plenty of time to plan that perfect Picture Day outfit!
We can't wait to see those Panther smiles! 😁

As always, thank you for your continued support of HAES. We appreciate our families and everything you do to help our students be successful.
Have a wonderful week, Panthers! 🐾❤️
— Dr. Hill

📦 Surface Area in Action! 📐

Our students took math off the page and into the real world! Using everyday items like cereal and drink boxes, students carefully unfolded the packages to create **nets** and explore how 3D figures are made from 2D shapes.

Hands-on learning + real-world connections = math that makes sense! 🌟