Hallsboro / Artesia

Monday, March 16, will be an optional teacher workday for all schools except Columbus Career & College Academy (CCCA). There will be no school for students.

Due to expected inclement weather tomorrow, CCCA will operate on a remote instruction schedule.

There will be no afternoon or evening activities at any school tomorrow due to the weather.

As part of our March Madness Challenge, this week, students turned learning time into MOVEMENT time—combining rigorous thinking with relay races, partner games, math manipulatives and lots of smiles as they showed what they know. Thank you to our teachers for designing engaging, standards-based activities that get bodies AND brains moving, and to our students for giving their best effort on every play. Columbus County Schools is all in on making learning active, joyful, and challenging—on and off the court! Check out the video: https://youtu.be/3WZen5ASBW0

Week 3 tip-off is HERE, Columbus County! 🏀 This week in our Rigor Rebound: March Madness Challenge, our Elite 8 will go head to head as we zero in on the 8 Qualities of Authentic Engagement in our classrooms. Check out our Elite 8 Match-ups here: https://youtu.be/nWMpLOUPtms

Columbus County Health Department will be visiting Columbus County Schools to offer Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) and Meningococcal vaccines to rising 7th and 12th graders. This is an excellent opportunity for students to receive their state-required vaccines. If you are interested in your child receiving these vaccines while at school, please contact your child’s school or a school nurse to obtain the required forms. Completed consent forms must be returned to your child’s school by March 31, 2026.

See dates and locations here -https://aptg.co/__v-xD

Vaccine Information Sheets will be provided. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s school or speak with a school nurse.

📣 HAES Weekly Updates 📣
Good afternoon, Panther Families! 🐾

Here are a few important reminders and upcoming events at Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary School:

🍫 Spring Fundraiser Begins This Week
Tomorrow we will kick off our World’s Finest Chocolate Spring Fundraiser. Students who return their participation form will receive their chocolate box on Wednesday. More information will be sent home tomorrow along with a QR code for families.

Last year, this fundraiser was by far our most successful in many years! The funds raised helped provide supplies for our Guardian Gala and supported many student activities throughout the year.

This fundraiser is very easy for students and families, and we truly appreciate your continued support.

✨ New This Year!
For the first time ever, we are excited to offer a brand-new flavor: Salted Pretzel Chocolate! I must admit — it is absolutely delicious! 🍫😋

🧸 Pre-K Registration is Open
Please call the front office for more information about enrolling your child in Pre-K.

Please bring the following documents:
✔️ Birth Certificate
✔️ Proof of Residency
✔️ Proof of Income
✔️ Housing Information

🍧 Kona Ice Day – Tomorrow!
Tomorrow is Kona Ice Day! Please send money with your child if you would like them to participate.

📖 Reading Check-Ins
Our Reading Check-In will take place Tuesday of this week.
Make-ups will be on Wednesday for any students who were absent.

🚜 Upcoming Field Trip – Careers on Wheels
Careers on Wheels is a hands-on career exploration event for kindergarten through eighth grade students. The event features vehicles and equipment that power our local community, including trucks, tractors, patrol cars, and service vehicles.

Students will have the opportunity to:

See vehicles up close

Climb inside

Interact with tools, lights, buttons, and demonstrations

This experience helps students connect what they learn in school to real-world careers and imagine future opportunities within their own community.

📅 Field Trip Date: March 23
📄 Permission slips were sent home last week.
💲 This is a free field trip for students.

We know our Pre-K students deserve their own career experience as well! We are planning a special Pre-K Career Day after Spring Break on campus.

If you would be willing to volunteer to help with the career fair or speak to Pre-K students about your career, please contact the front office.

Thank you and have a wonderful evening

Wondering how schools move through the challenge... from Rankings → Sweet 12 → Elite 8 → Final 4 → Champion? 🏀

Here’s the game plan:
Week 1: Rankings based on lesson plans, student learning tasks and classroom walkthrough data.
Week 2: Sweet “12” – schools compete in pools with a focus on RIGOR.
Week 3: Elite 8 – competition focus shifts to ENGAGEMENT.
Week 4: Final 4 – schools must show BOTH rigor and engagement across classrooms.
Week 5: Championship game and celebrations before Spring Break.

Every task submitted and every walkthrough completed is a “possession” that can earn points.
Play hard, learn hard, have fun!

What are we really “rebounding” toward?
Rigor = tasks that push students to analyze, justify, create, and problem‑solve – not just recall.
Engagement = students talking, collaborating, making choices, and caring about the work.

During Rigor Rebound we’re asking:
1. Does the learning task cross the Rigor Divide?
2. Do we see multiple qualities of engagement in each lesson?

Every redesign, every walkthrough, every conversation is about giving students a more powerful learning experience — and having fun while we do it.

Comment below: Which do you want to grow more this month – rigor or engagement?