Hickory Bend School
RONISHA PENNER
A Message From Our Principal,
As we head into the final month of 2025, our school is filled with excitement, joy, and plenty of opportunities for learning and celebration.
December is a time for reflection, kindness, and community, and we look forward to making these next few weeks meaningful for every student. From classroom projects to school-wide events, we are proud of the growth our students have shown and the way they continue to support one another.
Thank you for partnering with us each day! We are grateful for your engagement, your encouragement, and your trust. Let’s make this month a memorable one as we learn, grow, and celebrate together!
Thank you for your conTinued parTnership and for all The ways you supporT our school communiTy!
Yours in Education,
Principal, Ronisha Penner
Email: rpenner@brookwood167.org
Hickory Bend Statement of Core Values Here at Hickory Bend we are Winning the Day through Teamwork, Integrity, and Commitment!
December Newsletter
Attendance/ Absences/Tardies
To ensure that our students excel academically, they must attend school daily and be on time.
When students are tardy, they miss valuable instruction, primarily in reading and language arts.
Attendance will be tied to our school’s PBIS expectations, allowing students to earn rewards and participate in fun activities.
When your child must be absent or picked up early, please inform the front office.
School Office: (708) 758-4520
Reporting An Absence
To report absences, please call the attendance line at (708) 757-2110 (Option 1).
Please call the school before 8:30 a.m. to report your child’s absence.
Please leave the following information:
• Students full name with spelling of the last name;
• Reason for absence/tardy/early release;
• Your name and relationship to the student;
• Please call the main number (708) 758-4520 at least 45 minutes before early dismissal.
For your student to be EXCUSED, you must sign them in and out in the main office; otherwise, their absence will be marked as unexcused.
Official attendance will be reported every morning at 9:00 a.m. If your child joins a teacher’s classroom late, they will be marked tardy in PowerSchool, and you will be notified through the Principal’s Classdojo.
sChool houRs
8:30 a.m. unTil 3:10 p.m.
sTudenTs should noT arrive earlier Than 8:00 a.m.
Please do not park, stand, or stage in the apartment complex adjacent to the Hickory Bend parking lot.
This is private parking. Your vehicle will be subject to ticketing and towing.
CommuniCation & infoRmation
Our teachers do an excellent job of communicating with families. here is where you can stay informed Proactively:
• School and District Website - www.brookwood167.org
• ClassDojo—It is essential that you sign up for the Principal’s ClassDojo. If you have not already joined, an invitation will be sent to you during the first week of school. You will need either your phone number or email address to join.
• A phone call or an email is an efficient way to communicate with your child’s teacher. Please remember that our teachers are with students throughout the day and will return the call/email as soon as possible. At times, this may be the next school day.
If In Doubt, Please Keep Them Home And Try Again Another Day!
There are some hard and fast rules that all parents should stick to when it comes to illness and keeping your kids home. If your child has any of the following symptoms, it’s time to let the school know they won’t be at their desk:
Stay or Go? When to Keep Your Child Home From School... symptoms
• Fever (many schools require children to be fever free for 24 hours without medication before going back to school)!
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• A rough night (for example, if your child was up all night coughing or having trouble breathing)
• Listlessness, lethargy
• No appetite
• Pink eye
• Fever of 100.4 or higher
• New onset of moderate to severe headache
• Shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat
• Nausea Vomiting, diarrhea
• Abdominal pain from unknown cause
• New congestion/ runny nose
• New loss of sense of taste or smell
• Fatigue from unknown cause
• Muscle or body aches
If you answer “YES” to any of the above, your child MUST stay home!
Please call the school to report your child’s absence (708) 757-2110 (Option 1)
poweRsChool
All Brookwood teachers use an online grading system called “PowerSchool” that they update every Thursday.
We encourage you to check your child’s progress regularly. This program is completely confidential; therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s progress.
If you need your username and/or password, please contact the School Office at (708) 758-4520.
There is a PowerSchool app available for your cellular phone that makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress.
teChnology help line
If your child is having any Technology problems connecting to their teacher’s Google Classroom, please contact our “Help Desk” at (708) 300-3553 or email our help desk:
helpdesk@brookwood167.org
Please leave a detailed message with your name, your child’s name, phone number and the issue you are having with the device.
papeR tutoRing paRent ResouRCes
As a parent or guardian, you know that learning shouldn’t stop when students step outside the classroom!
With Paper™, students get access to “FREE”, unlimited, and 24/7 academic support from fully vetted tutors. All Paper tutors are experts in their own academic areas, and students can get support in over 200 subjects in four (4) languages.
As a reminder, Paper Tutoring is a resource that can be used at home to help students with their assignments.
sChool supplies
Big Thank You to our School Board for providing our students with school supplies for the fifth year in a row. Every student in our district will receive school supplies to use in school. Time and money saved by our families…#Winning!!!!
pReCious instRuCtional minutes
8:30 a.m. - 3:10 P.m.
It is crucially important that we maximize instructional time for all students. Instruction begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. on normal dismissal days.
To be clear, in order for teachers to begin active instruction at 8:30 a.m., all students must be seated and ready to receive instruction at 8:30 a.m. Our doors open at 8:00 a.m. for students to enter the building, receive optional breakfast (free To all sTudenTs) and prepare for the day.
When our students arrive prior to the start of instruction, our learning environment begins with a calm focus. Students who enter the classroom after the start of instruction are generally in a hurried rush, slightly discombobulated, and they suffer lost learning opportunities. Thus, it is crucially important that all students enter the building in a timely manner and are ready to receive instruction by 8:30 a.m.
On the other end of the school day is the opportunity to maximize learning by continuing instruction through 3:10 p.m. This will mean students will NOT walk out of the building promptly at 3:10 p.m.
On the contrary, students will need a few minutes to gather their belongings and safely exit the building. As our student body consists of the youngest students in our District, it is important to be mindful of the need to be patient as they learn to be both responsible for their belongings and safe during the dismissal process. We promise we won’t tarry unnecessarily! So, please be patient as our dismissal procedures will not begin until 3:10 p.m.
every minuTe of The insTrucTional day is valuable!
While we are understanding extenuating circumstances, we highly discourage habitual late arrivals and early dismissals. We are here to educate our All-Stars. We appreciate all efforts given by our families to help us protect the precious, few instructional minutes we have with our students.
Classdojo / a fRee CommuniCation
tool foR sChools & paRents
Please Join our classdoJo & stay informed!
Healthy communication between the school and home is essential; we are working to provide numerous ways for this vital communication.
To help suppress paper usage, we will continue providing information as much as possible using digital communication.
we encourage you to do the following to helP us communicate with you:
• Please ensure we have an accurate email address. If you are not receiving Dojo messages from us, it probably means we have incorrect information on our end.
• Please sign up for the digital tools that Brookwood School District and the school have provided.
• these include:
• Class Dojo
• Power School Parent Portal
Teachers provide feedback to students for any skill, like “Working hard” and “Being curious.”
From the mobile app, parents can view their child’s feedback and can message directly with teachers and school leaders.
Please join my ClassDojo so you can stay informed of what is happening at HICKORY BEND SCHOOL
If you would like to join, please accept the invitation that we emailed to you or texted you, or contact the school at (708) 758-4520, email, rpenner@brookwood167.org.
All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.
GeT involved and sTay informed!
pBis staRts now!
Positive Behavior intervention & suPPorts
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.) will again be at the core of our climate and culture.
we have three (3) goals:
• Be Safe
• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible
With our goals front and center in our minds every day, we plan to enjoy a positive environment in every area of our school.
challenging thoughts to consider:
• How can our three (3) Behavior Goals make a difference in our students’ behavior outside of school?
• If our families begin the conversation now, will our All-Stars return to school ready to thrive with positive behavior?
Let’s help our students remember to be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in all walks of life, especially while at school. Start the conversation now and keep it going all year long. We will certainly do the same here at Hickory Bend.
pBis tiCketed event: apple naChos
The All-Stars had a blast making and enjoying their Apple Nachos. Oh what fun the children had as they created their own delicious apple nacho plates— sliced apples topped with a variety of fun choices like graham cracker crumbs, chocolate and caramel drizzle, sprinkles, and whipped cream.
Apple Nacho Day wasn’t just about tasty treats—it was also a special treat affordable to those students who are Safe, Respectful, and Responsible on a consistent basis.
They earned enough points to buy a ticket to the event and they truly enjoyed a shared experience with their classmates.
Events like this remind us how joyful learning and community-building can be. We’re grateful to our staff who made Apple Nacho Day possible and look forward to more engaging experiences throughout the year!
family engagement: Building stRong ReadeRs at home...
Reading is one of the most important skills our students develop, and families play a powerful role in helping children grow as confident, joyful readers. With just a few simple routines, parents can create a home environment that supports daily literacy practice.
• read together every day: Even 10–15 minutes makes a big difference. Read aloud to your child, take turns reading pages, or let them read to you. Listening to fluent reading helps build vocabulary and comprehension.
• create a friendly reading sPace: A small basket of books, a comfy pillow, or a quiet corner can encourage children to pick up a book on their own.
• talk aBout Books: Ask your child questions before, during, and after reading. “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character felt that way?” These conversations strengthen understanding and critical thinking.
• make reading Part of everyday life: Encourage children to read menus, signs, recipes, letters, or instructions around the house. This shows them that reading is useful and all around us.
• visit the liBrary regularly: Let children choose books that match their interests—this builds motivation and helps them see reading as something to enjoy, not just an assignment.
together, we can helP every student grow as a strong reader.
thank you for suPPorting your child’s literacy Journey at home!
distRiCt ChaRaCteR themes:
loyalty & good Citizenship
Our District character themes for this month are Loyalty and Good Citizenship. These qualities help us build a school community where every student feels supported, valued, and safe.
Loyalty means standing by your friends, your school, and your values—even when things get tough. Students show loyalty when they encourage a classmate, include others in games, or help keep our school a positive place to learn.
The core values at Hickory Bend are Teamwork, Integrity, and Commitment. We expect all members of our school community to be loyal to those values.
Good Citizenship means doing your part to make our school and community better. This includes following school rules, taking responsibility for your actions, showing kindness, and looking for ways to help others.
Throughout December, let’s all highlight these traits with our students. We encourage families to talk about loyalty and citizenship at home. Together, we can help our students grow into responsible, caring members of our school and community.
sChool impRovement plan : foCus on attendanCe!
As we move into a new month, we want to remind families of a few important expectations that help our students get the most out of learning each day.
To start our day on a positive note, students who arrive by 8:30 a.m. and are in their seats ready to learn just might enjoy a brief celebration called “The Starty Party”. This fun morning tradition helps set a cheerful tone for the day and encourages students to build strong routines.
We want every child to be part of this daily celebration, and arriving promptly ensures they don’t miss out. You never know when we will have a Starty Party! So, students should make it a habit of being in place every day!
Please also remember that instruction continues until 3:10 p.m. We ask that families honor this time so students can fully participate in end-of-day learning and activities.
Thank you for your supporT in helpinG our sTudenTs sTarT sTronG, sTay enGaGed, and finish each day wiTh success!
family engagement : Bedtime stoRies | family Reading night...
We want to extend a heartfelt Thank you! to all the families who joined us for Bedtime Stories/Family Reading Night. Your presence helped make the evening truly special. Seeing students arrive in their cozy pajamas, snuggling in with a good book, and enjoying stories with their families remind us how powerful shared reading can be.
Events like this strengthen our School Community and show our students that reading is not only important—but fun! We appreciate your time, your participation, and your continued support in helping your children develop a love for books.
Thank you for making Bedtime Story Night a warm, joyful success. We look forward to creating more memorable moments together!
family engagement:
s.t.e.a.m. night | k-2
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to all the families who joined us for our Kindergarten through Second Grade Family S.T.E.A.M. Night!
Your enthusiasm and participation helped make the evening a fun and hands-on learning experience for everyone. Students were excited to explore, build, create, and problem-solve alongside you. Events like this show how powerful learning can be when families and schools come together.
thank you for suPPorting your child’s curiosity and for helPing make our s.t.e.a.m. night a great success. we aPPreciate you!
family engagement
visitoRs
If you need to come into the school for any reason, you will need to have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System.
Raptor® provides a line of sight as to who is always in our school. The system provides school and Districtwide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors that have signed in/out of our buildings.
This is imporTanT for safeTy reasons.
RemindeR RegaRding
mediCations...
If your student needs medication to be administered in the school setting, the medication and accompanying doctor’s orders must be provided by a parent or guardian to the school nurse.
Medication should NEVER be sent in with the student. No medication may be given without a doctor’s order. This includes inhalers, emergency epinephrine (EpiPen), daily medications, antibiotics, eye/ear drops, cough drops, over-the-counter medication, or any other form of medication.
save the date...
December 2nd Bilingual Parent Education Meeting | Longwood Elementary | 5:30 p.m.
December 4th 1st Grade Field Trip | Homewood Science Center
December 9th Pre-K Screenings | Longwood Elementary
December 15th Board of Education Meeting | District Office | 7:00 p.m.
December 16th Winter Concert at Hickory Bend | 6:00 p.m.
December 17th Districtwide School Improvement Day | ½ Day Dismissal | 11:30 a.m.
December 22nd/ January 2nd Winter Break | No School
January 5th - 6th Teacher/Staff Institute Days | No School
January 7th, 2026 Students return to school uPcoming imPortant dates
mission statement
Brookwood school district 167
Brookwood School District 167, in partnership with parents and community, will create a learning environment in which all students excel at becoming lifelong learners and decision makers.
we Believe:
• Families shape their children’s motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their overall development.
• All students are unique and should be challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.
• In the importance of staff development opportunities based on best practices and educational research.
• In educating our children in a safe and nurturing environment with access to state-of-the-art technology.
• The school system should teach students to think critically enabling them to become contributing citizens in our global society.
• In continuous improvement in all aspects of the school system to foster a culture of excellence, accountability and integrity.
• In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.
ouR vision
Brookwood school district 167
Our overall Vision is to improve the achievement of all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender, or ability levels (disabilities).
We share the accountability of student achievement throughout the school.
We believe in using research-based practices to achieve our goals.
We promote school and community involvement because we believe that these partnerships help us meet the needs of all our students.
we are committed to:
• Providing students with highly qualified teachers
• Providing our staff with professional development
