Tiger Tales Newsletter - October 1, 2026

Dear HES Families,

Every school day is an opportunity for your child to learn something new, build relationships, practice important skills, and experience the joy of being part of our school community. That is why every minute matters!  As we finish up the first month of school, we would like to emphasize the importance of student attendance.

We know that mornings can be busy, and we also understand that illness and unexpected circumstances happen. At the same time, research continues to show that consistent attendance is an important part of student success, especially in the elementary years.

Small Amounts of Time Can Add Up

It can be easy to think that arriving 5 or 10 minutes late or leaving a little early “isn't a big deal.” But when those minutes happen repeatedly, they add up quickly.

For example, if a student misses just 10 minutes of instructional time each day:

• 1 week: 50 minutes missed
• 1 month: about 200 minutes-more than 3 hours
• 1 semester: about 1,800 minutes-30 hours
• 1 school year: about 1,800 minutes-30 hours, or nearly 4 full school days of instructional time

If a student misses 20 minutes each day, that doubles to approximately 60 hours or nearly 8 full school days of instructional time over the course of a school year!

These missed minutes aren't always isolated. A student may miss the morning lesson, directions for an activity, a math discussion, independent practice, small-group instruction, or the opportunity to connect with classmates and teachers. When students miss learning, they cannot always recreate that experience later.

What Can Families Do?

We encourage families to:

• Make school attendance a priority whenever your child is healthy and able to attend.
• Build a consistent morning routine so your child can arrive on time and ready to learn.
• Schedule appointments and vacations outside of school whenever possible.
• Plan ahead for transportation and other morning challenges.
• Talk with your child about the importance of being present and engaged at school.
• Reach out to us if your family is experiencing a barrier that makes regular attendance difficult. We want to help!  Our SST team is made up with our school counselors, school psychologist, social worker, PPW (Pupil Personnel Worker), health staff, office staff, and administrators.  

HES SST Team

• Heather Moraff, Principal
• Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal 
• Ryan Tanamor, School Psychologist 
• Ryann Plotkin, School Counselor, 
• Adama Lasisi, School Counselor (part-time)
• Rachel Zimmerman, Social Worker
• Donielle Chase-Mercer, Pupil Personnel Worker 
• Vivienne Barry, School Nurse 
• Denise Coleman Cherry, Teacher’s Secretary (Attendance) 

Our Student Services Team is here for you!

As the year progresses, you may receive an automated letter from our system regarding your child’s attendance. These letters are intended to communicate attendance concerns when they arise and help ensure we are working together to support your child’s consistent attendance and success at school. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about these communications. 

Thank you for partnering with us to make regular attendance a priority and to help our Tigers make the most of every school day!

Let's make every day count, Tigers!

Heather Moraff, Principal

Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal 

Upcoming Early Dismissals & School Closures 

• 10/16 - HCPSS School Closed for Students/ Staff Workday  HES will dismiss at 12:55pm.
• 10/28- Schools Closed for Students