Drumroll please 🥁🥁
We are so excited to announce the winners of HHE Teacher and Paraprofessional of the Year!
These two amazing individuals pour so much heart, time, and care into our students every single day. Their dedication, kindness, and passion help make Halstead such a special place, and we are truly grateful for all they do for our school community.
Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Deleon
Paraprofessional of the Year: Mrs. Galit
We also asked them a few questions so you can get to know them a little better:
Teacher of the Year Q&A
Name: Miranda DeLeon
Position: ESL/ Lead interventionist/ STUCO sponsor/ Digital Learning Leader for HHE
Years in Education: This is my 13th year in education
Years at Halstead: My 3rd year here at HHE
What do you love most about your job? What I love most about my job is seeing my students grow and gain confidence, especially my EB/ RTI babies. Those “aha” moments mean everything. I also love building relationships with my students, their families, and my team. It truly feels like we’re all working together to make a difference 💙💛
What inspired you to work in education? My aunt was a 2nd grade teacher, and I thought she was the coolest. I wanted to be just like her growing up, and that passion never really left me.
What is your favorite part of the school day? My favorite part of the school day is small group time. I stay busy all day, but when I finally sit down with my groups, that’s when I really get to connect with my students, support them where they are, and see their growth up close. Those are the moments that matter most. 💙
What do you enjoy doing outside of school? I love spending time with my family and just being together, laughing, and having our dance parties at home. Those are my favorite moments!!
A favorite memory from this school year: My favorite memory from this year is seeing my students hit their goals and celebrate their growth. Whether it’s moving up a level, gaining confidence, or finally “getting it,” those moments remind me why I do what I do.
Paraprofessional of the Year Q&A
Name: Mia Galit
Position/Grade Level: Paraprofessional
Years in Education: 7
Years at Halstead: 1
What do you love most about your job? I love being able to support students and watch them grow, both academically and personally. It’s incredibly rewarding to know I can make a positive difference in their day and be someone they can rely on.
What inspired you to work in education? I’ve always had a deep passion for teaching and helping children learn and grow. There is something truly meaningful about guiding students as they discover new things, build confidence, and reach their potential. Being part of their journey, even in small ways, brings me so much joy and purpose, and it’s what inspired me to pursue a career in education.
What is your favorite part of the school day? My favorite part is interacting with the students—whether it’s helping them understand something new, encouraging them, or simply sharing a smile or laugh that brightens their day.
What do you enjoy doing outside of school? I enjoy spending quality time with my family, relaxing, and doing activities that help me recharge, like planting and caring for my garden.
A favorite memory from this school year: One of my favorite memories is seeing students overcome challenges and celebrating their achievements, no matter how big or small. Those moments are truly special and remind me why I love what I do.
Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition. We are incredibly proud of the impact they make every single day!
We look forward to welcoming all students back on April 7th, ready to continue learning.
Career Day brought out future doctors, teachers, athletes, scientists, and so much more. Our students showed up dressed for their dreams and ready to take on the future. It was so fun seeing their creativity, confidence, and big goals on display.
The future is so bright its blinding over here at Halstead!🕶️ 💙🐾💛
Together, we can promote understanding, acceptance, and kindness for all. 💙🐾💙
Move over, zoo crew… our second graders took over the Cameron Park Zoo! Our Bulldawgs had a fantastic day of learning, exploring, and building memories together.We love seeing our students shine inside and outside the classroom!💙💛🐾
Here’s how each grade level did:
• Kinder: 92.84%
• 1st: 95.23%
• 2nd: 94.63%
• 3rd: 93.88%
• 4th: 94.92%
• 5th: 94.99%
We may not have hit 96% this week, but that just means we have a fresh opportunity ahead. Let’s make this week the week we reach our goal! 🎯
Parents, your support makes all the difference. Getting students to school on time every day helps them stay on track and continue to grow. Let’s do this together, Bulldawgs! 💛💙🐾
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Some very important days are coming up in the lives of our third, fourth, and fifth grade students:
- Wednesday April 8th 3rd-5th Reading STAAR Test
- Tuesday April 21st 5th Science STAAR Test
- Tuesday April 28th 3rd-5th Math STAAR Test
Please help prepare your child by encouraging him/her to:
• Do their absolute best!
• Get plenty of rest before the tests.
• Eat a good breakfast.
• Arrive on time; the tardy bell rings at 7:40 am.
• Dress in layers to be comfortable during testing. No blankets or stuffed animals are permitted
• Bring a healthy snack (Cheez-its will be provided)
• If your child would like to bring a water bottle, please note that only clear liquids will be allowed.
The STAAR test is not timed this year. Students are allowed the full school day to complete the test.
To maintain test security and ensure a quiet testing environment, all noise and traffic in the campus hallways and common areas will be kept to a minimum. Additionally, the campus will be closed to all visitors.
Please plan to avoid student absences, or early check-outs on this day or scheduling appointments. Students will not have the opportunity to make up the test if they are signed out early on these days.
Please call with any questions you may have. Thank you for your support this year. We look forward to celebrating our students’ success together.
Mrs. Jacqueline Brown
Assistant Principal
Hettie Halstead Elementary
Reading for Success Parent Workshop - Tonight!
Halstead families, please join us today from 3:30- 4:00 PM for our Reading for Success parent workshop, hosted by our PCOC! Learn simple, practical ways to support your child’s reading at home and help them grow into confident readers.
We’d love to partner with you and share tips that make a big difference. See you there! 🐾💙💛
Friday, March 27th is Career Day, and students are invited to dress up as what they want to be when they grow up. Whether it’s a doctor, teacher, athlete, scientist, or something totally unique, we can’t wait to see our Bulldawgs show off their future goals.
Start planning those outfits and get ready for a day full of imagination, inspiration, and big dreams!
This means no alarms, no backpacks, and no lunchboxes to pack. Students will be enjoying a well-deserved break, teachers will be recharging, and parents will be hearing “I’m bored” and “Can I have a snack?” far more often than usual.
We hope everyone enjoys the time off and we’ll see you back rested and ready after the break on March 23rd. 💛🐾💙
Thursday, March 12 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM.
This is a great opportunity to visit your child’s classroom, meet teachers, and learn more about how our Title I program supports student learning. We’ll share important information about academic goals, how Title I funds are used, and ways families can stay involved and make a difference.
Bonus: Families can visit our bookfair and don't forget to pick up your Spring Break Craft Kits while you’re here!
We hope to see you there, Bulldawg families! 🐾💙💛
We are excited to invite families to join our new Family Book Club. This program is designed for students and their parent or guardian to read together at home and connect with other families at school.
Two groups will be offered:
Kinder–2nd Grade
3rd–5th Grade
At the first meeting, families will:
Learn how the book club will work
Meet other participating families
Check out the first book to read together at home
Each group will meet on different dates, so families can choose the group that matches their student’s grade level.
Kinder–2nd Grade Meeting
Date: Wednesday, March 25th
Time: 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
3rd–5th Grade Meeting
Date: Wednesday, April 1st
Time:4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Students must attend with a parent or guardian. Space is limited. Please register with PCOC at Munizv@ccisd.com.
We look forward to bringing families together through reading.
If you’re hoping to volunteer or chaperone a field trip this year, don’t forget to attend our Volunteer Orientation! This orientation is required once each school year for anyone who plans to volunteer or chaperone.
Our next orientation is tomorrow Wednesday March 11th at 9:00 AM or 4:00 PM
With field trip season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to get this requirement checked off.
We look forward to partnering with our amazing parent volunteers! 💙💛🐾
If you’re unable to attend one of these sessions, you can schedule an orientation by contacting our PCOC:
Valerie Muniz at Munizv@ccisd.com or 254-547-3440
Halstead’s overall attendance for this week was 94.26%. We are so close to our goal we just need one final push lets make this week the week we blow our goal away.
Grade level attendance:
• Kinder: 92.81%
• 1st: 👏96.10%👏
• 2nd: 93.43%
• 3rd: 93.97%
• 4th: 95.181%
• 5th: 93.58%
Shout-out to 1st Grade for meeting and exceeding our goal. Great job! 🎉
As spring arrives, let’s spring into great attendance habits. Every day matters, and your support helps our students succeed. Let’s keep growing together, Bulldawgs! 💛🐾💙
The bookfair is finally open!
Our Book Fair will be open March 9th-13th. This is a wonderful opportunity to help your child discover new books, grow their love of reading, and support our school library. We’re offering multiple ways for families to participate and support our campus!
Student Shopping:
Students will shop during their scheduled times throughout the school day.
E-Wallet Available:
Save time and make checkout easier by setting up an E-Wallet so your student can shop independently and safely. You can set one up using the QR code or the link below:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/hettiehalsteadelemschool
Family Shopping Times:
Before school from 7:10 AM – 7:35 AM (Families are welcome to shop together!)
Open House Shopping:
The Book Fair will also be open during Open House on March 12th from 5:00 – 6:30 PM.
We can’t wait to see you there and help our readers find their next favorite book!🐾 💙💛
Hettie Halstead Elementary is proud to be a Purple Star Campus!
This recognition honors our commitment to supporting military connected students and families. We are grateful for our military community and proud to serve those who serve.
💜 Bulldawgs are proud to be Purple Star strong! 💜🐾
🎉Bulldawg spirit was high at our Six Weeks Pep Rally! 🐾🎉
Students and teachers faced off in a fast paced game of two person tic tac toe, where one teammate had to toss a bean bag into a bucket before the other could place a marker on the board. After an exciting matchup, the students won for the second pep rally in a row!
This six weeks Top Bulldawg Classes: *Drumroll* 🥁
🐾 Kinder: Ms. Battenfield
🐾 1st: Ms. Bissell
🐾 2nd: Mr. Keller
🐾 3rd: Ms. Kennedy
🐾 4th: Mr. Gilbert
🐾 5th: Ms. Skoda
The Spirit Stick went to Ms. Smart’s class for showing outstanding Bulldawg pride. We also recognized staff with perfect attendance and congratulated our Paraprofessionals of the Six Weeks, Mr. Young and Ms. Johnson.
What a fun way to celebrate our amazing Bulldawgs! 🐾💛💙
February 27, 2026
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Some very important testing days are coming up for our third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Hettie Halstead Elementary:
• Tuesday, March 3 - Reading Released Test (Grades 3-5)
• Thursday, March 5 - 5th Grade Science Released Test
• Tuesday, March 10 - Math Released Test (Grades 3-5)
Please help your child prepare by encouraging them to:
Do their absolute best
Get plenty of rest the night before
Eat a healthy breakfast
Arrive on time; the tardy bell rings at 7:40 a.m.
Dress in layers to stay comfortable (no blankets or stuffed animals permitted)
Bring a healthy snack (Cheez-Its will be provided)
If your child would like to bring a water bottle , please note that only clear liquids are allowed.
The STAAR test is not timed this year. Students will have the full school day to complete their test.
To maintain test security and ensure a quiet testing environment, noise and hallway traffic will be kept to a minimum, and the campus will be closed to all visitors on testing days.
Please avoid scheduling appointments, absences, or early check-outs on these dates. Students will not have the opportunity to make up the test if they are signed out early on these days.
Please call with any questions you may have. Thank you for your support this year. We look forward to celebrating our students’ success together.
Mrs. Jacqueline Brown
Assistant Principal
