Hillcrest Elementary School

A circular Hillcrest Huskies logo is displayed on a transparent background. The logo features a white circle bordered by a thick red ring with a thin black outline. Curving across the top of the circle, large red capital letters outlined in black spell “HILLCREST.” Centered within the logo is a friendly cartoon husky with black-and-white fur, bright blue eyes, a black nose, and an open mouth showing a small pink tongue. The husky is facing forward with one front paw raised in a waving gesture. The raised paw includes black paw pads with a small red paw pad in the center. Across the bottom of the logo, the word “Huskies” appears in large red script outlined in black, partially overlapping the husky illustration. The logo uses red, black, white, blue, and pink accents and serves as the official Hillcrest Elementary Huskies mascot emblem.

Weekly Newsletter

Week of September 28, 2026
 
A square promotional graphic with a white background encourages users to download the Crestwood School District mobile app. At the top, large dark blue text reads, “Download the CSD APP.” A thin gold horizontal line separates the heading from the body. Centered beneath it, black text reads, “It's everything Crestwood, in your pocket.” with “in your pocket.” displayed in bold. Below the English text is the Arabic translation in black, which reads, “كل شيء عن كريستوود، في جيبك”. Along the lower portion of the graphic is a row of six blue circular icons with labels beneath them. From left to right, they read: “News” with the Arabic translation “أخبار,” “Events” with the Arabic translation “أحداث,” “Documents” with the Arabic translation “وثائق,” “Staff” with the Arabic translation “موظفين,” “Alerts” with the Arabic translation “تنبيهات,” and “Dining” with the Arabic translation “لوائح الطعام.” On the lower right are two smartphone mockups. The phone on the left displays the Crestwood School District app home screen with sections such as Home, Feed, and Today’s Menu. The phone on the right displays the app’s blue splash screen featuring the Crestwood School District seal and the words “Crestwood School District.” A blue geometric banner extends across the bottom left corner of the graphic, while a gold geometric accent appears along the bottom right edge, complementing the district’s blue and gold color scheme.
A square graphic with a white background promotes the Crestwood School District 2026–2027 calendar. At the top, large dark blue text reads, “26-27 Calendar.” Centered below the title is a stylized illustration of a desktop flip calendar outlined in dark blue with a gold header across the top. Four dark blue binding rings connect the cover to the calendar pages. The calendar grid is shown with several horizontal and vertical blue lines representing dates, while two additional calendar pages are visible behind the front page, giving the appearance of a standing desk calendar. Overlapping the lower left corner of the calendar is the Crestwood School District logo. The logo is a white circle outlined in dark blue. Curving across the top, dark blue text reads, “Crestwood,” and curving along the bottom, dark blue text reads, “School District.” In the center of the logo is a large tree with a black trunk and branches and blue and gold leaves. Beneath the tree, dark blue text reads, “Your Future. Our Focus.” The overall graphic uses the district’s navy blue, gold, white, and black color palette with a clean, minimal design emphasizing the availability of the 2026–2027 school calendar.
A square promotional graphic with a white background highlights the Hillcrest Elementary School website. At the top, large red text reads, “Hillcrest Website.” Centered below is a gray desktop computer monitor displaying the Hillcrest Elementary School homepage. In the upper left corner of the webpage is the Hillcrest Elementary School logo followed by the text, “HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,” with the tagline, “Home of the Huskies.” Across the top right of the header are buttons labeled “EXPLORE,” “SCHOOL DIRECTORY,” “TRANSLATE,” and “SIGN IN.” Beneath the header is a red navigation bar with menu options that read, “OUR SCHOOL,” “ACADEMICS,” “PARENTS/COMMUNITY,” “STUDENTS,” and “STAFF.” The main banner image on the website is divided into two photographs. The image on the left shows a student reading a book aloud to a golden-colored therapy dog lying on the floor. The image on the right shows a group of elementary students seated in a circle on a colorful classroom rug while interacting with the same therapy dog during a reading activity. Along the bottom of the banner image is a row of small navigation squares indicating a rotating image carousel, with one red square showing the currently selected slide. Red navigation arrows appear on the right side of the carousel for moving between images. The website footer is black and contains four navigation icons representing site navigation features. The monitor has a simple gray stand, and the overall graphic uses Hillcrest Elementary School’s red, black, gray, and white color palette to promote the school website.
A square graphic with a white background promotes the MiStar ParentConnect portal. Centered near the top is the official MiStar logo. The word “MI” appears in dark blue, while “STAR” is displayed in bright green. The logo incorporates a large green circular ring forming part of the final letter, with a small dark blue leaf attached to the lower right side of the circle. Beneath the logo, large dark blue text is centered and reads, “ParentConnect Link.” The design is clean and minimal, using the MiStar brand colors of dark blue and bright green against a white background to emphasize the ParentConnect resource.
 

REMINDERS:

🗓️ Count Day is Wednesday, October 7—every student counts!

🍁 Wednesday, October 7
COFFEE TALK W/PRINCIPAL SAAD & PTO MEETING AT 9AM

📌 Monday, October 12
Professional Development — No School for Students

⏰ Monday, October 19
Half Day of School — Dismissal at 11:45 a.m. 

👩‍🏫 Thursday, October 22
Half Day of School — Parent-Teacher Conferences
Dismissal at 11:45 a.m. 

👩‍🏫 Friday, October 23
Half Day of School — Parent-Teacher Conferences
Dismissal at 11:45 a.m. 

Important Guidelines for Early Pick-Ups:

📞 Call Before Noon: If an early pick-up is unavoidable, please call the main office before 12:00 PM. This gives our staff and teachers time to gather your child's belongings without interrupting class time.

🕒 School Hours: Please refer to our newsletter or school website for our full daily schedule.

 

To keep our new restrooms clean, fully operational, and safe for all students, we are asking for your help in reinforcing proper bathroom etiquette with your child at home.

Key Bathroom Rule to Remember:

ONLY Toilet Paper in the Toilet: Toilet paper is the only item that should ever be flushed.

NO Paper Towels or Baby Wipes in the Toilet: Paper towels, baby wipes (even those labeled "flushable"), and other hygiene items must always go into the trash bin.

Recently, non-flushable items like paper towels and wipes have caused clogs in our new plumbing system. Clogged restrooms lead to unnecessary disruptions during the school day and require emergency maintenance.

How You Can Help at Home:

Please take a few minutes to talk with your child about using the school bathrooms responsibly. Emphasize that:

They should flush only toilet paper.

Paper towels and wipes belong strictly in the garbage can.

Keeping the school bathrooms clean helps everyone have a pleasant environment.

Thank you so much for your partnership and support in caring for our school facilities!

 


On Monday, your child is bringing home a Book Buddy Lanyard letting you know about a safe and easy way for our school to raise funds for essential tools our students and teachers need to succeed.

The SchoolStore Program is 100% online so there is NO face-to-face selling, handling money, or delivering products.  Your participation will take less than 12 minutes, and there are exciting prizes to make it fun for the students.

Here is all you need to do to participate:
1.  Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000155627 to sign up.
2.  Send form emails inviting family, friends and co-workers to support your child.
3.  Return the Book Buddy Lanyard with the Student Prize Code to school for your child to get their fun participation prize.

Be sure to ask your child for the Book Buddy Lanyard on Monday night.  Your participation will make a difference for our school and teachers!ph block.

 

🎃 TEACHER PUMPKIN RAFFLE! 🎃

Win a One-of-a-Kind Pumpkin Designed by Your Favorite Teachers!

🎟️ TICKETS ARE JUST $1 EACH! 🎟️

Support your school and take home a spooky, hilarious, or artistic masterpiece created by our talented teachers!

📅 RAFFLE DETAILS

Ticket Sales: October 5th – October 9th

Where to Buy: Main Office

Winners Announced: End of the day on Friday, October 9th

✨ HOW IT WORKS

Bring your dollars to school October 5–9.

Buy as many tickets as you want—$1 = 1 entry!

Listen closely to the end-of-day announcements on October 9th to see if you won!

Good luck, and thank you for participating! 🍁👻

BUS SAFETY AND BEHAVIOR REMINDERS

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are writing to you today to address serious and ongoing safety concerns on our school buses. Recently, we have experienced a persistent increase in students failing to follow basic safety rules and failing to listen to our bus drivers.

Specifically, we are seeing repeated issues with:

  • Students screaming and excessive noise, which dangerously distracts the driver.
  • Students moving around, standing up, or switching seats while the bus is in motion.
  • Students openly ignoring and refusing to follow the direct instructions of the bus driver.

Parents, we need you to be aware: these behaviors mean your child is NOT being safe, and they are putting themselves, the driver, and every other student on the bus in danger. A school bus driver’s primary job is to navigate heavy traffic safely. They cannot focus on driving when they constantly have to manage dangerous student behavior behind them.

Zero Tolerance & Bus Removal Consequences

  • We do not tolerate disruptive or unsafe conduct on the bus. Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right.
  • Bus Referrals: If a student fails to listen to the driver or violates safety protocols, the driver will issue an official bus referral directly to the school office.
  • Removal from the Bus: If a referral is sent to the office, we will begin removing students from the bus due to their actions. Depending on the severity or repetition of the incident, this may result in an immediate temporary suspension or permanent removal of bus privileges.

Parent Responsibility

  • If your child is suspended or removed from the bus:
  • You will be fully responsible for arranging alternative daily transportation to and from school.
  • School attendance remains mandatory. A bus suspension is not an excused absence, and your child is still required to be at school on time every day.

How You Can Help
We ask that every parent and guardian sit down with their child today to have a serious conversation about bus safety. Please remind them that:

  • The bus driver is in charge, just like a classroom teacher.
  • They must remain seated in their assigned seat at all times while the bus is moving.
  • Inside voices are required—no shouting or screaming.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and your immediate partnership in ensuring our buses are safe for everyone.

Sincerely,
School Administration
Hillcrest Elementary School

 

Access Your Student’s State Testing Results Through MiLearn

 
Screenshot of the State of Michigan MiLogin website displaying an “Authorized Use Only” logon notice. The page instructs users to read the State of Michigan MiLogin notice carefully and explains that unauthorized use is prohibited and that activity on the system may be monitored. A blue “I Agree” button appears near the bottom of the notice and is underlined with a red line to draw attention to it. Users must select “I Agree” to continue. The page also includes links for the State of Michigan’s Technical Standard, Home, About, Contact, Logout, and Policy.

The Michigan Department of Education now provides families with easier access to state testing results through MiLearn (Michigan Linked Educational Assessment Reporting Network).  Your student’s SAT and PSAT scores from the spring can be found here.

Why it Matters: 
Parent reports give you a clear picture of your child’s academic progress, showing strengths and areas for growth. Reviewing these results helps families work with teachers to set goals and support learning.

Key Features of MiLearn:

  • Secure access to all state summative and benchmark assessments.
  • Up to five years of test results available for your student.
  • Reports provided in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
  • Accessible directly through your district’s MiStar Parent Portal (no separate login required).

How to Access:
Log in to the MiStar Parent Portal using your existing account. Look for the State Assessment Data under links to view your child’s results. Taking time to review these reports will give you valuable insights into your child’s progress and help strengthen the school-home partnership to support student success.

 
 
 

A Great Day Starts on Time! 

A Great Day Starts on Time!” featuring a husky mascot and important school arrival and dismissal times. Doors open at 8:15 AM, the first bell rings at 8:35 AM, and students should be in classrooms ready to learn by 8:40 AM. Students arriving after 8:40 AM are considered tardy, and three tardies equal one absence. The school day ends at 3:40 PM, and all students must be picked up by 3:55 PM. Dismissal reminders ask families to stay in the car line, not pass other cars, use crosswalks and sidewalks, follow staff directions, and be patient and kind.

Starting and ending the school day on time helps our students build strong routines and ensures they are ready to learn each day. Doors open at 8:15 AM, the first bell rings at 8:35 AM, and students should be in their classrooms and ready to learn by 8:40 AM. Students arriving after 8:40 AM are considered tardy. Please remember that three tardies equal one absence.

The school day ends at 3:40 PM. Families should plan to arrive on time for dismissal, and all students must be picked up by 3:55 PM.

During dismissal, please help us keep everyone safe by staying in the car line, not passing other vehicles, using designated crosswalks and sidewalks, and following staff directions. We understand that the car loop may take a little extra time, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation.

Thank you for partnering with us to help our Huskies start and end each day safely, successfully, and on time!

 

GUIDELINES FOR PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF CARLINE:

Hillcrest Elementary Drop-Off and Pick-Up Map showing the designated parent car line around the school. Parent vehicles enter from Drexel Street, follow Shields Drive along the north side of the school, and continue to the student drop-off and pick-up area. Students should enter or exit vehicles on the passenger side. Cars exit by turning left only onto North Vernon Street. The Fenton Street entrance is for buses only. Safety reminders include staying in the car line, not passing other cars, using crosswalks and sidewalks, being patient and kind, and following staff directions.

Keeping our Huskies safe during arrival and dismissal takes all of us! We ask all families using the parent car line to follow the designated traffic pattern and staff directions each day.

Families should enter the car line from Drexel Street and use the car entrance only. Once in the line, please pull all the way forward, stay in your lane, and do not pass other vehicles. Students should enter or exit the vehicle on the passenger side only and be ready to go to help keep the line moving safely and efficiently.

When exiting the car line, vehicles must turn left only onto North Vernon Street. There is no right turn and no left turn onto any other street. Please remember that the entrance from Fenton Street is for buses only and should not be used for parent drop-off or pick-up.

Thank you for being patient, using designated crosswalks and sidewalks, and following staff directions. Working together, we can keep arrival and dismissal safe for all of our Hillcrest Huskies!

 

Children’s DMC Book Drive
Children’s DMC Book Drive flyer from Learning Solutions Edvantage benefiting Children’s Hospital of Michigan. The book drive runs September 1 through September 30 with a goal of collecting 200 new books. Books must be newly purchased and appropriate for a pediatric setting. The flyer states, “Every child deserves comfort, hope, and a good story during their hospital stay. Help us brighten a young patient’s day.” Contact information includes learningsolutionsed@gmail.com, Instagram @learningsolutionsedvantage, and phone number (313) 288-5191.

Help bring comfort, hope, and a great story to children during their hospital stay! Learning Solutions Edvantage is hosting a Children’s DMC Book Drive from September 1–30 to benefit young patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

The goal is to collect 200 new books. Donated books must be newly purchased and appropriate for a pediatric setting.

Every book can help brighten a young patient’s day and provide a little extra comfort during their hospital stay. Families interested in supporting the drive can contact Learning Solutions Edvantage at learningsolutionsed@gmail.com or (313) 288-5191 for additional information.

 

Education Benefits Form: Submit Yours Today!

Crestwood School District graphic encouraging families to complete the 2026–2027 Education Benefits Form. The flyer features the district logo, school mascots, and an image of the Education Benefits Form with the message “Break Through for Your Family!” It explains that completing the form helps fund other programs and may waive other fees for families. Families are encouraged to “Submit Yours Today!” The flyer notes that the form should be completed only by households that do not receive assistance from the state.

Crestwood School District families are encouraged to complete the 2026–2027 Education Benefits Form. Completing this form helps our district receive important federal funding that supports programs and services for our students and may also help waive certain fees for your family.

The form should be completed only by households that do not currently receive state assistance. Families will provide basic student and household information, including household size and annual household income, to determine eligibility.

Your participation makes a difference! Please complete and return your Education Benefits Form as soon as possible to help Crestwood School District continue providing valuable opportunities and resources for our students.

 

Message from Principal--Mrs. Saad

PARENT  Connection PORTAL 

If you have not done so already, please download the PARENT CONNECTION  APP and get to the parent portal for updating your child(s) information. You are welcome to call the main office at Hillcrest (313) 278-0425 to get support if needed!

IREADY TESTING

📚 Upcoming i-Ready Assessments 🧮

Hillcrest Families,

Over the next couple of weeks, we will begin testing your child in i-Ready Reading and i-Ready Math. 💻

This computer-based assessment helps our teachers understand your child's current learning level so we can best support them in mastering their grade-level standards this year! 🌟

Thank you for your support as we partner together for your child's success! 🎓

⏰ Every Minute Matters! Early Dismissal Reminders ⏰

We want to gently remind everyone that "Every Minute Matters" when it comes to your child's education! 🎒

Students thrive on their daily classroom routines and schedules. When a child is picked up early, it disrupts their learning momentum and makes it challenging for both the student and teacher to prepare for dismissal. Let’s work together this school year to keep our students in school for the full day! 🏫✨

Important Guidelines for Early Pick-Ups:

📞 Call Before Noon: If an early pick-up is unavoidable, please call the main office before 12:00 PM. This gives our staff and teachers time to gather your child's belongings without interrupting class time.

🕒 School Hours: Please refer to our newsletter or school website for our full daily schedule.

We truly appreciate your cooperation in keeping early dismissals to a minimum this year! Thank you for partnering with us for your child’s success. 💙

 

 

Update Contact Information with Back to School Check-In:

In order to make sure that you are updated on the latest school information and your child’s progress, all parents/guardians are required to complete the back to school registration in MiStar prior to the first day of school for each student in the household.  This ensures that we have the most up to date information regarding your student. All school communications are sent home electronically.  It is important that we have up to date information to communicate with parents and guardians.  Parents are asked to go to their MiStar Parent Connection account through the MiStar Parent Portal MiStar Parent Portal. Be sure to complete all check-in steps.

Completing the back to school check-in is best done on a desktop or tablet, not a phone.  If you do not have a computer, you can stop by the Crestwood Board Office (1045 N. Gulley) Monday-Thursday from 9 AM - 2 PM.  There are Chromebooks ready for you to register your student in our lobby.  Need help?  Please watch a step-by-step video in your preferred language.

English: https://5il.co/3k3nb
Arabic: https://5il.co/3k3na

Please ensure your child/student is aware of their MiStar Student Connection Username and password.  Please keep your MiStar Parent Connect password a secret from your student. 

If you forgot your Parent Connect pin or password, you can reset it from the MiStar Portal.  The red circled area resets your pin and the purple circled area resets your password.

If you need additional assistance with your MiStar Parent Connection Login, please email any of our Secretaries-- Phone (313) 278-0425, Mrs. Chehab--Administrative Assistant, Email-- nchehab@csdmi.org

 

New Family Communication - Connect

We’re excited to roll out a new tool that will simplify how we communicate with you. Connect, built right into our Crestwood School District app and website, offer secure and safe two-way messaging.

This addition allows our district to bring the community closer together. From messages to educators, to events, to lunch menus, and more - everything can now live in one place.

Download the Crestwood School District app:
Android
iPhone

Why Connect?

  • One place for every message.
  • No more juggling multiple communication apps, flipping between inboxes, or remembering different logins.
  • Text notifications. You can get notified automatically of new messages even if you haven’t downloaded our district app.
  • Safe and secure. Built-in moderation and other safety tools allow us to ensure safety of all communications, at all times.

What to Expect:
Connect will become our primary method of communication for all interactions between staff, coaches, families, and teachers. You may receive a text notification from 27806. The text will let you know who sent you a message in the Connect platform; you can then click the link for web access or view the message via the Crestwood School District app. It will be important that you go ahead and login to your account and familiarize yourself with the platform so we are ready to go for this school year. 

Options to access Connect:

  • When a staff member sends a message to you in Connect, it will trigger a text notification to your phone. You can then click on the link, have it send you a verification code to access the web version. 
  • Login from a text/email invitation
    • Tap the link to open the invite
 
    • Download the app 
    • Enter your personal email or phone number. You will then receive a verification code via text or email to get in. 
  • Download the Crestwood School District app - Enter your personal email or phone number. You will then receive a verification code via text or email to get in.
    • The first time you open the app, it will ask to send you push notifications. Select Allow to get important announcements from your teachers within the classroom.
    • Select the Rooms and Messages tab at the bottom of the app so you can start engaging with teachers via Messages and Classes!
    • Messages is two way communication where you can respond to a staff/start conversations with a staff member.
    • Rooms is where you’ll see your child’s virtual room(s).

If you have any issues getting logged in to the Crestwood School District app with your cell phone number or personal email address, please reach out to your student’s school. 

Click here for the Quick Start Guide for Families

 

Show Your Husky Pride!

HUSKY GEAR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY A SCHOOL SHIRT CLICK THE LINK BELOW! THER ARE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS:

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/michigan/dearbornheights/hillcrest-elementary-school

Screenshot of the Hillcrest Huskies online spirit wear store featuring customizable school apparel and accessories. Products shown include Hillcrest Huskies T-shirts, hoodies, a quarter-zip pullover, backpack, tumbler, and hat in red, black, gray, and white. The website includes shopping categories for men, women, kids, hats, accessories, new and trending items, gifts, and designs, along with options to customize products with different Hillcrest Huskies designs.
 
Crestwood School District breakfast information flyer announcing that a healthy breakfast is available at no cost to all students before the start of the school day. Breakfast is available at all elementary schools beginning at 8:15 AM, Riverside Middle School at 7:30 AM, and Crestwood High School at 7:10 AM. Breakfast includes grains, protein, milk, fruits, and vegetables. The flyer encourages students to plan on getting to school early and joining their school for breakfast.

BREAKFAST INFORMATION:

Help us ensure that our meal program is a success!  Remind and encourage your child to take advantage of this opportunity and grab a school breakfast every single school day.

 

Message from Our Community Partners

 

ASAP Community Coalition Newsletter

ACCESS logo featuring an abstract circular mosaic design made of geometric shapes in shades of red, burgundy, tan, and beige. The word “ACCESS” appears in large burgundy capital letters below the symbol.

The ASAP Community Coalition had a busy August supporting healthier and safer communities through prevention education, outreach, training, and community events. Throughout the month, the team participated in school open houses, health fairs, community events, workshops, and trainings while providing substance use and tobacco prevention resources to more than 1,600 community members.

Check out the latest ASAP Community Coalition Newsletter to learn more about their prevention efforts, community outreach, August activities, and upcoming opportunities!  
 
Graphic labeled “Useful Links” in bold blue lettering with a yellow outline. Above the text is an illustration of a computer monitor displaying a blue-toned collage of digital screens, technology icons, and connected imagery.
Blue graphic titled “What’s for Lunch?” featuring an illustrated school meal tray with rice, vegetables, crackers, watermelon, apple slices, and a carton of milk. Text at the bottom reads, “School Breakfast and Lunch Menu.”

Standing Links

Keep these helpful links handy for quick access throughout the school year.

  • District Code of Conduct
  • District Student Handbook
  • Care Solace Website
  • OK2SAY Confidential Tip
  • ICHAT Volunteer Form  
 

Follow Us on Social Media!

Crestwood School District
Social Media 

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Hillcrest Elementary School Social Media

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