Husky Herald Newsletter

Back to School 2026-2027, Volume 40

Welcome Back Huskies!

July 20, 2026

Hello Haw Creek!

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year. I hope your summer has been filled with sunshine, deep breaths, and magic moments. Whether racking up a book count, lounging in the A/C, chasing sunsets, or spending time with those you love most, I hope you found your happy spaces as we get ready to start another year together. We are counting down the days for your students to return to Haw Creek and cannot wait to welcome them back! I wanted to share some information about returning to school this year as well as some dates for you to put on your calendar.

I am excited to be back for my fifth year as principal at Haw Creek and am glad that Mr. Davis Barlow, K-2 Assistant Principal, Mrs. Berkeley Fain, 3-5 Assistant Principal, and Mrs. Traci Avery, Assistant Administrator, will ALL be returning with me!

This year, our theme for Haw Creek is:

Huskies Unleashed: Empowered to Lead

One way we empower our families is through partnership opportunities like joining our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)! Joining our PTO is a wonderful way to support your child’s learning and become part of our Haw Creek community. Not familiar with the work of our Haw Creek PTO? The PTO helps fund and support programs that go far beyond the basics—like academic enrichment, classroom materials, family events, parent connection opportunities, and more! Most recently, you can see the incredible work in the overhaul of our playground! Whether you’re able to volunteer, attend meetings, share ideas, or simply stay informed, your involvement—no matter how big or small—makes a lasting impact on the growth of our school and every child in it. Be sure to join our PTO and purchase your 2026-2027 Haw Creek Spirit Wear during Open House on Tuesday, August 4th!

New this year, another way we are hoping to empower our families is with communication and connection. I am going to offer two parent series events:

Haw Creek 101 for families new to Haw Creek. Whether joining us with your first Kindergarten student OR just moving to our area, this 4 week session will offer families face to face and virtual opportunities throughout August to learn more about how to navigate our school. Sign up and more details will be available at Open House.

Parent University is for families who may know our school, but want to learn more about systems and structures that support students in elementary school and how to navigate the resources of our district. Focusing on Academics, School Culture, Leadership, Safety, and Communication, these sessions will be offered as a small cohort in the fall and again in the spring. Sessions will also allow for face to face and virtual opportunities for families. Sign up for this brief cohort will be available at Open House.

Be sure to stay connected to us by making sure you are signed up to receive emails through Parent Portal, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to sign up for your homeroom teacher’s email list during Open House so you don’t miss a chance to stay up to date on all things Haw Creek!

Make sure you’ve marked your calendars for the following dates:

OPEN HOUSE PARKING INFORMATION: Haw Creek is happy to offer multiple sessions for our families to attend Open House this year. As ALWAYS, we struggle with parking, so we ask that you adhere to the alphabetical split in effort to ensure that every family is able to park. Parking will be available in our front parking lot, at Lakeside Middle School, and in the field across from our campus. Please do not park in the bus lanes during the A-L session as we will be receiving Kindergarten Round Up students during that time. Bus lane parking will be available for the M-Z session if needed.

Open House (1st-5th Grades):

Tuesday, August 4th

Last Names A-L - 8:00-9:30 AM

Last Names M-Z - 12:00-1:30 PM

Kindergarten Open House: Tuesday, August 4th 9:15-10:15 AM

*Bus information for Kindergarten Open House will be sent directly to K Parents (drivers will call)

PreK and Specialized Instruction Open House: Tuesday, August 4th 10:30-11:15 AM

If this is your FIRST elementary school Open House, don’t worry! We will have a checklist at the door of things for you to do while you are here to help make sure your student is ready for the first day. You may want to bring your school supplies to keep backpacks lighter on the first day. CLICK HERE for School Supply Lists are available.

Haw Creek is excited to welcome our new school Nurse, Jennifer Lum! Nurse Lum will be on campus to answer questions about students with Health Care Plans and also register medications. Our Food Service Manager, Mrs. Nicole Mulligan, will be in the cafeteria to assist families with setting-up their lunch accounts and to answer any breakfast or lunch questions you may have.

You will also want to bring your ID with you to Open House to make sure you register your ID for visiting campus for events throughout the year. Simply stop by the front desk and Mrs. Mary Moon will help make sure you have easy check in throughout the year!

Most importantly, don’t forget to bring your phone as almost everything we do now has a photo opportunity!

In addition, please mark your calendars for the following dates:

First Day of School: THURSDAY, August 6, 2026

7:10AM doors open, 7:40AM start time!

Curriculum Night: Thursday, September 3rd 5:30-7:00PM

Teachers will begin calling families during the week of July 30th and continue to make phone calls as students enroll. We realize many families will receive multiple calls, but ask for your patience as each teacher is doing their best to connect with each family and get a chance to welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year! If you have not heard from a teacher by August 4th at Open House, please stop by the front office when you arrive and we will be happy to share your classroom teacher information. We can’t wait to see our kids and families!

So, as we count down the days for the return to school, I hope you will soak in the sun, make magic, create

moments and memories, and know we can’t wait to see YOU soon!

Sending you the best! 💙

The HCES Admin Team

Ashley Johnessee, Principal ajohnessee@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Berkley Fain, Assistant Principal 3-5 f39283@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Davis Barlow, Assistant Principal K-2 dbarlow@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Traci Avery, Assistant Administrator tavery@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Parent To Do List

Mark your calendars for Open House on Tuesday, August 4th:

See times and alphabet for when to arrive (listed in letter above)
Bring supplies to leave in homeroom so you don't have a heavy backpack the first day. Click here for supply lists!
- Did you order supplies from PTO last spring? Pick up your kits in the cafeteria and take them to your homeroom during Open House! Thanks for supporting our PTO!
Bring a camera for photos! Tag us on social media with #hawcreekpack
Does your child take medication or have medical needs? Stop by the clinic and meet our new nurse, Mrs. Lum!
Preview our Open House Checklist of all things so you are ready for the first day! (see below)
Don't forget to JOIN PTO! Click here for membership info!

First Day of School, Thursday, August 6th - 7:40am start time (doors open at 7:10am)
Curriculum Night, Thursday, September 3rd 5:30-7PM

Calendar At A Glance

Open House Checklist for Families

1st-5th Grade Open House

Last Names A-L - 8:00-9:30 AM

Last Names M-Z - 12:00-1:30 PM

Kindergarten Open House

ALL Kindergarten Students

9:15-10:15 AM

Specialized Instruction & PreK

10:30-11:15 AM

Contact your child's teacher with any questions:

PreK: Mrs. Ireland - Mrs. Chaudhary

PreK: Mrs. Winn - Mrs. Das

PreK: Mrs. Stewart - Mrs. Yadegary

PreK: Mrs. Ellington - Mrs. Ranta

Thrive: Mrs. Gianelle - Mrs. Anthony

Thrive: Mr. English - Mrs. Inglesby and Mrs. Bosworth

Inspire: Mrs. Goukler - Mrs. MacKaben and Mrs. Sitko

Inspire: Mrs. Stallings - Mrs. Billyk

Grow: Mrs. Breunig - Mrs. McLaughlin

Classroom Supply Lists

PreK

Specialized Instruction

Welcome our New Staff!

Mrs. Roland

4th Grade

Ms. Taylor

4th Grade

Ms. Whidby

4th Grade

Nurse Jennifer

Clinic

Mrs. Black

1st Grade

Mrs. de Regil

5th Grade

Mrs. Holly Peters

5th Grade

Mrs. Inglesby

Thrive Paraprofessional

Mrs. Guinn

Literacy Coach

Mrs. Wakefield

ESOL

Husky Hangout

Husky Hangout is Haw Creek's After School Program. Information and details are below. Interested in registering your child for after school care? Stop by the Cafeteria during Open House to learn more about the program and ensure your child is registered to start on the first day of school!

Therapy Dogs at Haw Creek

Haw Creek has several Therapy Dogs who serve students and staff on our campus! Therapy Dogs are a classification of dog who, per the American Kennel Club’s Guidelines, have completed specific training. Our dogs have all completed Basic Obedience, Advanced Off Leash, and Canine Good Citizen classes. Each team has earned the Canine Good Citizen certification and they are expected to continue ongoing training and annual re-certifications as reflected in our handler agreement and commitments.

Unlike service dogs, who are expected to perform a service directly related to the disability of the handler, such as detecting seizures or guiding a visually impaired person, Therapy Dogs are expected to be obedient, under the control of their handler at all times, and, most of all, friendly! Where the work of a service dog may be interrupted by well-meaning people wanting to pet the dogs, therapy dogs do their BEST work when they are being petted. To make sure you don’t interrupt working team, or that you know the appropriate way to greet a dog in any instance, it is always best to ask the handler for permission before approaching the animal.

Haw Creek's Pack remain on leash on campus and may be seen at arrival, throughout campus, in classrooms, and during recess. Our pups look forward to welcoming you to campus and serving our community each year!

Learn more about our Husky Pack Treats on the school webpage here!

Reserve the Rock at Haw Creek

Reserve the Rock!

Haw Creek LOVES to celebrate! Whether it's a birthday, BIG team win, or a school-wide event, we love to see our rock FILLED with Husky Pride!

You can "Rock On" at Haw Creek with us by reserving the rock yourself! Simply sign up for the date of your event/celebration and paint the rock to commmeorate your special moment.

Rules and details about The Rock will be live and available on our Haw Creek webpage and through our Husky Herald for the remainder of the year! We look forward to seeing you ROCK the rock this year, Huskies!

How Can our Family get involved

at Haw Creek?

Local School Council

Haw Creek's Local School Council is made up of parents, teachers, and business partners invested in learning more about our school and system supports throughout our district. Each year we meet to discuss what is going on in our campus and district, connect with concerns and ideas to make Haw Creek better, and make recommendations to our district and our PTO for implementation in the next year.

While our Local School Council does have voting members, the meetings are open and all are welcome. Want to learn more about what we have been doing? CLICK HERE for our End of Year Minutes.

We are looking for TWO MORE PARENT Nominees! Please CLICK HERE to nominate yourself or a friend to serve on our LSC as a voting member. You do not have to be a voting member to attend. Members at large are highly encouraged and these meetings are open to all HCES families and business partners every time!

Want to learn more about LSC? Email Dr. Johnessee directly. Want to see what we've done in the past? You can find our minutes in the FCSS Board of Education website - click Meetings at the top - click Meeting Title Search, and enter Haw Creek. That will show all previous and upcoming Haw Creek LSC meetings.

Thanks for participating with us!

PTO Membership Helps EVERYONE at Haw Creek!

Join PTO!

The quickest way to get connected to events, ways to support our school, and help make our school better is to JOIN PTO! PTO offers a variety of membership levels and every membership makes a difference.

Don't miss out on their amazing spirit wear for this year. Haw Creek encourages Spirit Wear Fridays every Friday throughout the year! No better way to show your Haw Creek Pride than by wearing the Husky Swag!

PTO also puts on a variety of events throughout the year that are ONLY possible with the power of volunteers. Be sure to connect to PTO at Open House and stay connected by following their website and their Facebook page!

Plan Ahead for PTO!

Special events at Haw Creek are possible from partnership with our PTO! Make Plans to join our PTO, order your monthly sweet treats during recess AND order your monthly Chick Fil A biscuits. PLEASE KNOW: CFA biscuits will ONLY be available via pre-sale and no extras will be offered during car line this school year. Money raised from these fundraisers not only impacts our academics and opportunities on campus, but truly help us make Haw Creek special. CLICK HERE for our PTO Website and join today!

In the know with PTO? Click Below!

Stay connected with HCES PTO by following them on Facebook at Haw Creek PTO!

Click on the button above to go directly to the PTO Website.

Haw Creek PTO

Supply Kits are Here!

If you ordered your school supply kit from PTO last spring, stop by the cafeteria to pick up your class supplies and deliver them to your homeroom when you meet your teacher!