Greetings Hughes Families!

I wanted to begin this week’s newsletter with some sad news, but also with an opportunity to celebrate and remember the incredible woman whose name our school proudly carries.

This week, our beloved Mrs. Betty Hughes passed away. Betty was a true champion for education and for the Prosper community, and she made a lasting impact on so many lives. I have dedicated a special section below my message to share more about her life and her contributions to our community. My hope is that you will take a few minutes to read it with your child—not simply to focus on the fact that we have lost her, but to help your child understand who she was and why our school is named Hughes Elementary.

Some of our students who were here two years ago had the very special opportunity to meet Mrs. Hughes during an assembly and parade celebrating her birthday. She shared stories about what school and life were like when she was growing up in Prosper, giving our students a glimpse into the history of the community they call home.

I feel incredibly blessed to have known Betty and to have shared so many conversations, laughs, and special moments with her. She was a beautiful and treasured part of the Hughes family, and I know her legacy will continue to live on, not only in the halls of the school that bears her name, but also in the hearts of the many people she touched throughout her life.

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District Wide GOLD out day is this Tuesday, September 29th in helping to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Wear GOLD this Tuesday!

It’s time for Trunk-or-Treat!
This is one of our favorite family events of the year, and we need your help to make it a success!

Here is the link to sign up to host a trunk or donate candy! Any help is appreciated!

Ways to Get Involved --

Host a Trunk (or Table)

• Bring your decorated trunk or table and candy to pass out.

• Fun themes are encouraged (but not required).

• There will be a Best Trunk Contest with prizes!

Donate Candy

• We need LOTS of candy to keep the fun going!

• Donations will help stock teacher trunks and serve as “backup” if trunks run out early.

• Please donate large bags of individually wrapped Halloween candy (no homemade treats).

Donation Details

• A collection box will be in the office foyer for drop-offs.

• PTO business sponsors may contact us to arrange pickup.

• Donations are due by Thursday, October 22nd.

Trunk Host Info

• Set-up: East parking lot opens at 4:30 pm. Please arrive no later than 5:00 pm (the parking lot will be closed at that time).

• Candy: Each trunk is responsible for providing its own candy.

• Judging: Best Trunk contest judging begins at 5:15 pm.

• Event Time: Families will begin visiting trunks at 5:30 pm, and the event will wrap up at 6:30pm.

• Trunk Exit: The parking lot will open for trunks to exit at 6:40pm. (Note: for safety reasons, trunks will not be able to leave early.)

Want to have lunch with your child?

We are excited to announce that our "Lunch with Your Child" is starting up again. This is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal with your student.
Due to limited space, we will be using Sign Up Genius to manage participation. Please be courteous to other families by limiting your sign-ups to up to once a month, for each child.

We are asking this because we really feel that lunch is a time when students get to socialize with their friends. And once a month is a special treat. Each grade level will have 4 spots available for each day Monday-Friday so there will be plenty of time for you to come once a month. Thank you so much!d out of the office. Lunch Sign Up Link

Also, we now have a Instragram account! We post updates, announcements, and of course our weekly #HughesHype videos!

Hughes Elementary School Facebook Page!

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Important Upcoming Dates:

• September 29th: Prosper ISD Gold Out Day- Childhood cancer awareness day. Wear GOLD!
• October 9th: No School for Students
• October 12th and 13th: Fall Break-No School
• October 20th: Prosper ISD Pink Out Day- Wear PINK!
• October 19th-23rd: Red Ribbon Week! (Dress up days coming soon!)
• October 21st-23rd: Sky Ranch for 5th Grade
• October 29th: Hughes Trunk or Treat 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Hughes!
• November 10th: Campus Spelling Bee (More info coming soon!)
• November 11th: Veteran's Day Celebration
• November 13th: Hughes Huddle- Ever-Growing!

Connect with us:

• Hughes website

• Facebook: Like the Hughes Elementary School and the Hughes Elementary PTO page

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at anytime with any questions, concerns, or celebrations! Email me at jiroberds@prosper-isd.net

In partnership,

Julia Roberds, M.Ed.

Jim and Betty Hughes Elementary, Principal

Betty Hughes grew up in the Walnut Grove community on the family farm that was located on a gravel road now known as Custer Road. She attended school in Prosper, which at the time was a town of 250 people. She graduated from Prosper High School in 1956. While there, she played basketball for the varsity team and was also a Majorette.

After high school, Betty went to Denton, Texas to attend North Texas State College (now the University of North Texas). She earned her bachelors and masters degrees from North Texas. After graduation, she began her teaching career in Odessa, Texas. She later taught school in Irving, before getting hired at the McKinney Independent School District. She started teaching 2nd grade at Finch Elementary in McKinney in 1965. She taught there from 1965-1977 and while there, was awarded the Teacher of the Year award for the Fanny Finch School. She then began the second phase of her career when she became the curriculum coordinator for the elementary schools, a position she held until she retired in 1989.

Betty married James A. (Jim) Hughes from Prosper, at the First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas. After their marriage, Jim and Betty lived in McKinney, Texas until moving back to Prosper in 1995. In Prosper, they quickly became involved in the community. They attended high school sporting events and volunteered around the community with their time and resources. Betty was also a member of the Prosper Historical Society, the Prosper Garden Club, and the Prosper Book Club.

In 2016, both Jim and Betty were honored by the Prosper Independent School District, with the opening of the Jim and Betty Hughes Elementary School. Betty loved her namesake school and would attend as many events there as she could and was well known for making brownies or cookies and taking them up to the school for the staff to enjoy.

Betty was loved by everyone in the community, and was always eager to go and do as much as she could. As she got older, her good friends would come and pick her up for bingo, or the city council meetings, or the other activities she enjoyed in and around Prosper.

We are honored to carry her name, and even more honored to continue the legacy of kindness, love, education, and community that she represented so beautifully.

Start with Hello Week was a huge success! Created by the Sandy Hook Promise foundation, this fun week was all about spreading kindness, making new friends, and making sure no student ever feels left out.

Many of our classrooms wrote and shared ideas of how to be kind, saying hello to someone you might not know or even coming up with ways to include others!

Welcome back to the Hughes Library! Mrs. Spencer is excited for a year filled with stories!

Hughes Elementary Library Website

Thanks to Pottermore Publishing, who are making the title free for schools all September long, Hughes readers have unlimited access to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone! You can login to the Sora Reading App using your child's Prosper ISD Credentials to have access to our Digital Catalog of eBooks and Audiobooks!

Author Josh Funk is coming to Hughes! Please read all of the information below or click on the flyer that will take you to the order form!

Please join the Hughes PTO and help our school!

Click here to join PTO!

Aramark Student Nutrition is launching Ace’s PIN Power Challenge, which is a district-wide elementary school competition. The challenge will run from September 21 through October 8, with winning classrooms announced on Thursday, October 8.

We are excited to announce our 2nd Annual Rock Hill Baseball Pickleball Tournament fundraiser! This is our sole fundraising event for the fall season, and this year, we want to transform it into a massive community celebration.

To make this a huge success, we need all hands on deck from our players and parents. Here is how your family can help:

• Form a Team: Every player needs to find a partner (pairing up with another baseball player is perfectly fine!) and register their duo.
• Recruit a Team: In addition to playing, each individual player is responsible for recruiting at least one additional team from outside the program to sign up.
• Donate Auction Items: We are hosting a silent auction during the tournament. If you have access to popular items, sports memorabilia, event tickets, gift cards, or themed baskets, please consider making a donation.
• Volunteer Your Time: We need a dedicated committee of parents to help with pre-event planning, as well as volunteers to help execute the tournament on game day (managing check-ins, courts, and concessions).
• Spread the Word: Share the attached flyer with friends, neighbors, and coworkers to help us promote the event.

Want to help plan or donate? Please fill out this committee interest form if you would like to help with the planning of the tournament.

Have an auction item you would like to donate. Let us know here!

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 24
• Time: Games begin at 8:00 AM
• Location: Rock Hill Auxiliary Gyms
• Cost: $40 per team
• Who can play: All skill levels are welcome (ages 12 and up)!

Come out for a great day of competition, a silent auction, prizes, and a fully stocked concession stand. Scan the QR code on the attached flyer to secure your spot today. Thank you for supporting Rock Hill Baseball!

Website: www.prosper-isd.net/hughes
Location: 1551 Prestwick Hollow Drive, McKinney, TX, USA
Phone: (945) 678-2600
Facebook: facebook.com/HughesElemSchool/

Instagram: @Hughes_Elem
Twitter: @hugheselem