08/01/2026
Back to School Letter:
Dear Burns-Hicks Families,
Welcome to another exciting school year at Burns-Hicks Elementary!
Our staff has been working hard all summer preparing for the return of our Bulldogs, and we cannot wait to welcome your children back into our building! We truly believe this is going to be an incredible year filled with learning, growth, and opportunities for every student!
As we begin the new school year, there will be a few important changes and expectations that I would like to share with you.
Morning Arrival
This school year, all students will be dropped off at Door A during morning arrival. We are making this change to improve safety, supervision, and the overall efficiency of our arrival process. More detailed arrival procedures will be sent to families later this week, so please watch for that information.
Working Together for Student Success
At Burns-Hicks, our mission is simple: to help every child find success…academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and we know that happens best when school and home work together as one team!
Our expectations for students will be higher than ever this year. We are committed to providing high-quality instruction while also holding students accountable for their choices and behavior. We believe our students are capable of great things, and we will challenge them to meet those expectations every single day. Routines and procedures will be found in every hallway, classroom and area of the building.
There may be times when you receive a phone call from a teacher, counselor, or administrator regarding your child’s behavior. Please know that these calls are never made lightly. Before contacting home, our staff has already worked with the student and attempted to correct the behavior at school. When we reach out, it is because we need your partnership to help your child be successful.
Our goal is never to target, embarrass, or “pick on” a student. Our goal is to teach, support, redirect, and help students make better choices. Children are most successful when they know the adults in their lives are working together. When students see that school and home are united, they understand that expectations remain consistent wherever they are.
Simply put, we want to give our students their best opportunity to be good people! (Our world needs good people!) Together, we can help every student become the very best version of themselves.
Student Expectations
The School City of Hammond Code of Conduct will be followed consistently throughout the school year. We encourage every family to review it before school begins. The Code of Conduct is available on the SCH website.
We will continue to hold students accountable while also supporting them with compassion and fairness. Every child deserves to learn in a safe, respectful environment.
This includes maintaining a strong stance against bullying. Last year, we took bullying seriously and issued consequences, including suspensions when necessary. That commitment will continue this year. We want every student to feel safe, welcomed, and respected every day they walk through our doors.
New State Cell Phone Law
Indiana recently passed legislation regarding student cell phone use during the school day.
Beginning this school year, students may not have access to their cell phones from bell to bell. Phones should remain turned off and stored away throughout the instructional day. If students are caught with their phone, unfortunately, consequences will be issued. We want to be upfront and honest about these changes. This allows students to remain focused on learning and helps reduce distractions for everyone.
We appreciate your support as we implement this new state requirement.
Dress Code Reminders
To help maintain a positive learning environment, we ask families to review these important dress code expectations with their children.
* Students may wear hooded sweatshirts, but the hood may not be worn over their head inside the building at any time.
* Girls’ shirts should fully cover the midriff.
* Shorts and skirts should be fingertip length.
* Students who are out of dress code will receive consequences consistent with school expectations.
A Small Request for Our Younger Families
If your child has occasional bathroom accidents or is still working on bathroom independence, we kindly ask that you place an extra change of clothes in their backpack. Having clean clothes readily available helps us care for students quickly and comfortably if an accident occurs.
Partnering With Our Families
One of our biggest goals this year is to welcome families into our school more than ever before. We want Burns-Hicks to be a place where families feel connected, valued, and proud to be part of our school community.
With that partnership comes mutual respect.
We ask every parent and visitor to be mindful of the energy they bring into our building. Our students notice how adults speak about school and how we work through disagreements. When children see respect and cooperation between home and school, they feel more secure and are more likely to make positive choices themselves.
If you have concerns, we absolutely want to hear them. We can not be our best if we don’t know how to improve! We simply ask that concerns be addressed through the appropriate procedures. Following established communication protocols allows us to fully investigate situations, respond thoughtfully, and work toward positive solutions together.
Looking Ahead
Last school year, Burns-Hicks made significant academic growth, and we are incredibly proud of what our students and staff accomplished. While we celebrate that progress, we know our work is far from finished.
Our vision is bold.
We believe Burns-Hicks deserves to be one of the very best schools in Hammond.
That vision cannot be accomplished by teachers alone, administrators alone, or parents alone. It will take every one of us working together, believing in our students, holding them accountable, and supporting them every step of the way.
Thank you for trusting us with your children. It is a privilege we never take for granted.
We are excited to welcome our Bulldogs back and look forward to an outstanding school year!
All In. Every Bulldog. Every Day.
Sincerely,
Melinda Hawkins
Principal
Burns-Hicks Elementary School
