Our first PTO meeting of the 2026–2027 school year packed a lot into an hour — a $50,000 gift to the school, a brand-new partnership program, strong academic results, and a fall calendar that’s already filling up. Here’s the short version.
📅 Mark Your Calendar
September
- Sept. 11 — Grandparents & Special Friends Day + Book Fair
- Sept. 16 — Impact Day (no school)
- Sept. 17 — Men’s Committee “Meat” and Greet, 7:00 PM, gym parking lot
- Sept. 18 — Back to School BBQ, 5:00–8:00 PM, School Yard
- Sept. 21 — High Dose Tutoring begins
- Sept. 22 — Le Petit Déj, 8:00 AM
- Sept. 28–Oct. 2 — NJHS Candy Drive
October
- Oct. 7 — Fall City Park Night, 6:00–9:00 PM, Storyland
- Oct. 16 — Spooktacular, 6:00–8:30 PM, Gym Parking Lot
- Oct. 20 — Q1 Giveback Night at Reginelli’s
Save the date: PTO Meeting #2 is November 4, 2026. Impact Day #2 is November 3 (Election Day, no school).
💚 $50,000 for School Technology
The PTO presented Hynes Lakeview with a $50,000 gift for school technology, funded entirely by last year’s fundraising. It’s already at work in the refreshed computer lab. Principal Dawn Lobell thanked the PTO on behalf of the school’s 800+ students.
Past PTO-funded projects include the kindergarten play yard and the shade structure.
🐾 Introducing Hynes P.A.C.K. Partners
This year is the founding year for P.A.C.K. — Partners Assisting the Community of Kids — our new annual partnership program connecting local businesses and families to the school.
Support areas include classroom investment, teacher innovation, student experiences, family engagement, campus improvements, and school traditions.
Founding levels: Pup Pals $750 · Bronze $1,250 · Silver $2,500 · Gold $5,000 · Platinum $10,000 · Diamond $15,000+
Partners who join this inaugural year will be recognized as the community that started the tradition. Know a business that would be a good fit? Let us know.
💰 Treasurer’s Report at a Glance
- FY2025–26 actuals: $61,732 in net proceeds against a $69,400 budget
- FY2026–27 proposed: $26,689 in net proceeds
Event-based fundraising is budgeted more conservatively this year. The board is working to hold event costs flat against inflation while stretching every dollar.
🙋 Where We Need You
Volunteering earns homework passes, and top volunteers are honored at year-end with a breakfast and a gift. Log your hours using the Google Form so they count — 42 hours are already on the board from School Supply Sorting.
Open roles:
- 3rd and 5th Grade Class Captains — still unfilled
- Spooktacular AV Chair — sound experience helpful, day-of only
- Chess Club Coach — one afternoon a week, 3:15–4:30. Sets, timers, and space provided. Contact Eren Wilson via ParentSquare.
Upcoming shifts:
- Spirit Shirt Sorting — Sept. 9 (morning)
- Whitney Wednesdays — Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 (mornings)
- Back to School BBQ — Sept. 18
- Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat & day-of help — Oct. 16 (some shifts as short as 30 minutes; PTO provides candy plus a $35 decoration stipend)
- Library volunteering — ongoing, with pizza-and-training the first Tuesday of each month, 4:00–6:00 PM
📚 Library & Book Fair
The Book Fair moves to Literati this year and will be cash-free — purchases run through gift cards bought on the website. Books and school supplies only; no toys.
- Sept. 4 — After-school preview, 3:00–4:00 PM
- Sept. 8–9 — In-class visits + after-school shopping
- Sept. 11 — Grandparents Day
- Sept. 14–16 — In-class visits + after-school shopping
The online webstore is open year-round: 25% of profit goes to the school during Book Fair season, 10% off-season. No training needed to volunteer.
New: a Junior Librarian Program for grades 6–8 — two shifts a week, application and parent permission required.
🏆 How Our Students Are Doing
- Hynes Lakeview ranked #1 among open-enrollment elementary schools in New Orleans for LEAP Mastery
- 90% of K–3 students scored at or above DIBELS benchmark or grew a full level — well past the 88% goal
- School-wide reading: finished the year at 90% on or above grade level; the 2026–27 target is 92%
- 2026 LEAP Mastery: ELA 78%, Math 65%, Science 61%, Social Studies 65%. New goals: 83% / 68% / 63% / 68%
High Dose Tutoring starts Sept. 21. Families of eligible students will receive an Individual Academic Support Plan in mid-September — please sign and return it quickly. Questions go to Susan Connick.
From the family survey: you told us the school’s strengths are its welcoming environment, parent involvement, and supportive staff. You also told us there’s too much communication and too much homework. Leadership is reviewing homework load — if an assignment is running past two hours, stop and send the teacher a note. More activities are coming, including art, Soccer Tots, and possibly chess.
👕 Around the School
- Uniform Committee — Accepting new, like-new, and gently used pieces (washed, please). No field trip or spirit shirts, and no items with embroidered names. Exchanges happen on PTO meeting days; drop-offs go to the front office.
- Spirit Store — Previous-year shirts are $5, favorites are back in stock, and the online store runs 24/7 with 5–7 day fulfillment.
- Men’s Committee — First meeting is the “Meat” and Greet, Sept. 17 at 7:00 PM. Bring a Hynes dad.
- Les Amis de Hynes — Record turnout at the Welcome Pique-Nique. Holiday Market & Pictures with Santa is Dec. 5, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM — vendors and planners wanted.
- Fine Arts — Fall play is Alice in Wonderland (Reader’s Theater and Improv), with more theatre opportunities on the way. Thank you to the Boswell family and Drew’s Tunes for the new black box stage.
- Fall offerings — Football, volleyball, swimming, cross country, and choir are underway.
🚸 One Safety Reminder
Walk bikes across crosswalks, follow the crossing guards, watch the speed limit, and turn left when leaving front carpool. Car-flow maps are in the student handbook.
Want the Full Details?
See you November 4. Go Huskies! 🐺