“Ask ‘How will they learn best?’ not ‘Can they learn?'” – Jaime Escalante

Upcoming Events -

TONIGHT - Friday, December 1 - Parents Night Out Highland - 5:30-9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 6 - Kemple Dental Screening Form DUE for children K-2

Friday, December 8 - End of Highland Food Drive

Friday, December 8 - Parent Night Out Summit - 5:30-8:00 p.m. to Summit Sparrow

Tuesday, December 12 - PTO Meeting, cafeteria, 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 14 - Site Council, library, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 21 - Gifts Galore & More

Friday, December 22 - Craft Day

Monday, December 25 - Friday, January 5 - Winter Break!

Please view the full Highland Calendar

Principal’s Letter

Dear Highland Families;

There is plenty of information below, so I will keep my message short. I want to thank you all for helping our PTO reach their annual giving campaign goal, although I am not going to lie...I do wish you would have provided a little more time for my hair to grow just a bit longer before dying it. So the big question is when am I going to do it?? My plan is to dye my hair the night before the next assembly on December 15th and then reveal the damage...errr, work of art during the assembly. Those of you who insist on sharing those stories of hair-dye-gone-terribly-wrong, can stop now; I am just a little afraid and I think that’s enough.

I hope to see you and your children tonight!

Sincerely,

Brian Kissell

Oregon School Report Cards

Please view Oregon School Report Cards HERE

PARENTS NIGHT OUT - TONIGHT!

This Friday, December 1, is Parent Night Out in the tent from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. We hope Highland students and their younger siblings, who are at least 4 years old, will join us for some games and a movie while you hit the town! Parents Night Out is a fundraiser for the teachers who are going to the International Storyline Conference in Slovenia this summer.

Annual Food Drive

Highland’s annual food drive began this week. Students who bring in non-perishable food items may place them in the hall outside their classroom. We will collect food until Friday, December 8. The class with the most food items will earn frozen treats for each student. Let’s help families in our community by donating food to others in need.

Highland Elementary School filled 30 boxes with cards, notes, treats and gifts for sailors and soldier on the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Gifts Galore and More Returns December 21

As many of you know, Gifts Galore and More has become a treasured Highland tradition. Gifts Galore is a “kids owned and operated” indoor garage sale during the last week of school in December. The purpose of this low-key event is to provide our students with a “shopping opportunity” while at the same time helping others. The proceeds are contributed to our Sparrow. This year’s Gift Galore and More will be on Thursday, December 21. We are encouraging students and parents to bring in items that they no longer use, but are in good condition. The items may be anything children would want to buy for loved ones. NO CLOTHING PLEASE. Items will be collected until the morning of December 21. Our older students will then have the task of sorting, pricing, and displaying the items for our Gifts Galore and More gala affair. On the afternoon of December 21, all students have the chance to shop for these items. Gifts can be purchased for friends, siblings, and, if you’re lucky, even parents! Gifts will be priced at 25 cents, 50 cents, 75 cents, $1.00, $2.00, or $5.00 (no refunds for unused tickets). Each child may bring up to $5.00 for Gifts Galore.

Parents and students from the upper grades will be on hand to help with the wrapping of gifts. It is wonderful for the older students to gain confidence and a sense of leadership. This is a very tangible way to teach kids that they can make a difference! It reminds us all of what “community” really means. Thank you for any part you can play in this event. Please deliver items to room 1 or 8. We will take donations until 10:00 a.m. December 21.

Gratefully,

4th and 5th grade teachers

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

1. We also need donations of tape, wrapping paper, Sharpies, and your time helping with the wrapping of presents on December 21.
2. ALL donated items can be placed in room 1 or 8 (Alicia or Cami’s room) in the back of the room. Please no clothes or broken toys. Housewares, decorations, toys, games, and puzzles are good donations.
3. We will be accepting items until the big day, December 21.
4. The 4/5 teams will get volunteers to help us.
5. Kids can bring in up to $5.00 to purchase tickets for buying items on December 21.

Site Council:

Next Meeting is Thursday 12/14, at 4:00 in the Library

What is Highland’s “Site Council?”

Highland Magnet School’s Site Council is a dedicated, collaborative group of school administrators, school staff, and parents, and its mission is to encourage academic improvement and school reform.

What does this mean for our Highland kids?

Site Council makes recommendations and provides direction to Highland staff that reflects a well-rounded perspective in alignment with school and district goals. The Site Council relies on survey data, parent feedback, district input, and educational trends.

How can parents learn more or be involved?

Site Council meets regularly once a month in the school library on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00pm. Meetings are posted on the school website calendar. The public is encouraged to attend.

What’s next?

Highland Magnet School's Site Council is learning about our school’s design process. In November, the group learned about our Thriving Citizen Team work. This month we will hear about the Academic Excellence Team’s work to improve the math experience for all students.

Stay tuned for more on Highland’s Site Council in future Highland Newsletters!

JOIN YOUR CHILD FOR A HOLIDAY LUNCH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21

PLEASE EMAIL AN RSVP by December 4 to: [email protected]

On the menu: roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, holiday stuffing, roasted vegetables, and a gingerbread cookie.

Therrian, Howard - 11:52-12:15

4/5 - 11:45-12:07

Reisinger, Eriksson - 12:22-12:45

KG, Gross, Fetrow - 12:15-12:37

Green, Cross - 12:37-1:00

When Should I Keep My Child at Home

Cough: Persistent cough with or without fever; serious, sustained coughing; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

· Diarrhea: 3 or more loose, watery stools in one day. May return when diarrhea has resolved for 24 hours.

· Fever: More than 100.5 F. May return when temperature is below 100.5 F for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).

· Jaundice (yellow color of skin and/or eyes): May return after diagnosis from a physician and clearance is given.

· Lice (live bugs): May return after a pediculicide lice treatment shampoo has been applied (per manufacturer or physician instruction) and there are no live bugs. See district lice procedure.

· Rash (any new rash if accompanied by fever): May return when symptoms are resolved or a diagnosis has been made and clearance given.

· Skin lesions: Or drainage that cannot be contained within a bandage. May return when discharge is gone or student has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and has a written consent from the health care provider upon return to school. Drainage must be contained within a bandage.

· Stiff Neck (or headache with accompanying fever): May return when symptoms are resolved or a diagnosis is made and clearance given.

· Strep throat: May return after after 24 hours on antibiotics.

· Vomiting: More than twice in 24 hours, unless determined to be from non-communicable conditions. May return when vomiting is resolved.

· Illness of two or more weeks, surgery or other change in health status: Written instructions from their health care provider regarding medication and/or special health needs must be provided to the school nurse.

· Student requires more care than the school staff can safely provide: Remain home until resolved or reasonable care can be provided by school personnel.