Welcome Back!
July 29, 2020
Hello and Welcome back!
I hope this letter finds you well, and that you and your family are in good health.
As we prepare for our return to learning this year, I want you to know that FLEXIBILITY is going to be key to our success as a campus. This will perhaps be the most difficult year we experience as educators. Information will change from day to day, we will make mistakes, we will try new things and it will be a bumpy ride. Our work this year will require a high level of commitment, focus, and collaboration from everyone. While this school year may look and feel drastically different than previous years, we will continue to take care of each other, of our students and our community. Regardless if we teach face to face or virtually, we will take the time to get to know each of our students and ensure that each child is being challenged and their individual needs are being met. It is not going to be easy, but I promise you will not be left alone, we will guide you every step of the way.
We will continue to practice self-reflection and engage in conversations around having a growth mindset, both for our students and ourselves. We will analyze, explore, and deliberate on how systems of inequity, implicit bias, and racism negatively affect our campus. It is our moral imperative to engage, learn and grow from these conversations. Our students, our staff, and our community is depending on us to honor the collective commitment we made that we will do whatever it takes to ensure that our campus mission is not just a phrase; it is something that we truly believe in and live every day. “The mission of Highland Park Elementary is to educate and empower students of all abilities to develop high moral character and engage at their full potential as citizens in a diverse global community”.
I’m always interested in listening to you and our students about their concerns, celebrations, and feedback. Let me know how I can support you, your teaching and learning. My number one priority is to passionately serve you, our students, and our Highland Park families.
Highland Park Bulldogs WOOF!
Warm Regards,
Lizbeth Ruiz
Principal
Highland Park Elementary
NEW TO HIGHLAND PARK
- 4th Grade: Kathleen Alexander
- 5th Grade: Nancy Lorfing
- Art: Yasu Tsujimura (Mr. T.)
- Music: Sophie Solomonson
- SpEd Bilingual Speech: Caitlin Baker
- SpEd Speech: Ellie Samuels
- Dyslexia Intervention: Kathryn Vagalatos
- Bilingual Dyslexia Intervention: Freddy Diaz Lopez
- ESL Intervention (part time) Stephanie Washburn
- GT Specialist: Nicole Berard
Back to School Professional Development
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s1eAKCzoBlWXeSYwI0zODLih1oEHC4mBrZXaL8d0664/edit?usp=sharing
PFISD EMPLOYEE RETURN TO WORK PROTOCOLS
Keys & Classroom Set up
If you haven't already picked up your new badge and keys, you may pick-up these up starting Monday, August 3rd, from Ms. Oiesen (Mima) and begin setting up your classroom. Please be careful when you are moving in and setting up your classroom that you do not damage the finish on the floors or the walls. The custodial staff has been diligently working to ensure that our campus is clean and ready; they take good care of us so please let’s follow this expectation. Remember to follow the guidelines below as you set up your classroom.
PfISD will modify classroom and campus layouts to the greatest extent possible.
● Space seating/desk/tables/nap mats 3 to 6 feet apart when feasible.
● Turn desks to face in the same direction (rather than facing each other), or have students sit on only one side of tables, spaced apart.
School Shirts
PTO has ordered the school shirts for us, and we will get those to you as soon as the order comes in!
Class Rosters
Class Rosters will be in your mailboxes in the workroom on August 6th.
Building Access
New Teachers
We are excited that you are joining our HPES family!
New to Profession & New to District Teachers: Please log in to zoom link at 8:00 on Tuesday August 4th for an orientation.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/8496382030?pwd=eWtPQkY1bWJQc1FoRHZJRUxuK3JUUT09
Meeting ID: 849 638 2030
Passcode: 079276
New to HPES but not new to District Teachers: You are welcome to attend the virtual orientation but not required since you are not on contract yet.
All Returning Staff
Returning to HPES staff will begin their professional development days on August 6th. 100 % of our back to school Professional Development will be virtual. Some of it will be asynchronous, and some synchronous. Please look at the Back to School PD plan for details. Our district highly encourages you to participate in professional development from home, however if you must come into campus, you will be allowed but required to participate from your classroom.
Meet the Teacher
Meet the Teacher will be held virtually this year via zoom. Our campus administrative team, and specials team will provide you with a short video for you to share with your families during Meet the Teacher. We will also provide you some guidelines during staff development of what needs to be communicated during this event with families.
Event Date: August 11, 2020
Times: PK-2nd: 5:00-5:45, 3rd – 5th: 5:45-6:30
Live-streamed via Zoom by individual classes
Upcoming Events
Jul. 29 - New Student Registration 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Jul. 30 - New Student Registration 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
Aug. 03 - Virtual Grade Level Leader Meeting 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Aug. 04 -Virtual New Teacher Orientation 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Aug. 05 - New Teacher District Professional Development
Aug. 06 - Restorative Practices Training
Aug.07- Campus PD
Aug.10 - District PD
Aug.11 - Staff Work Day
Aug.11 - Virtual Meet the Teacher: PK-2: 5:00-5:45 p.m. & 3rd-5th: 5:45-6:30 p.m.
Aug.12 - Staff Work Day
Aug.13 - Students First Day of School
Highland Park Elementary School
Website: https://www.pfisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=37
Location: 428 Kingston Lacy Blvd, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512.594.6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighlandParkES/
Twitter: @HighlandPark_ES