The Scots' Scoop
Highland Park Middle School's Weekly Family Newsletter
March 6, 2022
All translations are computer generated.
We apologize in advance for any unintended errors.
March is Women's History Month
"You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”
- Indira Gandhi • the first &, to date, only female
prime minister of India
Upcoming Important Dates
Monday, March 7: Scots After School / Flipside new session begins (See article below, "Scots After School / Flipside")
Monday, March 14: FCC Meeting - Virtual on Zoom , 6 - 7 p.m. (see agenda below)
Mon., Mar. 21 - Fri., Mar. 25: MCA Reading Test (See article below, "MCA Testing March & April")
Thursday, March 24: Parent-Teacher Conferences • VIRTUAL • 4 - 7 p.m. (Specific information forthcoming)
Friday, April 1: End of Quarter 3
Mon., Apr. 4 - Fri., Apr. 8: • No School • Spring Break
Monday, April 11: Classes resume; beginning of Quarter 4
Friday, April 15: E-Learning Day • no in-school classes
Current 8th Graders: AVID for Next Year's 9th Graders
This past week, the AVID coordinator from Highland Park Senior High visited our 8th grade classes to talk about AVID, and how the program might be helpful in the transition to high school and in preparing for college. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college-readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college. Students learn valuable skills in the areas of writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. AVID is a scheduled class that takes place of an elective.
Students who are interested in entering AVID at any of the SPPS high schools need to complete this application by April 1. If you have questions about AVID, please email Ms. Mulvaney (8th grade school counselor) at elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org or Mr. Lunning (high school AVID coordinator) at chance.lunning@spps.org.
Tardy Concerns
Each day we have a sizable amount of tardies at the beginning of the school day. All research shows that students who come to class on time do better in school. Any student who continues to be tardy may:
- receive lunch detention(s), as a result of continuous tardies,
- be required to return with a parent/guardian for an attendance conference,
- be required to sign an attendance contract to ensure they are to class on time,
- be identified by Ramsey County as a candidate for Truancy Intervention Program (TIP), and/or
- be required, along with their parent/guardian, to attend a School Attendance Review Team (SART) hearing sponsored by Ramsey County Juvenile Court.
If you are dropping your child off at school in the mornings, please make ample time to do so. Our parking lot gets very busy by 8:15 a.m., so please make a point to leave a little earlier so your child is in the building by 8:25 a.m., to get to class on-time by 8:30 a.m. Finally, check your Campus One Stop regularly to keep abreast of your child's attendance.
Anything marked on your child's attendance record as "TUN" means an unexcused tardy; anything marked as "AUN" means an unexcused absence. For example, state law does not excuse a tardy to school as result of heavy traffic & therefore will show up on the attendance reports as "TUN" for the first period of the day. To help avoid the serious consequences noted above, please discuss with your child the importance of being on time to class.
HPMS Yearbook on Sale Now!
- "Order Your Lifetouch Yearbook" & then underneath:
- "Enter your school’s Yearbook ID code or search for your Yearbook ID code below."
- Then, in the space provided underneath the last message, where it says, "Yearbook ID code," enter the code for Highland Park Middle School, which is: 14645322.
- Then, click "Next" & follow the prompts.
We thank Ms. Wise for the coordination of this year's HPMS Yearbook!
MCA Testing March & April
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) tests will be administered in grades 6-8 in March and April this spring. All students are scheduled to take the reading and math MCAs; eighth graders also take the science MCAs. Please encourage your child to get a good night's sleep before the testing dates. Here are the proposed dates for testing:
- March 21-25: Reading Test (in Reader's and ELA class)
- April 18-22; Math Test (taken in math class)
- April 25-28 Science Test (grade 8 only;; in Science class)
If you do NOT want your student to take the MCA tests this spring ... If you plan to opt your child out of the MCA testing please email the HPMS principal at charlene.hoff@spps.org, or complete and sign the MCA opt out form: https://www.spps.org/Domain/17563 from the Minnesota Department of Education's website. When emailing or writing an opt out note, please include the date the letter is written, your child's full name, your full name & signature, indicate which test(s) your student is opting out of (for example, Math, Reading, and/or Science). Students who opt out of testing will use the testing time to work on coursework, so the students should come prepared with work to do on the above dates.
If you have questions about MCA testing please contact your child's school counselor:
- danielle.seifert@spps.org (grade 6),
- nou.katzmarek@spps.org (grade 7), or
- elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org (grade 8).
Please Leave These Items at Home
Cell Phones, Earbuds, Electronics
Highland Park Middle School has a "No Cell Phone Policy" during school hours. Please read more about this policy at this link: https://www.smore.com/pz8km.
Other Items
We are seeing more students bringing stuffed animals (e.g., Squishmallows) and blankets to school. These items are not only distracting, but can become unsafe in a school setting. Please leave these, and other items like them, at home.
'Every Meal' Free Weekend Meal Program
HPMS FCC March Meeting
This will be a virtual meeting held on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85310362742
Meeting ID: 853 1036 2742
Agenda Items:
- Introduction of new HPMS School Social Worker, Katie Monroe
- District Parent Educators to discuss available parent support classes, including “Puberty for Parents”
Monday, Mar 14, 2022, 06:00 PM
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Volunteer Opportunity / Field Trip Chaperones Needed
Our 8th grade students and teachers have been preparing for the Junior Achievement activity to take place on March 28th (for the Sharks Team) and on March 31st (for the Tecolotes Team), both dates at the Junior Achievement (JA) Finance Park, located at 1745 University Ave., W., St. Paul, MN 55104.
We are looking for 20 adult chaperones for each day. Volunteers meet at Junior Achievement (JA) Finance Park, located at 1745 University Ave West St. Paul, MN 55104 by 8:30 a.m. for training for one hour before the students arrive.
If you are interested in accompanying the Junior Achievement field trip, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form located on the Families section of the Highland Park MS website or contact Rachel Propson | rachel.propson@spps.org.
No Parking in Bus Zones Before or After School
School Bus Route Challenges
Please go to this link to read about school bus information: https://www.smore.com/b1xez.
Schedule Change for 2022-23 School Year
Please see this link for information regarding next year's schedule changes: https://www.smore.com/e9fxc.
COVID-19 Vaccines Available Ages 5 - 17
Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms?
Please review this updated illness guidance for what to do if your child gets sick or tests positive for COVID-19. The SPPS COVID-19 Team continues to provide information to families who report positive cases to the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please notify your child's school and activities with absences and return dates that are determined when making a report or by the COVID-19 Team.
If you or your child are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please do the following:
Go to the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System Website: https://commedspps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9G0WvcJlWfuqwlL & follow the instructions there, then
Call the HPMS Attendance Line at (651) 744-3393, or email highlandmsattendance@spps.org to notify the school if you will be keeping your child home from school.
Athletic Events Safety Practices
SPPS athletic events are governed by the Minnesota State High School League. SPPS student conduct at school and district events is governed by the SPPS Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Event Policies
• Middle School Students
- Middle school students and younger must be accompanied by an adult chaperone at all times - this includes at both High School AND Middle School sporting events.
• IDs
- Students from the hosting school and visiting school are welcome with student ID. No student ID, no entry.
- Students from any other schools/non-participating schools must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
• Re-entry Policy
- Fans will not be allowed re-entry once they have exited the building/venue.
- Exception will only apply in which restrooms or concessions are not within the venue.
• Home/Visitor seating
- Fans are expected to be in their designated school’s section.
• Backpacks
- Backpacks are not allowed.
• No outside food or drink allowed if concessions are sold on site.
• SPPS Prohibits the following at School Events:
- Weapons
- Alcoholic Beverages
- E Cigarettes / Vaping
- Tobacco
- Controlled Substances
**Those suspected of being under the influence will not be admitted and are subject to removal from the event.
• In addition...- Spectators are prohibited from bringing balls into an event.
- Only hand-held signs are allowed. Signs must be positive, appropriate, promote the participants, and not be distracting or block the view of others.
- Artificial noise makers are prohibited.
- Only authorized personnel will be admitted onto the playing surface.
- Animals, other than service animals, are not permitted in the event.
Persons who violate these rules may be ejected without refund.
Follow the rules, regulations, or directions from school staff, stadium personnel, police, or security staff. Inability to do so may result in removal from the event.
SPPS athletic events are governed by the Minnesota State High School League.
Homework Help at Highland Park Public Library
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 4 - 7 p.m., the Highland Park Public Library has a homework help center! The library has volunteers available to help with homework assigned to anyone from kindergarteners to college students. They also have school supplies and internet access.
The Highland Park Public Library is located at 1974 Ford Parkway. For more information, you may call the library at (651) 695-3700, or visit the Saint Paul Public Library calendar of events online at www.sppl.org/calendar. Please have your student take advantage of this free service!
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About HPMS
At Highland Park Middle School, it our mission is to:
- Provide our students with a sense of community and global perception in a nurturing and caring learning environment,
- Help students acquire the skills necessary to value themselves, and take pride in their accomplishments, and
- Develop respect and understanding of other people and their cultures.
Website: https://www.spps.org/highlandms
Location: 975 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 293-8950