It is always this time of year that makes me extra reflective and grateful. This year is no different even with our strange and new circumstances.

It has been such a hard two years for all of us. We have lost family members and friends to COVID-19. We have been separated from our loved ones, lived life in a way we never have before, and yet there is so much to be grateful for.

I am immensely thankful to work as a principal with such amazing students. The first thirty minutes of my day always fills my bucket as I greet, elbow bump, and hug kids as they walk into school. It is the kids who remind me of how thankful I should be as they laugh, smile, and eagerly make their ways to learn with their classmates. They are eternally hopeful and positive and moving and adjusting to life with love and cheer.

If you need to fill your bucket, stop and watch the kids. They know how to be grateful, show grace, laugh, and smile. They will show us the way.

Thank you to the many families who sent in pictures of loved ones for our video. As well, thank you to Tessa, Cheyanna, Jaydan, Myran, and Aidan who all worked hard on making this happen.

I sat down with fifth-grader Charlie Knecht to learn about the significance of Dia de los Muertos as it is significant to the theme of their winning Trunk or Treat Coco exhibit.

Charlie taught me a lot about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It is celebrated all over the world but is very prevalent in Mexico, and other Latin countries, including but not limited to Chile (where Charlie's family has roots), Peru, Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. It is typically celebrated on the first and second of November. It is not a sad holiday even though people remember people who have passed. It is a day of celebrating and remembering. People often create ofrendas (alters) and place Sugar Skulls (brightly decorated skulls) to remember their loved ones.

Thank you, Knechts, for sharing with us!

Order your Highcroft Spirit Wear now through November 21st!

It’s time to order your Highcroft Ridge Spirit Wear! Get your gear now for the whole family! We have T-shirts, hoodies, hats, car decals, and more!

Ordering is easy on the new PSO Hub. This is a great time to sign up if you haven’t already. Use the link below to sign in or sign up.

HCR PSO HUB

Or download the Membership Toolkit app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

In the app, you can access the Spirit Wear store by clicking the menu, or three lines at the top left. On the website, the store can be found in the menu on the left.

You can pay online by credit card or PayPal. Profits go to the Highcroft PSO via a PayPal account.

The online store will be open until Sunday, November 21st. Orders are expected to arrive by mid-December and will be distributed in class by your oldest child’s teacher. If your order is a holiday gift and you don't want it distributed at school, please send an email noting that to highcroftpso@gmail.com and you will be notified when you can pick up your order from Katie Molick.

Due to current supply chain constraints and using multiple suppliers, note that size options vary by item.

Please contact Katie Molick with questions at highcroftpso@gmail.com.

Greetings Parents and Families,

The weather has finally started to turn cool and someday absolutely chilly! Students will be outside during PE and recess, so they need to have a warm jacket or hoodie every day as well as some type of hat if it is cold and windy. Please remember to dress your child appropriately for the weather. I do not have enough hats and gloves to share with all the students and have to wash hats and gloves after each use. Also, remember to send your child in with spare masks.

I have ordered 2 additional shipments but they have not arrived. I would prefer that students have cloth masks because they are washable and reusable. Please remember to wash the mask after a day’s use. They need to be clean and fit snugly.

COVID Guidelines

Please remember to call me if your child has been exposed to/or tests positive to COVID.

Since our students aren’t old enough to be vaccinated they are very susceptible to getting COVID when they are exposed. We are seeing many vaccinated adults having break through infections and spreading COVID to children who then have a variety of symptoms. I am seeing students with severe headaches, high fevers, muscle aches, bad long lasting coughs and residual respiratory issues. It is never appropriate to send a sick child to school because they can spread viruses and other infections to classmates and staff members who can then spread infections to family members. Masks and handwashing are a good way to prevent or reduce the chances of spreading germs but are not 100% protective. We all have to work our best to keep others safe. Click here to review Parkway’s Guidelines Health guidelines

Here is a list of COVID symptoms COVID symptoms

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

BE SAFE, STAY SAFE!

Cathy Hubert BSN, RN, NCSN

314-415-6410

chubert2@parkwayschools.net

Parkway Heath Department is now doing a monthly newsletter. Please read it here.

November

• 16 Wear Your AVA STRONG shirt! HBD Ava!

• 17 Early Release at 2:00 pm

• 16-18 Conferences - please sign up with teachers

• 16, Conferences 4:15 to 6:00 pm

• 18, Conferences 4:15 to 8:00 pm

• 22 All Read 3:20 PM

• 24-26 No School for Thanksgiving Break

• 30-12/3 4th Gr. Bullying Lessons by SPARK

To see events for the year click here.

*Calling all cardboard collectors! This month, the art room is opening up the sculpture construction center, and is in need of your recyclables! Please consider sending in broken-down delivery boxes, cereal boxes, cardboard pieces, toilet paper tubes, plastic bottles, and jar caps, and small, washed-out plastic containers.

*We are also taking donations of ‘new’ items like paper cups, pipe cleaners, buttons, brass brads, rubber bands, Popsicle sticks, large beads, junk drawer items, old (small) electronic bits and parts, among other sculpture-worthy items!

*Thank you for supporting the amazing, prolific creativity of the Highcroft students!