The Scots' Scoop
Highland Park Middle School's Weekly Family Newsletter
October 1, 2023
Translations
ENGLISH
Prefer a language other than English? You can open the newsletter link and click a button on the right (on a computer) or at the bottom (on a mobile device) to have it translated into many different languages. Please know that the translation function may be inaccurate or incomplete. If you have any questions, please call us at 651-293-8950.
SPANISH
¿Prefiere un idioma que no sea inglés? Puede abrir el enlace del boletín y hacer clic en el botón a la derecha (en una computadora) o en la parte inferior (en un dispositivo móvil) para traducirlo a muchos idiomas diferentes. Tenga en cuenta que la función de traducción puede ser inexacta o incompleta. Si tiene alguna pregunta, llámenos al 651-293-8950.
SOMALI
Ma waxaad doorbideysaa luuqad aan aheyn af-Ingiriis? Waxaad furi kartaa lifaaqa wargeysyada oo guji batoonka midigta (ee kumbiyuutarkaaga) ama xagga hoose (ee taleefankaaga gacanta) si aad wargeyska ugu tarjuntid luuqado badan oo kala duwan. Fadlan ogow in natiijada turjumaaddu ay noqon karto mid aan sax ahayn ama aan dhammaystirnayn. Haddii aad wax su'aalo ah qabtid, fadlan naga soo wac 651-293-8950.
HMONG
Puas xav tau ua lwm hom lus? Nej qhib txoj kab mus rau hauv daim ntawv xov xwm thiab nias lub pob ntawm sab xis hauv lub koos pis tawj, los sis yog lwm hom twj no ces nyob hauv qab, ces yuav muaj txhais ua ntau hom lus. Nco ntsoov tias cov lus txhais no yuav tsis raug txhua lo los sis txhais tiav tiav. Yog nej muaj lus nug, thov hu rau peb ntawm 651-293-8950.
KAREN
ကျိာ်ဂုၤဂၤတခါလၢနအဲၣ်ဒိးအီၤ လၢအတမ့ၢ် အဲကလံးကျိာ်န့ၣ်အိၣ်ဧါ. နအိးထီၣ်ကွၢ်လံာ်တၢ်ကစီၣ်ပှာ်ဘျးစဲ ဒီးစံၢ်လီၤဖဲ ပှာ်ဘျးစဲအဖီခိၣ်ဖဲစုထွဲတကပၤ(လၢခီၣ်ဖၠူထၢၣ်ဖီခိၣ်) မ့တမ့ၢ် စံၢ်လီၤဖဲတၢ်ဖီလာ် (လၢနလီတဲစိ ဖီခိၣ်) ဒ်သိး တၢ်ကကွဲးကျိာ်ထံအီၤလၢကျိာ်အဂုၤအဂၤအဂီၢ်သ့ဝဲဒၣ်န့ၣ်လီၤ. ဝံသးစူၤသ့ၣ်ညါလၢ လံာ်လၢ တၢ်ကွဲးကျိာ်ထံအီၤန့ၣ် ကအိၣ်ဝဲဒီး တၢ်အကမၣ် မ့တမ့ၢ် တၢ်တလၢတပှဲၤသ့ဝဲဒၣ်န့ၣ်လီၤ. နမ့ၢ်အိၣ်ဒီး တၢ်သံကွၢ်တဖၣ်န့ၣ်, ဝံသးစူၤကိးပှၤဖဲ 651-293-8950 န့ၣ်တက့ၢ်.
News and Updates
Fall is officially underway! We hope you soak in the changing colors of the leaves and the beauty this season brings. Students are nearing mid-quarter and rich learning is happening in classes. Reminder that the after school program, called Flipside, is starting soon, on October 9th.
Please find important news, events, and updates below.
The Scots' Scoop is Highland Park Middle School's newsletter to families and goes out every Sunday at 6pm. Be sure to read it weekly for important news and updates.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Friday, October 6: Family bonfire for Chinese Immersion Program / 中文沉浸班 秋天的聚会
- Monday, October 9: Flipside starts/ Flipside empieza
- Tuesday, October 10: Picture day / Día de fotos
- Tuesday, October 17: Conferences / Conferencias
- Thursday/Friday, October 19-20: No School, Minnesota Educator Association professional development / No hay escuela, desarrollo profesional de educadores con la Asociación de Educación de Minnesota
- Thursday, October 26: Conferences / Conferencias
- Thursday, November 9: Quarter 1 ends / primer quarto de semestre termina
Teaching Staff Change Announcement
Dear Highland Park Middle School Families:
Ms. Beth Swanberg, who teachers Choir, Music Exploration, and Musical Production, and has been teaching at Highland Park Middle School for the last 11 years, will be making a career change effective October 23, 2023. In the meantime, Ms. Swanberg will be preparing to ensure a seamless transition. We thank her for her service to our students, our school, and Saint Paul Public Schools over these years. We will certainly miss her and her contributions to our school community. We wish her the very best!
We are contacting our neighboring universities and other resources in looking for Ms. Swanberg’s replacement. In addition, we are working to have the smoothest transition possible, knowing that available teacher candidates in this field are close to an all-time low. We will make sure to update you as our search transpires.
Regards,
John Andrastek, Principal
Bullying Prevention Month
October is Bullying Prevention Month. At Highland Park Middle School we are showing our support in creating a safe and welcoming school environment through a series of Foundations activities. Students will learn about the effects of bullying, how to be an upstander and how to get help from adults when necessary. We also will be participating in the national recognition of "Unity Day" on Wednesday, October 18. Students and staff are encouraged to show support for kind and welcoming behavior by wearing orange and/or displaying a virtual "Unity Day" icon on their iPad. It is important that we stand united and support our school community-together we can do this!
To learn more about what parents can do to support their children click here: https://www.pacer.org/bullying/parents/helping-your-child.asp
If you have any concerns about bullying behaviors during the school year, please contact your child's school counselor: Danielle Seifert, danielle.seifert@spps.org (grade 8); Elisabeth Mulvaney, elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org (grade 7); or Nou Katzmarek, nou.katzmarek@spps.org (grade 6).
Chinese Immersion Family Bonfire
Chinese Immersion Program Autumn Social Event/中文沉浸班 秋天的聚会
Chinese Immersion families: please join us the evening of Friday, October 6th, for a bonfire. Details have been sent home with your student and can also be found in your email. If you have any questions, please contact Lin Laoshi (patty.lin-celeste@spps.org). We hope to see you there! 10月6号见!这会是一个有趣的交谊夜晚。
S.H.I.N.E. - Bi-weekly After-school Opportunity for Girls
We are thrilled to announce open enrollment for the SHINE Girls Group program for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year! Flier linked here
At SHINE, we are dedicated to providing a supportive and empowering environment for 6th-12th grade girls to grow, thrive, and shine. Our bi-weekly gatherings offer opportunities to have fun, make new friends, connect with peers, and acquire essential life skills through engaging lessons and community involvement.
Our program focuses on nurturing self-confidence, promoting community engagement, and helping girls explore their future goals and aspirations. We believe in instilling crucial social and emotional skills during this pivotal stage of development.
Don't miss this chance to be part of SHINE Girls Group! For enrollment visit http://www.weshinetogether.org for more information and registration details (interest form at the bottom of this page: https://www.weshinetogether.org/programs)
Flipside - After school program
Flipside is an after-school program that partners with SPPS Extended Day Learning program and offers enrichment classes in art, science, technology, health, fitness and culture for youth to discover their interests and talents, while setting the conditions to empower youth, nurture and amplify their voices, and create a space where they can experience belonging at school, thrive academically, develop lifelong skills, and shape their future with confidence. Classes run Mon/Weds or Tues/Thurs. from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The program is a free program and bussing after Flipside is provided.
Registration has begun for the Flipside after-school program. Registration forms can be found in the office, with Ms. Nikol, on the Flipside website, or through our online registration found at this link:
Alpine Skiing Race Team
Interested in ski racing? Join the St. Paul Alpine Ski Team (SPAST)! The team is open to SPPS students in grades 7-12. While some alpine skiing experience is necessary, racing experience is not required. It should be noted this is a race team and not a ski club.
The team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Afton Alps. The activity fee is $250/$20 for free and reduced lunch. (The SPAST parent group is willing to help students who would like to join the team but whose families have limited financial resources.) In addition, a season pass to Afton is required. Bussing is provided and departs from Central and Highland High School. Please fill out this form to sign up to be invited to our informational meeting or email annekettler@yahoo.com for more information, and if you have a student who needs financial assistance for this.
Indian Education Counseling Newsletter
Hello Families!
My name is Alyssa Mitchell, and I am honored to be able to introduce myself to you as the new full-time middle school counselor with Indian Education. While we have had an Indian Education high school counselor for many years, the addition of middle school is only in its second year and it's first as a full-time role. As a new member of the Indian Education team, I am excited to learn, grow, and create alongside all of you to develop a program that best meets the needs of our American Indian middle school students.
I have worked in SPPS as a school counselor since January of 2020. Prior to my tenure in St. Paul, I worked for several years in Minneapolis Public Schools in various roles. I hold a B.S. from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in Youth Studies and completed my Master of Education - School Counseling program in 2019 from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
In my free time I try to soak up as much sun and outdoor time as possible. I currently foster a dog, Winston, in addition to my resident pooch, Ava. I enjoy hiking, kayaking, camping, and road trips. When I am not out on an adventure, I am typically tackling a DIY project at my house or hanging out with the dogs or friends.
Overall, I am thrilled to be working across the district and focusing on your amazing students this year. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or just to connect and say hi. Our program also publishes a weekly e-newsletter that provides our students and families with updates, resources, and general information. If you would like to receive the weekly e-newsletter, please click this link and follow the provided directions.
Sign Up for Our Weekly e-Newsletter
Sign Up for Our Weekly e-Newsletter
Here is our current week's newsletter: https://www.smore.com/acq576-catching-a-dream-weekly-enewsletter?ref=email
I look forward to getting to know and work with you over the course of the year.
Thank you,
Alyssa Mitchell
651392-8058 (call or text)
7th and 8th grade lockers - Delayed
Lockers to Be Assigned to 7th & 8th Graders—Delayed
Because locker maintenance has been slower than anticipated, we are now looking at lockers first being assigned to 7th and 8th graders by MEA weekend, October 20. Some concerns have arisen regarding storage of feminine products if students typically store those products in their backpacks. Prior to COVID, when lockers were regularly assigned, students stored those products either in a pencil case or a small hand pouch, which we will allow. Still, many students stored those products in their lockers, as well. We thank you in advance for your patience, understanding, and ongoing support!
Student Schedules
Student schedules can be viewed in the Student Portal on Campus, as well as in the Campus Parent app (be sure to download this app if you have not already!). Please direct any questions about student schedules to HPMS' school counselors:
- Nou Katzmarek, Grade 6 nou.katzmarek@spps.org (651) 744-3400
- Elisabeth Mulvaney, Grade 7 elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org (651) 744-3399
- Danielle Seifert, Grade 8 danielle.seifert@spps.org (651) 744-7582
School hours
School Bus Transportation
Students should have received a postcard in the mail with transportation information. The postcard lists details about where and when to get on and off the bus. Please arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up your child. Track the status of your child’s bus on our school’s website or the Bus Status app.
If you have not yet received a postcard and believe your student is taking the bus, call the Transportation Office at (651) 696-9600 OR you can view your child's bus information in the parent portal (Campus Parent) using your guardian username and password (see One Stop page if you do not know your username and password at spps.org/onestop).
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
School Drop-off
Please enter the parking lot off Montreal Avenue and proceed to Door 20. Once you are in front of Door 20, please have your student exit the vehicle immediately. We experience a lot of car traffic in the morning at drop-off, so we need to be as efficient and safe as possible.
Please do not drop off your student in the parking lot at any point until your car gets closest to the school building, nearest to the sidewalk to Door 20. We want students to be safe. Dropping off students in non-designated areas creates an unsafe environment.
During the morning at drop-off, feel free to drop off your student along Montreal Avenue, with your car facing east (school building side of the street) as there is a sidewalk, and students may walk to Door 20 via the sidewalk that runs along the parking lot curb to enter the building.
Upon leaving the parking lot, you may only turn right onto Montreal Avenue, as the line of cars leaving with you backs up very quickly.
You may not drop off your student along Snelling Avenue at any time, as this is a busy bus zone for both morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.
School Pick-up
Follow the same procedures as listed above. However, you may not park on Montreal Avenue at the end of the day, as Montreal Avenue becomes a bus zone for our school buses.
Outside food and drinks
Students may bring a bottle of water and bag lunch from home. However, food and drinks from, or brought to students, from establishments and food services (e.g. restaurants, DoorDash) are NOT permitted.
Only water is permitted in bottles. Other beverages are NOT permitted.
*If your student brings a beverage from a coffee shop, juice bar, etc., it must be finished by the time the student goes to class, as we are trying to minimize pest issues in the building.
Cell Phone, Earbuds, & Electronic Devices
Cell phones should be turned off and put away during school hours, 8:30am-3:00pm. Please see this link to our school policy as it pertains to cell phones, earbuds, and electronic devices.
We do not recommend that you bring any valuable personal items to school - including phones and earbuds. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Meals & Application for Educational Benefits
Application for Educational Benefits
The Minnesota Free School Meals Program provides all students with ONE FREE BREAKFAST and ONE FREE LUNCH per school day. *Students will be charged for single item purchases, such as milk and second meals. The prices for single item purchases can be found at here and on the website at spps.org/ns.
While all in-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota's Free School Meals program, it remains critical that all families complete an Application for Educational Benefits each school year. These applications determine how much funding your child's school receives for educational programs and supports. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits. The application can be completed online at schoolcafe.com/spps. Paper applications are available at school.
Daily, weekly, and monthly breakfast and lunch menus are available online at Nutrition Services spps.org/ns.
Student Rights & Responsibilities and School Safety
SPPS strives to create welcoming schools where each and every student is seen, known and valued. There are rights students are guaranteed when they are at school as well as responsibilities that accompany those rights. Read the Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.
Attendance is an important part of student success. We realize there are many reasons that a student may be absent from school. If your child will be absent from school, please notify the school at your earliest convenience. Communication between home and school is a vital component to a positive school experience.
Safety is of the utmost importance at our school and district. Families, students and staff can use the MySPPS app to “Send a Tip” and confidentially report unsafe behaviors in school to SPPS Security and Emergency Management.
Every Meal Program
Healthy eating is so important for children. At HPMS, we work hard to ensure students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that children who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and be engaged in learning.
We are excited to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.
Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school.
- Free for all families
- No qualifications required
- Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week
- Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected
- Families may choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the school year
- Families may choose from a variety of different weekend food bag options
If you wish to participate, please fill out our enrollment form which can be found here. Or feel free to reach out to Katie Monroe, one of our social workers, at kathryn.monroe@spps.org or 651.744.4616.
Bereavement Department at Children's Minnesota
The Bereavement Department at Children's Minnesota is offering programming for grieving children and teens three times a year, meeting weekly for 6 weeks. This is a therapeutic support group facilitated by Child Life specialists and Music Therapists. This programming is available for any school-age child/teen experiencing grief - the death of a loved one, death of a friend, or other experience bringing about a sense of loss. All programming and resources are free of charge, and we offer families free parking vouchers, or help with transportation needs. We also work with Interpreter Services as needed to hope to accommodate any language needs.
See this flyer for more information.
Volunteering at HPMS
About HPMS
At Highland Park Middle School, 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