The Scots' Scoop
Highland Park Middle School's Weekly Family Newsletter
May 1, 2022
All translations are computer generated.
We apologize in advance for any unintended errors.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
“You change the world by being yourself.”
― Yoko Ono, Japanese multimedia artist,
singer, songwriter, and peace activist
Upcoming Important Dates
Monday, May 2: Eid Al-Fitr (see information below)
Mon., May 2 - Fri., May 6: Teacher Appreciation Week (see information below)
Thursday, May 5: 7th Grade Honor Roll • 8:45 a.m. • Auditorium
Friday, May 6: 8th Grade Honor Roll • 8:45 a.m. • Auditorium
Monday, May 16: Mid-Quarter 4 Grades available on Campus One-Stop
Monday, May 23: FCC Meeting • Virtual on Zoom • 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 26: HPMS Spring Concert • 6:00 p.m. • Auditorium
Monday, May 30: Memorial Day • No School
Thursday, June 2: Art Showcase Event • 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 2: Red Balloon Book Fair • 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. • Media Center/Library (see information below)
Friday, June 3: Team Day
Friday, June 10: End of Quarter 4 • Last day of School
Eid Al-Fitr: Feast of Fast-Breaking at the End of Ramadan
Eid Al-Fitr: Feast of Fast-Breaking at the end of Ramadan, is expected to begin Monday, May 2, 2022, and last up to three days. It is the first of the two Islamic festivals per year. Please, note the following:
Students celebrating Eid may take off tomorrow, Monday, May 2 and it is considered an excused absence for students in SPPS.
If you are keeping your child home tomorrow because of Eid Al-Fitr, please call the HPMS Attendance Line at (651) 744-3393, or email highlandmsattendance@spps.org to notify the school that you will be keeping your child home from school for Eid Al-Fitr.
Please sign up for 2022 Teacher Appreciation Week!
- Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp: https://signup.com/go/PXqcanM
- Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp)
- Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact tami.swenson@spp.org & we can sign you up manually.
DonorsChoose Fundraiser Matching Donations This Week
If you are considering supporting a HPMS DonorsChoose fundraiser, please go to
- https://www.donorschoose.org/schools/minnesota/saint-paul-public-schools/highland-park-junior-high-school/76107.
- Once there, scroll down to the very bottom of the page to find the HPMS teachers that have a live fundraising campaign, and you may choose to donate to the fundraiser with which you are interested.
You May Still Purchase a Yearbook in Person
If you are still interested in purchasing a yearbook for this year, you may pay either Ms. Wise or the school main office and a yearbook will be made available when they are handed out to students in June.
Tardies May Result in Missing End of Year Team Field Trip
Beginning tomorrow May 2, if your student has 7 or more total tardies between May 2 - June 2, they may not be able to go on their end-of-the year field trip on Team Day, June 3, with their team.
Please speak to your student about the importance of getting to class on time, and thank you for your support!
7th Graders: WEB Applications Now Available!
Seventh graders: are you interested in applying to be a WEB leader for next year? We are looking for kind and caring seventh graders who are willing to help 6th graders with their transition to Highland Park Middle School. Please complete the WEB application by Monday, May 9 in order to be considered.
WEB leaders must be available for in-person training dates in late August (dates are included on the application). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact either elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org or nou.katzmarek@spps.org.
Thank you for considering WEB!!
Save the Date: Red Balloon Book Fair is Coming to HPMS
We will be hosting a Red Balloon Book Fair in the library during the week of May 31 – June 3. The book fair will be open to students during the day on both June 1 and June 2, and it will be open to students and families on the evening of June 2, from 4:30 – 7:30, during the Arts Showcase. Students and families will be able to browse and purchase a variety of books, from old favorites to titles that are hot off the presses.
Additionally, purchases may be made online on the HPMS page at the Red Balloon’s website at any time during the sale dates. All proceeds from the sale will go towards the purchase of new books for the HPMS library. This will be a great time to stock up for summer reading! Please send any questions to Adayle.Andrews@spps.org.
From the HPMS Student Library Advisory Board: Enter the Spring Book Art Contest
To honor our appreciation of books and reading here at HPMS, the Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) is hosting a Book Art Contest now through May 27, 2022. All students in the HPMS community are invited to participate.
Students may create any piece of art that is related to books and/or reading. If the art is based on a book, it can be an actual published book or a book the student wishes existed. If the art is based on reading in general, it will help viewers see the benefits of reading. Here are some project ideas:
- design an original cover for a real or imagined book;
- illustrate an important scene or a series of scenes, graphic-novel style;
- create a portrait of an important character; or,
- design a piece that will help us all see why we should value reading.
Artwork should be created on unlined paper no smaller than 8 x 11” and no larger than 11 x 14”. On the backside of the artwork, students should include their first and last name and a brief description of their project. Paper is available in the library for anyone who needs it.
Finished artwork may be brought to the library any time between now and the morning of May 27. Members of the Student Library Advisory Board will judge the artwork based on creativity, originality, and attention to detail. Prizes will be awarded for the top projects.
Please send any questions to Adayle.Andrews@spps.org.
Claim Items in Lost and Found Before it's Too Late!
Unclaimed items will be donated or thrown away at the end of the school year.
SPPS Summer School Registration Open Now
Neighborhood House Food Support Program
Dress Code Expectations
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
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.
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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This newsletter can be translated to most languages by clicking the translate button at the top right of your screen. If you are reading this on your hand-held device, press the black circled stick figure at bottom right hand corner of the screen, then click onto "Translate" and choose your language.
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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