Eye of the Storm
Hightower Parent Newsletter - February 21, 2020
Principal's Message - Mr. Roberson
Hurricane Family,
This is Mr. Roberson, principal of Hightower High School. I hope this message finds you and your family well during these unpredictable times. I wanted to reach out to everyone to give updates and let all students know that the Hightower staff is thinking of you and we are praying for comfort for our Hightower families and friends. As you know, due to the winter freeze, we have cancelled all classes in Fort Bend ISD for the week of February 16th. As of now the district has determined class will be cancelled on February 22nd. The district is currently assessing the status of all staff, all schools and their respective communities to make the best informed decision on how to reopen school. I do ask that all parents and students prepare for virtual learning this week. During the winter storm Hightower High School experienced some electrical issues that will need to be repaired. Our campus will be without power until further notice, which is why every student will need to engage virtually this week.
All students will need to pivot to an online synchronous environment. Face to face students will stay home and receive synchronous instruction from their face to face teachers. They would follow the campus face to face bell schedule. Since face to face classes are 90 minutes, students would be synchronous for the first hour of class and then do assigned asynchronous work for the final 30 minutes of class. Students would have to log into Microsoft Teams links provided by their face to face teachers. All online students would continue as normal with their virtual schedule.
Once school resumes, we will follow our regular A/B block schedule. (See schedule below.)
I do understand that online learning may be a challenge for some due to the effects of the winter storm, power loss, and possible damage to many homes. If you have issues with receiving instruction from teachers, do not hesitate to contact an administrator, a counselor or any of your teachers for assistance.
Parents, please continue to check the district website and social media platforms for updates throughout the week.
Once again I hope everyone is safe and I look forward to seeing you all real soon. Take care and god bless.
Please be aware that the aforementioned information mirrors the information provided by the District's website.
Please feel free to visit the following webpage for updates and FAQs. https://www.fortbendisd.com/relaunch
HHS Administrative Team:
Associate Principal - Dr. Cozette Church - cozette.church@fortbendisd.com
Assistant Principal (12th grade) - Mr. Ronnie Adams - ronnie.adams@fortbendisd.com
Assistant Principal (11th grade) - Mr. Sam Burton - sam.burton@fortbendisd.com
Assistant Principal (10th grade) - Dr. Sharon Delesbore - sharon.delesbore@fortbendisd.com
Assistant Principal (9th grade) - Mr. James Kirkpatrick - james.kirkpatrick@fortbendisd.com
Assistant Principal (At-Risk/Sp. Prog.) - Ms. Hilda Salinas - hilda.salinas@fortbendisd.com
Dean of Instruction - Ms. Mary Dowd - mary.dowd@fortbendisd.com
P-Tech Dean of Instruction - Ms. Adrienne Towns - adrienne.towns@fortbendisd.com
A-Day/B-Day Model of Instruction
February 22 - February 26 face-to-face and virtual schedule: (All students are virtual this week.)
- Monday, Feb. 22 - A Day (periods 1-4) (Classes have been cancelled for Monday.)
- Tuesday, Feb. 23 - B Day (periods 5-8) (Classes have been cancelled for Tuesday.)
- Wednesday, Feb. 24 - A Day (periods 1-4) (Virtual A day for all students.)
- Thursday, Feb. 25 - B Day (periods 5-8) (Virtual B day for all students.)
- Friday, Feb. 26 - A Day (periods 1-4) (Virtual A day for students.)
Virtual Expectations for all students.
- Students will report to online class at 7:30 am or 9:00 am depending on if they are F2F or virtual.
- Students will keep their camera on at all times.
- Students must follow the FBISD student code of conduct.
- Please view the HHS online expectations document below.
FBISD COVID 19 Safety Tips
HHS Online Learning Expectations
Side by side F2f vs. Virtual Schedule
2021 Graduation - Hurricane Seniors
Topic: Graduation Speaker Application Link
Due Date: 03/01/2021
Hello all seniors,
As you may know this year FBISD will have a new format as it relates to seniors who get to speak at graduation. Seniors that are interested must complete a graduation speaker application on the FBISD website. Below is the link to this application and information about the process. I look forward to seeing the many bright young minds that would like to speak, so please apply today.
Description: This is the form for seniors who are interested in and eligible to apply as a graduation speaker. The application window is from 2/15/2021-3/1/2021.
Links:
Technology Tips and Support Video for Parents
Parents below are helpful videos you can use to help assist you with your child while they engage in FBISD's platforms for virtual learning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDuqenblWA0
FBISD 1Link: a single sign-on platform for students, teachers and staff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd3sGj7j_5Q
How to Log into Schoology from the FBISD Student homepage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ddygO159uo
Schoology for Parents - Basic | Parent Training Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOA96MmzqGs
How to upload a photo to Schoology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Kykov6btA
Schoology Shortcuts
From the Dean's Desk
P-TECH Health Science Newsletter (Click this link to enjoy our P-Tech Newsletter)
Digital Media Newsletter (Click this link to enjoy our Digital Media Newsletter)
Dean of Instruction - Mary Dowd - mary.dowd@fortbendisd.com
P-Tech Dean of Instruction - Adrienne Towns - adrienne.towns@fortbendisd.com
Medical Science Academy Coordinator - Donald Lam - donald.lam@fortbendisd.com
Digital Media Academy Coordinator - Jenelle Tarr - jenelle.tarr@fortbendisd.com
Counselor's Corner
Lead counselor - Michelle Dotson - michelle.dotson@fortbendisd.com
12th grade counselor - Stephanie Toussaint - stephanie.toussaint@fortbendisd.com
11th grade counselor - Irvin Casely-Hayford - irvin.caselyhayford@fortbendisd.com
10th grade counselor - Rose Powell - rose.powell@fortbendisd.com
9th grade counselor - Kelli Johnson - kelli.johnson@fortbendisd.com
P-Tech counselor - Ira Lynn Lewis - ira.lynn@fortbendisd.com
College and Career Readiness Advisor - Jacquelyn Hidalgo - jackie.hidalgo@fortbendisd.com
Fine Art's / Athletics
Congratulations to our boys basketball team who won their first round playoff game against Waltrip High School on Saturday 100 to 43.
Parents, if you have any questions about fine arts or athletics, feel free to reach out to the staff members listed below.
Girls athletic coordinator - Antoinette Santiago Rhodes - antionette.santiagorhodes@fortbendisd.com
Fine Arts Department Head - Brittany Hunter - brittany.hunter@fortbendisd.com
COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocol Reminders and Procedures
Dear Hightower High School Families,
In accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines, Fort Bend ISD takes immediate action when we learn of a positive case. This includes contacting the Fort Bend ISD custodial services team to initiate enhanced cleaning and disinfection of areas within the school building and bus. The Fort Bend County Health Department is also contacted and consulted as a part of our COVID-19 District team contact tracing and reporting process.
Each case investigation includes a thorough contact tracing process to identify individual(s) who were in close contact with the confirmed case. Close contacts will be instructed not to return to the school environment until after the 14-day quarantine period has passed. Case investigations consist of interviewing and contact tracing with the individual directly, as well as appropriate individuals on-site and able to provide information, while ensuring the privacy of the patient. The determination to identify a person as a close contact and in need of quarantine is based upon multiple factors including but not limited to the following:
- Amount of time an individual or individuals is determined to be six feet or closer for a cumulative 15 minutes during a 24 hour period
- The amount of time a person who tests positive was in their environment starting from 2 days before illness onset while infectious (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated
- Evaluation of what area(s) the positive case was for an extended amount of time, and what the individual was doing in those areas (i.e. rooms, cafeteria, any transportation)
- Amount of time the positive case had symptoms, and the amount of time the positive case was in proximity to others 48 hours prior to symptoms appearing
- Use of face coverings in the environment
According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If anyone in your family displays symptoms, or tests positive for the virus, please contact your family doctor or a medical professional for assistance.
People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
As a reminder, FBISD has comprehensive health and safety protocols to help prevent the spread of illness. These include daily wellness checks, mandatory face coverings for students, staff, and visitors, and social distancing, additional handwashing and hand sanitation, as well as regular cleaning and disinfection of all buildings. We are asking our staff and families to continue to do their part by adhering to these protocols, and not reporting to their worksite or sending their child to school when they are ill.
We appreciate your continued support as we work together to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Andre Roberson
Hightower High School Principal
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Hightower High School | 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City
Do you need assistance?
I am writing on behalf of one of our interfaith partners, Harvest United Methodist Church, regarding support for families in your surrounding area(s). Harvest United has expressed a strong desire to help families in the Hightower, Ridge Point and Willowridge feeder patterns who may have experienced hardship as a result of the winter storm last week. Below, please find the link to a form that families can complete to request assistance:
https://harvestumc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/219896
This message is separate from FBISD and Hightower High school, so if you are in need of assistance you will need to contact Harvest United Methodist Church. Thank you.
Hightower High School
Website: www.fortbendisd.com
Location: 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-5240
Twitter: @hhs_canes