Parent Newsletter
March 26, 2021
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Dear Highland Park Parents,
Our students had a wonderful first week back after a week-long break. They were excited to be back on campus engaged and learning. We heard many fun stories and are happy you had a wonderful Spring Break.
We have started our final 9 weeks of the year and are looking forward to engaging students in fun and relevant learning. April is looking to be a very busy month, with spring pictures coming up, slime your teacher event, PK/Kinder registrations, the start of state testing, as well as a four-day weekend coming up, April is sure to fly by. Please remember students are off school on Friday, April 2, and Monday, April 5th.
Have a wonderful weekend and please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions at all.
Warm Regards,
Lizbeth Ruiz
Principal
Morning Drop off reminders
- When dropping off your child please make sure they have everything ready, backpack, lunch bag, water bottle, and face mask. Students should exit on the right side of the vehicle as the left side has passing vehicles.
- If you are needing to help your child out of the car or getting their things ready, please pull into our parking lot and park. You will need to then walk your child across the crosswalk to the front door.
- Please do not park and send your child alone across the parking lot, there are many moving vehicles and this is very unsafe.
- When exiting the campus parking lot, please note that there is a "DO NOT TURN LEFT" sign below the stop sign. As you exit, please turn right towards Heatherwilde and not towards the neighborhood. Turning left holds up the drop-off line, may cause students to be late, upset parents behind you, and unnecessary stress to students getting dropped off.
- Finally please be kind to our staff on duty. These staff members are outside at 7:15 a.m. every day to help get our students in the building. We understand at times stress is high, but we need to work together, provide each other grace, and support one another.
- Please know that our number one priority is student safety. We love our students and want to welcome everyone in a happy and safe environment.
We are hoping the key actions above will help everyone get to their destination safely and on time. As always, we thank you for your help and support!
IN APRIL WE WEAR BLUE ON MONDAYS TO HONOR NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS/ACCEPTANCE MONTH
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the United States. 1 in 54 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, totaling over 5 million young people and adults. ] Each April, we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month to spread awareness, promote acceptance, and ignite change. Help us honor Autism Awareness/Acceptance month by wearing a blue on Mondays this month! Visit this webpage for more resources and ways to support: https://www.autismawarenessmonth.org/
Rapid Covid Testing On Campus
We are offering free rapid COVID testing on campus to staff and students. Please reach out to Nurse Christina if you are needing your child to be tested. Students must have a signed consent form by a parent before any testing can be performed. You can reach Nurse Christina by email at christina.henderson@pfisd.net or by phone at 512.594.6835.
SLIME YOUR TEACHER-Noah Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship
Slime Your Teacher is an annual event at HPES to raise money for the Noah Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship. Noah was a former HPES student. ALL money raised is given to PFISD high school graduates who attended HPES.
This year "Slime Your Teacher" will be done a bit differently.
- Money will be raised online through the Noah Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship website. The donation link will be open from March 29th-April 16th. There will be no buying of slime tickets. Parents can donate any amount they wish online.
- The top three students, who donate the most money, will slime their teacher or another staff member of their choice.
- Slime date TBD
Here is the website with more information, pics from prior "Slime Your Teacher" events, a bit about Noah and the past winners.
On campus students will take pictures with their class throughout the school day.
Virtual students will need to sign up for a timeslot using SignUpGenius Form here
PFISD Intra-District student Transfer Requests
The PfISD Student Transfer application window is March 8 – April 9, 2021. You may review all Student Transfer information and application by visiting the District webpage: https://www.pfisd.net/Page/7302
2021-2022 Pre-K/Kindergarten Student Registration
- April 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Prekindergarten only
- April 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Kindergarten only
- April 8 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Both prekindergarten and Kindergarten
Please click on the link below for more information.
CALENDAR 2020-2021
Please take a minute to review the calendar. I have updated a few dates based on the new calendar. Please keep in mind that these are tentative dates, and may change depending on the circumstances.
Here is the link to this year's School Year Calendar with grading periods, student holidays, etc. (updated: Jan. 22, 2021)
MARCH & APRIL LUNCH MENUS - FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT (Submitted by Ms. Vazquez, HPES Counselor)
SUBSTITUTES/GUEST EDUCATORS NEEDED
PfISD is currently in need of more substitutes and guest educators, and we strive to provide the best possible qualified substitutes to ensure the quality of educators our students have. If you enjoy working with kids and can work on an on-call basis, being a substitute teacher may be for you.
To qualify to serve as a substitute in PfISD, you must be at least 21 years of age and have a high school diploma. If you hold a valid teaching certificate, are bilingual in Spanish or Vietnamese or have extensive skills/background in a high-need area, your qualification consideration is accelerated.
Applicants must complete an application online here.
PTO UPDATES!
We are lucky to have such a wonderful PTO at our school who helps us in so many ways! Please consider joining this wonderful group of parents and join HPES Team!
Stay connected with the HPES PTO!
Website: https://hpespto.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highlandparkelementarypto/
Instagram: @hpes.pto
Text at @HPESPTO to 81010 to get event info via text!
KUDOS- OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS (I'LL BE SHARING 10 AT A TIME)
Have a staff member who really matters and whom you want to recognize? Let’s recognize our HPES Bulldogs, no kudos is too big or too small!
Campus Teacher of the Year Nominations
Crystal Perez: She is a dedicated person with student-centered in mind.
- Ashley Lane: Going above and beyond no matter why given situation
- Claire Harvey: Supportive of teachers and students---positive and lovely attitude daily!
- Mr. T: Very honest and responsible worker
- Veronica Jimenez: Veronica is compassionate and sassy! She wants to see all students succeed. She’s an all-around great educator and advocate!
- Denise Lambert: She works very hard to meet the needs of all of her students.
- Maria Villacreces: Committed to students' excellence, builds relationships with all students, and goes above and beyond to support their academic growth.
- Karen Lowther: Karen Lowther is a selfless person who cares deeply about her students and coworkers. She is always finding fun activities for her students and shares her resources with others. Her students always apply what they have learned in the classroom to the outside world. She also reaches out to her coworkers to see how they are doing during these crazy times. She is a strong, loving, and caring teacher and it is a pleasure to work alongside her.
- Ashley Lane: Ms. Lane is always going above and beyond for the students not only in her class but campus-wide. She is the best of both worlds, friendly and positive, yet professional and level-headed.
- Cathy Duong: She always goes above and beyond for all of her students. She makes her students feel special.
- Mr. T: My kids adore his class! They are always talking about what fun lesson they did with him and how nice he is!
- Nancy Lorfing: She is super organized, effective, and inclusive of all students
- Crystal Perez: She is one the most dedicated, hard-working, consistent, parent aware teacher that I know. She is very cognizant of children's needs and is always wants to be a team player.
Campus Humanitarian of the Year Nominations
- Stacy Young: Always selfless
- Nurse Christina: Support of teachers and students
- Mr. Olivas: He always has big heart with the people. He is always open to help others He deserves it
- Cathy Duong: Cathy is Cathy and she’s awesome!
- Veronica Jimenez: She is always looking for ways to help the bulldog family as well as the community.
- Pleasanton: Very supportive of her team, and other around campus
- Olga Sanchez: You can easily find Mrs. Sanchez in the hallway. She is always smiling, despite how difficult this year has been. Although she has been dealing with her foot injury for a long time, she always asks how others are doing and cares deeply for them. She is the sweetest person and Highland Park is so lucky to have such a dedicated woman!
- Anita Moreno: Anita is always willing to lend a helping hand. She knows how busy teachers are and she never hesitates to help or volunteer. Her warm heart and positive attitude alleviate teacher stress.
- Frankie Bates: She is always willing to lend a hand and help with any situation. She has such a positive outlook.
- Ebony Clark: She is constantly helping everyone with anything they need! She always makes people laugh and will go out of her way to support students and staff.
- Ebony: Ebony is very hardworking and easy to get along with. She is a good working partner and wants to do what is expected of her.
Campus Rookie of the Year Nominations
Pablo Ildefonso: He came right in and began working with the kids as if he had been here a long time.
Superintendent Kudos
- Lizbeth Ruiz, Jesus Olivas and Anna Vasquez of Highland Park Elementary (via Tracey Davila): “For unwavering love and support for our staff! Our staff feels so very blessed to work under their leadership. If someone visitors our campus, they immediately feel the positive nature that radiates through all. A huge reason for this is due to their positivity; how they make their staff feel! Because of this, everyone feels good, especially our students and their families.”
If you have any kudos you’d like to share, you can submit them through two different avenues:
Superintendents Mid- Week Message Kudos or HPES Bulldog Weekly News Kudos
Remember, one small positive thought or compliment can change a person's entire day. :)
LET'S TALK PLATFORM FOR PARENT QUESTIONS
03/29-- Report cards go home
04/02- Holiday
04/01-3rd 9 Weeks Awards during Morning announcements
04/05- Staff Work Day
04/07- Individual Spring Pictures (on-campus learners)
04/08-Individual Spring Pictures (virtual learners)
04/19- EOY Window opens for K-5
04/27- STAAR Writing 4th Grade
04/29- Progress Reports go home
05/12- STAAR Science 5th Grade
05/17-05/21- STAAR Math & Reading 3- 5
05/20-Grades due at noon
05/24-End of Year Awards- PK, KG, 1st
05/25-End of Year Awards- 2nd & 3rd
05/26- End of Year Awards- 4th & 5th
05/27- End of Year Class Celebration/ Last Day of School/Report Cards go home
BE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS THE FOLLOWING
If your child is in PK-2nd grade please make sure they are wearing a name tag that includes the teacher name. This will help us direct them to their classroom.
Send your child with at least 2 clean masks (they can wear one, and keep one in their backpack in case they lose it, or something happens to the one they are wearing) We will have extras but we know children feel more comfortable with their own.
Send your child with a water bottle. Students cannot drink directly from the water fountains. They will be using the water filter system and water fountains to refill their water bottle as needed.
Students may purchase a lunch from the cafeteria or bring their own lunch. Please make sure to send a lunch bag with them as parents will not be allowed to have lunch with their child or drop off a lunch. This will minimize the exposure to the students and staff.
Students should bring their District laptop or iPad. Teachers will continue to utilize the online learning platforms to turn in assignments. Please make sure the device is fully charged, but still send the charger cord.
ARRIVAL PROCESS
When dropping off your child in the morning, please make sure they have everything ready ( backpack, lunch bag etc). For safety purposes, we are asking that students exit the vehicle from the passengers side as this keeps them away from the traffic.
All staff will be on duty to support students and assisting them in locating their classroom.
7:05 a.m Bus students arrive on campus
7:15 a.m Front Doors open for car riders, walkers, and bike riders
7:20 a.m. Teachers will welcome students into their classrooms
7:30 a.m. First Bell- Students dismissed from cafeteria if eating breakfast
7:35 a.m. Tardy Bell- Students arriving after this time report directly to the office
Building will open at 7:05 a.m. for bus riders and 7:15 a.m. for car riders and walkers.
Students will sanitize hands upon entering school.
Parents/Guardians will not be allowed to walk students in.
Bus riders will enter the building through the 100 and 300 hallway doors adjacent to the bus loop at 7:05 a.m. If they are eating breakfast they will go directly to the cafeteria, if they are not eating breakfast they will go to the gym and wait. The bus riders in the gym will be sent to class at 7:13.
Car riders and walkers will enter the building through the front entrance at 7:15 a.m.
Walkers and car riders that arrive early will wait outside (back up plan for weather) - socially distanced - we will have dots/tape outside marking 6 feet.
Upon entering the building car riders, walkers and bike riders will go to the either the cafeteria or their classroom.
Students eating breakfast will be screened at the entrance of the cafeteria.
Students going directly to their classrooms will be screened for temperature at the foyer- 4 stations and will sanitize hands.
Once cleared, they will be dismissed to class. All students and staff must wear masks in the building.
Once students have entered the building, parents will not be allowed to drop off forgotten items.
DISMISSAL PROCESS
Now that we have our dismissal systems in place, we are pushing down our dismissal time to begin at 2:45. All staff will be on duty to support students and ensure social distancing during dismissal. Please make sure to inform your child's teacher if there is a change in how your child will need to go home. Parents if you are parking and walking up to get your child, please make sure to wear a mask. It is a campus expectation that anyone on campus grounds needs wear a mask. This will help us with modeling safety protocols for our students. Thank-you!
Students will be dismissed in the following order:
- 2:45 - All Bus Students report to the bus area
2:47- Pre K /Pegasus
2:50- 100 Hallway
2:53- 200 Hallway
2:56- 300 Hallway
2:59- 400 Hallway
- First, they will exit the 100/300 hallway and follow the sidewalk to the flagpole and release Parent walk- ups to the grassy area.
Next, they will release the bike riders and walkers.
Then, they will walk towards the front of the school and send the EDP/Staff care to the cafeteria through the orange door at the front entrance of the school.
Last, they will ask the car riders to sit down on the marked spots facing forward and car dismissal will begin.
DISMISSAL TAGS REMINDER
Every time we fail to follow procedures, we are less safe. With increased student enrollment is imperative that we follow procedures. Please continue being consistent with bringing/showing us your child's dismissal tag when picking them up afterschool. Remember the parent dismissal tag, must match the child’s tag. This goes for car riders also, please ensure that you have a tag displayed on the windshield when pickling your child up through the car lane. If you are missing a tag, please let your child's teacher know or call the front office so we can provide you with one.
FACE MASK REMINDER
Reminder on Covid Protocols
If you or any member in your home have tested positive for COVID:
- Your children are considered a direct contact, and should NOT return to school until their quarantine period has expired.
- Please contact Nurse Henderson @ 512-594-6800 if you have questions, or need to report a COVID positive in your home.
- Please adhere to the original CDC quarantine guidelines and do not send your children to school.
If you or any of your children are awaiting COVID results due to fever and multiple COVID related symptoms:
- Please keep your children at home pending the test results for your family members.
- Please contact Nurse Christina @ 512-594-6800 if you have questions, or need to report a COVID positive in your home.
- Please adhere to the original CDC quarantine guidelines, as PFISD has not shortened the quarantine period.
In Person Student Reminders
- Doors open at 7:15 daily
- All students must wear a mask (we can supply one if they forget)
- Breakfast & lunch is free to all students
- Students should bring a water bottle from home, if they forget simply let the teacher know
- No visitors in the building, including lunch
- All students will have temp taken on campus daily
- If your child forgets their lunch, they will be offered a cafeteria lunch free of charge
- Dismissal cards must be brought to dismissal daily for all parent walk ups and car riders
- Dismissal 2:50 pm
Virtual Student Reminders
- Please attend all live Zooms you are able
- Intervention and dyslexia classes should be attended as scheduled unless in extreme circumstances. These interventions are required by the State, and we must document absences as a reason for lack of student progress
- Please monitor your child's submissions to Canvas and See Saw. Several students are turning in blank assignments consistently
- Virtual learning cannot be done by a child independently. Students need adult help with the coursework, submitting their assignment, and showing up to their classes daily
- Your child's teacher has "office hours" daily. Please ensure if you or your child needs help, you are reaching out to your child's teacher.
- Please sign up to receive your child's teachers reminders. This may be in the form of Remind 101, class dojo etc. Staying connected will help your child be successful!
- PE, ART and Music are graded course, and your child must also complete and submit the required work to these teachers
COLD WEATHER RECESS POLICY
Children are expected to come to school prepared to participate in outdoor recess. Appropriate outerwear such as a hat, gloves and a warm coat are essential for healthy and safe outdoor play.
When the outside temperature, including wind chill, is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, recess will be held indoors. Otherwise, recess will be outside.
New EDP Flexible Enrollment Options
The PfISD Extended Day Program is now offering flexible enrollment options for the Spring semester. The options provide more flexibility during these times of uncertainty due to the pandemic. Tuition will be billed weekly for these options and must be paid in full prior to attendance.
Weekly Option
Designed for families who need more flexibility than committing to a month of after-school care.
- Monday through Friday: $85 per week, no monthly commitment
Part-Time Options
Designed for families who do not need care each day. There are two options for you to choose from for part-time care.
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday combination: $60 per week
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday combination: $60 per week
There is a registration fee of $75 per child or $110 per family with multiple children. Financial Assistance is available. For more information on the application process please contact the EDP office at extendedday@pfisd.net or 512-594-0148. You can also view this information and register atwww.pfisd.net/Page/8105.
CANVAS UPDATES
HPES teachers in grades 3-5 have set up their classroom Canvas Learning Platforms.
Students will log in to Canvas directly using Clever (Clever Support) or by going to pfisd.instructure.com and logging in with PfISD Google Account.
Students in grades PreK-1 will continue to use Seesaw as a learning management system.
We want to remind you all about our Canvas training course that can help you learn more about how you, as a parent, can observe your student's classwork and how students will access their assignments in Canvas.
To access the training courses for parents and students, please read the Instructions for Parents and Instructions for Students linked below in English and Spanish.
- Canvas Training Course Instructions for Parents: English | Spanish
- Canvas Training Course Instructions for Students: English | Spanish
Parents and Guardians will need to have an account and be an observer to log in and access the training course. Instructions on how to create your parent observer account in Canvas are linked below. These instructions can also be found on the Pflugerville ISD Return to Learn page. Or parents can click to watch this video to set up a Canvas account to observe their students. How-To Set Up Parent Canvas Account: English | Spanish
If you have any questions or problems with setting up your Canvas account, please utilize our Let's Talk system (www.pfisd.net/letstalk) and click on the Canvas button.
Digital Library Books
We are fortunate to have digital books available through Sora and Epic. But, we are now offering a great opportunity to take a break from screen time and get printed library books into the hands of our virtual students.
It's easy! Students will log on to our library catalog and request books. I will pull books, email families, and arrange a pickup time. Pickup days will be Fridays and Mondays.
Please share with families:
WHO DO I CONTACT?
Every summer, there are staffing changes. Staff members move on to other opportunities, and new staff members join the campus. Before emailing a staff member from last school year, it would be wise to check with our front office staff. It is also a good idea to consider which staff member is your first point of contact for questions before you send your email. You may also call the front office at 512-594-6800 and ask for the person you need to speak with. I hope this information is helpful!
Senior Admin. Associate: Mima Oiesen – miroslava.oiesen@pfisd.net
General questions regarding scheduling, procedures, teacher information, leave requests, substitutes, purchase orders (for your classroom/students), monthly and bi-weekly payroll, supplemental pay, staff travel, events, field trips, website updates, FB page, maintenance orders, after-hours events, fundraisers (any collection of money), Picture days, etc.
Receptionist: Anita Moreno-anita.moreno@pfisd.net General questions regarding scheduling, procedures, teacher information and schedule information.
Registrar: Miriam Ruvalcaba – miriam.ruvalcaba@pfisd.net
Student records, registration, residency questions, attendance, transfers, withdrawal, cumulative records, and folders, grade-book, etc.
Student Support Clerical Support: Mariela Moya- mariela.moya@pfisd.net
Schedule LPAC and 504 meetings, and gather student grades, relevant classroom, and health data.
Nurse: Christine Henderson – christine.henderson@pfisd.net
Shot records, allergy information, distribution of medication, general student health, Section 504, and SpEd as related to health, etc.
Instructional Coach: Gina Lochner – regina.lochner@pfisd.net
General questions regarding master scheduling, campus procedures, curriculum, resources, SWAT, professional development, mentoring, lesson modeling, and virtually anything teachers need regarding curriculum and instruction.
Counselor: Anna Vazquez – anna.vazquez@pfisd.net
Student care and concerns, parent and student support, Credit by Exam, Gifted and Talented information, assessment, and Section 504
Assistant Principal: Jesus Olivas –jesus.olivas@pfisd.net
Primary contact regarding discipline, LPAC, and SpEd. Additionally, virtually everything you would contact Ms. Ruiz for. It is a good idea to copy Mr. Olivas on emails sent to Ms. Ruiz because both of them are able to respond to questions or concerns.
Principal: Lizbeth Ruiz – lizbeth.ruiz@pfisd.net
Any and all topics not covered by the staff members listed above.
Please feel free to email or call us if you are needing support. We look forward to passionately serving the families of Highland Park Elementary!
COMMUNICATION AVENUES
Please let your child's teacher know if you haven't been getting the emails from HPES messenger or PfISD Communications. Our office staff will be happy to check your email and update any new emails for you in Skyward.
Below is a list of ways to reach out and stay informed with up-to-date information:
- HPES Website: https://www.pfisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=37
- HPES Principal Blog: https://www.pfisd.net/Page/7831
HPES Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighlandParkES/
HPES Twitter: @HighlandPark_ES
HPES PTO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highlandparkelementarypto/
School Messenger: As part of Pflugerville ISD’s effort to enhance its communication capabilities, the district has implemented a parent notification system called SchoolMessenger. This powerful tool will increase the district’s ability to communicate important information to parents in a timely manner, through email, voice messages, and text messages. In addition to providing relevant information about emergencies, school closures, events and activities, the system will also be used to communicate student absences. If you are a parent or guardian of a student in Pflugerville ISD, you do NOT need to subscribe to this list. Your information is already in the system when you initially registered and subscribing to this list could sign you up to receive multiple emails. If you need to update use the “School Messenger” link above to change your contact information.
- Grades & Attendance: access to your child(ren)’s grades and attendance through the Skyward district software student information system. Parents - Family Access Instructions (download PDF) If you do not have acess to it please send a email to: parentportal@pfisd.net , Subject Line = Skyward Family Access Account
Language Line- This is an over-the-phone interpretation on demand service with 150 languages available for families of English learners. See Master Language Line Instructions below.
Highland Park Elementary School
Website: https://www.pfisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=37
Location: 428 Kingston Lacy Blvd, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512.594.6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighlandParkES/
Twitter: @HighlandPark_ES