The Scots' Scoop
Highland Park Middle School's Weekly Family Newsletter
May 28, 2023
All translations are computer generated.
We apologize in advance for any unintended errors.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh • was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk,
peace activist, author, poet, teacher, & “father of mindfillness"
Important Upcoming Dates
- Sat., May 27 - Sun., June 4: Red Balloon Book Fair (See more information below)
- Monday, May 29: No School • Memorial Day Holiday
- Wednesday, May 31: HPMS Pride Day (see more information below)
- Thursday, June 1: Arts Showcase • 4:45 - 7 p.m. • 1st Floor Lobby, Hallways, & Library
- Jazz Band Concert • 4:45 p.m. • Lobby/Atrium
- Advanced Art Show • 5 - 6 p.m. • 1st floor Checkered Hallway
- Choir, Jazz Band, & Advanced Band • 6 -7 p.m. • Auditorium
- Book Fair • 5 - 7 p.m. • Library (See more information below)
- Friday, June 2: Spirit Day • Jersey Day
- Wednesday, June 7: Musical Princess Whatshername • 1:30 p.m. • Auditorium
- Friday, June 9: Spirit Day • Color Day
- Friday, June 9: Team Day • Various trips/events
- Monday, June 12: 8th Grade Sharks Recognition • 2 - 3 p.m. • Auditorium
- Tuesday, June 13: 8th Grade Tecolotes Recognition • 2 - 3 p.m. • Auditorium
- Wednesday, June 14: Last Day of School / End of Quarter 4
Beginning Tuesday, May 30, Doors Open at 8:00 a.m.
Beginning of the Day ― Doors will be unlocked at 8:00 a.m.
We have noticed that students are being dropped off too early in the morning. Beginning on Tuesday, May 30, the school doors will be first open at 8:00 a.m. each morning. There is no supervision before 8:00 a.m., and we need to make sure that students are safe and supervised when in the building.
If you drop your child off at 8:00 a.m, they must sit on the ledge right by Door 13 (on Snelling Avenue side) or by Door 20 (by the Parking lot side) after they enter the building without going beyond the ramp. At 8:10 a.m., they will be able to pick up Breakfast to Go and then go to their first class of the day.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of School Day ― Students must leave the building by 3:15 p.m.
Likewise, at the end of the school day, unless there your student is involved in school sponsored sports, there is no supervision after 3:15 p.m. for your student. Therefore, if you pick your student up after school, please be at school by 3:15 p.m. to do so. Beginning on Tuesday, May 30, students must leave the building by 3:15 p.m. and wait outside for their rides.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Highland Park Middle School Staff and Administration
HPMS Pride Day • Wednesday, May 31
HPMS GSA plans to celebrate Pride Day this Wednesday, May 31, to show support of the LGBTQ+ members of our community and to celebrate!
All members of HPMS will benefit from a better understanding of Pride celebrations and the LGBTQ+ groups within our community.
Students and staff are encouraged to wear Pride colors (rainbow colors) on May 31 to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community here at HPMS!
Save the Date: The Red Balloon Book Fair is Coming to HPMS
Hello, HPMS families. We will be hosting a Red Balloon Book Fair in the library from May 27 – June 4, with in-person and online purchasing opportunities. The book fair will be open to students during the day on both May 31 and June 1, and it will be open to students and families on the evening of June 1, from 5 - 7 p.m., during the HPMS Arts Showcase.
During the in-person events, 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 Red Balloon HPMS page 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.
Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) News
As a final hurrah for this school year, the HPMS SLAB students are inviting their peers to join them in a GooseChase Scavenger hunt Friday, June 2 – Friday, June 9. Students may choose to participate as an individual or in a group of 2-3. This optional experience asks students to use the GooseChase app on their iPad to complete a series of missions all in the name of good fun. Some missions need to be completed in school; other missions will need to be completed in the students’ community.
Students may sign up using the link or QR code in the message on the Highland Park Middle School Library’s Schoology page. There will also be posters in the school library and hallways with the QR code that links to the signup page. A maximum of 15 individuals and 15 teams can join, so interested students should sign up right away. Prizes will be given to the top individual and team based on points earned, accuracy, and creativity. Students who are late to class or are disruptive in any way due to their effort to complete a mission will be disqualified from the experience. Please send any questions to Ms. Andrews, the librarian, at Adayle.Andrews@spps.org.
8th Grade Recognition Ceremonies, June 12 & 13
Families are invited to come join us for 8th Grade Recognition June 12 & 13. Recognition ceremonies are done by team and are done on separate days:
- Sharks Team (including Chinese Immersion) is Monday, June 12, at 2:00 p.m.
- Tecolotes Team (Spanish Immersion Team) is Tuesday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m.
Both ceremonies will take place in the Auditorium.
Parking Suggestions:
There is limited parking in the school parking lot near Door 20. Because of end of the day busing, there is NO PARKING on Snelling Avenue on the west side of the street (closest to the school building). In addition, there is NO PARKING on Montreal Avenue on the south side of the street directly in front of the school, between the parking lot entrance and the Snelling/Montreal intersection.We are happy to invite you to join us for our 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony in June:
Tardies, Skipping, or Behavior may Result in Missing End of Year Team Field Trip
Since May 15, if your student has 8 or more total tardies between May 15 - June 8, they may not be able to go on their end-of-the year field trip on Team Day, June 9, with their team.
Furthermore, if your student skips a class, or has been dismissed or suspended since May 15, they may not be eligible to go on their end-of-the year field trip on Team Day, June 9.
Please speak to your student about the importance of getting to class on time & behaving appropriately, & thank you for your support!
Water Bottles and Spraying
Students are allowed to bring water bottles to school for drinking. However, as the weather turns warmer, we see some student making poor choices, including spraying water at other students. Spraying water at school is unacceptable. Doing so creates an unsafe environment, causing students & staff to slip and possibly hurt themselves. In addition, we have had situations in the past where sprayed water has damaged a hand held device.
Students have been informed that any spraying of water anywhere on school grounds, before or after school, is prohibited, and may lead to suspension.
Please encourage your student to be responsible with their water.
Mental Health Awareness: ADHD
May is Mental Health Awareness month! By acknowledging and bringing awareness to mental health, we fight stigma and provide support for the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness.
ADHD affects many families. Mental Health awareness includes being aware of brain differences of people with ADHD. See this important link for more information regarding ADHD.
More information about Mental Health Awareness month can be found here.
Spirit Day • Each Friday
HPMS Student Council is sponsoring Spirit Day each Friday through June 9. We are asking that students dress up in the following themes on these days:
- June 2 • Jersey Day • Dress up representing your favorite team.
- June 9 • Color Day
- 8th Grade: White
- 7th Grade: Blue
- 6th Grade: Red
Let's do our best to have great HPMS Spirit, and please dress with respect!
Every Meal Update
While the Every Meal Program does not provide food over the summer, their website has lots of information on how to access food resources. Please feel free to check out their website here. If you need additional information, please feel free to reach out to our general education social worker at (651) 744-4616 or kathryn.monroe@spps.org. Thanks!
Summer Spark
Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) Summer Spark runs between June and August each year. The goal of this program is to encourage young people to have fun, stay active, and keep learning all summer long. Families visit neighborhood libraries for giveaway books. Libraries host a variety of drop in performers and ongoing programs.
Additionally, librarians provide specific literacy-based resources like recommended booklists and interactive story strolls to promote summer reading. Students complete a combination of reading and activities to earn prizes. Find details at sppl.org/summer.
No Food Deliveries at Highland Park Middle School
We have recently seen an increase in fast food either being dropped off for students for lunch, or in some cases, being delivered by a food delivery service such as DoorDash, GrubHub, etc.
Fast food lunches, coffee drinks, etc., delivered to students by family or by any delivery service is NOT ALLOWED.
The reasons for this include the fact that fast foods are not healthy for students. As importantly, however, is that we are always attempting to reduce the amount of traffic entering our secured doors, as safety is a priority at HPMS. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Highland Park MS Girls Soccer Camp this Summer
The Highland Park Girls Soccer team is running a soccer camp for girls going into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The camp is run by head coach Chris Steenberg and members of the girls varsity team. Please use this link for more details and learn how to register for the camp.
Contact Chris Steenberg if you have any questions at chris.steenberg@spps.org.
Students Selling Treats/Other Items is Prohibited
Students are not allowed to sell any items on school grounds. If found doing so, the items will be confiscated and a parent will be asked to pick the items up from school.
Please Leave These Items at Home
Please read more about what to leave at home here.
Reminders about Snack
We have seen an increase in students eating candy, chips, and pop throughout the day & in the hallways. However, snacks are to be eaten only during Foundations (11:16 - 11:41). Furthermore, pop and other sweetened drinks are not allowed during the school day outside of the cafeteria. Water is allowed throughout the school day.
TutorMe Free Online Homework Help
Please go to this link for information regarding TutorMe tutoring.
St. Paul Public Library Homework Centers
Please go to this link for information regarding free homework help for students.
Attendance Notes
REPORT STUDENT ABSENCES
Please call (651) 744-3393, the HPMS Attendance Line, or send an email to highlandmsattendance@spps.org, when your child is unable to come to school.
PICK UP STUDENTS EARLY
Please send a note with your students on the morning of the planned absence. The note should state the date, time and reason for the early dismissal. The student should bring the note to the office first thing in the morning. Office staff will give the student a pass to leave early and record their absence in the Campus system. At the time indicated on the pass, the student can leave and meet their ride at Door #20 (parking lot).
LATE ARRIVALS
No need to call the office if your student arrives to school late. Please send a note with your child. Have them check into the main office.and we will adjust the attendance.
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