HPES Parent Newsletter
July 23, 2020
Principal's Update
Dear Highland Park Families,
I hope this communication finds you and your family safe and well. Please be sure you are taking all precautions to keep your family safe during this pandemic.
Currently, the office is open 3 days a week so you can contact us by phone at 512.594.6800, or you can e-mail campus administrators at: lizbeth.ruiz@pfisd.net or jesus.olivas@pfisd.net.
To contact the front office please email: miroslava.oiesen@pfisd.net or our registrar at miriam.ruvalcaba@pfisd.net.
There is much about the 2020-2021 school year that is still in question but we want to help as much as possible. If you are in need, please e-mail our counselor, anna.vazquez@pfisd.net.
You can help us by preparing your child/children to wear their mask. Start practicing now wearing their mask in 30 minute increments and build up to wearing it for longer periods of time. You can also practice hand washing hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Remind your child they need to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and how to safely cover coughs and sneezes.
We are currently asking parents to register their children for either on-campus or virtual learning. This registration process will help our campus plan for master schedules, classroom space, and long-term virtual learning needs.
Classes begin on August 13th, the first three weeks of instruction 100% online. We are currently working on two plans:
- Return to Learn in Person Campus Plan: is due to be presented by August 24th.
- Return to Learn Virtually (Online): Our district has a separate committee that is currently working on the Return to Learn Online plan. This one should be completed by the end of next week on July 31st. It will then be shared with campus principals and we will then communicate this to our staff, create daily schedules, and share with families.
Teachers officially return to work (virtually or in person) on 08/06 and will communicate with students on their class rosters that week. We also have a Meet the Teacher (virtual) scheduled to take place on 08/11 and here we will communicate specific schedules and expectations for our campus. I hope to receive more information from our district leadership this upcoming week. As soon as we finalize those plans I will make sure to share those out with our families.
We miss all of you tremendously. Please do not hesitate to call or email with any questions you may have.
Warm Regards,
Lizbeth Ruiz
Return to School Campus Task Force
Our Return to Learn in person will look significantly different this school year. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our students, staff, and families. This means that many of our campus systems such as arrival of students, after-school dismissal, and campus visiting guidelines are being updated to ensure the highest level of safety and that we adhere to physical distancing protocols. We kindly ask that you be patient and flexible with these changes. We are working closely with our campus task force to ensure the safest return to in person instruction. We have been tasked with creating a Highland Park campus plan that adheres to our district safety guidelines as well as the guidelines provided by the CDC.
Campus Task Force Timeline:
Week of July 20: Task Force Meets to create initial draft of campus plan.
Week of July 27: Task Force Meets to continue working on initial draft of campus plan.
Week of August 3: Campus Administrators Meet with District Area Executive Directors and District Health and Safety department to review and finalize draft.
Week of August 10: Community opportunity to view campus draft and provide feedback on plan.
Week of August 17: Campus will hold a virtual community meeting to present final plan with changes from feedback-
Week of August 24: Deadline to post/submit final plan to District for final approval.
I would like to take a moment to introduce and thank our Highland Park Task Force members. Thank-you for supporting our campus as we plan for a safe return to campus.
Return to School Task Force Members
Lizbeth Ruiz - Principal
Jesus Olivas - Assistant Principal
Anna Vazquez - Counselor
Janie Rodriguez - Teacher- Lower Grade
Veronica Jimenez - Teacher- Upper Grade
Lindsey Hartford - SPED Teacher
Claire Harvey - PE Teacher
Yolanda Reyes - Librarian
Christina Henderson - Nurse
Christy Fox - Parent - Lower Grade
Eliza Lee - Parent - Upper Grade
Return to Learn Plans & FAQ's
The district has put out drafts of what the procedures will be for returning to school. Please take time to review the drafts. Below is the link to the return to learn plans. There is also a Parent Re-Entry Survey and Parent Communications on this page. https://www.pfisd.net/fall2020
PfISD has set up a website to house all our information on returning to school this fall, both online and in-person. This site includes parent communications, overviews of current instructional and safety plans as well as lists of Frequently Asked Questions.
Our staff has updated these FAQs to include lists for General FAQs and Virtual Learning FAQs. These FAQ lists will be updated and modified as we get more information and plans become finalized, so please check our Return to Learn homepage frequently.
Return to Learn General FAQs
Return to Learn Virtual Learning FAQs
School Registration
Our campus will be offering curbside pick up of registration packet on July 29th and July 30th. Parents are also welcome to set up appointments to pick up or drop off a registration packet. In addition we will have technology set up in the cafeteria on July 29th, and 30th for parents to use if needed. Laptops will be available for parents to complete the following forms:
- Returning Families: Verification Form, Health Form, Registration Selection/Option Choice SY 20-21 and Lunch Program Application.
- New Families: Lunch Program Application.
Virtual vs. On-campus Choice
PfISD recently sent out a communication about registering for either online virtual instruction or on-campus when the option to return to campus becomes available.
It is essential to complete this registration online via Skyward Family Access so the district can plan accordingly for the fall as there are questions related to available technology in the home to our students and transportation plans/needs of our students. These additional questions will help the district distribute technology to parents and students for virtual learning and more.
If you need a Skyward Family Access account or have additional questions, please contact Skyward support at parentportal@pfisd.net. Please include your name, your student’s name, and your student’s school on the email to the parent portal. Please ensure that you log in using the Parent Portal and not the Student Portal.
The deadline to complete this choice form/registration is August 6. Families will have the option to change their mind regarding their selection until July 30. If you choose to change your student's learning method on or before August 6, please contact your campus registrar to change your selection. This choice will remain in effect for the first 9-week grading period; families will have the opportunity to change their student's learning method at the change of grading periods.
Student Verification form & Student Health form
Our online verification process for the upcoming school year is available online for all campuses. We are requesting that you complete the two online forms for school year 20-21 using the Skyward Parent Portal. The online Student Verification form and the Student Health form will replace our traditional first day of school packets. If you will please login to your Skyward Family Access account and complete the forms, we would appreciate it. We are requesting that you complete the forms before school starts.
If you need a Skyward Family Access account or have additional questions, please contact Skyward support at parentportal@pfisd.net. Please include your name, your student’s name, and your student’s school on the email to the parent portal. Please ensure that you login using the Parent Portal and not the Student Portal. Families may translate the forms using Google Translate. (Google Translate instructions here)
Upcoming Events
Jul. 29 – New Student Registration 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Jul. 30 – New Student Registration 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 11- Virtual Meet the Teacher: PK-2nd: 5:00- 5:45 & 3rd- 5th: 5:45- 6:30
Aug. 13 – Students First Day of School
Highland Park Elementary School
Website: https://www.pfisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=37
Location: 428 Kingston Lacy Boulevard, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512.594.6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighlandParkES/
Twitter: @HighlandPark_ES