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"History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own."

- Michelle Obama, American attorney, author, and former First Lady

• Monday, January 31: Quarter 3 Begins

• Fri., Feb. 4 - Mon., Feb. 28: ACCESS Testing for ELL Students (on-going)

• Tuesday, February 8: FCC Meeting, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. via Zoom (See Zoom address & meeting topic below)

• Friday, February 11: Quarter 2 Student Final Grades available on-line at Campus One-Stop

• Monday, February 14: National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) - Virtual

• Monday, February 21: No School - Presidents' Day

The Highland Park Middle School Spelling Bee was held virtually on Thursday, January 27. We are pleased to announce seventh-grade Jet, Norah Hoglund, as our school champion. Norah will now have the opportunity to qualify for the Regional Spelling Bee, to be held in mid-March, the winner of which will qualify for the national event.

Twenty-four students, representing the top 3% of spellers among our population, participated in the bee. After four rounds of spellers taking on words like “lineage,” “poultice,” and “kaddish,” the field was narrowed down to three contenders: Norah Hoglund and Rose Duffy, both seventh-grade Jets, and Jeremy Taylor, an eighth-grade Shark.

After two more rounds only Norah and Jeremy remained. In a record-setting twenty-one-round match, in which Norah and Jeremy took turns being in the lead, each vying to solidify their win by spelling the championship word, Norah finally came out on top, correctly spelling “squirrelly” in Round 27 and then, for the win, “flambé.” It was an amazing event, and we would like to congratulate all the participants for their hard work and positive engagement.

The Highland Middle community is proud of Norah, and we wish her the best as she moves forward!

Dear HPMS Families,

The Saint Paul Public School District has cancelled all field trips through February 18, 2022, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. A a result, HPMS Team Day - originally planned for February 4 - is now cancelled, as many teams had planned to go on a field trip on Team Day.

If your student's team had a field trip planned on Team Day, and if you have already paid in advance for the field trip costs for that day, you will soon be receiving a reimbursement on-line if an on-line payment was made, or a cash refund if paid in cash.

We hope to be rescheduling a new date for Team Day in the near future as and when COVID-19 numbers fall to a lower level.

We thank you for your patience during this time.

Please do not park on both Montreal & Snelling Avenues before or after school. These spaces are needed for the school buses to park to pick up student. You must go into the school parking lot off of Montreal Avenue to pick up your students near Door 20.

Please go to this link to read about school bus information: https://www.smore.com/b1xez.

Please see this link for information regarding next year's schedule changes: https://www.smore.com/e9fxc.

Minnesota students who are identified as English Language Learners (ELL) in grades K-12 will participate in the ACCESS for ELLS language proficiency test. The testing will take place during the school day during the weeks of February 4 - February 28. ACCESS for ELLs provides a standardized measurement of academic language proficiency for EL students in the areas of listening, reading, writing, and speaking throughout the state of Minnesota and in other states. With this information, we will be able to monitor students' English language progress on an annual basis. Students who were identified for testing were given a letter with more detailed information to bring home. If you have questions about this test, please contact your child’s EL teacher or school counselor:

• Camila Carroll, 7th grade Lobos and 8th grade Tecolotes EL teacher, (651) 293-8950;
• Hannah Filipiak, 7th grade Jets and 8th grade Sharks EL teacher, (651) 293-8950;
• MariAn Pradas-Ten, 6th grade EL teacher, (651) 293-8950;
• Elisabeth Mulvaney, school counselor, 8th grade, (651) 744-3399;
• Nou Katzmarek, school counselor, 7th grade, (651) 744-3400;
• Danielle Seifert, school counselor, 6th grade, (651) 744-47582.

Some SPPS sites are offering free vaccinations for students of all ages. For more information, please go to https://www.spps.org/covidvaccine.

This message from Saint Paul Public Schools was originally emailed to families on January 5, 2022.

Dear Saint Paul Public Schools Families,

COVID-19 case rates continue to be high across Minnesota and in SPPS and seasonal flu symptoms are also becoming more prevalent. Please help your students take care of themselves and others by having them stay home when they are sick.

Please review this updated illness guidance for what to do if your child gets sick or tests positive for COVID-19. Our 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.

Thank you for staying safe and helping those around you do the same.

Common COVID-19 symptoms include: fever greater than or equal to 100.4° F, new onset and/or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell OR at least 2 of the following: sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, excessive fatigue, new onset of severe headache, new onset of nasal congestion or runny nose.

If you or your child are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please do the following:

1. Go to the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System Website: https://commedspps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9G0WvcJlWfuqwlL & follow the instructions there, then

2. 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.

SPPS athletic events are governed by the Minnesota State High School League. SPPS student conduct at school and district events is governed by the SPPS Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Event Policies

• Middle School Students

• Middle school students and younger must be accompanied by an adult chaperone at all times - this includes at both High School AND Middle School sporting events.

• IDs

• Students from the hosting school and visiting school are welcome with student ID. No student ID, no entry.
• Students from any other schools/non-participating schools must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

• Re-entry Policy

• Fans will not be allowed re-entry once they have exited the building/venue.
• Exception will only apply in which restrooms or concessions are not within the venue.

• Home/Visitor seating

• Fans are expected to be in their designated school’s section.

• Backpacks

• Backpacks are not allowed.

• No outside food or drink allowed if concessions are sold on site.

• SPPS Prohibits the following at School Events:

• Weapons
• Alcoholic Beverages
• E Cigarettes / Vaping
• Tobacco
• Controlled Substances

**Those suspected of being under the influence will not be admitted and are subject to removal from the event.

• In addition...

• Spectators are prohibited from bringing balls into an event.
• Only hand-held signs are allowed. Signs must be positive, appropriate, promote the participants, and not be distracting or block the view of others.
• Artificial noise makers are prohibited.
• Only authorized personnel will be admitted onto the playing surface.
• Animals, other than service animals, are not permitted in the event.

Persons who violate these rules may be ejected without refund.

Follow the rules, regulations, or directions from school staff, stadium personnel, police, or security staff. Inability to do so may result in removal from the event.

SPPS athletic events are governed by the Minnesota State High School League.

Breakthrough Twin Cities is a six-year, free academic enrichment and college preparatory program that helps under-resourced students prepare for college success. Students (and their families) enrolling in Breakthrough Twin Cities make a six-year commitment. While it does not cost anything to participate, students and families “pay” for the experience with their hard work and commitment.

Both transportation and breakfast/lunch meals are provided for students that live in Saint Paul during our summer and in school programs. We are currently in the process of recruiting 6th graders across Saint Paul. Our Application Deadline is FEBRUARY 10TH, 2022. Our summer program then begins on Wednesday, June 29th and ends on August 5th, 2022!

Please visit our website for more information at breakthroughtwincities.org. Click on the video link to watch the Breakthrough Twin Cities video about the program.

To apply, please visit our online application here: https://www.tfaforms.com/4869088.

If you need assistance with completing the application or need a paper copy please contact Danielle Seifert, 6th Grade Counselor at Highland Park Middle School at 651-744-7582 or email at danielle.seifert@spps.org.

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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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