The Scots' Scoop
Highland Park Middle School's Weekly Family Newsletter
June 11, 2023
All translations are computer generated.
We apologize in advance for any unintended errors.
Important Upcoming Dates
- 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
- Tuesday, June 20: Final Grades posted to One-Stop
8th Grade Recognition Ceremonies, June 12 & 13
Families are invited to come join us for 8th Grade Recognition ceremonies, which 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 HPMS 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.
Yearbooks to be Distributed • Extras for Purchase • $20 each
Parents/Guardians, the HPMS 2022-23 yearbooks are here! There are still a few yearbooks for purchase. Yearbooks are $20, and we ask that purchases are made in cash. Please contact michelle.wise@spps.org if you are interested in purchasing a yearbook. Thank you for your support!
Help Support a Staff Piñata Party!
HPMS Families & Friends:
Thank you to those of you who helped us so far with contributing gifts for our end-of-year staff piñata party! We still have a few more prizes for purchase. Go to https://tinyurl.com/hpmspinata2023 to help purchase prizes for our hard-working & dedicated staff! Thank you in advance for your continued support!
Warm Weather Reminder
Hello Highland Park Middle School Families,
Although we have had some cooler late-spring days recently, the weather is forecasted to get warmer each day this week. Please encourage your student to dress for the weather, that is, in light-weight, comfortable clothing. In addition, students are allowed to bring a water bottler to school to keep hydrated.
For more information concerning Saint Paul Public Schools guidelines around weather concerns, please visit these two websites:
- SPPS Warm Weather Reminders, &
- SPPS Hot Weather Guidelines.
Regards,
John Andrastek, Principal
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.
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.
Current 8th Graders • Sign up for HS Football Now
Current 8th grade students who will be attending Highland Senior High can sign up for Highland Park Senior High School football next year.
To register, go to: https://sites.google.com/view/hpsh-football/formsinfo. To visit the Highland Park Football website, go to: https://sites.google.com/view/hpsh-football.
Register now!!
Doors Open for School 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. School doors 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.
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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. Students must be out of 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
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.
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.
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