Parent Newsletter!
August 19, 2022
Dear Highland Park Families,
We had a wonderful first full week of school. Students were engaged and learning in class. Please read this weekly newsletter thoroughly for campus updates and information. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions at all.
Highland Park Bulldogs WOOF!
Warm Regards,
Lizbeth Ruiz
Principal
Highland Park Elementary
TEA State Accountability
HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?
It's official! After a year of hard work and dedication, we did it! Highland Park maintained our A rating status with TEA. Our campus not only earned an "A" but also scored the highest overall in our district and we were the only dual language campus to earn an "A" rating. We are extremely proud of our amazing teachers, staff, and students and so grateful for the support of our parents and our community.
You can view the results on the TEA website.
Highland Park Elementary Visitor Procedures
Visitors
ALL campus visitors will be asked to sign in at the front office through our raptor security system. You will need a valid driver's license to sign into our security system. This means if you are needing to walk your child to class you will need to enter through the front office and sign in.
Morning Arrival sign in must be tween 7:05-7:30. After 7:30- first bell. We will have additional staff on duty for students who need additional support getting to class.
Visitor pass must be displayed above their waistline, preferably to the left or right of the chest area so that it is visible to all staff. Visitor badges must be returned to the front office upon exiting the building.
All visitors will need to exit the building by 7:35 a.m. so that we may begin instruction.
Please allow more time to check in, as we transition into these updated protocols.
Only HPES students will be allowed to enter through the main entry doors. All visitors and parents will be required to enter through the front office doors.
Parents are welcome to join their children for breakfast and lunch, but will also be asked to sign in through our raptor security system.
Thank you for supporting our PfISD safety measures, your patience and understanding as we work together to keep our students and staff safe.
Breakfast/Lunch
Breakfast: Parents are welcome to eat breakfast with their children. Breakfast is served from 7:10-7:35 in the cafeteria. Parents will need to sit with their students at the stage tables or the two round tables in the foyer. Please only invite your child to eat with you. Inviting your child's friends is not allowed. With close to 730 students, we are limited in space and kindly ask that you save this treat for special occasions. Parents will need to sign in the raptor system in the front office.
Lunch: Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their children. Please check with your child's teacher for specific class time lunch. Parents will need to sit with their students at the stage tables or the round tables in the foyer. Please only invite your child to eat with you. Inviting your child's friends is not allowed. With close to 730 students, we are limited in space and kindly ask that you save this treat for special occasions. Parents will need to sign in the raptor system in the front office.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Arrival
HPES doors will open at 7:05 a.m. for bus riders and 7:10 a.m. for car riders and walkers.
Bus riders will enter the building through the 100 hallway doors adjacent to the bus loop at 7:05 a.m. Upon entering the building they will make their way to the gym where they will wait to be dismissed to class.
Car riders and walkers will enter the building through the front entrance at 7:10 a.m.
Walkers and car riders that arrive early will wait outside (back up plan for weather)
Upon entering the building car riders, walkers, and bike riders will go to either the cafeteria or the hallway/gym, until 7:15. At 7:15 students will be released to their classrooms.
Students eating breakfast will be asked to go to the cafeteria
Parents wanting to walk their child to class will need to check in the front office by signing into our Raptor security system. Visitors badge must be returned before you exit the building.
Dismissal pick-up and tags
The safety of all students at Highland Park Elementary School is our number one priority. In order to maintain a high degree of awareness and safety during our afternoon dismissal process, we are requiring that all parents and/or guardians adhere to the following procedures:
1. Please wait outside for your child. If you sign out your child prior to dismissal time, it must be documented. Excessive early outs could amount to a meeting with the attendance committee. Teachers will make sure your child/children get to the car pick-up areas in an orderly manner.
2. Each student has been issued a numbered/color coded dismissal card. Parents picking up students MUST display this card in the passenger side window of any car or hold it for walk up parents/ For safety’s sake, children will not be allowed to get in any car or leave campus without the dismissal tag or identification verification taking place.
3. Dismissal order is by hallways, beginning with 100, 200, 300, and 400 hallways. If you are in line for the 200 or 300 hallways, grade before the 100 and 200 hallways have dismissed you will be asked to pull around and re-enter the line.
4. If you forget your dismissal card, the staff on duty will ask you for your driver’s license. She/he will take your driver’s license to the office to be scanned through RAPTOR and bring back a new card for your vehicle. Students will be monitored as they leave school so we can safely account for every child.
5. If you choose to park your vehicle and walk up to pick up your child, you will be asked to show the dismissal tag to staff on duty, so that we can be absolutely certain your child is in safe hands.
6. If you do not have the card as a walk-up, you will be asked to go to the office and present a picture ID to sign out your child.
Please help us in our efforts to maintain the highest degree of safety for everyone.
Birthday Celebrations/Campus Celebrations
For the safety of all our students, the following changes will go into effect this school year:
We will continue to announce and celebrate students' birthdays over morning announcements as well as sing Happy Birthday in the classroom.
Parents may bring cupcakes to celebrate their child's birthday. However, notice must be given 24 hours in advance. All students will need to have an allergy permission form on file in order to share in the cupcake celebration. Cupcakes may only be passed out the last 20 minutes of class.
For classroom food activities such as party days or food-related learning activities, parents will need to complete an allergy permission form stating which foods their student is allowed to eat or handle. If this form is not returned prior to the event, the student will not be able to participate in the activity.
We appreciate the care and time that the teachers and allergy committee members have given to this very important matter. We are dedicated to keeping our kids safe here at HPES and believe that this will help achieve that for all our students.
PTO
- New and Improved Website (www.hpespto.org) designed to be an information hub and a quick way to get some Bulldog Swag. There is a list of events we are hosting like Movie Nights, School Dance, and more. We're building ways to support our teachers. There is info about themselves and their "Amazon Wish-lists" so dive in!
- Amazon Smile - Did you know that if you shop on Amazon at no additional cost will donate a percentage back to the PTO? All you have to do is use smile.amazon.com instead of www. When you search for us, look for "Highland Park Elementary PTO" to ensure it is the school from Pflugerville. There is more than one HPES!
- Volunteers - Want to help but don't know how? After checking out our website, reach us at volunteers@hpespto.org. We can find a place where you'll fit right in. You can get a head start by applying in the district as an official volunteer. It only takes about 5 minutes.
- Join the PTO Facebook - Where Bulldogs WOOF! https://www.facebook.com/highlandparkelementarypto
- BooHoo Breakfast on the first day of school for the parents of the littles that need that little support (or celebration). We'll have coffee, muffins, and tissues ready. Find out more at www.hpespto.org/events
- Spirit Store - This is a great way for kids to stock up on bulldog swag. Check out the website to find out how it works and what you might see there. Open every other Friday.
Staff Wish Lists
Our fabulous PTO has organized a place to learn about our school staff's likes and wishes. Whether it is an Amazon Wish List, favorite colors, or things they collect, this can help you find a way to show appreciation for what they do. Keep an eye out as we continue to add more staff to the list: You can access staff wish lists here: https://www.hpespto.org/wish
Communication Guide
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: Anita Moreno– anita.moreno@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.
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: Yaira Torres- yaira.torres@pfisd.net
Schedule LPAC and 504 meetings, and gather student grades, relevant classroom, and health data.
Nurse: Lindsey Gonzalez-lindsey.gonzalez@pfisd.net
Shot records, allergy information, distribution of medication, general student health, Section 504, and SpEd as related to health, etc.
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: Pamela LeDay–pamela.leday@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 Ms. LeDay 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!
Great Things Happening at HPES
1st Grade getting over their first day jitters!
4th grade wrapping up the week playing Jeopardy reviewing campus expectations!
PTO Welcome Back Breakfast! Thank you!
Staff Engaged in Professional Learning & Team Building!
Kudos
Have a co-worker who really matters and whom you want to recognize? Let’s recognize our HPES Bulldogs, no kudos is too big or too small! If you have any kudos you’d like to share, you can submit kudos here: HPES Bulldog Weekly News Kudos
- Ms. Kimbell & Ms. I. Sanchez- for stepping into a first grade teaching role to support students adn parents on the first few days of school!
- All staff on AM & PM duty- for rainy day dismissal on day three, and an all hands on deck approach all week! Including at lunch duty!
- Ms. Moreno, Ms. Ruvalcaba, & Ms. Torres for supporting with our morning parent traffic as we welcomed parents securely into the building.
- Ms. LeDay- for hitting the ground running and always looking for ways to help in all areas.
- Ms. Hynes and the Special Team- for creating, organizing and communicating the special schedules for all students.
Remember, one small positive thought or compliment can change a person's entire day. :)
Upcoming Events
August 16- October 13- Beginning of the year testing for PK
August 18- September 23- Beginning of the year testing for K-5 (Reading & Math)
Sept. 5 - No School
Sept. 8- Parent Orientation- PK-2nd 5:30-6:15, 3rd- 5th- 6:15-7:00
Sept. 12- Sept. 21- PTO Soda Drive- More info here: www.hpespto.org
Sept. 15- PTO Meeting 6:30-7:30
Sept. 23- Back to School Dance at 6:30 p.m.
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