The Scots' Scoop
Highland Park Middle School's Weekly Family Newsletter
February 13, 2022
Translations
All translations are computer generated. We apologize in advance for any unintended errors.
February is Black History Month
"Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."
- Dr. Mae Jemison • American engineer, physician, and
former NASA astronaut
Upcoming Important Dates
Monday, February 14: National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) - Virtual (see information directly below)
Ongoing through Monday, February 28: ACCESS Testing for ELL Students
Monday, February 21: No School - Presidents' Day
Wed., Feb. 23 - Fri., Feb. 25: HPMS Books for Africa Book Drive (See article below)
Friday, March 4: No School - District Professional Development
Friday, March 4: Deadline for SPPS School Choice Priority (See article below, "Enrollment for High School")
NAAPID 2022 Virtual Presentation
The link to our virtual HPMS NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day) presentation is https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HD32sbqHHlRZ1UiOzy1OWX-r7HL1q59e/view?usp=sharing.
There is so much rich Black History that our video is just touching the tip of the “iceberg." For example, please go to this link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18pOK3roiwPQ9WF7D2wA0o7Ktr8KwAJeZfn-o6O8T__Y/edit?usp=sharing to hear a Read-Aloud from the Black Lives Matter Instructional Library.
'Every Meal' Free Weekend Meal Program
Enrollment for High School (for current 8th Graders)
Open enrollment season is underway! By now, 8th grade families should have received a letter from the Placement Office, indicating which high school their reserved seat for 9th grade is. If you have an 8th grader, and have not received your letter, please contact the SPPS Placement Office at 651-632-3760.
The high school enrollment process is as follows:
- Current 8th grade students/families receive a letter from the SPPS Placement Office, stating at which high school they already have a reserved seat.
- Current 8th graders who want to attend a different SPPS school other than the one they are automatically assigned to will need to apply online for their preferred high school by Friday, March 4.
- In early April, current 8th graders/families will receive a second letter, confirming the high school to which they are enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year.
- In the middle of April, high schools send a welcome letter to current 8th graders/families.
- In late April, current 8th grade students register for their 2022-2023 high school classes with their high school counselors.
Some scheduled transition activities for our 8th graders will include visits from high school AVID teachers and high school counselors who will talk to students about strategies for success in high school.
Please email elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org, or call Ms. Mulvaney at 651-744-3399 if you have any questions about high school enrollment.
Student Library Advisory Board 'Books for Africa' Book Drive
February is “I Love to Read Month.” This month will be full of reading. The HPMS Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) is inviting you to share your love of books with students and families in Africa! We are hosting a book drive for the local charity Books for Africa. We are offering a prize to the Foundations class that brings in the most books.
When: February 23 - 25
Where: Students can bring books to their Foundations class. SLAB students will pick up donations in Foundations classes on the collection days. Students may also drop off books the 23rd - 25th at a table by Door 20, where SLAB students will be waiting to receive them.
What kinds of books will be collected? Books for Africa has a strong need for children’s books and current textbooks. Books for Africa will only accept the following types of books:
Books published in the last 15 years
Books that are in good condition (no spine damage, excessive markings, torn or missing pages or covers)
The following types of books will NOT be accepted by Books For Africa:
Western-centric books (books about holidays celebrated only in the U.S. or Europe, like the 4th of July or Presidents Day; books on U.S. history, or historical figures)
Books about witches or magic (like the Harry Potter series)
Books with kill, murder, or death in the title
Encyclopedia sets
Magazines
Cookbooks
Foreign language books (books in French are okay)
K-12 music books
We will bring the collected books to the local Books For Africa collection site where they will be sorted and shipped to Africa. Questions? Please reach out to the librarian, Ms. Andrews, at Adayle.Andrews@spps.org. Thank you for your support!
Online Middle School Parenting Classes
Parenting during the middle school years can be challenging, even under the best circumstances. Health Start health educators are offering a series of online classes, designed to give parents helpful tips and useful resources as they navigate through adolescent development.
Join Jennifer Marshall and Heidi Huelster virtually this week, as they lead "Puberty for Parents," for parents whose children attend either Capitol Hill and Highland Park Middle School. The class will be offered via Zoom at two different times (no pre-registration required to attend):
- Tuesday, February 15 at 10 a.m.
- Zoom link for "Puberty for Parents" February 15 at 10:00 a.m.
OR
- Thursday, February 17 at 6:30 pm.
- Zoom link for "Puberty for Parents" February 17 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Jennifer Marshall at jmarshal@mncare.org, or at 612-564-8595. Watch for updated Zoom links for these additional classes that Health Start will be offering:
- Wednesday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.: Mental Health and Motivation
- Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 p.m.: Bodies, Relationships, and Communication
- Thursday, May 12, 6:30 p.m.: Screens and Technology: the Good, the Bad and Getting Back on Track
No Parking in Bus Zones Before or After School
School Bus Route Challenges
Please go to this link to read about school bus information: https://www.smore.com/b1xez.
Schedule Change for 2022-23 School Year
Please see this link for information regarding next year's schedule changes: https://www.smore.com/e9fxc.
ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELL) testing in February
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.
COVID-19 Vaccines Available Ages 5 - 17
Important COVID-19 Message from SPPS
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.
Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms?
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:
Go to the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System Website: https://commedspps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9G0WvcJlWfuqwlL & follow the instructions there, then
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.
Athletic Events Safety Practices
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.
Homework Help at Highland Park Public Library
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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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