Newsletter #5

December 4, 2024

Welcome to December! Next week will start our final two weeks before the break.  We are very much looking forward to seeing families at our Winter Concert on Thursday, December 12^th in our gymnasium. CLICK HERE to access the times for your children’s performances.  A big thank you to our music teachers, Ms. Lelond and Ms. Calso, for getting our students prepared to provide our HPE families with the gift of song.  Parents are asked to please enter and exit the gym through the outside entrance, be early to get a seat and stay for the entire concert that you attend. A reminder that if you take pictures, please do not post them on social media without the consent of others in the photo.  If you can help with set up on Monday at 3pm, please contact Mrs. Cull at the office, 250-546-8723 or email scull@sd83.bc.ca. Thank you.

This week, we invited Mr. Mann and his team of helping coaches to introduce lacrosse to our students kindergarten through grade 5.  A big thank you to Mr. Travis Mann and his team, Clayton Schlaak and Natalee Gregory, for volunteering your time and teaching our students new skills.  We hope you will join us again one day. 

We are excited for the many happenings leading up to the winter break.  Our school is buzzing with the excitement of Christmas and the anticipation of some well-deserved time to rest, relax and just be with family and friends.  Mrs. Cull is ready for our next snowfall with the purchase of 12 kid size shovels.  Our last day of school is Friday, December 20^th and we welcome students back on Monday, January 6^th.  If you need to reach Mrs. Cull over the break, please use email as she will be checking her email occasionally.

At this time of year, we often have community members reach out with donations for families who may be experiencing hardship.  Hardship can be experienced by all families at certain times.  If you feel like your family is experiencing hardship at the moment, please contact Shelly Cull, principal, for support.  We want all our students to experience food security, warmth and joy everyday but particularly over the holidays. 

Next week, Highland Park School will be starting our annual Food Drive.  Our PAC has once again offered a pizza lunch to three classes (1 from our k/1 classes [including Ms. Terrell’s grade 1/2 class], 1 from our 2/3 classes and 1 from our grade 4/5 classes) who bring in the most items for the Food Drive.  Starting Monday, December 9^th, please send in non-perishable food items with your child.  Each morning the food items will be counted and collected by Mr. Hazlewood and Mr. Byrnes’ classes and amounts tracked.  On the morning of Friday, December 13^th, our top three classes (from the categories above) will be announced once the final count is complete.  Pizza will be provided by PAC in the final week of school to the top three classes. What a great opportunity in support of our next school wide theme, which is the Circle of Courage quadrant GENEROSITY, in particular the focus area of giving of ourselves through helping.  Thank you Highland Park Elementary School Huskies for your generosity. 

Soon, FSA booklets will be returned to students in grade 4.  Please note their proficiency level for Literacy and Numeracy on their Individual Student Report stapled inside the front cover of the booklet.  Our participation rate was exceptional, and this is helpful to generate accurate data. If you notice your child’s book is incomplete, it is likely due to illness/absence. The workbook and results of each student was reviewed and areas of growth and areas in need of continued growth were determined.  This provincial assessment is one of several pieces of evidence we review as a school to determine progress toward our school goals and identify future areas for school improvement.  If you have questions about your child’s individual results, our results as a school, or the assessment itself, please contact Mrs. Cull or Mr. Hazlewood.  For more information on our School Improvement Plan, CLICK HERE. 

We have several upcoming Spirit Events, we encourage all student to participate to show their Husky Pride.  If you haven’t yet ordered HPE Spirit Wear, CLICK HERE for more information. 

Friday, December 6^th – Whole School Christmas Sweater Day

Thursday, December 12^th – Winter Concert at HPE

Friday, December 13^th – Last Day for parents to Register for Numeracy Night (January 8^th 6:00 – 7:15 pm at AES)

Monday, December 16^th – Last Day to Register for Winter Recreation at Silver Star Mountain (grade 4 and 5 ONLY); skating for Ms. Fassbender’s class

Monday, December 16^th and Tuesday, December 17^th – Movies at Centennial Hall by PAC. This event is for students and approved volunteers as there is limited seating available. Movies will be shared with families soon. 

Tuesday, December 17^th – Written Learning Updates will be available on the MyEd Family portal for viewing by 3 pm.  Copies will be sent home Tuesday, December 17^th or Wednesday, December 18^th.  If you have questions about your child’s progress or program, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Wednesday, December 18^th – Whole School Assembly – wear your HPE gear; skating for Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Vallance’s classes

Thursday, December 19^th – Whole School Whoville Day; skating for Mr. Hazelwood’s class; caroling for Mr. Benge, Mr. Hazlewood and Ms. Brandoli’s classes at Pleasant Valley Manor

Friday, December 20^th – Whole School Pajama Day; skating for Ms. Daughtry and Ms. Coombs’ classes

There are a number of classroom activities happening over the next two weeks as well.  So please keep a close eye on classroom communication from your child’s teacher. 

Stay tuned for photos of our decorated classroom doors in our school. We have some very creative staff, parents and student helpers that helped to bring in the season. 

For ongoing information pertaining to the happenings at HPE please visit our website: www.hpe.sd83.bc.ca. CLICK HERE to access the PAC’s Facebook Page.   CLICK HERE to view Minutes of PAC meetings and the Principal’s Reports. To access past Newsletters you can CLICK HERE. If you have questions or inquires with regard to any and all aspects of Highland Park School, please contact Shelly Cull, principal, by phone 250-546-8723 or email scull@sd83.bc.ca.