Newsletter #10 – May 6, 2025

Hello Highland Park Huskies,

Spring has definitely sprung at HPE.  Students are as lively as can be, enjoying the sunny weather at recess and lunch.  We hope you learned a lot about your child’s learning in our most recent informal learning update. For most classes this included the Student Led Conferences.  It was heartwarming to observe the pride students demonstrated as they talked about their work samples. If you have questions about your child’s learning, please be sure to contact your child’s classroom teacher.  As always, if you have any questions regarding any aspect of Highland Park Elementary, please contact me by phone at 250-546-8723 or email scull@sd83.bc.ca. 

Our HPE staff had a glorious place based learning day Monday, May 5 for the Ministry designated Indigenous day of learning. We connected with the Splatsin community on their land and learned more about their culture and ways of being. This experience included time in a local Kekuli and a mini canoeing adventure. 

Ms. Lee will have our Book Sale open on Wednesday, May 7 at recess and lunch and after school for students accompanied by their parent.

Several students from HPE and other students from Armstrong schools will have their art work on display at the Armstrong and Spallumcheen Museum.  The display will be available until May 24 anytime Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00 pm.  

You may have already noticed a speed monitoring sign out front our school.  We are hoping this will help slow traffic down in front of our school. 

Our parking lot improvements are scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 10, if all goes as planned.  As communicated previously, we are hoping that this initiative will help improve the flow of traffic with better signage and painting of directional arrows. You may also notice some parking changes to reduce traffic from backing out of our angled parking stalls at our most busiest times. 

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Last week several students helped me put together a little video thanking our teachers. This video was shown at our whole school assembly today, Tuesday, May 6.  Students in grade 4 and 5 performed Eye of the Tiger and We will Rock You on their recorders and did a wonderful job, thanks to Ms. Lelond.  This provided an opportunity for them to showcase their achievement and for others to practice their respectful audience behaviours, our focus for the coming month.

We had to reschedule our monthly morning assembly from Wednesday, May 7 to today, Tuesday, May 6 in order to accommodate a visit from Science World on Wednesday, May 7. At our assembly we recognized students (one per division) who demonstrated behaviours associated with ACHIEVING and learned more about RESPECTFUL behaviours. Achieving is part of the Circle of Courage quadrant of MASTERY and respect is part of the Circle of Courage quadrant of BELONGING. For more information about our assemblies and topics in support of promoting student wellness and belonging, CLICK HERE .

On Wednesday, May 7 Science World will be presenting in our gymnasium. Their first presentation will be for students in grades K-3 from 8:35-9:20 on the topic of How2Science. Students will discover and practice the ways that scientists observe, predict and test, with demonstrations that will have audience members spinning on platforms, launching rockets and riding hovercrafts.

Their second presentation will be for students in grade 4-5, from 10:00 – 10:45 on the topic of Earth, Wind & Science: Students will get to explore the incredible weather events that occur within our atmosphere, with demonstrations such as the shocking Van de Graaff Generator, the mind-boggling Cloud In A Bottle and the spectacular Fire Tornado.

Our Cross Country Runners will be off to their second and final race on Wednesday, May 7 at AES in the afternoon. A big congratulations to our runners on their personal achievements.

On Thursday, May 8 several classes have field trips planned. Ms. Kalf and Ms. Fassbender’s classes are off to Science Centre in Vernon. Ms. Dolinar and Ms. Terrell’s classes are bowing in Vernon. Ms. Scott/Ms. Cooper’s class is off to the Armstrong and Spallumcheen Museum in the afternoon.

Please ensure any PAC Executive Nomination forms are completed and get to the office by end of school day on Thursday, May 8. The Nomination form was emailed to families on April 8. You can also contact the office as we have some copies available there for anyone interested. Our next PAC meeting/AGM will be on Wednesday, May 14 at 2:30. Nominations will still be accepted at that meeting. Our hope is that those nominated for executive positions, have time to put some thought into what they plan to bring to the role and this be shared at the meeting using the form provided.

On Friday, May 9 is class photo day. Also, if you have a child in grade 4 (and 7, 10, 11, or 12) and haven’t yet, please complete the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Student Learning Survey online. Details were emailed home to families with children in grade 4 on February 6 with a reminder email on April 10. The deadline to complete this survey has been extended to Friday, May 9.  We are up to a 20% completion rate for parents.

Students in grades 4 and 5 are gearing up for Track and Field at HPE.  We have our annual SD83 Track and Field event scheduled on Tuesday, June 3. Our selection process for competing in the various Track and Field events will take place on Wednesday, May 14 and Friday, May 16 at HPE. 

On Wednesday, May 14 students are encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing up as their Biggest Fan. Our next School Spirit Day is Creative Hair/Hat Day on Friday, May 23.

On Friday, May 23 we have a UXO Safety Presentation (Unexploded Ordnance) for students in grade 3 only from 8:15 – 9:15 in the Gymnasium. We are also excited to have a mini rock band perform from Len Wood Middle School for our grade 3/4/5 students in the gym on Friday, May 23 at 1pm.

Also Friday, May 23 is the last day to email input to scull@sd83.bc.ca regarding student placement. Please ensure you have reviewed the instructions on how to submit your input in our April Newsletter.  Thank you for your input and your trust in our staff with this complex process. 

Swimming lessons for our grade 3 students are starting soon. A big thanks to our PAC for supporting this for our grade 3 classes. Ms. Daughtry and Ms. Coombs’ classes are scheduled for the week of Monday, May 26 – Thursday, May 28.  Ms. Coombs’ class is from 9:25 – 10:25 and Ms. Daughtry’s class is from 10:30 – 11:30.  Ms. Brandoli’s class is scheduled during the week of Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5 from 9:25 – 10:25.  Also coming up is free swim days for all classes. Again, stay tuned for communication from your classroom teacher about specific dates and times for your child’s class and a possible request for approved parent volunteers to support our younger students in the water. 

If you are registered for kindergarten for the 2024- 2025 school year, please check your email for information about the kindergarten orientation planned for the morning of Wednesday, May 28. 

Our grade 5 students are looking forward to their visit to Len Wood Middle School, also on Wednesday, May 28. 

Please see a list of upcoming dates below and record what is pertinent to you and you family in your personal calendar:

Monday, May 5
Indigenous Day of Learning – No school for students

National Teacher Appreciation Week begins (ends Friday, May 9)

Tuesday, May 6
Whole School Assembly – RESPECT

Wednesday, May 7
Science World @ HPE

Hot Lunch (PAC) – Askews

Cross Country Running (AES) in the afternoon 12:15 pm

ELL Multicultural Gathering 2- 3pm by invite

Thursday, May 8
Fieldtrip: Kalf and Fassbender to Science Center (Vernon)

Fieldtrip: Dolinar and Terrell to Bowling (Vernon)

Fieldtrip: Scott/Cooper’s class to Armstrong and Spallumcheen Museum

PAC Executive Nomination Forms due – emailed to families April 8

Friday, May 9
Class Pictures – Mountain West

Student Learning Survey EXTENDED– last day to complete survey (students in grades 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, THEIR parents and ALL staff

Wednesday, May 14
PAC Meeting/AGM  2:30 pm (HPE Library)

School Spirit Day – Biggest Fan Day

Hot Lunch (PAC) – Soup Day

Track and Field – Grade 4/5

Thursday, May 15

Fieldtrip: Cooper, Myhre, and Sandberg to bowling in Vernon and Marshall Fields

Friday, May 16
Fieldtrip: Coombs to Wagner Farm

Track and Field – Grade 4/5

Monday, May 19
NO SCHOOL – Holiday

Tuesday, May 20
Fieldtrip: Coombs and Brandoli/Scott and Daughtry to Science Centre

Fieldtrip: Vallance to Gardom Lake

Wednesday, May 21
Hot Lunch (PAC) – Subway

Fieldtrip: Dolinar and Terrell’s classes to the Armstrong and Spallumcheen Museum

Thursday, May 22
Performance: Merry Marching Band 12:30 pm

Friday, May 23
Grade 3 presentation – UXO (Unexploded Explosive Ordnance) Safety Presentation 8:15 – 9:15 am

School Spirit Day – Creative Hair/Hat Day

LWMS mini rock band visit to HPE for grade 3/4/5 in gym

Last day to provide input into classroom placement – see information regarding how to in Newsletter #9

Monday, May 26 – Thursday, May 29
Grade 3 Swimming Lessons: Coombs 9:25 – 10:25

Grade 3 Swimming Lessons: Daughtry 10:30 – 11:30

Wednesday, May 28
Hot Lunch (PAC) – Soup

Kindergarten Orientation

Grade 5 visit to LWMS

Thursday, May 29
UBC Science Presentations at HPE

Fieldtrip: Benge and Byrnes classes at Campout (Fintry) – 1 night

Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5
Grade 3 Swimming Lessons: Brandoli/Scott 9:25 – 10:25

Tuesday, June 3
SD83 District Track and Field Event (Field of Dreams – Salmon Arm) – gr. 4/5

Wednesday, June 4
Whole School Assembly – SHARING

Fieldtrip: Fassbender and Kalf’s classes to O’Keefe Ranch

Hot Lunch (PAC) – OPA

SD83Talks Showcase Finale @ALF Theatre 5:00 (doors open at 4:30 pm) by invitation (Gr. 5 – 8)

Thursday, June 5
Fieldtrip: Coombs to Thomas Hayes

Friday, June 6
HPE Triathlon – Grade 4/5 students (participants bring bikes to school Thursday, June 5)

Wednesday, June 11
School Spirit Day – Tie Dye Day

Hot Lunch (PAC) – Soup Day

Chess in Memorial Pak

PAC Meeting 2:30 pm

Fieldtrip: Byrnes to Myra Canyon and H2O in Kelowna

Monday, June 16
Fieldtrip: Byrnes to Rail Trail and Kal Beach

Fieldtrip: Cooper, Myhre, and Sandberg to Blackburn Park

Wednesday, June 18
Graditude Tour – Former HPE grade 12 graduates tour HPE 1:05 – 1:30 pm

Hot Lunch (PAC)

Thursday, June 19
Ned Show – The Resiliency Ride 1:00 pm

Friday, June 20
National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

Monday, June 23
Fun Day K- 5

Tuesday, June 24
Fieldtrip: Coombs and Daughtry’s classes to Paddlewheel Park

Fieldtrip: Fassbender and Kalf to Blackburn Park in Salmon Arm

Thursday, June 26
End of Year Whole School Assembly 8:30 am

Last day for students and CEAs

Dismissal at 10:00 am (busses run as usual, just 4 hours earlier)

Final Written Summary of Learning available

Friday, June 27
Non-Instruction Day (teachers only)