Newsletter #5
Newsletter #5 - Friday, January 23, 2026
Happy Friday Highland Park Husky Families,
It is almost the end of January, and it is hard to believe that February starts the week after next. We have some exciting events and activities planned in the upcoming weeks. Please be sure to check out our website. The upcoming events are listed with an option to view them in a CALENDAR format. Highland Park will be hosting a Family Read Night on Tuesday, January 27th in the Library in support of Unplug and Play with special guest, Chris McMahen, retired teacher and author. Please remember that Friday, February 13th is a Pro-D Day. and Monday, February 16th is Family Day. There is no school on either of these days for students.
Husky STRONG: At our next whole school assembly, we will be recognizing students (one per division) who have demonstrated behaviours consistent with the N in Husky STRO”N”G – NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER GIVE UP connects to persevering when things get tough which is aligned to the Circle of Courage quadrant of Mastery. At this last assembly we reviewed the Learning Pit and the feelings associated with learning new things. We also talked about the importance of having a growth mindset. For our upcoming assembly on Wednesday, February 4, the topic is the S in Husky “S”TRONG which stands for SHOW SAFE CHOICES. Students will learn more about being an UPSTANDER which is aligned to the Circle of Courage quadrant of Belonging. It is the job of all students to contribute in positive ways so that all students feel safe, cared for and belong. This focus will also prepare us for Pink Shirt Day, which is on Wednesday, February 25th. Please help us raise awareness about the importance of Anti Bullying and the promotion of kindness. While not all unkindness is Bullying, all Bullying is unkind. While we teach students strategies to solve problems on their own (Problem Solving Wheel), many problems that students encounter at school need help from the adults at school to solve, and we are here to help. If ever you feel you need our help, please contact your child’s teacher or Shelly Cull, the school principal. The sooner the better as we want to help students solve problems when they are small, it’s the healthiest way.
Every Husky Strong School Wide Assembly centers around a topic connected to our School Learning Plan and what it means to be Husky STRONG. CLICK HERE to review our schedule of topics for our assemblies. CLICK HERE to access our School Learning Plan. We thank the parents who attended our information session on November 20 and provided input.
Wellness: To support wellness and wellbeing, SD83 provides monthly mindful moments. These consist of small bitesize pieces of information to help you help your child with a variety of topics from anxiety to the importance of sleep to behaviour as communication. CLICK HERE to access the monthly Mindful Moments.
Kindergarten Registration: Kindergarten Registration is open for the 2026 – 2027 school year. We have approximately 29 students registered so far with several cross boundary requests to attend Highland Park. If you wish to have your child attend Highland Park in Kindergarten for 2026-2027, please ensure that you get your registration completed as soon as possible. For more information on Kindergarten Registration please CLICK HERE.
Winter Recreation: With skating and our grade 4/5 students participating in skiing/snowboarding at Silver Star, winter recreation is well underway. Please check our CALENDAR for upcoming skating times. Tuesday, February 3rd will be the last trip up to Silver Star for our grade 4/5 students.
Unplug and Play: Unplug and Play starts tomorrow (January 24th) and runs until Saturday January 31st. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage in family time and encourage Literacy. Highland Park will be hosting a Family Read Night on Tuesday January 27th in the Library with special guest, Chris McMahen, retired teacher and author. Please look in your child’s backpack for a list of free special events and activities around the community. Please have your child fill out the “Pledge Form” on the front of the booklet and return it to the office by Friday February 6th for a chance to win some great prizes. CLICK HERE for the passport and a list of the activities.
February 7 – 12th is Career Week: We will be hosting our second annual Career Fair on Thursday, February 12th. We will be showcasing a diverse range of jobs and careers to inspire our students. If you are interested in presenting or helping with this event, and have your Criminal Record Check and Approved Volunteer status, please contact Ms. MacDonald at mmacdona@sd.83.bc.ca. More information about our final schedule will be made available soon.
SD83 District Art Fair: If you have the opportunity between February 9 and 13th, stop by Picadilly Mall in Salmon Arm to view some spectacular art created by students throughout our district including our very own students at Highland Park! CLICK HERE to view pictures from last year’s display.
Next PAC Meeting: Wednesday, February 11th 2:30 in the library.
Valentine’s Day is Saturday February 14th: Teachers will be communicating any special plans for your child’s classroom. Please be sure to check with your child’s teacher prior to sending any snacks or treats.
School Spirit Days: Twin Day is Friday, February 20th. Find a friend or small group and dress similarly. We are looking forward to seeing the students participate in this fun spirit day!
Ready-Set-Learn: This event is for 3 – 5 year-olds and their caregivers. The event at Highland Park Elementary is on Wednesday February 25th in the Library from 12:30 – 1:30. Please pre-register for this event with our office or by emailing adeboer@sd83.bc.ca. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Communicating Student Learning: Our next formal written learning updates will be available online by the afternoon of Tuesday, March 10. A hard copy will be sent home with students on Wednesday, March 11.
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns about any aspect of Highland Park Elementary School to our office at (250) 546-8723 or via email to scull@sd.83.bc.ca.
