Newsletter #8
May 8, 2026
Time sure flies by when you’re having fun. That must be why this year seems to be going so fast.
As we move through the busy and beautiful month of May, I want to take a moment to share how truly honoured I feel to serve as your child’s principal. Each day, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, laugh, and grow alongside your children - they bring such energy, curiosity, and joy to our school community, and it is a privilege to be part of their journey.
You would have recently received a written summary or took part in student-led conferences as the Informal Learning Update that occurs each Spring. These are important ways for us to share your child’s progress and celebrate their growth. If you have any questions or would like further insight into your child’s learning, I encourage you to reach out directly to their classroom teacher.
As always, please know that I am here for you as well. Whether you have questions, feedback, or simply want to connect, I welcome you to reach out to me at any time. Strong communication between school and home makes all the difference, and I am grateful for the partnership we share.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful May,
Shelly Cull 😊
2nd Annual Glow Gallery – CLICK HERE to read more about Highland Park School’s Glow Gallery. This year’s theme was the Enchanted Forest. We are so proud of each individual art contribution, but more importantly is how each individual piece is part of something so magical, so synergetic. The Glow Gallery is a collective representation of how the whole can be much greater than the sum of it’s parts. Thank you students and teachers for your efforts in creating this experience for each other and our families.
Class Photos - Monday, May 11 is class photo day. Grade 5s are asked to bring their hoodie for a HPE grade 5 graduation hoodie photo! StrongStart and Just B4 families are invited to get their class photos taken at recess on the back playground.
Drop off and Pick up – CLICK HERE to access the information needed to navigate our parking lot at pick up and drop off time. Please make pick up and drop off a quick process. If you want to visit with other parents, use your phone, or watch your child as they walk to their line at morning drop off, please find parking so that others are able to use the Kiss and Ride Lane the way its intended. This is supposed to be fast moving so lots of traffic can access this lane for pick up and drop off.
1. Allow space for two lanes of traffic along the kiss and ride lane. One for Kiss and Ride and one for Through traffic. Imagine a center line and stick to one side of it. This ensures people behind you can access the Kiss and Ride Lane and pull up to the very end at all times. We ask that Through traffic yield to traffic exiting out of the Kiss and Ride Lane.
2. DO NOT BLOCK CROSSWALKS with your vehicle. When walking, use crosswalks only, especially with your children. Do not walk cross the two lanes of traffic – the Kiss and Ride and Through Lane. Wait, or look for space available at the front of the Kiss and Ride line.
3. When using the Kiss and Ride lane for pick up or drop off, use your signal and pull up to the very end of the Kiss and Ride Lane and signal to enter back in the through lane. Be quick, stay in your vehicle, have children load and unload on the passenger side of the vehicle using the sidewalk, not from the Through lane. As vehicles in front of you exit the Kiss and Ride Lane, drive ahead in the Kiss and Ride Lane to maximize the space available. At morning drop off, be watchful and anticipate the possibility drivers ahead of you making space. Wait, move up before allowing your children to exit the vehicle. At afternoon pick up, consider turning your vehicle off while waiting but be ready to move ahead as space becomes available. If you find you can’t be quick enough, then please find parking.
4. Turn right ONLY onto Wood Avenue during our busiest times (7:40 – 8:00 AM and 1:50 – 2:10 PM). Outside of these times, two vehicles can fit at the stop line if the vehicle turning left keeps to the very left of the line.
5. Do not park in staff designated areas during our busy times (see picture below). This prevents the need to turn around and back up into congested areas. The road leading to the back of the daycare is for staff parking, accessible parking permit holders and daycare traffic ONLY.
Walking your wheels – It is that time of year where more and more people are riding bikes and scooters to school. Please ensure that all items with wheels are walked on school grounds from 7:30 – 2:30 pm. Students are asked to dismount their wheels upon entering the school ground and walk their wheels and wait until they are off school property to ride their wheels. Also please ensure your child wears a helmet.
May 5 was National Teacher Appreciation Day - Last week several students helped Mrs. Cull put together a little video thanking our teachers. This video was shown at our whole school assembly on May 5. Also, a big thank you to our parents and PAC for the wonderful gift of chocolates and the refreshments to start the day. We are very grateful that you chose to recognize Teacher Appreciation Day and lift the spirits of our staff in this way.
Husky Strong Assemblies - At our most recent assembly we recognized students (one per division) who demonstrated behaviours associated with ACHIEVING (April focus of Mastery) and learned more about gratitude as a means to show RESPECT to everyone (May focus of Generosity). For more information about our assemblies and topics in support of promoting student wellness and belonging, CLICK HERE.
Given that respect is our theme this month, and student to student interactions have been a big focus in our School Learning Plan, I shared some growth with our whole school today at our assembly based on the preliminary results from our recently completed Student Learning Survey. This is an annual survey that all grade 4 students throughout the province complete. It is also administered to students in grade 7, 10, 11 and 12. The survey is designed by the Ministry of Education and Child Care to capture students’ perceptions of their school and learning experiences. Thank you to the grade 4 parents who also gave their feedback. This information is used to reflect on our efforts this school year and guide decisions as part of our School Learning Planning for the 2025 – 2026 school year.
Here are the four small pieces of growth that I shared on May 5 at our whole school assembly, based on the preliminary results. More information will be shared at an upcoming PAC meeting (likely June) and included in our 2026 – 2027 School Learning Plan. I look forward to reviewing more of the data with the staff in more detail at an upcoming staff meeting, and compare our results with the over all grade 4 results from the district as a whole. The percentage shared reflects the % of students in grade 4 responding most or all of the time to the following questions that we are monitoring.
| 2025 – 2026 results | 2024 – 2025 results | 2023 – 2024 results |
Do you like School? | 70% | 45% | 58% |
Do you feel safe at school? | 82% | 70% | 74% |
Do you know how your school expects you to behave? | 95% | 85% | 80% |
Students in my school treat each other with respect, even if they are not friends. | 55% | 33% | 32% |
We are also exploring ways to survey all students at HPE to get a better sense of how all students are feeling given the questions we are monitoring as part of our School Learning Plan. While we continue to have work to do in these areas in support of students and their interactions with each other, I’m very proud of the gains we are seeing.
CLICK HERE to access Monthly Mindful Moments containing ideas to support youth and families with nurturing social/emotional wellbeing.
School Crossing Art Show - Several students from HPE and other students from Armstrong schools have their artwork on display at the Armstrong and Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery. The display will be available until May 23 anytime Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00 pm.
2026 – 2027 Student Placement Input from parents due Friday, May 22 – In case you missed the message in our April Newsletter, a separate email was sent out this past Wednesday as well. Please read carefully and follow the instructions. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input.
2026 – 2027 School Calendar - In case you missed it in our April Newsletter, CLICK HERE to access the calendar for next school year.
Swimming Lessons for Grade 3 – PAC has committed to funding swimming lessons again for classrooms with grade 3 students during the week of May 25 – 29. This is a huge cost savings for families and we appreciate the importance that PAC places on swim safety for our students.
Ms. Daughtry –Tuesday and Thursday, 9:25 – 10:25, Wednesday and Friday 10:30 – 11:30
Ms. Ricard – Monday and Tuesday 10:30 – 11:30, Wednesday 9:25 – 10:25, Friday 11:35 – 12:35
Ms. Coombs – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:40 – 1:40
Fun Swims – We are excited to offer fun swims for class in May and June. Please take note of the dates and times sent home in classroom communication. Unfortunately, only those requested to volunteer will be permitted in the pool area. The pool rules only allow for a certain number of individuals on deck. On swimming days, please send students to school in their swimming gear, towel, change of clothes and an extra hearty lunch. The swim times are also in our online calendar of upcoming events, so please CLICK HERE to access them and other happenings.
Track and Field – Students in grades 4 and 5 will participating in track and field events on Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14 in order to determine qualifying students to represent our school at the district track and field meet on Tuesday, June 2 in Salmon Arm. Permission forms will be sent home soon along with information for the various events your child has been selected to participate in. We will be looking for approved volunteers who have all their driver’s information at the office to drive students on this day.
Cross Country Running – We had approximately 110 students K-5 participating as part of our Highland Park Cross Country Running Team. In addition to the race at AES, our team competed at the Little Mountain Stomp race in Salmon Arm where approximately 1400 students from all elementary schools in the district competed. At the Little Stomp race, two students from HOE placed in the top 6 for their race category. Congratulations to Everin Lucas in kindergarten for placing fourth out of all the kindergarten students participating. Congratulations to Sawyer Swiecicki in grade 4 for placing first out of all the grade 3/4 boys participating. Go Huskies Go! CLICK HERE to read more about the event.
Grade 5 transition – CLICK HERE to access the transition opportunities to help get our grade 5 students acquainted with the school and some of the staff at Len Wood Middle School. Hard copies of this notice has been sent home. There is a lot of coordination involved to assist with a smooth transition for students and their families. Please save Tuesday, June 2 in your calendar as this will be when Len Wood Middle School will host parents for an information session. Stay tuned for more information.
Fun Day – Our PAC is planning our annual Fun Day on Monday, June 22. More information will be forthcoming about this day. Students will be participating in a variety of activities including swimming in celebration of our school year coming to a close.
PAC AGM May 13 at 2:30 pm – Please ensure any PAC Executive Nomination forms are completed and get to the office as soon as possible. The Nomination form was emailed to families on April 9. You can also contact the office as we have some copies available there for anyone interested. While the forms are helpful, we will accept nominations from the floor as well. We will be voting in a whole new executive. We are so appreciative of the leadership our existing PAC has demonstrated for so many years. A big thank you to Julie, President, Tamara Vice President, Amanda, Treasurer and Brittany, Secretary for all they have done in support of our school and students.
Spirit Day – CLICK HERE to view the schedule of spirit days. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to show your school spirit. Our next spirit day is on Friday, May 22, Biggest FAN Day.
UXO Presentation for classes with Grade 3 students – On Tuesday, May 12 we have a UXO Safety Presentation (Unexploded Ordnance) for classes with grade 3 students. This is an annual initiative raise awareness and levels of safety. Presentations are taking place in Ms. Daughtry’s class from 10:40 – 11:18, Ms. Ricard’s class from 12:10 – 12:50 and Ms. Coombs’ class from 12:55 – 1:40.
Welcome to Kindergarten Event – If you are registered for kindergarten for the 2025 - 2026 school year, please check your email for information about the kindergarten orientation planned for the morning of Wednesday, May 27. Please feel free to call the school for more information.
Triathlon – Classes with grade 4 and 5 students will be participating in this year’s triathlon which is taking place on Friday, June 5. Bikes are welcome to come to school on Wednesday, June 2 and MUST be picked up after the event on Friday, June 5. A big thank you to Peter Byrnes and Jenny Daughtry for helping with the coordination of this amazing opportunity and HPE tradition for our students. We will have a designated area for spectators. Approved volunteers will be utilized along the route and have lanyards to identify themselves to our staff and students.
Div. 2 and 3 Fundraiser – Please consider supporting Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Benge’s classes on Saturday, May 23 for the annual Hotdog fundraiser at Askews. These funds go to support classroom based year end initiatives.
CLICK HERE to access our calendar online to keep informed of the happenings at Highland Park Elementary.
