• A Note from the Principal
• Mark Your Calendar
• Media Center Message

• Math Olympics
• PTO Update
• October Calendar

Thank you for your Kindness...

It was wonderful to come into the building on Monday morning greeted with words of encouragement and kindness. Every year the PTO sponsors Kindness in Chalk in the same month as Unity Day, which is sponsored by Pacer's National Anti Bullying Campaign.

Please remind your student to wear orange on Unity Day October 20, in support of Anti-Bullying.

And, again, thank you for your kindness!

Katie Mahoney, Principal

You may have heard recently heard your student talking about Axolotls, our new friends in the office. We have recently added Axolotls to the office fish tank and last week we had a naming contest. The names had to be related to a fact about these lovable salamanders and we had lots of great suggestions.

After a school wide vote, here are the winning names...

Meet

Gillbert (above) and Bubbles (right).

THOUGHT EXCHANGE on Elementary Programing

TONIGHT!

We want to be sure you are aware of the ThoughtExchange event happening tonight that will inform the district’s exploration of ideas for two new elementary programs: expansion of language immersion and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). On Thursday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m., there will be a 30-45 minute presentation about these proposed ideas and then the community will be invited to share feedback via ThoughtExchange. It all happens via live stream, and will be recorded and posted on the district’s YouTube channel for viewing later if you cannot attend the events. The ThoughtExchange will remain open through Sunday evening, Oct. 10.

• Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7pm: https://youtu.be/gOtIAnjg_RA

We are encouraging parents of students in all grade levels to participate in this important conversation about the development of new academic programming. We hope that you will virtually be there – and that you will help us spread the word in any of your upcoming communications with your membership over the next week! Here is a link to a story on the district newsfeed with more information and again, the links to the events. Also, watch for an email from the district via School Messenger.

Save the Date

MAP Assessments for EEVP

As part of the Highlands community we will be administering the fall MAP assessment to EVP during the week of October 25th.

We are planning a hybrid model which will allow families that are comfortable to come to Highlands and complete the assessment in person and will also have a remote option for anyone unable to come to Highlands. Testing sessions will be from 8am - 10am for both in person and remote.



Hello families,

In the next few weeks you may see these bookmarks coming home (here's hoping you do!) With them, you can help your reader check their library accounts, do research, or explore books and literature resources from home. Let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance in using them.

Read on!

Kip



Why be in Math Olympiad?

·  To stimulate enthusiasm and a love for Mathematics

·  To introduce important Mathematical concepts

·  To teach major strategies for problem-solving

·  To strengthen Mathematical intuition

·  To foster Mathematical creativity and ingenuity

·  To develop Mathematical flexibility

·  To provide for the satisfaction, joy, and thrill of meeting challenges

Who should sign up?

Any student in grade 4 or 5 who would like an extra challenge in math is encouraged to join.

What is Math Olympiad? 

It is a math enrichment opportunity for mathematically talented students. The students work together on problem-solving strategies, do practice problems, and then complete individual contests once a month. 

Is Math Olympiad Right for My Child?

It is a fast-paced opportunity designed for children who enjoy and need challenging material. This program is designed for highly skilled problem solvers. Team members are children who are very accurate with numbers, not just math facts, but numbers related to problems requiring critical thinking skills. Questions on the tests can present a very difficult challenge.

When is it? Where is it?

Ten Wednesdays after school from 2:30-3:15pm.

We will meet in the Media Center.

Practice/Contest Dates:

·    Wednesday, November 3 - practice

·    Wednesday, November 17 - 1st Olympiad Contest

·    Wednesday December 1 - practice

·    Wednesday December 15 - 2nd Olympiad Contest

·    Wednesday, January 5 - practice

·    Wednesday, January 19 - 3rd Olympiad Contest

·    Wednesday, February 2 - practice

·    Wednesday, February 10 - 4th Olympiad Contest

·    Wednesday, March 2 - practice

·    Wednesday, March 16 - 5th Olympiad Contest

How can I sign up? Register Online at: https://edina.revtrak.net/Gifted-Education/

Registration Fee: $30.00 (Scholarships are available)

Meet Tracey Fritcher

Hello, my name is Tracey Fritcher and I am the Highlands PTO Liaison for EEVP. Our son is in the virtual program in Ms. Alyssa’s Kindergarten/Grade 1 class and am truly looking forward to supporting kids and families in having great virtual experience this year.

Right now, I want to encourage you to do 3 things:

1. Join the Highlands PTO - they have strong support for the virtual program and can do even more with your membership. You can sign-up for the PTO here, and also find volunteer opportunities We will be looking for ways to solicit your feedback and what programming you might like to see from the PTO in the near future, please keep an eye out for it! 
2. Become a Room Parent - while I am the liaison for EEVP, we need parents in each room to coordinate activities and events. If you would be willing to be a room parent, please contact me at Pres-Disc@HighlandsPTO.com.
3. Give us Feedback - please know that your teacher, principal Mahoney and the PTO leaders want to hear from you. Please reach out to them with ideas or feedback so the virtual experience is great this year. And I can also help as well - there is so much support for you and your kids even though they aren’t physically in the building.  

I look forward to an amazing year with a spectacular virtual experience for all. 



A Message From Our Presidents...

The PTO has been busy in the first month of school!

1. The PTO provided $425 grants to each Highlands classroom (including EVP classrooms).
2. The PTO volunteers helped kick off Anti-Bullying month with kindness focused chalk messages to the students on the school sidewalks (see the beautiful results below).
3. We hosted the first general meeting with EPS’s new superintendent, Dr. Stacey Stanley, highlighting some future ideas for our school district.

To continue to provide support to all Highlands learning pathways, please pay your PTO dues today if you have not done so! Your general membership provides financial and overall support to our classrooms, teachers and students! Click here to pay dues

-Hillary Clayburgh and Sarah Valenziano

Highlands

Great Gathering

Join us Friday, November 5th for Highlands Great Gathering, the largest PTO fundraiser of the year!

7:00pm to 11:00pm

Braemar Golf Clubhouse

Ways to Get Involved:



• Donate a Small Gathering here!  One of the biggest contributors to the success of the Great Gathering is Small Gatherings. Small Gatherings are small group activities or parties for adults, families, or children that allow Highlands families to meet, connect and foster community in a social setting outside of school. Small gatherings can be hosted by one or multiple individuals. Past Small Gatherings have included: 2nd Grade Valentine’s Day Card Making, Virtual Spanish Tapas Cooking Class, Virtual Family Trivia, Painting and Pinot, Couples Pickleball, 5th Grade Boys and Dads Golf at Topgolf. The options are limitless! Have a talent or hobby? Turn it into a Small Gathering! Reach out to Sam Pote. 

• Have additional questions about Small Gatherings or the Great Gathering? Click here to read our FAQs on the Great Gathering website.  

• Buy your Event Tickets here! $50/individual and $90/couple

• Classroom Baskets Are Coming Back!! We are excited to bring Classroom baskets for the Great Gathering. Your room parents will be reaching out later this week with your class basket theme and directions on how to donate to them. We hope to see your creativity on full display in the baskets this year!

2021-2022 Yearbooks: Order Now!

Order your yearbook - Yearbooks

Yearbooks are $19 until October 8, $24 after that. If you'd like a scholarship for your student's yearbook, please contact school social worker Addie Hakes.

Submit 5th grade Baby Photos by October 20

We recognize the 5th grade class with baby photos in the yearbook. Please submit your students baby photo by October 20th using the Jostens website https://images.jostens.com/upload.jsp USER ID: 416615951

We want your 1st Day of School photos by Oct 20

Please submit your Husky's first day of school pics to have a chance to be featured in the yearbook! Please submit your student's photo by October 20th using the Jostens website - https://images.jostens.com/upload.jsp USER ID: 416615951



More Volunteer Opportunities...

We are still looking for some school volunteers in some key positions to keep the school year running smoothly. If you are interested in any of these positions, please sign up through Membership Toolkit (MTK).

• Woodlandia/STEM Volunteers - help stage the woods area or clean up for classes to participate in outdoor learning for the week There is also an opportunity to be a STEM volunteer from home. (Woodlandia/STEM Sign Up) 

• Classroom Volunteers - help in the classroom by signing up to be a Room Parent (Room Parent Sign Up) or Art Adventure Volunteer (Art Adventure Sign Up)



• Outdoor Lunch Volunteers - Are you missing your kiddos already? Come and help out at lunch time! With the shift to outdoor lunch, we are looking for volunteers to help out during two lunch shifts (Outdoor Lunch Sign Up)

         10:30-11:30am Kindergarten - 3rd grade lunch shift

         11:30-12:30pm CP and 4th/5th grade lunch shift