The Weekly Highlander 2025-2026

Dear Highlander Families:

We wish all of our students, families, and staff a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with warmth and gratitude. This season offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the blessings we share as a school community. We are especially thankful for the dedication of our educators, the enthusiasm of our students, and the commitment of their parents. May you all enjoy a safe and restful break!

When we return, please join us for the Holiday Bazaar and choir and band concert on Thursday, December 4th. At the Holiday Bazaar our elective classes make and sell items such as baked goods, 3-D printed keychains, woodshop decor, and other holiday treats. After the Bazaar the band and choir students will be performing sounds of the season. There are details in this newsletter with specific times for each event.

Please stay connected to Hewes by checking our website and following us on Instagram @heweshighlanders for the latest information and news.

Sahra Tanikawa, Principal

Mrs. Montalvo - A HUGE THANK YOU for your incredible dedication and tireless effort in keeping our office running smoothly. Your strength, positivity, and attention to every detail make all the difference. Thank you for stepping up, quietly taking care of everything, and doing it all with grace. Hewes is a better place because of the heart you bring to our team!!

Highlander for a Day is a recognition program at Hewes Middle School that celebrates students for incredible moments of Winning the Day the Highlander Way. Students are recognized for working hard, including others, never giving up, controlling their responses, choosing to act above the line, and taking extreme ownership of their 20 square feet. These are the habits and mindsets that shape our Highlander culture, and we are so proud to share them with our entire school community.

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) will be hosting two virtual Prevention Workshops for Parents and Caregivers of TUSD Students titled “Prevention: It Starts With You!”

These workshops will cover:

• Current drug trends, including alcohol, vaping, cannabis, fentanyl, and nitrous oxide

• How substance use impacts young people’s health and brain development

• Communication and parenting strategies to help prevent youth substance use

Virtual Workshop Schedule

The same workshop will be offered twice—please encourage families to choose the session that works best for them. Both sessions will be presented in English and Spanish.

Session 1:
📅 Tuesday, December 2, 2025
🕕 6:00–7:00 p.m.
📝 Register by November 30, 2025

Session 2:
📅 Tuesday, March 5, 2026
🕕 6:00–7:00 p.m.
📝 Register by March 3, 2026

Registration:
Families can click here or scan the QR code on the flyers to register.

We’re looking for a few parent volunteers to support our upcoming CTE Industry Exhibit Day on Wednesday, December 3rd! If you’re available, we would love your help distributing materials, greeting students, and directing them to the correct stations. Sign up here

Students interested in playing volleyball after winter break are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, December 4th at 2:50pm in the Activity Center. Coaches will go over information for the season and pass out permission slips. You do not have to attend the meeting to participate, see Mr.Foley or Mr.Visser anytime after the 4th to get a permission slip. ALL permission slips are due on Thursday, December 18th.

• Monday, November 24 - Friday, November 28 - Fall Recess - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, December 2nd - Virtual Parent Workshop - 6pm
• Wednesday, December 3rd - CTE Exhibit Day for all students - Parent Voulunteers Needed
• Thursday, December 4th - Volleyball interest meeting at 2:50pm in the Activity Center
• Thursday, December 4th - Highlander Holiday Bazaar - 5:30pm - 6:30pm
• Thursday, December 4th - Choir & Band Concert 6:50pm
• Tuesday, December 9th - Extreme Sports Photos Due
• Wednesday, December 10th - PTA Fun Friday - now on Wednesdays
• Tuesday, December 16th - Drama Class performances during the school day
• Wenesday, December 17th - Student Achievement Assembly
• Thursday, December 18th - Volleyball permission slips are due by 3pm
• Friday, December 19th - Minimum Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:37am
• Friday, December 19th - Breakfast served before school - LIBRARY CLOSED AFTER SCHOOL
• Monday, December 22 - Monday, January 5 - Winter Recess - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, January 6 - Students return, school starts at 8:15am

Nondiscrimination/Harrassment

The Board of Education desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the District’s academic, extracurricular, and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any District school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, targeted at any student by anyone, based on the student's actual race or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics

Website: https://hewes.tustin.k12.ca.us/

Location: 13232 Hewes Avenue, Santa Ana, CA, USA

Instagram: @heweshighlanders

FaceBook: Hewes Middle School

Phone: (714) 730-7348