The Weekly Highlander 2025-2026

Dear Highlander Families:

Happy New Year! Welcome back to the start of the second semester. Next week we have two exciting opportunities to learn more about the programs in TUSD. On Thursday, January 15th at 9am and 11am, Hewes will host school tours for families who are considering attending our school next year. If you have friends or neighbors who are thinking about Hewes, have them attend one of our tours next week. On Thursday, January 15th starting at 5pm, Foothill High School has their annual Showcase Knight. Future students can explore academics, athletics, clubs, performances, and enjoy food trucks, and campus tours! Please see the information in this newsletter for more details.

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

Sahra Tanikawa, Principal

Ms.Florio, Mr.Foley, Mr. Jennings, Mr.Kramer, Ms.Mokhtari, Mrs.Stewart, Mrs.Turner - Way to WIN THE DAY, the HIGHLANDER WAY. Your participation in our Grade Level Assembly demonstrates your leadership and commitment to our schoolwide effort and focus on how we WIN. Your commitment to building a positive school culture makes Hewes the special place that it is. THANK YOU for ALL that you do! Photo from left to right - Mr.Kramer, Mrs.Turner, and Ms.Mokhtari

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.

⚔️ Calling all future Knights! ⚔️

✨ Foothill High School Showcase Knight 2026 ✨
📅 Jan. 15, 2026 | ⏰ Starts at 5:30 PM
📍 Foothill High School

Explore academics, athletics, clubs, performances, food trucks 🚚🎶, and campus tours!
🏀 Athletics info meeting starts at 5:00 PM
👶 Childcare available for ages 3+

Come experience the Foothill spirit and see what makes us Home of the Knights 💛🖤

The Transfer window opened at 8 am on January 6th and will remain open through January 23 at 3 pm. TUSD’s open enrollment window is available to all students for the 26/27 school year. Please visit the TUSD Website transfers tab to learn more as well as step by step directions to apply. Reminder that all students that are matriculating from 5th to 6th, and 8th to 9th that are looking to attend a school other than their school of residence need to complete a transfer request.

Hewes PTA is forming this year’s Nominating Committee! If you’re willing to help form next year’s Board, please provide your contact information in the Google Form below. There will only be a couple meetings, with some work from home time. We need 7 volunteers!

• Tuesday, January 13 - Vision & Hearing Screening for 8th graders in PE-8
• Wednesday, January 14 - PTA Lunch Activities
• Thursday, January 15 - School Tours - 9am or 11am
• Thursday, January 15 - Foothill High School Showcase Night for 8th grade families - 5pm start
• Monday, January 19 - MLK holiday - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, January 20 - Boys Volleyball scrimmage at Hewes @3:45pm
• Wednesday, January 21 - Honor Roll Social during tutorial
• Thursday, January 22 - Girls Volleyball scrimmage at Hewes @3:45pm
• Thursday, January 22 - E-Vehicle Safety Presentation 5:30pm - Pioneer Middle School
• Friday, January 23 - Transfer Window closes at 3pm
• Sunday, February 1 - TPSF Pickleball Classic Tournament
• Friday, February 6 - ASB Valentine Themed Dance - 2:45 - 4pm
• Monday, February 9 - Lincoln Holiday - NO SCHOOL
• Monday, February 16 - Washinton Holiday - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, February 18 - Knight at the Museum - 7th grade Core - 6pm-7pm

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