The Scot's Scoop

Archived family newsletters for 2025-2026

Monday, March 16 (B day): NO SCHOOL; SNOW DAY

• FCC meeting 8:00-9:00am - CANCELLED

Tuesday, March 17 (A day)

Wednesday, March 18 (B day)

Thursday, March 19 (A day)

Friday, March 20: No school - staff development day

Monday, March 23 (B day)

Tuesday, March 24 (A day)

Wednesday, March 25 (B day)

Thursday, March 26 (A day):

• 6:30pm National Junior Honor Society

Friday, March 27 (B day)

Monday, March 30 (A day):

• Spring sports begin

Tuesday, March 31 (B day)

Wednesday, April 1 (A day)

Thursday, April 2 (B day)

Friday, April 3 (A day):

• Lost & Found clean out
• End of Quarter 3
• Team Day

The Smore family newsletter, along with other school documents and notices, can be translated. For the newsletter, click on the button for translation and select the language preferred.

Dear Saint Paul Public Schools Families,

There will be no school tomorrow, 3/16/26, due to the weather. Again, students should NOT report to school. This will NOT be an E-Learning Day. School is canceled.

Discovery Club and Adult Basic Education will be closed.

All other athletic events and after-school activities will be canceled, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Varsity Athletics may continue as scheduled at the discretion of the Site Administrator.

Visit spps.org for the latest information.

HPMS families,

This Friday, March 20th, from 12:15-1:15pm, there will be additional time for conferences with teachers. *Other times may have been set by teachers. Please reach out to your child's teachers if you need to conference with them. All conferences are appointment-based. Click on this link to see staff emails or links for signing up for a conference.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-GMzyDdTJ7Mqf3YqmLSiXNGbE-gtUf7f-th-ICoCxSs/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you,

Highland Park Middle School

Highland Highlights:

Congrats to the following students for being chosen to share their art at the MN Zoo Hanfil Nature Center! Wildly Inspired is an exhibit showcasing SPPS students K-12 that will be on display through August 2026.

Students exhibiting original work on display: S. L., Milanka S., Jariah B.

Students with work among the digital display: Zibiah T. And Bernie M., Dorian S.R.

The in-person course on Chemical Health and Students will be from 1:15 to 2:15pm in the school library.

This course will be an introduction to substance use, its impact on students, and effective positive responses. Participants will become familiar with data regarding exposure to substance use and obtain a greater understanding of the impact on child and adolescent brain development. The early warning signs around substance use and addictive behaviors, as well as research-based supports and interventions that are effective with adolescences struggling with chemical use, will also be presented. Participants may begin to apply these concepts to current challenges in the classroom and school environment.

📣 Join us for The HPMS Solidarity Social!

Mark your calendars! On Friday, March 27, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, the HPMS cafeteria is transforming into a vibrant celebration of our school community.

We’re bringing the heat with a live Cumbia band, alongside some very special "must-see" musical appearances by our own HPMS teachers! Come enjoy:

• Local Food Trucks: Grab dinner and a treat with your neighbors from El Burrito Mercado and Yum Yum food trucks.

• Games & Crafts: Fun for students and siblings of all ages.

• Community Connection: Meet other families and staff in a relaxed setting.

All proceeds go directly to the HPMS Parent Solidarity Network. This hyperlocal organization provides essential cash funds to HPMS families in need, ensuring our community stays strong and supported.

Admission & Donations

We want every family to be part of this celebration. We suggest a donation of $10 per adult and $5 per student, but we encourage you to pay what you can and give generously if you are able.

This is a community-first event—no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Have questions, concerns, or great ideas? Please contact Ms Jung or Mr Shepard.

HPMS Donation link: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/support-our-highland-park-middle-school-community/items

Food pantry request: https://forms.gle/ZKR7TBNsugFZEKjd7

Enlace para donaciones a HPMS:

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/support-our-highland-park-middle-school-community/items

Solicitud de despensa de alimentos: https://forms.gle/ZKR7TBNsugFZEKjd7

Thank you to all our families, staff, and students. Flipside is built on belonging, and every one of you is an essential part of our community. Please remember that you can always reach out if you need anything. I may not have all the answers immediately, but I will work to find them, and I deeply appreciate your patience as we continue building a program where every student feels welcomed and included.

Thank you for being the heart of Flipside.

Warmly,
Ms. Nikol

Registration for Highland Park MS Spring Athletics is open. All students interested in participating in BADMINTON, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, or TRACK must be registered by 3:00 pm on Friday, March 27th. No late registrations will be accepted. To register, please visit the Arbiter Sports website. Be sure to select Highland Park Middle School and the correct sport. If you need assistance with the website registration, please contact Arbiter Support for Families at registration@arbitersports.com or 800-311-4060.

Grade 7 and grade 8 students are also eligible to participate in the following Highland Park Senior High sports:

• Boys Golf

• Girls Golf

• Clay Target

• Boys Volleyball

• Boys Tennis

The registration process for senior high athletics is also through Arbiter Sports - St. Paul Highland Park Senior High program. If you have questions regarding senior high athletics, please contact the Highland Park Senior High Assistant Athletic Director, Duggan Parks, at 651-744-5822 or duggan.parks@spps.org.

Highland Park MS grades 6-8 students can also join Lacrosse or Ultimate Frisbee.

• Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse is available through Arbiter Sports by choosing the Central High School registration program. Contact Nick Anderson (nick.anderson@spps.org) for information regarding boys’ lacrosse. Contact Sydney Lieb (sdynneson01@gmail.com) for more information on girls’ lacrosse.

• If your student would like to join the Ultimate Frisbee team, please use this LINK to sign up. Connect with Head Coach Kaiden Thiers (ktthiers@gmail.com) and/or Ms. Ekegren (Alicia.Ekegren@spps.org) if you are interested in learning more about Ultimate Frisbee.

Please note that a valid Sports Qualifying Physical Exam is required for participation in all athletics. If your student does not have an up-to-date physical on file, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible to avoid delays in eligibility.

Looking for some activities for your middle schooler to keep them busy this summer? Check out these FREE summer activities, sponsored in partnership with the University of Minnesota.

Food, Agriculture and Learning (June 22-26)

Food and Plant Science Lab (June 15-18)

Ecosystems of STEM (multiple dates)

ACCESS Testing for EL students at Highland Park Middle School began February 4th, 2026. Please use the links below to find important information about this test:

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (English)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Spanish)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Somali)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Hmong)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Karen)

Each of the 6 teams at HPMS have a monthly newsletter for families. Teachers share what students are learning in their classes for the month, and other important information. You can view your child's team monthly newsletter by clicking on the team below:

6th grade:

Eagles

6th Grade Immersion

7th grade:

Jets

Lobos

8th grade:

Sharks

Tecolotes

OFICINA DE PARTICIPACIÓN FAMILIAR Y ASOCIACIONES COMUNITARIAS

PROGRAMA DEL DECRETO LATINO (LCD)

Hola Familias,

Les quiero compartir el boletín mensual dirigido a nuestras familias Latinas. En este boletín encontrarán actualizaciones e información relevante sobre asistencia y apoyo para las familias latinas de las Escuelas Públicas de Saint Paul.

Por favor, abran el siguiente enlace o encuentren el boletín adjunto a este correo.

Boletín Mesual LCD

Gracias,

At HPMS, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for student success. Join us for our monthly Family Community Connection meetings!

10/27/25 6:00pm - Slides presentation from 10/27/25 FCC meeting

11/24/25 8:00am - Slides presentation from 11/24/25 FCC meeting

1/12/26 8:00am - Slides presentation from 1/12/26 FCC meeting

2/9/26 8:00am - Slides presentation from 2/9/26 FCC meeting

3/16/26 8:00am

4/20/26 6:00pm

5/18/26 6:00pm

Know your child's Grade Level Norms & Practices and review them together!

These slides can be found below. We kindly ask that you take a few moments to review them with your student. This will help reinforce what was discussed at school and ensure we are all on the same page as we move forward together.

6th grade Slides

7th Grade slides

8th Grade slides

Outside food or drinks from establishments/restaurants are NOT permitted in Highland Park Middle School. In addition, food and drinks from, or brought to students, from establishments and food services (e.g. restaurants, DoorDash) are NOT permitted. Students may bring a beverage bottle, such as a water bottle, and bag lunch from home. Sodas are not permitted at school.

Families are encouraged to monitor their student’s clothing selections to make sure they are appropriately dressed for cold weather. Students who do not have the appropriate winter clothing will not be able to participate in outdoor recess.

Per the district clothing guidelines for winter weather, below you will find the "feels like" temperature and clothing appropriate for it:

Under 15 degrees to 30 degrees: Dress in layers

All SPPS students in grades K-12 use an iPad app called Xello to create their Personal Learning Plans (PLP). The app helps students identify their strengths and interests, plan for the future, and explore different careers.

Parents can view the activities and plans their students are working on in class and with counselors though Xello Family. Parents and guardians should have received an email from Xello to activate your Xello Family account on Friday, January 9.

Your Xello Family account will automatically connect you to your student’s Xello accounts when you log in. Visit https://www.spps.org/academics/college-and-career-readiness/xello-family for more information about the program.

If you did not receive an email from Xello to set up an account or need assistance, please contact your child’s school counselor:

Grade 6-Elisabeth Mulvaney 651-744-3399 elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org

Grade 7-Danielle Seifert 651-744-7582 danielle.seifert@spps.org

Grade 8-Nou Katzmarek 651-744-3400 nou.katzmarek@spps.org

As winter weather sets in, bus routes may experience delays or changes.

Here’s how to quickly check if your student’s bus is running late.

Download the 'Versatrans My Stop' app to your mobile phone in the Apple Store or Google Play. My Stop login information is available in Campus Parent.

Log in to Campus Parent and click on the student’s name you would like to look up. Then click “More” in the left-hand menu and then click “Transportation” to see all of your student bus information, including your My Stop login information. Watch the Transportation Video Tutorial to learn how to look up your student's transportation/bus information, including how parents and guardians can find their My Stop account username and password in Campus Parent.

Dear Highland Families,

At Highland, it is essential that learning expectations for students are clear and achievable. While we shared this information during opening week and FCC meetings, we would like to reshare the changes to the way we evaluate students’ academic progress this school year, as we close out the quarter. Our school is implementing a research-based grading strategy called Standards-Based Learning and Grading. Highland was selected as a pilot site this school year, in preparation for district-wide implementation for all 6-8 schools starting in the fall of 26-27.

This means we are moving towards consistent grading practices across SPPS middle schools, making it easier for students and families to understand student learning and progress. As an MYP school, this isn’t a huge move for us. However, there are a few changes to consider.

Standards-Based Learning and Grading uses a grading scale of 0-4. As MYP, students are graded on an 8-point scale. We’ve created an adjustment that ensures both metrics are honored. The number corresponds with a description of how well a student understands specific content, ranging from “0 - Insufficient Evidence of Proficiency” to “4 - Extending Proficiency”. Please review the Middle School Standards-Based Grading scale we will be using below.

Things to look for:

• All classes at Highland will use the same rubric template to communicate what students have learned.

• Teachers will use improved criteria to clearly identify the skills and knowledge students are expected to learn in each content area.

• Students will have a better understanding of what content they know and areas where they need additional support.

• Students will have multiple opportunities to improve and demonstrate their learning by retaking assessments. Our goal is to help students recognize their growth.

• Students' grades will be based on 20% formative (homework, classroom practice, etc) and 80% summative (final projects, examination, etc). * See the PowerPoint linked below for more details.

During our FCC Meeting on October 27, Andrew Bacskai, the MYP coordinator, went over this with families. Please see this PowerPoint from the last FCC meeting for more details, or set up a meeting with our MYP coordinator, Mr. Bacskai, at Andrew.Bacskai@spps.org or email individual teachers if you have questions about specific rubrics.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to your students’ learning throughout this school year.

Sincerely,

Hibaq Mohamed, Principal

Registration is now open for the 2027 Washington, D.C. trip!
Seventh-grade families can now sign up their students for this unforgettable educational experience—exploring our nation’s history, visiting iconic landmarks, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Don’t miss out! Learn more and register today at highlandms.spps.org/activities/washington-dc-field-trip.

Breakthrough Twin Cities (BTC) is a six-year, tuition-free academic enrichment and college preparatory program that helps students prepare for college success. Breakthrough supports 6th graders on their journey to college with an awesome summer program, school year advisor support and college counseling.

To apply, please visit the online application here. Early Action Applications are due January 2, 2026. Regular decision deadline is March 20th, 2026.

Have more questions- please contact BTC Program Manager, Simon Lee, at slee@breakthroughtwincities.org.

To have your student attend, please reach out to please contact Elisabeth Mulvaney, HPMS 6th grade counselor at 651-744-3399 or email at elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org.

Healthy eating is so important for children. At HPMS, we work hard to ensure students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that children who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and be engaged in learning.

We are excited to partner with Every Meal again to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.

Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school.

• Free for all families
• No qualifications required
• Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week
• Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected
• Families may choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the school year
• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend foodbag options

If you wish to participate, please fill out our enrollment form which can be found here. Or feel free to reach out to Katie Monroe, one of our social workers, at kathryn.monroe@spps.org or 651.744.4616.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. Parents who would like to receive this information should write to the Human Resource Department, Attn: ESSA Teacher Qualifications, Saint Paul Public Schools, 360 Colborne Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102-3299. You have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teacher(s).

• Information about whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching (subjects or content) in which proper certification is held by the teacher.
• Information about whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

At Highland Park Middle School, our mission is to:

• Provide our students with a sense of community and global perception in a nurturing and caring learning environment,
• Help students acquire the skills necessary to value themselves, and take pride in their accomplishments, and
• Develop respect and understanding of other people and their cultures.

Website: https://www.spps.org/highlandms
Location: 975 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 293-8950