The Scot's Scoop

Archived family newsletters for 2025-2026

Monday, January 12 (B day):

• 8:00-9:00am FCC meeting in the library
• 4:00pm Girls basketball vs Murray Middle School at HPMS

Tuesday, January 13 (A day)

Wednesday, January 14 (B day)

• 4:30pm Wrestling match at Txuj Ci Hmong Language and Culture Upper Campus

Thursday, January 15 (A day)

• 4:30-6:00pm School Showcase for incoming 6th graders; virtual meeting also available from 4:30-6:00pm if you are unable to attend in person (link to the virtual Showcase meeting: https://meet.google.com/gdb-gjrn-rwb )

Friday, January 16 (B day):

• Winter 1 sports ends

Monday, January 19: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr holiday

Tuesday, January 20 (A day):

• Winter 2 sports begin

Wednesday, January 21 (B day)

Thursday, January 22 (A day)

Friday, January 23 (B day)

Monday, January 26 (A day)

Tuesday, January 27 (B day)

Wednesday, January 28 (A day)

Thursday, January 29 (B day): End of quarter 2

Friday, January 30: No School - staff development

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.

HPMS families,

We want to ensure you have seen the latest update from Superintendent Stanley regarding the current situation in the Twin Cities. If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, please scroll below.

This week has created real fear and disruption for many families in our community. I want to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. We are working closely with the district and following all safety guidelines to maintain a supportive environment.

If your child is currently not attending school in person and you have questions regarding attendance or support, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can contact our administrative team, school counselors, or our attendance line directly at 651-744-3393.

Communication from Superintendent Dr. Stanley

Dear Saint Paul Public Schools Families,

I am writing to you with a heavy heart and struggling to find words about what we are witnessing and experiencing during this time in our city and neighboring communities. Minneapolis and St. Paul have become the center of federal actions by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While these actions have already caused unimaginable harm and anguish for our community, today the fear has only intensified due to a fatal shooting of a civilian by a federal agent in Minneapolis.

As we wait to learn more about what happened today, I want to reassure you that the safety and well-being of our students and staff is my top priority. I am in close contact with Mayor Kaohly Her and Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) to monitor for any activity that could impact our school communities. Our principals, security staff and other key personnel have clear safety procedures and protocols to keep our schools as safe as possible.

As always, our schools are locked and all visitors must identify themselves before being let into the building. More information about these protocols, as well as resources and other safety tips, can be found on our website at spps.org/immigration and spps.org/safety.

Specifically, these are some of the measures that SPPS has in place for any ICE/federal enforcement activity or other safety concerns that may happen near our schools:

• If a report of ICE activity or other safety concern is verified near a school, the school will coordinate with SPPS security and SPPD and may put the school into a Secure protocol until the area is clear.

• If a federal agent attempts to enter a school or SPPS building, they will not be granted access without a verified judicial warrant.

• If a student does not feel safe getting off the bus for any reason, the student should inform the driver and stay on the bus while the driver makes arrangements for a safe transport home.

• For students who do not take the bus, staff are outside the school at drop-off and pickup times. Students who walk are encouraged to travel in groups and stay aware of their surroundings (see more safe walking tips)

It remains true that school is one of the safest places that students can be. Families who choose to keep students home from school should report the absence as normal. If you have any concerns about your children or notice that they need additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact your school principal and encourage your children to talk with a counselor or other trusted adult at school. Here is a resource that may be helpful as your family navigates this very difficult and emotional situation at home.

Now more than ever, this is a time for all of us to lean on each other and offer support for anyone in our community who may need it. This may look like offering rides, accompanying students on their way to and from school, or asking neighbors if your children need help getting to and from school safely. My team and I are fully committed to doing all that we can to support your family and protect our students from harm. I will continue to share updates as I have them.

With deep appreciation,

Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent

The Spelling Bee on Friday had many participants. We thank each student who was a part of it. Well done! We are so proud of you!

Dear Families,

I am writing to provide an official update regarding the staffing for your student's Physical Science class, with Ms. Timmer. We will officially fill the position, and a post of the open position has been posted this week. We will continue to work with Josh Groven, who will serve as the long-term substitute teacher for the remainder of this term and is collaborating daily with the other 8th grade science teacher.

You may have noticed that Josh has been out for a few days last week; however, we want to reassure you that he remains the dedicated long-term sub for this class. He will be back in the classroom and resuming instruction on Monday (January 12th).

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

HPMS is just $5,500 away from our goal to host four international interns for the 2026-2027 school year. These interns provide our Spanish, Chinese, and French world language and immersion students with an invaluable immersive cultural experience that goes far beyond a textbook and engages our students in new ways!

Give Today: If you’d like to contribute, please make your donation here before the January 26 deadline or send a check (payable to HPMS) or cash to school. For more details, contact Rachel Hoheisel (rachel.hoheisel@spps.org). Thank you -Gracias, Merci, 谢谢 - for supporting our global learners!

The HP Chinese program logo features a bagpipe-playing panda and a quote from Confucius that says, "walking along with three people, my teacher is sure to be among them." (whether you notice good qualities or not, there's always something you can learn to follow or avoid)

You can order red t-shirts ($15), China blue long sleeve shirts ($25) and jade green crewneck sweatshirts ($35).

The short and long sleeve material is heavyweight 100% ring spun (SOFT!) US cotton.

The crewneck is 90/10 cotton/polyester.

Please select your size by Jan 20 with this form https://www.jotform.com/app/241437052757155

(Delivered early February, just in time for Chinese New Year!)

Thank you for supporting our Chinese program and local screen printing shop, Rebel Ink!

HPMS families,

A few important reminders:

• Calendar Updates: Please check "The Scoop" and our website for the latest calendar updates. We have several upcoming events for incoming 6th graders, including the Showcase and school tours.

• Cold Weather Gear: Please encourage your students to dress warmly. We will continue to hold recess outdoors daily unless otherwise advised by district guidelines.

• Grading Timeline: The final day of Quarter 2 is January 28th. Please check Schoology for the most up-to-date information on student progress. Final grades will be posted to Campus on February 4th.

• FCC Meeting: Mark your calendar and join us for our Family Community Connection (FCC) meeting in person on January 12th at 8:00 AM. The meeting will be led by HPMS counselors and district leads. Topics will include counselor updates and Xello (our academic and career success planning tool). We will be in the library and there will be light refreshments.

• Feed Back for Winter Conference: Finally, I want to thank everyone who attended our Winter Conferences on December 11th. Based on your feedback from the fall, we made several adjustments to better meet the needs of our community, and we want to know how we did. Please take 2 minutes to fill out this survey to help us continue to improve. Your insights are vital to making these experiences meaningful for your students.

  
  

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Best regards, Principal Hibaq Mohamed

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

• Long-sleeved shirt

• Sweatshirt or sweater

• Heavy winter coat

• Wool or thick socks

• Gloves

• Winter headwear and/or ear muffs

• Snow boots

Dear Flipside Families,
Welcome back from Winter Break! 🌟 We are so happy to see all the Flipside students and hear about their adventures during the break. It truly makes our day to see their smiling faces and engagement in classes. We encourage you to ask your student what they’ve been learning—those conversations make a big difference!

📞 Need Help or Have Questions?
If you need assistance or an early pick-up and no one is in the office, feel free to call or text Ms. Nikol at 651-420-0134. This is her work cell, and she’ll have it with her during program hours.

📅 Important Dates & Schedule Updates

• ❌ January 15 – No Flipside
• 🎉 Family Nights
• January 21 & 22 | 3:45–5:00 PM
  Flipside youth will share their new talents through presentations and performances!
  🍽 A light dinner will be served. All are welcome!
• January 21 | 6:30 PM
  Come back to watch our theater class’s production of Yearbook Reflections!
• ❌ January 28 & 29 – No Flipside
• 🚀 February 2 – Second session of Flipside begins!

Warmly,
The Flipside Team

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.

It's Give to the Max time in Minnesota! To make a donation to Highland Park Middle School, simply click on the photo below (or this link here) to be taken to the donation page for HPMS. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

Click here to view the counselor newsletter for November/December.

Another menu line was added on Monday, November 17th in the cafeteria. Please see the new additions to lunches below.

Due to the federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued for November. Find the latest updates about SNAP benefits at dcyf.mn.gov/federal-shutdown. School meals are NOT impacted. Breakfast and lunch will continue to be free for all students at school.

Minnesota has more than 300 food shelves and meal programs to help support families. Click on this link to review a list of free food resources in St. Paul: https://www.spps.org/news-details/~board/news/post/free-food-and-meal-resources

Here are additional food resources that are frequently updated in real time as resources are available.

https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/residents/assistance-support/assistance/food-resources

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.

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

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

Family Community Connection (FCC) Dates: Below, we have shared dates and times for the upcoming FCC meetings. These meetings are a great opportunity for us to connect, share important information, and answer any questions you may have.
9/29/25 6:00pm - Slides presentation from 9/29/25 FCC meeting

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

2/9/26 8:00am

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!

Last week we met with each grade level (6th, 7th, and 8th) to go over a set of slides that establish shared norms, expectations, and practices for our school community. 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

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