THE BRIDGE
Week at a Glance - October 12, 2026
Mission
Our mission is to ensure that all students acquire knowledge, develop skills, and improve work habits to enable them to become productive members of society. We will maintain high expectations for all students, to sustain a positive school climate, ensure a safe and orderly school environment, monitor students' progress on a frequent basis, adjust instruction, and promote effective home-school communication.
Vision
High Bridge Elementary School is a community of diverse learners, where all students can develop their talents and gifts to be prepared for college and careers. Through real world experiences, 21st century instruction and the integration of all cultures, students will achieve academic success and become lifelong learners.
School Maintenance Staff Day
In every thriving school community, there are individuals who work behind the scenes to keep everything moving safely and seamlessly. Today, we want to shine a special spotlight on our incredible maintenance team: Mr. Nichols, Ms. Johnson, and Mr. Snipes!
Our maintenance team exemplifies true dedication, resilience, and heart. No matter what the day brings—whether it is pivoting at the very last minute to prepare for a special event, responding swiftly to unexpected maintenance needs, or keeping our classrooms and campus safe, clean, and functioning—they handle every situation with remarkable flexibility and care.
Mr. Nichols, Ms. Johnson, and Mr. Snipes consistently go far above and beyond the call of duty. Their responsiveness and tireless effort ensure that our students have a bright, secure place to learn and our staff has a supportive environment to teach in every single day.
The next time you see Mr. Nichols, Ms. Johnson, or Mr. Snipes in the hallways or school event, please join us in giving them a warm smile and a sincere "Thank You!" for everything they do for our school family.
Principal's Month
October marks National Principals Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the vision, leadership, and dedication of school leaders across the nation. This year, the occasion carries extra significance for High Bridge, as the school community formally celebrates Principal Hughey in her first year leading the campus.
**CONGRATULATIONS**
Mrs. Cipolla
**100% PERFECT ATTENDANCE**
Greetings Parents/Guardians,
We are thrilled to celebrate the rise in Perfect Attendance No Tardies (P.A.N.T.S.) at High Bridge Elementary School!
Thank you for being model scholars of High Bridge. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our parents and staff for your continued support in helping our students rise to excellence every day.
Best Regards,
HIgh Bridge Attendance Committee
If you need assistance with anything please call the office or email the appropriate staff member. We will work to answer all of your questions and/or concerns.
Office hours 7:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Student Arrival will begin at 7:30 a.m.
Dismissal will begin at 1:45 p.m.
(Please be advised, Early Dismissal ends at 12:40 p.m.)
School Phone number 301-805-2690
Registration Secretary: Ms. Adams- celestial.adams@pgcps.org
Principal's Secretary: Mrs. Barboza- nancy.barboza@pgcps.org
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Harris- natasha.harris@pgcps.org
Please follow the procedure listed below to maintain a safe and efficient parent drop-off procedure. Thank you for working to ensure this process is safe for our students.
Enter the parking lot through the driveway to the left of the school entrance
Students will exit their cars from the right lane only (Single line for cars only)
Pull your vehicle to the end of the walkway as directed by school staff before taking your child out of the car
Please be sure to make a right turn onto High Bridge Road. (This will ensure that traffic does not back up on High Bridge Road - During the hours of 7:30-7:45 AM.)
Follow directions from the school staff on duty to exit the parking lot
Students will eat breakfast from 7:30-7:45
Class begins promptly at 7:45.
ATTENTION ALL PARENTS!!!!
According to PGCPS Administrative Procedure 6130 - GUIDELINES FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND PLAYGROUND AND RECESS SUPERVISION - All students are prohibited to participate in the following during recess; dodge ball, football or any tackle activities or games.
Refillable Thermos are WELCOMED!
We are encouraging students to bring a refillable thermos to school. They are welcomed to refill them at our water station dispensaries (which were replaced by the PGCPS provided water bottles) throughout the school. This will avoid water spillage in the hallways and lessen (or prevent) injuries. Your support is appreciate.
Engagement Plan Information:
SY Parent & FAmily Engagement Plan (English)
SY Parent & Family Engagement Plan (Spanish)
Confirmation of Teachers & Paraprofessional Qualifications SY 27
Reminders:
1. Title I Parent Rights to Know Letter (English, French and Spanish copies)
2. ESSA & Tile I PFE Policy (English Copy), (Spanish Copy). and (French copy)
3. Parent Input Survey SY 26/27:
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/JAq7sZWnfiQNDsL87
QRCode:
What does this mean?
The Prince George’s County Public Schools’ Community Schools initiative will be a national blueprint which provides equitable access to integrated support and services that promote academic, economic and social empowerment for schools and their communities.
Brighter Bites Distribution
Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the cafeteria!
Join us for our next Brighter Bites produce distribution, where families can take home fresh fruits and vegetables! If you haven't already enrolled please do so by clicking the link below.
Sign Up Link
https://www.brighterbites.org/signup/s=757/n=0
https://fs27.formsite.com/brighterbites/enroll23/fill?id82=757&id161=1
We are providing fresh fruits and vegetables for you and your family. Produce will be available on a first come, first serve basis, while supplies last.
Volunteers Needed!!
Time: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Ms. Tasco at deitra.tasco@pgcps.org or (301) 805 - 2690.
Welcome back to another exciting school year where our goal this year is Excellence by Design. My name is Nurse Halle and I am your school nurse. My role is to support the health, wellness, and academic success of the students at High Bridge. Some of our kids live with chronic illnesses like sickle cell anemia, diabetes, epilepsy/seizures, and more or that can be a challenge without certain assistance. I’m here to give them that assistance. Some kids deal with more acute or short term illnesses like headaches, stomach ache, ear aches, tooth aches, all the aches and then stop by so that I can check them out, see what can be done. Sometimes it's mental and emotional. Sometimes it looks like education and other times it looks like advocacy. And a lot of times I’m talking to the parents as well because it’s really hard to do this work without you guys. It may look and sound different on a day to day basis but the goal is the same: to keep our High Bridge community safe and healthy. Not only for their today but also for their tomorrow.
When to stay home (according to PGCPS Guidelines)
Fever: No child with a temperature of 100.4F or higher should attend school. If your child is sick (for any reason) and has a fever, keep them home and contact the school nurse to notify them of symptoms and absence. Children need to be fever free for 24 hours (and off medications that reduce fevers) before they can return. If you send a child to school with a fever, you will be contacted to pick them up.
Vomit and Diarrhea: Keep your child home and monitor for other symptoms. Consult your child's doctor as needed. Students need to be vomit and diarrhea free for 24 hours before they can return.
Common Cold: Children with heavy cold symptoms and hacking coughs should remain at home; especially if the cough has kept the child awake at night. Please follow up with your child's doctor as needed and notify the school nurse. The child should feel well enough to participate in class throughout the day.
Sore Throat: A child with a sore throat should be monitored but may come to school in the absence of other symptoms. If additional symptoms are present to sore throat preventing them from being fully participatory, keep the child home and contact the doctor.
Rashes: Do not send a child to school if they have a rash unless your doctor, in writing, indicates that it is safe to do so.
Toothache: Seek doctor's advice as soon as possible. Child is able to come to school if they will be participatory and are fever free.
Earache: Seek a doctors advice as soon as possible. Child is able to come to school if they will be participatory and are fever free.
Headache: Please monitor your child for additional symptoms. If other symptoms are present please consider keeping home for further monitoring.
Pediculosis (LICE): Students with live head lice or nits (eggs) should remain at home and be treated with medicated shampoo. Please consult with your child's doctor for more information.
If your child is absent for 3 or more days in a row, a doctor note is required for them to return to school. A child is ready to return to school when they are FEVER FREE & their symptoms have improved and they feel that they can fully participate in class and school activities. In general, if a child is prescribed antibiotic medication for an illness, they need to be on that medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
Communicable Disease
Please report any communicable disease to the school nurse: chicken pox, COVID-19, German measles, mumps, whooping cough, hepatitis , strep throat, rubella, impetigo, scabies, conjunctivitis (pink-eye), pediculosis (head lice). Always seek physician evaluation of any unclear rash before sending the child back to school.
Your Opinion Matters!
Please complete the following feedback documents (below) for us to maintain (glow) or make necessary changes (grow) when conducting events/developing correspondence at High Bridge. We need your feedback!
"The Bridge"
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tBYkOHX_RSwcZlBhFVSt69wXujFnVwdbZUY3lyKwav8/edit
Transportation Information (Parent)
(NEW) What is the Chipmunk App?
Chipmunk tracks your school bus and tells you where the bus is, when it will arrive at your child’s stop, and provides alerts for cancellations and closures that may affect you. Gone are the days where kids must wait in the pouring rain or freezing cold for their bus. You will know where the bus is and when it will arrive – to keep you informed.
How do I sign up?
Please register on ParentVUE and refer to the Chipmunk rollout timeline, based on your child’s route.
ParentVUE (Synergy) - NOW THERE'S A LINK ON THE PGCPS HOME PAGE
Prince George's County Public Schools provides a student information system access portal that allows authorized caretakers to log into ParentVUE from any computer with an Internet connection and view the child's student information, including current attendance records and assignment scores.
What is ParentVUE?
ParentVUE is the portal that allows parents and guardians to view information about their student, including classroom assignments and scores, attendance, transcripts, graduation status and more. In ParentVUE, families can also update their phone numbers and emergency contact information and access the Online Registration (OLR) Application.
Stay Connected!
Attendance continues to be important this school year and every school year. Please ensure your child is present and on time for school every day. If your child is sick or is presenting with any symptoms and therefore is unable to attend school, please notify your child's teacher immediately, and upon his/her return to school please write them a note to give to the teacher.
For all absences, the parent/guardian must submit a letter of explanation with dates of absences to the school upon your child’s return to school to be categorized as “lawful” or “unlawful.”
Pursuant to ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, Education Article, Sections 7-301, 7-302, and 8-403 and Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.08.01.01, 13A.08.01.02, 13A. 08.01.03, and 13A.08.01.04 each child who is five (5) years of age or under eighteen (18) years of age must attend school regularly during the entire school year.
Unlawful absence or truancy is defined as the act of a pupil being absent from school for a day or any portion of a class for any reason construed as unlawful or unexplained as defined by the above statutes.
