The Weekly Highlander 2025-2026

Dear Highlander Families:

Welcome to your long weekend as we head into September. Monday is a school holiday, and we have a short but busy week. Students who are interested in starting a club must turn in their applications on Wednesday to the counselors. Students who are interested in Cross Country should attend a short informational meeting on Thursday, right after school, in the Activity Center. The first dance of the year is on Friday; students must purchase a ticket in advance and turn in a permission slip. The last day to purchase a ticket is Thursday. There is additional information in this newsletter about all of these activities.

There is a lot to do at Hewes, and we are excited for your student to get involved with the Highlander community. Please stay connected to Hewes by checking our website and following us on Instagram @heweshighlanders for the latest information and news.

Sahra Tanikawa, Principal

We are excited to welcome Ms. Ruiz to our PE department this year. She has been working at Western High School and continues to work for them as their Athletic Trainer for their sports programs. She grew up on Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan and attended middle school at Yokosuka Middle School. She loves Manga and has ALL 111 One Pice Manga Volumes. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Highlander Family. When you see her on campus please introduce yourself.

A big THANK YOU to our Math 8 team for kicking off the year strong! As a brand-new team with all new members, they have come together quickly, working hard to ensure student success while focusing on collaboration and meaningful instructional strategies. We appreciate your commitment to making math at Hewes a class where our students can thrive. Mrs.Bailey, Mrs. O'Day, and Ms.Ernst. #whereistinyhank

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.

ASB is prepping for our first dance of the year. ASB students came to 5th period today to hand out permission slips and announce the dance. ASB students will be collecting the permission slips and $5 for the dance tickets every day until Thursday, September 4th. Students who purchased tickets will be given wrist bands on Friday during 5th period; this will be their ticket into the dance. There will be soda and candy for purchase, so students might want a few dollars for snack items. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD ON FRIDAY. The last day to buy a ticket will be on Thursday, September 4th.

Students who are interested in running this cross-country season should attend an informational meeting on Thursday, September 4th, after school in the Activity Center. Coach Visser will go over the information about the season, Dino Dash, and how to sign up. This 15-minute meeting will be for students; parents do not need to attend. Permission slips and the schedule for the season will be passed out. If you can't attend, you can pick up a permission slip in the office. Permission slips are due on Thursday, September 18th, and practice starts on Tuesday, September 23rd.

Students who are interested in forming a club MUST attend an information meeting on Monday, August 27th in MPR at lunch. They will learn about the requirements and what they need to do to organize a club this year. If your students is interested, please have them attend this very important meeting on Monday.

Please help the Hewes Counseling Department provide our students with an inclusive and welcoming environment by donating items from the wish list. We will use these items throughout the year to plan programs, events, and activities that support student well-being and personal/educational growth.

Breakfast Club is a supportive space where students can start their day with a positive mindset and a healthy meal. We’re looking for parent volunteers to sign up to donate breakfast once a month. Your support—whether it’s bringing fruit, muffins, yogurt, or juice—makes a big difference in helping our students feel cared for and ready to learn. Please scan the QR code or SIGN UP HERE to donate. Thank you!

• Monday, September 1 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
• Wednesday, September 3 - Deadline to turn in Club Applications to the counselors
• Thursday, September 4 - Cross Country Information Meeting - 2:50 pm - Activity Center
• Friday, September 5 - 2:45 pm - 4 pm - Back to School Dance
• Friday, September 5 - Last Day to purchase a yearbook for $70 - prices go up to $75 on the 6th
• Wednesday, September 10 - ASB Chick-fil-A fundraiser
• Monday, September 15 - School Site Council - Meeting #1 - 3pm in Room I-8
• Tuesday, September 16 - PTA General Meeting 9 am
• Tuesday, September 16 - Shake Shack Fundraiser - Support PTA
• Wednesday, September 17 - Breakfast Club for all students - 8:15am
• Wednesday, September 17 - Honor Roll Social for 7th & 8th Graders @2:25pm
• Thursday, September 18 - Cross Country permission slips are due to Coach Visser
• Friday, September 19 - PTA Fun Friday at Lunch
• Tuesday, September 23 - Cross Country Practice Begins
• Wednesday, September 24 - TPSF Celebration of Schools @6pm, Tustin High School
• Thursday, September 25 - Club Rush at lunch

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