The Weekly Highlander 2025-2026

Dear Highlander Families:

The last day of the first semester is next Friday, December 19th. This will be a minimum day for students with dismissal at 12:37 pm. Breakfast will be served before school at 7:50am and campus will be closed to students after school including the library. Teachers will be finalizing grades and submitting the semester grades for report cards that will be sent home in January.

Next week ASB is promoting Holiday Dress Up Days. Please see the flyer in this newsletter for details, encourage your student to show their school spirit by participating. The last day to turn in socks or toys for the ASB drive is this Wedneday, items should be turned into their 5th period teacher. If your student is going to play volleyball in January, permission slips are due to Mr.Visser or Mr.Foley by the end of the day on Thursday, December 18th. If your student needs a permission slip, they can get one in the office or see one of the coaches.

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

Sahra Tanikawa, Principal

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.

Students interested in playing volleyball after winter break must complete a permission slip in order to participate in after school sports. You can see Mr.Foley or Mr.Visser anytime to get a schedule and a permission slip. ALL permission slips are due on Thursday, December 18th.

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!

Please see articles and resources on mental health including: Teaching Children about Gratitude, Roblox and Your Student, Mindful Nature Walk Activity, Children’s Books, and other Resources.

• Tuesday, December 16th - Drama Class performances during the school day
• Wenesday, December 17th - Student Achievement Assembly
• Thursday, December 18th - Volleyball permission slips are due by 3pm
• Friday, December 19th - Minimum Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:37am
• Friday, December 19th - Breakfast served before school - LIBRARY CLOSED AFTER SCHOOL
• Monday, December 22 - Monday, January 5 - Winter Recess - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, January 6 - Students return, school starts at 8:15am
• Thursday, January 8 - E-Vehicle Safety Presentation 5:30pm - Beckman High School
• Wednesday, January 14 - PTA Lunch Activities
• Thursday, January 15 - School Tours - 9am or 11am
• Monday, January 19 - MLK holiday - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, January 21 - Honor Roll Social during tutorial

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