The Scot's Scoop

Archived family newsletters for 2025-2026

Monday, May 4 (A day):

• Junior Achievement field trip for 8th grade Sharks team
• Read-a-thon begins

Tuesday, May 5 (B day):

• 8:45am 8th Grade Honors Celebration

Wednesday, May 6 (A day)

• 8:45am 7th Grade Honors Celebration
• Flipside family showcase

Thursday, May 7 (B day):

• Flipside family showcase - last day of Flipside
• 6:00-7:30pm Art and Messaging Project showcase in the cafeteria

Friday, May 8 (A day)

Monday, May 11 (B day)

Tuesday, May 12 (A day)

Wednesday, May 13 (B day)

Thursday, May 14 (A day)

Friday, May 15 (B day)

Monday, May 18 (A day):

• 6:00-7:00pm FCC (Family Communication & Connections) meeting in the library

Tuesday, May 19 (B day)

Wednesday, May 20 (A day)

Thursday, May 21 (B day):

• 4:00-7:00pm Spring Concert & Arts Showcase (culinary, art, orchestra, band, choir)

Friday, May 22 (A day):

• Lost & Found clean out

May 25 - May 27: No School

Thursday, May 28 (B day)

Friday, May 29 (A day): Spring sports end

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.

Family engagement events (such as conferences) offer child care and transportation assistance if needed.

HPMS families,

Next week, May 4-8, is National Teacher Appreciation week. At Highland Middle, we use this opportunity to celebrate our classroom teachers and all support staff. This is an opportunity to celebrate their hard work and passion which makes Highland a wonderful learning environment for every student.

Please consider donating to our Sunshine account via Venmo (photo attached with a QR code). Your contributions will cover the gifts and treats for our awesome staff throughout the week. We have a few fun activities planned for our teachers, and we hope to couple these activities with snacks throughout the week to show our appreciation to our staff. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Highland families, the HPMS Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) is hosting its first-ever school-wide Read-a-thon, and your student is encouraged to participate! The Read-a-Thon will run from May 4 - May 17. All students are encouraged to read and record their reading minutes every day of the event, including weekends. All types of reading, from books to newspapers and magazines, will be supported – the more your student enjoys the texts they read, the better their overall experience will be. Physical and digital reading logs will be available in Foundations classes and in the library.

Students will report their weekly reading in their ELA classes twice during the event, in the middle and at the end. The Foundations classes that report the highest number of reading minutes will be eligible for prizes, so encourage your student to get in some good reading and help their Foundations class win. While adult reading does not count toward the Foundations class totals, the SLAB group would like to encourage all teachers and adult caregivers to join in the fun by committing yourselves to reading as much as you can throughout Read-a-thon as well. Thank you for supporting our students.

It’s hard to believe, but this week is our final week of Flipside! Families are invited to join us for our last two Family Showcases on Wednesday, May 6, and Thursday, May 7. Come cheer on our amazing students as they share performances from band, theater, and K‑pop dance! There will also be art displays, game stations, and showcases from our LEGO teams and the high school robotics team—lots to see and explore!

Once Flipside wraps up, there will no longer be busing available for sports students, so please be sure to plan for student pickup from school.

We have two more exciting events to look forward to! First, we are excited to invite Flipside families to Family Game Night at Level Up St. Paul on May 11 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Come try out new games, relax, laugh a lot, and make some awesome family memories! Level Up is located at 2493 7th St W, St. Paul, MN 55116. Ms. Nikol is pretty competitive, so come see if you can beat her at a game. Please RSVP to Ms. Nikol if you plan on coming, as space is limited.

Also, on Friday, May 29, from 4:00–7:00 p.m., our Anime Club will be hosting a Teeny‑Con (rescheduled!) right here at Highland. Come enjoy student art, panels, anime viewing, and a special performance by a Taiko drumming group—it’s going to be a blast!

Thank you so much for an incredible year of support. Our Flipside students continue to amaze me, and I’m so grateful to our families—especially for trusting me with your kids.

Have a fantastic rest of the year, and don’t worry… Flipside will be back in the fall! 😊🎉

Parent volunteers needed for this art showcase event! Reach out to lois.pantoja@spps.org or 651-744-2432, if you can help. We need folks for each of the three hours. You can volunteer for one hour, or two, or all three!

Game/Meet Schedule
The most up-to-date game schedule is maintained by the district and can be found on the SPPS Athletics Calendar. Choose Highland Park Middle under the 'Member Schools' tab. Then choose the sport under the VIEW SCHEDULES section. Finally, click 'VIEW'. Please check this link regularly for updates on game dates, times, and locations.

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

The Highland Park Middle School Parent Solidarity Network is wrapping up our work for this school year and we have four important announcements:

1. With the help of our Highland Park community we have provided $28,000 in housing assistance and $8,000 in cash assistance. Amazing!! Thank you for all your support! Link to donate

2. The rent and cash assistance program will close for the summer on 5/31.

3. We will resume in September 2026, and we would love for you to join us! If you are interested, please fill out this form and we will be in touch in the fall. Sign up here

4.We’re creating a community cookbook and we want you in it! The HPMS Parent Solidarity Network is collecting recipes to build a cookbook that reflects the cultures, traditions, and stories of our school community. This cookbook will be sold as a fall fundraiser, with proceeds supporting ongoing HPMS community care and mutual aid efforts. Click here to participate

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

Our 2026-2027 8th Grade WEB leaders will be announced on Monday, May 4th. The list will be posted outside of the main office.

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

3/23/26 8:00am - Slides presentation from 3/23/26 FCC meeting

4/20/26 6:00pm - Slides presentation from 4/20/26 FCC meeting

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

Whether your student enjoys art, STEM, languages and culture, outdoor activities, or a little bit of everything, we have a wide variety of programs for students who are currently in grades K-8. Students in all programs will learn new and strengthen current academic skills and prepare for the upcoming school year through active, fun and hands-on activities.

• All programs are FREE!

• Breakfast and lunch are provided

• Transportation is available

• Programs are Monday through Friday, June 23-July 24 - unless otherwise noted

Registration Opens March 12

Select ONE of the following ways to register:

• Register online at spps.org/summer.

• Download, complete, and submit completed form by U.S. Mail to: Summer Registration, Student Placement Center, 2102 University Ave. West, Saint Paul, MN 55114.

• Download, complete, and email form to spc@spps.org.

Visit spps.org/summer to review program information and register. Registration closes June 1st.

Questions? Contact the Department of Alternative Education at 651-767-8020

Other Resources:

SLP 2026 Flyer (includes translations)

SLP K-4 Video

SLP 5-8 Video

Translations of this page:

HMong

Karen

Somali

Spanish

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)

📢 Reminder: Strict Enforcement of Headphone Policy

The school is cracking down on the existing headphone/earbud rule. Even if they aren't being used, if staff see them, they will take them.

• The Rule: No personal headphones or earbuds visible at any time during the school day.

• The Risk: If seen on a student's neck, in their hand, or plugged into a phone, the device (and potentially the phone) will be confiscated.

• School Property: School-issued headphones must stay in class; taking them is considered theft.

Best bet: Have your student keep all personal tech zipped away in their locker or backpack from the first bell to the last.

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.

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.

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