The Weekly Highlander 2025-2026

Dear Highlander Families:

A HUGE shout out to the Robotics Teams, 8929U and 8929G, who will be competing this weekend at the State Vex Robotics Tournament in SanDiego. This is the first time Hewes has had two teams go to the state level competition and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication to this program. These teams have spent countless hours after school and on the weekends to achieve this level of success. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

If your student rides an E-Vehicle and has not attended a safety presentation the next one is at Hewes on Tuesday March 3rd at 5:30pm in the MPR. Students and their parent must attend this meeting together prior to purchasing a parking permit. A flyer with details is included in this newsletter. Students who are interested in playing basketball after school, there is an informational meeting on Thursday, March 5th at 2:50pm in the Activity Center. The permission slips and schedule will be passed out. Students who can't make the meeting can get the forms from Mr.Visser or Mr.Foley starting Friday, March 6th. There are two parent education opportunities shared in this newsletter, please see the dates, times, and details on each one found in this newsletter.

Please support Hewes PTA by eating at Raising Cane's this Wednesday, March 4th from 11AM to 9PM. Mention the fundraiser at the Restaurant or apply code RCFUND96 to online or app orders at checkout and Cane’s will donate 15% of Net Sales to the Hewes PTA.

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

Sahra Tanikawa, Principal

Tustin Unified School District is currently gathering input for the 2026-27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). We are asking for your support by completing the Districtwide LCAP Survey. Families must be logged into ParentSquare to complete the survey. The survey will remain open through Friday, March 6, 2026.

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.

MS.ROPER & MS.CAMERON - You work tirelessly to support and care for our ELD students. The seamless execution of ELPAC testing this week is a direct result of your meticulous preparation and commitment to student success. Thank you for your heart, your hard work, and for truly WINNING the Day!

Hewes PTA is on the hunt for more volunteers to support our school next year! If you are interested in a PTA Board or committee position, please fill out this google form ASAP. Link for vacant positions is in the form and they are also listed below.

Positions vacant for next year (2026-27)

President

First Vice President - Programs Chair

Second Vice President - Ways and Means

Third Vice President - Community Chair

Treasurer

Historian

Financial Secretary

Registration (work with school, recruit volunteers, and assist with registration fundraising) 8/4-8/6

8th grade Parent Representative (heads 8th grade event committees)

6th grade Parent Representative (assists school with 6th grade events)

PTA Membership (keeps lists of members, emails as needed, conducts drive and generates memberships cards)

Hospitality (teacher events)

Walk to School Day

Restaurant Fundraisers

Corporate Sponsorships

Art Reflections

Auditor

International Week

The Youth Substance Use Prevention (YSUP) Team at the Orange County Department of Education is excited to share an upcoming free webinar on youth drug prevention on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:00PM. We are pleased to invite families within the Tustin Unified School District to our virtual workshop, Prevention: It Starts With You!, for parents and caregivers, and we would greatly appreciate your support in sharing this opportunity with them. You might have already received an email regarding this event, but we wanted to send another reminder since we are 8 days away!

This engaging and informative webinar will provide parents and caregivers with essential information on:

• Current drug trends (alcohol, vaping, cannabis, fentanyl, nitrous oxide)
• How substance use impacts youth health and brain development
• Effective communication and parenting strategies
• Ways to prevent youth substance use at home

At the end of the presentation, we will be featuring a Student Panel! TUSD students will speak on how parents and caregivers can start meaningful conversations about drugs and alcohol with their child.

To make this opportunity accessible to more families, the webinar will be offered in both English and Spanish. Families can register for the workshop by scanning the QR code or using the registration link on the attached flyer.

Mental Health Services’ quarterly newsletter. In this edition of Building Resilience, we explore how technology influences relationships. While devices can sometimes create distance, they also offer meaningful opportunities for connection, community, and cultural belonging. Includes articles, learning opportunities, and resources.

Boletín del equipo de Salud Mental. En esta edición de Construyendo Resiliencia, examinamos cómo la tecnología impacta las relaciones a lo largo de la vida. Aunque los dispositivos pueden, en ocasiones, crear distancia, también brindan oportunidades valiosas para la conexión, la comunidad y la pertenencia cultural.

• Tuesday, March 3 - E-Vechicle Safety Presentation @5:30pm at Hewes in the MPR
• Wednesday, March 4 - PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Raising Cane's - 11AM - 9PM
• Wednesday, March 4 - Wednesday, March 18 - Ronald McDonald House Snack Drive
• Thursday, March 5 - Basketball Information Meeting 2:50 pm in the Activity Center
• Thursday, March 5 - Substance Abuse Prevention Webinar for Parents - 6pm
• Friday, March 6 - Band & Chior Field Trip to Knott's Berry Farm
• Wednesday, March 11 - Parenting with Presence Workshop - 9AM in the MPR
• Friday, March 13 - End of 3rd Quarter
• Monday, March 16 - Friday, March 20 - PTA International Week
• Tuesday, March 17 - CTE Field Trip to Foothill - 8th grade
• Wednesday, March 18 - Breakfast Club in the MPR 8:15am
• Wednesday, March 18 - PTA Sponsored International Assembly for Students
• Friday, March 20 - International Week Food Fair at Lunch
• Monday, March 23 - Foothill Counseling Presentation to 8th graders in Core classes
• Friday, March 27 - Foothill Elective Fair for students at lunch
• Tuesday, March 24 - PTA General Meeting at 9am in Room I-8 and on Zoom
• Wednesday, March 25 - Student Achievement Assembly 9:15am
• Monday, March 30 - Friday April 3 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
• Thursday, April 9 - Celebration of Learning - 5:30PM - 7:00PM

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