FRESH NEWS

The Highland BUZZ August 20, 2026

Highland Families,

It is that time of year again! We are so excited to welcome (or welcome back!) your child to Highland for the start of an amazing school year!

To have a smooth start to the school year, we wanted to share some details about what to expect in the coming weeks and how to set your family up for a successful school year. Check it out!

Details about Critical Back to School Dates

When will I find out my child's teacher?

On August 28th, Skyward Qmlativ will go live for the school year, including which class your child has been assigned to for the school year. Need a reminder on accessing Qmlativ Family Access? See this page on our district's website for instructions and video tutorials.

When do I meet my child's teacher?

We will be hosting our Meet the Teacher event on September 1st from 4:00-5:00 for 1st-5th grade students and their families. This is a drop in event where you and your child can walk through campus, stop by your child's classroom and meet their teacher. You are also welcome to drop off any school supplies that you would like during this time. We will have staff with maps around campus as well as in the main office so feel free to ask if you are unsure where you are headed!

What about Kindergarteners?

Kindergarten families will sign up for a family meeting with their child's teacher on either September 2nd, 3rd, or 4th to start building the critical partnership for the school year.

What if my family is new to Highland?

If your family is new to Highland, Mrs. Danielson and Ms. Porter will be hosting New Family Tours before the Meet the Teacher event. Meet us at the flagpole at 3:00 or 3:30 on September 1st for a tour of campus!

Help! I still need to register one of my children!

It is not too late! Highland's office reopened on August 12th and will continue to be available to accept or help you complete registration packets. Our office is open from 8:30-4:00 each day and we would love to help!

Getting Ready for the First Day of School!

School Meals

Students can receive breakfast and lunch at Highland each school day. On our Food and Nutrition website, you can find breakfast and lunch menus, access the link to add funds to your child's lunch account, and find the forms to apply for free or reduced price meals.

Transportation Information

If your child lives further than a mile away from Highland and will be riding the bus, download the new bus route app to access your child's bus route information. Find the information at our transportation website here!

School Supplies

On our district website, you can find the list of school supplies by grade level. Please make sure things like backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, and jackets are labeled with your child's name. If securing the supplies for your child creates a burden for your family, please connect with our office for support.

School Handbook

At Highland we have a school handbook that goes over lots of details that help us be on the same page and running smoothly. Take some time to review it and discuss any parts with your child that you think may be helpful. We also go over Highland Way expectations with all students in the first weeks of school so that everyone is on the same page with school wide expectations!

What to Know on the First Day?

If you are dropping off or picking up your student...

Highland is a community school with lots of students and their families walking or riding their bikes to and from school each day and our main goal is safety. Please follow the direction of the staff (and Safety Patrol students!) at cross walks.

We do our very best to make the process as efficient as possible for those coming by vehicle as well! For this reason, we have two lanes of traffic in the loop in front of the school. If you are dropping your child off, pull up against the curb and allow your child to exit the vehicle, then pull forward. Please help your child be prepared to exit your vehicle quickly with their backpack and supplies for the day.

If you need to park and come into the building, please find a spot in the neighborhood around Highland as there are limited spots to park in the lot in the mornings.

In the Handy Links section at the bottom of this newsletter, you will find more detail about the traffic flow in and around Highland.

Attendance Matters!

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves—and helps them learn and grow in their academics and connection to others. Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.

As the new school year starts, work on setting routines that will support daily school attendance. Consider:

Setting a regular bedtime and morning routine.
Laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before.
Introducing your children to their teachers and classmates before school starts.
Developing backup plans for getting to school if something comes up -- call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to their teacher, Mr. Hedges, our school counselor and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

We miss your student when they are gone and we value their contributions to our school!

If your student is going to be absent, please email hlattendance@lkstevens.wednet.edu to let us know the day and reason for the absence.

Remember, learning starts at 9:15am. This means that students should be in classrooms ready to learn when the bell rings. If you are dropping your child off in the morning, they should be dropped off around 9:00am so they have time to make it to the classroom.