Middle & High School Updates
May 2025
From the Desk of Mr. Pabst
Greetings Highlander Families,
We are inching closer and closer to the end of the year. This time of year is the fastest moving as we are busy finishing state testing, end-of-the-year celebrations, and the last-minute push for students to finish strong.
This past month our students completed their PSATs, SATs, and ELA portion of the RICAS test. After taking these tests, a sense of accomplishment radiated from our students. It was incredible to hear They spoke with pride about how hard they worked and were tired from the effort and focus they put into the test. It is a credit to them, our staff, and the tremendous work they do every day educating our students. We still have Math RICAS occurring at the beginning of May.
As we move into the final quarter, students will make that end-of-year push to pass their classes to earn credit and move on to the next grade. Please continue to check Skyward grades and Google Classroom for assignments and communicate regularly with their teachers.
This final quarter impacts whether or not they make the Honor Roll or need to attend summer school. It will also determine course placement for next year or whether they will be retained next year. This last quarter can even decide the graduation status for students. Taking these measures can help ensure your child's success, and I cannot emphasize this enough. More information about summer school will be shared by the first week of May.
With any end of the year comes events and celebrations. We have a few school assemblies, 3rd Quarter Honor Roll, Field Day, Prom, closing circles, Class Awards Nights, Senior trip, and the Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony. You will start receiving communications from us through Dojo, invitations and letters sent home, and possible phone calls. If you have questions or concerns about these events, please contact me.
Best regards
Mr. Wil Pabst
Key pieces of information
5/1 CTE Field Trip
5/2 “It Gets Better” grade level assembly
5/3 Steam Box Joyful Rebellion
5/7-8 Math RICAS
5/14 Progress Report Grades Due
5/14 SIT meeting (to be confirmed)
5/14-5/15 NGSA (8th and 11th)
5/15 Prom
5/20 Senior Trip
5/22 Senior Portfolios
5/23
WIN Field Day
Class Awards Night
5/30 Lower School Field Day
6/3 Seniors Last Day (if they completed all graduation requirements )
6/5 Senior Day
6/6 Class of 2025 Graduation (rehearsal in the am)
What we're up to
GSL Trip
On April 23rd, students from our Global Service Learning class, along with their teacher and an 2 administrators from Highlander embarked on a flight for Northern Ireland. They were joined by an instructor from the Institute for Nonviolence and one from Mentor RI. This group spent 7 long days together exploring the history, the culture, the troubled past and the hopeful future of Northern Ireland and its youth. Working in partnership with Irish youth from St. Peters Immaculata Youth Center in Belfast, our students overcame cultural differences and made fast friendships.
FYI
Below are some reminders about Highlander policies as we start the school year:
Students are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles daily. Please ensure names are written on them.
Healthy snacks are encouraged at lunch time. Please keep in mind we are a peanut-free school. Soda is not permitted. NO large or family size bags of chips, crackers, or other snacks or food.
Students are assigned homework daily, and are expected to complete these assignments in a timely manner.
Uniforms are required Monday through Thursday. Please visit the school website for our uniform policy and purchasing information. We are aware of delays with some orders. If this is the case or you have other concerns, please feel free to contact us.
April 2025
Click here for full calendar: https://www.highlandercharter.org/for-families/events/calendar/
Family Engagement
Happy May! As we enter the final stretch of the school year, we're excited to share all the wonderful things happening across our schools and invite you to join us in celebrating and supporting our students and staff.
As we approach Mother’s Day, I want to take a moment to recognize and honor the many incredible individuals who nurture, guide, and support our students every day.
This celebration is not only for mothers—it is also a time to appreciate grandmothers, aunts, foster parents, older siblings, family friends, and all caregivers who take on the loving and essential role of parenting. Your dedication, patience, and care help shape the hearts and minds of our children, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do.
I see you. I appreciate you. And I thank you for being a vital part of our school community.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is coming up (May 5–9), and we need your help! Let’s show our amazing teachers & Staff just how much they mean to us. We’re asking families to participate by donating snacks, drinks, gift cards, or time to help with activities throughout the week. Check out Ms. Tatiana's Class Dojo message on how to participate or contact her for more details.
Yearbooks are now on sale! Thanks to the generous support of our Penny Challenge fundraiser, ALL Providence students will receive a yearbook for free! Yearbooks are on sale for Warren students for $15. Supplies are limited, so don’t miss out on this keepsake full of memories!
#AttendanceMatters
Let’s finish the year strong—attendance still matters! Every day counts, especially during these final weeks. Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically and ensures they don’t miss out on exciting end-of-year events. Students with good attendance (less than 10 absences) received a "Kids Achievement Award" from Burger King, and we will be raffling RIFC tickets for improved attendance.
RIFC Partnership
I'm also proud to share that several of our students have entered our 1st RIFC Art & Writing Contest! Winners will receive free tickets for the May 10th RIFC game—what an honor! To celebrate, the RIFC mascot recently visited our lower school, bringing lots of smiles and school spirit.
Community and Family Resources
Make sure to check the Community Resources Section and the new Immigration Resources for Families Section on our school website.
As always please reach out if you need help.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement. Let’s make this May a month to remember!
With love,
Ms. Tatiana
Have a shoutout for a staff, a student or group of students? Please use the following link to share: https://forms.gle/mKG7d5aU2iLoq7Yx5