The Weekly Highlander 2025-2026

Dear Highlander Families:

Thank you to the many families who attended back to school night this week. It was a great event with energy and enthusiasm for the year ahead. If your student rides an E-Vehicle and has not attended a safety class, you MUST attend one of the TUSD E-Vehicle safety presentations to park your vehicle on campus. This Tuesday, August 26th from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, we will be hosting the E-Vehicle class at Hewes in the Activity Center from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. This class is for BOTH parent and student presented by our School Resource Officer with a focus on education and safety.

The first general PTA meeting of the year on Tuesday, August 26th at 7pm in the Activity Center room I-8 or on Zoom. We still are in need of parent volunteers and this is a great way to get involved and support Hewes Middle School.

Students who are looking to form a club are required to attend an informational meeting at lunch on Monday, August 25th. The meeting is to explain the process of forming a club and to answer questions about Club Rush which will be held later in September. Please also mark your calendar for the first dance of the year on Friday, September 5th from 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm. Information about tickets and permission slips will be shared with your student next week.

The first minimum day of the year on Friday, August 29th, students will be dismissed at 12:37pm, breaksfast will be served before school, and Kona Ice will be sold after school to support 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

We are excited to welcome Ms. Alcala as our new social worker at Hewes! Many of you already know her from her time working in our front office, and we are thrilled to have her continue supporting our school community in this new role. She brings great knowledge of our students and families and a strong commitment to their well-being. Ms. Alcala will be on campus Mondays, Tuesdays, and every other Wednesday. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome to our team!

A big thank you to our Highlander Way Team for kicking off the year with such strong focus and energy! Your work in creating alignment around our school-wide expectations is laying the foundation for a positive environment where we are all moving in the same direction. By keeping it above the line, you are modeling the leadership, consistency, and teamwork that will support every Highlander this year. We appreciate your commitment to making Hewes a place where our students can thrive! THANK YOU - Mrs.Banuk, Ms.Cameron, Ms.Florio, Mrs.Magnuson, Mrs.Nielsen, Mr.Rascher, Mr.Smith, Mrs.Stewart, and Mrs.Wagstaff. #whereistinyhank

An Eagle Scout is the highest rank achievable in the Boy Scouts of America, requiring extensive dedication to community service, leadership, and demonstrating Scout Spirit. Former Hewes student, Jonathan Duenner, completed his Eagle Scout Project at Hewes this past week. He started his planning in March, completed fundraising, and then installed with volunteer help a drought-tolerant garden at the back of the campus. The space includes flowers, raised planters, benches and milkweed plants to attract Monarch caterpillars. We are so thankful for his generosity to the Hewes Community. THANK YOU!

All students who ride an E-Vehicle, such as an E-Scooter or E-Bike, are required to take a safety class in order to ride to school. Both parent and student are required to attend this hour-long safety training. At the completion of the training, students will be able to purchase their permit to place on their E-Vehicle, allowing them to park in the bike rack at Hewes. Students are only required to attend the course once during middle school. If your student participated in the course last year and has a permit, no further action is required. We will meet with all E-Vehicle students (new and returning) at the start of the year to review safety expectations on the Hewes Campus. If you need to attend a class, the next class will be at Hewes Middle School on Tuesday, August 26, at 5:30 pm. Additional dates can be found on the flyer attached. Families only need to attend one of the sessions.

The first General PTA meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, August 26th at 7pm in the Activity Center. We will be meeting in person but you are also welcome to join us via Zoom. We are still in need of volunteers, we hope you will join us as we kick off the school year. https://tustinusd-org.zoom.us/j/2303560088

Students who are interested in forming a club MUST attend an information meeting on Monday, August 27th in MPR at lunch. They will learn about the requirements and what they need to do to organize a club this year. If your students is interested, please have them attend this very important meeting on Monday.

Friday, August 29th, is a minimum day at Hewes, with student dismissal at 12:37 p.m. The library will be closed after school, and all students will need to exit campus promptly after the dismissal bell. Students will not be able to remain on campus or in the library that afternoon. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Please help the Hewes Counseling Department provide our students with an inclusive and welcoming environment by donating items from the wish list. We will use these items throughout the year to plan programs, events, and activities that support student well-being and personal/educational growth.

Breakfast Club is a supportive space where students can start their day with a positive mindset and a healthy meal. We’re looking for parent volunteers to sign up to donate breakfast once a month. Your support—whether it’s bringing fruit, muffins, yogurt, or juice—makes a big difference in helping our students feel cared for and ready to learn. Please scan the QR code or SIGN UP HERE to donate. Thank you!

• Monday, August 27 - Club Rush Information Meeting at lunch in the MPR
• Tuesday, August 26 - E-Vehicle Safety Presentation - Hewes Activity Center - 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
• Tuesday, August 26 - 7 pm - PTA General Meeting - In person and Zoom
• Friday, August 29 - Minimum Day - Breakfast Served at 7:50 am
• Friday, August 29 - Minimum Day - Student Dismissal at 12:37 pm, library closed after school, and Kona Ice will be sold to support Hewes PTA afterschool
• Monday, September 1 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
• Wednesday, September 3 - Deadline to turn in Club Applications to the counselors
• Friday, September 5 - 2:45 pm - 4 pm - Back to School Dance
• Friday, September 5 - Last Day to purchase a yearbook for $70 - prices go up to $75 on the 6th
• Tuesday, September 16 - PTA General Meeting 9 am
• Wednesday, September 17 - Breakfast Club for all students - 8:15am
• Wednesday, September 17 - Honor Roll Social for 7th & 8th Graders @2:25pm
• Friday, September 19 - PTA Fun Friday at Lunch
• Wednesday, September 24 - TPSF Celebration of Schools @6pm, Tustin High School
• Thursday, September 25 - Club Rush at lunch

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