The Scot's Scoop

Archived family newsletters for 2025-2026

Highland Park Middle School families,

A reminder that the district has updated the phone number we use to send text messages. Our outreach text messages are sent using a local 10-digit phone number.

New Text Message Number for Outreach: 651-705-2351

We recommend saving it in your contacts as “Highland Middle School Alerts” so you always recognize messages from us.

Have a good week!

Monday, October 20 (A day):

• 3:30pm Boys Soccer, Flag Football, Volleyball vs Murray, at 280 Como Avenue

Tuesday, October 21 (B day)

Wednesday, October 22 (A day):

• 4:30 Girls soccer vs Hidden River, at HPMS

Thursday, October 23 (B day):

• Family conferences 4:00-7:00pm

Friday, October 24 (A day)

Monday, October 27 (B day):

• 3:30pm Boys Soccer, Flag Football, Volleyball vs Murray, at HPMS
• 4:00pm Girls Soccer vs Hidden River, at 631 Albert Street North
• 6:00-7:00pm FCC (Family Community Connection) meeting in the library

Tuesday, October 28 (A day)

Wednesday, October 29 (B day)

Thursday, October 30 (A day)

Friday, October 31 (B day): Fall sports end

Monday, November 3 (A day):

• 6:00pm Eagle Bluff parent meeting

Tuesday, November 4 (B day)

Wednesday, November 5 (A day)

Thursday, November 6 (B day): End of Quarter 1

Friday, November 7: No School - staff development day

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.

In-Person Family-Teacher Conferences & More on Thursday, Oct. 23

Dear Highland Park Middle School (HPMS) Families,

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming in-person Family-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

This will be an important opportunity to connect with your students' teachers for a brief, drop-in style check-in. To accommodate as many families as possible, each conversation will be limited to approximately 5 minutes.

Due to the format, it may not be realistic to meet with all of your students' teachers. We ask that you please identify and plan to visit with the 2 or 3 teachers you most need to see. For some families, conversations will include an interpreter and may require more time. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide a meaningful experience for everyone.

More to Do During Your Visit:

Conferences are also a great time to connect with other resources at our school. While you are here, you are also invited to:

• Visit with members of our Mental Health Team (school nurse, counselor, social workers and school psychologist).

• Connect with our Immersion Coordinator.

• Purchase Highland Gear to show your school spirit at the office.

• Attend one of three informational sessions on "Schoology Access for Families and Grading at HPMS." These 20-minute sessions will take place in the library at 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6 pm.

• Support our food truck fundraiser and enjoy a treat from El Burrito Mercado, Yum Yum Truck and MN Nice Cream.

When you arrive at the school, we will provide you with a map showing teacher classroom locations and a detailed schedule for these additional sessions and activities.

Your partnership is vital to your student's success. We look forward to seeing you at the school on October 23rd!

Thank you for your support!

Hibaq Mohamed

We're using SignUp to organize our upcoming fall conference night on Thursday, October 23rd.
Please sign up for Snacks for Family-Teacher Conferences!

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click this link to go to our conference schedule on SignUp: https://signup.com/go/jhgrFwF
2. Enter your email address. (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp)
3. Sign up! Choose a spot (item to bring) - SignUp will send you automated confirmations and reminders. Easy!

Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me at lois.pantoja@spps.org and I can sign you up manually.

Thank you for your support, we appreciate YOU!

Click here to view the counselor October newsletter! There is lots of helpful information including the topic of the month, Executive Functioning Skills, ways to practice at home, community resources, and much more!

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

An important note from the 8th grade teams

The Sharks and Tecolotes teams are excited to share that our students will be starting a service learning project this month. Our HPMS 8th graders will be paired with an Elementary classroom from SPPS and will begin writing letters back and forth as Pen Pals.

On our first team day, Nov. 14th, our students will travel to their partner elementary classroom to read a picture book with them and to lead a conversation about what the book makes them think about. With that in mind, we are asking for donations of gently used picture books.

Please send any donations of picture books by Nov. 6th. Donations can be brought to the main office where there will be a drop box. Thank you for your support!

The 8th grade teams, Sharks and Tecolotes

October is Bullying Prevention Month. At Highland Park Middle School we are showing our support in creating a safe and welcoming school environment . We will be participating in the national recognition of "Unity Day" on Wednesday, October 22. Let's all wear orange that day to show we're committed to making our school a kind and friendly place. When we work together, we can really make a difference!

To learn more about what parents can do to support their children click here: https://www.pacer.org/bullying/parents/helping-your-child.asp

If you have any concerns about bullying behaviors during the school year, please contact your child's school counselor.

To register, please visit the Arbiter Sports website at: https://arbiter.io/

Be sure to select Highland Park Middle School and the correct sport.

Please note that a current qualifying sports physical is required for participation. If your student does not have an up-to-date physical on file, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible to avoid delays in eligibility. A copy of the sports physical paperwork is attached.

Please contact highlandmsathletics@spps.org with any questions.

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

11/24/25 8:00am

1/12/26 8:00am

2/9/26 8:00am

3/16/26 8:00am

4/20/26 6:00pm

5/18/26 6:00pm

Know your child's Grade Level Norms & Practices and review them together!

Last week we met with each grade level (6th, 7th, and 8th) to go over a set of slides that establish shared norms, expectations, and practices for our school community. 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

Do you want to give your child the opportunity of a lifetime?

Highland Park Middle School is excited to continue a tradition of more than 20 years: a 4-day educational study program in Washington, D.C. This unique learning experience brings American history to life for our 8th grade students through on-site, interactive exploration.

We are currently getting ready for our current 7th graders to travel in 2027 (during 8th grade). Students will learn more next week in their American History classes.

What makes this trip special?

• Visit national treasures that bring democracy and sacrifice to life—from the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress to Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard—leaving students with unforgettable memories of our nation’s core institutions.
• Explore diverse cultures through the stories told at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Museum of the American Indian, and the Holocaust Museum—broadening perspectives and deepening empathy.
• Analyze pivotal historic events, turning points, and heroes, using Washington, D.C. and Virginia as their classroom—from presidential memorials to Mount Vernon and Ford’s Theatre—helping students connect with defining moments and the people who shaped them.
• Gain a deeper understanding of America’s history and future as students encounter the Smithsonian museums, war memorials, and monuments—emerging with insight into the impact of choices and their own role in shaping what comes next.

Virtual Family Information Session (via Zoom)
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

RSVP at: https://rsvp.efexploreamerica.com/mny387f

RSVP to receive the Zoom link for the meeting. If you can’t attend the session, use the same link to let us know you are interested so we can follow up with more information

For questions, please contact:
Kristin King
📞 (651)-293-8950
📧 kristin.king@spps.org

**DC 2026 Families**

8th grade students traveling in 2026 should have received a manilla envelope with important forms and information. Envelopes were distributed during Foundations on Friday 10/3. Reach out if you have any questions. kristin.king@spps.org

Dear Flipside Families,

We’re now going into Week 3 of Flipside, and it’s been a joy to see students engaged and excited about their classes. Most students have been assigned and settled into their classes—some have already made switches—and we hope everyone is enjoying what they’re learning. We’re truly grateful they’re here. Their energy and enthusiasm are what make Flipside such a vibrant and successful program. Seeing them each day is a highlight!

🚍 Transportation Updates

All bus assignments have been finalized (unless you registered within the last few days).

• If you requested transportation and haven’t received details, please reach out.

• If you did not request a bus, one was not assigned.

🕒 Early Pick-Up Info

If you need to pick up your student early and no one is in the office, feel free to call or text Ms. Nikol at 651-420-0134. This is her work cell, and she has it with her throughout the program.

🎨 Still Interested in Joining Flipside?

We’d love to welcome more students! While many classes are full, we still have space in some exciting options:

• The Root Squad -A hands-on gardening class where students learn to propagate plants, grow from seeds, and design their own gardens.

• Studio Spark: A Maker Space for Creative Minds -A dynamic art class combining fabric art, painting, drawing, and open-ended creative projects.

• Breakthrough Mentorship and Planning for Success -Students explore the Breakthrough program, build academic skills, and learn strategies to excel in school and homework.

There are a few other fun classes available as well. You can register using the link below. Please note: busing can take up to two weeks to establish stops, so students needing transportation will need to wait for a bus assignment or arrange their own ride before starting. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUVAtNDh8IjyMUQc-nmltw4aDsDqBC_5GWmamVFeUMn3-Tfw/viewform?usp=dialog

Thank you for your patience as we settle into the new season. We appreciate your support—and most of all, your amazing students!

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.

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