The Scot's Scoop

Archived family newsletters for 2025-2026

Monday, February 16: No School - President's Day Holiday

Tuesday, February 17 (A day)

Wednesday, February 18 (B day)

Thursday, February 19 (A day)

Friday, February 20 (B day)

• 6th grade field trip to Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Monday, February 23 (A day): National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) celebration
Schedule of the day:

• 8:45-9:45 Breakfast and speakers (in library)
• 9:54 -10:34 Family classroom visits
• 10:38- 11:45 Student performances in auditorium
• 11:50 - 12:30 lunch for families in the library

*1st and 2nd period teachers will not have virtual time with students on this day.

Tuesday, February 24 (B day)

Wednesday, February 25 (A day)

Thursday, February 26 (B day)

Friday, February 27 (A day)

Monday, March 2 (B day)

Tuesday, March 3 (A day)

Wednesday, March 4 (B day)

Thursday, March 5 (A day):

• 4:00-7:00pm Family-teacher conferences

Friday, March 6 (B 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.

Dear Highland Families,

It has been an incredibly high-energy week here at Highland Middle School! From national travels to local triumphs, our students continue to represent our community with excellence. Here are a few important updates for the weeks ahead:

D.C. Trip Update

I am thrilled to share that 90 of our Highland Middle students have safely arrived in Washington, D.C., for our annual flagship trip! This is a milestone experience for our students, and we look forward to hearing their stories and seeing the history they discover firsthand.

Debate Team Success

Our Highland Debate Team put in fantastic work this week! Their dedication to critical thinking and public speaking is truly paying off. We are especially proud to share that Highland now hosts one of the largest debate teams in the state. Shout out to the team, and more to come on their achievements!

National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID)

Please join us on Monday, February 23, for NAAPID. Our Black Student Union (BSU) has been working hard to put together a series of performances and presentations to celebrate the day.

• Details: Please see the agenda below for the full schedule of events.

• Schedule of the day:
  

  • 8:45-9:45 Breakfast and speakers (in library)
  • 9:54 -10:34 Family classroom visits
  • 10:38- 11:45 Student performances in the auditorium
  • 11:50 - 12:30 lunch for families in the library

• RSVP: If you plan to attend, please Complete the RSVP Here. This helps us immensely with food orders and logistical planning.

Spring Conferences: March 5th

Following our last Family Communication Connection (FCC) meeting, I am happy to provide more details regarding our upcoming Spring Conferences.

• When: Thursday, March 5th | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

• Format: Families may choose to attend in-person or virtually.

• Appointments: All sessions will be by appointment only to ensure every family has dedicated time with teachers.

• Registration: You will receive a follow-up email with specific instructions on how to book your time slots by Wednesday, February 18.

Parent Volunteers:

Finally, thank you for your ongoing partnership and for making Highland such a wonderful and safe place for our students to learn and grow. I want to give a special shout out to all of our parent volunteers who continue to organize and support our community during these challenging times. You may not hear it, but we are so appreciative of you, and our children and staff feel safer because of YOU, so thank you!

Highland families are the special ingredient that make our community thrive!

Warmly,

Hibaq Mohamed

GAME SCHEDULE:

Monday, February 2: 4:30pm Boys basketball HPMS vs Global Arts Plus at HPMS

Monday, February 9: 4:00pm Boys basketball vs Humboldt at Humboldt

Tuesday, February 17: 4:00pm Boys basketball vs Washington Middle at HPMS

Wednesday, February 25: 4:30pm Boys basketball vs Battle Creek Middle at HPMS

Monday, March 2: 4:00pm Boys basketball vs Murray Middle at Murray Middle

Please refer to the district athletic site for the most up to date game schedule information.

Athletic Events Visitor Policy

Purpose:
To ensure a safe, positive, and family‑friendly environment at all athletic events.

1. Supervision Requirement

• All visitors under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult for the entire duration of the event.
• Unaccompanied minors will not be permitted to enter the facility.

2. Behavior Expectations

• All attendees are expected to behave respectfully toward participants, staff, officials, and other spectators.
• Disruptive, unsafe, or inappropriate behavior may result in removal from the event without refund.

3. Entry & Identification

• Event staff may request proof of age or identification when a visitor appears to be under 18 years old.
• Adults accompanying minors may also be asked to verify guardianship or responsibility.

4. Re‑Entry Policy

• Re‑entry is subject to event rules. Minors may only leave and re‑enter if accompanied by their supervising adult.

5. Enforcement

• Event staff, school personnel, and security reserve the right to enforce all policies.
• Failure to comply with this policy may result in denied entry or removal from the premises.

Registration for Spring Athletics began on February 2nd. All students interested in participating in BADMINTON, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, or TRACK must be registered by 3:00 pm on Friday, March 27th. No late registrations will be accepted.

Grade 7 and grade 8 students are eligible to participate in the following Highland Park Senior High sports:

• Boys Golf
• Girls Golf
• Clay Target
• Boys Volleyball
• Boys Tennis

The registration process is through Arbiter Sports. Be sure to choose St. Paul Highland Park Senior High.

In addition, Lacrosse is available through Central High School. Lacrosse registration is only available through St. Paul Central High School's registration form. Only one account is needed for the entire family.

If you have questions regarding senior high athletics, please contact the Highland Park MS Assistant Athletic Director, Duggan Parks at 651-744-5822 or duggan.parks@spps.org.

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

Be sure to select Highland Park Middle School and the correct sport. If you need assistance with the website registration, please contact Arbiter Support for Families at registration@arbitersports.com or 800-311-4060.

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.

Please contact highlandmsathletics@spps.org with any questions.

Outside food or drinks from establishments/restaurants are NOT permitted in Highland Park Middle School. In addition, food and drinks from, or brought to students, from establishments and food services (e.g. restaurants, DoorDash) are NOT permitted. Students may bring a beverage bottle, such as a water bottle, and bag lunch from home. Sodas are not permitted at school.

Looking for some activities for your middle schooler to keep them busy this summer? Check out these FREE summer activities, sponsored in partnership with the University of Minnesota.

Food, Agriculture and Learning (June 22-26)

Food and Plant Science Lab (June 15-18)

Ecosystems of STEM (multiple dates)

HPMS Donation link: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/support-our-highland-park-middle-school-community/items

Food pantry request: https://forms.gle/ZKR7TBNsugFZEKjd7

Enlace para donaciones a HPMS:

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/support-our-highland-park-middle-school-community/items

Solicitud de despensa de alimentos: https://forms.gle/ZKR7TBNsugFZEKjd7

ACCESS Testing for EL students at Highland Park Middle School began February 4th, 2026. Please use the links below to find important information about this test:

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (English)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Spanish)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Somali)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Hmong)

Family Announcement Letter - ACCESS Testing (Karen)

We have an open science teacher position. If you are interested in applying for this position, please do so through the standard portal on the Careers webpage: https://www.spps.org/about/departments/human-resources/careers

Position Details

Teacher - Science Jr High position with Spanish being preferred. Job ID# 1022205.

Dear Flipside Families, Students, and Staff,

We have rescheduled our Family Showcase Nights, and we are excited to share the updated dates with you. Our students have been working incredibly hard, and we want to ensure their performances are celebrated in a way that brings our community together.

✨ Updated Family Showcase Information

• Family Showcase Nights:

• February 25 from 3:45–5:00 p.m.
• February 26 from 3:45–5:00 p.m.

• Theater Performance

• The Theater class will present their full production on February 25 from 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Program Updates

• Winter/Spring Session Has Begun
Students who are currently enrolled may continue in their classes or request a class change, depending on availability.
If a student is not currently in Flipside but would like to join, they are still welcome to register. I will include the registration link below.

Registration link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbrgVNwfWsUi9PNw4-hVATplmSKpAMSgSudXnU01UMBD9Nmw/viewform

• Family Take‑Home Kits & Virtual Learning Options
An email was sent to all families whose students are currently participating in virtual learning. We are actively assembling the take‑home kits and will work on getting them to families as soon as they are ready.

I want all of our families, staff, and students to know how deeply I appreciate you. You are in my thoughts every day. Flipside is built on belonging, and each one of you is an essential part of our community. Please know you can always reach out if you need anything—I may not have all the answers, but I will work on finding them out, and I truly appreciate your patience as we prioritize everyone’s safety and well‑being.

Thank you for being the heart of Flipside.

Warmly,
Ms. Nikol

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

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 - Slides presentation from 10/27/25 FCC meeting

11/24/25 8:00am - Slides presentation from 11/24/25 FCC meeting

1/12/26 8:00am - Slides presentation from 1/12/26 FCC meeting

2/9/26 8:00am - Slides presentation from 2/9/26 FCC meeting

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!

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

Families are encouraged to monitor their student’s clothing selections to make sure they are appropriately dressed for cold weather. Students who do not have the appropriate winter clothing will not be able to participate in outdoor recess.

Per the district clothing guidelines for winter weather, below you will find the "feels like" temperature and clothing appropriate for it:

Under 15 degrees to 30 degrees: Dress in layers

All SPPS students in grades K-12 use an iPad app called Xello to create their Personal Learning Plans (PLP). The app helps students identify their strengths and interests, plan for the future, and explore different careers.

Parents can view the activities and plans their students are working on in class and with counselors though Xello Family. Parents and guardians should have received an email from Xello to activate your Xello Family account on Friday, January 9.

Your Xello Family account will automatically connect you to your student’s Xello accounts when you log in. Visit https://www.spps.org/academics/college-and-career-readiness/xello-family for more information about the program.

If you did not receive an email from Xello to set up an account or need assistance, please contact your child’s school counselor:

Grade 6-Elisabeth Mulvaney 651-744-3399 elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org

Grade 7-Danielle Seifert 651-744-7582 danielle.seifert@spps.org

Grade 8-Nou Katzmarek 651-744-3400 nou.katzmarek@spps.org

As winter weather sets in, bus routes may experience delays or changes.

Here’s how to quickly check if your student’s bus is running late.

Download the 'Versatrans My Stop' app to your mobile phone in the Apple Store or Google Play. My Stop login information is available in Campus Parent.

Log in to Campus Parent and click on the student’s name you would like to look up. Then click “More” in the left-hand menu and then click “Transportation” to see all of your student bus information, including your My Stop login information. Watch the Transportation Video Tutorial to learn how to look up your student's transportation/bus information, including how parents and guardians can find their My Stop account username and password in Campus Parent.

Dear Highland Families,

At Highland, it is essential that learning expectations for students are clear and achievable. While we shared this information during opening week and FCC meetings, we would like to reshare the changes to the way we evaluate students’ academic progress this school year, as we close out the quarter. Our school is implementing a research-based grading strategy called Standards-Based Learning and Grading. Highland was selected as a pilot site this school year, in preparation for district-wide implementation for all 6-8 schools starting in the fall of 26-27.

This means we are moving towards consistent grading practices across SPPS middle schools, making it easier for students and families to understand student learning and progress. As an MYP school, this isn’t a huge move for us. However, there are a few changes to consider.

Standards-Based Learning and Grading uses a grading scale of 0-4. As MYP, students are graded on an 8-point scale. We’ve created an adjustment that ensures both metrics are honored. The number corresponds with a description of how well a student understands specific content, ranging from “0 - Insufficient Evidence of Proficiency” to “4 - Extending Proficiency”. Please review the Middle School Standards-Based Grading scale we will be using below.

Things to look for:

• All classes at Highland will use the same rubric template to communicate what students have learned.

• Teachers will use improved criteria to clearly identify the skills and knowledge students are expected to learn in each content area.

• Students will have a better understanding of what content they know and areas where they need additional support.

• Students will have multiple opportunities to improve and demonstrate their learning by retaking assessments. Our goal is to help students recognize their growth.

• Students' grades will be based on 20% formative (homework, classroom practice, etc) and 80% summative (final projects, examination, etc). * See the PowerPoint linked below for more details.

During our FCC Meeting on October 27, Andrew Bacskai, the MYP coordinator, went over this with families. Please see this PowerPoint from the last FCC meeting for more details, or set up a meeting with our MYP coordinator, Mr. Bacskai, at Andrew.Bacskai@spps.org or email individual teachers if you have questions about specific rubrics.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to your students’ learning throughout this school year.

Sincerely,

Hibaq Mohamed, Principal

Registration is now open for the 2027 Washington, D.C. trip!
Seventh-grade families can now sign up their students for this unforgettable educational experience—exploring our nation’s history, visiting iconic landmarks, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Don’t miss out! Learn more and register today at highlandms.spps.org/activities/washington-dc-field-trip.

Breakthrough Twin Cities (BTC) is a six-year, tuition-free academic enrichment and college preparatory program that helps students prepare for college success. Breakthrough supports 6th graders on their journey to college with an awesome summer program, school year advisor support and college counseling.

To apply, please visit the online application here. Early Action Applications are due January 2, 2026. Regular decision deadline is March 20th, 2026.

Have more questions- please contact BTC Program Manager, Simon Lee, at slee@breakthroughtwincities.org.

To have your student attend, please reach out to please contact Elisabeth Mulvaney, HPMS 6th grade counselor at 651-744-3399 or email at elisabeth.mulvaney@spps.org.

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.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. Parents who would like to receive this information should write to the Human Resource Department, Attn: ESSA Teacher Qualifications, Saint Paul Public Schools, 360 Colborne Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102-3299. You have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teacher(s).

• Information about whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching (subjects or content) in which proper certification is held by the teacher.
• Information about whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

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