Highland Highlights - Jan. 2026

Happy 2026! I hope that everyone had a great Winter Break.

We've got a lot to look forward to in the coming months. The second semester always packs so much into so little time, whether it be multiple sports seasons, productions, award ceremonies, graduation, concerts, and more. I'm very excited, and I hope you are too.

In this newsletter, we'll recap the last few weeks in December and let you know what's going on in the next month.

In this admin update, I reflect on the past and encourage everyone to come out and support our schools and students at one of the many events we have going on in the second semester.

The talented students of Merkley, Southridge, HMS, and HHS performed in winter concerts right before leaving for break. Monbeck Auditorium was filled with singing and instruments throughout December, and we had incredible community support. Johnston and Warren will perform their concerts in the Spring!

• January 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m. - School Board Meeting (at the Administration Building)
• January 19, 2026 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
• January 30, 2026, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. - HHS Student Council Spaghetti Dinner (purchase tickets here!)

Here's an important reminder -

Food Services:

Starting this semester, change will no longer be given if students pay with cash in the food line. Instead, the change will be deposited into the students' Mealtime account for future use. This change was implemented for efficiency reasons, giving more time for students to eat their lunch, talk with friends at the lunch table, and get back to class on time. Parents can request refunds of this Mealtime balance through the Food Services Department.

Last school year, Highland High School was involved in AP TIP-IN, a program sponsored by the University of Notre Dame that offers extra resources for AP Exams and even cash rewards for students that score a 3 or higher!

Not only will those students that scored highly on AP Exams last year potentially receive college credit, but they also got some spending money to congratulate them on their hard work.

HHS Assistant Principal Mr. Andy Locke and I went around the week before break to deliver these checks. There were nearly 50 students who got some extra money to spend before the Holidays. We are very #HighlandProud of their academic success!

Art students at HHS recently participated in an exhibit at Promise You Art House right here in Highland. We were joined by other neighboring school districts, and it was truly impressive seeing what all the students created. Check out some pictures below!

Here's a roundup of some of our favorite social media posts from the last month, just in case you missed it!

In preparation for the holiday season, Johnston staff and students decorated their classroom doors! Make sure you expand the pictures to see their great work.