Razorback Rooter 25-26
Summer Edition
November/December 2025
Principal's Post
Parents-
The holiday season is upon us and we have so many wonderful events and service learning projects this season. We look forward to seeing you during Thanksgiving and Christmas lunch as well as our Winter Music performances.
While we do have a lot of fun planned in learning, we also have progress monitoring coming up to ensure our school is on track to meeting proficiency and learning gain goals. Please ensure a good nights sleep ahead of testing and provide plenty of encouragement so we can see exactly where our Razorback's are performing. A special super secret treat will be provided for our students already at or above proficiency once testing is finished. Please reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor should you have any questions.
Stay up to date on "all the things" happening at Hiland Park by making sure your information is updated in Parent Portal as our teachers will be reaching out via Parent Portal Messenger, Phone, Email, or Snail Mail. :)
Ilea Faircloth
Principal
Heather Barton
Assistant Principal
Amber Corum
Dean
School Improvement
School Improvement Plan
Hiland Park Elementary is committed to excellence. Each year we revise and update our school improvement plan, you can access all of our plans through the Florida School Improvement Website, CIMS. Here is a link to our Hiland Park CIMS page.
School Report Card
As a parent, you may be interested in our school-wide data. At Hiland Park, we are monitoring progress and are eager to move forward. Please find our Hiland Park School Report Card here.
Curriculum & State Standards
Florida Standards
Standards are what teacher's teach in the classroom. We teach the Florida B.E.S.T. Standards. If you'd like to see the grade level expectations for what students should know and be able to do you may access them here.
Curriculum
Parents can access all curriculum through BDS Launchpad. Curriculum is the vehicle through which we teacher your student the Florida BEST Standards. Just navigate to your child's "Backpack" for access to materials.
Assessments and Progress Monitoring
State Assessments
Progress monitoring assessments, achievement levels, and how they are used to measure their child’s progress. CLICK HERE
Monitoring Progress
We look forward to continuing to provide Title 1 events this school year- Mark your calendars by adding dates for our one-pager below (also being sent home in your child's backpack once school begins.
Parent Involvement in Student Learning
How can you support at home?
All students have "takehome folders" as our parent-home connection. :) Please check them EACH NIGHT.
Many have asked for more information about how to support their child at home and ways to implement the same digital resources that we use at school while their Razorbacks are home. iReady is a great program that we use at school that can also be used at home!
Check out this Parent's Guide to iReady to learn more ways to use iReady at home to support your child's learning.
School Information
Welcome to Hiland Park Elementary School.
We are excited to have you as part of our school family and encourage you to join us by becoming actively involved in creating a positive learning environment and celebrating our success along the way. There are opportunities in which you may become involved: PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), SAC (School Advisory Council) or becoming a room parent (contact your child's teacher if you are interested). Contact administration if you are interested in joining PTO or SAC- faircim@bay.k12.fl.us
Our Mission
We at Hiland Park Elementary School will develop the whole child by empowering leaders and creating an atmosphere of excellence and happiness.
Our Vision
Hiland Park Elementary will prepare lifelong learners to be productive members of society and to own the future.
Morning Arrival Procedures
Morning Arrival
Gates open at 7:05 a.m.
First Bell: 7:25 a.m. Gates Close.
Tardy Bell, Class Begins: 7:30 a.m.
Carline (Parent Dropoff/Pickup):
We strongly encourage all parents to use the car loop (in the back of the school off Selma/Alamo) for morning drop-off. Razorbacks should have their backpack in their lap and if possible be on the passenger side of the vehicle closest to the school. Our friendly staff (and soon-to-be student leaders-our safety patrol) will be standing along the car loop to greet your Razorback. Please pull your vehicle up all the way to the farthest available open zones for us to unload your students. YOU MUST REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. If you need to get out of your vehicle for any reason- you'll need to do so in the front office parking lot then get back in the carline (no office drop-offs). This makes our drop-off line quick, efficient, and safe. :)
Baldwin Road Crosswalk Gate:
For our students who walk to school, our Baldwin Road crosswalk gate is available for student entry only. Our ASD and Prek students will also use the Baldwin Gate for a hand-to-hand exchange for your children's safety. If you are using the Baldwin Road Crosswalk Gate you will not be able to park alongside Baldwin Road or park in staff parking to unload students. You should also NEVER LET STUDENTS OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON BALDWIN ROAD- if you aren't walking your student(s) to the gate, you should be using the parent dropoff/pickup carline. Beginning in early 2023, we began using the parking lot of Hiland Park First United Methodist. This is a HUGE relief to the traffic situation and safety concerns along Baldwin Road. We partner with the Bay County Sheriff's Office who help enforce it.
Once on campus, your Razorback is invited to pick up free breakfast in the cafeteria (available free this school year only) and then report to their waiting areas.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
Afternoon Dismissal
Car Loop:
We strongly encourage all parents to use the car loop (off Selma/Alamo) for afternoon pick-up. Dismissal time is 2:00 for ALL students. This is mandatory in order to comply with Florida state requirements for instructional minutes. We will be finished loading cars by 2:20 every day, so if you arrive at 2:10, you will not have to wait any longer than 18 minutes.
For those of you new to the car line, WELCOME! For the safety of all involved, DO NOT exit your vehicle as a staff member will bring your student to the car. We also ask you keep pulling all the way forward. :) Please note: if you need to help your student buckle or get situated, we invite you to pull out of the carline into a parking spot. :)
In order to pick-up your child in the car loop, you MUST have a car tag for the 25-26 school year. If you do not, you will be asked to pull around to the office to confirm through your ID and Parent Portal information. Please see the front office for a duplicate or replacement tag. Please do not be upset with us for asking for you to go to the office if you don't have your tag- we only want to ensure we give you the right kid and keep all of our Razorback's safe. :)
We have implemented Right Turn Only from 2:00-2:20pm and it has cut down our dismissal tremendously! We range from finishing between 2:15 and 2:25 with dismissing 700ish students. (the first few days of school will take longer as we are all learning the routine from parents, to teachers and students.) Please be patient- we will get quicker with safety first.
Please do not park or block our neighbors or the sidewalk. Safety is first here at Hiland Park and our walkers need that space to be safe.
Baldwin Road Gate "Walkers, PreK and ASD" ONLY:
Safety is our number one priority and so we are making some adjustments to ensure the safety of all of our students. Parents may not walk up to the gate in the afternoon, they must stay across the road. The gate on Baldwin with our crossing guard is for Prek and ASD parent walk-ups only that require a hand-to-hand transition. These parents are invited to use our parking lot thanks to our partners at Hiland Park United Methodist Church and the Bay District School Board. Parents of other students must remain across the street if they choose to be present to walk home with their child(ren) as this gate is designed for students who walk home and do not have access to bus transportation. Parents of any PreK-5 students who are not Prek and not ASD may not cross Baldwin for pick up. Parents must use the Parent Parking lot across the street at Hiland Park United Methodist Church.
Again- the Baldwin Road walker gate is for students to walk through at dismissal who WALK HOME AND HAVE NO BUS TRANSPORTATION. These students will be dismissed through the gate and safely walked across Baldwin Road by our crossing guard. All other students should be picked up through the carline (unless BayBase, Bus, or Daycare Van). No supervision is provided as students using this gate should be walking home.
Parents are still welcome to use the parking lot and walk their child(ren) up to the gate in the morning.
Thank you for understanding and being supportive of us putting the safety of our Razorbacks first.
Thank you all for your patience as we fine-tune our dismissal system to ensure the safety of each and every one of our Razorbacks!
Communication
You may call the school, email us, or message us directly through Parent Portal. This is the only way to communicate with your child's teacher, school counselor, or administration.
Please make sure you have updated your Parent Portal with the very latest contact information and keep it up to date. Our Link Alert System can be an emergency alert, but in most cases, it is used as a form of communicating with you. Please take the time to listen to the alert because important, upcoming events and information you need to know will be delivered via LINK Alert. We also send out fliers and other information both BDS and school via Peachjar. It will be sent out via emails listed in Focus.
Our Facebook has our Events Calendar linked for you to view the entire school year now (it is also at the bottom of this newsletter). The BDS App is a great way to stay connected. It sends daily and weekly reminders to your phone for our school events and activities.
If you don't have access to a computer or need assistance with Parent Portal, we have a computer in our lobby available for you to make updates and a parent liaison who is happy to help!
You may contact your child(ren)'s teacher/administration through Parent Portal, phone call, or email. Our school's policy is we will return your message, email, phone call between 24-48 hours.
Pancare Medical Services
Bay District Schools has partnered with PanCare to provide medical care and monitoring for our students. Services are basically the same as always, but the form that is required has changed. We are required by law to have this signed form on file before we can provide first aid and emergency care for your child, and we must have it to complete grade specific health screenings. All forms are available in Parent Portal and should be pushed out electronically.
So, to make sure we can put Band Aids on boo boos and take care of all of the other important stuff that comes up during a school day, PLEASE complete all forms in Parent Portal.
If you need assistance with the online forms, one of our fabulous front office folks will be glad to help OR you can call our Student Services Department at 850-767-4311.
BDS Dress Code and Student Code of Conduct
Dress Code
Hiland Park Elementary adheres to the BDS Dress Code. Click here for the BDS Dress Code Policy
The colors for Hiland Park are garnet, gold, and your child’s assigned house. IE: students in Altruimo may wear Black, students in Amistad may wear Red, students in Reveur may wear Royal Blue, and students in Isibindi may wear Green. Students may also wear colors from the standard BDS color pallette.
Parents always want to know the official shades of these colors and they are:
Garnet: #782F40
Gold:#CEB888 (or yellow #FFFF00)
White:#FFFFFF
Your child’s house color:
Black: #000000
Red: #BD0032
Green: #009D4F
Blue.#0047BA
Parents are encouraged to purchase, from the school, official school or class t-shirts.
Student Code of Conduct
Chaperones/Volunteer Information
To ensure the safety of our students and compliance with state regulations, Bay District Schools
requires that all Chaperones & Volunteers undergo a Level 2 background screening and receive
clearance before being approved to attend school events or travel with students.
🔷 For Parents/Guardians
If you are interested in chaperoning a field trip:
1. Do NOT Pay for the Trip Yet
○ Please wait to pay any chaperone field trip fees until your fingerprinting is completed
and you are officially cleared to chaperone.
○ This avoids potential financial loss if you are not approved. Please note that
determining eligibility can take 30-60 days; therefore, pre-planning is essential.
○ Chaperones & Volunteers are required to have a signed principal signature form prior
to fingerprinting.
2. Get Fingerprinted at the Correct Location
○ All chaperones must complete a Level 2 background screening at the Bay District
Schools Safety & Security Office:
📍 520 School Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401
📅 School Year: Open Monday–Friday | ⏰ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📅 Summer: Open Monday–Thursday | ⏰ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
💵 Cost: $85 for Volunteers and Chaperones
💳 Badges are included in the cost when fingerprinting is completed at the district site.
3. Avoid Outside Fingerprinting Services
○ You may use an outside agency only with prior approval from the BDS Safety &
Security Fingerprinting Office.
○ Outside services often cost more, and you may still have to pay additional fees to
receive your respective BDS badge.
4. Contact the Fingerprinting Office Before Proceeding
○ Before booking with any outside provider or making special arrangements, call the
Fingerprinting Office at (850) 767-1670 for instructions.
The safety of our students is our top priority, and we appreciate both your interest in
volunteering and your careful adherence to our policies and procedures.
Upcoming Events
Stay Connected
All teachers and administrators use Parent Portal to communicate with parents. Please make sure that you have created an account. Contact your child's teacher for more information or to set up arrangements for hard copies of newsletters.
Email: faircim@bay.k12.fl.us
Website: bayschools.com/hpe/Home.aspx
Location: 2507 East Baldwin Road, Panama City, FL, USA
Phone: (850)767-4685
Facebook: facebook.com/razorbacksleadtheway
Twitter: @HilandParkElem