Highland Family Notes

• The first day of school is Monday, August 31.

• Drop off begins at 9:10am. School begins at 9:15 a.m. and dismissal time is 4:08 p.m.

• Any busing questions should be addressed to the HVS Transportation Department @ (248) 684-8200.

9:10: Drop Off Begins

9:15: School Begins

4:08: Dismissal

Please note dismissal times for early release and half days below:

The online back to school process must be completed for each student. This will streamline the paperwork that you are used to filling out each year. It is very important to make sure you review your emergency contacts (any person that you give permission to pick your child up either at the end of the day or in case of an emergency) and make sure they are in the system correctly so that we are able to contact someone in case of an emergency.

• We serve both breakfast and lunch that are free for students, however please still complete the Free & Reduced application! This is how we get important Title 1 funding for funding for our school.

• Apply online: https://www.hvs.org/page/food-service-department

• Breakfast will be served to any students who wish to participate in the classroom at the start of their school day. Students will have an opportunity to eat breakfast during the beginning of class while their teachers take attendance, collect homework or begin lessons as usual. Breakfast will be delivered to the classrooms

As a staff, we take our responsibility to keep our Highland Elementary community safe very seriously. Please know that every decision is made carefully, thoughtfully, and with safety as our top priority every single day. It takes all of us to maintain safe and secure drop off and pick up zones for our students, staff, bus drivers, and families. Please read the procedures carefully and do your part to partner with us to keep everyone safe.

BUS

If it works for your family, bus transportation is highly recommended. It is the most streamlined and efficient way for students to enter and exit the building. The bus loop will be in the front of school. No cars, at any time should be attempting to navigate through the bus loop from 9:00am-9:20am and again from 3:55pm-4:15pm. The side access point that connects the front and back parking lots is closed during arrival and dismissal. No parents or visitors will be able to wait for any reason in our bus pick up zone as it is a serious safety concern to have adults mixing with our students at this busy time. The Transportation Department will post your child’s bus information in Skyward Family Access. This information will include bus route numbers along with the locations and times for pick ups and drop offs. You can find the information on the Student Information Tab of your child’s account. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact transportation at 684-8200. It will be extremely helpful for your child to ride the bus on the first few days of school. This helps transportation firmly establish bus routes and gives them more accurate counts.

WALKERS

We will have a crossing guard from the township stationed at W. Livingston Rd. onto the front of our school property. Please help your child time their walk so they do not arrive to school before 9:10am since there is not supervision for them until that time. If students arrive early, they will wait at the bike rack, since it is within sound and sight range of the crossing guard. At 9:10am, students will be signaled that it is time to enter the building as they see staff open the doors and students are released off of buses. Kindergarten and 4th grade walkers will enter at Door A4. 1st, 3rd, 2nd, and 5th grade walkers will enter at Door A6. If an adult walks their child to school, we ask that you stop and wait at the bike rack as well as part of our safety protocols to maintain a secure bus loop.

PARENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP

If you are picking up your child, you must get in the parent pick up line that begins off of N. John St. It will not be possible to park, walk across the car line, and find your student in the pick up lines. This poses a safety concern for so many reasons. We know waiting in the car line is not fun for anyone, but it is safest for our students, our staff, our families that are in cars, and you. If our staff sees that you park and walk up to get your child from the pick up line, they will politely redirect you back to your car and you will have to join the pick up line at the end. We must maintain a secure pick up area for our students and we need your help in doing so.

GOLF CARTS

HVS policy prohibits personal ATVs and golf carts on school property. Per the Oakland County Sheriff's Office golf carts are not permitted on township roads as well.

EARLY PICK UP CALLS

If you need to pick your child up early, please park in a parking spot, walk into the main office, and our staff will call down to your child's classroom. We will not have students begin packing up or ask them to come down to the office until you are physically in the office. Too many times students have been called down early because their ride took longer than expected and they ended up needlessly missing valuable instruction time. Please refrain from pulling up in front of the main entrance and not parking in a spot. While school is in session, we MUST keep the loop clear at all times for emergency vehicles and buses.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL MAP

*Subject to change pending gas station construction

Just a reminder that all public schools, including Highland Elementary are alcohol, drug, smoking, and weapon free school zones. This includes our parking lots.

• PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES: Cell phones & smart watches are allowed in school. However, in order to ensure that these devices are not a distraction and do not encroach on safety and security, we do have Board Policy governing usage. Here at Highland, and in conjunction with Board Policy the following applies:

• Smart Watches may be worn throughout the day but should only be used for accessing the time and date.

• Texting between phones and/or watches (or other PCDs) from student to student during school hours is not permitted.

• During school hours, any phone calls (outgoing or incoming) should be made through the office only. This is to ensure safety and clear lines of communication for our staff and parents.

• At no time during the school day should cell phones and/or smart watches be used to take pictures, record audio, or record video of others.

• Unless permitted by the teacher, students should refrain from accessing the internet during the school day on PCD’s.

A more detailed explanation on PCD usage can be found in Board Policy 5136: https://www.hvs.org/page/board-policy-cell-phone.

If your child has a phone, please talk to him/her about appropriate usage at school. To simplify the conversation, have them think of a smart watch as a cell phone on the wrist. All of the same expectations that come with having a cell phone at school hold true for smart watches.

Monday, August 31:

Half day sessions attended by parents/guardians and students. Transportation is not provided.

Session A: Last Names A-L (parents and students) will attend 9:30 am to 12:00 pm

Session B: Last Names M-Z (parents and students) will attend 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

There is no busing for JK/Kindergarten students on this day to or from school.

Tuesday, September 1:

Full day for Session A (students with last names A-L). School hours are 9:15am - 4:08pm. Bus transportation is provided both ways for students. (Students whose last names begin with M-Z do not attend school.)

Wednesday, September 2:

Full day for Session B (students with last names that begin with M-Z). School hours are 9:15am - 4:08pm. Bus transportation is provided both ways for students. (Students whose last names begin with A-L do not attend school.)

Thursday, September 3:

Full day for JK/Kindergarten students. All students, all day, 9:15am - 4:08pm. Transportation provided.

AUGUST 26

Back to School Open House 3-4pm

Popsicles on the Playground 4-5pm

AUGUST 31

First Day of School

SEPTEMBER 4-7

No School Labor Day Holiday

SEPTEMBER 10

Title 1/Curriculum Night

Title 1 Family Meeting: 5:30-6:00pm

Curriculum Sessions 6:00-6:25pm and 6:30-6:55pm

SEPTEMBER 17

Picture Day

Constitution Day

OCTOBER 6

Early Release 2:37pm

OCTOBER 9

Fun Run (Spectators Welcome)

OCTOBER 30

9:50am: Halloween Parade

Half Day 12:40 Dismissal

NOVEMBER 3

No School for Students

NOVEMBER 4

Picture Retake Day

NOVEMBER 5 and 10

Parent/Teacher Conferences

NOVEMBER 25-27

Thanksgiving Break

DECEMBER 8

Early Release 2:37pm

DECEMBER 21-31

Winter Break

FEBRUARY 15-16

Winter Break

MARCH 26-APRIL 1

Spring Break

JUNE 10

Last Day of School

There will be some supplies at the Open House that students may take if they would like.

Health Plan of Care Forms:
Plan of Care forms can be obtained by visiting our HVS' Health & Wellness page. If you have questions regarding the completion of the Plan of Care, please feel free to contact Student Support Services at 248-684-8236 to assist in the administration of these document. All health plans expire at the close of the current school year and a new authorized health plan must be submitted prior to the start of each school year.

Medication: If your child requires medication, prescription or non-prescription, during school hours, the school must have consent from a doctor. Please visit the Health and Wellness page, to access the appropriate form for your child's needs. District personnel cannot accept medication or administer medication without documentation from a physician.

Medical Conditions: In addition to administration of medication, some students require a health plan to provide optimal support for medical concerns such as asthma, allergies, seizures, etc. If your child requires a health plan, please visit the Health and Wellness page, to access the appropriate form for your child's needs. Once completed and signed by the physician, please provide the form to your child's school.

To help keep all students, including those with allergies safe, please do not send food-based birthday treats to school. Our teachers will still make sure every child feels special on their big day! If you’d like to celebrate with the class, non-food items like stickers, pencils, or donating a book to the classroom library are great options.

Please confirm with our office that we have the most current custody records on file prior to school beginning.

Although conference dates are scheduled for November, teachers are open to meet with parents/guardians face to face upon request.

Email: HighlandHEPTO@gmail.com

HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY:

Principal: Patricia Campbell

PBIS Building Coordinator: Jason Rehnlund

Social Workers: Sally Hartz, Paris Partee

School Psychologist: Breanna Lenhardt

MAIN OFFICE PHONE NUMBER:

(248) 684-8070
Attendance: (248) 684-8071

ADDRESS:

300 W. Livingston Rd

Highland, MI 48357

HURON VALLEY SCHOOLS

CENTRAL OFFICE:

2390 S. Milford Rd.

Highland, MI 48357

(248) 684-8000