Highview Happenings
December 12, 2025
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Highview Families,
Happy Fri-YAY! It has been quite the chilly week. As a reminder, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder weather. I encourage you to send your child to school dressed in a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves/mittens.
As a reminder, next week is our Holiday Spirit Week at Highview Elementary School. Please see below for more information on these festive days. Student participation in the spirit days is optional but encouraged. Let's get festive together!
I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful weekend! Hanukkah begins at sunset on Sunday. If you celebrate, I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Hanukkah! We look forward to welcoming our Highview Knights back to school on Monday, December 15.
Sincerely,
Matthew Lutz
Principal
mlutz@nanuetsd.org
Charter Shout-Outs for the Week
On a rotating basis, classroom teachers nominate two students from their classes to receive a Charter Shout-Out. The Charter is a tool that can help us create the positive, supportive social-emotional environments that we know are best for learning. The Charter is like a promise we make to one another, or an agreement. The Charter Shout-Out gives teachers the opportunity to highlight students who embody their classroom charters.
This week, students from the following classes received shout-outs and were recognized over morning announcements: Mrs. Merz (3JM), Ms. MacRobbie (3MR), Mrs. Mitlof (3-4AM), and Mrs. Miller (4CM). Congratulations to Eva (3JM), Jacqueline (3MR), Matthew (3MR), Kim (3-4AM), Bria (4CM), and Jayden (4CM). See their proud picture below!
Principal's Pride
Being the Principal of Highview Elementary School brings me a tremendous amount of joy and pride. I am beyond lucky to be able to work with such incredible students, staff, and families.
This week, I would like to give a SHOUT OUT to our Physical Education Teacher, Ms. Yannuzzi, and the amazing fourth-grade students in classes 4MB and 4TN. During P.E. groups of students had to work together to build a snowman. There was certain criteria and specific constraints that students needed to be mindful of when building their snowman. After familiarizing themselves with the criteria, groups sketched a drawing of their snowman as a plan and then gathered the equipment they needed to build the snowman. The goal of the lesson was to instill a strong sense of collaboration in our students so they know how to work together and compromise to accomplish a task. The students did a wonderful job working together, and I could tell that Ms. Yannuzzi was very proud of their hard work. Bravo, Ms. Yannuzzi and classes 4MB and 4TN!
Holiday Spirit Days 2025
Eat-and-Play Challenge
At the beginning of the year, we launched a monthly Eat-and-Play Challenge for our students. The goal is for classes to work together to follow the Eat-and-Play rules during the lunch/recess periods. They have the opportunity to add a sticker in a square on an incentive chart. The classes with the most stickers at the end of the month get to shop on our FABULOUS prize cart! There will be at least one winner each month in both grade levels.
For the month of September, Mrs. Brooke, Mrs. DeGennaro, and Ms. Kern's classes won the third-grade challenge. Mrs. Collins' class won the fourth-grade challenge. Congratulations classes 3KB, 3PD, 3AK, and 4HC. We look forward to seeing which classes will win for the month of December.
Library Book Character Contest - FINAL POSTING
Ms. Hink, our School Librarian, organized a Book Character Contest for our Highview students. The students were encouraged to create a book character using a toilet paper roll. We had many students participate, and their creations were very unique. A panel of staff judges submitted their votes for the top contenders in the contest. Congratulations to our winners listed below:
- 1st Place - Jayden (4CM)
- 2nd Place - Christian (3JM)
- 3rd Place - Alan (4MB)
- 4th Place - Lara (3MR)
- 5th Place - Mathias (3AK)
Honorable Mention:
- Kylie (4HC)
- Owen (4HC)
- Avery (3KS)
- Victoria (3KS)
🔶 REPEAT REMINDERS 🔶
Affirmations
Take a look at our daily Morning Affirmations that we recite together as a school community. The purpose of this practice is to encourage our students to use positive self-talk to get themselves excited and ready to conquer the day. We want our students to feel empowered and productive at Highview. You are more than welcome to use these at home as well. For the 2025-2026 school year, we revamped the Morning Affirmations so they align with New York State's Portrait of a Graduate. For more information on Portrait of a Graduate, please take a look at the flyer below. Many thanks to Mrs. Laurie Cooney, Grade 4 Teacher, for putting together this at-a-glance reference sheet for Portrait of a Graduate.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
During arrival and dismissal, the safety of our students is our top priority. Please review this document, which outlines our arrival and dismissal procedures for the 2025-2026 school year. We must all work together to ensure the safety of both students and staff during these important blocks of time. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and partnership in following these procedures each day.
Bus Information
As always, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. When riding the bus, students are expected to follow three bus rules:
- Be a good listener.
- Use a quiet voice.
- Stay in your seat at all times.
Please note that NO student in Grades K-4 will be released from the bus without an adult present at the bus stop. This is to ensure the safety of all students.
We will conduct bus safety drills within the first week of school and two other times during the school year. We appreciate your partnership in reiterating these expectations for a safe bus ride. Your child will bring home a bus safety contract during the first week of school. Be sure to review it with your child. Please note that unsafe behavior on the bus will result in a loss of bus privileges at the discretion of Principal Lutz, Assistant Principal Mehu, or their designee(s).
Code of Conduct
The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive and district personnel may deliver quality educational experiences without disruption or interference. We ask that you read and review the 2025-2026 Code of Conduct for Grades K-4 with your child. Our goal is to ensure students are engaged in learning while making positive contributions to our school community.
Digital Backpack
Each week, documents will be loaded to our Digital Backpack, which is linked to the bottom of the Highview homepage. We encourage you to check the Digital Backpack, which is updated every Friday, to ensure you have updated information on important dates, events, and opportunities being offered to students and families.
District Emergency Information Guide
The Nanuet Union Free School District is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors. In the event of an emergency, it is important for parents and guardians to be familiar with the way the District prevents and manages emergencies. The guide linked below outlines key information and terms that are helpful to know in the event of an emergency situation.
Electronic Devices and Valuable Items
Halloween Happenings Pictures
Many thanks to Mrs. Holly Murray for photographing our Halloween Happenings event on Friday, October 24. Please click on the links below for each grade level's album. Enjoy!
Parent Square Notification System
During the 2024-2025 school year, the school district and buildings moved to a new communication system to send alerts out to parents, guardians, and the community. Please check your email for an invitation from Parent Square or register on the website, which is linked below. You must be registered to receive alerts. Additionally, there is a link to an informational video showing you how to set notification and language settings in the app or website. The Parent Square app can be downloaded from your app store.
Registration Website:
https://www.parentsquare.com/signin
Video for how to change notification or language settings:
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
We are fortunate to have a wonderful Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). We encourage our parents to get involved with the PTA. If you have questions, you can always reach out to our PTA via email at nanuetpta@gmail.com.
Here are the 2025-2026 Board Members for the Elementary PTA:
- Christine Magliente, President
- Ashley Perrone, Vice President for G.W. Miller School
- Erin Jacobsen, Vice President for Highview School
- Jackie Anderson, Secretary
- James Delongchamp, Treasurer
- Marianna Chen Arango, Delegate
Additionally, please check out the PTA's Facebook Page and website for more information on how to join this amazing group! Thank you to our fabulous PTA for all you do to support the students, staff, and families in the Nanuet School District!
Safety and Security Protcols
As you know, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority in the Nanuet Union Free School District. The Safety/Security Protocols for 2025-2026 are outlined in the document below. We thank you in advance for your cooperation with and prompt attention to these protocols.
Snack and Water Bottles
Students do have a snack time daily and at the discretion of the classroom teacher. Your child's teacher will communicate this to you when they share their specific schedules. We encourage you to send a healthy snack to school with your child. If your child's classroom is designated as Nut Aware and/or Dairy Aware, you will receive a letter as well as a notification from the classroom teacher. Please follow protocols in the letter with regard to sending snacks to school.
Every student can have a water bottle in class. Water bottles must be capped (no straws or glass) and should be a personal size (16 oz. or less). There are opportunities to refill water bottles during the school day. Please be sure your child’s water bottle can fit in their backpack for transport purposes. Please label your child’s water bottle with their name and class code. Students cannot bring open containers, energy drinks, or coffee-related drinks to school.
Dates to Remember
Sunday, December 14
Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!
Monday, December 15 - Friday, December 19
Tuesday, December 16
Board of Education Meeting
7:30 p.m. at Nanuet High School
Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2
Winter Recess
No School for Staff and Students
Thursday, December 25
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Friday, December 26
Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate!
Monday, January 5
Happy New Year!
Classes Resume
Friday, January 9
Spirit Day
Wear black and gold - Go Knights!
Monday, January 12
Elementary PTA Meeting
7:30 p.m. at G.W. Miller in the Library
Tuesday, January 13
Board of Education Meeting
7:30 p.m. at Nanuet High School
Monday, January 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
All Nanuet Schools Closed
Monday, January 26 - Friday, January 30
Winter aimswebPLUS Administration (ELA/Math)
Monday, January 26 - Friday, January 30
Great Kindness Challenge
Tuesday, January 27
Board of Education Meeting
7:30 p.m. at Nanuet High School
Highview Elementary School
Email: mlutz@nanuetsd.org
Website: highview.nanuetsd.org
Location: 24 Highview Avenue, Nanuet, NY 10954
Phone: (845) 627-3460
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NanuetPublicSchools
Instagram: @nanuetschools
X (Formerly Twitter): @nanuetschools