Heights Happenings

Heights Mission: Heights Elementary IB World School is dedicated to developing balanced, lifelong learners through educational excellence, a global perspective, reflection and action.

Heights Vision: To Be A World Class School.

Heights PBIS Statement:

We strive to be a school that models positive behaviors which develop the whole child and social skills. We have a common culture and language which supports student growth and high expectations to empower our students to become well-rounded global citizens through teaching and recognizing positive behavior.

December brings a wonderful energy to our school community as we prepare for the holidays and winter break. This time of year is full of excitement, with special events, family gatherings, and cherished traditions. At the same time, we know the season can also be a busy one for families, balancing all the responsibilities and joys that come with it.

As we embrace this festive time, let’s remember that a little extra care and patience can go a long way. Students look to us as their anchors, and while they may not remember all the details of the season, they’ll remember how they felt at home and in school.

From all of us at Heights Elementary, we wish you a joyful, peaceful holiday season filled with special memories. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of your children’s life each day.

Dec. 4th: House Color Day

Dec. 4th: 3rd grade ELA Progress Monitoring 2 FAST

Dec. 5th: 4th & 5th grade ELA Progress Monitoring 2 FAST

Dec. 9th: 3rd grade MATH Progress Monitoring 2 FAST

Dec. 11th: Heights Choir Holiday Performance (6:30 Heights Cafeteria)

Dec.11th: House Color Day

Dec. 12th: 4th & 5th grade MATH Progress Monitoring 2 FAST

Dec. 14th: Heights Rub Club: Rockin Around The Belltower 5K Race

Dec. 20th: Early Dismissal (12:10 -No After School Care Available)

Dec. 23rd-Jan. 3rd: Winter Break (Schools Closed)

Don’t miss out on this fun, holiday fundraiser and opportunity for your child to have their picture taken with Mr. Palow, Mrs. Loughren and Mrs. Thorstad in their festive attire. Scan the QR code or follow the link in the comments to submit payment(online payments only-no cash).

At Heights Elementary, we are committed to creating a supportive and engaging environment where students can excel academically, socially, and emotionally. One of the most important factors in student success is regular, on-time attendance.

Why Attendance Matters: When students attend school consistently and arrive on time, they have more opportunities to learn, connect with peers, and participate in classroom activities. Studies show that regular attendance leads to better academic outcomes, greater social connections, and an increased sense of responsibility.

Did You Know?

• Missing even just two days per month can significantly impact a student's ability to stay on track in reading and math.
• Being 10 minutes late every day adds up to nearly a week of lost learning time over the course of the school year!

How You Can Help:

• Set a routine: Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine to make getting to school on time easier.
• Plan ahead: Lay out clothes, pack backpacks, and prepare lunches the night before.
• Communicate: If there are challenges impacting attendance, please reach out to our office. We’re here to support your family!

We appreciate your partnership in helping every student arrive at school on time and ready to learn. Together, we can make sure each student has the best chance to succeed every day!

In the month of November, our staff had the opportunity to practice what they teach! Part of being an IB Student is showing action in your community and beyond as a global citizen. Our staff took part in a staff action project to make bags for the Greyson Project. This project donates decorations and holiday supplies to families spending the holidays in the hospital. We were able to assemble 15 bags to be donated to children spending the holidays at Golisano Children's Hospital.

As we wrap up the year, our students are finishing up their third unit of inquiry and looking forward to the new year of applying their knowledge to the world around them.

As IB learners we strive to be principled. We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. We take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

This IB learner profile is one of 10 attributes recognized and valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

What you do as a parent matters. How you treat and respond to your child should come from a knowledgeable, deliberate sense of what you want to accomplish.

• You cannot be too loving. It is simply not possible to spoil a child with love. What we often think of as the product of spoiling a child is never the result of showing a child too much love. It is usually the consequence of giving a child things in place of love.
• Connect behavior to character.
• Provide opportunities for your child to make their own decisions, discuss the consequences of their decisions.
• Read and tell stories in which the story characters demonstrate making principled decisions
• Discuss how being principled is life long commitment and well sought after as a characteristic to have.

Dec. 4th: 3rd grade ELA

Dec. 5th: 4th & 5th grade ELA

Dec. 9th: 3rd grade MATH

Dec. 12th: 4th & 5th grade MATH

Jan. 9th: Kg & 1st grade ELA

Jan. 13th: 2nd grade ELA

Jan. 14th: Kg, 1st grade, & 2nd grade MATH

Florida State Statute 1012.42 recognizes that teachers at times must be assigned duties in a class outside the field in which the teacher is certified. The following teachers at Heights Elementary are certified, but may be assigned one or more classes outside their areas of certification and are required to take appropriate steps to comply with the statutory regulation: Madison Barker (ESE)

In addition, the following teachers are engaged in training to add the endorsement, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), to their certificates: Nicole Berry, Nicole Driscoll, Courtney Sleeper, Jennifer Kee, Gina Celej, Melinda Melendez, Stephanie Bovinett, Reagan Potter, Jamie Leach, & Libby Davis.

District 1 - Samuel Fisher, Board Chair

District 2 - Melisa W. Giovannelli

District 3 - William F. Ribble Jr.

District 4 - Debbie Jordan

District 5 - Armor Persons

District 6 - Jada Langford-Fleming, Board Vice Chair

District 7 - Vanessa M. Chaviano

Superintendent:

Denise M. Carlin, Ed.D