FRESH NEWS
October 11, 2023
From the Desk of Mr. Henderson
Highland Families,
For once, I have a message where I am not asking you for anything or celebrating our successes here at Highland. ;) Instead, I want to write from my heart, from one parent to another. I simply want to tell you that you are doing a good job! Parenting is wonderful, and hard. It’s joyful and at times seemingly impossible. But hear this: you are crushing it as a parent. As your kids’ principal, please know that I see your hard work, your dedication, your sacrifices. We as a school are grateful for your support and trust. We know that you are sending us your very best, most important thing every day.
When I became an educator my Aunt Lila, who was a school principal, gave me a little journal. It featured a quote on the front from Maryanne Radmacher that said:
Courage doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
“I will try again tomorrow.”
I have come back to those words again and again over the past 25 years as an educator, and in the past 8 years as a parent. Daily, small courage. We got this!
I see your courage to keep going on the daily. To pack another lunch, fold another pile of laundry, get a reluctant kiddo out of bed in the morning, reinforce a bedtime. To drive to a practice, to pick up another shift to buy another pair of pants for ever-growing legs or to (heaven forbid) buy a dozen eggs! Parenting is exhausting and relentless, and you are doing it, day by day.
There’s no more important job than showing a little human being how to be a good big human being. Thank you for loving your child, and for allowing us to be a part of their village.
From my heart,
Mr. H
Can I be of help to you and your Hornet? Shoot me a message at ryan_henderson@lkstevens.wednet.edu or by text at 360.618.2284. You won’t ever be bugging me; we are here to help!
Conference Week
Friday March 7 will be a regular Friday schedule with dismissal at 2:05
Class Pictures
Class Picture Day is Almost Here!
Class pictures are happening on Wednesday, February 19th!
Order forms are coming home in this week’s Wednesday folders, but you can also order online! Just go to mydorian.com, search for our school, and click the green order button next to our picture day.
Don’t forget to bring your best smile!
Winter Reading Challenge is still going strong! So far, we have had less than 10 students earn their Snowman Duck. Remember, reading 20 minutes a day for 25 days counts! If you need a new sheet, click here. Challenge papers need to be turned in by Feb 28th!
Spring Book Fair is coming fast, March 3-7 (same week as conferences). If you would like to volunteer and get rewards in discounts, sign up to join in on the fun!
https://tinyurl.com/MarBookFair
Book Fair will be open every day until 4:00. Tuesday, March 4th, we will stay open late until 7:00! Hope to see you there!
Kindergarten - First Grade
In Kindergarten and First grade PE classes, this month and next, we will be discussing ways to keep our bodies healthy and strong by the foods we eat and the way we move.
Keep your heart healthy by eating good foods and exercising. I challenge you to get moving with your kids and make good food choices. Start now for a healthy tomorrow.
Robotics
Robotics competed in the final competition of the season. Highland represented well with amazing teamwork, innovation and perseverance. All 7 teams made it to the finals and Highland earned 4 awards for Teamwork, Energy, Design, and the Think Award. Great job to all of our Robotics engineers.
I Love Lake Stevens Schools
A huge thank you to everyone who helped us spread the word about our 2025 Bond election. It was encouraging to see so much community support for our school system. We truly believe that the schools are the HEART of a community, and nowhere more so than in the thriving, growing town of Lake Stevens
WatchDOGS
Our WatchDOGS program is looking for more dads!! Does your student have a birthday or another special celebration coming up? Join them as a WatchDOG on that day! Please click the link to see what dates are still available this year and to sign up! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050A4CA9AB28A3FA7-53190153-watch
Let’s get moving this month!
Come join the Highland Running Club for our Healthy Heart Run on Friday, February 28 at 8:30am.
If your student isn’t signed up to attend please do so here:
HLD Running Club STUDENT Sign-up.
Only sign-up your student(s) ONCE per year.
Volunteers are needed!
Please sign up to help run this event.
(and future running club days)
Let’s do a mid-year Attendance Check!
As we reach the midpoint of the school year, it's the perfect time to take a moment and review your child's attendance.
This is a warm reminder to check in on this important aspect of your student's education.
How to Check Your Child's Attendance
It's quick and easy to review your child's attendance record:
Log into Family Access
Click on the "Attendance" tab
Review the information provided
This simple step can give you valuable insights into your child's school engagement.
Why Attendance Matters
We can't stress enough how crucial regular school attendance is for your child's success. Here's why it's so important:
Academic Achievement: Every day in class counts! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to keep up with lessons, complete assignments on time, and perform better on tests.
Building Friendships: School is where many children form their closest friendships. Regular attendance helps your child maintain these important social connections.
Social and Emotional Learning: Being in school consistently allows students to develop crucial life skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Better Together!
Let's work together to make the second half of this school year even better than the first! If you have any questions or need support, please don't hesitate to contact our Attendance Professional: Sarah Doty at hlattendance@lkstevens.wednet.edu
Here's to a great rest of the school year filled with learning, fun, growth, and achievement.
