Highland Happenings
October 18th, 2024
Short on Days, Not on Fun!
Good Afternoon Highland Families,
I hope your family had a restful and enjoyable long weekend. While it was a short week at Highland, there was still plenty of fun and learning to go around! 2nd grade and 5th grade both went on their first field trips of the year and both enjoyed the day at the Morton Arboretum. We also enjoyed a visit from the Illinois Teacher of the Year, Dr. Rachael Mahmood. The visit was made extra special by the fact that Dr. Mahmood attended Highland as a student had Mrs. Varys as her 6th grade teacher. We are grateful that she chose to visit Highland and share some of her experiences with our Huskies! Today was also our first spirit day of the year and everyone enjoyed Comfy Cozy day. Just a reminder, picture retake day is this Monday, October 21st! If you have any questions or need any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 630-719-5835. Take care and have a great weekend!
My Best,
Zac Craft
Principal, Highland School
Reflections art program entries due Nov. 1
Is your student interested in visual or performing arts? Please consider participating in PTA Reflections!
Each year through Reflections, more than 300,000 students around the country in preschool through high school create original works of art inspired by a student-selected theme. This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection" and categories for entry include visual art (painting, drawing, sculpture, textile art), photography, film-making, music composition, dance choreography and literature. Visit our local Reflections website to learn more about the program, read the guidelines and download an entry form. All entries are due to your local school by Friday, Nov. 1.
Projects are judged and have the opportunity to advance through Council, Region, State and National levels of competition. Our Council level is called the Downers Grove Area Council and includes all District 58 schools as well as Darien School District 61. All District 58 students whose projects advance to the Council level are invited to attend a recognition ceremony on Dec. 3 at O’Neill Middle School, where they will receive a ribbon and see their work on display.
All students whose projects advance to the State level are invited to Spotlight, a state-wide Reflections celebration in May. Students with projects advancing to the National level are eligible for bronze, silver and gold medals and scholarships ranging from $200-$800.
Looking for inspiration? Browse the virtual gallery of projects that made it to Nationals in last year’s Reflections program inspired by the theme “I am Hopeful Because …”
Sign up for The Reading Games!
It’s time to form your teams and start reading, because The Reading Games competition is returning! The Reading Games is an annual trivia-style reading competition for District 58 and District 61 students in grades 3-8. It will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at O'Neill Middle School. Registration is open now through Friday, Nov. 15.
To participate, complete the following:
1. Form a team and complete the team registration OR complete an individual registration and The Reading Games will do their best to find a team for your child. Teams must have between five and eight students. They can represent a mix of grade levels and schools, but must attend District 58 or District 61.
2. Collaborate with your team to read nine books from one of two book lists. List 1 is geared for readers in third and fourth grade. List 2 is geared for readers in fifth and sixth grade. To prepare, students can meet to discuss the books and quiz each other.
3. Participate in The Reading Games on Feb. 22, 2025! During The Reading Games, students will face other teams to answer questions about the books they've read. Teams are encouraged to dress up and have fun, and prizes are awarded.
The Reading Games is sponsored by the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 and the Grove Express Foundation.
Learn more about The Reading Games registration process. Visit The Reading Games website.
PTA All Day
Fall Fundraiser
The 3rd Annual Fall Fundraiser is going to be “FIRE”
Tickets Available Now! To join us for the 2024 Highland PTA Fundraiser - Purchase Tickets Here
Join us for a night of fun and adventure while raising money for the Highland PTA! Onsite camp fun will include a scavenger hunt (with prizes), shopping with Keg & Meg, and first crack at signing up for Highland PTA’s legendary experiences! Camp Highland promises to create unforgettable memories while helping us reach our fundraising goals!
Date: Friday November 15, 2024
Time: 7pm-11pm
Location: Loyal Order of the Moose, 1030 Warren Ave, Downers Grove
You can also help us raise money for the event by contributing to the auction baskets with items listed here: Highland 2024 Fundraiser Wish List
Please contact binz.jeannie@gmail.com with any questions!
Reflections
Calling students who love the arts to participate in Reflections!
All Highland students are invited to participate in the PTA Reflections program! This nationally sponsored art contest provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, which boost student confidence and align with our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) goals. Entries will have the chance to advance to the Council, Region, State and National Levels!
Here’s how you can help support your student’s participation:
Read more about the Reflections program and this year's theme, "Accepting Imperfection."
Learn about the categories for entries and look over the contest rules.
Download and print an entry form to fill out with your student (or wait until a form comes home in backpacks).
Encourage your student to start creating! They can make a drawing, painting, dance routine, poem, short story, song, film … how they interpret this year’s theme is up to them.
Entries are due Friday, Nov. 1
Drop off visual art and written projects with Mrs. Blahous and Mrs. Schneider in the front office. Digital entries (music, dance, film, photography) can be uploaded to a free hosting service (Vimeo, YouTube) and emailed to jgmaschek@gmail.com or turned into the office on a flash drive, CD or DVD.
Questions? Email Julia Maschek at jgmaschek@gmail.com
Dining for Dollars
Thank you to all you pizza and pasta eaters for attending Dining for Dollars at Fast Eddy’s on Tuesday. We know they had some technical difficulties but the patience was worth it… it was so tasty! Stay tuned for details on our next Dining for Dollars!
Yearbook
Order Your 2024-25 Highland School Yearbook NOW and Save 10%!
2024-25 yearbooks are available for purchase and are $16.25 each if you order BEFORE October 31, 2024. The price will increase after October 31st.
If your family needs financial assistance to purchase the yearbook, please reach out to the PTA at highlandpta58@gmail.com
To place your order, please visit https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1016950792033554
6th Grade Shout Outs Are Back!
Parents and relatives of 6th Grade Students have the opportunity to purchase 1/8 page or 1/4 page “Shout Outs” in the 2024-25 yearbook to celebrate their student’s promotion to Middle School!
All “Shout Outs” are full color and are $5.00 for 1/8 page, $10.00 for 1/4 page.
For more information and detailed instructions on how to purchase your "Shout Out" please visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gtkd1rykOaSBomUJI9sMd16Vnyn9xYEv/view?usp=sharing
The deadline to design and purchase “Shout Outs” is Friday, December 20, 2024 - This is the day before Winter Break!
Questions? Please contact Yearbook Chair, Christina Zycinski, at clzycinski@gmail.com
Always Here!
Item's that can be found in every edition of the Highland Happenings, such as the Highland Playbook and our student attendance form can be found below. We want to ensure that these resources are always available to our families while also making each week's Happenings as reader-friendly as possible!
Personal Electronic/Technology Devices Policy in DG58
It is amazing how far technology has come over the last decade and continues to advance. We recognize the value technology has not just in education, but our world. However, we hope that we can work together to remind students that during the school day, personal electronic devices should be turned off or silenced and out of sight. This includes wearable devices if they become distracting to the learning environment. Students should not be using phones, Apple Watches, or other devices to send or receive text messages or phone calls during the school day.
Keep In Touch
Email: zcraft@dg58.org
Website: DG58.org/HG
Location: 3935 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: (630)-719-5835
Facebook: facebook.com/HGHuskies
Twitter: @HGHuskies