Parent Newsletter!

We enjoyed a fantastic first week of school! It was wonderful to see the students engaged and learning in class.

We are currently in the process of launching a new dismissal system and would like to express our gratitude for your patience as we work through this transition. With careful implementation, we hope to provide a quicker and safer dismissal experience. We are pleased to share that the system has shown continuous improvement from the first day of school and today we successfully completed dismissal by 3:05.

I sincerely appreciate your continued collaboration to facilitate a smooth transition back to school. I kindly encourage you to read this weekly newsletter carefully for campus updates and information. Wishing you a lovely weekend, and I hope you find a moment to indulge in something you love and that brings you joy. We hope to see you Thursday at our Ballin' with Bulldogs event!

Highland Park Bulldogs WOOF!

With Thanks,

Lizbeth Ruiz

Principal

Highland Park Elementary

In preparation for the new school year, we have provided some important “need to know” information in this newsletter. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

- Enter through the main student entrance doors.

- Only enter the designated hugs and kisses zone locate in our foyer

- Students will proceed independently to their classroom.

- Parents will exit through the main student entrance.

- Enter through the main vestibule doors.

- Use the button next to the safety window to alert the front office.

- Let the front office know you are joining your child for breakfast or lunch.

- You will then be directed to sign in and receive a raptor sticker before entering the cafeteria area.

- Notify classroom teacher that you are dropping off an item via class dojo or email.

- Enter through the main vestibule doors.

- Use the button next to the safety window to notify the front office.

- Inform the front office that you are dropping off an item for your child.

- There will be a table in the vestibule for drop-offs and post its to include your child’s and teacher name.

- Enter through the main vestibule doors.

- Use the button next to the safety window to alert the front office.

- Inform the front office of your scheduled meeting.

- After verification, you will be allowed to sign in and receive a raptor sticker before entering the building.

• HPES doors will open at 7:05 a.m. for bus riders and 7:10 a.m. for car riders and walkers.

• Bus riders will enter the building through the 100 hallway doors adjacent to the bus loop at 7:05 a.m. Upon entering the building they will make their way to the gym where they will wait to be dismissed to class.

• Car riders and walkers will enter the building through the front entrance at 7:10 a.m.

• Walkers and car riders that arrive early will wait outside (back up plan for weather)

• Upon entering the building car riders, walkers, and bike riders will go to either the cafeteria or the gym.

• Students eating breakfast will be asked to go to the cafeteria

• Parents/Guardians will need to drop off their child at the Hugs & Kisses zone located in the foyer. Parents will not be allowed to walk down the main hallways.

- Parents should enter through the student main entrance with their children.

- Quick hugs and kisses are encouraged.

- Students will walk independently to their classroom, with staff available to assist if needed.

- Parents will exit through the main student entrance.

With over 700 students morning traffic is heavy. Please remember the tardy bell rings at 7:35, instruction begins promptly, and every minute counts. We need your help with a few key things that we think will help with morning drop-off.

• When dropping off your child please make sure they have everything ready, backpack, lunch bag, and water bottle. Students should exit on the right side of the vehicle as the left side has passing vehicles.
• If you are needing to help your child out of the car or getting their things ready, please pull into our parking lot and park. You will need to then walk your child across the crosswalk to the front door.
• Please do not park and send your child alone across the parking lot, there are many moving vehicles and this is very unsafe.
• When exiting the campus parking lot, please note that there is a "DO NOT TURN LEFT" sign below the stop sign. As you exit, please turn right towards Heatherwilde and not towards the neighborhood. Turning left holds up the drop-off line, may cause students to be late, upset parents behind you, and unnecessary stress to students getting dropped off.
• Finally please be kind to our staff on duty. These staff members are outside at 7:05 a.m. every day to help get our students in the building. We understand at times stress is high, but we need to work together, provide each other grace, and support one another.
• Please know that our number one priority is student safety. We love our students and want to welcome everyone in a happy and safe environment.

We are hoping the key actions above will help everyone get to their destination safely and on time. As always, we thank you for your help and support!

Breakfast: Parents are welcome to eat breakfast with their children. Breakfast is served from 7:10-7:35 in the cafeteria. Parents will need to sit with their students at the stage tables or the three round tables in the foyer. Please only invite your child to eat with you. Inviting your child's friends is not allowed. With close to 750 students, we are limited in space and kindly ask that you save this treat for special occasions. Parents will need to sign in the raptor system in the front office.

Lunch: Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their children. Please check with your child's teacher for specific class time lunch. Parents will need to sit with their students at the stage tables or the round tables in the foyer. Please only invite your child to eat with you. Inviting your child's friends is not allowed. With close to 750 students, we are limited in space and kindly ask that you save this treat for special occasions. Parents will need to sign in the raptor system in the front office.

We are in the process of launching a new dismissal system and appreciate your patience as we navigate this transition. Several PfISD schools have successfully adopted this dismissal process, resulting in improved safety and efficiency for students. With proper implementation, we anticipate a quicker and safer dismissal experience. We kindly ask for your continued patience and flexibility as we work through this process. Thank you for your understanding.

We are kindly asking that parents adhere to the established dismissal they communicated with teachers. Any late or uncommunicated changes to a student's dismissal will not be permitted. For instance, if a student is designated as a car rider, parents are required to pick them up in the car rider line, with no exceptions. We are asking that parents communicate any changes in dismissal before 1:30 p.m. We understand emergencies happen and will work through with families.

Each student (family) has been issued a numbered dismissal tag for parents and one for student backpack. Students will not be released without this tag. The parent tag must match the tag on the students backpack.

Car Rider Pick-up is for parents who will stay in their vehicle and follow the car rider line to pick up their student(s). Parents/guardians MUST display their child’s tag on their windshield or front passenger window. If you do not have your tag, you MUST park and go to the office. Unfortunately, we cannot allow exceptions, as we are trying to increase our safety and efficiency. If you need an extra tag for another caretaker’s car, please let your child’s teacher know.

Parents/guardians will walk up to the designated area to pick up their child. You MUST show your child’s tag when walking up to pick them up. If you do not have your tag, you MUST go to the office. Parent walk ups should arrive at dismissal time. Late parent walk-ups will be moved to car rider pick-up, and parents will be required to use the car rider line. Unfortunately, we cannot allow exceptions, as we are trying to increase our safety and efficiency. If you need an extra tag for another caretaker, please let your child’s teacher know.

Walkers and bikers will be released from the flagpole/bike rack area.

If it is raining or we have increment weather, all students will be required to follow car rider procedures. We will have no parent walk - up on these days. For walkers and bike riders we will ask parents to communicate any changes to their students' teacher.

• Student birthdays will be announced and celebrated over morning announcements. Students will also sing Happy Birthday in the classroom.

• Parents may bring cupcakes/treat to celebrate their child's birthday. However, notice must be given 24 hours in advance. Cupcakes/treats may only be passed out the last 30 minutes of class.

• Student treats (i.e., store bought cupcakes) cannot be served in the cafeteria during lunch. Treats cannot be a full meal (i.e., pizza) Teachers must receive parent permission prior to students eating store bought cupcakes/treats due to student food allergies.

• For classroom food activities such as party days or food-related learning activities, parents will need to complete an allergy permission form stating which foods their student is allowed to eat or handle. If this form is not returned prior to the event, the student will not be able to participate in the activity.

• We appreciate the care and time that the teachers and allergy committee members have given to this very important matter. We are dedicated to keeping our kids safe here at HPES and believe that this will help achieve that for all our students.

• Website (www.hpespto.org) designed to be an information hub and a quick way to get some Bulldog Swag. There is a list of events we are hosting like popsicles at the park, bingo night, trunk or treat and more. We're building ways to support our teachers. There is info about themselves and their "Amazon Wish-lists" so dive in
  
• Volunteers - Want to help but don't know how? After checking out our website, reach us at volunteers@hpespto.org. We can find a place where you'll fit right in. You can get a head start by applying in the district as an official volunteer. It only takes about 5 minutes.
  
• Join the PTO Facebook - Where Bulldogs WOOF! https://www.facebook.com/highlandparkelementarypto
  

Have a teacher, or staff member who really matters, made a positive impact for you, and whom you want to recognize? No shout out is too big or too small! If you have any kudos you’d like to share, you can submit kudos here Click here to submit your Pfamily Kuddos for the google form.

• Thank you to all staff for supporting and ensuring a very successful first week of school! We had many staff members step forward to assist and serve our students! Thank you , thank you , thank you!
• Thank you to our Watch D.O.G.S who volunteered this first week of school with welcoming students, and assisting with campus safety measures. We appreciate you!
• Thank you to our PTO committee for supporting in getting our campus ready to welcome students, decorating with chalk, and providing breakfast and lunch to staff! We appreciate you!
• Thank you to all parents for your flexibility and patience this week as we learn routines and procedures.

Every summer, there are staffing changes. Staff members move on to other opportunities, and new staff members join the campus. Before emailing a staff member from last school year, it would be wise to check with our front office staff. It is also a good idea to consider which staff member is your first point of contact for questions before you send your email. You may also call the front office at 512-594-6800 and ask for the person you need to speak with. I hope this information is helpful!

Senior Admin. Associate: Anita Moreno– anita.moreno@pfisd.net

General questions regarding scheduling, procedures, teacher information, leave requests, substitutes, purchase orders (for your classroom/students), monthly and bi-weekly payroll, supplemental pay, staff travel, events, field trips, website updates, FB page, maintenance orders, after-hours events, fundraisers (any collection of money), Picture days, etc.

Registrar: Miriam Ruvalcaba – miriam.ruvalcaba@pfisd.net

Student records, registration, residency questions, attendance, transfers, withdrawal, cumulative records, and folders, grade-book, etc.

Student Support Clerical Support: Yaira Torres- yaira.torres@pfisd.net

Schedule LPAC and 504 meetings, and gather student grades, relevant classroom, and health data.

Nurse: Lauren Hohle- lauren.hohle@pfisd.net

Shot records, allergy information, distribution of medication, general student health, Section 504, and SpEd as related to health, etc.

Counselor: Anna Vazquez – anna.vazquez@pfisd.net

Student care and concerns, parent and student support, Credit by Exam, Gifted and Talented information, assessment, and Section 504

Assistant Principal: Pamela LeDay–pamela.leday@pfisd.net

Primary contact regarding discipline, LPAC, and SpEd. Additionally, virtually everything you would contact Ms. Ruiz for. It is a good idea to copy Ms. LeDay on emails sent to Ms. Ruiz because both of them are able to respond to questions or concerns.

Principal: Lizbeth Ruiz – lizbeth.ruiz@pfisd.net

Any and all topics not covered by the staff members listed above.

Please feel free to email or call us if you are needing support. We look forward to passionately serving the families of Highland Park Elementary!

2024-2025 School Year Calendar with grading periods, student holidays, etc.

Aug. 17- Popsicles at the Park

Aug. 22- Ballin' with Bulldogs

Aug. 30- Homecoming Day

Aug. 30- Homecoming/Back to School Dance 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Sept. 2- Student & Staff Holiday

Sept. 06- Grandparents Luncheon ( during students lunches)

Sept. 12 Parent Orientation-Pk- 2nd - 5:30-6:15 & 3rd - 5th- 6:15-7:00

Sept. 17- PTO Meeting at 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Sept. 27- Hispanic Heritage Loteria Night

Oct. 4- Pink Out Day

Oct. 11 - Student Holiday/ Staff/Parent Conference Day

Oct. 14- Student Holiday/Staff Professional Development and Planning Day

Oct. 21-25- Red Ribbon Week & Fall Book Fair

Oct. 24- Pajama Reading Night/ Pop into Reading 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Oct. 26- PTO Trunk or Treat 5:00-7:00

Oct. 31- Early Release at 12:00 p.m.

Website: https://www.pfisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=37
Location: 428 Kingston Lacy Blvd, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512.594.6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighlandParkES/
Twitter: @HighlandPark_ES

Principal's Newsletter: https://www.pfisd.net/domain/1473