Highland Park Family Newsletter

We were excited by the wonderful turnout for Parent Orientation. Thank you for your efforts in attending, and contributing to the success of this event!

On Tuesday, we will have our first PTO meeting for this school year, and we sincerely hope you can join us. Babysitting will be provided, and we will have snacks available. This is a great opportunity to learn about upcoming school events and volunteer opportunities.

I kindly ask you to take a moment to review some important reminders in this newsletter regarding arrival, lunch, and dismissal. Our primary goal is to ensure that students are on campus, safe, and actively engaged in their learning. Thank you for collaborating with us as one team in support of our students.

I hope you have a restful weekend! Highland Park Bulldogs Woof!

With Thanks,

Lizbeth Ruiz

Principal

Highland Park Elementary

We are needing still have a high number of families who have not completed the free and reduced lunch application. We ae shooting for 100% completion! We are asking for you to please complete the application even if you think you may not qualify. The applications help determine campus funding, programs, and even affects campus accountability. You can complete the application here:

• English: Apply Now
• Español: Aplique Hoy

As a reminder we offer car morning drop off at the front of the school and the bus loop. If you choose to drop off at the bus loop please wait until busses have unloaded and exited the bus loop. When dropping off at either location please follow the procedures below:

• 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!

• When picking up your child please make sure to display the car tag that matches the student tag on the passenger window or windshield on the passengers side.
• Students should load the car on the right side of the vehicle as the left side has passing vehicles.
• If you are needing to help your child buckle their seatbelt please pull into our parking lot and park. Your child should then be switched to parent walk up vs car pick up. Please communicate with teacher.
• Staff on duty will help open the door for your child.
• Please wait until you are signaled to move by our staff to exit the car line.
• Students not picked up by 3:05, will need to be signed out in the front office.

Parents are welcome to eat breakfast or 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. Parents will not be allowed to walk past the Hugs and Kisses Zone in the foyer.

Please review the Progress Report and Report Card Dates below.

• 09/18/24- Progress Reports available to parents
• 10/18/24- 1st Nine Weeks ends
• 10/23/24- 1st 9 Weeks Grades due to campus at 12:00 noon, due to district by 4:30
• 10/25/24- Report Cards Available to parents

*** 2nd - 5th Grade Award Assembly Dates coming soon!

• Tuesday, 09/17- PTO meeting from 5:30- 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
• Students are encouraged to wear a college shirt on Wednesdays and a Highland Park spirit shirt on Fridays!

• 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 co-worker who really matters and whom you want to recognize? Let’s recognize our HPES Bulldogs, no kudos is too big or too small! If you have any kudos you’d like to share, you can submit kudos here: HPES Bulldog Weekly News Kudos or Click here to submit your Pfamily Kuddos for the google form.

Campus Kudos:

• Mrs. Washburn, Ms. Kimbell and Mr. Diaz: thank so much for helping test kinder students for TX KEA. We couldn't do it without you! You are very appreciated. love, kinder team.
  

• Angela Mathews: Thank you for doing a coding lesson with my class. My students loved it and were so engaged.

Superintendent Kudos:

• Yolanda Reyes HPES - Librarian (via: Heather Kelley)

  We have the MOST AMAZING librarian. Mrs. Reyes often goes above and beyond not only in the library, but with helping teachers and students with other things. This week the District library system crashed twice. The second time she didn't want the students to miss out (again!) on checking out books, so she still let them come to the library and she was taking pictures of the books and barcodes so that she could enter them after the system came back up. If you have ever spent time in an Elementary Library, you know how much work there already is. So for Mrs. Reyes to willingly create extra work for herself just so these students could still check out books deserves to be recognized.

• Mrs Mendez pk of Highland Park Elementary (via: Gleydis)
  Responsable, amable y muy profesional con los niños de ésta edad.

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

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

Sept. 21- Parents Night Out (more info coming soon)

Sept. 27- Hispanic Heritage Loteria Night 6:00-8:00

Oct. 4- Pink Out Day

Oct. 4- Ballet Folklorico Bake Sale afterschool

Oct. 10- Cheerleading Bake Sale afterschool

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. 28- 4th Grade 1st 9 Weeks Awards at 2:00

Oct. 29- 2nd Grade 1st 9 Weeks Awards at 2:00

Oct. 30- 5th Grade 1st 9 Weeks Awards at 8:30

Oct. 30- 3rd Grade 1st 9 Weeks Awards at 2:00

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

Please make sure that you review our campus duty schedules and remember to be on time.

You can access all the campus schedules here: HPES SCHEDULES

Hugs & Kisses Zone for Student Arrival

- Our Hugs & Kisses Zone is located in the foyer area:

- 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.

For parents dropping off their children in the morning:

- 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.

For parents coming to have breakfast or lunch with their child:

- 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.

For parents dropping off items for their child:

- 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.

For parents attending conferences or meetings:

- 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.

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.

• 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 be allowed to walk students into their classroom on the first day of school. Beginning August 14, (Day 2) parents will be asked to drop their child off at the hugs and kisses zone in the foyer. Parents will not be allowed to walk down the main hallway.

The safety of all students at Highland Park Elementary School is our number one priority. In order to maintain a high degree of awareness and safety during our afternoon dismissal process, we are requiring that all parents and/or guardians adhere to the following procedures. Your cooperation and support are crucial in maintaining the security, success, and positive climate of our school. If you have any questions or concerns about these protocols, please feel free to reach out to us. We are always happy to answer any questions.

Dismissal Tags:

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

Car Rider Pick-up

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.

Parent Walk-Up

Parents/guardians will walk up to the flagpole to pick up their child. You MUST display your child’s tag when walking up to pick them up. If you do not have your tag, you MUST 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, please let your child’s teacher know.

Walkers/Bikers

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

• 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.

Here a few ways to stay informed. Follow us on Facebook @HighlandParkES and on Twitter @HighlandPark_ES. School communications will also be sent out through school messenger via email. On Tuesday’s an HPES folder will be sent home with flyers and information. Please be sure to look out for the folder on Tuesday’s. Additionally, please sign-up for our mailing list at You will receive a monthly campus newsletter through the mailing list. You can also find a copy of a newsletter like this one in our campus webpage under “Principal’s blog”.

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!

For questions, please click on the "Let's Talk" link: https://www.pfisd.net/Page/7772 or reply to this newsletter on the upper right hand corner.

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