Husky Highlights

As I prepare to say goodbye, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for an incredible three years together. It has been an absolute honor to serve as your principal and to be part of a community that is so full of heart, support, and compassion.

Working alongside such dedicated teachers, staff, and families—and of course, our amazing students—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I have been continually inspired by the kindness, curiosity, and resilience that make this school so special.

While goodbyes are never easy, I leave with great confidence knowing that you are in excellent hands with Mr. James. His leadership, warmth, and commitment to students make him a perfect fit for this community, and I know he will continue to help it grow and thrive.

Thank you again for the memories, the support, and the countless moments of joy. This school will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Wishing you all the very best in the years to come.

With gratitude,

Mrs. Ochoa

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I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the families of Highlands Elementary next year. My introductory experiences in touring the school, meeting students and staff, and enjoying the primary musical performance have impressed upon me just how special a place Highlands Elementary is. I look forward to working together to continue the Husky legacy of community engagement and academic excellence.

Thank you kindly,

Mr. James

Thursday, May 1st

• Last day of choir!

Friday, May 2nd

• Bob Wand Art Entries Due

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Monday, May 5th- Friday, May 9th: Teacher Appreciation Week!

Tuesday, May 6th

• Art calendar contest entries due

Wednesday, May 7th

• Walk n Roll
• 6th Grade Visit to North Jr. High
• Safety Patrol Pizza Lunch

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Tuesday, May 13th

• PTO Meeting @ noon in the Library

Wednesday, May 14th

• Walk n Roll

Thursday, May 15th

• Field Day

Friday, May 16th

• Lavender Sale!
• Early Release @ 1:15pm

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Tuesday, May 20th

• 6th Grade Parent Brown Bag Lunch

Wednesday, May 21st

• 6th Grade Celebration @ 9:15am
• K Celebration @ 2:15pm

Thursday, May 22nd

• Last Day of School- Early Release @ 1:15pm

Thank you to Mrs. Betterley and all of our 5th and 6th grade choir students for a great year of music! The last day of choir will be on Thursday, May 1st.

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Please see this link for all art contests in the district. Details regarding the Bob Wand Art Entries can be found here.

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Please see this link for all art contests in the district. Details regarding the Calendar Art Contest Entries can be found here.

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We love our teachers! Please see this flyer for more details to celebrate our teachers. Thank you for all of your support!

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Our 6th grade students will be taking a field trip to visit North Jr. High on Wednesday, May 7th @ 9:30am. Students will visit during the school day, with teachers in attendance.

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Thank you to all of our Safety Patrol Team Members for their help this year! They will have a pizza lunch, provided by Mrs. Moore, on Wednesday, May 7th.

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Our spring Walk n Roll will end on Wednesday, May 14th! Be sure to walk or roll to school and check in with the PTO table by the bike racks for a prize!

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We will be celebrating Field Day on Thursday, May 15th. Please see the schedule below:

• 4-6 @ 9:15-11:15
• K-3 @ 1:10-3:10

Teachers will be recruiting volunteers to help out! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact your student's teacher and plan on being at Highlands 20 minutes before the start of field day for those grade levels.

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Mrs. Carter's class will be hosting the annual Lavender Sale on Friday, May 16th. Students must bring cash only. Items will be sold in "waves" so every grade has a chance to purchase each product. Items vary from $1-$5 and the proceeds will benefit 1-2 charities. Students will be limited to 5 items. Please see below for sales times:

• 5th & 6th Grade: 10:00-10:30am
• K-4th Grade: 12:00-1:00pm

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Parents of sixth grade students are invited to have lunch with their 6th grader(s) on Tuesday, May 20th during their regular lunch period (12:35-1:20) so that you can see the recognition wall and celebrate your child.

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Our sixth grade students will have their celebration assembly @ 9:15am on Wednesday, May 21st to kick off their day of fun and festivities!

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Our Kindergarten students will have their celebration assembly @ 2:15pm on Wednesday, May 21st to celebrate their first year here at Highlands!

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We will have our final PTO meeting for the year in the library at noon on Tuesday, May 13th.

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Our PTO generously supports our staff and students! They already have done so much for us! Thank you for the following:

• August Coffee & Pastries
• Back to School Night Pizza Dinner
• Contributions to Foundation accounts
  
• 6 Week Walk n Roll (with prizes) for our students
• Supporting our Husky Pride Fridays
• Supporting our Highlands PAWS
• September Stock the Lounge Treats for teachers
• October Parent Teacher Conferences Dinner
• October Jog a Thon Event
• Jog a Thon Pizza Party & Spike Ball
• November Potluck
• December Dessert Bar & Gift Cards
• January Stock the Lounge
• March Soup Lunch
• April Bagels & Coffee
• May Teacher Appreciation

At Highlands Elementary School, we aim to nurture lifelong learners who embody essential learner dispositions. These Learner dispositions are: Reflect, Take Action, Take Risks, Be Curious, Work Together, and Persevere.

Reflect:

• Encourage your child to think about their day. Ask questions like, “What went well today?” or “What would you do differently next time?”
• Model reflection by sharing your own experiences and lessons learned.

Take Action:

• Support your child in setting small, achievable goals, such as organizing their homework or helping with household tasks.
• Celebrate when they take initiative, like solving a problem independently or assisting a sibling.

Take Risks:

• Praise effort and the courage to try something new, even if it doesn’t work out.
• Share stories of times when you took a chance and what you learned from the experience.

Be Curious:

• Explore your child’s interests by asking open-ended questions like, “What do you wonder about?” or “Why do you think that happens?”
• Visit the library or use online resources to dive deeper into topics they’re curious about.

Work Together:

• Encourage teamwork by involving your child in group activities or family projects.
• Discuss the importance of listening to others and sharing ideas.

Persevere:

• Remind your child that challenges are opportunities to grow. Use phrases like, “Mistakes help us learn.”
• Share examples of times when persistence helped you achieve a goal.

ISAT reports will be sent home with report cards. Please see the following link for instructions on how to read and understand these reports. Resource webpage: https://id.startingsmarter.org/

Please see this flyer for more details regarding meals provided by our district throughout the summer months.

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Please see the two flyers below for information regarding summer camps provided by the Botanical Gardens.

Flyer 1

Flyer 2

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See this flyer regarding a summer camp for kiddos entering 2nd through 5th grade.

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See this flyer for information about camps offered by BSU.

NOTE: Summer camps 1, 2 and 3 are open to both boys and girls ages 5-13. The Elite camp is for girls grade 8 and up. Any other questions regarding the program should be directed to BSU; contact info is on the flyer.

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Summer camps are right around the corner! Save $15 on Camp Invention using the code: FUN15 by May 15th.

7/7 - 7/11 - Sage International 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

7/14 - 7/17 - Liberty - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

7/21 - 7/24 - White Pine - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

7/28 - 7/31 - Location to be determined (Boise)

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See the following link for Summer Reading Opportunities. Mrs. Moore will attempt to keep it all up to date, but event details may change. Reach out to the entity to confirm details before attending.

Summer 2025 Reading opportunities

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Capital High School is hosting an exciting summer camp program aimed at providing children with enriching experiences, skill-building activities, and plenty of fun. With a diverse range of activities catering to various interests and age groups, the camp would be a great experience for many families.

See the camp flyer which contains details about the camp schedule, registration process, and contact information.

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Please see this flyer for more information about Intramural Flag Rugby.

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Students will have access to Imagine Math this summer. Please see this flyer for some math activities!

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Communication between home and school is essential. Do not hesitate to contact the office or your child’s teacher if you have any questions. Please set aside time each week to read and review your child’s schoolwork and other information that they bring home.