Monday, April 7 (B day):

• Quarter 4 begins
• Spring Sports begin

Tuesday, April 8 (A day):

• MCA Math testing

Wednesday, April 9 (B day):

• MCA Math & Reading testing

Thursday, April 10 (A day)

Friday, April 11 (B day)

Monday, April 14 (A day)

Tuesday, April 15 (B day)

Wednesday, April 16 (A day)

Thursday, April 17 (B day)

Friday, April 18: No School - Professional Development Day for staff

Monday, April 21 (A day):

• FCC (Family Community Connection) meeting virtual at 6:00-7:00pm

Tuesday, April 22 (B day)

Wednesday, April 23 (A day)

Thursday, April 24 (B day)

Friday, April 25 (A day)

Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) Program

Seventh graders can soon apply to be a WEB leader for the 25-26 school year! WEB is a middle school transition program that prepares 8th graders to be student leaders and mentors to the incoming sixth graders. We are looking for kind and caring seventh graders who are willing to help 6th graders with their transition to Highland Park Middle School and continue building those relationships throughout the year. WEB applications will be available starting April 14th.

WEB leaders must be available for in-person training dates in late August (dates are included on the application). If you have any questions about the application process, please contact jacy.dillahunty@spps.org or julie.elliott@spps.org.

Thank you for considering WEB!!

All student assignments can be found in Schoology. The Schoology app can be downloaded for free on any device. It's highly recommended that parents/guardians check their parent Schoology account on a regular basis (either daily or weekly), in order to see their students' assignments (ex. what has been turned in and what still needs to be done).

Please following these steps to access your parent/guardian Schoology account:

1. In the app, or using schoology.spps.org, enter your parent/guardian username and password (your username begins with the letter "g" for guardian). If you are unsure what your username or password is, you can reset those at spps.org/onestop.

2. In the app, or using schoology.spps.org, enter your username and password and once in the account, find your student name in the corner and click on them. Your student's information will display. You will be able to see all assignments turned in, what assignments are missing, which are partially done and need to be completed still, and all comments students have made on assignments.

Due to low enrollment, we have made the decision to cancel Girls' Softball. If you are interested in softball, please consider registering for another sport. We are still looking for volunteer coaches for track. If you are interested in volunteering as a track coach, please reach out to HighlandMSAthletics@spps.org.

The Highland Park Middle School Spring Sports season begins Monday, April 7th. Register now for:

• Girls' Badminton

• Boys' Baseball

• Girls' Softball (Closed due to low enrollment)

• CoEd Track

Families must REGISTER through the rSchool Activity Registration site. Follow the HP Athletic Registration slides /Registration Slides (Spanish) for help with creating an account and registering students for athletics.

For questions, contact Highland Park MS Athletics at highlandmsathletics@spps.org.

Current 7th and 8th grade students are eligible to participate in the following Senior High Sports:

• Adapted Bowling

• Adapted Softball

• Golf

• Boys' Lacrosse

• Girls' Lacrosse

• Boys' Tennis

• Boys' Volleyball

Please contact the Senior High Athletic Office with any questions about the high school registration process:
Patrick Auran | patrick.auran@spps.org and Duggan Parks | duggan.parks@spps.org

Greetings Highland Park Middle School Families,

We will be conducting MCA testing at Highland Park on April 8th (Math), April 9th for 6-8 Math and Reading. On these days there will be a dedicated testing block in the morning. Students will follow an adjusted schedule after testing.

8th graders will also complete the Science MCA test in their Science classrooms April 29th - May 2nd.

Linked below you will find information from SPPS about the MCA test, as well as the Parent Refusal form. Completed Parent Refusal forms should be returned to the main office, or scanned and emailed to Caitlin Bailey (School Assessment Coordinator), caitlin.bailey@spps.org, by Friday, March 28th, 2025.

Thank you,

MCA Family Announcement - English ; Parent/Guardian Refusal - English

MCA Family Announcement - Espanol ; Parent/Guardian Refusal - Espanol

MCA Family Announcement - Soomaali ; Parent/Guardian Refusal - Soomaali

MCA Family Announcement - Hmoob ; Parent/Guardian Refusal - Hmoob

MCA Family Announcement - Karen ; Parent/Guardian Refusal - Karen

Registration for 2025-2026 school year classes will take place the week of March 24, 2025 for the current 6th and 7th grade students. Counselors will go over course selections and elective registration directions with students in class.

Students will do their registration in the Student Portal in Infinite Campus. Families can view student course selections in their student’s Infinite Campus, and make edits as needed through Friday, April 11. Contact your student’s counselor if you have any questions/concerns.

Nou Katzmarek (grade 7) nou.katzmarek@spps.org

Danielle Seifert (grade 6) danielle.seifert@spps.org

Course registration materials will be available on our website by the week of March 17, 2025. https://highlandms.spps.org/about/counselors-corner

Eighth Graders: Are you interested in applying for 9th grade AVID?

What is AVID class? Students can learn valuable skills that help them prepare for college and beyond with a class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). Students focus on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading. AVID is an elective class, and takes the place of one elective on your schedule.

What do you do in AVID? AVID students visit college campuses, refine academic skills, and engage in high-level thinking and discussion. Students also develop positive peer relationships, learn to advocate for themselves, and improve self-awareness. Students are given support to be successful in rigorous courses. Tutors are in AVID class twice per week to facilitate collaborative learning groups that help students better understand course work and develop higher-level thinking skills.

All applications will be collected online this year-- no paper applications! The online application can be found here.

The final deadline for AVID applications for the 2025-2026 school year is Friday, March 28. Late applications will not be accepted.

Highland Park Middle School is raising funds through DonorsChoose to provide essential supplies and rewards that motivate our students! Pencils ensure every student is prepared for learning, while incentives encourage leadership, kindness, and perseverance.

For a limited time, when you use the promo code COMMUNITY, your donation will be doubled—making an even greater impact! If you're able, please consider contributing to our project to help all HPMS students thrive. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.

Visit this link to learn more and donate. Thank you for supporting our amazing students!

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/power-up-with-pencils-prizes/9170789/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=directlink&utm_campaign=ifproject&utm_term=teacher_4813892&rf=directlink-dc-2025-03-ifproject-teacher_4813892&challengeid=21008055

HPMS Yearbook 2024-2025

Hello HPMS families!

Are you interested in purchasing a yearbook to celebrate the 2024-2025 school year?

Yearbooks are currently on sale online for $17. The price increases after March 28th 2025.

Please go to the website ybpay.com to enter our school's code and purchase your yearbook.

Highland Park Code = 14645325

Students will receive their yearbooks in June.

Please contact Ms. Sell with any questions amanda.sell@spps.org

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRQ3gusxfGgtq7b8_C_G8ipQmH2Zxdxf91eI86dXTt_e2g6WFEEtUeEadgaOTGvJSbH4Uk_CbL2vyJN/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

El Anuario de Highland Middle 2024 a 2025

¡Hola Familias de Highland!

¿Quiere comprar un anuario para celebrar el año escolar 2024 a 2025?

El anuario cuesta $17 y se puede pagar en línea. El precio sube después del 28 de marzo de 2025.

Abre la página de web ybpay.com y escribe el código de Highland para comprar un anuario.

El código de Highland es = 14645325

Los estudiantes recibirán los anuarios en junio.

Si tiene cualquier pregunta envía un correo electrónico a Señora Sell amanda.sell@spps.org

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRQ3gusxfGgtq7b8_C_G8ipQmH2Zxdxf91eI86dXTt_e2g6WFEEtUeEadgaOTGvJSbH4Uk_CbL2vyJN/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

Families are invited to participate in the Family Communications Committee (FCC). The Family Communications Committee is similar to a PTA. Meetings are intended to encourage effective communication, provide information on school curriculum, data, budgets, staffing and more. FCC Meetings are a great opportunity for families to provide input and feedback regarding your student's education.

Mark your calendars for upcoming FCC Meetings on:

• April 21, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - virtual (Topic: Title 1/SCIP)
• May 19, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - in person (Topic: Budget and Staffing)

Copy of FCC Meeting Powerpoints are available HERE.

Latino Consent Decree Program (LCD)

Para más información por favor contacte a Adriana Ríos Dessalet. al 651-744-7630 o adriana.riosdessalet@spps.org

Boletin para Familias Latinas de marzo y abril

En este boletín encontrarán actualizaciones e información relevante sobre asistencia y apoyo para las familias latinas de las Escuelas Públicas de Saint Paul.

Construction of the new main office and parking lot is complete. The new office is on the west side of the building, off Montreal Avenue. Please see the explanation below for instructions about how and where to drop off and pick up students.

Drop-off and pick-up are at the new main office entrance and parking lot of our building. The parking lot has a loop for easy pull up to the main office. Students should not be dropped off or picked up on Snelling Avenue. That area is for buses only, and our office is no longer at that side of the building. Those doors are locked starting at 8:30 and there is no doorbell at those doors.

**Upon exiting the parking lot on Montreal Avenue, please make a right turn ONLY; left turns are not permitted.**

Students should NOT be dropped off BEFORE 8:15am as the doors are locked until that time and there is no supervision of students before 8:15am. It is also unsafe for students to wait outside in the cold as the temperatures drop, so please have your child wait in the car with you until 8:15am.

SCHOOL HOURS - School begins at 8:30am and concludes at 3:00pm.

EARLY RELEASE - Send an email to highlandmsattendance@spps.org or send a note with your student. Students should bring attendance notes to the main office first thing in the morning. Office staff will record the early release in the Campus attendance. With a note or email to the main office, students can meet their gaurdian outside the main office door. For student safety, we do not release students to older siblings or persons not listed in the students' Campus account. If we do not receive a note or email, a parent/gaurdian will need to come into the main office to release a student. We do not call students to wait in the main office.

BIKE RACK - The middle school has a NEW bike rack by the main office.

Highland Middle families, please look for school headphones at home and in backpacks. The attached picture shows what our school headphones look like. Headphones are to remain at school in the teachers' classrooms at all times. If found, please return them to school as teachers have noted missing headphones and they are much needed in the classrooms. Thank you for your help with this!

Breakthrough Twin Cities (BTC) is a six-year, tuition-free academic enrichment and college preparatory program that helps students prepare for college success. Breakthrough supports 6th graders on their journey to college with an awesome summer program, school year advisor support and college counseling.

To apply, please visit the online application here. Regular decision deadline is March 21st, 2025.

Have more questions- please contact BTC Program Manager, Emma Silkey, at esilkey@breakthroughtwincities.org.

To have your student attend, please reach out to please contact Danielle Seifert, HPMS 6th grade counselor at 651-744-7582 or email at danielle.seifert@spps.org.

SPPS Winter clothes guidelines can be viewed on the district website using this link: https://www.spps.org/about/departments/communications/emergency-notifications

Saint Paul Public Schools uses the National Weather Service (NWS) wind chill chart to determine whether recess will be held outside. Wind chill is the temperature it feels like on your skin when the wind is blowing. The stronger the wind, the colder it feels.

Schools will keep students inside if the wind chill is expected to be colder than -10 degrees below zero. Regardless of the wind chill, students who do not have the appropriate winter clothing will not be able to participate in outdoor recess. Families are encouraged to monitor their children’s clothing selections to make sure they are appropriately dressed for cold weather.

Here are the district's "feels like temperature" clothes guidelines:

• Under 15 degrees: (dress in layers)
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Sweatshirt or sweater
• Heavy winter coat
• Wool or thick socks
• Gloves
• Winter headwear and/or ear muffs
• Snow boots
• 15-30 degrees: (dress in layers)
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Sweatshirt or sweater
• Heavy winter coat
• Wool or thick socks
• Gloves
• Winter headwear and/or ear muffs
• Snow boots
• 30-40 degrees: (dress in layers)
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Winter coat or heavy jacket
• Thick socks
• Gloves
• Winter headwear and/or ear muffs
• Closed shoes or boots

Many teachers are in need of more Kleenex in their classrooms. Please consider donating Kleenex to the school, with the cold season upon us. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Update: We have raised $3,400 of our $7,000 goal!

As part of the MYP program, HPMS students take Spanish, Chinese or French from 6th-8th grade. To enrich the language and cultural experience of our students in their immersion and world language classes, we are raising money in hopes of bringing several language interns from Spanish-, Chinese-, and French-speaking countries to HPMS for the 2025-2026 school year. Please connect with Rachel Hoheisel (rachel.hoheisel@spps.org) with any questions. You can donate here to support our students in becoming multilingual global citizens. Thank you!

If you or anyone you know is in need of various resources this winter season, please check out this resource page. Please feel free to reach out to HPMS' social workers or counselors for more information, too.

Flipside runs through Thursday, May 8. New students are still welcome to join! If you're interested in participating in one or two of our fun afterschool programs, please contact Ms. Nikol at nikol.gordon@spps.org.

Healthy eating is so important for children. At HPMS, we work hard to ensure students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that children who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and be engaged in learning.

We continue to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.

Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school.

• Free for all families
• No qualifications required
• Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week
• Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected
• Families may choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the school year
• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend foodbag options

If you wish to participate, please fill out our enrollment form which can be found here. Or feel free to reach out to Katie Monroe, one of our social workers, at kathryn.monroe@spps.org or 651.744.4616.

Items in Highland Park Middle School Lost & Found (located near the lobby by door 13) will be cleared out according to the following dates this school year:

• Friday, March 28
• Friday May 23
• Tuesday, June 10

MITY provides advanced students with the opportunity to pursue their passions in a stimulating and inclusive environment. Students choose from unique STEM, humanities and fine arts courses that are hands-on, inquiry-based and beyond the scope of a traditional curriculum. They also enjoy a variety of recreational activities that help facilitate lifelong friendships with students from around the Twin Cities and across the world.

Middle School Program (ExplorSchool) for Current 5th - 7th Grade Students Upcoming Dates

Session A: June 16 - 27, 2025 (M-F)

Session B: July 7 - 18, 2025 (M-F)

MITY’s program for middle school students provides a unique opportunity to investigate new topics and dive deeper into students' passions at a level that is challenging and motivating. Intellectually curious students take two classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, enabling them to explore different disciplines, experience things that are not possible within a normal school setting, and forge new friendships.

Applying to ExplorSchool Apply here! for Summer 2025!

Eligibility

MITY seeks applicants who demonstrate both academic talent and a passion for learning. Students must be entering grades 6 – 8 in the fall to be considered for admission. All requested materials (application, report card, teacher recommendation, and student essay) are considered. Students who were accepted to ExplorSchool last summer only need to submit an application, current report card and deposit. Need-based financial aid is available.

FAQ’s

Do you want to go into medicine? Do you want to be a doctor, dentist, nurse, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse?

At the Youth with Stethoscopes Summit you will:

• Meet and hear from healthcare professionals
• Engage in hands-on activities using the actual tools of healthcare
• Receive a booklet filled with information about healthcare career

2024-25 School Year Talent Garden Saturday Youth Summits:
Black Youth with Stethoscopes, February 22, 2025
American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes, April 12, 2025

Email talentgarden@hcmed.org with any questions.

Health Start School Based Clinics, in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools, serves the health needs of Highland Park Middle School adolescents. They have a team of medical professionals consisting of Advanced Practice Providers, Registered Dieticians, Health Educators, Mental Health Therapists, Medical Assistants, and Clinic Coordinators.

Services Include: teen primary care and urgent care including sports physicals and vaccinations, mental health support, birth control or other sexual health appointments, health education, nutrition counseling and fitness training.

Flu and Covid Shots are now available. See the attached flyer for more information. Contact the Highland Health Start Clinic at 651-233-8951.

While cell phones and other electronics seem to be an extension of our bodies, we are not allowing them to be used in school between the hours of 8:30 am -3:00 pm.

• Personal phones and electronics are not allowed to be used at Highland Park Middle School.
• They are to remain at home, or locked in lockers. If students choose to carry their phones, they must be completely off--not even on vibrate.
• Phones and electronics will be collected and left in the office if there is repeated use. A parent /guardian will need to come to school to pick the phone up.

Outside food or drinks from establishments/restaurants are NOT permitted in Highland Park Middle School. In addition, food and drinks from, or brought to students, from establishments and food services (e.g. restaurants, DoorDash) are NOT permitted. Students may bring a beverage bottle, such as a water bottle, and bag lunch from home. Sodas are not permitted at school.

Safety is of the utmost importance at our school and district. Families, students and staff can use the MySPPS app to “Send a Tip” and confidentially report unsafe behaviors in school to SPPS Security and Emergency Management.

SPPS strives to create welcoming schools where each and every student is seen, known and valued. There are rights students are guaranteed when they are at school as well as responsibilities that accompany those rights.

At Highland Park Middle School, our mission is to:

• Provide our students with a sense of community and global perception in a nurturing and caring learning environment,
• Help students acquire the skills necessary to value themselves, and take pride in their accomplishments, and
• Develop respect and understanding of other people and their cultures.

Website: https://www.spps.org/highlandms
Location: 975 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 293-8950