Highland Park Family Newsletter

As we close up April, I am proud to say we had another wonderful month of learning. Our bulldogs continue to show enthusiasm in their classes. The month of May will be full of campus events, fieldtrips, and celebrations. We have five weeks to push our students to learn as much as they can. Huge kudos to 2nd grade on their fantastic idiom parade this week and first grade on their fantastic music performance. We needed the week with our Slime your Teacher event where we got to celebrate our fundraising efforts for the Noah Rodriguez Scholarship and Kids Heart Challenge and Bingo Night. We had a super busy but fun week! Huge thank you to everyone for your help and support.

Next week, we will continue our STAAR testing. We have made a few adjustments to schedules in order to make our testing environment the best for students. Even if your student is not in 3rd-5th there will be things that affect them here at school. The campus is closed to visitors on testing days. That means parents of students at any grade level will not be able to have lunch with their child on the days listed below.

• 04/30/2024 – 3rd and 4th Grade Math
• 05/01/2024 – 5th Grade Math
• 05/01/2024 – 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Math Makeup

A few key reminders:

• Please try and schedule doctor’s appointments around these dates so students can be in attendance.

• Please remember that on these testing dates students are required to be monitored at all times until they finish the assessment. This being the case, we ask that you remember that we want to limit visitors to our campus for these dates.

• Students will need to bring their PfISD Chromebook and device charger to school on the day of their test. Please ensure the device is fully charged. Students are encouraged to bring a light jacket in case the test site is cold.

As always, Thank you for all you do for our Highland Park Bulldogs. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Highland Park Bulldogs Woof

With Thanks,

Lizbeth Ruiz

Principal

Highland Park Elementary

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to our fantastic team of admin assistants! Your dedication and hard work keep our campus running smoothly every day. We appreciate you more than words can express. Here's to celebrating YOU today and every day!

Order your yearbook before 4/26!

• For online orders, go to https://web.treering.com/validate and enter the school’s passcode: 1016927105242602.
• For cash orders, please turn in $25 cash in a sealed envelope labeled YEARBOOK with your students NAME, LAST and TEACHER.

Ordene su anuario AHORA - ¡4/26!

• Para pedidos en linea, vaya a https://web.treering.com/validate e ingreses el código de acceso de la escuela: 1016927105242602.
• Para pedidos en efectivo, entregue $25 en efectivo en un sobre sellado con la etiqueta ANUARIO, NOMBRE, APELLIDO, y MAESTRO de su estudiante.

Attention parents! We're calling on you to join us in making Highland Park Field Day an unforgettable event for our children! We need your help to ensure everything runs smoothly and that our kids have a blast. Whether it's supervising games, organizing activities, or simply lending a hand wherever needed, your participation is invaluable. Let's come together as a community to create cherished memories for our little ones. Sign up to volunteer today and let's make Highland Park Field Day a day to remember!

K-2 8:00am-11:00am

3-5 11:45am-2:45pm

We are proud to host our Career Day this year at Highland Park Elementary! We are currently in need of Career Day participants in various occupations to volunteer 2 hours to speak with students about their careers. Career day will be Friday, May 17, 2024 from 8:30 - 10:30 am. Career Day is for students in grades PK - 5.

The goal of Career Day is to expose and educate students to a variety of careers within the community. Presenters will be assigned a range of grade levels (ex. PK-2 or Grades 3-5). Presenters will present to students in the classroom for 20 minutes each and students will rotate to the next presenter. Presenters could prepare to share the following information:

• Education and Training

• Typical work day

• Job descriptions

• Related school subjects

• Salary range

• Interesting things about your job

• It is optional to bring items to give away to students

• Allow a few minutes for questions and answers.

We look forward to your participation in this fun event. If you are interested in presenting, please complete the form below and return. We will contact you with further information about this exciting event.

Retention Letter Schedule:

• First Round of Retention Letters for Academic and Attendance went out on 03/18/24. 2 sets of letters went out. One for academics/attendance and one for only attendance for any student who has over 15 absences.
• Second Round of Retention Letters for Academic go out on 04/12/24
• Third Round of Possible Retention Letters for Academic will go out on 05/10/24
• Final Retention Letters will go out on 05/29/24.

• 04/30- Progress Reports Available to Parents
• 05/29- 4th 9 Weeks Ends

• 04/30/2024 – 3rd and 4th Grade Math STAAR
• 05/01/2024 – 5th Grade Math STAAR
• 05/02/2024 – 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Math STAAR Makeup

• 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 Movie Nights, School Dance, 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 the Superintendents Kudos

We had some wonderful and heartwarming nominations submitted for Teacher of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year and want to share those with you. It is a wonderful feeling to be recognized by your peers. We will share 5 of each at a time in each newsletter.

Teacher of the Year Nominations:

• Mary Horta: I've watched her interactions with her students and children in general, she always takes the time to listen and they are always excited to see her.

• Veronica Jimenez: Ms. Jimenez is a phenomenal educator. She works tirelessly to support our students. Her dedication and passion to teaching is like no other.

• Catherine Duong: She's amazing and very dedicated to her students' academics.
• Veronica Jimenez: Passionate about teaching and her students’ progress, involved in so many activities, puts in lots do work, effective teaching, always looking to improve/change to meet the needs of students and updated TEKS/assessments
• Daniela Geng: The way she talks to her students is amazing. She goes above and beyond for them.

Humanitarian of the Year Nominations:

Remember, one small positive thought or compliment can change a person's entire day. :)

2023-2024 School Year Calendar with grading periods, student holidays, etc.

Apr. 30- Math STAAR Grades 3 & 4

May 1- Math STAAR Grade 5

May 2- Math STAAR Make-ups

May 10- Field Day

May 10- Library- Texas 2 x 2 Deadline

May 13- PSST Day

May 14- 4th 9 Weeks AR deadline

May 15- All Library books due

May 17- Career Day

May 17- Library- Bluebonnet Breakfast & Trivia:

May 17- Million Word Club Celebration

May 17- 5th Grade Dance

May 20- PSST Day

May 20- AR End of Year Celebration

May 21- Pegasus Graduation: 7:50 Gym

May 21- 2nd Grade Awards: 1:30 Cafeteria

May 22-4th Grade Awards: 8:30 Cafeteria

May 22- 3rd Grade Awards: 1:30 Cafeteria

May 23- 1st Grade Awards: 1:30 Cafeteria

May 24- KG Graduation: 8:00 Back Patio

May 24- 5th Grade Graduation: 10:00 Back Patio

May 24- PK Graduation 1:45 Cafeteria

May 27- Student/Staff Holiday

May 28- End of Year Classroom Parties

May 29- Last Day of School, Senior & 5th Grade Walk ,Early Release at 12:00

May 30- Planning/Prep/Check Out

• 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 main hallway.

• 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 without a Raptor sticker. Beginning August 15, ( Day 2) parents wanting to walk their child to class will need to check in the front office by signing into our Raptor security system.

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.

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

• Parents will have an opportunity to purchase a birthday announcement to be displayed on the school marquee through PTO.

• 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.

Instructional Coach: Brianna Thompson- brianna.thompson@pfisd.net

General questions regarding master scheduling, campus procedures, curriculum, resources, SWAT, professional development, mentoring, lesson modeling, and virtually anything teachers need regarding curriculum and instruction.

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!

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