Highland Park Family Newsletter

Wow, what a busy but fun week! Career Day was a huge success! Thank you to Ms. Vazquez for organizing it and providing our bulldogs the opportunity to learn about different careers and professions. Huge thank you to all of our presenters. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with our bulldogs. Our 5th grade dance was fantastic and it It was lovely to see our bulldogs celebrating. Huge thank you to our PTO, 5th grade teachers & parents, and all volunteers for your support with the dance. Our 5th graders had a memorable night at their last elementary school dance.

Next week we will have our GT Showcase on Tuesday and we are looking forward to seeing out GT students shine. Our campus End of the Year Awards will also kickoff on Tuesday. Please make sure to check the schedule for your child's awards day and time. We look forward to seeing you.

A friendly reminder that this week we begin our updated safety protocols. Our security vestibule is now fully operational and with that comes a few changes. Our campus is implementing a “hugs & kisses” zone in our foyer during morning arrival time. this means, parents will not be allowed past this zone when dropping off their child. We are still welcoming parents into our campus, however starting on Monday, May 20th, all visitors needing to enter the building will need to follow the procedures outlined below.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and got some rest. Please let us know if you have any questions.

With Thanks,

Lizbeth Ruiz

Principal

Highland Park Elementary

Our campus is implementing a “hugs & kisses” zone in our foyer during morning arrival time. this means, parents will not be allowed past this zone when dropping off their child. We are still welcoming parents into our campus, however starting on Monday, May 20th, all visitors needing to enter the building will need to follow the procedures outlined below.

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.

Hugs & Kisses Zone will be 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 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.

Awards Assemblies:

- Parents attending awards assemblies will be allowed to enter the cafeteria only without raptoring in.

-Visitors will not be allowed past the locked glass doors.

We appreciate your patience as we adjust to these new procedures in the final weeks of the school year. These two weeks will allow us to problem solve through any issues so that we can be ready to kick off the new school year. 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.

PfISD will be providing the opportunity for students to purchase their Chromebooks. Our existing Chromebooks have been in use for 4 years and are scheduled for replacement this summer as part of our 2022 Bond Technology replacement plan.

Students who currently have a Chromebook device assigned to them, and would like to keep their current device for personal use, will have the opportunity to purchase it for $20.00. The purchase includes their current Chromebook and their current charger. The device purchase is “as is”, in its current state, and does not include repairs or replacement of any damage, missing parts, or missing chargers. Once the device is purchased, it will no longer be supported by PfISD. The device will be returned to its factory settings at the end of the school year and no longer managed by the district.

All students will be required to bring their device to school in order to update inventory as either sold or returned. Now is a good time to check with your student to ensure they have their device. Students not purchasing their device will be required to return their Chromebooks and chargers at the end of this school year on May 28th.

• 05/29- 4th 9 Weeks Ends

Pflugerville ISD’s summer school programs are designed to help students improve their academic foundations as well as provide acceleration and enrichment throughout a four-week summer program.

Our campus is in the process of sending out invitations for the following two programs. If parents reach out to you with questions, please refer them to Ms. LeDay or Ms. Ruiz.

• Elementary Emergent Bilingual Program: Current Prekindergarten 4 years old and kindergarten students are invited to attend this program. Registration Information will be sent by the student's campus. This program provides students opportunities to engage in meaningful linguistic and academic experiences to prepare for the next grade level.

• Elementary Math and English Language Arts/Reading Program: Current Kindergarten - 5th grade students demonstrating a need for improving their foundational skills are invited to receive math and reading instruction. Invitations will be sent to students from their campus.

• GT Showcase Monday
• Awards Assemblies begin this week
• PTO Meeting on Tuesday at 6:00

• 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 PfISD Pfamily Pflyer: Click here to submit your staff shoutout!

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.

Campus Kudos:

• Ms. Anna Vazquez: Thank you for organizing an fantastic Career Day It was a huge success, and students had a wonderful time learning about different careers and professions!
• Classroom Teachers and Support Staff: Thank you for monitoring and participating with your students during Career Day! We couldn't have done it without you!
• Ms. Anna Vazquez & Ms. Brianna Thompson: Thank you for taking our Bulldogs to the PALS fieldtrip. They had a fantastic time visiting Hendrickson Highschool and bonding with their PALS.
• 5th Grade Teachers, and Support Staff: Thank you for volunteering at the 5th grade dance! Everyone had a blast, and the kids had so much fun! It went super smooth!
• Ms. Anita Moreno & Ms. Yaira Torres: Thank you for taking on the sale of the Chromebooks! We know its a lot of work on top of what you are already doing! We appreciate you and your organization!
• Intervention Team: Thank you for organizing and leading the PSST day, and retention meetings. We love, trust, and appreciate your attention to detail. Thank you!
• Ms. Marsha Munoz, Ms. Veronica Jimenez, and Ballet Folklorico Parents! Thank you for organizing the lunch plate sale and the bake sale! This team raised close to $1500 to buy new dresses, costumes and shoes for our Ballet Folklorico team! Congratulations on a successful fundraiser! Thank you to all who supported!
• Ms. Yolanda Reyes: Thank you for organizing the Million words club party! The kids had so much fun and felt like royalty celebrating on the "red carpet"!

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.

May 20- PSST Day

May 20- AR End of Year Celebration

May 21- GT Showcase 8:00-10:00- Library

May 21- Pegasus Graduation: 7:50 Gym

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

May 21- PTO Meeting at 6:00

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 28- Senior Walk at 8:30

May 29- Last Day of School, 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

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