Dear Stallions Community,

Thank you for an amazing first week back to school! It’s been wonderful to see all our Stallions smiling and laughing on campus. As we settle into our school routines, please keep the following in mind:

Back to School Night Video:

CLICK HERE FOR OUR BACK TO SCHOOL VIDEO

Breakfast Schedule:
Breakfast is served from 7:15 to 7:30 AM. If you’re dropping off your student before 7:30, please ensure they are having breakfast. All students getting breakfast must enter through the main gate by 7:30 to allow our cafeteria to serve them efficiently.

Reporting Absences:
To notify us of an upcoming absence, please contact our attendance team via email at hresattendance@powayusd.com or by phone at 858-485-4876. Please do not report absences directly to your student’s teacher. While we understand that absences are sometimes necessary, we kindly ask that you avoid scheduling vacations during school days whenever possible. [Link to PUSD calendar].

Traffic and Safety Guidelines:
To ensure the safety of all our Stallions, please review the traffic guidelines below:

• Avoid parking in the staff parking lot or reserved spots.
• Follow all traffic laws.
• Drop-off for TK-1st grade is at the front of the school, while grades 2-5 should use the big lot by ESS.

Bicycle Policy:
Only students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are permitted to ride bicycles to school. Students must wear a helmet, provide a lock, and follow all safety rules. A completed permission form, available from the office, must be on file for students who wish to ride their bikes to school. Bicycles must be walked once on school grounds. Please note that rollerblades, scooters of any kind, and skateboards are not allowed on campus.

Medication Policy:
If your child requires medication during school hours, a “Physician’s Recommendation for Medication” form is necessary. Please print the form linked below, have it completed by your child’s physician, and return it along with the medication in its original container. Medication must be brought to the school office by an adult; students are not permitted to carry any medication, including aspirin, inhalers, or cough drops.

Authorization for Medication Administration

Authorization to Carry Medication

Heat Plan:
With the rising temperatures, we have established a plan to use our Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) and shaded areas if outdoor conditions become too hot. Lunch may be relocated to the MPR depending on the temperature. Please ensure your student brings a water bottle labeled with their name to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Friday Flag Tradition:
Starting the first Friday in September, we will resume our Friday Flag tradition, a cherished HRES event. Families are invited to join us on the last Friday of every month for Family Friday Flag.

Thank you for your continued support in making this school year great!

Ms. Geiger

Principal

Welcome back Stallion families! As we gear up for another year of learning and fun, please make a note to see that your PTA membership is up to date so you are ready for all of the great events we have planned for this year!

While we love volunteers, joining PTA does not require any minimum time commitment -- Your Annual PTA Membership alone truly supports all that your Highland Ranch PTA does!

You may have received an email entitled, “Time to Renew Your Membership to Highland Ranch Elementary PTA.” If you have, renewing is simple. Just click the “renew now” button and process your $10 payment! If you did not receive the renewal email, or you are joining the PTA for the first time, head over to TOTEM using our unique link:

https://jointotem.com/ca/san-diego/highland-ranch-elementary-pta.

Only $10 per member. Anyone can join (parents, grandparents, teachers, staff and even students!) and your annual PTA membership benefits all children in our school!

Join PTA for just $10/member: https://jointotem.com/ca/san-diego/highland-ranch-elementary-pta

*Like & Follow PTA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/highlandranchpta

*Check out our website: www.highlandranchpta.com

Want to show your Highland Ranch spirit? Order a tshirt, and pick it up at Big Frog. Click here to order and wear your new shirt on Fridays! Students who are unable to afford the purchase of a shirt but would like one can reach out confidentially directly to Ms. Geiger to be put into a lottery for a free shirt purchased by the PTA.

The Highland Ranch Educational Foundation warmly welcomes all Stallion families, both new and returning, to another exciting school year filled with enriching educational programs. Over the past 15 years, thanks to the support of dedicated parents like you, we’ve funded exceptional educational opportunities such as Hands-On Science, Physical Education, World Music, and the JA Financial Literacy program. We’ve also provided essential resources like whiteboards and classroom software.

We’re thrilled about the new opportunities this year holds and are always eager to engage passionate parents and family members who want to enhance our children’s educational experiences. To stay connected and learn more about how you can contribute, visit our website hrefoundation.org and follow us on Instagram @hrefoundation.

Join us in making a difference and building a brighter future for our kids. Together, we can turn possibilities into reality!

FOUNDATION GENERAL MEETINGS - 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

Mark your calendars for our General Meetings:

• Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:30 pm in the Highland Ranch Elementary School library
• Tuesday, March 5, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the Highland Ranch Elementary School library

These meetings are a great opportunity to meet and greet with Principal Geiger, the Foundation volunteers and connect with fellow Stallion parents. Enjoy a light snack while learning about our exciting plans for the school year and discovering how you can get involved. Your participation is key to our collective success, and we can’t wait to see you there!

Drop-Off:

• For your convenience, students can be dropped off from your vehicles at the loop near ESS.
• The front loop is reserved exclusively for independent TK/K/1st graders who can exit the vehicle on their own from the driver's side.
• We kindly request parents not to park in the traffic circle and allow their children to disembark from the car.
• If your child requires assistance getting in and out of the car, we recommend parking and escorting them onto campus.

Pick-Up:

• For TK, K, and first-grade students, we encourage parents/guardians to park on the street, walk onto campus, and collect your children at the end of the day.
• TK, Kinder and 1st graders will be picked up at the front of the school.
• Other grade levels will dismiss from the same gates through which they entered.

Here are some Important ways you can help:

Drivers:

• TK/Kindergarten and 1st grade: please pull forward and remember to stay in your car. We have our staff who can help open/close the door for your students; just think of this as your “HRES valet services.”

• Have backpacks on laps and quick goodbye kisses.

• Always pull forward as far down the driveway as you can.

• Unless you are planning to volunteer or be on campus for a period of time, please do not park in the ESS reserved spots, staff parking lot, and in the reserved school spots in front of our school.

Walkers:

• If you choose to walk your student to school, please park in the neighborhood.

• Always cross at the designated crosswalk in front of the MPR.

Early Playground Access:

Starting at 7:30, our playground gates will be open, welcoming all students onto campus. Kinder students will go to the MPR. We kindly ask parents to refrain from entering during this time, except for the first day when parents are welcome to accompany their children to class. Subsequently, our campus will be secured, with exceptions for special events such as Friday Flags. Access to the playground is via the gates between the two parking lots. Students will enjoy this time of social interaction until the warning bell rings at 7:40, at which point teachers will guide them to their designated assembly points - grades K-2 on the playground, and grades 3-5 in front of the two-story building. Detailed instructions will be provided to students on the first day. For TK and Kindergarten students, special arrangements will be in place until 7:40.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we focus on keeping our Stallions and families safe, and making the drop-off/pick-up process as streamlined as possible.

Parent Volunteer Information

A volunteer is defined as an individual who, with school district authorization, voluntarily assists school districts, schools, educational programs, or students on a regular and ongoing basis. A volunteer is required to complete a Volunteer Application and have a Megan’s Law Background Check or a State and/or Federal Background Check completed. Megan's Law has to be completed every year in order to maintain a Level I volunteer status.

Example: A parent is assisting with a weekly and on going project such as the running club or Lego league. A grandparent is helping in music or art classes weekly.

Parent Volunteers are required to complete the Level I - Volunteer Application/Megan’s Law process every school year.

• This includes completing the PUSD forms (linked below)

• Current TB Test - Once every four years

• Bring your Driver’s License with the items listed below to our office.

(documents cannot be emailed)

Parents wishing to chaperone on a Field Trip must complete a Level I - Volunteer Application in order to obtain a Level II Volunteer - Department of Justice & FBI Clearance process every school year. This includes a yearly Megan's Law application. Every year, all volunteers MUST complete Megan's Law.

Visitor Definition

A visitor is defined as an individual who, with school district authorization, attends a student performance, special event, festival, open house, back-to-school event, sports event, athletic competition, etc. A visitor may either be accompanied or unaccompanied by school district staff. Designated school district administrative personnel are to make this determination. A visitor is usually not required to sign a registry.

Example: Your school is hosting a Jr. Olympic competition.

Guest Definition

A guest is defined as an individual who, with school district approval, assists students, schools, and teachers on a non-regular basis or who individually observes a classroom or activity. A guest may also assist with educational programs or with special events on an occasional or infrequent basis. A guest shall immediately report his or her presence at the school office or at the designated school location upon arrival at the school and sign a guest registry.

Example: Your school is hosting the book fair, a play where parents are coming to watch, or a teacher needs help in the classroom with a one or two day tie-dye t-shirt project for the jog-a-thon. A class is hosting a party or a fun run.

For more details, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.

California’s Universal Meals Program. Every student enrolled in PUSD (PreK-12) is offered one free breakfast meal and one free lunch meal each school day. Meals must be recorded by specific student accounts, either by scanning their barcode or entering their ID number in a pin pad. Please note that a student cannot take just a beverage for free; they must select enough items to make a reimbursable meal.

Although meals are free for all students, our District is still required to process Applications for Free and Reduced-Price Meals. We encourage all households to apply online at MySchoolApps.com, or using a paper application. Meal applications are very important because meal reimbursements are still based on individual student eligibility, and State funding for school sites is partially determined by free/reduced eligibility. Households that are income-eligible for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for other benefits such as: free or discounted after-school care, reduced home internet costs, discounts on standardized testing fees, and food-purchasing assistance during summer breaks.

In addition to complete school meals, some school sites offer a la carte snacks and beverages for purchase. PUSD Food and Nutrition is a cashless operation, so students must have money in their prepaid account or bring a check in order to buy a la carte items. To load funds on a cafeteria account, families can visit MySchoolBucks.com or send a check to school.

• To view interactive school menus, with nutrition facts and allergen information, visit MySchoolMenus.com, which is also accessible from the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage.

• Simple, printer-friendly PDF menus are posted monthly on the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage, under School Menus > Printable PDF Menus.

Information about special dietary accommodations and the CDE form to request special meals can be found on the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage, under Resources and Links > Special Dietary Needs..

Cell phones are ONLY permissible for students in the classroom when used for an assignment given by the teacher. Cell phones are NOT to be out on campus during the school day. A student’s cell phone will be kept in the office until the end of the day and parents/caregivers will be notified if a student is accessing a phone or other electronic device (iPad, Apple Watch, tablet) on campus during school hours, without teacher approval. Your student may have a smartwatch but the watch must be on school mode. The front office is a cell phone free zone for all staff and parents/caregivers. If you are waiting for your child, we ask that you receive or make any phone calls outside the office.

Attention 2nd to 5th Graders: Kindly make an effort to memorize your lunch pin, both for breakfast and lunch. This practice will enable us to serve you more promptly and efficiently. This unique number will stay with you throughout your entire educational experience here at PUSD. Parents and guardians, we encourage you to help your student remember their the lunch pin number.

Highland Ranch is a school with motivated students, enthusiastic teachers, and engaged parents who come together to prepare Stallions for their future.

Website: https://highlandranch.powayusd.com/
Location: 14840 Waverly Downs Way, San Diego, CA 92128, USA
Phone: 858-674-4707