Husky Highlights

Looking into the New Year, we have some exciting events happening at Highlands! After our students return on Tuesday, January, 7th, our boys basketball season begins (details about practice and games below) and our Chess Club resumes. Report cards will be coming home on Friday, January 10th. We will be taking our class photos, group photos, and personality photos for the yearbook on Friday, January 24th.

There are a handful of district and community event offerings. Please be sure to read each thoroughly. We look forward to starting the new year with you and your students!

Warmly,

Alexandra Ochoa

Principal

Highlands Elementary

Tuesday, January 7th

• School Resumes
• No Choir (resume on the 9th)
• Chess Club Resumes @ lunch recess in the Library

Wednesday, January 8th

• Boys Basketball Begins! Practice @ 3:20-4:20pm

Friday, January 10th

• Report Cards Sent Home

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Tuesday, January 14th

• Choir @ 8:00am
• PTO Meeting @ 12:00pm in the Library
• Chess Club during lunch recess in the Orchestra room

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Monday, January 20th

• No School- MLK Day

Tuesday, January 21st

• Choir @ 8:00am
• Chess Club during lunch recess in the Library

Friday, January 24th

• Group Picture Day & Personality Portraits

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Tuesday, January 28th

• Choir @ 8:00am
• Chess Club during lunch recess in the Library

Friday, January 31st

• Gate Application Deadline

Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 7th at the regular start and end times from 8:40am-3:15pm.

Our second semester Chess Club will begin meeting on Tuesday, January 7th during lunch recess. Chess club will meet in the library each Tuesday during lunchtime, except for the second Tuesday of each month. On the second Tuesday of each month, Chess Club will meet in the Orchestra Room.

Our 5th & 6th Grade Boys Basketball season begins after winter break! Thank you to our coach, Conrad Ball, and many parent volunteers helping out. We appreciate the help and support to make this season possible, and fun, for our students! The first day of practice will be Wednesday, January 8th @ 3:20pm in the Highlands Gym. The boys will have two weeks of practice before games begin. The game schedule will be sent out once it is available.

Our class, group, and personality picture day date was moved to Friday, January 24th.

• Each classroom group photo
• Girls Basketball
• Boys Basketball
• Safety Patrol
• Choir
• Band
• Orchestra

Any students needing to take personality photos will stay after the class photo. Any student needing to take a photo (missing a picture or new student) will stay after the class photo.

Please see this link for a brochure about the GATE program. The last day for GATE referrals for this school year is Friday, January 31st! If interested, please connect with your student's teacher.

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.

Your partnership plays a crucial role in shaping your child’s mindset and habits. Together, we can inspire a love for learning that lasts a lifetime!

We will have our monthly PTO meeting on Tuesday, January 14th at noon in the Library. We would love for you to join!

• Saturday, March 1st

• Theme: Denim & Diamonds

• 5:30-9:30pm

• At JUMP

• February 11: PTO Meeting @ 12:00pm in the Library
• March 1: Art Auction @ 5:30-9:30pm at JUMP
• March 11: PTO Meeting @ 12:00pm in the Library
• April 8: PTO Meeting @ 12:00pm in the Library
• May 13: PTO Meeting @ 12:00pm in the Library

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

Please consider labeling your student's personal belongings. Our Lost & Found fills up quickly! All items are donated at the end of each quarter. Daily announcements are made and teachers walk their classes through to look at the items piled up, but please stop by and take a look before the end of quarter!

When packing cold lunch or other items stored in tupperware, please consider sending plastic containers rather than glass and putting your student's name on it. This helps to keep spills safe and easy to clean.

As much as we adore our furry friends, we love having a clean and safe learning space more. If pets are brought to the school yard before or after the school day, please help us keep our beautiful new building, our field, and our turf/playground clean by picking up pet droppings. We do not allow pets on the property during the school day and we don't allow pets in the building.

We have added additional pet dropping pick up stations around our property this year. Please use the resources provided to maintain a clean school setting. Thank you for your help and support in keeping our learning environment clean!

Please see this link to order yearbooks!

Please see this Youtube channel provided by our district math coaches to see instructional strategies used in the classroom.

The Boise School District is partnering with Family Advocates to provide FREE 10-week parenting courses. These courses will be held at Whitney Elementary and will include dinner, childcare, and additional resources. Space for childcare is limited, so be sure to sign up soon! For more information, please refer to the flyer or complete our interest form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sara Nord at sara.nord@boiseschools.org or 208-559-3107. Registration closes on January 10th.

Many parents believe that their child is unlikely to be affected by online dangers, but the reality is that cyberbullying, sextortion, and sexting are threats that can impact any child. The Boise School District is hosting an important event to help parents understand these risks and how to protect their children. A guest speaker from Homeland Security’s Know2Protect program and a panel of experts will share valuable insights on these issues. Join us at South Junior High on January 29th from 5:30-7:30 pm to learn how to keep your child safe online. Free childcare is available until capacity is reached, so RSVP soon! Check out the flyer for more details!

Join us at Whitney Elementary on January 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm for a parent workshop provided by Dr. Michelle Alden. She will share valuable insights and practical tips for parenting children who are wired differently, including those with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, Autism, and/or Dyslexia. Childcare will be provided, but space is limited, so RSVP soon! Please see the flyer for more details.

Building a Bridge to Better Behaviors: Join us at Whitney Elementary on January 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm for a parent workshop provided by Dr. Michelle Alden. She will share valuable insights and practical tips for parenting children who are wired differently, including those with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, Autism, and/or Dyslexia. Childcare will be provided, but space is limited, so RSVP soon! Please see the flyer for more details.

Spark your child’s curiosity and creativity with our all-new Camp Invention® program, Discover! Campers in grades K-6 will collaborate with friends to take on fun, hands-on STEM challenges. From creating their own claw machine to designing awesome optical illusions, each experience adds up to an imagination-stretching, confidence-boosting summer.

Visit invent.org to secure your spot! Use promo code SUM35 by 2/13 to save $35. Use promo code SIBLOVE40 for each sibling if you have 3 or more siblings participating to save $40 per child. See the schedule below for the sites and dates:

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

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

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

7/28 - 7/31 - Hidden Springs Elementary 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please find a flyer for Camp Invention by clicking here.

Attached please find a flyer from East Boise Youth Baseball & Softball. Any questions regarding the program should be directed to the organization; contact information is on the flyer.

Please see this flyer for information about the YMCA's camp at Horsethief.

North Jr. High will host city led open gyms on each Saturday from 10am - 1pm. If wanting to play some games and hangout with friends, stop on by. The final date for open gyms is February 22nd.

Tuesday, February 4th

• Choir @ 8:00am
• Chess Club during lunch recess

Wednesday, February 5th

• Polar Walk n Roll

Tuesday, February 11th

• Choir @ 8:00am
• PTO Meeting @ 12:00pm in the Library
• Chess Club during lunch recess

Monday, February 17th

• No School- President's Day

Tuesday, February 18th

• Highlands Art on Display at the State Department until March 7th
• Choir @ 8:00am
• FINAL Chess Club during lunch recess
• 5th Grade Math Meet @ 9:30am -1:30pm

Saturday, February 22nd

• Spring Chess Club Tournament

Tuesday, February 25th

• Choir @ 8:00am
• Dr. Picklestein STEM Assembly

Thursday, February 27th

• STEM Night @ 5:30-7:30pm
• Art Auction Preview

Saturday, March 1st

• Art Auction at JUMP @ 5:30pm

Thursday, March 6th

• Kindergarten Registration @ 3:30-5:30pm

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.